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Hello from cold London, soon to be wet UK. It is a long weekend with a holiday on Monday so of course it is going to rain!
I froze at Hampton Court Palace yesterday. It was a nice train trip there, and I was the first one through to get the audio guide, not at all busy.
It's the biggest palace in the UK, being added onto by each new Monarch. Henry V111 was there a lot with his wives.
They have a replica crown to see and amazing rooms and furnishings to see.
The grounds and gardens are spectacular too, tho not the right time of yr for the roses and other flowers. There were lovely tulips and daffodils to see.
They have the world's largest grape vine.
I came back after it to get ready for the Les Mis theatre. Last time I went here everyone was dressed up but this time no one was. Jeans everywhere, so I fitted in.
I was in the very top back row, a bit far away, tho a clear view. But as you'll know the whole show is in nearly dark, so I didn't really feel involved, or see the faces. It was a bit long too, I may have snoozed!
I think every theatre got out at the same time, it was madness at the metro station.
Today I went walking, not to Hampstead Heath as planned, but back thru the city via a couple of interesting churches,then Waterloo monument to Westminister Abbey. Without a map this was tricky and the 601g iPad proved its worth. No one I asked for directions was a local, many were happy to get their phone GPS out!
I didn't want to go into the Abbey again for £20 but was able to go in to see the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior for free.
On my war tour I'd learnt about how complex it had been in selecting the warrior. 5 men had been dug up from different cemeteries, then a different lot of soldiers changed the order of coffins, then one was chosen. The coffin was bought back on a ship (Verdun I think) then on a train, then laid in state for a week for people to walk past. Very complex, and he was awarded the V.C. And France's highest order too. At the same time France did the same thing.
After that I went to see Westminister Cathedral up the road, the boss RC church.It was interesting, not finished yet.
Then I nipped up to Buckingham Palace which was over run with tourists watching the trooping of the Guard. I got a glimpse hen had AM sitting frozen in the park.
I then happened to wander past the Guards Chapel and a memorial with the words to "Flanders Field" on it ( a poem from WW1 about the poppies) and the Guards came back. I got a good photo. Then past the Cenotaph and other statues.
I was going past St Martins in the Field at Trafalgar Sq when I saw a notice of a free concert so popped in. It was amazing with a solo violinist and great horns.
They played Water Suite by Handel, Violin Concerto by Mozart and other stuff.
So more culture! Then I had a late lunch on the grass of the National Gallery.
Then off to look for a new large travel bag. I did the rounds of travel shops, really wanted a North Face bag, but probably not big enough, bit heavy and too expensive. It's available $110 cheaper at online sites but no one would give a discount, so I ended up getting a Mountain Design one at 50% off. Thegood thing about it is there are 200 shops in the UK if it wears.
It's a bit smaller than the other one, so I've struggled to repack. Don't think I like the order I've done it in, will probably work on it in the next week.
I've then lazed, read the free PM paper ( same as TV , mainly about the elections on Thursday. I hate our own elections, and do an invalid vote, so couldn't care less about the one here. It's going to be a long week!!!)
I had yummy Chinese takeaway sitting in bed. The excitement of travelling!
I'm off tomorrow,spending the next week moving north towards Glasgow to start my 8 day walk up the middle of Scotland, in the sleet,frost and rain! Boo hoo.
I looked at very posh double layer rain pants today as my single layer plastic ones are very ordinary. But at £125 ($250) I gulped and decided I'd just have to get wet.
- comments
debz I really don't know why you go on these walks in the cold, you hate the cold...You will have to walk fast so you keep warm if you don't have nice warm pants, just buy them and at least be warm. All these hiking and camping stores are good quality but bloody expensive....really isn't fair as most people that like to hike don't normally have heaps of money...good luck going north, be safe! love debz