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Published: January 21st 2008
With cold weather and shorter daylight hours, the museums and theatre seemed like a good choice. After we left the National Gallery Friday evening we remembered a colleague of Keith's had suggested we try to see "Wicked". It is a newer musical "the untold story of the witches of Oz." It wasn't in the Plan, but we grabbed up a couple tickets, enjoyed the references to the "Wizard of Oz". Audience was full of teenaged girls, up through college age. Contrasted to the more "mature" crowd we sat with at the "Phantom of the Opera", Saturday night. The art deco Apollo Theatre, where Wicked is playing, is next door to Victoria Station. Inside the Station we found of all things - a Krispy Kreme!
Saturday we spent a very long and informative afternoon at the Churchill Museum and Cabinet War Rooms. This is probably my favorite of all we saw in London. In 1939 the British Government's secret underground shelter became fully operational. "It is today just as the wartime occupants experienced it, during the 115 meetings of the War Cabinet". As for Winston Churchill, I want to know more. I could try to convey to you the whole of
floor in the National Museum
mosaic floor illustrating many attribues and disciplinesthis museum, it is high tech and thorough, but I would not do it justice. Should you ever have the chance, go experience it and meet Churchill for yourself. "We are all worms, but I do believe that I am a glow-worm" some of his quotes are surprising.
Phantom was a classic play to see in Her Majesty's Theatre. The theatre was originally opened as an opera house in 1705. This is the fourth theatre on this site, and opened in 1897. Phantom has been playing from 1986, and we still hear the tunes in our heads! As you can tell from the photos of us on an empty bus, we haven't been in the middle of crowds, until now. Tons and tons of people in Leicaster square, the theatre district. The wait for a table before the play had us a little worried, but the service was quick, the food was good, and we got to the show in plenty of time. Walking back to the hotel in the rain wasn't a big deal either, since we had our brolly, and it had been such an inspiring day!
For the British Museum we decided to take a
Cabinet War Rooms
secret underground shelter Highlights Tour, our guide Sue was very interesting to listen to. She had us feeling like authorities on the collections! Found one of my favorite things, a "tiki". Calling the statue from Easter Island a tiki is sort of blasphemous. It is the real thing! Sunday evening we made our way back over to the river and Westminster Abbey. Since we have been in Krakow, we've been to a few chamber music recitals in churches, and have enjoyed the interiors while hearing sacred music, so we knew to experience that in Westminster would be a treat. Again thanks to Keith's guide book we read there would be a organ recital in the nave of the abbey. No- he hasn't swiched from bluegrass to classical organ! But when in London...! To say that the music was breathtaking would be an understatement!
As I write this, I've asked Keith what his favorite things have been during the visit to Great Britain. He enjoyed walking along the Thames at night. I took a hundred, no exaggeration, of photos of Parliament buildings and Big Ben, and he was ever patient. I have this tiny little tripod for night photos and still can't get
weather report underground
boards could be slid in and out with descriptions of the conditions outside, so that the inhabitants of the WW II headquarters would know what the weather was a great photo! Just as you would expect London is full of spectacular views to go along with it's history and importance. Taking our time walking along the river and looking at old London from the other side with the night lighting will be one of those moments we will remember. I give Keith the business for being such a "planner", but we always have time to take it all in and appreciate where we are.
With one last morning before we left for Scotland, we hurried back over to Westminster Abbey for a verger guided tour. Our verger Ben was precious! "900 years in 90 minutes" was his goal! He did his best and our whole group was amused and educated, from it's ceiling to foundation, with all the abbey has within it's walls and under the floors! He led us through the abbey waving a little flag at everybody, the "verger" role, and rocking back and forth on his heels for emphasis!
Even though these European cathedrals and abbeys are places for monks and royalty, not to mention swarming with us tourists, it was humbling to hear the hourly prayers from the pulpit. The first prayer was
shadows
after the verger tour of the abbey lifted up for the lonely people in the world, and the noon time prayer was for families. It was a meaningful moment as we felt felt close to God in such a huge and public church.
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