April 22, 2024

Southampton is located on the south coast of England. It is a vibrant city with a rich history. We have been here several times before, visiting the Isle of Wight and having just a glimpse of the city on another visit. This time we are so excited to meet my friend Hilary who will take the train from London to spend the day with us.

Southampton has a deep maritime heritage and is famous for being the departure point for the ill-fated RMS Titanic in 1912. The city’s port is one of the busiest in the UK and has played a significant role in maritime trade and travel.

The city is known as the cruise capital of the UK, with several major cruise lines operating out of its port. It serves as a popular embarkation point for cruises to destinations around the world.

Today is the embarkation port for people on this trip around the British Isles. We had to change rooms due to an error made by the ambassador when we originally booked. Because we are in Southampton and return to Southampton, only the first one was booked and our room was already taken for this departure. Our butler made the move very easy and we got settled before heading out to meet Hilary.

Not much to see at the port. They were already refueling the ship when we were ready to leave to meet Hilary. Lots of goodies in the new room.

After about a 20 minute walk in the city, we met Hilary at the Sea Museum. We decided to spend our time outside before the predicted rain. It was in the 40s again and. I suspect that will be the case as we travel all around Britain.

We wandered through the huge garden – I was surprised to find such a large green space in the city.

The Mayflower has significant historical connections to Southampton and we saw the monument as well as 2 of the 400 tiles on the Mayflower Mosaic trail.

Southampton was one of the departure points for the Mayflower’s famous voyage to the New World in 1620. The ship initially set sail from Southampton to Plymouth, England, where it met up with the Speedwell before departing for America.

Some of the Mayflower’s passengers and crew were recruited from Southampton and the surrounding area. While the majority of passengers boarded the ship in Plymouth, Southampton played a role in the recruitment and preparation process,

The Mayflower’s voyage is a pivotal moment in American history, as it carried the Pilgrims, who established the Plymouth Colony in what is now Massachusetts. The Mayflower Compact, signed by the passengers aboard the ship, is considered one of the earliest forms of democratic government in America.

We walked all through the historic area and what remains of the old walls.

To our surprise, we ran into James and Shelley in town. They had just been to the Tudor House and Museum and recommended it, but we opted to stay outside while the weather held up.

There was an interesting tile wall. Each section showed some of the old city.

And, in a modern touch, there are these defibrillator kiosks – a project of a man who lost his son to a heart attack. Hilary says they are found in many places in the UK.

The day was really about connecting with Hilary and she made reservations for 1 PM at The Pig in the Wall for lunch. It was starting to sprinkle so we went in a little early. What a charming place.

We had a wonderful time. The server recommended the salad plate which Hilary and I opted for and Norm had a vegetarian charcuterie plate. We had wine too. Unfortunately we were so engrossed in conversation that I never took pictures of the great food. But here is a glimpse of the MANY vegetables on the mixed plate. It was a really good choice.

Hilary bought me some of the honey made from the local hives. Can’t wait to try it.

We shared a berry cake and cappuccinos to finish a terrific lunch. But the best part was being with Hilary and catching up. It was a leisurely lunch, just what we wanted.

We said our goodbyes to Hilary with promises to see each other soon and headed back to the ship.

Tomorrow is a sea day and on Wednesday we will be in our first port in Scotland, Edinburgh. Here is our itinerary for this segment.