messing around in boats

This is the HMS Victory, the oldest naval ship still in commission.  We toured it on a gray, cold, bitter day in March.

It was the flagship in the famous Battle of Trafalgar (Napoleonic Wars) of Admiral Lord Nelson:

Nelson had already lost an arm and sight in one eye before 1805, when the battle happened.  The British won, but Nelson was fatally wounded.

We heard as much about Emma Hamilton on our tour as we did about Nelson.  She was his mistress and was fashionable.  When she lived in Naples, she developed "Attitudes" (a combination of poses and costumes, supposed to reflect ancient Greek styles).

The ship still has some original cannons.  I didn't realize how hefty these things were.  They had to be tied down so they wouldn't shoot backward across the ship when they were fired.

Here's the front (bow?) of the ship.  Inside is a classy dining room.  The First Sea Lord still hosts dinners in here every month or so.

To be continued.