Europe 2016 - LONDON, Great Britain, June 4 - 7

After a short flight from Zurich to London, we had a driver waiting who took us to the Russell Hotel.  We've stayed there before and it was terrific to be welcomed back like family.

Bernard is the world's best concierge.  We were always greeted with hugs and expressions of concern.  Had we had a marvelous day?  What could he plan for us next, etc.?  Terrific service.

Our room with a view of Russell Square.

At Bernard's suggestion, we had dinner in the neighborhood in a small Italian restaurant.  Then we took The Tube to Piccadilly Square and saw the most amazing play, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time - ingenious use of lighting all over the stage, including the floor, to show how the brain of an autistic boy works.  Tickets are very reasonable compared to what you have to pay on Broadway.  

Day 8 was spent using the Hop-on-Hop Off Bus.  It stopped near the hotel and we had unlimited use for two days.  Our first stop was the National Portrait Gallery.  

 The story behind the painting was as interesting as the painting. It was a first because it wasn't just a portrait of Sir Unton but it depicted his entire life.

 A very famous photo by Annie Leibovitz using only natural light.

 This young artist was focused and working really hard.  He was doing really well too.  I thought it was a terrific thing that his mother and the museum were letting him do this and he was enjoying it.

 My kind'a gal.

Lady Campbell, ne. Gertrude Elizabeth Blood, did the unthinkable in her day - she filed for divorce and the case became notorious because she claimed her husband had infected her with the "French disease" and he countered (because he didn't want the "shame" of a divorce - hard to understand where shame ends and societal standing begins) that she had committed adultery and named her 4 famous lovers, including George Spencer-Churchill, Winston's uncle.  The trial was lengthy and the newspapers of the day had a field day.  In a press competition Gertrude could beat Kim Kardashian easily.  Big difference - Gertrude actually ended up working for a living because while technically still married, she was on her own.

Her husband won and the divorce was denied.  Here's a description of the social conventions of the time that dictated this outcome:

"According to man-made law a wife who is even once unfaithful to her husband has done him an injury which entitles him to divorce her...On the other hand, a man who consorts with prostitutes, and does this over and over again throughout his married life, has, according to man-made law, been acting only in accordance with human nature, and nobody can punish him for that."

I could have stayed all day in this museum but we were hungry so it was time for lunch.

Next hopped back on the bus and we visited the neighborhood around the Globe Theater and the toured the Tate Modern Museum.

 Views along the way.

I love the historic and the modern together.

It was a sunny Sunday afternoon after days of rain.  Everyone was in a park.

We passed a fashion shoot.

Even models want to see the image.  So cute.

Oh my, below is what my knitting corner looks like when the cats get into my yarn stash.

Turns out this isn't yarn.  It's human hair.

I love the "Guerrilla Girls"

We made it back to the hotel and had dinner in the bar.

The next day was sunny and comfortable - perfect for taking a train and seeing Cambridge.

Another amazing train station.  Oh how I wish we had the same.

It was opening just as our train was announced.  Didn't get to go inside.

When we got to Cambridge we caught the Hop-On-Hop Off bus.  The first stop was the American WWII Cemetery.  We didn't even know it existed.  Had to go see it.

Chapel at end of walkway.

Wall has names of the missing including Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr.

Flowers that had been left on Memorial Day.

Chapel door.

Inside the chapel.

While we found this unexpected detour moving and lovely, it was on to Cambridge University.

Oh dear, it was graduation and all of the campuses were closed except for students, family and alumni.

The only way to see the campuses was by boat, called a punt - word comes from Old English and the 1st known use of the word to describe a boat moved by using a long pole was in the 12th Century.  Our guide said it would be much more crowded later in the summer.  Wow - hard to imagine.

Views along the way:

King's College Chapel (I think)

On their way to graduation.

Time for lunch.

This is the oldest pub in Cambridge and very famous.  The scientists who discovered DNA celebrated their accomplishment here.  It was also a favorite of fly boys during WWII.  Lots of battalion flags still hang from the ceiling and you can see the scratched initials and unit symbols over the bar.  History and tasty food all in one place - a great find.

Being really full from all the pub grub, we had to take a walk.  Here are some sights along the way.

Would someone please explain the crooked lines to me.

Time to get back on the train.

It wasn't large inside, but still another lovely station.

Look at all the people waiting for their train.  Americans, get out of your cars and get on a train!  Sorry, I can't help myself.

So sad, but time to go home.

At least we were flying Virgin Atlantic and got to use their lounge and private security line.

Also we didn't have to wait for a bar cart to come down the aisle on the long flight home.  Met an interesting couple from Cornwall on their 1st trip to see their son who is working in DC as in intern at the Department of Commerce.