Colour of Time: Lost in London Near Westminster Abby

Saturday, September 13, 2014

Lost in London Near Westminster Abby

It’s surprisingly easy to get lost in a sea of people - something I experienced firsthand on just the second day after arriving in London. Amid a massive crowd filled with people of every colour, age, and nationality, it became painfully clear how difficult it is to locate someone you know - even someone very familiar - when everyone around you is in constant motion.

After a tour of Westminster Abbey, I followed closely behind my group of four as we made our way to the next destination. Just as we were about to leave, I paused to take one last photo of the majestic Abbey. It was only a brief moment, but by the time I looked up, all my group members had vanished into the crowd.

I quickly pushed my way forward through the throng of tourists, hoping to catch sight of any one of them - but there was no sign of anyone familiar. Then I remembered our golden rule: If separated, return to the last spot where you were all together and wait. The others will come back for you.

I did exactly that and waited patiently for ten minutes. But no one came. I tried calling each of them on my mobile phone, only to discover that none of the calls went through. After another ten minutes of waiting in vain, I decided I had to make a move. My best option seemed to be heading back to the hotel - either on foot or by taxi.

Fortunately, we had walked from the hotel to Westminster Abbey earlier that morning, so I knew it wasn’t too far. I located the hotel on my GPS, felt relieved that I still had a signal, and began walking in the right direction. After crossing a road and reaching a set of traffic lights, I suddenly spotted my group - waiting calmly at the junction just 200 m away from where I had been standing all along!

I couldn’t understand why they hadn’t come back to the original meeting point. They were the ones who hadn’t followed the agreed-upon rule! Nevertheless, we were reunited, and I was simply glad the ordeal was over.

What an unforgettable way to remember Westminster Abbey!

Westminster Abbey - formally known as the Collegiate Church of St. Peter at Westminster - is a grand Anglican church in London, steeped in history and tradition. It has long been the site of royal coronations and burials for British monarchs. Two particularly significant modern events come to mind: the funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales, on 6 September 1997, following her tragic death in Paris; and the royal wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton on 29 April 2011.