London

Imagine a place you would rather be right now. A place you remember, or a place you
want to visit. Close your eyes and put yourself in this place. When you think you have a
good image, complete the following free-writes. You should write for three minutes
each free-write.

• What do you smell in this place – write about everything you can, or could,
possibly smell.
The smell of the damp air caused by the water near by, a couple of fountains scattered around, and the month of February.
• What can you hear in this place – write about everything you can, or could,
possible hear in this place.
The sound of the fountains, people talking in all different languages, footsteps on the stone pathway, doors that are opening and closing, and the sound of boats in the canal.
• What do you see in this place?
I see new, modern building including the Gherkin egg shaped building. Across the canal I see an old castle known as The White Tower. I see a bridge with blue railings that cars drive and pedestrians walk across to get to and from the new and old parts of the city, and my frozen breath.
• What do you feel in this place – textures, anything to do with the sense of touch.
I feel the stones beneath my feet, the splash of the water as the fountains spray up through the stones, and the gentle breeze on my face.
• Now write a story of this place.
As my husband and I walk through the city of London we see all kinds of famous, beautiful places full of history, but our favorite place was the Tower Bridge area. You walk through a maze of new buildings. They are a work of art. Curved stone, ridged metal, glass windows, stone pathways that look almost like slate wood flooring with a miniature canal running through it. After you find your way through the new buildings you come to a landing with fountains coming through the stone/slate/wood ground, railing that over looks the river/canal, a view of the Tower Bridge, the White Castle/Tower, and the Gherkin building.

The reason this was our favorite place in London is because this is a place where new meets old here. This is a place where history takes place and this is a place where memories were, and are, and will be, made. You see the graceful new architecture with the ancient history in the back, or vice-versa depending on what side you are standing on.