Picking Up the Pace and Besting Time

 Greenwich was our timely destination. The others had been here before and were happy to show off the National Maritime Museum and the Observatory. This was a very popular museum, and again, it was free. Such a boon for learning all about British history and culture. This museum is a wonderful place for kids. Lots of hands-on activities to keep everyone happy.  There is a cannon that was the centre of attention for all of the kids and their dads and their uncles and their brothers etc. If you’re catching my drift, Grandpa was very intrigued with this one.  A real kid-sized wooden crane that the kids could sit on and move their cargo from dock to storage was also lots of fun.  Everyone enjoyed the outdoor playground with its nautical-themed climbing structures and a safe rubberized landing if things didn’t go so well. We were all fine. 

A late “Hamilton” entry.  

Another favourite name

Sinking pirate ships

Little sister helping too!

David at the top of the Observatory. That’s the National Maritime Museum in background. 

Can you find the ship in a bottle? 

The park that the maritime museum is located in is also home to the Greenwich Observatory. This is the place where all the world sets their clocks by so everyone is on proper time. You’ve heard CBC radio likely say 12:00 noon Greenwich mean time. It was a somewhat windy walk up the hill to the observatory which had an amazing  view of the museum and the park. We didn’t have time to go inside the observatory this trip. 

We got to the museum via tube (underground) and the DLR train (above-ground). Coming home we decided to take the Uber Boat which taxis people from various waterfront docks to a close-by Underground Station. David and I loved this experience. We have never used this form of transportation before. And it’s also a part of the Oyster transportation “tap on” system. It takes awhile as it makes many quick stops (and I mean very quick) to let people on and off, and it’s clearly a very popular mode of transit. It took us about an hour to get from Greenwich to Battersea Park in London. It might not be the fastest mode but it certainly is the most scenic— touring down The Thames and seeing the incredible architecture on the waterfront. (See the pictures below. Sorry they’re window and watery but mostly inside seats on these boats.) Such a wonderful blending of old and new together. These architects sure get it right. 

The dock we arrived at is right beside the Battersea Power Station which has converted an old power station into a pretty spectacular shopping mall and attached residence. We went inside for about half-an-hour and enjoyed the opportunity to browse in upscale shops not available at home. It’s another gorgeous building. Coming home from Battersea Park we took the bus (not a double-decker as the kids frequently request) but it was interesting to drive through some beautiful areas of the Chelsea neighbourhood and see what I would call the hospital district. 

Patiently waiting for our “ship to come in.”

The Uber Water Taxi

It was fascinating to see the other water traffic—many tour boats.

View of Westminster Parliament Buildings from the water 

On Sunday morning we got up very early (we’re not such early risers here) to cheer the runner on in her race through Kew Green, a part of Kew Gardens. It was about 1C this morning so it was indeed a chilly run but periods of time the sun was out and the rain held off. So a good clear, crisp run. Our challenge wasn’t the exertion of running the race, it was finding the right entrance to the park for the race but we did it and got to see our runner at least three times during the 1/2 marathon. Viewing challenges are always present but thanks to runner’s husband, he found and tracked her so we’d be at the perfect viewing spot.  And she did it—her first 1/2 marathon before the age of 40, in a faster time than she’d expected! We’d say that was a productive morning. We were all so very proud. And she’s got the t-shirts to prove it. 

Can you spot her? A bit like Where’s Waldo? 

Strong finish to the end. 

Congratulations…goal achieved!

No Monkey Business Here, Just Show Business

The Science Museum dominated our morning time and we loved the emphasis they place on finding a career that’s right for you, in the science field. The lads tried their hand at welding and picking up a boulder as though they were using a crane. Then we moved on to the Natural History Museum. We’d not been there before. We had seen them redesigning the exterior of the building when we were here two years ago. Now it is complete and it is impressive. The outside grounds are focused on dinosaurs and really neat appropriate landscapes. This museum is hugely popular. The crowds are comparable to the crowds at The Louvre in Paris. Once we got inside the museum, David and I opted to see the Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibit. It was slightly less busy (because you have to pay to see this exhibit whereas all other museum exhibits are free). The photos were stunning. Many of them were taken by drone. They also have a Young Photographers part of the competition as well. And how technology changes things. Of course, all the photos were exhibited on digital screens made to look like picture frames. Most of the competition categories are geared towards awareness of how man’s interaction with the natural world is altering the environment for creatures and all living things. We also toured the Earthquakes section where they actually recreate an earthquake that occurred in Japan. Museum guests stand on what looks like the floor of a Japanese supermarket and then the floor starts to move in a fashion similar to an earthquake. 

And our busy museum day was capped off with an evening at Hamilton at the Victoria Palace Theatre. It did not disappoint. It was particularly precious to be there with our eldest little on this trip who loves the character of King George and his foppish ways which were quite entertaining. So much so that he leaned over into his mother’s lap to hide his uncontrollable laughter. I highly recommend Hamilton. A fun evening out. 

