Towers & Eyes of London

22 November:


Considering that our train tickets into the city would be considerably less expensive if we waited until after nine o'clock, we decided it would be best to allow ourselves a bit more sleep and maybe see a bit of St. Albans in the daylight before heading out again into the big city.

Iain had to leave early for work, but Paulina made for us a delightful breakfast and we ate leisurely.

After preparing ourselves for the day, Peter, Paulina, Matjaž, and I went out into town.

The Englishness of the streets is unmistakable...

We came around to the St. Albans Cathedral. This ancient Norman structure was begun in 1077 and much of that early architecture remains...

The old graveyard. Can you spot the squirrel...

The interior was an impressive bit of work...

The ceiling of the centre of the nave...

The choir...

Part of the old Norman chapel...

Modern art...

Old stained-glass...

Here we are, a right lot, just outside the cathedral...

We said goodbye to Paulina and the three of us walked to the train station. We passed the Robin Hood...

We rode the train into London where Matjaž left us to meet with some acquaintances of his and run some particular errands. Peter and I headed eastward to one of the greatest and oldest landmarks of the city:

Her Majesty's Royal Palace and Fortress, more commonly known as the Tower of London...

A couple of mounted bobbies patrolled the area...

While archers stood at the ready around the castle walls...

And ice skaters skated the ice below the castle walls...

We bought tickets and passed the main gate where we waited for our tour to begin. Soon the one of the Yeoman Warders arrived and began to tell us all about the castle. (We were also joined by a girl out of a Tim Burton movie, apparently)...

The yeoman was quite the character...

We saw medieval maidens (though, at first glance, I must confess, I supposed them to be Mohammedan women wearing burkas)...

A young prince was looking for a maiden in distress, or perhaps a good hairdresser...

Guards solemnly patrolled the inner courts of the castle...

After the tour we were free to walk about and explore the castle at our leisure. As the castle was for many years used as a prison, it was fascinating to find ancient graffiti upon the inner walls of some of the towers...

The Waterloo barracks...

Inside the White Tower was the museum of the Tower. Here is the armour of King Henry VIII. He always wore protection, as you can here see...

Armour of King Charles I, 1612...

Armour of King James II, 1680's...

Undress Uniforms of Princes Wiliam and Harry, 2000's....

Polo Helmet and Knee Guards of HRH Charles The Prince of Wales...

The ancient loo of the White Tower...

And the old Norman Chapel....

King Charles I's boyhood armour alongside the tallest extant suit of armour on display anywhere...

An interesting exhibit of medieval arrowheads found in the Thames...

And a whole collection of "junk" found in the Thames over the years...

A "Gossip Mask" used as a punishment...

16th cent. axe with an 18th cent. block. The Tower of London was often the scene of public executions...

Execution chair of German spy, Josef Jakobs in 1941. It was the Tower of London's last execution...

One of the amusing things about the Tower of London museum is that it contains many artifacts of the former British Empire that they clearly had no other place in which to put. Like this Venetian Lion from the now Greek island of Corfu. 1809...

The guards stood always at attention...

Long live the Queen...

"Oh. My. Gosh! I, like, totally saw Nigel scratch his bum while on duty the other day. It was like SO gross too..."

It was rather awkward watching them march away as they kept bumping into things...

Of course the star attraction of the Tower of London are the Crown Jewels themselves. Photography is forbidden. Just enjoy this portrait of the Queen and take my word for it that we saw them...

Another rather random artifact about the grounds, a canon, and the ravens. At least six ravens are kept at the Tower at all times, in accordance with the belief that if they are absent, the kingdom will fall...

Before the Normans came, the Tower of London was the site of a Roman fort as well. Here is a remnant of the old Roman Wall. In the distance are the newest modern skyscrapers of London being built, providing fascinating contrast...

After familiarising myself with my equipment I found I would make quite the proper soldier if called upon to defend Queen and Country...

They old medieval bedchambers of Edward I (of Braveheart fame), complete with actual maidens (the same as seen earlier)...

As we were walking the passageways of the castle, we suddenly heard a great shout behind us and found one of the Yeoman Warders clearing the way for the changing of the guard...

Right tourist fodder it was...

Peter and I left the tower and walked to its equally famous neighbor, the Tower Bridge...

We crossed it's mighty span over the Thames...

From the bridge we had a excellent view of the construction of The Shard, soon to be one of London's most distinctive modern landmarks...

When completed in 2012, it will be the tallest building in the European Union. Here is how it will appear when finished...

Peter and I climbed aboard a bus and rode towards Westminster. We came at last to the London Eye...

There we met Matjaž, the third member of our party once again and we climbed into our own compartment on one of the largest Ferris Wheels in the world...

The day had been quite overcast and we were worried we would be quite disappointed with a rather dismal view on our "flight." Much to our pleasure, however, just as we were boarding, the lights of the city began to turn on and London was alight with the glow of a city preparing for, though not yet in the darkness of night...

A proper Peter Pan's-eye-view, it was...

Peter watching the Shell Oil Headquarters Building go by...

The city...

Buckingham Palace...

It was a most agreeable experience...

We came back around towards Big Ben and Parliament, now a bit darker than before...

After disembarking, we were once again to part ways. I was to meet with an old friend of mine, while the Slovenians were off to meet with old Slovenian friends somewhere else in the city.

I had a bit of time to kill and so I wandered the embankment...

Carousel and Christmas market stalls...

Festive was the word as one looked eastward...

And westward...

I rode the Tube to the Tower of London and Tower Bridge for some night photography...

I crossed the bridge once and back again, coming along the eerily lit Tower of London...

From there I went to Liverpool Street Station where I met my old friend Mark, a Londoner, whom I first met four years ago in Cusco, Peru. We did our TEFL course together.

Mark knew of a fine Pies & Mash restaurant and we sat down a proper English dinner. It was a delight to reminisce of old times and hear of one another's respective travels while feasting on Shepherd's Pie with Peas and Mash. A Dandelion & Burdocks was my drink of the evening.

I make no claims to my skills of self-photography...

After dinner (and some excellent Cornish ice cream) it was time to make the return journey to St. Albans. The day was complete.

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