Portobello Market & Imperial War Museum 08/12/2023

 Today we decided to split up.  Amanda and Linda wanted to go shopping and they gave Harry and me a kitchen pass.  

The girls chose to visit the Portobello Market. London’s Portobello Road & Golborne Road Market is probably the world’s best known street market with a history stretching back over 150 years.  It started off  as a simple country path known as Green Lane.  It took its name from the Porto Bello Farm, which was named after Porto Bello in Panama, an area captured by the Brits in 1739.

Harry and I decided to immerse ourselves in military history.  We toured the Imperial War Museum.  It was opened in 1920 and served as a depository of artifacts related to the Great War (WW I).  Great Britian wanted to recognize and remember the sacrifices made by all Britons, civilian and military in the war.  This museum has expanded through the years and all of the conflicts the U.K. has been involved in are represented.

I was talking to a museum docent and he explained to me the scope of museum and what we should expect in our tour. I asked him if the museum covered the American war?  He thought for a minute and said that is a good question, but the museum did not cover the period of 1776. This museum covered 5 floors.  We spent two hours on our visit and I felt we needed two days.

It was time to meet our wives for lunch so we met in Picadilly Circus and walked to China Town.  Today's history of China Town began after the great London fire in the late 1600's.  This location became a destination for Chinese immigrants.  It was established as the epicenter for the Chinese community. I am glad we planned a visit here. It is colorful and interesting. We had a very good meal at the Royal China restaurant.  

I mentioned Piccadilly Circus.  It seems a number of Americans, when they visit London are dissappointed there is no circus at Piccadilly Circus.  Circus here means circle.  This place reminds me of Times Square in New York.

After lunch we took a short cruise on the Thames River and returned to Islington at the end of our day. Tomorrow we will take a guided tour in Buckingham Palace.  It should be very interesting

Harry's friend, sitting next to Harry on ship

Walking through China Town

Shot up vehicle from Iraqi War

Tower Bridge, taken from cruise ship.

We walked by Captain Bligh's house.

London Police Memorial

In China Town

What did you do in the Great War?

Iraq car bomb, killed 36 people and this vehicle.

Imperial War Museum

This Spitfire flew 57 missions during the Battle of Britain



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