transport-chair – passporttopossibilitycom

Our last day in London began with a taxi ride to Leadenhall Market, one of the city’s most beautiful covered markets. Dating back to the 14th century, the market stands on the site of what was once Roman London and was redesigned in 1881 by architect Sir Horace Jones, who also designed Tower Bridge and Smithfield Market. Its colorful Victorian ironwork, ornate roof, and cobbled walkways make it one of London’s architectural treasures.

Harry Potter fans will recognize Leadenhall Market immediately. It served as the filming location for Diagon Alley in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. The blue-fronted optician at Bull’s Head Passage was transformed into the entrance to the Leaky Cauldron, making it a must-see destination for fans of the series.

We wandered through the market, admiring the architecture before settling in for a lovely lasagna lunch. Afterwards we strolled through the surrounding neighborhoods toward the Tower of London. Along the way we found ourselves constantly looking up. London has an incredible way of blending centuries-old buildings with sleek modern skyscrapers, creating fascinating contrasts around every corner.

We stopped in a tourist shop where I purchased a handheld fan to help combat the summer heat. Kiya, however, had her eyes fixed on the shop across the street. Once inside, she was definitely in a shopping mood! She happily let us allow her to be pushed and wandered through the store selecting souvenirs, and we decided to let her enjoy herself by choosing whatever she liked. Watching her excitement was every bit as enjoyable as the shopping itself.

Continuing our walk, we came across a section of London’s ancient Roman Wall. Built around AD 200, the wall once enclosed the city of Londinium and stretched for nearly two miles, protecting the Roman settlement for centuries. It’s incredible to think that pieces of it still stand nearly 1,800 years later.

Across the street stands 10 Trinity Square, one of London’s grandest historic buildings. Completed in 1922 as the headquarters of the Port of London Authority, it overlooks the Tower of London and was designed in the Beaux-Arts style by Sir Edwin Cooper. During the Second World War, General Dwight D. Eisenhower used the building as his headquarters while planning the D-Day landings. Today it has been transformed into a luxury hotel and residences while still retaining much of its original grandeur.

The building is richly decorated with allegorical sculptures that celebrate Britain’s role as a global maritime nation during the height of the British Empire. Around the exterior are large stone figures representing the four continents that were traditionally recognized at the time—Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas. Each continent is portrayed with symbolic objects and clothing that reflected how those regions were viewed in the early 20th century. Europe represents learning, government, and commerce; Asia symbolizes trade, culture, and luxury goods such as silk and spices; Africa is depicted through symbols of its wildlife, natural resources, and exploration; while the Americas represent agriculture, industry, and opportunity. Interspersed among these figures are sculptures representing Navigation, Commerce, Industry, and Seafaring, honoring the sailors, dockworkers, merchants, and explorers who helped make the Port of London one of the busiest ports in the world.

What immediately caught my eye, however, were the spectacular bronze sculptures crowning the roof. Massive horses pulling chariots appear to burst dramatically from the corners of the building, as though racing into the sky above London. These powerful quadriga sculptures symbolize triumph, progress, and Britain’s mastery of the seas. They are impossible to miss and add an incredible sense of movement and grandeur to an already stunning piece of architecture. It was one of those unexpected buildings that made us stop, stare, and appreciate the artistry that surrounds you throughout London.

Nearby we also passed St. Bartholomew-the-Great, London’s oldest parish church, founded in 1123. Standing quietly among the busy city streets, it was another reminder that history is woven into nearly every block of London.

Soon we reached the Tower of London. Since Mom had toured it on a previous visit, she knew many of the towers and stairways would not be accessible for Kiya’s transport chair, so we chose to admire the historic fortress from the outside instead. Built by William the Conqueror beginning in 1066, the Tower has served as a royal palace, prison, treasury, mint, and armory. It has witnessed nearly a thousand years of English history, from royal coronations to famous imprisonments and executions.

We made our way to Tower Pier to catch another Uber Boat. While we were waiting, I noticed a traditional tall sailing ship making its way up the Thames. I turned to Mom and said, “They’re going to have to raise Tower Bridge.” Sure enough, within minutes the roadway slowly lifted to allow the ship to pass beneath. At almost the same time, a beautiful replica paddlewheel steamer approached from the opposite direction. Watching the bridge rise and lower was surprisingly peaceful. I expected grinding machinery and loud motors, but instead it moved almost silently and with remarkable grace.

We boarded our Uber Boat and cruised back to St. George Wharf Pier near Vauxhall.

Our apartment had been in a wonderful location. Vauxhall Bridge, completed in 1906, is one of London’s oldest road bridges crossing the Thames. It connects Westminster with the Vauxhall district and is decorated with large bronze statues representing arts, sciences, engineering, agriculture, architecture, and local government. Just across the river sits the headquarters of MI6, the United Kingdom’s Secret Intelligence Service. The distinctive green glass building has become famous through numerous James Bond films. We joked that we were probably staying in one of the safest neighborhoods in London with MI6 just across the street keeping an eye on everything!

