Wayfare Wednesdays! A Travelogue of Ports Unknown! England

Ahoy there me mateys!  Welcome to the newest installment on me Log, Wayfare Wednesdays!  As ye scalawags know, yer Captain always be spending me time dreaming of the next far off ports and searching of a good adventure.  So I thought I would give the crew some insight into the fascinating people, places, and things I saw while ye all were wallowing in port in some filthy tavern, swilling grog, and missin’ the sights.  Ye know in case ye miscreants ever get the chance to plunder visit these destinations in the future . . .

wayfare

way·​fare |  ˈwāˌfa(a)|(ə)r, -ˌfe|, |ə

 archaic : an act or course of journeying (source)

As some of ye may know, I recently had a line on a rumor of a bit of Viking treasure, Scottish ruins, and Elizabethan artifacts.  The sea was a’ calling.  So off I went.  After eighteen days of adventurin’ in Iceland, Norway, Scotland, and England, I be back to share me tales.  I shall be splittin’ these stories into several installments due to yer befuddled, swill-saturated noggins.  The first foray was Iceland then Norway then Scotland.  Next stop – England!

If ye missed day one of Iceland click here.  For day two of Iceland click here.

For day one of Norway (Bergen) click here. For day two of Norway (Geirangr) click here.  For day three of Norway (Lofoten) click here.  For day four of Norway (Tromsø) click here.  For day five of Norway (Honningsvåg) click here.

For day one of Scotland (Shetland Islands) click here.  For day two of Scotland (Orkney Islands) click here.  For day three of Scotland (Edinburgh) click here.

England be the land of Shakespeare!  The Ma and I spent one full day here at the end of our trip but did we ever jam pack stuff in.  I studied for a semester abroad in London back in the day so I didn’t feel the need to do lots of stuff in the city proper.  The ship was docked in Greenwich which has a wonderful maritime history so the ma and I explored that town.  However the first stop was Southbank to visit:

The Globe

Okay I be a huge Shakespeare nut.  I studied Shakespeare (and contemporaries) in grad school and read all his plays.  I worked in professional theatre as a stage manager with the goal to do as many Shakespeare plays I could.  I have been to Stratford-Upon-Avon, celebrated Shakespeare’s birthday at the Folger Shakespeare Library, and got to be a groundling at the Globe during a production of The Two Noble Kinsmen back in the day.  So a “backstage” tour of the Globe was a must.  Now I didn’t get to see the kinda backstage I wanted (scene shops, props storage, booth) but I did get to watch some voice workshop rehearsal and a sword fighting demonstration which was cool.

Millennium Bridge

This bridge is known as the “Wobbly Bridge” because it has to be closed on the same day as it opened due to instability and design flaws.  It was closed when I studied in London.  So it was nice to be able to finally walk across the bridge this time around.

St. Paul’s Cathedral and Riverside Walk

The Ma and I walked across the Wobbly Bridge and strolled around the other bank.  We didn’t go into any place in particular.  It was more about being outside and enjoying our walk.

The River Bus

After our walk, the Ma and I decided to head back to Greenwich by boat of course!  I had never used them before.  I loved going under all the bridges and getting to see the Traitor’s Gate!

National Maritime Museum

This seriously be one of the best museums I have ever been to.  The sea mateys, the sea!  A ship in the bottle led us there.  Wonders abounded.

 

The Queen’s House

This structure is part of the Maritime Museum but deserves it’s own heading.  It was built for Queen Anne of Denmark by Inigo Jones who also was a famous theatrical scenic designer.  I may have done a hearty squee, I mean Arrr!, when I realized that.  Just look at the gorgeous Tulip Staircase and Loggia floor.

Greenwich Market

Nothing was purchased here but it was fun to walk around in for a minute.

Greenwich Foot Tunnel

This lovely tunnel goes beneath the Thames from Greenwich to Millwall.  The cast-iron tunnel is 1,215 feet (370.2 m) long, 50 feet (15.2 m) deep and has an internal diameter of about 9 feet (2.74 m).  One section had to be repaired because of WWII.  There is a lovely park on the other side of the river.

The Final Pub

And a trip to England wouldn’t be complete without a fish n’ chips meal at a local (slightly touristy) pub?

That almost be the end of this trip’s wayfare adventures.  But it wouldn’t be complete with a tour of the ship.  Check out next week’s final post for this cruise.  Arrrr!

x The Captain

Side note:  The Wayfair Wednesday featured image (source) is of two sailing vessels “dressed overall” with their international signal flags.  Signal flags are the flags used to contact other ships.  Well unless ye be a pirate in which case the Jolly Roger and yer cannons speak well enough.  A ship dressed overall “consists of stringing international maritime signal flags on a ship from stemhead to masthead, from masthead to masthead and then down to the taffrail. It is a sign of celebration, and is done for occasions, anniversaries, and events, whether national, local or personal.”  (source)  Well, Wayfare Wednesday is certainly a celebration, occasion, and event no matter how ye look at it.  Arrrrr!