Sunday - what a train ride!

What a shower!  We have had a few problems with the shower in the apartment - scolding water, cold water, alternating hot and cold water. So the hotel shower was a delight. Jody headed down to breakfast while I took a shower - then I met her in the dining room. I ordered the English breakfast because Jody's looked so good, and I had some fruit while I waited for it. This was the first proper breakfast we have had since arriving in England.

We checked out and left our bags locked up in the lobby. We walked around the block to the house where Shakespeare was born.

House where Shakespeare was born - later expanded into an inn.

This is what I expected Stratford to look like. Unfortunately, the town changed with the times altho there are still several old buildings.

We took a tour of the house - I saw a guy with a cape standing outside in the garden when I looked out the window. People were looking at him and walking by. When we got outside, I asked him if he recited Shakespeare. He asked what I would like to hear. I asked him what he liked to recite. Next thing, he launched into one of Shakespeare's sonnets - right there where Shakespeare was born!!
He told me that he was majoring in Shakespeare in school. He was hired for the year - he has to memorize the soliloquys and some of the scenes from Shakespeare's plays. He was joined by an actress.

Outside in the garden.

She performed something. Then they decided to perform the balcony scene from Romeo and Juliet!

They were so good! They really made the visit to the house special!

Then we decided to walk down to the River Avon and see what Patty was up to. We didn't have enough time to see everything because we were going to stop at Blenheim Palace on the way back to Oxford, but I wanted to see the church where Shakespeare was buried.

Henley Street

Live knight captivated Jody!!

We passed some interesting shops as we headed for the river - unfortunately, no time to browse on this trip - next time!

Stratford has a great river area - parks on both sides of the river. And today there was a market with all kinds of stalls.

We met up with Patty and took a round trip ride on the chain ferry across the Avon River. Don't let this fool you - the distance is not that far, but if you want to get from one side of the river to the other, you have a long walk around - hence this little ferry. 

Patty had already been to the church so Jody and I walked down to see where Shakespeare was buried.

 I love the old churches in Europe - the statues, carvings, stained glass windows.

Shakespeare hung on the wall to the right of his grave.

We walked back through the park to meet Patty. She had checked out of the Arden Hotel so we jumped into her car and headed back to the White Swan to pick up our bags. Then we were off to Oxford again. Or were we? Jody had forgotten her phone charger. I had brought my charged and plugged my phone in last night in the hotel. Unfortunately, I just remembered that I had forgotten to hit the button to turn on the electricity! In Europe many electrical outlets have buttons you push to open the electricity to the plug. So even though I had brought my adapter, when I plugged in my phone I had no electricity - so my phone had very little charge. Patty had anticipated this and had looked up directions to Blenheim Palace last night while Jody and I were at the play - she had them written out on a piece of paper. I had a portable battery charger in my bag so I pulled that out and started charging my phone. 

We found Woodstock - there was a street festival going on and the town was packed. I was surprised that the Palace gate was right there in the town. I thought it would be out in the country. We pulled up to the entrance and heard the disappointing news that there was a marathon on the Palace grounds so we could not pull in. The guard told us to find a place to park in town!! So Patty turned around - there wasn't a parking place to be found. I didn't have a signal on my phone to look up a map of the area. We decided to just head back to Oxford and poke around a while. 

What traffic! Yesterday there were graduations and lots of people. I didn't expect so many people or cars today!! We finally pulled into a parking garage near the Randolph Hotel. We walked to Exeter College and went into the quadrangle - this was where Morse died - we had to see this hallowed spot.

Exeter College quadrangle where Morse had his heart attack.

Entrance to student residence

Chapel

After paying our respects to Inspector Morse's last scene, we decided to do what he so often did - have a pint to help us think. So we headed toward The Randolph where Morse was known to have raised a glass.

Picture of Morse and another with Sir John Gielgud who played 

a character in the Twilight of the Gods episode.

Morse on one side - Hathaway and Lewis on the other side.

Lewis and Morse, I presume?

