8 Aug – Heathrow via underground railroad to Hitchin (one hour north). Peterborough Cathedral, London etc

8 Aug – Heathrow via underground railroad to Hitchin (one hour north). 

Arrived in Heathrow, visited the ATM for some local cash, coffee/lunch and now hit the underground.  What an experience, glad we did it though.  As soon as we came down the elevator a woman rushed up to me and said,

Can you tell me how to get a train to #$%@?  I said, I’m an Aussie and just arrived.  She laughed and said, I have been here for 22 years and haven’t a clue.

Good start.  We found everyone so very, very helpful.  As soon as we got a map out or looked at a board someone would come help.  Bloody expensive train journeys though.  Thirty pound ($60) to travel 2 hours – when you compare our $2.50 AUD for all day travel in Australia – well $#%^@.  Have found out since though, if we google railway senior UK, you can apply for a Railway card so long as you have a UK address.  No where for luggage on those English trains either – very difficult for travelers, as the trains are so crowded.  And they are not always on time, one train was cancelled due to no driver! Understandable.

HITCHIN:  - What an amazing, little country village (well not so little, but seems that way).  We stayed for 8 nights in THE PRIORY – lovely grounds, big room, whopping big English Breakfast.  Had a great time catching up with friends who were so very, very hospitable.  Ian spent at least four or five of the days at Aircraft or Maritime museums or shows.   I enjoyed some of them, travelling into Greenwich and also at the Old Walden Airshow.  

Can't you just imagine Dickens living here?  Look at that amazing woodwork detail.

Begonias to die for. 

Now this is living in a Narrow boat.

Beautiful pub in Hitchin

PETERBOROUGH CATHEDRAL – 

Trained it out of Hitchin (so easy to walk to the station) to Peterborough to see one of the best examples of GOTHIC architecture.  Was just amazing.  These days we marvel that  our technology has enabled us to shine, but wow – the master craftmanship in these buildings.  I remember reading Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follet which is a great insight into master craftsmanship. 

I stood where Mary Queen of Scots had been first buried (then moved to Westminster Cathedral in London.) My ancestor, Louise Barber was about to be burnt at the stake by bloody Queen Mary and her fauners when Good Queen Bess usurped her position.  Fascinating stuff. 

Catherine of Argile (Mary’s mother) is buried here.  I thought King Henry VIII chopped his wives heads off in quick succession, but no.  Catherine was married to him for 20 years, she died in a nunnery.  She was very well educated and had been bethrowed to Henry’s brother when she was 4 and he was 2.  When the brother died, they just married her off to the next in line, as her parents the King and Queen of Spain wanted fingers in the pie of every line in Europe.  Must read up more of this.

Great day here between the rain showers – good walk around town and what a fascinating place it is.

Intricate detail in the buildings in Peterborough

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17 August – Gerrard dropped us in London, we stayed at the Heathrow Premier Inn – called it the Inn of the door slammers – everyone slammed doors all night.  I think I prefer B&B’s to Inns.  We found it fascinating to walk around and through a huge cemetery to paddocks with horses so near to the major airport.