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Visit to London, England, Sept 12-19, 2026 (Part II)
Wednesday 9/16, War and British Museums, big lunch
Merle has two friends she's know from age 6 who live in London, work for NHS, from left Charity and Gwen. Charity's son David, also the photographer, was our tour guide leading his group of ducklings around the city. First stop was the Imperial War Museum, which was a short walk from our hotel.
I told Merle I always wanted people to think of me as having big guns.
Inside the museum, there was a retired US Navy officer currently living in London who was there to share his knowledge and answer questions. He explained details of aircraft carriers, submarine detection, and had videos showing how the Harrier jet, noted below, could take off vertically and then start to fly horizontally.
Afterward, we had lunch at Nando's, with enough food (Southern African spices) that I was wondering who else was going to come and help us eat it all.
Afterwards, we went to the British Museum, which was an amazing and beautiful building.
Inside, there was a large and beautiful couryard, with exhibits all around.
Merle was disappointed because she was looking forward to seeing the exhibit of Egyptian mommies.
At one point, I let them continue in the museum, and I split to go see my friend TP again, though it's almost like the neighborhood was expecting me.
Thursday 9/17: Windsor Castle, Stonehenge, Oxford
First stop, Windsor Castle, which is a Royal residence. Very ornate inside, showing King's and Queen's quarters. Apparently Queen Eliz II lived there for significant portions of her life.
The grounds also included a central quad area, which also had a changing ritual for guards there as well.
(probably a good place to go into the tall furry hat business)
Next stop, Stonehenge.
We're in a bus for almost two hours and then the guide says, "There it is." And there it was.
There were no other giant rocks anywhere around there.
Some info: The stones are upwards of 25 tons. Age of the construct: about 5000 years old.
This little nub was called a tenon, as in mortise and tenon, which is a way to keep things together, or so the idea goes (which also begs the question of how another 25 ton stone got up there).
Apparently, on the summer solstice, June 21, the sun can be seen setting right in the middle of where Merle (and the red arrow) are pointing.
Next stop: Oxford
As it turns out, Oxford University is composed of 36 colleges, like America is composed of 50 states. There's not one central school there.
This monument is dedicated to bishops who were burned at the stake as non believers during the reign of Mary I, daughter of King Henry VIII, who wanted to restore Catholicism in the 1500's. In other words, "Welcome to Oxford!"
This church was dedicated to the idea that it's 5 o'clock somewhere.
As we walked around, there would be the college names, this or that college, but when we would try to peek in, there was usually a sign saying "No visitors."
Though the architecture was nice, on the way back to the coach (bus), there were still a few folks wandering around who didn't seem all there, but maybe that's the same in any college town. At least they had a Wendy's.
Merle wanted something hot to drink and we weren't finding any coffee places, but there was a specialty hot chocolate place called Knoops that had like 34 kinds of chocolate. Omg...so sweet, was like drinking syrup. Thus, I'm holding the cup.
When we got back, walked by Big Ben again.
Friday 9/18: Globe Theatre, Bank of England, Museums
On the way to the north side of the river, we again pass by the Tate Modern, where outside is a sculpture that to be appeared to be, as Merle demonstrates, waiting for a rectal exam.
Merle is a fan of the Millenium Bridge since it has been featured in several Harry Potter movies. The large dome in the background is St. Paul's Cathedral.
Here we are outside the Globe Theater, though it's not exactly the Old Globe. This one was built in 1997.
Merle is a little disappointed as she was hoping for the Shakespeare and Rice festival.
We took the tour and got to go inside. We were able to see both sides of the stands and the stage. No microphones used there!
There were some non amplified musicians rehearsing and everyone could hear them just fine.
And here is Merle saying yes to the dresses.
Merle wanted to visit the Bank of England, where there was an exhibit showing how heavy a bar of gold is, not easy to lift!
Just nextdoor was a building called the Royal Exchange. We asked a security guard what goes on in there and he said only: "shops." Good grade for economy of words!
We met my friend T for lunch (forgot to take a pic) and then were off to see more museums.
Had a brief visit to the Victoria and Albert (V & A) Museum
Next stop: the Natural History Museum, where they also filmed Paddington Bear movies. Just after we took this pic, that guard behind us went off on a lady for lighting up a cigarette. No wonder everything was so clean and orderly!
They had skeletons of a blue whale and a wooly mammoth. It was like a zoo for animals with no soft tissues.
In an exhibit focused on how to save the planet, there was this graphic about how we have too much stuff.
Somehow, I don't think it was sponsored by Amazon.
After Natural History, we went by Harrod's, famous for selling all things for all people, everywhere.
If only a version of that could work online....
Quick walk through Hyde Park on our way to last stop of the day, recommended by our friend Ross De Castro, Mayfair Mercato, which is a food market and community hub in an old church.
Saturday am 9/19: Exit stage left: Returning to US
I don't know if I appeared old or tired or both, but on the tube, a young man gave up his seat for me, and when I declined, he INSISTED. I took it to not make a scene.
Maybe I shouldn't have been using that walker and IV pole.
(An attendant at JFK also asked me if I needed a wheelchair. Maybe I should moisturize more.)
Leaving from Heathrow and showing proof so we can be readmitted to the U.S.
Thanks for looking at our stuff!!
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