Day 18: Portsmouth

The sun wakes us up and puts a smile on our faces. So the day starts off happily. We quickly make our way to Portsmouth. This time to the other side of the bay, to the Dockyard, the Naval Museum. We pay a total of 120 pounds for everyone and get admission to numerous museums. Yesterday's two are also included. Unfortunately, we realize too late that we are entering the environmental zone and hope for low fees. After some difficulties, we finally reach the parking lot. Then the exploration of the Dockyards can begin. First, we want to take a harbor tour. We sit at the very front and admire the huge aircraft carrier Queen Elizabeth. It was commissioned in 2017 and cost approximately 2 billion pounds. We cruise through the Navi Harbor and discover several frigates and tankers. After that, we head to the regular harbor. After an hour, the tour is over and we stand at the dock. The wreck of the Mary Rose is our next destination. The ship, built in 1509 for Henry VIII, sank in a battle 3 km from Portsmouth. The salvage of the wreck began in 1960 and took almost 20 years, successfully completing in 1982. We learn about how the possible battle unfolded and how the ship was hit. The wreck is now located in a room with the same climatic conditions at around 20°C and dimmed light. There are three floors in total, allowing a view from all sides. In addition, all the retrieved items from the hull, such as cannons, chests, coins, dishes, clothing, skeletons, and much more, are exhibited. It is one of the largest Tudor collections. Finally, we watch a 4D film about the recovery. It gives me goosebumps when the ship is finally lifted. I am deeply impressed that it was possible to raise this 400-year-old wreck so that we can see it today.
After a lunch break, we continue with the next highlight, the HMS Victory.
It is a first-rate ship of the line, built in the early 1760s for the Royal Navy. The Victory became famous as Admiral Nelson's flagship in the Battle of Trafalgar. It is the oldest warship in active service in Britain. We receive an audio guide and explore the ship with it. It is currently under restoration, which is why it is covered from the outside. It is exciting to learn about the ship's history and how it narrowly escaped sinking in the Battle of Trafalgar. There is a lantern at the spot where Nelson died from his injuries. We spend almost 1 hour on the tour, with some points left unheard. The next ship on the program is already closed. So the only one left is the HMS Warrior, a ship from the time of Queen Victoria. It was built in 1860 and strongly resembles the Victory in its overall structure, only the method of propulsion and the construction materials change. The ship is covered with a wrought iron armor plating and can be powered by steam engines in addition to sails. The engine rooms resemble those of the Titanic. We quickly walk through the ship. There are more exhibitions available, but we have had our fill. So the last stop is the action hall. There, the children can enjoy climbing walls, an obstacle course, and a mini high ropes course for toddlers. It is just after 4 pm when we leave the premises. If you visit many attractions, the high admission prices are worth it. However, we still have to pay 9 pounds for parking fees for the day. Quite hefty. Now our way leads to Brighton. Unfortunately, we underestimate the distance a bit and only reach the campsite after almost 2 hours. Tonight, we can sit outside for the first time in days, it is not too cold for that and it is not raining. We also realize that we are fortunately not required to pay any fees for the environmental zone.