Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Tower of London

If you are ever in London you have to check out the Borough Market. It’s open Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. It offers an enormous amount of food both to eat there and to take home with you. I went there several times both with friends and by myself just for a cheap lunch.

I took that picture for my dad. What do you think, terra cotta flower pots a legitimate baking unit?

It is really close to the Tower of London, and it is really easy to work into a day at the Tower.


That's Tower Bridge by the way. They always expect Americans to call that London Bridge.

The Tower is right across from London city hall, which is a rather strange looking glass building…

The Londoners generally don't like it. They call it the glass [insert word for a part of the male anatomy, don't make me spell it out for you :P ] At least it is on the opposite side of the river from the Tower, and not right next to it.

The Tower itself has a very intimidating presence, even today…

The square keep in the center—the White Tower—was built by the first Norman King of England, William the Conqueror, in 1078. It’s still under construction…

It was expanded many times to; the layout you see when you visit was probably complete in the late 13th century. It is probably most famous for its use as a prison, but its primary purpose was to defend the royal family while they resided there. They had little reminders of each use throughout the Tower…

Some of the famous stories about the Tower include Guy Fawkes, who tried to blow up parliament on the 5th of November, 1605. One of the more tragic stories is that of the princes in the Tower. Twelve-year-old Edward V and his ten-year-old brother Richard, the only sons of Edward IV, were declared illegitimate by an act of parliament in 1483. Their uncle, now King Richard III arrived in London. The princes were seen playing in the summer of 1483, and then were never seen again. Two skeletons of children were discovered in 1674. It is believed that Richard III probably had them murdered, but modern science couldn't determine the skeleton's identity, even with DNA. So, use you imagination, Shakespeare certainly did.

Now then, the final story I will share is Anne Boleyn's. She was the beautiful woman who seized the lust of Henry VIII, and then failing to produce a male heir, became un-seized of her head. This is the Traitor's Gate, through which Anne passed by boat--it used to open onto the Thames--never to return.

Of course one of the most famous icons identifying the Tower are the Yeoman Warders, the beefeaters.

They were formed in 1485. Today, they are selected from numerous Armed Forces of the Commonwealth. They are senior non-commissioned officers with at least, twenty-two years of service.

Another icon are the ravens…

It is a traditional belief that if at least six ravens are not kept at the Tower, then the kingdom will fall. So, they haven't been absent for a very long time.

No pictures of the Crown Jewels, certainly the most expensive sight in the Tower. Fun all the same. Huge diamond!!

All around, a good day in London.

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