We found our car in the car park and headed back to Avis. We dropped the car off and walked back to the train station. There was a train to London at 6 pm. We grabbed some snacks and sat for a while. A chap joined us and told us that the 6 pm was always very crowded. We prepared ourselves to run down the platform to find a car with seats. Unfortunately, everyone else had the same idea and there were NO seats. Patty and I were jammed into the end of the car in front of the toilet - Jody was closer to the exit door. There were people sitting on the floor, in the aisles, under the luggage rack - for 2 hours!! At one point Patty suggested that I go sit on the toilet - she would tell people it was occupied!! 

One woman was complaining that the Great Western Railway had overbooked the train, there were reserved seats and no one sitting in them (that did not last long,) no one had told her how crowded the train would be,  it was an accident waiting to happen. All legitimate complaints but not in that whining voice! She was very nasty to the conductor - really, what could he do at that point. Her husband said that they could take the next train, but she didn't want to wait that long - she wanted to go home. I was so happy to see the end of her!!

We finally made it to Paddington Station in one piece. We took the tube to Vauxhall and our little apartment was so welcoming!!

We want to see the Imperial War museum tomorrow. Patty's grandson Jared wants a picture from the top of the London Eye - which was not high on my bucket list  - but why not! Jody mentioned going to another market so we may do that in the afternoon. But let's go to bed now.

Friday - Camden market, canal cruise, Millennium Bridge

I walked to a local shop this morning to buy something for breakfast because the shops were closed last night when we got home. I went into a little place down the street and bought a double bap - fried egg and English bacon on a soft roll. I also picked up some water for myself and Patty. It was interesting to see the kids heading off to school - the smaller ones with their mothers, bigger ones in groups of two and three. They all were wearing uniforms. I'm a firm believer in uniforms - puts everyone on the same footing!!
It was sunny and cool with a light breeze. After eating my bap in the living room, I kicked myself for not having it on the balcony. So I gathered up my computer and went out onto the patio to finish my blog from yesterday. 
We lazed around a little this morning after being out till midnight last night. Jody had suggested going to another market so we all decided to go to Camden Lock market. Today we decided to take the underground. We went back to Vauxhall tube station where we had bought our Oyster cards - the same pleasant guy helped us top them up. 

This is the tunnel we walk through to get to Vauxhall bus or tube station.

Then we were off - we made it to Camden despite my getting off at the wrong station -  we were on the Victoria line, and I thought we were getting off at Victoria Station. So we got off, and then got back on the next train - thank god that it came right away. 

Camden town is a very different kind of place. Shops and stalls everywhere! Glitzy, glamorous, chintzy, chic - Camden has it all! We walked up the street taking in the all sights.

Sand artist on the sidewalk - he is shaping a dog.

Current London fashions?

The outside walls of all the shops are decorated.

I was looking for a baseball cap to wear in the rain.

Dark Angel

Chinese Restaurant

We walked over the canal to Camden Market - lots of these barges along the canal.

We just made it into the enclosed Camden Market when the rain began pouring down.  We poked around the stalls for a while - got some money from the ATM. Then we decided we needed some nourishment.

Street stall in front of local restaurant with covering over it due to rain.

Outside stalls.

Luckily, the rain stopped.

We walked along this first floor or second level to the Lockside pub.

There were picnic tables outside so we each ordered a Pimm's and took it outside. 

Picture of our bartender - Patty took this picture - I am stealing it!

I hadn't had Pimm's since GeeGee, Julie, and I had been to London in 1978! Pimm's is a gin based drink - with cut up fruit and cucumber slices.

I look like I've had a couple of Pimm's!

We also ordered some snacks - I had a baked sweet potato with cheese - it came with guacamole and sour cream - neither of which I normally would eat but I did try some of each.

Before our snacks arrived, we decided to have another Pimm's - the bartender who made our first drink suggested a pitcher of Pimm's - how could we refuse?!?! 

No, we each didn't order a pitcher of Pimm's!!!

We shared a pitcher of Pimm's!

We walked along the canal after our pitcher of Pimm's and came upon a canal barge in a lock.

Difficult to see the boat, but we watched the lock fill with water while we talked with the lock keeper.

The barge/narrowboat rising in the lock.

The boat is now ready to pass through the lock to the canal.

Our friend in the green vest is opening the gate to the lock.

The boat passes out of the lock after our friend opened the gate.

