Night
Yesterday happened that I was in London.
I decided to go and have a look at the site during the night. Got off at Limehouse station, and made my way to Shadwell Basin. Lots of traffic on the main road (“The Highway”) (it was about 19:00) and I noticed ambulances since there’s a hospital near by.
Turn on Glamis Road and arrived at the site. Deserted is the word to describe it. The only thing you could see was the lights from the windows of the surrounding flats.
The occasional person passed by using the bridge in order to get to the flats, mainly people coming from the bus stop or as I did, coming from the train station. Only a few walked all the way bordering the basin in order to get to the flats backing Garnet Street. And I spotted 2 people walking their dogs.
I don’t know if it was the weather that retained people inside (it was quite cold and windy) or if the site behaves like this every night. Seems like it. I have to say it was quite a view to See the Gherkin to one side, and the Canary Wharf to the other, all illuminated. The site feels like it was squashed between the city and the main road, and fights its way to remain like a small oasis with a taint of spookiness - the general light (street light) is quite dim - and an invisible sign saying “leave us alone!!!” Maybe no one goes to the wharf because there’s nowhere to seat apart from the cold stone.
Anyway, I made my way back to Limehouse Station this time using the riverside path, again no people to be seen but the view of the canary wharf was just breathtaking.
As I was making my way back to St. Pancras I considered that maybe the wharf was so empty and quiet because it was Monday night and probably all the people who lives surrounding the site are just coming back from work , getting their dinners ready and just relaxing after work. Maybe the weather and the time of the year did not help at all.
But it was worth the effort. (Just to see the skyline illuminated)
