Forty, Firths and Une Fête Foraine: 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.