Day 6: Thames, Greenwich

Today was last day in London!

Getting up bright and early, we’re packed, breakfasted, and ready in the coaches by 7:30, and on our riverboat tour of the River Thames by 8:30

Cruising down we got a good look at many things from the water. The Waterloo Bridge for example, built mainly by women during WW2 since most men had gone off to war.

One of the other bridges we passed is one that you may recognize from Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1. It’s the Millennium Bridge in London that the Death Eaters destroy, used in place of the Brockdale Bridge that was destroyed in the book.

We were also to see a replica of Shakespeare’s Globe theater. The roof on this Globe is just the same as the original was- built with a thatched roof.

Of other places, we also passed by the Shard, the tallest building in Western Europe, as well as the Tower Bridge, quite a magnificent structure that still can open to let ships through.

We finished up our hour boat ride in Greenwich. If you don’t already know, Greenwich is famous for mainly two things, the home of the Prime Meridian (which divides the East Hemisphere from the West Hemisphere), and time. Time being where all other time in the world is measured by, from the Royal Observatory.

There are also two grand buildings in Greenwich, the old Naval Academy on one side, a structure that nearly mirrors a Royal palace on the other side. The royal palace was built by Charles I in 1666, then it became a royal hospital for seamen. Today, both structures are a part of the University of Grenwich , used for classes and such.

You may otherwise recognize it as the place of the last battle in Thor, the Dark World. Which is awesome.

Following exploring a bit in Greenwich, we went to the famed tea ship from the Victorian era, the Cutty Stark. She has four levels, and three big beautiful masts lined with all sorts of rigging. Her most successful captian, Richard Woodget, brought her from Australia all the way back to England in a record breaking 72 days. Her original cargo was tea, but she also carried wool among other things, when steam engines began to take over, finally being retired as a passenger boat and later restored as a museum.

After the Cutty Stark, off to the airport we went, singing (yes singing) thank you and goodbye to our most wonderful guides and coach drivers. Passing through security with relative ease, our gate information was slow in showing up on any screens, and when it finally did show up it was a good 10 minute walk all the way at the other end of the airport. Needless to say we were a bit rushed, but rest assured, we all got on the plane.

We have now officially taken off from British ground! 2:49 London Time, March 26, 2015

11:32 PM London Time. 6:32 PM Chicago Time. March 26, 2015. It’s good to be home.