Sorry this is such a dark photo I took of an exhibit (clearly I’m not winning Wildlife photographer of the year), but it shows the first earthquake seismometer used in China. At the top of the vessel there are creatures that are dragons and when the ball drops from the dragon’s mouth into the bullfrog’s mouth, there’s been an earthquake. The direction of the earthquake depends on which frog the ball falls into. 

This is one of the competition photos. The photographer had been trying to take pictures of something else, but the monkeys kept rearranging his camera equipment and destroying things. He finally relented and got some good images of the monkeys instead. 

This photo won People’s Choice Favourite.
It’s a rodent that looks like it’s flying, even though it’s just jumping into the air. 

Just a sampling of how busy it is (and how beautiful) the Natural History Museum is. 

This seal was adorably photographed. 

It wouldn’t be a Barb photo exhibit if there weren’t some frog images.
This one captured a horde of frogs after a storm. 

This sloth photo was also adorable/heartbreaking. Sloths are being forced to cross the road as their natural habitat is being overtaken by vehicles. This poor fellow’s photo was captured as he clung to a fence post to avoid all of the interested onlookers hanging around. The photographer took the photo after the humans vacated the area. 

More examples of the busy Natural History Museum. 

Check out that dinosaur!

Exposed

 A visit to the Albert & Victoria museum was on our list today. We focused on the Photography and Art Exhibits, including the Theatre and Performance wing, and a new exhibit on mosaics. It was enlightening. 

The Photography exhibit appealed because it centred on a Canadian exhibit. But it surprised us. Unlike other exhibit areas, this one focused on books by Canadian artists who had written a book depicting photographing life in Canada. So unlike other areas of the V & A we ended up in more of a Research wing where people could sit and look through books by Canadian authors to conduct their research. 

The theatre and performance wing showcased everything behind the theatre. I loved it because it showed miniatures of set designs of famous plays and ballets. And the costume section was equally engaging giving a close-up opportunity to see how the pros really do plan every element of costume design. 

The museum directed us towards the Mosaics exhibit which is a new part of the V & A. It was really interesting to see what appear to be paintings, huge ones, actually micromosaics using tiny pieces of mosaic to bring the painting to life. Many different stones are used in the process along with silicon and a heating method. The end result was stunning to observe and it was incredible to see how the normal naked eye wouldn’t even pick up that the art was a mosaic rather than a painting. 

There were over 140 different stones used in this mosaic. This one’s for you Jeannie. 

The sun shone through today so even though there’s still a definite chill in the air, it still felt great to be out and about walking around. The family joined up with us today as we did a companion walk through the park whilst the runner completed her workout. The highlight of the late afternoon was the self-driving taxi we saw driving through Hyde Park. Here’s a picture of it parked, the white car with a black whirly thing on top— presumably waiting for a passenger. 

You Say Abbey, I Say Cathedral

Maps dominated our early morning discussions. My task was to find the route to see Westminster. Google maps efficiently directed us to take the tube. Arriving at South Kensington station we proceeded to take the District Line which was supposed to be two stops to arrive at our destination. David thought we should take it to Westminster station which was four stops but I doggedly assured him that Google Maps said it was only two stops and we should follow their directions. We got off at Victoria Station (two stops), walked for 7 minutes, when ‘lo and behold we arrived at a beautiful church, albeit, without much of a crowd. Reading the sign aloud to David, I said, “We’re Here! Westminster Cathedral.” To which he replied, well it’s pretty small for Westminster Abbey. Horrified, I realized I’d never been mapping for the Abbey— I thought we wanted Westminster Cathedral not realizing there were two different Westminster churches. We of course wanted Westminster Abbey, the site of kings and queens and coronations and burials and baptisms. My history buff also didn’t know there were two Westminster churches. Turns out Westminster Cathedral is a Catholic Church and the Protestant tradition is followed at Westminster Abbey. We did get to wander through both places and their beauty and history can best be explained in the photos.

It was interesting to read historic inscriptions throughout the Abbey. The earliest inscriptions never included the letter “s” as it was not in use during that time period.  Words that should have had a letter “s” were replaced with something that looked much more like an “f.” We got clarification that it was Olde English vocabulary and spelling—interesting which spelling changes stayed and which ones moved on.

Westminster Abbey, a very popular tourist site

A tile to honour the work of Nelson Mandela

The variety of artworks honouring different people and groups in the Abbey. 

Always remembering. 

The weather has cooperated nicely with little showers rather than the expected downpour rains. However, the cold and the wind far surpassed anything anyone was expecting. Layering three jackets together at one time still isn’t protecting us from a nasty and unusual London wind. But the cherry blossoms are in bloom and the roses and daffodils and hyacinths are starting to show nicely. 

The appearance of an unexpected palm reminding us London can be a more tropical clime at times,
though not words we’d use to describe today’s weather. 

We spent the latter part of this afternoon strolling around South Kensington. It’s a great neighbourhood full of diverse restaurants and interesting little shops. The names of these spaces bring such a smile to my face—I just love British wit— particularly the “scoff and banter” restaurant. 

And the architecture continues to delight whether an historical abbey, an unexpected cathedral, a never-plain old church or the ever-present row housing, apartments and condos and townhouses.