Rising eye

 Autumn. Dried berries hanging from the intricately drawn branches. Chimneys are waiting for the evening to start smoking. The wind blows rarely, almost not touching the flags.

You can see so many different details in one place: columns, portico, rocket-style capsules, mansards. Brick, blocks and stone are neighbours here.

London is the city of contrasts. Only here new buildings, offices and attractions are located next to the palaces of the 18th or 19th century. And can you say that it doesn't look good? This urban background is perfectly balanced with the courtyard on the foreground.

And this is a Parade Ground of the Horse Guards Building from Whitehall. Isn't it amazing? If you're lucky, you can see here ranks of prancing horses and riders in the famous red coats and golden helmets. It happens daily, during the ceremony of Changing The Queen's Life Guard. It also calls a 4 o'clock parade.

This surprisingly austere palace (excuse me for my fairy-tale language, but I can't think of something less than "palace" when I look at a gorgeous building like this one) was built in the middle of the 18th century to replace the old one, and contains stables and barracks for the military.

Personally, if I were a horse, I would love to live in such a chic place.

In the mid 19th century, this clock was the main in the whole Westminster area. And just let me tell you, you should listen to its bell's voice. It's no less interesting than the one of the Big Ben.

And let me introduce you to the closest buildings in the area. 

When you visit London, you will certainly find a lot of fun and crowded places because the city boils with life and hurries to throw everything it has onto the citizens, travellers, familiar faces and complete strangers. But London also have places where you can be contemplative, pensive, even gloomy if you want. And these places are not only quiet yards in Islington or Hackney. Right here, on the granite bank of the Thames, you can stop and digest everything you saw, sitting on the bench, eating a sandwich, turning overwhelming emotions into words and looking at the perfect tandem of the old and the new millenniums.