Buzz
When you venture to Greenwich, I thought it would be all about the Royal Observatory and the famous Prime Meridian. However, there's so much more to discover in this land.
Explore London's Greenwich, a place with more than just the prime meridian
Sitting at the front seats on the upper deck of a double-decker bus, I had the chance to observe London's streets passing by vividly. Just as the bus stopped, right in front of me was the Vintage Greenwich Market.
The market opens five days a week, with 40 stalls offering a variety of charming items, from vintage and retro-style jewelry, clothing, books to vinyl records...
Sitting amidst the market, biting into a pastry, sipping on a cup of coffee, and enjoying music performed by artists from distant lands - there's truly nothing happier than this.
However, that's just the beginning of a new day, as a stroll from the Vintage market to Greenwich Park takes only a few minutes.
Greenwich is one of the 8 royal parks of the United Kingdom and also the oldest. It's a world-renowned heritage with the Royal Observatory Greenwich, the National Maritime Museum, the Royal Naval College, and the Queen's House.
Greenwich Park, spanning 73 hectares, dates back to Roman times and was initially the inheritance of King Henry V's brother, the Duke of Gloucester, in 1427. Originally, this beautiful land was used as a hunting ground for the aristocracy of that era.
Greenwich has a distinctive mark under the Tudor dynasty. King Henry VIII was born and spent most of his life here. Greenwich is also the place where his two princesses, Mary and Elizabeth, took their first cries.
In the 17th century, Greenwich belonged to the Stuarts. King James I gifted the palace and park to his wife, Queen Anne. It seems like this gift was an apology because the king scolded the queen in public when she accidentally shot one of his beloved dogs.
Architect Inigo Jones designed the Queen's House in the Palladian style. However, Queen Anne passed away three years before she had the chance to admire her gift on the completion day.
Arriving just as the Queen's House closed for preparations for the 400th-anniversary celebration in 2016, I could only admire the architectural style of the first classical building in England. Unfortunately, I missed the chance to gaze upon 400 significant artifacts displayed in 22 rooms.
By 1600, under the reign of King Charles II, Greenwich Park underwent French-style renovations inspired by Louis XIV and still bears the mark today. King Charles II had a special interest in science, leading to the establishment of the Royal Society in 1661.
Christopher Wren was tasked with building the Royal Observatory, later renamed the Flamsteed House after the first Royal Astronomer, John Flamsteed.
Today, the Royal Observatory is part of the National Maritime Museum, renowned for GMT (Greenwich Mean Time) and the Prime Meridian passing through.
From the hill where visitors flock to the observatory, one can overlook the expansive landscape below, with the vast park, the Queen's House, the National Maritime Museum, the Royal Naval College, and the modern landmarks of London along the Thames.
The United Kingdom has always been a maritime powerhouse in world history, with famous captains like James Cook – the first to set foot in Australia, or Admiral Horatio Nelson, achieving glorious victory in the Battle of Trafalgar, commanding the British navy to defeat the Franco-Spanish fleet.
Therefore, a standout in Greenwich is the National Maritime Museum, opened since 1937, the premier museum of the United Kingdom and possibly the world.
Inside the museum, a plethora of precious artifacts is displayed, from figureheads adorned at the ship's bows, ship and submarine models, to the history of the British maritime industry...
Especially fortunate, I attended an exhibition featuring vivid depictions of Samuel Pepys' diary entries from 1660-1669, capturing unforgettable historical events in London: the bubonic plague outbreak in 1665, the Great Fire in 1666, and the Anglo-Dutch War in 1667.
Another must-visit spot in Greenwich is the University of Greenwich campus, including a section of the building dedicated to the merger of the Trinity College of Music and the Laban Dance Centre since 2005.
Designed by Christopher Wren in the Baroque style, visitors can explore the famous ceiling painting inside the building. This location was once the Placentia Castle built by Duke Humphrey in 1443 and served as the residence for various royal dynasties.
However, the castle was damaged during the English Civil War, leading King Charles II to order its destruction and reconstruction, though it remained unfinished.
In 1694, a new structure rose from the same historic ground, transforming into the Royal Naval Hospital, later the Royal Naval College (1873-1998).
Not far away lies the Cutty Sark ship, now a museum. Inspired by the famous Scottish poet Robert Burns' poem 'Tam O'Shanter,' Cutty Sark was once the fastest clipper ship of its time, breaking speed records.
Cutty Sark is a Scottish term meaning 'short nightgown,' the attire worn by the witch Nannie. Built in 1869 to transport tea from China to England, the ship visited most of the world's major ports.
The 2007 fire destroyed part of the internal wooden structure, but Cutty Sark has been restored, allowing visitors to explore the ship's glorious history.
At the bow is a sculpted figurehead of the witch Nannie in the Cutty Sark nightgown, with one hand gripping a horse's tail.
Leaving Greenwich, I realized I gained much more than anticipated: Greenwich is not just about the Prime Meridian.
The famous poet Robert Burns' poem 'Tam O'Shanter' is based on a Scottish legend.
After leaving the pub late at night, farmer Tam rides his horse Meg home. On the way, he is astonished to see six witches, both male and female, dancing around a fire inside a church.
Despite his fear, Tam observes them. Young witch Nannie, wearing a dancing nightgown, captivates Tam, who exclaims, 'Excellent!' The witches, led by Nannie, then chase after Tam.
Knowing witches cannot cross water, Tam urges Meg to run towards the Doon River. In the end, Nannie can only grab Meg's tail, and Tam narrowly escapes.
By Kim Ngan/Tuoi Tre News
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Reference: Travel guide from Mytour
MytourOctober 21, 2016
