A FULL DAY OF TRAVEL FROM LONDON TO BARCELONA

London to Barcelona: 

We were up early and did our final packing. Uncertain about the status of the Underground, as there were two different unions planning on striking and this would effect the trains we needed  for transport to St Pancras Station we simply opted for a cab. Besides it was raining and we have a three block walk to the Underground station and would of had to have schlepped the bags down some stairs, thus the cab seemed a wiser choice. 

At St Pancras Station we were a bit early and got some coffee and breakfast sandwiches . Lynn had an egg and bacon and I had a Bacon Butty with brown sauce, actually got an extra to go.  Our train was running late by 10 minutes, which is no problem as we have a couple hours in Paris to transfer from Nord to Gare de Lyon station.  One feature of the Eurostar service is one can purchase Paris Metro tickets on board thus saving time upon arrival. 

After we boarded, we stored our bags in the bag storage area and found our seats. Our seats are forward facing and we have a work table, and no one is sitting across for us. So after we departed, I made my way to the Club Car and purchased our metro tickets, so we are ready to transfer. While onboard the Eurostar we have been using the free WIFI, which can be spotty but, all in all, not bad. Also there is power at ones seat, we traveled 2nd class and found it to be more than adequate. This is our first experience with Eurostar and would definitely use them again. 

Chunnel Info as follows: the Chunnel tubes are 75 meters apart and the are 75 meters below sea level. Our speed has been up and down and we topped out at over 300 KPH. The length of the tunnel is 50.45  KM.  

For reasons unknown to us we will be arrived a bit late giving us 2 hours to make the transfer from Gare du Nord to Gare de Lyon on a very very crowded Metro Line. Glad it was just for two stops. At Gare de Lyon we located our Hall and gate, and then bought a sandwich and drink for lunch. We then decided to walk about and ended up in Hall One waiting for a platform announcement. We quickly walked to the full length of the train and located our rail car, stored our bags and found our seats. On this part of the journey we chose first class where the only advantage is larger more comfortable seats. We started off pretty much on time and are enjoying the view from our upper deck seats, passing the country side where sheep and cattle grazed. 

There is no WIFI on this train thus far. All photos today will have been taken with the I Phone, many from a fast moving train. Oh Look, There goes Belle reading a book. 

A very uneventful rail journey, other than an unsuccessful pickpocket attempt by a person in Gare de Lyon. I think his wrist is a little sore tonight. Instinct kinda took over. Oh well, no loss on my part, just a good reminder to be wary. 

We arrived at Barcelona Sants and made a quick walk to the Hotel Transit. Here the hotel concierge checked us in and we were up graded to Veranda Room over looking the Avenue in front of the hotel. We have done a little bit of repacking and will be dining alfresco at a local cafe in the morning. 

KEW GARDENS

Kew Gardens and the British Museum :

We didn’t really sleep in much but we were up and out the door via the Underground to Kew Gardens. To get there simply take the District Line towards Richmond and get off at Kew Gardens and walking to the Victoria Gate of Kew Gardens. Concession admission is about 14  pounds. 

If one enjoys a visit to gardens, the Kew Gardens is a must, at over 300 acres it has botanics from around the world, luscious great lawns and many green houses where the greenery of the world is displayed. Kew Gardens has more of a park feel and again it is a place where one should pack a picnic. 

Some of the highlights for me were the areas where they talked about bees and their importance. There was also a Tree Top Walkway where one climbs to a walkway among the tops of the trees. This really gives one a different perspective. 

We explored for a good three hours in the hot and humid weather. Ugh, not the expected norm for this time of year. 

We then went to the British Museum and explored the Egyptian Artifacts. These are amazing and we did this in preparation for a February trip to Egypt. Already some of the names are starting to come together for me. We were able to purchase a couple of guide books for the Egypt trip. 

From the Museum, we headed back towards the hotel and stopped at The Prince of Wales and had dinner. Again a combination favorites plate was nice. This is a very small pub located very close to our hotel. 

Back at the room we started to repack for the train journey to Barcelona. 

