Category - General

An early start at 5:45 a.m. to be ready to leave by 7:15 a.m. Our travel today would be to Stratford Upon Avon, home of William Shakespeare, and Warwick Castle.

Stratford Upon Avon is a beautiful, picturesque town. They have done a great deal to communicate about William Shakespeare’s life there, his home and his friends and family. We walked the entire town. Going through Shakespeare’s home and birthplace was a very good experience. We loved the town. We did have coffee at Starbuck’s and Carol shopped for books in a book store next door.

Warwick Castle was about 20 kms. further northeast from Stratford Upon Avon. It is a recreation of how the castle would have looked in its day. The castle is well preserved and they do a good job of showing it off.

Today is July the fourth. America celebrates its independence day. I pray that the Lord will continue to send Godly leaders to lead our nation. My prayer today for you is that you will be everything the Lord created you to be. Jesus is Lord.

London is expensive. It is difficult for me because I am so tight. I could say it more nicely but that is the simple truth. I’ve been careful with money my whole life so as wonderful as our trip is it eats away at me that it costs so much. Lord help me spend wisely.

We are making friends at all of the places we are frequenting. For sure the Starbuck’s nearby and the restaurant Giraffe, the grocery, the newsstand at Victoria Station and several other places. I’ve also struck up conversations with the same guards at the British Museum. The first day we went to the Museum I had on dark slacks and dark blue NOBTS button down which is identical to their
uniform. The guard I’ve talked with several times now pulled me aside and warned me that I would questioned by patrons since I looked like an employee with my dark shirt and slacks. I was and at first it surprised me but by the time we left it was old hat. The guard greeted me when we went in this morning. I had on a light tan shirt so I wouldn’t get any questions today.

We had a stellar day. Used the bus to traverse the city and had no problem. What a great public transportation system. We also experienced the “black taxi’s” today from the British Museum to Harrod’s Department Store. Sorry but I found Harrod’s to be very, very expensive. So much so that it took some of the joy out of the visit. Oh well we can change locations but we seldom change ourselves.

Adam goes home on Sunday morning. He has been quite a help on the trip and has made it a much more enjoyable trip by being with us. He is helpful and thoughtful. Carol and I are aging and as much as I try I can’t do what I once could. At the end of 15,000 steps it is all I can do to get back to the flat. My thanks to Adam for being such a great traveler and son. We will miss him when he leaves. I will be emailing my posts for Monday thru Friday to him and he will post them for me.

This trip has been a great encouragement for me. I’ve now completed a good overview of the Bible Lands and the repository of so many Biblical artifacts. The British Museum is just superb. We waded through so many items that dated from 3,000 BC to 5,000 BC. A long time ago. It did make me realize that the Lord used Britain to safeguard so many items that would have been lost to mankind if they hadn’t dug it up and brought it home. Yes, I know those countries want those items now but that is a relatively new idea for them. I’m glad it is around for us to see.

I was thinking about Dennis Cole and praying for him this morning. They are in Israel on the dig at Gezer. Dennis and those with him are doing a remarkable thing there and hopefully will uncover even more data that relates to our Bible. I’m looking forward to their discoveries. Thanks Dennis for your indefatigable focus on your work.

We have a long list of things to see. We made it to St. Paul’s Cathedral, Westminster Abbey and the Sanctuary, Westminster Hall and the House of Commons, and the Imperial War Museum. We learned how to change Underground lines, read the bus schedule and literally travel to all parts of London today.

Carol did very well climbing stairs. The Underground did have some escalators and elevators. The bus was easy to get on and off. All of the people we met were very nice. As a matter of fact we have been impressed with how nice everyone is. It makes a journey much easier when folks are kind.

London is a marvelous city. Its complexity and charm are its character. So many of the buildings are new and yet they pay homage to the past by listing on their facade the name of the building that was on that site the longest.

We passed the Griffin (bronze dragon) going into the City of London on the bus. We had lunch at GBK (Gourmet Burger Kitchen) across from St. Paul’s. When we finished lunch we walked across the back of St. Paul’s where the locals had scattered across their lawn having their lunch. There were several hundred people enjoying the sunshine and cool breeze.

The Imperial War Museum has as a special event the Holocaust Museum. It is thorough and moving. This museum is excellent. The visit was encouraging and discouraging. The Holocaust Museum does that to me every time.

