On Saturday the 31st, we went to Greenwich. This outing was led by a guide who took about to get a taste of the important museums located there. Above is the Old Royal Naval College designed by Sir Christopher Wren. It was built in two parts so that the Queen's house in the distance behind them, could retain a view of the Thames.
In the building on the left is a delightful chapel.
With its ornate ceiling and balconies, it is wonderful space. On the right hand side is the Painted Hall shown below.
Further from the river is the Queen's house, commissioned by Anne of Denmark, wife of James I . In it is a spiral staircase, the first without a central support in Britain.
After a climb up the hill, we stood at the top along side the Royal Observatory and looked out over the city and our students all taking selfies. I expect that when they get home there will be, among them, thousands of selfies, all with a face in them with eyes wide open and mouth agape. This seems to happen in front of every notable building and view in the city.
The trip back to the city was abroad a tour boat on the Thames. The dock is next to the dry dock where the Cutty Sark and its museum is found.
And once on the boat we passed a venerable pub - the Grapes.
This pub has been in business since 1583. the current building was built in 1720 on the original site. It figures prominently in the novels of Patrick O'Brian. This is where the character Stephan Maturin lived when ashore. Elizabeth and I have a drink here a couple years ago and it is a small pub with a dining room upstairs where Stephen was once to have lived.
On this trip however, luck was had at a brew pub in Greenwich...
the oldest brewer in England.
No comments:
Post a Comment