March 2, 2003 - page 2

several preceding buildings were destroyed before Sir Christopher Wren designed the present structure, completed in 1710. Inside there are many testimonies to the British Empire’s greatness, as well as a moving series of exhibits on the effort to defend the cathedral against the blitzes of World War II. It is clearly a key part of London’s identity.

In the crypt below I saw the final resting places for Wren, Lord Nelson (hero at Trafalgar), the Duke of Wellington (hero at Waterloo), and Florence Nightingale, among others. And I got my exercise for the day by climbing the twisting sets of staircases to the Golden Gallery at the top of the dome. Along the way I wondered how many times Wren himself had

passed through the same narrow passageways leading to the magnificent panoramic view of the city. (The rainy weather was not about to let me take a decent picture once outside, so I’ll just have to go back.)

I suppose that Saturday was my day to be in high places – not my natural element, I should add – because I had earlier taken a ride on “The Eye,” an enormous ferris wheel built on the banks of the Thames to commemorate the new millennium. The riding compartments are totally enclosed and are large enough that one easily held our entire Centre crew, about 20