Greenwich, We've Returned!
After six visits to London, we didn't know where else to go. We had been to practically all the sights in the British capital and we wondered where to go next. "Someplace new!" we thought. Although we had been to Greenwich before, we decided to return. It had been a very long time after all since our very first visit. Truth to tell, I remember very little from our trip in the summer of 1997. All I remember from that visit was seeing the Cutty Sark and that was it. To get there, we passed by Canary Wharf first. I don't think this part of London was developed yet during our initial visit. I had heard of this new development and I liked it. It reminded me of San Francisco's Embarcadero Center, full of offices and apartment buildings but with a big mall feel. We went inside a restaurant and ate some snacks before heading on to Greenwich.
Upon our arrival in Greenwich, we walked around the city a little bit and did some window shopping. I remember visiting a bookstore and then a market where I was tempted to buy a set of Nepalese music bowls for 100 pounds British. We initially thought of visiting the Cutty Sark once again but we didn't realize there was now a $20 admission. We changed our minds and went to the Maritime Museum instead as well as to the Queen's House right next door.
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This was an impressive view of the Cutty Sark from the museum's entry gate. We only went as far as the gift shop then left.
The Cutty Sark Museum
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This was the lid of a puzzle I saw in a Waterstone's Bookstore in the city of Greenwich. The lid of the puzzle box was too pretty not to take a picture of. So I did. I couldn't resist.
Map of the sights in Greenwich
I remember seeing monument dedicated to William IV right outside the the Maritime Museum.
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The Maritime Museum
Inside the Maritime Museum. The museum was free to the public. There we stayed for a couple of hours as we leisurely visited one gallery after another. There were lots of paintings and portraits.
Standing next to lots of figure heads on exhibit inside the Maritime Museum
Tipu Sultan of Mysore, 1750
Info about Tipu, the Sultan of Mysore
Inside the Maritime Museum
A South Pacific vessel from a long time ago on display at the museum
Captain Sir William Hutcheon Hall, 1797-1878
Info about Captain Sir William Hutcheon Hall
One of two portraits of Captain James Cook we saw in the museum
This was the other painting of the famous English captain and explorer, Captain James Cook
Prince Frederick's Barge
Another huge exhibit we saw upon entering the Maritime Museum. It was called, The Search for Speed.
Info about Prince Frederick's Barge
Just look at the webbed feet of this chair inside the Maritime Museum.
The Baltic Exchange Memorial Glass inside the Maritime Museum
I was pleasantly surprised to see this black and white picture of Queen Victoria and her close confidant, Abdul Karim (Munshi) from decades ago. I had seen the movie named after them and I loved it. On display at the Maritime Museum
Inside the Maritime Museum
Info about the Baltic Exchange Memorial Glass
A partial view of the lobby and main hall inside the Queen's House
The Queen's House
The spiral staircase inside the Queen's House
There were lots of portraits of past English queens inside the Queen's house. This particular portrait was of Elizabeth I, one of the many she had done for sure.
Standing next to another portrait inside the Queen's House
There are so many coats of arms in the UK. This one is just so beautiful.
A scene at Canary Wharf
Thank goodness for this tunnel, we got a respite from the very intense heat in the UK the time we were there.
We passed by Canary Wharf going to and from Greenwich. In fact we ate breakfast here prior to our Greenwich visit then lunch on our way back to the hotel after a day long sightseeing.
At Canary Wharf
I wonder how much it costs to rent, buy in Canary Wharf?
This is the Chinese Fast Food restaurant in Canary Wharf where we had our very late lunch after visiting Greenwich