Where Time Begins

So, this week is reading week. Meaning no classes. Meaning I am already 1/2 way through my lectures. It's crazy, by the end of March I will be done going to classes. Then I have April off, 2 exams in May and still have my flat through middle of June. That leaves a lot of time to be a tourist. Something I am becoming supremely good at! My latest tourist excursion? Greenwich.

So, I learned today, while actually in Greenwich, that it is actually in London, in Zone 2. I have always thought of it as its own city until I got there and saw the O2 stadium and other various London landmark buildings and until my directionally gifted friend informed me its part of London. It only takes about 30 minutes to get there via tube/above ground train. This just goes to show how huge London is. I think its about 700 square miles? That's one big city.

Greenwich is kind of exactly what I expected it to be. As soon as we get there its loads of British style red brick houses and then there is one section in the middle of town with majestic white stone buildings (the historic part, no doubt).

As everyone knows, Greenwich is home to the Prime Meridian and Greenwich Mean Time aka where time begins so to speak. There is other stuff too, like the National Maritime Museum, some college, The Queen's House which was one of the homes of many of the tutor Kings and Queens, the Royal Observatory, shopping, markets, restaurants, etc.

The Maritime Museum and Queen's House were average at best (well they were really beautiful on the outside, but there is nothing much inside).

The Royal Observatory was cool though. When you walk up the hill to get to it, you can take pictures on the Prime Meridian. Another thing to check off the bucket list. Since I went to the equator while in Kenya a few years ago, and the Prime Meridian today, now all I need to do is go to where they both meet. Anyone want to take a cruise with me to the Gulf of Guinea? I am beginning a sign-up sheet so let me know ;)

Oh hey, standing on two hemispheres!

Greenwich is also supposed to have some cute stores and a cool vintage shop but for some reason when we got done with all of the sight-seeing stuff at 5 everything was closed. So strange. I guess this just means that I will have to come back at some point.

Reading week continues, so hopefully I will get to do some more UK touring!

PS: Happy Valentine's Day! I just love holidays, especially one that involves sparkling wine and chocolate :)