"War has a way of distinguishing between the things that matter
and the things that don't."
MATTHEW CRAWLEY
and the things that don't."
MATTHEW CRAWLEY
October 8th was a fine day, although not warm. Today we took the Tube to Green Park, pausing by the Canadian war memorial then walking on to Buckingham Palace. Tom ushered us across the The Mall at exactly the right time to see the Horse Guards pass on their way to Horse Guards Parade. After taking a few photos, we walked along The Mall and through St. James Park asking questions about Queen Elizabeth II and the royal family.
Our walk ended at Whitehall and the Churchill War Rooms. The bunker-style rooms underneath the ministry buildings are perfectly preserved as they were essentially boarded up and abandoned at the end of World War II. The weather sign above is located in the war rooms, and the forecast was changed daily
to report outside conditions to those defence workers staying in the windowless bunker.
The Churchill War Rooms were fascinating. It was like stepping back in time, and as several of us noted, like stepping onto the set of Foyle's War . If you like military history or history period and have any inclination to learn more about the WWII period, I think you'll find this one of the most interesting places to visit in London.
The group dispersed for lunch. A few of us tried the cafeteria at the Methodist Central Hall, then we rejoined the group for an hour-long tour of the National Gallery. Highlights included seeing The Wilton Diptych (King Richard II's traveling altarpiece) and J.M.W. Turner's The Fighting Temeraire. When watching the James Bond flick Skyfall a month after my trip, I had to smile when the Turner painting was featured in a scene where 007 was contemplating the future of his career. Symbolism abounds!
Our walk ended at Whitehall and the Churchill War Rooms. The bunker-style rooms underneath the ministry buildings are perfectly preserved as they were essentially boarded up and abandoned at the end of World War II. The weather sign above is located in the war rooms, and the forecast was changed daily
to report outside conditions to those defence workers staying in the windowless bunker.
The Churchill War Rooms were fascinating. It was like stepping back in time, and as several of us noted, like stepping onto the set of Foyle's War . If you like military history or history period and have any inclination to learn more about the WWII period, I think you'll find this one of the most interesting places to visit in London.
The group dispersed for lunch. A few of us tried the cafeteria at the Methodist Central Hall, then we rejoined the group for an hour-long tour of the National Gallery. Highlights included seeing The Wilton Diptych (King Richard II's traveling altarpiece) and J.M.W. Turner's The Fighting Temeraire. When watching the James Bond flick Skyfall a month after my trip, I had to smile when the Turner painting was featured in a scene where 007 was contemplating the future of his career. Symbolism abounds!