Southampton

Most of Wednesday was spent aboard trains, traveling from Edinburgh to Southampton, where we will board a boat for home.

Her'e Allen, making sure we know where we're going.

For a time the train ran right along the coast, and all day long we passed many beautiful sights.

And then in London we not only had to change trains, but stations too, and during our mad-dash cab ride in between, we got to see this sight!

Back to reality on our next train.

Southampton had extensive walls, buildings, cathedrals, etc dating from the 1100's.  During the Southampton Blitz in 1940, most were bombed into nothing by the Luftwaffe.

The anchor from the original Queen Elizabeth is displayed in front of the ruins of Holy Rood church.

The church itself is dedicated to mariners.

A memorial for the Titantic, which embarked from Southampton, was moved to a portion of the Holy Rood church's remnants.  Six of the town's seven churches were destroyed during the Blitz.

The Luftwaffe was ordered not to bomb this seventh church so its steeple could be used as a landmark for pilots.

Some lighter notes...

Yes, it's a horse in front of a hotel.

Turns out there was a wedding expo at the hotel.

The view from our hotel room.  That car is so going the wrong way, seems to me, even after all this time in the U.K.

Necessary evil.

We are embarking later today on the Queen Mary 2, to sail to Brooklyn.  And, this is the tenth anniversary since our ship was launched, so all three "queens" are in Southampton today to mark the occasion.  Concerts and fireworks tonight as all three ships embark at the same time.  I am so excited!!!

And this appeared this morning.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mw2oZP9lzIY&feature=youtu.be