NELSON, POLAR EXPLORERS, THE TOWER, CHRISTMAS MARKETS AND A TREE LIGHTING

 12/2 Dateline London: 

We started our day headed to the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich via the Underground and the the DLR. We made a stop at Embankment to get a bacon sandwich from the Cabbie Shelter. This would be our lunch later today. 

 



The National Maritime Museum has a very nice section on Arctic and Antarctic exploration. Yes, it is a bit one sided towards the British Explorers and there are scant references to Amundsen ( who beat Scott to the South Pole). There are many nice artifacts of these expeditions as well as some excellent art work. There is a great interactive board where one can learn more about the members of the British Trans Antarctic Expedition - Shackleton’s Endurance. There are a few photos from Frank Hurley the photographer on the Endurance. 

 

                                        

 

There is also another excellent section on Lord Nelson and life in the Royal Navy of his time. During the Battle of Trafalgar, Lord Nelson was on the deck of his flagship the Victory when he was fatally shot and later died of the wound below deck. Before his death, he knew victory was his. Here one finds Nelson’s coat that he wore during the Battle of Trafalgar. The hole made by the fatal musket shot can be noted. 

In a separate gallery, Turner’s Battle of Trafalgar is on display with a very informative narration.

I then had planned a lunch cruise for Lynn. So we took the Water Bus to the Tower of London. We were served a bacon sandwich and Fanta Orange. All excellent. 

I then had planned a lunch cruise for Lynn. So we took the Water Bus to the Tower of London. We were served a bacon sandwich and Fanta Orange. All excellent. 



At the Tower we walked along the river and across the Tower Bridge. This was so we could walk a long the river past the Christmas Market on the South Bank. At London Bridge, we went south to Borough Market. It is always fun to walk through and we noted more fun when not looking for something to eat, as there are so many choices. 

We the took the Jubilee Line to Waterloo for another market. It was not as large as we had experienced in the past. 

Then we walked across the bridge to the Embankment Underground station for the ride to our hotel. 

 

 



This evening we attended the tree lighting at Trafalgar Square. There is a bit of history behind the Oslo Christmas Tree. In 1940 Norway was invaded by Germany and the King of Norway sought refuge in London. During WWII, news broadcasts were made in Norwegian, and these inspired the people of Norway keeping their hopes of freedom alive. 

The Oslo Christmas Tree in Trafalgar Square has come to symbolize  the relationship between the people of Norway and Britain. The Norway Spruce is over 24 meters high and is about 90 years old. It is decorated with traditional white lights.

It was nice to see a Salvation Army Band playing carols and hearing a choir sing. There were speeches by the Lord Mayors of Westminster and Oslo.