STATION X / Bletchley Park

Off to Bletchley Park: 

Bletchley Park is easy to visit via public transport. One can take the National Rail service from Euston Station to the Bletchley Railway Station, upon arrival simply turn to your right and walk a short distance to the entrance. Follow the signs. Show your train tickets for a 2 for 1 discount.

Bletchley Park was the central site for Britain's codebreakers during World War II. Run by the Government Code and Cypher School (GC&CS), it regularly penetrated the secret communications of the Axis Powers – most importantly the German Enigma and Lorenz ciphers. The official historian of World War II British Intelligence has written that the "Ultra" intelligence produced at Bletchley shortened the war by two to four years, and that without it the outcome of the war would have been uncertain.

Located in Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, England, Bletchley Park is now a flourishing heritage attraction. Open seven days a week, it is popular with individuals and families, as well as school groups and tour parties.

Most German messages decrypted at Bletchley were produced by one or another version of the  Enigma cipher machine, but an important minority were produced by the even more complicated twelve-rotor LorenzSz42 on-line Teleprinter Cipher Machine. 

Five weeks before the outbreak of war, Warsaw's Cipher Bureau revealed its achievements  in breaking Enigma to astonished French and British personnel. The British used the Poles' information and techniques, and the Enigma clone  sent to them in August 1939, which greatly increased their (previously very limited) success in decrypting Enigma messages.

The bombe  was an electromechanical device whose function was to discover some of the daily settings of the Enigma machines on the various German military networks. Its pioneering design was developed by Alan Turing with an important contribution from Gordon Welchman (whos contribution is often overlooked) and the machine was engineered by Harold “Doc” Keen  of the British Tabulating Machine Company. Each machine was about 7 feet (2.1 m) high and wide, 2 feet (0.61 m) deep and weighed about a ton. There is a working replica at Bletchley. 

After the War, the secrecy imposed on Bletchley staff remained in force, so that most relatives never knew more than that a child, spouse, or parent had done some kind of secret war work. Churchill referred to the Bletchley staff as "the geese that laid the golden eggs and never cackled”.  That said, occasional mentions of the work performed at Bletchley Park slipped the censor's net and appeared in print. 

With the publication of F.W. Winterbotham’s  The Ultra Secret (1974) public discussion of Bletchley's work finally became possible (though even today some former staff still consider themselves bound to silence) and in July 2009 the British government announced that Bletchley personnel would be recognized with a commemorative badge.

Such a fascinating place, with great history and secrecy, well worth a visit and there is continued work ongoing at this historic treasure. 

I like to call it where computing really started. 

We had last visited Bletchley Park about three yeas ago and since the we have noted marked enhancements. There are several interactive touch screen stations which provide great information. It was interesting to talk to the volunteers at Bletchley park and learn a bit more. First is, once they realize you know the real facts vs. the movie story (The Imitation Game) they even share more.  There are still signs of the movie production there as the bar scenes were filmed inside the mansion at a prop bar scene. This will be removed November 1, 2016. One nice enhancement is sounds, you maybe walking about and hear a motorbike coming up behind you, when in-fact it is just the sounds being broadcast. Definitely pack a picnic lunch as there are several great locations to enjoy an outdoor meal. 

One should plan about 3-4 hours to truly experience Bletchley Park. Also learned from the volunteer guides is that visitation is up about 60% since the release of the movie. While the movie is not totally factual it is well done and gives one an idea of what happened. 

One interesting story we were told is this past Sunday they observed Bletchley Veterans day and there were about 70 ladies who worked there during the time of code breaking. To this day some of the ladies would not speak of what their job was at Bletchley Park. Such resolve.  

I highly recommend a visit and to enjoy it to the fullest one should do some reading prior. 

After visiting we caught a train back to Euston Station where we took the Underground to Embankment and walked along the Themes to the Westminster station. From there we took the circle line back to our hotel. Time to cool off and get ready to go out later. The plan is to go out for sunset at the Tower the eat and then back to see the Tower at night. 

We followed our plan. 

