May 12, 2013 Wembley Stadium, Thames River Cruise and Greenwich Mean Time

Wembley Stadium is probably the greatest sports venue in the world. It is what “Jerry World” could have been if Jerry Jones had any class. It is also what Dallas could have had to replace the old Cotton Bowl if Dallas city leaders had the foresight. An amazing design, but simple and elegant in its execution. Every one of the 90,000 seats comfortable and, except for the ones at midfield, each just slightly angled to optimize the viewing. The current Wembley replaced its fabled predecessor in 2007. Elton John holds the record for 10 appearances at Wembley by an entertainer. Second is Michael Jackson. Jackson once sold out concerts for 7 nights in a row.

  

Above, the Bobby Jones statue outside the stadium. He was the captain of the last English team to win the World Cup in 1966.

VIP passes for us of course.

The English Football Association Cup. The goal of over 400 teams who start out the quest for the cup each fall culminating in a playoff that is currently going on.

    

At the Press Table where the winners face the press.

In the locker room. Actually, one of 4 locker rooms. When 2 soccer teams play, they use only 2 of the locker rooms since there are only 25 players on a team. When there are musical concerts at the stadium, the road crews and entertainers split up the dressing rooms. When the 2 NFL teams play their annual game at Wembley in October, each team uses 2 dressing rooms: one for the offense and one for the defense, because the rooms are not large enough to accommodate and entire NFL team.

Jerseys of the All England team for 2012 when best English players play the other countries for the European Cup. Elaine was hoping to find David Beckham in the locker room, but  he was not there that day.

Always the symbol of the three lions, but in this case, the three hairdryers.

   Tunnel from the locker rooms to the field.

WEMBLEY is spelled out in the seats in the end zone.

   

Above, the players entrance.

The stadium roof takes one hour to close and is always closed for both entertainment and sporting events.

         

David Beckham’s jersey from the 1999 Manchester United win of the European championship.

  

Thames River Cruise to the Greenwich Maritime Museum, Greenwich Mean Time at Longitude 0.00” and the Old Navy College (England’s equivalent to the US Naval Academy). The following are several views along the river cruise.

The Egyptian Obelisk, gift from Egypt. New York has one in Central Park, Paris also has one in the middle of Place Concorde (probably the nicest location of the three).

  

Look closely at the tower on the building above. It is illegal to put advertising signs on the river, but the OXO Corporation seems to have dodged the restriction by designing windows into their tower in the shape of their company letters. Of course Elaine wants to visit this building since it is a good example of bending the rules.

Library holding Queen Victoria’s Bible.

  

Above, the classy Blackfriars Bridge.

Dome of St Paul’s Cathedral and brown building is the City of London Boys School where Daniel Radcliffe, from Harry Potter fame, went to school.

Shakespeare's Globe Theater. Forgot to mention that it has the only thatched roof remaining in London. Thatched roofs have been illegal in London since the great fire, but they allowed an exception for the Globe.

  

Above, Anchor Pub so old that it was used as dressing rooms for the original Globe Theater.

  

Above, HMS Belfast permanently moored in the river with HMS Edinburgh, an active duty ship making a port of call. Note the Tower Bridge in the background.

Menacing missiles on the HMS Edinburgh.

The White Tower within the Tower of London complex.

 

Above, “Traitor’s Gate” through which those condemned to execution in the tower were brought in through this entrance from the river.

     

Above is the dock where the Mayflower picked up its Pilgrim passengers when it set out for Boston.

      The Cutty Sark, the largest and most impressive sailing ship I have ever seen.

  

Below, Elaine pointing at the dividing line between the Eastern and Western hemisphere at the Royal Observatory at Greenwich. Edward is standing with a foot in each hemisphere. The line that marks Longitude 0.00.

     

Grounds of the Old Naval College.

     

Now, as you go back and look at the blogs from the last six days you may be thinking, “Gosh, they seem to have done and seen a lot in 6 days!” You would be right. It all began with purchasing a "London Pass" which allows you to enter dozens of attractions for the price of the pass. Elaine decided that we should get our money's worth. Day 6 of the London Pass is now finished. The grand total is: 98,200 steps (47.29 miles) walked. The pass cost $90 and Elaine dragged me through sites that individually would have cost $238.65. Did she get her money's worth? Her goal was to double the value of the pass ($180) and she more than achieved that. We saw: Kew Gardens, Wimbledon, the Tower of London, St Paul's Cathedral, the Tower Bridge Exhibition, the HMS Belfast, Kensington Palace, Royal Albert Hall, the Globe Theater, Westminster Abby, the Churchill War Rooms, the British Music Experience (British music 1956-2010), Windsor Castle, the Royal Mews, Wembley Stadium, took a Thames River Cruise and stood in 2 hemispheres at once at the 0 Longitude line of the Greenwich Marine Observatory. Whew!! All in 6 days. Don’t expect a post for tomorrow. It is a day of rest.