March 28: Alanna and London!

Today's effort is a joint one, typed on the tablet whie waiting for our play to begin (and at intermission for Ian).  We met up with our niece Alanna, saw Westminster Abbey, took the river boat to Greenwich, and saw Wicked at the Apollo Theatre.  I can't believe we fit it all into one (exhausting!) day.



Alanna and Ian at Greenwich, the camera pointed toward the Thames River.  The Royal Military College is in the background.

We had the best of intentions this morning to get up super early and try for tickets at the Houses of Parliament before meeting Alanna.  However, our bed was very comfortable, and after chatting with Alanna, we planned to meet her at Westminster Abbey at 11:00, and headed downstairs for a proper breakfast -- eggs with toast soldiers for me, and poached eggs and lox for Ian, although he graciously swapped a big piece of smoked salmon for one of my toast soldiers.  Note to self:  grow watercress in the pond this year. 

Ian entertaining me at breakfast. Actually, the Internet worked better in the cafe than in our room, so he is sending an email for work.  I would entertain myself, but it's MY tablet!!

View of Big Ben

We were so EXCITED to see Alanna! We agreed to meet at the doors to St. Margaret's, next to Westminster Abbey, and arrived a bit early, just so there was no chance at all of missing her. While we waited for her we speculated on her current hair colour and if we would recognize her, and took pictures of the statues across from the Abbey and Big Ben. 
 

St. Margaret's Church

This is what we looked at while we waited for Alanna -- tought life, eh?



Churchill's monument kept us company.

The sky wsn't as bright today, but the Royal Ensign still flew proudly.

And suddenly, there she was!

In moments she was there for satisfying hugs, looking and sounding so familiar – and blonde.  Still, she has a new maturity and competence that is so good to see.  London is truly helping her to reach her own amazing potential and really become herself.

 

Ian going into the Abbey.

We wandered through Westminster Abbey and barely listened to Jeremy Iron's commentary as we chatted about everything we've been up to in the past nine months.  Still, Westminster Abbey remains one of my favorite places, as it combines so many elements of both history and literature. There is nowhere else I know of that gives such a sense of these famous people whose stories I know so well really having lived.  Ian remembers going there as a child with his mom and brothers -- his mother being desperate to get the boys to see something other than the Natural History Museum -- and soon asking why the names of people were on the floor.  When Ian found out that they were walking on dead people, he made everyone leave.

 

He has changed his opinion now.  The place is so steeped in history and so important to English identity.   It is strange to stand so near the mortal remains of so many famous figures from English history!  We saw the tombs of Edward the Confessor, Edward I, Edward III, Henry III, Henry IV, Elizabeth I, and Mary Queen of Scots.  Queen Mary is buried directly beneath her sister, Queen Elizabeth, without a monument of her own -- finally united "in hope of resurrection.  The Abby itself is grand and beautiful. 

One can't take pictures inside -- a typical rule for places of worship around the world, but we took a few in the Chapter House, where they are allowed. Above is one of Alanna.



When I travelled with Alanna a few years ago, we waited on the curb while little old ladies and police offcicers pushed by us on the "Don't Walk".  Note our little scofflaw standing under the "Do Not Sign and shaming us with her spark."  (apologies to Al Stewart)
 

After the Abby we walked down to the river and crossed over to the pier at the Eye. On Alanna's recommendation we caught one of the Thames tour boats for a round trip to Greenwich.  The least expensive option was also the fastest, but we had to forgo the guide.  Alanna did a River Walk tour recently and was much better than any professional tour guide could ever hope to be as she told us about plays she had seen and things she had done here.  It was a terrific visit!

Waiting for the boat under the London Eye.

From the water we could see both the very old and the very new.  Alanna says that the curved building on the right melts the windshields of cars parked below the curved part of the building.  Ian wants to try it out.

The Tower of London from the water.  The writing shows you the entrance to the Traitor's Gate.



Tower Bridge, from the river, in the rain.

 Arriving in Greenwich, we first had lunch at the George Arms pub and booked tickets to see Wicked later in the evening, or so we thought. 

Then we visited the Queen's House with paintings of famous naval scenes and personalities.  The painting of Cook was just as I have seen it reproduced in many a book, but bigger and better! 

The real attraction was the Queen's House itself, designed by Inigo Jones, with amazing vistas.

The Queen's House from the Naval College.

Inigo Jones designed the beautiful tulip staircase, seen from below.

Alanna at a window in the Queen's House.

We enjoyed walking around the Naval College, and I thought of Horatio Hornblower when we passed a yard with a mast for practicing rigging.  We saw the famous Cutty Sark, and the observatory, and were on both hemispheres for a moment. Leave it to the British Navy to establish the Prime Meridian at home.

Alanna and Margaret in Greenwich.

Alanna and Ian in much the same place.

 

Alanna continues to be enthusiastic about sheep.

We went back to by river to the Embankment stop, where we said adieu to Alanna for a few weeks, and then headed off to pick up our theatre tickets. 

A slight problem – Ian had accidentally b9ought tickets for Monday instead of tonight!!  After a brief panic, the lovely lady at the ticket booth got the company to refund our tickets – except for 10 pounds each, and sold us tickets for tonight that were only two rows apart.  The production was marvellous and the happy ending was really satisfying.  Ian's Scottish little soul was equally heartened by the fact that he ended up saving money overall.

It is daylight savings night in Britain, so the 6:00 wake-up call is extra early.  So far we have gone to be about five times each, then remembered just one more little thing . . .

 

It is daylight savings tonight, so clocks go ahead by an hour.  This is unfortunate, as we are leaving for Berlin in the morning, and as I write this, the alarm is set for 6:00 – a mere five hours from now.