A tale of two cities
Nov. 17th, 2013 05:19 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
ladyofastolatWe've just got back from a weekend on the mainland, first in Southampton, and then in its great enemy, Portsmouth.
In Southampton, we first went to the Tudor House, where we almost got no further than the ticket desk, since they had a vat of Lego body parts in front of the till, which they were selling at 5 - any 5 - for £1.50. After much excited rummaging, Pellinor ended up with many mighty armies of NPC bodies which our future parties will doubtless have to encounter one day - although of chances of defeating them are quite high, since they only had about 6 legs and heads between them.
Once we'd fought past the Lego, a staff member led us into a dark room and abandoned us there, closing the door behind us. Ghostly voices started speaking from the panelling, whispering, giggling and going "shh!" The table cloth started rippling in a sudden the wind. Doors creaked from behind us. It was supposed to be some sort of introductory experience thingy, but I bet it makes sensitive children cry. Pellinor and I clung to each other in mock terror. Then it ended and the lights came up, and we started reading the labels on the wall, only for the disembodied voice to return again and tell us off for not leaving instantly.
The house proper had incredibly creaky floors. That's the main thing I remember about it. It also had a bomb shelter in the basement, but I can't tell you anything about it, since I was a few sentences into reading one of the display panels when the room plunged the room into darkness and a recorded voice started babbling on about something or other, doubtless trying to create atmosphere. We left somewhat grumpily. It seems as if you're not allowed to read display panels in museums any more, but have to be constantly bombarded with audio overload. Grump!
Anyway... After some tea, we walked the Southampton medieval walls. However, instead of photographing all the well preserved examples of 14th century archicture, the only picture I took was this:
Then we went to Portchester Castle, which is a medieval castle inside some very well preserved Roman fort walls. The weather had turned gloomy by then, and we've been there before in much better weather, so I took no pictures, except this one of Pompey across the water.
After an early dinner, we went to see Bellowhead for what we worked out was at least the 11th time, possibly the 12th. We started right up at the stage near the middle, but got a bit hemmed in, so after two songs, moved to our usual spot, slightly to the side of the stage, where there was more space to leap around like crazy mad things while everyone else points and laughs (until they've had more beer, and start joining in.) My calves are protesting very much today!
Today we went to the new Mary Rose museum, which is very good; the galleries follow the lay-out of the ship, and they've arranged lots of the artefacts more or less where they would have been on the ship, with other display rooms highlighting certain themes (medicine, food, warfare etc.) and certain characters, based on the contents of chests in cabins.
Home now, and weary. Dial-a-kebab time, I think.
In Southampton, we first went to the Tudor House, where we almost got no further than the ticket desk, since they had a vat of Lego body parts in front of the till, which they were selling at 5 - any 5 - for £1.50. After much excited rummaging, Pellinor ended up with many mighty armies of NPC bodies which our future parties will doubtless have to encounter one day - although of chances of defeating them are quite high, since they only had about 6 legs and heads between them.
Once we'd fought past the Lego, a staff member led us into a dark room and abandoned us there, closing the door behind us. Ghostly voices started speaking from the panelling, whispering, giggling and going "shh!" The table cloth started rippling in a sudden the wind. Doors creaked from behind us. It was supposed to be some sort of introductory experience thingy, but I bet it makes sensitive children cry. Pellinor and I clung to each other in mock terror. Then it ended and the lights came up, and we started reading the labels on the wall, only for the disembodied voice to return again and tell us off for not leaving instantly.
The house proper had incredibly creaky floors. That's the main thing I remember about it. It also had a bomb shelter in the basement, but I can't tell you anything about it, since I was a few sentences into reading one of the display panels when the room plunged the room into darkness and a recorded voice started babbling on about something or other, doubtless trying to create atmosphere. We left somewhat grumpily. It seems as if you're not allowed to read display panels in museums any more, but have to be constantly bombarded with audio overload. Grump!
Anyway... After some tea, we walked the Southampton medieval walls. However, instead of photographing all the well preserved examples of 14th century archicture, the only picture I took was this:
Then we went to Portchester Castle, which is a medieval castle inside some very well preserved Roman fort walls. The weather had turned gloomy by then, and we've been there before in much better weather, so I took no pictures, except this one of Pompey across the water.
After an early dinner, we went to see Bellowhead for what we worked out was at least the 11th time, possibly the 12th. We started right up at the stage near the middle, but got a bit hemmed in, so after two songs, moved to our usual spot, slightly to the side of the stage, where there was more space to leap around like crazy mad things while everyone else points and laughs (until they've had more beer, and start joining in.) My calves are protesting very much today!
Today we went to the new Mary Rose museum, which is very good; the galleries follow the lay-out of the ship, and they've arranged lots of the artefacts more or less where they would have been on the ship, with other display rooms highlighting certain themes (medicine, food, warfare etc.) and certain characters, based on the contents of chests in cabins.
Home now, and weary. Dial-a-kebab time, I think.
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Date: 2013-11-17 06:23 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-11-17 07:29 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-11-17 08:09 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-11-17 07:43 pm (UTC)We enjoyed Portchester Castle when we went there a few years back (though, boy, it's a long way to the top of the medieval keep, isn't it?!). Love your photo, very moody!
Sounds like you had a great time at the concert, and next time I'm down Fareham way, I may have to see if I can get to the new Mary Rose museum. It's been several years since we last went to the Dockyard!
Enjoy the kebab! :)
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Date: 2013-11-17 08:09 pm (UTC)The Mary Rose museum is still pretty crowded. Since it's winter, they've stopped doing timed tickets, but once spring comes, I expect they'll go back to selling them for a specific time. I'd advise visiting at an unpopular time, and buying tickets online in advance.
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Date: 2013-11-17 08:22 pm (UTC)And thanks, I'll bear the ticket info in mind. Trying to go when the museum is less crowded sounds good to me!