We visited in Central City, Westminster, and across the Thames to the South Bank and the borough of Lambeth. The Underground was very easy to traverse. The bus system was easy to use getting back to our flat. We were bone tired! So tired that Adam went out and got food for us to eat in tonight.

I’ve been thinking about my friend Jimmy Dukes today. I am grateful to God that He sent me such a good friend. The only thing that would make our trip better would be for Jimmy and Retia to be here with us. I am praying that one day soon they will both be able to travel with us again.

Beautiful weather today. We jumped on the 38 bus from Victoria and rode direct to the British Museum. The bus stop was two blocks from the museum and those two blocks were covered with shade from the buildings and trees. I stopped in at the Starbuck’s across the street for a decaf espresso and then on to the museum.

What a museum. The Rosetta Stone was the first exhibit. I was captivated. The real Rosetta Stone. We never came off of that high. Ninevah and Nimrod, Mycenae, and so many other cities and civilizations and individuals were on the first floor. We decided to work through the whole first floor and then lunch at the Cafe. We left to browse around town after lunch. Our plan is to come to the British Museum a second day and do the upper floors.

We caught a number 8 bus to the Liverpool Street Station and wandered around in that area. We checked out the Old Spitafields Market. It is totally reconstructed and integrated into a modern skyscraper. Starbuck’s was one of our stops. It was an upscale development and everything we saw was very expensive.

We walked back to the Liverpool Street Station and caught the 11 bus that comes back to Victoria. That was an interesting ride at the afternoon rush hour. It took a while to get across town but we made it fine. We decided to pick up something and eat in our flat. We were worn out.

Wow, this was a really active day. In going about our activities I’ve walked 15,000 plus steps. That is why weight isn’t a huge problem in Europe-folks walk everywhere. It all went smoothly, every single step.

We began by boarding the 24 bus and traveling to Westminster. Three blocks and we were at the Churchill Cabinet War Room Museum. We hurried and still spent more than two hours. I wanted to visit the Foreign Office when we finished but didn’t have the proper introductions and appointment so we walked on down the street to the nearest underground.

The Tube was a quick ride to the Tower of London. This is a massive complex that is a historical museum and also houses the Crown Jewels. Went there, saw it all, took a while and a lot of steps but we survived. It was 1:15 p.m. and we hadn’t eaten lunch so we took the Underground back to Victoria Station and had a quick bite at Pret a Manger (upscale fast health food).

This evening we had dinner at the Giraffe. This is a family friendly restaurant. Loud, lots of kids and good food.

We hopped on the London By Night bus at Victoria Station. It was a great two hour experience touring around all of London. Things look different at night. Central City was empty and the buildings were beautiful. Lovely experience. All of us enjoyed it. The guide commented that they didn’t get many nights as beautiful as tonight. Warm weather and clear skies is a rare event in London.

We have traveled to London on this part of our sabbatical. Carol is doing very well with her walking and as usual when we go somewhere in the spring or early summer they always have heat records. Rome had the hottest week on record in May-we were there. Santa Fe had the hottest week in June-we were there. Now in London we have discovered the hottest week in June-near 90 degrees each day. Unusual they said for London.

We have lived in New Orleans for thirty plus years. We know 90 degree weather and this is indeed 90 degree weather but when the sun goes down it is quite nice and we have already experienced two evenings of enjoyable walks around the Westminster area. Our flat is on Warwick Way and the restaurants we have been frequenting, and Starbucks are on Wilton Road. We are only a short distance from Victoria Station. This area has a lot of small hotels and nice apartments. A couple of blocks toward the River Thames are very nice houses.

Today was all about getting to know London. We had an all day guided tour by British Tours and our guide did a superb job. We traveled thru all of the Central London boroughs plus had lunch in Hampstead Heath. We traveled along the River Thames, saw the changing of the Horse Guard at 11:00, traipsed through Westminster Abbey, coffee at the Methodist Building, smelled the roses at Regent’s park, walked thru the water feature (it isn’t a fountain) built in honor of Princess Diana, entered the City of London, saw more buildings than I can recount, and ended our touring today at the Tower of London Bridge and the wharf area. My head is spinning from all the places we visited and at the time it seemed an unhurried pace but at the end of the day it is a long list. Tomorrow we go back to begin visiting the places we liked in depth.

Blessings on your days. Our trip is another travel blessing and adventure. We are grateful.
Clay

We are en-route back home to New Orleans from Santa Fe. We had an absolutely wonderful time. We walked all of downtown many times over. The weather was perfect-high 70’s most days and high 50’s at night. It was an enchanting experience. We don’t spend that much time outside in New Orleans. I think we have two perfect days in the Spring and Fall.

