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London V / Lastly and (a bit more) Slowly

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We met up with Jenny (from Reedley) today for our final, more leisurely day. She was working all week, conducting Peace Games with British college students. Something we need more of in the chaos of warmongering. We spent the morning at the British Library perusing it's magnificent collection of documents and the afternoon strolling through Regent's Park, one of many parks in this city. We're told that the biggest parks, including this one, were once hunting grounds for the aristocracy. Now they are wonderful places to meander through when you want to slow way down and talk and enjoy the great green spaces. Tomorrow morning we'll be on our way. A good week in a great place. We came, we looked, we relaxed. All good things come to an end, as William used to say.  From the Sacred Texts section: The Lindesfairne Gospels -- the four gospels copied in 700 A.D. The Old Testament from 1431 The Four Gospels from the 17th century  ...
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London IV / H is for ...

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... Harrods, Handel, and Hendrix. The forecast correctly predicted rain today so we planned indoor visits, beginning with Harrods. It's a bit pretentious, but fun to explore. The food court alone was worth a visit -- a gastronomical array of delights. We bought a few things for our lunch (several dumplings, a pakora, a custard tart), then rode the Egyptian-styled escalators, and enjoyed the toy department. The next stop was the Handel Hendrix House, where both Georg Handel (18th century) and the inimitable Jimi Hendrix (20th century) lived. Full of scores and harpsichords, guitars and recordings of interviews (with Hendrix, not Handel, of course), bedroom suites and even a wig like Handel wore, it was a pleasant place to stay out of the rain and listen to the Hallelujah Chorus. It's time to relax and read a bit. With only one day remaining, we need to check if we hit our personal highlights. ...
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London III / Words

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An Underground history and mechanical tour, a walk through the business district, views from the London Bridge (not to be confused with the iconic Tower Bridge), Shakespeare spots of importance (including the Globe Theatre), the Borough Market, Words on the Water, and Mary Wollstonecraft. Adds up to 20,000 steps and lots of words. The words of a playwright and those of a philosopher, words in a bookstore on a barge, all the words spoken as we wound our way across parts of the city.  That was our day. A beautiful warm spring day. Ending with weary-but-happy feet. Hungry for some curry tonight. Because curry is now an English thing. The faint image and words from a 1930s poster advertising soap in an abandoned Underground station. Photo of a train bombed during the blitz of 1940/41. All part of our Underground history tour. Tower Bridge viewed from London Bridge. Shakespeare 's likeness reclining in the Southwark Cathedral. ...
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London II / Berzerker Rooks

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A morning at the British Museum absorbing artifacts from our collective past was rewarding, despite feelings about plundering other cultures. Having walked (in 2013) on the Isle of Lewis where someone discovered the Viking Chess Set, we made our way to the room where they are displayed, this magnificent whalebone set with Viking-related pieces. The berzerker took the place of the commonly known rook. The "Berserker" rook is an alternative found only in the Isle of Lewis set, depicting a Viking warrior in frenzy for a battle, so excited that he's biting his shield. Also of interest was the watch and clock room, especially the clock from 1685 with a luminous dial -- lit by a lantern placed inside. (See the 10 lit up on the left clock.) It is my opinion that the London Tube is the easiest underground system I've ever used, not to mention comprehensive and efficient. After a pub lunch of fish and chips (Doug ate the chips, I ate the fis...
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