The gate keeper had to move on to the next lock - he suggested we walk along with him, and he gave us a history lesson on the area. He also showed us the black posts below - it is difficult to see because of the graffiti, but there are horizontal ridges cut into the black concrete posts from the ropes used to lead the horses who pulled the original barges along the canal. 

The barges would deliver goods and merchandise to the Thames where it could be shipped all over the British Commonwealth. The railroads and then trucking put the canals out of business. Now the canals including this Regent Canal are used for recreation. You can rent one of the narrowboats for a weekend or a week - you can cycle, jog, or walk the former towpaths - you can take a ride on one of the narrowboats from Camden Lock to Little Venice. So we did!! But before we left, I had to have ice cream, and Jody had to get a coffee while Patty held our place in line.

The trip on the narrowboat was very relaxing and refreshing after the hustle and bustle of Camden Market. We passed behind London Zoo and under a bridge which had been blown up by a narrowboat carrying gun powder which caught fire and caused an explosion in the 1800s. 

Today people were walking along the towpath. I'd like to do that walk sometime.

I thought that the boat ride ended at the top of Regent's Park so we planned to walk through Regent's Park to Baker Street to visit Sherlock Holmes. Miscalculation!! We passed through Regent's Park alright, but Little Venice is not inside the park. The pilot told us that we were closer to Paddington Station and pointed us in that direction.

The Milton was our narrowboat.

So we started walking - along a highway! We decided to head to St. Paul's Cathedral when we found a Tube station - I think it was Edgeware Road Station. Unfortunately, we were too late for admission to the Cathedral - it was just after 5, and we were too late for Evensong which had already started. One thing on my to do list was to attend an Evensong. Next trip I guess.

We decided to walk across Millennium Bridge - another item on my to do list. The bridge had been built for the Millennium obviously. When I was in London in February 2000 with my kids, the bridge had been closed because it wobbled/swayed in the wind. I think it was a couple of years before it reopened. It is a suspension bridge for pedestrians only. And there are lots of pedestrians crossing over it!!

St. Paul's Cathedral as we headed off to the bridge. 

The Shard.

We were interested in these "beaches" along the Thames.

Tower Bridge from Millennium Bridge.

St. Paul's from the Millennium Bridge.

The Cheese Grater and Walkie Talkie buildings from Millennium Bridge.

Tate Modern Art Gallery as we approach the end of the Millennium Bridge. The building was originally a power station.

Mud Rackers looking for treasures.

The pictures came out clearer in black and white!

St. Paul's Cathedral from across the Thames.

Rather than check out the Tate Modern now, we decided we needed something to eat. We walked along the embankment looking for a place that wasn't too crowded. Most of the pubs had people hanging out of them - they all looked like business people - mainly men in suits - drinking and smoking outside the pubs. We wanted to have a drink so we kept walking.

I think the white house with the red door above is the house where Christopher Wren lived while building St. Paul's Cathedral. 

Prior to being built in the early 18th century, this area was home to the Cardinal's Hat Pub - which was also reported to be a brothel. This section of London - Bankside - was the dark side of London - with lots of illegal activities - gaming houses, theaters, brothels, bear baiting, cock fights. Today the name of the pub lives on in the Cardinal Cap Alley - an alley which dates back to 1360 - you can see it between the white and brick houses in the above photo.

We passed the ruins of Winchester Palace and its Rose Window. 

The Palace was built by a brother of King Stephen who appointed him Bishop of Winchester. Bishops were very powerful in Catholic England. This would have been their residence when they came to London.

We continued walking until we came to Hays Galleria which had several restaurants and no lines. We stopped at Cafe Rouge for a drink and a bite to eat. 

It was dark when we finished eating. We decide to head home - we headed to the London Bridge tube station - Jody had a great app on her phone for finding the way through London. I have an iPhone 6 from Sprint, but I couldn't get the internet on my phone when we were out and about despite setting it for international travel. So Jody was our navigator, and she did a great job getting us from one place to another.

It always feels good to get off at Vauxhall - walk through the tunnel - then head through the park to our digs - and just relax. Tonight we  had to get ready to go to Oxford in the morning. Helen had suggested taking the train to Oxford and renting a car there instead of renting one in London. So that is what we are doing - so we have to get to Paddington Station in the morning to get a train to Oxford. Tomorrow should be a very interesting day!