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Mark & Robyn's Travels
Our last day has arrived and it does seem like we have been here for more than just two weeks. I guess the constant travel from city to city has made this seem longer but it has been enjoyable but I will be glad to get back to Dallas.
Today we headed out to Greenwich with plans to see the Cutty Sark (and yes the scotch Cutty Sark is named after this famous sailing ship), the National Maritime Museum, and maybe the Royal Observatory. We decided to take the Thames Clipper from the London Eye pier to get to Greenwich, so yes, we are taking yet another boat ride. At least it is taking us to a destination. We rode the tube over to where the London Eye is located which is across the Thames from Parliament and Big Ben ('oh that's Big Ben I just thought it was some clock on Parliament' see 2012 blog entry called The Abbey). Robyn of course took pictures while we waited for the boat, on the boat, and after we got off the boat. Robyn will challenge any Asian at taking a high quantity of pictures. She fits right in and knows how to elbow her way to the front.
Once we got to Greenwich the Cutty Sark is right there next to the dock. It is now completely restored and in a permanent dry dock so you can walk under the ship. This is one of the more famous clipper ships that transported tea from China to England. It set the record for the fastest sailing time from China on one of its early voyages. It could carry up to 10,000 crates of tea in its hold. The total time of a usual round trip was 10 months, and when it was done generally a new crew was hired to make the next trip. The trips to China lasted until the Suez Canal opened and steam ships going through the canal could make the trip in less time and carry more tea. The Cutty Sark then started hauling cotton from Australia. The problem with that is a good portion of the crew would abandon ship once in Australia and a new crew would have to hired for the return voyage. I loved looking at this ship because I think clipper ships are absolutely beautiful and they have done a great job restoring this ship.
After leaving the Cutty Sark we went over to the National Maritime Museum which has a large exhibit about Lord Nelson and the building of the British Navy during the 18th century into the early 19th century. They also have the coat Lord Nelson was wearing when he was shot and killed during the Battle of Trafalgar, with the bullet hole in the jacket is visible.
I wanted to walk up the hill to the Royal Observatory and see the Prime Meridian which is the 0 degrees of longitude on the map. However Robyn wasn't making that hike so we headed back to central London which was a bit of an adventure because the train we wanted to take back was out of service. We ended up taking the Thames Clipper further down river where we could catch the tube and then worked our way to St Paul Cathedral. There was a free organ concert that Robyn wanted to catch so we stopped there before heading to the hotel. Our last thing to do was have fish and chips at a nearby pub for dinner.
Tomorrow we head home. I will try to make a final post tomorrow once we get back to Dallas. Now it is time to plan the next trip in two years. I have the miles and just need to rack up more hotel points!
Today we headed out to Greenwich with plans to see the Cutty Sark (and yes the scotch Cutty Sark is named after this famous sailing ship), the National Maritime Museum, and maybe the Royal Observatory. We decided to take the Thames Clipper from the London Eye pier to get to Greenwich, so yes, we are taking yet another boat ride. At least it is taking us to a destination. We rode the tube over to where the London Eye is located which is across the Thames from Parliament and Big Ben ('oh that's Big Ben I just thought it was some clock on Parliament' see 2012 blog entry called The Abbey). Robyn of course took pictures while we waited for the boat, on the boat, and after we got off the boat. Robyn will challenge any Asian at taking a high quantity of pictures. She fits right in and knows how to elbow her way to the front.
Once we got to Greenwich the Cutty Sark is right there next to the dock. It is now completely restored and in a permanent dry dock so you can walk under the ship. This is one of the more famous clipper ships that transported tea from China to England. It set the record for the fastest sailing time from China on one of its early voyages. It could carry up to 10,000 crates of tea in its hold. The total time of a usual round trip was 10 months, and when it was done generally a new crew was hired to make the next trip. The trips to China lasted until the Suez Canal opened and steam ships going through the canal could make the trip in less time and carry more tea. The Cutty Sark then started hauling cotton from Australia. The problem with that is a good portion of the crew would abandon ship once in Australia and a new crew would have to hired for the return voyage. I loved looking at this ship because I think clipper ships are absolutely beautiful and they have done a great job restoring this ship.
After leaving the Cutty Sark we went over to the National Maritime Museum which has a large exhibit about Lord Nelson and the building of the British Navy during the 18th century into the early 19th century. They also have the coat Lord Nelson was wearing when he was shot and killed during the Battle of Trafalgar, with the bullet hole in the jacket is visible.
I wanted to walk up the hill to the Royal Observatory and see the Prime Meridian which is the 0 degrees of longitude on the map. However Robyn wasn't making that hike so we headed back to central London which was a bit of an adventure because the train we wanted to take back was out of service. We ended up taking the Thames Clipper further down river where we could catch the tube and then worked our way to St Paul Cathedral. There was a free organ concert that Robyn wanted to catch so we stopped there before heading to the hotel. Our last thing to do was have fish and chips at a nearby pub for dinner.
Tomorrow we head home. I will try to make a final post tomorrow once we get back to Dallas. Now it is time to plan the next trip in two years. I have the miles and just need to rack up more hotel points!
- comments
Rockne Johnson Hi Mark and Robyn, I would like to suggest Denmark for your next trip. I could put you in touch with cousins in Kolding, Fredericia, Odense, and Copenhagen. You could see the house in which your thrice-great grandfather Hans Hansen hanged himself in 1833. Rock
mark_robyn We haven't started planning the next trip which will be May/June of 2016, but will definitely keep this in mind.