Today we
decided to go ice skating at the Tower of London and visit The Globe Theatre.
In the end only one out of two of these goals was achieved – through no fault
of our own!
Set out
early to beat the hordes and catch the Circle Line to the Tower...Unfortunately
the Circle Line wasn’t co-operating so we tried bus catching instead. This led
us a merry dance (fun on the top of a red double decker though!) before we
caught the tube again from another station to get to the Tower. The time this
took meant we arrived there with MANY Italian tour groups (and others)...only
to find the ice rink was now predominantly liquid! Roni chatted to one of the
attendants who said there was a generator malfunction on Christmas Day and no one
was there so they are still working on being icy again!
So we
carried on our way after stalking a few Beefeaters from a distance with the
camera. Past Monument and along the Thames we wandered, admiring London Bridge,
the old London Bridge Hospital, Hay’s Wharf and The Golden Hinde on the way. We
discovered the Fishmonger’s Hall, Bray shared a hongi with a fish, rejoiced at
finding The Banker pub, clambered
down to touch the river itself and a barge or two, walked through an underpass
full of educational tiled artworks about Southwark Bridge, and observed the
Fruiterers & Vitners Hall before crossing Southwark Bridge itself to get to
Shakespeare’s Globe.
Multiple
photos later we paid to enter the museum and have a guided tour of the Globe
itself. Unfortunately because it is winter (and people here are soft) there are
no plays on at the moment so this was the only way we could get inside!
A couple of
brief minutes passed watching some swordplay training then our tour began with
Callum our guide and the horde joining us. After a brief historical chat we
moved outside the theatre for construction information then in through the
North Tower to the Yard and Tower Gallery.
More
informative talking from Callum and once Roni got past the disappointment that
the stage roof front was behind scaffolding (materials being replaced) she got
to touch the stage and enjoy the experience. After being groundlings we had a
chance to sit up in the ‘flash seats’ while Callum let rip with some
appropriate quotes...all delivered in ringing, well articulated tones of
course!
Back into
the museum/shop/other bit after this where Callum told us about their newest
project – an indoor Jacobean Theatre. It
looks exciting and they have just got permission to light it with candles and
torches as it would have been back then! Will be awesome when they get it done...
Time then to
drool over some texts and fun things in the shop but we escaped unscathed and
made our way back to the museum. Interesting displays and Roni managed to learn
some new things even after teaching Shakespeare for 5 years or so! Some
fabulous costumes seen that reminded us of Anna and Lisa with their creativity
and skills as well as bringing home once again just how difficult Shakespearean
gear is to move in!
The nearby
alleys were our next destination, searching (with success) for the remains of The Rose theatre and the original site
of The Globe. Along the river toward
Tate Modern but we chose to save that for another day as it was almost closing
time. Across Millennium Bridge – where we purchased some hot sugary nuts to
sustain us – before following Victoria Embankment alongside the Thames to
Cleopatra’s Needle.
Sphinx hongi
accomplished and other shots taken then time to catch the tube home as it was
decidedly chilly and we were ready for dinner!
