Tuesday August 5, 2014

Today we were up and out just a little later than yesterday.  Our first stop was the Tower of London.  The original Tower was built by William the Conqueror after the Battle of Hastings in 1066 to protect himself from the Saxons.  It has been modified a bit since then.  Today is the Centenary of Britain declaring war on Germany in 1914.  Britain, according to what we’ve heard on the BBC had given an ultimatum to Austria-Hungry to stand down from hostilities or it would declare war at 23:00 on August 4^th, 1914.  So for the British WWI started at 23:00 August 4^th, 1914.  To commemorate this event everyone is to turn off their lights at 22:00 to recreate the condition when England waited that last hour to see if there was going to be a war.  We did turn off our lights, but did leave the TV on however.  This is a long way to go (which if you’ve paid attention is what I always do) to explain the ceramic red poppies in the photos of the Tower of London.  Red poppies will be added every day until the Centenary of the Armistice of November 11^th, 2014 until there are 888,246 to commemorate the number of British and Commonwealth soldiers killed in WWI.  It is very moving when one considers the slaughter that occurred during “The War to End All Wars”.

We took the Yeoman tour of the Tower.  It was a mob scene so we couldn’t always hear what was being said, but it was entertaining.  We then got in line to see the Crown Jewels, maybe one or one and a half hour wait, but that is just part of the drill.  When we came out the line was probably twice the size!  We went out to get lunch before the next leg on the journey.

We took a boat, the Thames Clipper to Greenwich.  This is actually a commuter boat and not a river cruise, but it was a nice ride and gave us a chance to rest after being on our feet all morning.  When we arrive at Greenwich we stopped briefly in the visitor center to take some photos and then we trooped up to the Royal Observatory.  The climb is pretty steep, but we made it.  Then it was into another line so we could take our photos on the Prime Meridian.  While in line we were able to complain about the people who took too long (in our humble opinion) to take their photos.  We of course hustled in and out when it was our turn.  We then took the #188 bus back to London.  The ride lasts at least an hour, a little different way to see the sights.  For dinner tonight we went to Mestizo a Mexican restaurant that is about 100 ft from our apartment.  It was very good, we had too much food, and Sue had two (I counted) Margaritas!  Our bar bill was larger than the cost of the food.  We will go back when Jude and Tamme visit.  Then it was home to watch a little of the Centenary on BBC, and turn off our lights at 22:00.

Tuesday Bill and Mary were off to Paris on the Eurostar from St. Pancras, which is only about a 15 minute walk from the apartment.  Along the way we stopped to show them the Treasures of the British Library.  Sue stayed outside with the luggage and I went in with Bill and Mary.  I’ll let you use the Google to learn what the Treasures are all about.  I’ll just say that the Magna Carta, a Gutenberg Bible, drawings by Leonardo, Michelangelo, etc. are on display.  Sue and I just love this stuff.  Anyway I walked up to a display case and see two volumes of The Book of Ladies by Christine de Pizan.  A manuscript of her’s The Book of the Queen has an illustration that is on our 1001 list!  These two books have similar illustrations all done by unknown artisans.  I have already contacted the Library about seeing the other manuscript and the chances are slim to none that we would be able to see it.  The manuscript we want to see is one of the higher grade of manuscripts (a Restricted/Z Safe item), and is generally not available for viewing for mopes like us.  You have to be a scholar working on “something” and recommended by a tutor/instructor or other important person on the institutions letterhead.  And you have to have consulted the available surrogates, in our case that would be the digital copies that are available on the Library’s web page.  There has to be reason why we must see the original document.  It is not very cricket to include a painting on the 1001 list that cannot be seen except by a select few.  Say, is my obsession showing?  That is why I’m counting this in the 402 that we've already seen.  We are off on another day trip tomorrow to see two more. 

Aug 5, 2014 London