Profile
Blog
Photos
Videos
Another day catching trains, and the agenda today is Westminster Cathedral.
The sun was shining brightly, Summer is here this week.
Hopped off at Westminster Station and walked over to the Cathedral. Joined the queue and 30 mins later we were inside, I did not realize how big the Cathedral really is.
You get a leaflet guide along with an Acoustiguide that explains each of the 28 areas.
There are just heaps of memorial plaques and sculptures all around the Abbey.
In c960 the first Benedictine monks settled at Thorney Island, later to become Westminster. In 1065 Edward the Confessor's Abbey was dedicated.
1066 was the first recorded coronation in the Abbey of William the Conqueror.
In 1301 the Coronation chair was made and used at every Coronation since 1308..... That's a long time ago!
To walk around a place that is so steeped in history for all those years is quite a buzz.
Some of the highlights were Henry VII's Lady chapel, the Coronation chair, the grave of the unknown warrior and the museum, and to see where Queen Elizabeth, and Catherine and Prince William were married, it is so different to be there and see for yourself.
We went in by the Great North door and finally exited after about 3 hours out the Great West door.
It was a great experience.
Next we were on to another Thames cruise, this time down to Greenwich.
The tide was going out and we learned that it can rise 7 to 8 meters and an ebb tide can go out at 6 knots.
We could see St Pauls cathedral and were told it is 365 ft high, one foot for every day of the year. The new footbridge that now blocks a decent view of it from the river, was opened some years ago by the Queen at 11am.... It was closed 3 hrs later because it wobbled so badly when the people walked across it, they were all falling over. They now cheekily call it the Wibbly Wobbly bridge. It cost more to fix it than build it!
Sounds like Qld...!
They are very busy sprucing everything up for the Olympics.
I would not like to be here then, too crowded for me as it is now.
We were on the underground heading back to the Hotel, it was chockers, then halfway through the route we had to get off as there was a problem. Waited for the next train. Everyone that got off plus more that came then had to get on the next train they sent. Got about halfway again and they had to terminate that train. Same scenario, and talk about sardines it was a real crusher.
Finally got to Kenton. Had Subway for tea and called it a day.
- comments