I am impressed with the rugged beauty of Santa Fe. The adobe houses and territorial architecture is beautiful. The New Mexican food is good but now at my advanced age I can’t eat the highly spiced food. Everyone was kind enough to make my food a little toward the moderately spiced type.

We walked, talked, had some really good meals and enjoyed each other. Carol particularly had a great time she said because she didn’t have to prepare meals, wash clothes or make beds. Wives do so much that we sometimes forget to thank them for.

I’m reading about Elijah and Ahab in 1 and 2 Kings these past several days. There is much to ponder here and shortly I will share my thoughts in poems.

We will be home this week and then one more trip (to London) to finish off my sabbatical. I will share about our trip as opportunity affords me.

Blessings to you. Clay

THINKING
Time is no respecter of person. Our lives whizz by at a breakneck speed. When waiting at the airport or on someone time passes exceedingly slow. When living life, time disappears. One of those things that always puzzle me is why I don’t value time more than I do.

I look in the mirror and see myself as young and capable. Time says otherwise and I am aware of the fact that I’m in the stage of life where everything counts.

One of my heroes was Landrum Penson Leavell II. He died September 26, 2008, exactly two months shy of age 82. I don’t know why all of us called him Doc but we did. I think that most of the time I addressed him it was Doc. I began working for him in December 1979. When I met him in 1976 for the first time I was impressed and I was impressed with him all of the time I knew him. He had a moral surety about life that was bigger than life. He was a man’s man. He knew how to be tough and was always fair. He didn’t tolerate failure. He encouraged winning. So many other things I could write.

On my time away I’ve had an opportunity to cogitate about life particularly my life. I knew that I owed Doc a great deal for raising me and I also knew that he was the impetus behind most of my successes. He kept me focused on the job I was called to do.

Doc also taught me to listen and follow. I don’t listen as good as I should but I am doing a much better job of following.

I discovered how much I miss Doc. I didn’t realize how many of my life decisions I had talked over with him. I guess this is in some small way part of my grieving process. When at work it is hard to think about much except work. When you are relaxing you can think about things. Doc was a big part of my life. I enjoyed him and probably more than any other person on earth except my wife and children tried to do the best I could for him. He was my hero. Doc you were the best and there are many of us that miss you.

BIRMINGHAM
We are in Hueytown actually visiting with Carol’s family. Her mother’s church, Union Baptist Church in Lipscomb, is celebrating its 175th anniversary. We are going there tomorrow for church and the celebration.

We’ve eaten at the Bright Star for lunch two days. I haven’t been there for many years, probably thirty. The food is still good and Jimmy and Nicholas (Nicky) are still running the restaurant. August 6-8 they are having one of my favorite folks there as their celebrity chef, Tory McPhail, Executive Chef of Commander’s Palace in New Orleans.

I’ve enjoyed the past five weeks as good as a person possibly could. We are leaving for Santa Fe this next week. I love the ambiance of that area of the world. The rugged beauty of the mountains and the joy of the wide open spaces.

Be who you are, not who they say
We never know who they are, always limiting what we do
I suggest it is culture, they, be careful and listen to God
They don’t know, you do, because you walk with Jesus

Be the person God created, give Him your soul
Bend the knee in desperation, All of me Lord, take me
When I succeed, You are my success, it isn’t who I am
I am yours and belong to YOU, help me Lord in my unbelief

Be the one that pleases Him, be with Him, all of you
Focus on His presence, let Him give you grace
Fitting you to be with Him, His Word is your strength
Know that the Lord is near and He will not desert you

Be the servant most often seen, by the angels at His throne
Talk, laugh, listen, wait, and you will know, the Lord is God and there is not other
That knowledge will encourage you to know Him better
The more you know Him, the more you will be like yourself

Be fearless as you live today, that is all we have
Do not let hell’s lie make you think you are alone
You are not alone, the Lord is here with us right now
He will heal your hurts, listen to your pain, Jesus will not shun you

Be a planner, doing each day as He says, letting Jesus reconcile
All those things you don’t know and will never know
Yet sometimes causing you to stumble, stand on the rock, Jesus
Give Him every fear, You count with Jesus, let Him have your burdens

