Bankside and Southwark

We just got home from completing this walk, and I am satisfied with the results. The walk took us along the Thames, and any time I get to be down there I am a happy walker. It truly has become my favorite area of London. I have spent a great amount of time down on this bank, but not this side of it, so this was a new experience for me. We started off by crossing Blackfriars Bridge, erected in 1869. We got across the river, descended the steps to our next point on the walk, and the riverside walk was closed. Fortunately I was the fearless tour guide this time and so we maneuvered our way through the detour and got back on track. I hadn't seen St. Pauls Cathedral very well in the daylight, and there it was staring me right in the face, such a neat building. The Tate Modern, Cardinals Wharf, and Provost Landing were the main points here. The Tate Modern being my favorite of the three, I can't wait to go back and actually go inside this modern gallery. We spent a bit of time exploring the Naughty Place, no folks, don't get any funky ideas, this is simply an area along the bank. Called 'The Naughty Place' until the 1600s, it is simply a neat little alley full of taverns and brothels. Alas, the Globe was in sight, and this had been what I was looking forward to most. It was neat to go through the bear-baiting arena and the original sight of the Globe. I felt like this walk was the most windy of all of them. We were going in and out of little alleys and different areas, it was confusing at times but we made it through and were able to see a lot of really neat things. I only wish I had more information on some of them as I was going. We didn't go on a day when Borough market was open, so I vowed to go back, have since done that, and would definitely recommend going. I tried every tester in that place and it almost satisfied the raging Costco craving I have had for the last four months (I acknowledge that it is kind of creepy how much I like that place). The Tower Bridge was the last point on this walk, and I'm glad they saved the best for the last. The Tower Bridge is a landmark, built in 1894 and still as precious and ornate as ever. This is London!