May 14 2012

Places visited today: London Bridge, The Monument to the Great Fire of London (622 steps total walked-up & down), Thames River, Greenwich-Observatory, Museum

Hey everyone! :D

Well today we had a very busy day today. We walked a lot of steps today, so we got a wonderful day of toning our bodies on our trip. :P The trip around London was wonderful and even though it was a cloudy, rainy day, that did not deter our spirits in enjoying our gallivant of the city. :) 

The Great Fire  of London began in a baker's house in Pudding Lane on Sunday 2nd September 1666 and finally extinguished on Wednesday 5th September, after destroying the greater part of the City. Although there was little loss of life, the fire brought all activity to a halt, having consumed or severely damaged thousands of houses, hundreds of streets, the City's gates, public buildings, churches and St. Paul's Cathedral. The only buildings to survive in part were those built of stone, like St. Paul's and the Guildhall.

As part of the rebuilding, it was decided to erect a permanent memorial of the Great Fire near the place where it began. Sir Christopher Wren, Surveyor General to King Charles II and the architect of St. Paul's Cathedral, and hisfriend and colleague, Dr Robert Hooke, provided a design for a colossal Doric column in the antique tradition. They drew up plans for a column containing a cantilevered stone staircase of 311 steps leading to a viewing platform. This was surmounted by a drum and a copper urn from which flames emerged, symbolising the Great Fire. The Monument, as it came to be called, is 61 metres high (202 feet) - the exact distance between it and the site in Pudding Lane where the fire began.

Source

 There are 622 [spiral] steps total that one could walk up and down. This is seen as an accomplsihment, and therefore we were all handed certificates at the end. :)

However, the view is spectacular, once one reaches the top of The Monument. Many os us enjoyed the view of London. (Despite the rain and cloudiness)

 Early in the morning this was a feat that we can all be proud of that we accomplished, but we are all young, fit and healthy and so we were able to get over that "small" obstacle. :D

After we climbed all the way at the top of The Monument, we walked along the Thames Rive-to get to our boat that would take us to Greenwich; our next place for adventure, exploration, and fun. :)

 Front-view of boat to Greenwich.

 This is the name of our boat that took us to Greenwich. :)

 We arrived to Greenwich, after our 45 minuet boat ride

 Greenwich- pronounced: (Grenech)

 Some of the girls enjoying their time at The Great Hall in Greenwich. :)

 Houses that are along the way to Greenwich Park, where we walked to get to the Time Observatory. I loved the cars and the houses, so I had to capture the perfect photographic moment. :)

Greenwich Park

View from Time Observatory

Royal Greenwich Observatory

There had been significant buildings on this land since the reign of Edward I. Greenwich Palace, next to the site of the present-day Maritime Museum was the birthplace of Henry VIII and the Tudors used Greenwich Castle, which was built on the land that the Observatory now stands on. Greenwich Castle was apparently a favourite place for Henry VIII to house his mistresses, so that he could easily travel from the Palace to see them.

The establishment of a Royal Observatory was proposed in 1674 by Sir Jonas Moore who, in his role as Surveyor General at the Ordnance Office, persuaded King Charles II that the Observatory might be built with Flamsteed employed in it. The Ordnance Office was given responsibility for building the Observatory, with Moore providing the key instruments and equipment for the observatory at his own personal cost. Flamsteed House, the original part of the Observatory, was designed by Sir Christopher Wren probably with the assistance of Robert Hooke and was the first purpose-built scientific research facility in Britain. It was built for a cost of £520 (£20 over budget) out of largely recycled materials on the foundations of Duke Humphrey's Tower, which resulted in the alignment being 13 degrees away from true North, somewhat to Flamsteed's chagrin.

It not only housed the scientific instruments to be used by Flamsteed in his work on stellar tables, but over time also incorporated a number of additional responsibilities such as the keeping of time and later Her Majesty's Nautical Almanac Office.

Famous structure at the Time Observatory where "Time" was first recorded by man-kind.

"The Beginnings of 'Time'"

 Does Elmira College approve? :) I think so! :D

After a long day of walking, and climbing 622 stairs, we were all a little sore and tired but we were very happy with all that saw, and we learned a lot from the "Time" Observatory in Greenwich. Definitely a place all of us would want to go back and visit. :) 

After a long day, some of us went to see Les Miserables! It was a spectacular show and after, we could see why it IS the LONGEST running musical in London. (In the league of course to Phantom of the Opera)

It was nice to see a show of this beauty and professional. It was truly an honor. :) It was also quite educational, where we learned about one story before The French Revolution.

Thanks for checking back! :D It was a spectacular day and we were very happy and content with everything that we did and accomplished! :D

Take care!

Love,

Lucky :) <3