Be like Jesus, He did only what the Father said, Jesus listened well
Take time to listen, let the Father share His heart with you
Set aside the encumbrances of this world and spend time with Him
The Lord is always good, He loves you and wants to spend time with you

Elijah was so excited about the Lord’s victory on Carmel, he ran just ahead of Ahab’s chariot
Jezebel scared Elijah, Ahab did not rebuke her, no one did evil like her
Trust in the Lord, turn to Him and He will not disappoint you
You will know Him and power of His presence and the trustworthiness of His LOVE

CC 5/30/09

May 23-Saturday-Rome
Beautiful day in Rome. We set out on a Hop-On/Hop-Off Bus (we had bought the three day pass which included all sorts of public transportation which we used extensively over two days) and rode it around to the stop near the Trevi Fountain. This particular stop is challenging in that crossing the street is a zoo but we did and did safely dodging the scooters that ran the light and ignored the crosswalk. Always important to watch out for the scooters. It is a real menace.

We did stop at Fontana di Trevi again. Absolutely covered up with people. Then we continued on to the Spanish Steps. I took many photos at both places and en route. I bumped into Chase Bryan at the Spanish Steps. He is escorting a Rome tour for World Travel this week. He and his brother in law are staying at the Hotel Lancelot where we are staying. Amazing that we would run into Chase at the Spanish Steps. People lining the streets and the steps.

Carol and I took the elevator and went up to the top of the Spanish Steps and then walked up to the Villa Medici Overlook of Rome. Awesome view and we enjoyed it. Passing an expensive restaurant at the overlook we agreed that there was no way their food could be good enough to warrant the prices listed on their menu. We walked the area thoroughly. I took pictures extensively. Carol and I walked back down from the Overlook to Piazza Del Popolo and then up the Via Del Corso to Piazza Augusto and caught the 117 bus to San Giovanni in Laterno getting off at the San Clemente stop and walking up the street to our hotel. Another wonderful walk in Rome. We relaxed and talked with several others at the hotel and then met Bill Bryan when he got in from the airport. Bill is our travel agent and was visiting Rome to help with several of his large tour groups. Bill has just recovered from a very serious illness. He is fully recovered and in excellent health. It was good to see him traveling again and we had coffee and conversation.

I went out about 5:00p.m. and walked up Via Labicana, taking a left on Via Merulana and walking towards Santa Maria Maggiore. A beautiful tree lined street with interesting coffee shops and restaurants. A changing neighborhood on the fringe of the Piazza Vittorio neighborhood. I returned to the Lancelot about 6:00p.m. and our friend and Rome tour guide, Carla Zaia, her husband Chris and Chris’ mother Betty stopped by the hotel to visit.

The conversation was great. Animated, joyous and fast paced and we all had a good time. Bill came by about 7:00p.m. and we continued our visit. Dinner was to be on the hotel patio and we tried to get Carla and company to join us but they couldn’t because they had made reservations at Trattoria Luzzi around the corner from us. This restaurant is located on the backstreets of the Coliseum and is always busy on weekend nights. Their food is great and the meal is always a wonderful event. They were going to to have a meal at Giulio Luzzi’s.

Our meal at Hotel Lancelot was superb. Faris prepared an outstanding meal as usual. Pasta with a light tomato sauce, secundi of chicken with a light coating and spinach and a dessert of a pear encrusted with a coating and a fruit glaze. The meals at the Lancelot are always excellent. The patio dining always adds to the normal friendliness of a meal at the Lancelot and we all had enjoyable conversation during and after the meal. Coffee was served after the dessert and we completed our meal about 9:30p.m. and Carol went upstairs to our room to pack and I walked up the street with Bill and others for gelato.

Trattoria Luzzi’s is only a block so I left Bill and others and walked down the street to visit with Carla and Chris and of course Giulio. It was a beautiful night and very Italian at Luzzi’s. There was a huge line waiting at 10p.m. and the restaurant was packed. I sat with Carla and Chris and watched the Giulio show. Great! I had to say my good byes soon and went back to the hotel to finish packing. We were leaving Rome in the morning very early.

May 24-The Flight Home
Everything went smoothly and well on our trip home. We got up at 5:00a.m. Rome time and twenty one hours later we were home. It was an easy trip and nothing out of the ordinary happened. Carol watched Marley and Me on the movie and cried and had to turn it off. The trip crossing the Atlantic and visiting all of the places we visited and the four days in Rome were very good. I hated to come home early and miss some of the things we had planned but Carol wanted to come home and that is what we did. More to follow.