June 24

We knew it was going to be another even bigger walking day, and it was.  London is  pretty city with its brownstones and flowers and wrought iron.  Our goal for the morning was the British Library.  It has some amazing original works, like two copies of the Magna Carta!!!!!!  YES!!  Okay, some of you may be thinking, “Whatever!” but the Magna Carta was a document put in place in early 1215 and established the principle that EVERYONE is subject to the law, even the king (!) and guarantees the rights of individuals and the right to justice and the right to a fair trial (in a nutshell). There are strong influences in our own Bill of Rights written in 1791! Since Cheryl has taught it, she was excited to be able to see it!  Holy Cow.  Unfortunately, no pictures of any kind were permitted so we don’t have proof that we saw it, except our words!  There are actually only four copies left of the original 12, which is pretty amazing in and of itself.

Also on display were an original Gutenberg bible, as well as other bibles HAND drawn!!  And some notebooks of Da Vinci and some Beatles's songs written on napkins and the back of an envelope!  and so much more. Just, WOW!  They actually had guards that walked around to make sure you didn’t take pictures. To physically be able to see such history that is REALLY OLD is amazing.

After we left, we wandered around, gawking at the churches and other buildings when we found ourselves at Kings Cross.  Hmmm.  That sounds familiar.  If you’ve ever read Harry Potter you’d know that this is where wizards to go catch the train to Hogwarts.  Of course, there really isn’t a platform 9 ¾ but we took our picture between 9 and 10 anyway.  There is a store that celebrates everything Harry Potter located here and it was jammed packed with TONS of people, all ages and genders.  We walked in and out due to this fact.  We could have stayed in line for a picture of a “fake” Platform 9 ¾ but lines really aren’t our thing so we left.  It is amazing what that book series did for the economy!  They literally created a fake platfor 9 3/4 and big store featuring Harry Potter stuff!

We then found ourselves, deliberately, at St. Paul’s Cathedral.  The local EMS was hosting CPR training in the square adjacent.  It was funny to walk around the corner to see mannequins lying on the ground and people “testing” their CPR skills.  We wanted to see inside St. Paul’s but it had just been closed to the general public for a private service. They’d be back open again at 5 if we’d want to go in then.  

We rounded the corner to find ourselves surrounded by tons of police.  Hmmm.  We walked down the block to find more police and we could vaguely hear someone using a megaphone or loudspeaker but really couldn’t make out what they were saying.  Another block and MORE police, and it looked to be the beginning of some kind of parade. We glanced at the sign several were holding and couldn't read all of it, but it looked to be a non-violent (thus far) protest against Extremism, and the speaker was speaking about the incident that had happened last week in London against a Mosque and another at London Bridge just a few weeks prior and violence in general.  Another block and more and more police.  They literally were pouring out of vans at every corner.  We were attempting to cross the River Thames but apparently that was their route that day as well as we encountered more police.  

It was after lunch by this time so we veered off a block to a pub for a drink and quick bite.  We heard the sirens and looked out the window towards the end of the block and the parade was marching right by.  Andrew decided to get a closer look and actually walked a few blocks with the peaceful protesters (thank goodness!).  Right place, right time??  Our quick lunch was Fish and Chips.  We’d had a Fish and Chips the night before to make sure we’d get the London specialty and were surprised to find mashed peas on this plate as well!  Who knew that mashed peas were a thing with Fish and Chips!  

Next stop, London Bridge, but we got sidetracked by the Tower of London.  Fascinating castle/fortress!  It was easy to get sidetracked by this magnificent history.  Tower Hill was founded towards the end of 1066 and the White Tower was built by William the Conqueror in 1078.  It was actually used as a prison already in 1100 (believe it or not, until 1952!) although its primary purpose was really the royal residence.  It is actually a complex of buildings set within walls and featured what would have been a moat.  Totally cool!  Controlling the Tower meant you were in control of the country.  It was damaged during World War II but was repaired so it could be reopened to the public.  We could have bought tickets and wandered around but it was later in the day and we really wanted to make sure we made it to London Bridge.  We walked around this amazing piece of history and onto London Bridge.  

We stood in line but not very long, got our tickets and took the lift to the top of London Bridge.  They have a glass walkway so you can see the river and road below you.   It really is perfectly safe but it makes your stomach feel a bit odd anyway.  This bridge is truly an architectural wonder.  The other walkway featured a glass walkway also but also a mirror on the “ceiling,” offering a great view and photo op.  :)  This physical bridge was finished in 1973 and it replaced a 19th century stone arched ridge, which had replaced a 600 year old medieval structure, which was preceded by many wooden bridges, the first ones built  by the Roman founders of London.  There is a lot of history right there.

We wandered around the South Bank, just taking it all in.  It is very hard to describe a city like London.  The architecture is a mix of old, very old, new and sort of new.  During World War II, one MILLION buildings were destroyed--yes, million, along with 40,000 deaths.  Some things came out of it completely unscathed, some partially damaged but they could be restored/rebuilt to look like they did before, or they just added new to the old that was left, and some just had to start completely over.  

We really wanted to see the site of Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre but it was closed to the public due to a performance going on at the time.  It was specifically built in 1599 by Shakespeare's playing company.  The original was destroyed by fire in 1613 during a production of Henry VIII and rebuilt the next year.  It was pulled down by Puritans in 1644.  A replica was built and opened in 1997, and was based on the original buildings. Timing is everything but there is always more to see.

We walked back to the other side of the Thames, this time using the Millennium Bridge.  We stopped at an old pub, dating back to 1663 and decided if we wanted to see a musical that evening or not.  We opted to do it, so signed ourselves up to see Kinky Boots.  We walked along the river heading to the theater, and encountered an Egyptian obelisk.  Hmmm.  It turns out it was quarried about 1500 BC, inscribed, moved, and moved again, and erected during the time of Augustus Caesar.  While it was en route from Alexandria to London (encased in an iron cylinder) it was lost during a storm. It was finally recovered and erected in London during Queen Victoria’s reign, about 1878.  There are scars on the nearby accompanying sphinxes and the pedestal of the Obelisk that were the result of bombing in the area during 1917, World War I.

Looking up ahead, and you can see it from our great distance away--Big Ben.  Up close, she is big and beautiful.   Around the corner is Westminster Palace, Westminster Abbey, St. Margaret's Church, all beautiful beyond description and amazing how they’ve withstood the sands of time and catastrophic events and tourists. :)  

London is just full of flowers and flower gardens--everywhere!  We think we may have to visit the local nurseries once we are back home again and plant more things.  If we go at different times, we will be able to get and plant what is blooming at the time so there will always be something blooming. It is just so beautiful and relaxing and fragrant!   We did finally make our way to the Adelphi Theater for a production of Kinky Boots.  It was a really great show.  There are actually a bunch of shows playing in many different theaters, but not all had tickets for last minute and we wanted to try something different.  The musical is based on true story/book by Harvey Fierstein, with words and lyrics by Cyndi Lauper!  It won a ton of awards.  It is a comedy where a drag queen comes to the rescue of a man who inherits his family's sort of on-a-decline shoe factory.  Great story. Great evening.  We had about a 3 mile walk back to the hotel after the show, on top of what we had already hoofed. Tired Verkamps!

Nighty Night.