Sometimes It's a Boat: Archiving We Will Go

At the end of January, I went to London and Southampton for a research trip. I did a little sightseeing, but it was mostly a research trip. I went to a Holocaust Library in London for an afternoon, and then I needed four days to use the Institute of Jewish Affairs archive at the University of Southampton. So I first took the train to London. I really didn't do any sightseeing at that point. The archive and my hotel were both in Russell Square. The hotel was super fancy and I could only afford it because it was an off peak time so they offered a deal. The doormen wore top hats and tails. When I went into my room the tv was already programmed and had a welcome message for me. It was definitely above my pay grade. So of course I took a dip in my huge soaker tub. When in London...

I had a small single room and so my bathroom was as big as my room. :)

Hard to capture the hotel on camera.

That's it across Russell Square. It's huge.

Entrance to the archives.

Early the next morning I had to get a train to Southampton. I did get the tube to Waterloo Station at the Tottenham Court Road Station. And according to the overhead speaker it's pronounced Tot-'nm Court. Just so you next time you are reading Harry Potter. I amused myself by blaming all the construction mess on the Death Eaters.

Once in Southampton, I walked to my hotel to see if I could check in early or leave my luggage. Option two was available. So, based on the map I knew the campus was a ways away, but I thought I understood where the bus stop was, so I set off and walked for about 2 miles before I finally found myself on a bus route that was going where I wanted. sigh. Now, when I got the bus, I wasn't totally sure where to get off, so when a mass of students got off, I did too and it turned out I was just across the street from the library. So that tricked worked well.

I spent all day each day in the archives. Open to close. I did wander the campus a bit one day, and it was quite nice. But I kept seeing huge rats everywhere. It was such a cliche to have a port town full of rats! It did make me a bit squeamish.

Southampton University campus

Coming back to the hotel from the archives exhausted and it was always dark, I didn't sightsee. Unless you count wandering around to find dinner. So on the last morning, I got up early and went to see things. The city was once fortified by a medieval wall and parts are still standing so that was my objective -- go see the wall.

I know when I see a medieval wall, I think carpark. :/ Amazing how much of this was abutted by parking. So the wall wasn't so very exciting. There were sections that were impressive, but it was mostly: huh. There's a section of broken wall...

I'm still amazed by the number of palm trees in Southampton. It was interesting to see the fronds covered in frost.

The wall disappointed, but Holyrood Church did not. It was built as it stood in the 13th Century and had long been the church of the sailors, but it was bombed in WWII. The city decided to leave it ruins and dedicate it as a memorial to sailors. It was so peaceful and mesmerizing.

I started out before sunrise and walked all over the old town before needing to catch the bus back to the archives for its opening hours.

Apparently Jane Austen stayed there.

Just liked it; cool name Juniper Berry. Jane Austen house is just to the back.

On Saturday, I returned to London so that I could spend time at the National Gallery. Having been an Art History major, this was must see. I loved the time there. Once I was done, I had time before my train, so I had a bit of a wander.

I couldn't see the point of taking pictures of paintings, but I did snap this one, the only only Monet I truly love.

I tried to take in a few things that I didn't see with the family.

Horse guard. They let you pose with them and pet the horses.

This is the gate to the street that leads to Buckingham Palace

Iconic.

Horse grounds with London Eye in the background.

On steps of the National Gallery overlooking Trafalgar Square, Nelson monument in the foreground with the spire of Big Ben in the back. The sun was an issue. :)