2023-07-08 -- The Shard

"The Shard" (1) is one of the newest landmarks in London, England.

It is located right at London Bridge Station (2), is a stunning architectural marvel that seamlessly blends the past, present, and future.

The architects envisioned a vertical city, and the building delivers: 26 floors of office space, 19 floors of hotel, 13 floors of residential apartments, and 3 floors of restaurants. As of today, it boasts the highest public viewing gallery in London.

Beyond its modern appeal, The Shard also serves as a silent memorial, representing one of the darkest periods in UK history, particularly for London. During World War II, the Luftwaffe (3), the German Air Force, unleashed a relentless bombing campaign known as the Blitz (4). This period, from 1940 to 1941, saw London endure 56 consecutive days of day and night bombing, leaving the city devastated.

In addition to conventional bombing, the Germans also targeted London with the newly developed V-2 (5 )ballistic missiles, a terrifying weapon of war.(V Stands for vergeltungswaffe, Vengeance Weapon)

The missiles devastated their targets. The Germans employed a diving technique to bomb targets, which was somewhat accurate as the bomb's trajectory, minus air resistance, was visually aligned with the target. Missiles, on the other hand, were less precise and could land anywhere. (I know firsthand, as during the Iran-Iraq War, Iraqi missiles frequently struck residential areas.) Despite being decades more advanced, they still lacked accuracy. Over 3,000 missiles were launched by the Germans during WWII.

Werner von Braun (6), the mastermind behind the V-2 missiles, would later become a key figure in the American space program, rather than spending rest of his life in jail cells, culminating in the Apollo missions that landed humans on the Moon. This highlights the complex nature of national priorities and the potential for human ingenuity to be harnessed for both destructive and constructive purposes.

His masterpiece, the Saturn V (7) rocket, remains an iconic symbol of human achievement.

Let's return to The Shard. The distinctive shape of the building's spire, with its fragmented glass, is a subtle yet powerful reminder of the Blitz and the devastation it wrought upon London.

Once you purchase your tickets, you'll board a high-speed elevator (lift) to the top observation deck. While waiting, you'll be treated to an engaging visual display above your head.

Once you step out, you'll be treated to a 360-degree panoramic view of London.

You're welcome to explore the visitor areas and ascend or descend the stairs to get a closer look at the "broken glass" effect from street level.

You can also relax on the synthetic lawn, surrounded by flowers, and enjoy a game or an ice cream.

And I warn you, if you choose to use the restroom, you're in for a surprise! But the view, even from the restroom, is still quite impressive (despite the potential elevation-related challenges).