a note on double standards

During our 3 hour tour of London, we stopped for about 20 minutes at St. Paul's Cathedral (and how many "our" sounds can I add to that opening? Apparently only three). Gorgeously imposing building, you have to crane your neck to see the top and it's really spectacular. Makes you feel really small, which I guess would be the point.

But the point of this post is when I ventured inside the doors. On a bright red sign is a request that you please not take any photos of the place whatsoever because it is a house of prayer and God, be respectful, yadda yadda. Okay, I understand that, to an extent, so I nodded and capped my lens. Then I happened to look to the sign just to the right of this one, where it listed out admission prices. Apparently, the only time you're allowed inside without being charged a minimum of 8 pounds (that's $16) is when they're holding official service. You're not even allowed to just go in and sit and pray.

Which is where I find my issue. If it's a house of God, then it's a house of God, and admission shouldn't be charged. End. Of. Story. I realize that the church takes money to upkeep, but that's what donations and alms are for, which I'm sure the church also receives in big, colorful bundles. (I say colorful because unlike us Americans, the English have at least advanced as far as coloring their money. It's much more diverse than just big, green bundles. But I digress.) If the church charges admission, then it is a tourist stop or a museum, in which case pictures without flash should be allowed which they do at Notre Dame de Paris (incidentally, they also don't charge admission. Funny ol' world, innit?) or the Louvre (which does charge admission. See where I'm going with this?). It's one or the other, not both, thank you so much, English people. Don't ask me to respect the religiousity of a place by not taking photos (it's so gorgeous, it's almost a crime to forbid it) and then demand admission fees.

This is only one of many reasons why I'm studying in Paris, and not London. Another main one is the weather. Dreary place, this.