22 July - London, England

After a bit of a sleep-in and breakfast, we got the tube to see the Imperial War Museum. We first looked at the World War I trench that we could walk through which had very realistic mockups of some scenes including a man writing a letter home in his underground trench, and a medic treating a wounded soldier. It was very well done and interesting and at least we didn't have to trudge through mud as they would have in the real thing. We looked through the World War I section and then the World War II. We had a very good experience as we went into the World War II “bomb shelter” with a guide who talked us through a bombing raid, then took us out into the area that had been bombed and described what it would have been like. The kids in our group were fascinated to see part of a bath lying in the street. It was quite realistic.

We then looked at the “Children in War Exhibition” in the Museum which showed exhibits relating to the London children who were evacuated to country areas, and even overseas to avoid the Blitz. There were poignant letters written by parents to their children whom they later learned had been torpedoed as they crossed the Atlantic Ocean. It was very well done with exhibits of what the children would have had in their suitcases. They also had audio recordings by the children as adults recalling their experiences – oral history.

After having lunch at the Museum, we headed towards the Thames and the Tate Modern art gallery. This was full of what can only be loosely described as “art”. For example, one piece was a sketch of industrial buildings on the wall of the gallery with two stuffed birds with arrows through them attached to the wall. It was all very deep and meaningful, but “art” - perhaps in the eye of the beholder!! When we finally had enough of this “art” we headed off along the Thames on the Queen's Walk.

We walked past the London Eye, the huge ferris wheel which is surrounded by a carnival atmosphere of buskers and “living statues”. Fortunately, we had decided not to go on the ferris wheel, which looked much bigger than the one in Vienna, because the queues were very long and the pods looked crowded too.

We walked to Westminster station and got the tube “home”. We had a short rest then later met Nicole and had dinner with her at the Earls Court Tavern. We said goodbye to Nicole, which was sad and happy at the same time. She is enjoying living in London so we are very happy for her, but sad to say goodbye.