That evening we repacked our suitcases one final time and prepared for the next stage of our adventure. The following morning we would board the Eurostar, traveling beneath the English Channel and leaving England behind as we headed for Amsterdam. It was hard to believe how quickly our time in London had passed, but we were excited to see what awaited us in the Netherlands.

Kissing the Blarney Stone

We were up early again, navigating the Irish train system. One thing that continues to amaze us is how incredibly helpful everyone has been. The railway staff are always ready with ramps to help Kiya on and off the trains, and if a worker isn’t immediately available, complete strangers step in to help. The kindness we’ve experienced has been overwhelming.

The train ride through the Irish countryside was absolutely gorgeous. Rolling green fields stretched for miles, dotted with sheep, cattle, and stone fences. It felt like something straight out of a postcard.

We were lucky enough to have an amazing taxi driver named Greg, who had us laughing the entire ride up to Blarney Castle. By the time we arrived, our cheeks hurt from smiling. He has five daughters ranging from 27-8

There was a small line at the castle entrance, so Mom, Kiya, and I waited together. Mom had visited Blarney Castle before, so she stayed below with Kiya while I made the climb. I could hear a few comments and notice some curious looks while we waited, as I am sure they were wondering how the wheelchair was going up into the castle. Once inside, I took photos of every sign on the way up and explored every room I could find on the way down.

As I climbed through the castle, I learned that Blarney Castle has a remarkable history stretching back more than 800 years. A stone fortification is believed to have first been built on the site around 1200. After that structure was destroyed, the castle we see today was rebuilt in 1446 by Cormac Láidir MacCarthy, King of Munster. Blarney Castle is a tower house, a type of fortified residence built by Gaelic lords and the Anglo-Irish between the 15th and 17th centuries. Most tower houses were four or five stories tall and contained one or two main chambers along with several smaller rooms on each floor. What makes Blarney Castle unique is its size. It is an unusually large tower house and actually consists of at least two towers. The second tower was added during the 1500s, and if you know where to look, you can still see where the two phases meet as a vertical line in the stonework.

One of the most intriguing legends connected to the castle involves the famous Blarney Stone. According to folklore, 4,000 men from Munster were sent to help Robert the Bruce fight the English at the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314. As a gesture of gratitude, it is said that half of the Stone of Scone was sent to Blarney and incorporated into the castle’s battlements, eventually becoming the legendary Blarney Stone.

At the top, I was ready. I leaned back, grabbed the rails, and kissed the famous Blarney Stone. Now I’m patiently waiting for all the luck, charm, and gift of eloquence it’s supposed to bring me! We shall see.

What surprised me most was how high up the castle kitchen was. The stairs were incredibly narrow, steep, and uneven. I couldn’t help but wonder how women managed them while wearing long dresses. Surely there must have been a few unfortunate tumbles over the centuries! I had no trouble with the low ceilings, but many visitors had to bend, duck, and crouch their way through the passages.

Walking around the castle grounds afterward, I was fascinated by the engineering. The builders found a massive rock outcrop, leveled it with additional stonework, and then constructed the castle directly on top of it. The walls are an astonishing 18 feet thick at the base and gradually slope inward as they rise. This design helped make the structure more stable and has undoubtedly contributed to its survival for centuries. It also served a defensive purpose. If attackers approached the castle walls, defenders could drop objects from above, and the sloping walls would cause those objects to bounce outward, striking enemies farther away from the base of the castle. Standing beneath those massive stone walls and realizing the thought and skill that went into their construction made me appreciate the castle even more.

Over the centuries, the castle witnessed its share of conflict and changing ownership. It was besieged and captured by English Parliamentarian forces in 1646 during the English Civil War. The castle was later restored to Donough MacCarty, the Earl of Clancarty, but was eventually confiscated by William of Orange. After passing through several owners, the estate was purchased by Sir James St. John Jefferyes in 1688. The Jefferyes family later built a mansion near the ruined keep, and remarkably, their descendants continue to own and care for the estate today.

Once my climb was complete, we enjoyed lunch before wandering through the gardens. The flowers were enormous and bursting with color. We spent some time chatting with a lovely couple while taking photographs of the castle and grounds. After exploring a bit more outside the castle walls, it was time to make our way back to the train station.

The ride back was over two hours long, so we settled into our seats and pulled out a deck of cards for a game of cribbage. It was the perfect way to end another wonderful day of adventure in Ireland.

As we watched the Irish countryside roll past our train window, I couldn’t help but think about all the people who had walked those castle halls over the last eight centuries. Blarney Castle is far more than just a place to kiss a famous stone—it is a testament to medieval engineering, Irish resilience, and centuries of history. And if the legend is true, perhaps it has also gifted me with a little extra eloquence to tell this story.