The wooden circle dubbed 'Seahenge' found in 1998 near Holme-next-the-Sea on the coast of Norfolk, England. It dates from 2049 B.C.
First Day Post-Tour London
Fishbourne, London Eye & Whitehall, and Mamma Mia
Train Travel
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Image of the DayThe theatre we saw Mamma Mia at all lit up as we were leaving. It was such a fun & joyful musical, and we were so glad we saw it! It was a get out of your seat to dance and sing along type of show!
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Fishbourne Roman PalaceFishbourne Roman Palace is the largest domestic Roman Building found to date in Britain. It was probably the palace of a local Celtic King who ruled this part of Britain on behalf of the Emperor in Rome. They think his name was Tiberius Claudius Togidubnus, and he would have been the leader of those called the Regni. Tacitus wrote about him saying he was, 'given certain lands, remained faithful and was an example of the Roman tradition of using native kings to keep their people in slavery.' Being a puppet king is how Togidubnus probably had the ability to build such a magnificent palace with such beautiful and extensive mosaics from AD 75 to AD 80. It had 4 wings, each around 100 meters long, and a large formal garden. It was destoryed by fire in AD 270.
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'Cupid riding a Dolphin' mosaic, one of the most impressive.
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Big Ben!
Not the clock, not the tower, but the bell that tolls the hour!
Last time Jess and I were in London it was 2017 and scaffolding was going up so it could be refurbished. We were just able to see the bottom of the clock area and upwards. 5 years later we got our first look at it on our way to the London Eye all cleaned up, and boy did it look good!
The London Eye!
Jess and I didn't have time for this attraction last time we were here, so we made sure to get it in this time. I'm not generally afraid of heights, but was a little nervous about being on the Eye. I didn't need to worry as I actually felt quite comfortable. There are benches in the middle to sit if you want, handrails for when you are looking out the windows (we were fortunate to have sunshine), and the pods do not rock at all like a Ferris Wheel but are stationary all the way around.
Jess and I in our pod on the London Eye enjoying the sun and view!
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Pro-Tip: The ride on the London Eye is about 30 minutes, and the tickets are on the spendy side, but I recommend paying just a bit more to skip the line and get right on. The line was huge and it was totally worth the extra money to not have to wait a long time for a 30 minute ride.
A Stroll Down Whitehall
We got off our ride on the London Eye and I noticed these lion tie offs along the Thames. I think there is a saying that says if the lions drink London should worry, but no flooding worries for us that day. We then crossed back over Westminster Bridge to walk along Whitehall towards Trafalgar Square. We came upon the Cenotaph, which is an empty tomb, that has been a war memorial since the unprecedented losses in WWI. Next came the Monument to the Women of WWII. Around the sides are 17 sets of individual types of clothing and uniforms to symbolize the hundreds of different jobs women took during the war. We also enjoyed the sights of the Union Jack everywhere along the Red Busses, and a new piece of art in the form of a sundae had been installed on Trafalgar Square since we had last visited.
We got off our ride on the London Eye and I noticed these lion tie offs along the Thames. I think there is a saying that says if the lions drink London should worry, but no flooding worries for us that day. We then crossed back over Westminster Bridge to walk along Whitehall towards Trafalgar Square. We came upon the Cenotaph, which is an empty tomb, that has been a war memorial since the unprecedented losses in WWI. Next came the Monument to the Women of WWII. Around the sides are 17 sets of individual types of clothing and uniforms to symbolize the hundreds of different jobs women took during the war. We also enjoyed the sights of the Union Jack everywhere along the Red Busses, and a new piece of art in the form of a sundae had been installed on Trafalgar Square since we had last visited.
Pub Grub!
For the life of me I can't find the name of this gem of a pub because I can't find the page it is listed on in Rick's London guidebook. I rip my books apart as he suggests and locating that page is just not happening. However, it is on the right side of Trafalgar Square just up from it with Whitehall behind you. In the guidebook it told us which door to go in upstairs for pub food and service, which is exactly what we did. The decor, ordering at the bar, nooks and cranny style seating and food were all wonderful!
