June 27: Greenwich, England

The Cutty Sark Clipper Ship

Our morning tour was originally scheduled for 9 am to 11:45 am but the schedule changed (always be flexible as a seasoned traveler!) and instead we needed to be in the theater by 7:20 am for an 8-9:45 tour!  We're quickly learning that this Viking Oceans adventure is NOT like a Viking River cruise in many ways - often, like this morning, it's like an ocean cruise.  Instead of gathering in the lobby and exiting the ship to meet our guides as we do on river cruises, everyone who had a morning excursion met in the theater with their tickets and were assigned groups then dismissed to go off on their adventure.  And you needed your room key / sea pass card to exit the ship (and return).  We boarded the tender for the quick trip to shore and began our walking tour with our "quiet boxes" so we could hear our guide regardless of how far away she was physically.  And like nearly all Viking guides we've had on our FIVE previous Viking trips, Laura was wonderful.  Very engaging, friendly and so knowledgeable.   When she needed to help a couple with their quiet box devices, you KNOW who stepped up to assume command and take control......

We stopped first at the Cutty Sark Clipper ship which was for many years THE fastest sailing ship on the ocean.  It now is a museum and has a restaurant underneath.  We then walked around the lovely town of Greenwich.  Unfortunately at a restroom stop one gentleman upon rejoining the group realized he'd left his camera in the loo.....went back and alas, it was gone.  We all felt bad for him :(

St. Alfege Church

Next we were off to St Alfege Church which was the sight of where the Archbishop of Canterbury was kidnapped and executed by invading Danish armies.  And in this church King James I (king when the American colonies won their independence) was baptized.  As we walked through the gates I said to Kim, as I often do when we visit historical places like this, "Just think who's walked through these gates!"

We walked up to Greenwich Park which was just so peaceful and beautiful.  Used to be used by the royals to hunt and gallop their horses.  During the Olympics that were held here in 2012 this park was the site of the equestrian events.  We saw the home that was built for the queen which looks down to the river.  And further down is the British Naval College / Hospital which had to be built in two separated parts so as to not to block the view from the queen's "front porch."  It was interesting, as Laura explained, that the current site of the Naval College/Hospital was originally the Palace of Greenwich where King James held court.  It was built right along the River Thames and sat right in the open courtyard of what currently sits there.....

The Naval College/Hospital (Queen's House in background)

Greenwich Palace (circa 1600s)

Finally, a touching story....one of the heroes of British history is Lord Nelson, a famous naval commander (who Laura told us was ironically very seasick when on board his ships!).  Lord Nelson is known for defeating the navy of Napoleon in the Battle of Trafalgar, where Lord Nelson was fatally wounded.  In the courtyard of the Naval College is this building with this carving in the upper pyramid.  It portrays Lord Nelson's dying body being taken to heaven.  It's story goes that Lord Nelson met the artist of this in the months prior to the battle of Trafalgar and told him how much he loved the painting of the French general Montcalm dying in the arms of his men at the Battle of Quebec.  Nelson remarked he should do more work like that to which the artist remarked he "lacked subjects for such works and perhaps he (Lord Nelson) would would day be such a subject."  Ironically months later he was indeed.

We had a great morning and enjoyed the brisk weather (upper 50s and low 60s throughout the walk).  We sail this afternoon right after lunch where we are supposed to get some great sites for photos as we sail out of the Thames.  I'll try to post them later IF we have a connection, if not, we'll see you in a couple days from Scotland!

Continental Breakfast after the tour