visited The Shard in London for a taste of the "fine life" and the two cousins dined like emperors.
My first view of the Shard from Waterloo East Station - reminded me of the Majestic Ice Palace in the Disney film Frozen.
Ting, named after the Chinese word for 'living room'; is the collective name for the restaurant and lounge on level 35. Situated 128 metres above ground level there are sweeping 360 degree views across the capital.
So us two O.A.P.s got into the fastest lift on earth and flew to the 35th floor of The Shard in seconds. Having got our breath back it was taken away again by the fantastic views all around the restaurant. Incredible. We were made to feel so welcome immediately and led to a table right by the outside window. Wow, Tower Bridge & London Bridge station looked amazing from up here.
Triple Wow - What can we say about this place! Amazing.
Location - heart of London. View - incredible. Food - delicious. Service - exceptional.
Just realised that's four wows.
So glad we arrived ahead of our reservation (worried about the train situation at Waterloo, but no problems) so we could enjoy the view and not be rushed. Especially as we were presented with a complimentary glass of champagne to celebrate our anniversary.
We enjoyed our meal immensely.
For starters we both had Glazed Quail. Then I had Cornish Mackerel and Phil Pork Belly.
My Peach Cheesecake was delicious and Phil's Shangri-La Noir Chocolate Delice yummy.
Each course was attractively presented and the different tastes all complimented each other perfectly. Fine dining of a very high standard and the service was very attentive.
NOTE: As you would expect at a place of this calibre, drinks are not cheap. We ended up buying the most expensive bottle of SB ever in the UK but it was worth it.
What a special occasion. The views were breathtaking, the quality of service and food was magnificent and the ambiance outstanding. Thank you to all the staff for a first class experience.
And the loos are a laugh. The Gents boasts glass-walled cubicles with stunning views. Where else could you expose yourself to the whole of London without getting arrested? And in the Ladies the seats are heated with buttons offering a choice of bottom sprays including oscillating and power deodorizer!!!!
Having fed our stomachs, it was off to feed our minds. (If you feed your mind as often as you feed your stomach, then you'll never have to worry about feeding your stomach or a roof over your head or clothes on your back. Albert Einstein).
So we headed to historic Greenwich, a UNESCO World Heritage site to see Christopher Wren's Painted Hall. At present, one must pay to get access because the ceiling is undergoing extensive conservation work and is completely obscured by scaffolding. We were told that it took four months to put up the scaffolding alone before work could even begin.
But rather than close off the Painted Hall altogether, the Old Royal Navy College allows guided tours of the ceiling up close and personal. After donning a hardhat and hi viz vest we were ready to go.
A great idea to raise funds for this important restoration! It was well organised and gave us a unique chance to see something close up that, quite rightly, has been dubbed the Sistine Chapel of the North. But we both agreed afterwards that, although our guide was knowledgeable and revealed not only hidden gems but the stories behind them, it was difficult for some people to understand him all the way through because of his very heavy accent. But he was passionate about his work and very friendly and chatty, giving further explanations when the Australian lady kept interrupting him! He did an excellent job of keeping it simple and to the point, touching on important events over a 300 year period and avoiding getting bogged down in the many twists and turns that are fascinating but require a great deal more time to cover.
Then we climbed the steps up 60 feet to look at the artwork on the ceiling. The guide explained some notable persons depicted, symbolism of the art and how the elements all contribute to the overall message of British maritime prowess, especially over the French and specifically over Louis XIV. He also pointed out some of the damage to the ceiling and briefly explained what the conservationists are doing. All in all, an informative and extraordinary opportunity.
Whilst at the ORNC we also popped over to the beautiful neo-classical chapel across the way. The altar painting is by an American artist Benjamin West, who was also a founder of the Royal Academy, and shows the story of St. Paul's shipwreck on the island of Malta.
On the way out we stopped to admire the Franklin Monument in the vestibule in honour of St. John Franklin and the crews of the ships Erebus and Terror who lost their lives during the ill fated expedition of 1845 to search for the North West Passage. A needle monument on the bank of the River Thames adjacent to the ORNC site commemorates Joseph Rene Bellot, a French lieutenant who lost his life searching for Franklin's party.
After our visit we left ORNC and headed to Greenwich Park, opposite, the oldest park in London. It features wonderful views over the river, the city and Maritime Greenwich and is not to be missed. The most famous attraction is the old Royal Observatory and its Meridian Line. The hill up to the Observatory is very steep, although, thankfully, reasonably short. We had to hurry before the Royal Observatory's last entrance at 5.30 p.m. It closes at 6 p.m. but it did mean we had the place to ourselves. We have since discovered that instead of paying for the privilege of entering and taking your photo astride the brass line, there is a pathway around the OUTSIDE of the Observatory where the line is marked, just the other side of a kissing gate, and you can get the same photo for free.
Phil is standing on the Prime Meridian of the world, as defined by Airy's telescope and agreed by international convention in 1884. By 1884 most ships were using charts based on this meridian line. Since that year it has been the baseline for world time.
The Royal Observatory is famous for supplying Greenwich Mean Time. From 1833, astronomers made a daily signal to mariners in the Thames at 1 p.m. by raising and dropping the time-ball on Flamsteed House. In 1852 electrical technology enabled them to send the time to the nation by telegraph. The signal enabled mariners on the Thames to check their chronometers before heading out to sea.
It was then time for a quick look at the legendary sailing ship the Cutty Sark, built in 1869 to carry tea back from China, before we headed home, via the Thames River Taxi and train, to a nice cup of tea.
A fabulous day out in London to celebrate a special occasion. Thank you once again Alun, Gemma and Emmie.