For the life of me I can't find the name of this gem of a pub because I can't find the page it is listed on in Rick's London guidebook. I rip my books apart as he suggests and locating that page is just not happening. However, it is on the right side of Trafalgar Square just up from it with Whitehall behind you. In the guidebook it told us which door to go in upstairs for pub food and service, which is exactly what we did. The decor, ordering at the bar, nooks and cranny style seating and food were all wonderful!
Seating area we were in with bar where you ordered just visible through the partition, Cheers!, we of course had to get some fish and chips!
Mamma Mia!'...Here I go again, my my, how can I resist you?!' I love the songs of ABBA, and incidentally learned to love them when Brett and I were foreign exchange students in the UK at Alnwick Castle in college. Anyway, it was a Monday so our show options were limited as a lot use Monday as a day off, but not Mamma Mia! So we went for it! Had to, as London has the best theatre scene on the planet and we simply cannot not go when in London. AMAZING and so much FUN!!! Our favorite part? They announced before the show to please not sing along during it, we would all get our chance to shine after the performance, and we ALL DID!
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Arriving at the theatre to see Mamma Mia!, beautiful entrance staircase, at our seats and excited for the show to start, the seating area in this theatre, look at the beautiful and ornate decoration, all lit up on our way back to our hotel after a grand time!
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Second Day Post-Tour London
The British Museum, Superbloom, and London Walks
British Museum
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Image of the DayThe Nebra Sky Disc is representative of the whole World of Stonehenge Exhibit, which was the highlight of our time in London. Everything was fascinating and filled me with wonder and awe! We were so lucky to have visited it!
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The facade of the British Museum, the interior courtyard of the museum, and a map showing the henges, stone circles and tombs in the British Isles and Ireland dating to the time period surrounding Stonehenge.
Pro-Tip: We watched Who Were the People of Stonehenge? Curators Tour of the World of Stonehenge and found it helpful to learn about the exhibition before we went.
Standing Stone from Italy 2500 BCStanding stones created enduring connections between heaven and earth as well as the natural and human worlds. Like Stonehenge this stele from the Alps of Italy was raised as a place of worship. It was revisited for centuries with new decoration and meaning added by successive generations. It depicts the sun over gatherings of people , the migration of wild animals and the farming seasons. In the time of the first farmers the heavens would have controlled the tempo and timing of domestic and ritual life.
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Chalk Drums Chalk drums, the top 3 in the display being known as the Folkton drums, which were all buried with children. The Folkton drums are from North Yorkshire about 3000 BC. The three drums accompanied the body of a small child buried 5000 years ago. Burials with grave goods were exceptionally rare during this time period, and the 3 drums were placed along the child's back. 2 of the drums have a motif of eyes and eyebrows insinuating faces, perhaps created with the fate and protection of a loved and vulnerable child in mind. The other one drum accompanied the burial of 3 children found in East Yorkshire from 3000 BC. The children were different ages buried close together with the 2 youngest holding hands. The drum was found just above the head of the eldest child. I found these drums to be enigmatic, beautiful, and they held my fascination. The artistry was simply amazing, and I found myself walking around the case to see all sides of the drums over and over. I didn't want to miss a bit of the design. These must have been treasured and special items, just like the treasured children whose graves they were put into, to accompany them on. |
Calendars of the Cosmos?
These magnificent gold hats are among the most accomplished and impressive objects from the period of 1600-1200 BC in France and Germany. Expert craft workers hammered-out shaped and decorated every inch with cosmological symbols including circles, solar-wheels and even a sun-like starburst. The tallest known example is an astonishing 88 cm. |
Serving as headgear during ceremonies or rituals, they perhaps imbued the wearer with divine or otherworldly status. Carefully buried alone or accompanied by axes, rather than interred with the deceased, it seems they were held in trust for the community. The hat in the middle is like what the found represented in the lower right photo.
