CLIMBING THE STEPS OF TIME

"Only a hundred more stairs before we reach the Whispering Gallery," encourages Brent, my Olympian-fit husband, as he jaunts by like a loping gazelle. In spite of my drum-rolling heartbeat and burning thighs, I plod onward and upward. After all, doesn't slow and steady win the race?

We discover that the acclaimed Brit architect, Sir Christopher Wren, is the mastermind behind this baroque beauty. Although he was confronted with political pressures along the way, after thirty-five years of sweat and toil, he proudly unveiled his finished product. It still stuns us today! As well as scheduled services the cathedral has been the resplendent venue for many celebrations and funerals. Farewells to leaders like Lord Nelson and Sir Winston Churchill have been integrated with royal birthdays and memorable weddings. I recall the countless photos taken of Lady Diana Spencer as her train trailed down the aisle of this enormous nave.

On our first day to this vibrant metropolis we had admired his work at Hampton Court, a stately palace, which had been home to a number of past monarchs, the most notorious being Henry VIII. Wren was actually hired by William III in 1689, to give the place a total face-lift. Unfortunately even kings have budgets, and the cost of Wren's project was too big for His Highness's britches. Instead of remodelling its entirety, his work was restricted to the royal apartments.

Now, visiting St. Paul's Cathedral, I'm in awe of his talents once again. The Whispering Gallery circles just beneath the dome's interior, and due to its ingenious construction, a quiet whisper can be audible from the opposite side -hence the name. On embedded stone seats I rest here to normalize my heart rate and take time to reflect on this creative genius.

"Do you know where the stairwell is to the observatory?" Brent asks. I'm jarred out of my daydream by the question. "There are more stairs?" I say, feeling content to remain on duff beneath the glittery dome. "As well as the Stone Gallery," he explains, "there's an upper Golden Gallery and an awesome city view." From out of the corner of my eye, I can see Brent gathering up his camera equipment. He's preparing for the next two 271 steps that lay ahead. And all I can think is, "legs don't fail me now!"