Travels with Robert and Sue, Gonzo-style

Wednesday, July 22, 2009

2007-Oxford, Lake District and York Minster

On to such a gorgeous area of England....Oxford and its many colleges, then the Lake District with all the hiking trails tantalizing me...and bringing me back in 2009 with Robert! Sandra and I celebrated near Oxford...Thai meal was tasty!

York Minster and its "old town" was excellent....strolled the Shambles, toured the lower part of the Minster and then climbed 247 steps up a narrow, circular stairway to the ramparts of the Minster....what a view of the Yorkshire Moors! After toured the Jorvik exhibit which showed Viking life 2000 years ago.....intriguing artifacts and explanations.
After, another pint at a local pub!!














































































2007-London Walkabout,Science Museum and a Pint!



London's Science Museum is excellent, full of technology, both old and new. Here's Robert standing beside the the landing gear of a Boeing 737, then Volkswagons stacked 6 high!
The Spitfire shown here actually flew in WWII and had some good explanations about their construction....by women, no less!

And how about another London walkabout along the Thames....Big Ben, Parliament Buildings, Westminster Abbey,  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Westminster_Abbey#Burials_and_memorials  Trafalgar Square....and now the Millenium Wheel to view everything.







So now, we've been the very proper tourists.....time for a pint with fish and chips in one of the pubs!



















Thursday, July 16, 2009

2007- London's British Museum

Greeted by Sandra at Heathrow on Oct. 8, bless her soul for coming to get us!




Next day, we joined the commuter crowd from Croyden, travelling with Sandra into London....bus-train-Tube-walk. Do these Londoners know that a Canadian colonist is amongst them? Easter Island Man greeted us at the front door of the Museum....he's displaced too!!





Spent the next 3 days at the British Museum as well as doing walkabouts....great to have free access to this Museum and free mini-tours lead by volunteers....excellent! Started off with an Orientation Tour, then into the ancient world room to check out Assyrian sculptures and Parthenon Stones....great controversy still about the Elgin Stones.
Over to check out the Peat Bog man, then a few hours in the China exhibits.



Interestingly, the special exhibit was of the Terra Cotta warriors....only 3 on display. Robert and I took a pass on this....we had seen over 8000 warriors, chariots and horses a few years before in Xi'An, China!! On to India, with gorgeous carvings, murals and jewelry...


The ancient Egypt tour is a MUST....great collection of mummies and sarcophagus which had us all in thrall.
Roman Britain is a relatively new exhibit and is excellent....many artifacts and mosaics have been collected with the help of amateur archaeologists....fascinating glimpse into Britain 1500 years ago.
All in all, 3 great days exploring this Museum....and more exhibits still waiting
to be viewed! We will be back (Is this a common refrain for these PEI Gonzos ?!)