Venturing Beyond London
By Shiva
@Shiva49 (26204)
Singapore
September 1, 2016 9:19am CST
I did not plan my visit to London in detail as I wanted to be on my own not restricted by organized tours.
That proved a wise decision though we did take hop on hop off tours for a couple of days within the city. Then we zeroed in on those that merited further visits.
We took two day arranged tours, however – one to Stonehenge and another to Oxford and Cambridge.
Obviously, they were fascinating and well arranged. We visited places of interest and learned about the rich history and culture associated with them.
These earliest schools of learning obviously inspired others too as I learned John Harvard, the first benefactor of Harvard University, received his Master’s degree from Cambridge University.
It is no wonder that these seats of learning, stretching back to almost thousand years, are still icons in the field of education.
I left with a feeling of wonder and gratitude that they are kept in immaculate condition with the rich history well preserved.
Photo is mine
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17 responses
The colleges are rich in history and the finest brains still attend them.
I haven't been to Stonehenge for years, but it's very impressive, isn't it?
@crossbones27 (48434)
• Mojave, California
1 Sep 16
Sounds like a neat trip and good for you for setting your own path.
4 people like this
@scheng1 (24650)
• Singapore
6 Sep 16
Wow, you sure learn history when you visit all these places with thousands of years of history.
Did you arrange for a cruise from London?
You should have done that to visit Norway and Russia in the same trip.
There are cruises that leave from London, and return to London.
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@Shiva49 (26204)
• Singapore
6 Sep 16
Very true about the rich history of places - London, Paris, Rome, Amsterdam.
The museums were a rich storehouse of them.
Frankly, cruise would have been beyond my budget!
I do hope, however, there will be another opportunity.
The flat rate in trains GBP 2.40 made me take to walking for miles but the weather was so pleasant - siva
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@DianneN (246905)
• United States
18 Sep 16
Every time we visit London, we travel to other areas of England. The countryside is so beautiful. We've visited Brighton, the seaside town, Stonehenge, Bath, The Cotswolds, Stratford-upon-Avon, Ascot, the castles, and had a private tour of Oxford. My husband was a professor and chairman for his career, so we always visit universities all over the world.
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@ptrikha_2 (45501)
• India
7 Jun 17
I too visited England long time back, but could not visit Stonehenge or Oxford-places I wanted to visit.
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@ptrikha_2 (45501)
• India
7 Jun 17
@Shiva49 oh so will you get a chance in near future to visit UK again?
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@ptrikha_2 (45501)
• India
8 Jun 17
@Shiva49 Do share your experiences in that case.
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@epiffanie (11326)
• Australia
6 Sep 16
I don't like going on group tours either as I would love to really feel the places I visit ..
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@JamesHxstatic (29242)
• Eugene, Oregon
1 Sep 16
I envy you your trip to England. It is a place I would love to see. I did go to Italy and loved it there.
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@responsiveme (22926)
• India
1 Sep 16
You did well by going off on your own.Nice following your travels.
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@innertalks (21026)
• Australia
2 Sep 16
"I left with a feeling of wonder and gratitude that they are kept in immaculate condition with the rich history well preserved."
I expect that this is a recent trend to keep things in condition and restore them. When my Dad and my Mum went to London thirty five years ago, this was not being done apparently. The grey walls of the buildings were filthy and grotty back then.
He retired at 55, and this was the only overseas trip that either my Mum and Dad ever took.
@innertalks (21026)
• Australia
3 Sep 16
@Shiva49 Of course I guess that they built them to last in those days. These days everything has a use-by date built into it, (or an obsolescence factor).
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@Shiva49 (26204)
• Singapore
3 Sep 16
@innertalks Now we have trading mentality - everything is expendable for a price!
It is good to know our past and risks to avoid.
The great fire of London in 1666 destroyed quite a bit of its past.
I quote BBC:
"On Saturday 1 September 1666 the City of London sat nestled within its Roman walls away from the rest of the surrounding districts. It was a thriving, bustling world of narrow cobbled streets filled with timber-framed, thatched buildings. Its wharfs and docks on the River Thames flowed with people, goods and talk of wars with the Dutch and the French." - siva
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@Shiva49 (26204)
• Singapore
2 Sep 16
I was astonished to see buildings that were many centuries old but well preserved in Rome, Paris and London. Oxford and Cambridge Universities have buildings and chapels that are almost thousand years old.
The Colosseum in Rome is almost two thousand years old.
It gave me goosebumps to be where Caesar lived over two thousand years ago. Few of the buildings are preserved though not fully intact.Maybe some buildings are restored now but all looked livable and in good condition.
I think some are untouched to preserve their original flavor and appearance and that could give a grimy outer appearance.
I think you should make a trip to Britain and Europe. It is well worth it despite the cost.
My father loved to travel and he did even when he was not supposed to do so! siva
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@innertalks (21026)
• Australia
2 Sep 16
I myself have always hated travelling, but they say that it broadens our outlook.
I wonder why they say that?
All travel originates in the heart, and it works itself outwards from there.
The reason that I do not like travel is that I am not really living in my heart. I fear doing so, and so doubly is this true when I think about travel.
I would like to live in my heart, but something is stopping me from doing so, what is that, I wonder?
Our heart remains always open, but the route into it can be blocked by other parts of ourselves. This is why we must drop all who we think that we are, and be who we really in fact are.
I admire your ability to do just this siva, even when you are travelling through other countries.
@innertalks (21026)
• Australia
3 Sep 16
@Shiva49 I think that it would take a similar pull-factor for me to travel too.
When my mum and dad visited England, they went and met a man that they had never met. My mum used to knit socks for him when he was fighting in the trenches of World War 2. She was only a teenage girl then, barely 14 years old. After the war, they kept corresponding though, for another fifty years, or more.
2 people like this
@Shiva49 (26204)
• Singapore
3 Sep 16
@innertalks I too would not have made it unless I had real reasons for it over and above mere visiting the places. Nowadays one can get a real feel even from the many digital media and TV channels.
I felt lucky however, for having made the trip.
Once I lock my doors to my home I am well on my way but to get to that stage is tough though I know few here who do so at the drop of a hat!
The travel bug bites them without let-up! siva
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@Shiva49 (26204)
• Singapore
2 Sep 16
Frankly Steve, it is not easy for me to be coaxed out of my comfort zone - that is home.
I can be alone but never feel lonely too.
So I can well understand your feelings on this matter.
The biggest pull factor for me was that my son is now in London.
And we thought why not go beyond Britain and visit other cities in Europe.
And I knew that it was now or never for various reasons.
When I made the decision the best way then is to enjoy the moments and go with an open heart.
All the places I visited are welcoming of tourists and they are veterans in that field.
That way Australia is also similar.
At the cost of repetition, I could feel the thread of humanity everywhere though I admit I was rather taken aback to learn of some violent periods in the history of places I visited.
Hopefully, we have learned the lessons that vast majority want to live in peace.
I experienced that underlying thread of hope and earnestness everywhere - siva
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