The Mansion 

The cottages 

Huts 3 and 6

Alan Turing's Teddy Bear 

4 Rotors 

Along the Themes 

SALISBURY CATHEDRAL AND STONEHENGE

Day 4 I think, well any way we are heading to Salisbury and Stonehenge.  

We are up early again and down stairs for breakfast. Yes I had a Bacon Butty.  We were out the door and on our way to Waterloo station. We did stop at the Pret and picked up a couple sandwiches for our lunch.  At Waterloo Station we are to meet the London Walks trip to Salisbury and Stonehenge.  At 0845 Simon the guide appears and collects the fee, for us as seniors we are charged 76 pounds each. The includes the guide fee, train and motor coach as well as all entries to various sites. I think this is rather reasonable and we have done other London Walks and found them to be most enjoyable and full of information. 

Soon we are on the train enroute to Salisbury. After arriving at the station we walk to the Salisbury Cathedral making a few stops along the way. The weather is holding off but the clouds are getting darker and there are rumblings of thunder. 

The area of Salisbury was originally known as Old Sarum which means “Dry Place”, and rightfully so as the geology of the are has a very high concentration of chalk and allows the rains to soak into the ground making a dry environment. This also contributes to a large amount of flint be found in this area, and one can see where flint was used in the construction of many buildings. 

The highlight is Salisbury Cathedral, formally known as the Cathedral Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary, it is an Anglican cathedral and is one of the leading examples of early English  Gothic Architecture. The main body of the cathedral was completed in only 38 years, from 1220 to 1258.

The Spire was added a few years later and finished in 1310. The cathedral has the tallest church spire in the United Kingdom (123m/404 ft). The cathedral also has the largest cloister  and the largest cathedral close in Britain (80 acres. It contains the world's oldest working mechanical clock from AD 1386 and has the best surviving of the four original copies of the Magna Carta. The original cross which was placed upon the top of the spire was damaged during WWII and has since been replaced. The original cross with bullet holes is on display in the church. 

The cathedral is also the final resting place of William Longespee the 1/2 brother King John. Longespee was an advisor to King John for the negotiations of the Magna Carta. 

 Magna Carta Libertatum (Latin for "the Great Charter of the Liberties"), commonly called Magna Carta is a Charter agreed to by King John at Runnymede near Windsor, on 15 June 1215. First drafted by the Archbishop of Canterbury to make peace between the unpopular King and a group of rebel barons, it promised the protection of church rights, protection for the barons from illegal imprisonment, access to swift justice, and limitations on feudal payments to the Crown, to be implemented through a council of 25 barons.

The Magna Carta still forms an important symbol of liberty today, often cited by politicians and campaigners, and is held in great respect by the British and American legal communities, Lord Denning describing it as "the greatest constitutional document of all times – the foundation of the freedom of the individual against the arbitrary authority of the despot”. A good trip thus far as we have been to Runnymede as well as seeing an original copy. 

After leaving the cathedral we board a coach which takes us to Stonehenge. Believed to have been constructed between 3000 BC and 2000 BC, it is the subject of many theories as to its purpose. I feel it was a calendar to assist in the planting and harvesting of crops, and also maybe a healing place and burial ground. To date there are so many theories etc, and yet it is really unknown why it was built and for what purpose. So I leave it to you to examine the theories and draw your own conclusions. 

Yes, it is very worth the visit. I like to wonder as to how the stones were transported and placed, yet again there in lies more theories. 

We the board the coach back to the Rail Station and return to London. A bit earlier than the previous nights, yet we are tired and ready for food. Again we wander to The Goat and get a favorites plate to share. More than sufficient to kill our hunger. Back to our room for laundry and logs and get a plan together for tomorrow. 

Tomorrow we are off to Bletchley Park, home of the WWII code breakers . 

Lynn Helped

River Avon in Salsbury 

A gate leading to the cathedral 

The Salisbury Cathedral 

 The Oldest mechanical clock

William Longespee

The original spire cross with WWII dog fight bullet holes 

Beautiful in and out

Just amazing detail construction and design and so old

StoneHenge  the why is still unknown