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British Museum Regular Exhibits
We then gave ourselves some time to see the regular exhibits of the British Museum. This panel of photos are some of my favorite objects from that time. T-B & L-R - Sutton Hoo Helmet from a spectacular Anglo-Saxon grave at Sutton Hoo in Suffolk early 600s AD. The helmet is one of just four complete helmets that survive from Anglo-Saxon England. It has been reconstructed from its shattered condition and includes an iron cap with crest, neck guard, cheek pieces and face mask. It would have originally been covered with tinned copper alloy panels and decorated with animal and warrior motifs. One of the Vindolanda tablets from the Roman fort at Vindolanda talking about goods like beer and pork fat. The Great Torc from Snettisham was buried around 100 BC. It is one of the most elaborate golden objects from the ancient world, is made from gold mixed with silver and weighs over 1 kg. |
The Battersea Shield was found in the River Thames at Battersea Bridge in London, 350-50 BC. The shield is one of the finest examples of La Tene, or Celtic art, from Britain. It might have been deposited in the river as an offering. It is decorated with 3 raised panels and enhanced with a red glass or enamel inlay. It was probably made for flamboyant display. Decorated sheet-bronze bucket from Hallstatt in Austria, 750-550 BC. It was made from 2 separate sheets of bronze secured by rivets. The raised decoration is made up of alternating wheel and bird motifs. Chessboard set with what are known as the Lewis Chessman, which were found on the Isle of Lewis in the Western Isles of Scotland. When found some of them were stained red along with the plain ivory. So it seems instead of black and white chess pieces as we have today, they were red and white. These 3 chessman and the others were made from Walrus ivory or Whale tooth, which must be worked with metal and took great skill. The Nereid Monument is from around 380 BC and was excavated at Xanthos in Turkey. These three Nereids are from the Nereid Monument and are sea-nymphs, or daughters of the sea god Nereus. They are thought to have escorted souls to the afterlife.
Superboom at the Tower!For the Queens Jubilee the Tower of London decided to fill in the moat with beautiful flowers and other garden features. It was beautiful, and so calming and relaxing. When we were there they said they do plan to keep it going and to make the flowers something permanent, which I think is an awesome idea as it was just grass before. There were information panels, music, places to sit, woven branch structures and a slide. We had a great time taking our turns sitting in a sack and going down! It was great fun and regardless of if you are a kid or an adult you will love it! Not too much of my writing, just enjoy the beauty below!
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London Walks Revolting London: 2,000 Years of Rebellion and Retribution
We booked a private evening tour with a guide from London Walks and he was fabulous! We met him near the Tower of London tube stop and started on our way. The chained off brick square is the execution spot prisoners were taken to from the Tower when it was time for them to die. Over 125 people were put to death here, including those involved in the Jacobite Uprising of 1746. Next is a bit of Roman wall at the bottom that is remarkably still around in the courtyard of a hotel. We then have Samuel Pepys who is best known for his diary which has accounts of the Great Plague of London and the Great Fire of London. This street is known as the Crutched Friars, which is a corruption cruciferi, or cross-carriers, as the friary probably stood on this street. |
We then have the grave of a young Roman girl whose grave was found on its own when one of the modern buildings was being constructed. They put her back where they found her when construction was done. The inscription reads: To the spirits of the dead, the unknown young girl, from Roman London, lies buried here. I wonder who she was, and how she came to be buried all on her own. We then have Leadenhall Market, which you may recognize from the Harry Potter movies. The door is actually the entrance to the Leaky Cauldron. They painted it black for the movies.
The walking tour was our last activity in London and of the trip other than dinner. We flew home the next morning, and with all the luggage issues etc... that we had been hearing about while on our trip we went early to make sure we didn't have troubles getting through security. We went 4 hours before our flight, and while we didn't have any issues, if we had arrived an hour later it would have taken us a lot longer. When we were through I looked back, and the queue was now more than full. Also, the problems at Heathrow were definitely with the checked luggage. A good reason to do carry-on only, as we were very glad we did.
Click the button for my final thoughts on our trip.
Click the button for my final thoughts on our trip.