London is a city that never stops – full of movement, noise, and stories unfolding on every street corner. But sometimes, the most memorable moments are found in the unexpected quiet. This is the story of how a spontaneous detour, a geocaching challenge, and an open cathedral door gave me a moment of peace I didn’t know I needed.
A City of Stories
Walking around London is an experience in itself. A city full of impressions – people in every direction. Some rush past with determined looks, others pause to study a building or snap a selfie in front of a famous monument. Sometimes I like to sit down at a sidewalk café and simply observe. Watch the people passing by. Each with their own little story.
Breaking Away from the Noise
After a full day of city noise and sensory overload, the rest of the family wanted to check out a nearby shopping mall before we headed to Buckingham Palace. I, on the other hand, felt like breaking away for a bit to find some geocaches in the area. There were a few interesting ones nearby – easy enough to log, but well-placed and enjoyable.
An Unexpected Destination
In the end, one remained: an Earthcache at Westminster Cathedral. To log it, I had to go inside the cathedral. I felt a certain reverence – this was not just any building. Could I enter without disturbing anyone? Without becoming a disruptive tourist in a space still very much sacred?
Westminster Cathedral: A Hidden Gem
Westminster Cathedral – not to be confused with the more famous Westminster Abbey – is the main Roman Catholic church in England and Wales. It was completed in 1903 and built in Byzantine style, with red brick and striking white stone banding. It’s one of the largest Catholic churches in Britain and remains an active place of worship, with several daily Masses.
Stillness in the City
It turned out to be a very good decision to go in. Perhaps the finest moment of the entire trip. Right there, in the heart of London’s buzzing centre, I found a calm I hadn’t felt in months. A quiet oasis, with high ceilings and hushed reverence. I sat for a little while, lost in my own thoughts, letting the stillness sink in. It felt as if time itself had slowed down.
Logging the Cache
But then there was the cache task, of course. To log the find, I needed to determine the height of the altar. I couldn’t exactly go running around with a measuring tape in an active cathedral. Luckily, I had a measuring app on my phone. With a discreet glance around and a subtle shift in position, I managed to get a reading – at least approximately.
A small moment of stillness and technology in perfect harmony. And with that, I could log the find and move on. But the calm I found inside the cathedral stayed with me, echoing quietly as I stepped back into London’s busy streets.
A Lasting Impression
That moment has stayed with me. It changed something. I think I’ll be seeking out more churches and cathedrals in the future. Who knows – maybe slipping away from reality now and then, just sitting in the silence with my own thoughts, can help ease the stress of everyday life. A breath of peace, asking nothing more than for you to sit down and simply be present.
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