First of all, let me say it's pretty sweet to wake up to hearing three different languages. I heard French, Korean, and something that I was too tired to immediately identify within ten minutes of waking this morning. I really like this hostel. It's rather nice, the folks who work here are friendly, it's cheap....yep. And I'm really enjoying just noting all the different parts of the world people are coming from. I'm sorry....but the Chicago 'burbs just don't have that. Anyways. My plan of getting up about 45 minutes earlier than I needed to worked out great - I got in the shower 30 minutes after waking, so in plenty of time. (There aren't an overabundance of them on the floor - aka 2, for 9 rooms. 9 rooms with 4 to 8 people in each. However, I hear a rumor that some of the 4 and 6 person ones have showers within. Anyways.)
Early in the morn, busy already.
In our 8 person room.
So I jumped up, got ready, grabbed a croissant, and headed to....
1) Tower of London. The history fanatic in me was bursting with excitement. I walked the same stones that Sir Thomas More, two queens of England, and William Wallace tread (although the latter was not executed within the Tower, as the others were). Queen Anne's and Queen Katherine's bones and ashes (respectively) lie under the altar in the church next to the execution green (incidentally, they still actually hold services there). I walked into Bloody Tower, where the two young princes, nephews of usurper Richard III, mysteriously died. Their bones were found during the reign of Charles I, under a stairwell. This is also the place that Sir Walter Raleigh was imprisoned for thirteen years. The original armor of many of the kings are there in the White Tower, as well as the current crown jewels. (No pictures of that - sorry, folks. But the largest diamond in the world is in there, as is what is considered the most beautiful.) Every stone in this place was so steeped with history. This place has stood nearly a thousand years. Fathom that, young American whippersnappers! It's also a funny mix....here it stands, on the banks of the Thames, and one sees modern artsy glass skyscrapers across the way. That's London. It's been around longer than entire nations. And it's proud of it.
There it be.
Traitor's Gate. Here is where Sir Thomas More, Queen Anne Boleyn, Queen Katherine Howard, and William Wallace passed through to get into the Tower. Inviting, isn't it....
One of the towers near the entrance (Lantham?).
Where the princes' bones were found - buried beneath the stairs of one of the towers.
The mace known as the "Holy Water Sprinkler" - irony intended.
Henry VIII's armor.
One of the many winding staircases.
The green where the executions took place.
Seven were executed on this exact spot, including two of Henry VIII's wives and Lady Jane Grey. I like the inscription around the bottom - acknowledging the tragedy of what occurred.
The church that contains the remains of Queens Anne and Katherine.
Raleigh's study while he was locked away.
The bedroom of the murdered princes.
View from the southern wall - the Tower Bridge over the Thames in the background.
Super-narrow staircase - thought of you, Mom, when I went up this! Small enough that my arm would touch one wall while my bag slid along the other.
There's that old/new dichotomy.
And now, looking at the morbid events I just described, a random note....I was - am - feeling a bit conflicted about the level of excitement I felt about the Tower. I truly enjoy history - it's one of my favorite things. And British monarchical history is pretty high up there. So, in a place like this, my fascination level runs pretty high. But what has happened here is so horrible. And yet that horror is the draw. This weird juncture of academic interest and continuing to seek plain ol' human decency....how does one navigate? How do I deal with that? I like the memorial by the execution green....at the same time, other things there capitalize on what occurred, such as a certain gift shop item (to be described).
There was a room displaying various torture instruments. I didn't stay long, and didn't take any pictures. My chest felt tight, and my stomach sick. Man's inhumanity to man....Before entering the room, there was a little voting thing: "Do you think it's right to torture prisoners?" Options - "Yes, to punish them;" "Sometimes, to get information to prevent crimes;" "No, it is never right." My vote was the 442,699th cast. The results? 36.3% said A, 25.9% said B, and 37.8% said C. That's decently even, folks. Over 160,000 said torture was okay as punishment. This is while hearing about men being drawn and quartered. In the gift shop, there was a little model of an executioner beheading someone. You decide if he lives or dies! Let the little paper axe come down, or no?
What the hey are we teaching our kids? And where did we go so wrong with ourselves?
Um, yes, and this wasn't meant to be my soapbox. Uh, moving on....
2) Tower Bridge. I didn't go up to the top, but I did cross the Thames on it, and it didn't fall down, fall down either. Oh, and beneath it is "Dead Man's Hole," where they collected the bodies that came floating up from the body of the Thames. Charming.
It's still standing. View from the southern bank (across the river from the Tower of London).
Crossing the river.
3) Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament/Palace of Westminster. I caught a glimpse of it yesterday, and got much closer, albeit unintentionally, today. Looking for the Banqueting House (which turned out to be closed today), I found myself running into Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament. I hope to see them at night tomorrow....I'm sure they look sweet all lit up. Perhaps I'll ride the London Eye. I'll be spending most of the day in that part of the town - it's the Queen's official birthday celebration.
I always think of Peter Pan when I see this....(incidentally, there's a Peter Pan statue in Kensington Gardens, if'n ya wanted to know).
Interior-ish area, on the far side from the river.
And here is nearby Downing Street.
4) National Gallery. Pretty sweet. Thanks, Dr. Walford, for helping cultivate an enjoyment of art. : ) Spent a couple hours here, wandering around. Took a couple illegal photographs before I got shut down (I didn't know! I merely expressed surprise upon entering the gallery that there was no sign prohibiting photography....)
The only picture I'll share - I'll respect their rule. : ) But this is just the entry! Heck, it's probably even okay here....
The outside of the Gallery.
After this, back to Trafalgar (which is right in front of the Gallery). Sat on the edge of one of the fountains and wrote for a while, just soaking in the sounds of the city, the cool breezes, and being in Europe.
5) Phantom of the Opera. Much better than the last time I saw it on stage! Spokane has such marvelous theater productions, but the acoustics or something went horribly wrong that night - couldn't understand a word. Tonight was great. Every time the Phantom sang, I got chills - well, I was also wearing a sleeveless dress and it was cold in the theatre, but still....his voice was powerful. Raoul was very good, also. I wasn't entirely sold on Christine, but she did well, too.
I felt like getting a little dressy for a Friday night at the theatre. And yay Phantom!
Another forbidden picture - oops! (Hey, Les Mis let me take pictures inside before the show started, too....I thought photography was only banned during the production. Guess not, from what the ushers were yelling later, during intermission).
The theatre afterwards.
Wandered through the busy, Times Square-esque Piccadilly Circus for a bit, bought a chocolate something or other as my dinner (health food, I know), and returned to the hostel. Now, I'm probably going to hit the hay soon.
So I like night-time pictures, I guess....
Piccadilly Circus (again).... : )
Cheers!
P.S. Funny story....ya would think that when you go to the opposite hemisphere, chances are you wouldn't see anyone you knew? Not necessarily! Today, I saw Karin and Karl B., from high school in Montana, with their mom. Karl just graduated college, and they were spending several weeks in Europe. And we all just happened to be at the Tower of London on the same morning, thousands of miles and many years from where we had last seen each other. Craziness.
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