Friday, May 4, 2018, Greenwich (London), England

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From our berth in Greenwich, the source of global longitude and standard time, we saw London’s centers of royalty and history in elegant palaces, massive cath-edrals, and stalwart fortresses that stretch back centuries.




Our cruise ship sailed up the Thames River to Greenwich, the furthest point up river it could.  We "docked" on a floating pier while there.


 

 View down river from our docked cruise ship.

Pub where we enjoyed great fish 'n chips.

 Greenwich, a borough of London along the Thames River, has a cherished maritime history including the Maritime Greenwich UNESCO Site.  Here- precisely, at the Royal Observatory- the world’s longitude is measure from the prime meridian, and Greenwich Mean Time sets the global time standard.
At the port, the clipper ship Cutty Sark, one of Greenwich’s most renowned historic landmarks, is preserved as a fascination museum. 
Upriver, London is home to Buckingham Palace, the Parliament, Westminster Abby, and glamorous British royalty.  In addition, this major economic and cultural hub boasts a long tradition of arts and architectural innovation- from Shakespeare’s Globe Theater to West End musicals, from Tower Bridge to the London Eye.


Iconic London


We enjoyed an excellent overview of London’s most recognizable and beloved cultural and historic monuments.  
We rode into the city with our local guide, passing the imposing Tower of London, home to the Crown Jewels and the resident Yeoman Wardens, more fondly known as Beefeaters.


We traced the Thames River to admire the buildings along the famous Thames Embankment.  
In Trafalgar Square, we gazed up at Admiral Horatio Nelson atop his column.  For history of the admiral, go to https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Horatio_Nelson







The Mall, London’s ceremonial avenue, leads past St. James’s Park to spectacular Buckingham Palace.  








At Parliament Square, we saw Big Ben, saw the Gothic Houses of Parliament and paused for photos at the glorious Westminster Abbey, the celebrated venue of royal wedding ceremonies including that of Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, to Catherine Middleton. Since the coronation of William the Conqueror in 1066, every English and British monarch, with the exceptions of Edward V and Edward VIII, has been crowned at this famous London abbey.


 Big Ben getting a face lift.
Time to get back to cruise ship to finish packing for very early plane ride home tomorrow.


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