After an extremely long ride (Blackberry Cars - but not their fault) from Heathrow we made it to Greenwich Pier |
Checked in at the tents on the pier and took a short Clipper ride to Viking Star |
Greenwich is a World Heritage Site. Here's the Old Royal Naval College from the water |
Anne met us for dinner in Greenwich & a beautiful evening stroll around the college and Greenwich Pier area |
A red bus passes Queen's House in Greenwich |
For an architecture lover Greenwich is tops |
Greenwich Pier around 8:30 in the evening. The round dome houses steps down to a pedestrian tunnel under the Thames |
The Cutty Sark |
Cutty Sark was looking pretty impressive in the late evening light |
Rare hot day and beautiful sunset over Greenwich |
Sunset, retractable pool cover on Star & London's Shard in distance - beautiful! |
Overnight on a beautiful ship with the college and Thames Clipper pier |
In the morning, I walked under the Thames through tunnel, sharing it with bikers, runners & walkers - spooky but fun. |
Star from the other side (Isle of Dogs) |
Easily found the DLR station (Island Gardens) and took the DLR to central London |
Connected to the Tube & went to Westminster. Hello, Big Ben! |
Walked away from Big Ben and went over the bridge (stickers, Tube sign, Big Ben). |
London Eye looked fun but too expensive |
Eye and bridge cables |
Amazing to see Viking Star anchored in the middle of the Thames. Not many cruise ships do it. |
Another view of pedestrian tunnel building and Cutty Sark |
Took a Thames Clipper back to Greenwich Pier, seeing City Hall (Egg) on the way. |
Thames Clipper is part of London transportation system. It also took us to Star. |
Tower Bridge & Walkie Talkie from the Clipper |
Think it's a palace turned hotel but never found out. |
Howard visited the Royal Observatory in Greenwich while I explored London. I hear it was a long slog up to the top! |
He said the long, hot trek to the observatory was worth it. |
Went on an included London tour in the afternoon. Here's London's "walkie talkie" from the coach |
Short photo stop: Garden across from Buckingham Palace (saw palace from gate). Also stopped at Westminster Abbey for a bit. |
The British are so polite. |
That evening we said goodbye to Greenwich. People waved at us from ashore, and kids yelled hello as we passed. |
The O2 entertainment venue seen from sailaway. Saw one side, rounded curve of Thames and saw the other! |
Passed the Emirates Air Line which goes over the Thames |
We passed London's lighthouse: Trinity Wharf. Inside music plays continually ("Longplayer" project); a funky diner is nearby |
Everyone was up top when we squeezed through the Thames Barrier (second largest barrier in the world) |