[FONT="]Well, I’m back! Thanks for all your suggestions for my day out. I got an Oystercard – what a brilliant bit of kit – which made things easier and saved me cash. [/FONT]
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[FONT="]First stop as initially proposed was the IWM and I have to say that I was bitterly disappointed. Due to the refurb ready for he WW1 centenary, there was next to nothing going on. The main hall was a construction site – even the art gallery was closed. The SOE exhibition was very interesting, but that was it. The Holocaust exhibition WAS good, but as I’ve been to both Belsen and Dachau there was little to hold me there. So quite swiftly I was on my way to the Cutty Sark. Now that was fantastic, very enjoyable and informative. [/FONT]
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[FONT="]After scoffing my cider and sarnis, it was time for the Old Naval College. I had no idea it was literally a stone’s throw from Cutty Sark. As I walked through the gates I thought how I could have been re-visiting if only I’d passed the exam!! Painted Hall and chapel were fantastic. I’d noticed the National Maritime Museum as I came into Greenwich, so as I still had lots of spare time, orf I jolly well went.[/FONT]
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[FONT="]Now, when you think of our rich maritime heritage, you’d think this museum would be full to bursting with good stuff. Wrong! Top floor was shut as they were getting it ready for the Nelson exhibits. The two main halls about the Atlantic and the East Indies sounded full of promise, but in my very humble opinion failed to deliver. The Atlantic concentrated solely on the slave trade, the East Indies on spice. Such wasted opportunities. Indeed, one whole level was devoted to a HUGE possibly 30m x 30m vinyl map stuck on the floor, so that little Tarquin and Lillybet could ‘sail’ little bits of plastic around it! Oh wait, there was a slowly rotating screw from a Type 23 in mid air........ [/FONT]
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[FONT="]Such a wasted opportunity again – I’m just pleased I didn’t have to pay to get in.[/FONT]
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[FONT="]I could be a tad biased here, but the Submarine Museum in Gosport is what a defined interest museum should be. The number of exhibits both very large and very small that are on display in there are amazing. By contrast, the USN one in Groton is about 4 times as large with next to no exhibits.[/FONT]
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[FONT="]Anyway, cultural report over! Thank you to those of you who contributed to my itinerary![/FONT]
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