London - The Royal Albert Hall

I was very sorry to leave the ship that had been my home for a total of six weeks, though not in one continuous stay. After the first two weeks, when we went to the Baltic Sea, I travelled to France on the Eurostar and went on my river cruise along the Seine. I can now tell you that this ship was the Royal Carribean line’s ‘Navigator of the Seas’. 

I disembarked from the ship at 6.30 am and headed for the train to London. In London I was staying in Mayfair along Park Lane, so was really chuffed to be able to mark off these spots on the Monopoly Board. I spent most of that afternoon posting bits and piece back home to Australia. I am afraid the poor postmaster at the mixed business that was the official Mayfair Post Office was rather overwhelmed with the large pile of parcels going overseas, completely disrupting his peaceful, slow Saturday afternoon. All the weighing and recording . . . and even then I reckon he got some of the customs slips mixed up. I suspect he will run away if he ever sees me again!  “No, No - not THAT woman again!” . . .

The next morning, which was a Sunday, I was met at my hotel by a lovely couple who were on my table on the Queen Mary. It was just so great to see them again! The first thing we did was to go on a tour of Royal Albert Hall. When they asked me beforehand what I would like to see, that was on the top of the list. They kindly researched it and booked the tour tickets in advance. As a result, we were fortunate to be able to go on the last tour of the day - at 10.30 am! Three successive Proms concerts were to follow that day. People were already arriving for the first of the concerts when our tour ended at 11.30 am. 

While we waited for our tour, we walked across the road to see the magnificent memorial to Queen Victoria’s beloved husband, Prince Albert, which she commissioned. His golden statue faces and looks over the Royal Albert Hall. 

The Royal Albert Hall, which is simply stunning, was actually the brainchild of the Prince and a friend. They wanted to bring music to the people, raised the money by selling seats in the theatre, and built it. They certainly were visionary, using the Colosseum and other superb buildings as the inspiration for its design. It took just four years to build but tragically Albert died when in his early 40s from typhoid fever before it was completed. Victoria was so shattered by his death that she could not bring herself to open the Hall, so asked one of her sons to do so instead.

On our tour, we were only allowed to take photos in the passageways and a couple of little rooms outside the theatre. But when we stepped into the box right next to the Royal Box, a couple of levels up, we just gasped in awe of the beauty of it all, and its size. Over 5000 people can sit in there. We were able to peek into the Royal Box as well. And we were lucky enough to hear a little of a rehearsal of the orchestra, with the grand organ playing as well, and a choir. A wow! moment. How I would have loved to go to the concert. 

We must have climbed up at least 50 steps to get to that level. About another 50 or so steps later, we were standing up ‘in the gods’. We could now see the inner dome that makes up the roof and the special sound reflectors that looked rather like mushrooms. These were installed by the BBC sound engineers after they started using the hall for the Prom concerts, and have very successfully stopped the echoes that used to occur. 

Looking down to the stage, it felt like we were about five or six storeys high.This is where people have to stand for an entire concert - but only have to pay 6 pounds on the day to attend the concert. I am afraid I could not stand that long. 

This tour will be one of the highlights of my time in England. I am immensely grateful to my friends for arranging it. 

That was not the end of my very happy time with my English friends, however. I will tell you about what else we did in my next post. 

A close-uo of the statue of Albert in front of the entrance to the Royal Albert Hall.

The full statue.

The statue of Albert in the gardens opposite - coated with 22 carat gold leaf.

The ornate top of the memorial to Albert.

A view of the memorial showing more of its features.

This sculpture at the foot of the memorial celebrated the fact that India was under England's rule at the time of Victoria and Albert.   

Another close-up view of Albert.

More of the detail of the memorial.

Another celebration of India - where cows are sacred.

The entrance to the hall dedicated to the Royal family.

The Royal Family can sit in here whilst waiting. 

Along one of the passageways near the Royal Box.

A small reception area. 

More of the small reception area. 

Up in the area of 'the gods'. Notice the sloping ceiling - part of the inner dome. 

A room that can be used by performers, to practise or to give small informal performances.  Apparently the red piano belongs to Elton John.

Seen out of the window of the above room - the former London School of Music.
 

A portrait of Queen Victoria at one of the staircases. Through all the passageways there were many portraits and photos of the Royal family and of people who have performed there.