My friend Dr. Lisa and I began our Saturday at Westminster Pier, at the 'feet' of 'Big Ben'. Here is the Pier and here is one of the boats that takes tourists down the Thames river.
We both had never done this before, so we got on and headed towards Greenwich - where East meets West...literally! ;)
(Just a note of caution: I was TAKEN by some Gypsies right about where this photo was taken! If anyone offers you 'dried flowers' and says they're collecting for 'Children's Day' - they're LYING! Anyway... ;)
Regal Westminster Palace, i.e. Parliament! As our guide told us and I would like to tell you now, 'Big Ben' is actually 'Westminster Tower' (I think) - 'Big Ben' is actually the name of the VERY big bell inside the tower. I did not know this, but 'Big Ben' only rings ON THE HOUR - all other 'bell ringing' is done by four(?) other bells in the tower....
On the Thames you get to see the HMS Belfast. It is a warship used during WWII and is now a 'living' museum. I always saw it before, but this trip actually gave me the desire to go visit it - maybe next time....
Ahhh, Tower Bridge, how I love you! 'You are so beautiful to me...'
I still remember watching 'The Great Muppet Caper' and seeing how Gonzo, Kermit and Fozzie made their way across the Tower Bridge to the Happiness Hotel - Fozzie informed the other two that that was 'the English River' ;) Oh the gags...that only I seem to appreciate! ;)
This is along the Thames and a part of London called Bermondsey. Our guide said that this is where Fagan/Bill Sykes and the bunch lived from 'Oliver Twist'. I honestly don't remember if he meant the movie was filmed here or if in the book by Dickens, that the robbers lived here. I think possibly both - look at those wooden walkways, etc. and the muck underneath...looks like it did in the movie, so it does....
(Just thought I'd add in that this trip to London was the first time an English man called me 'Guv' ('Hello Guvnuh!') I found it odd and hilarous - what all Americans expect/hope for and never get - because honestly, NO ONE talks like that, outside of Dick van Dyke in 'Mary Poppins' :)
There is Canary Wharf with all of its splendid banky-richness and plunders from the world. And it's funny...I never realized until now (seeing that Canary Wharf is right by the Thames and is also next to several other 'wharves' as you go along the Thames...) that it is possible that Canary WHARF used to be an actual WHARF!! ;) Who says I'm slow?....
And here is the Royal Naval College at Greenwich. Back where all the sailors used to get their training - designed by Sir Christopher Wren (guy who designed St. Paul's).
I think it looks cool - architecturely-speaking....
This is now the site of the University of Greenwich though...
Dr. Lisa and I were sitting on the grass eating lunch when all of a sudden a loud 'Dixieland' band appeared out of nowhere. Very odd, but still fun....
The Dining Hall - wouldn't you love to eat here, eh?
Cool view!
The inside of the Chapel...
And there you see the Royal Observatory perched on its hill. I was so grateful - Northern Europe didn't have the best summer ever and it was just beautiful weather the whole day we went to Greenwich = big-time gratitude.
I remember watching a History channel program about a guy who won an invention contest in Britain back in the 1700's and then as we turned the corner in the Observatory, there it was! This guy's 'clock'.
"John Harrison (
24 March 1693 –
24 March 1776) was an
English clockmaker. He invented the
marine chronometer, a long-sought and critically-needed key piece in solving the problem of accurately establishing the East-West position, or
longitude, of a ship at sea, thus revolutionising and extending the possibility of safe long distance sea travel in the
Age of Sail. The problem was considered so intractable Parliament offered what was at the time a huge fortune for a solution, a prize of
£20,000 (roughly £6 million or €7.7 million in 2007 terms)
Then I remembered watching another History channel program and they were talking about a place in London where all the ships' capitans would look up at 'a ball' and as it would drop, THAT was then officially 'whatever' o' clock time-wise it was supposed to be. Well, THERE IT IS! I didn't realize it was on top of the Royal Observatory. But that's it! So it would drop at 1pm and then all the ships would set their 'John Harrison' marine chronometers and bam! Everyone's on 'Greenwich' time....
"British astronomers have long used the Royal Observatory as a basis for measurement: four separate meridians have been drawn through the building. The basis of
longitude, the
Prime Meridian, established in 1851 and adopted at an international conference in 1884..."
In other words, MY left leg is in the 'Eastern' hemisphere and MY right left is in the Western hemisphere - who says East is East and West is West and never shall they meet?
The whole place used to be an old palace, and so of course there were hunting grounds. Hunting ground is now a big park. Dr. Lisa heard of/knew of 'some deer' that live back here. 'Hmm...interesting...'
And sure enough she found them! Look there!
The big Daddy....
The babies...
And the view as we came back down the hill! Wunderbar!
As Dr. Lisa and I made our way back to Greenwich city center, we took a quick look inside a market and there I found this messazh...
I just found it hilarious when thinking about some people's/my 'over-weightyness' ;)
Well, thanks Greenwich. You were beautiful, interesting and fun! I definitely recommend you to all who read this....
