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The sun was shining brightly as we strolled along the Thames and stopped to admire Cleopatra's Needle. We have been told, with some authority since, that the higher-glifs are all about Cleo's greatness, the lower- glifs state "Made in Egypt" and the middle-glifs simply say "This Way Up". Truth? - who can say.
We clambered aboard a London ferry for a lovely trip down the river, listening to commentary such as that above. The London Eye towering above us, under the many bridges, and on to The Tower!
Once again our timing was perfect. A Beef-eater was waiting for his tour to begin, and Barney regaled us with tall tales of mystery, intrigue and murder, the odd fact (mainly toilet or blood-letting related) thrown in for good measure. According to Barney, the first and last people to be beheaded were both named Simon - it seems amusing then, that our own Simon was so insistent that we visit here, although we are bemused as to how he made it out alive way back in 1999.
Walking under the 700 year-old portcullis gate, many on the tour were concerned about the presumably similarly aged rope holding it up, but we felt sure that if one Aussie (Mel Gibson in Braveheart) could hold it aloft alone, with the three of us, it would be a cinch.
The Ravens are still in residence, so the kingdom is safe. Although it feels sort of cheating that they clip their wings so they cannot fly away…….
The White Tower is aptly named, and full to the brim of silver suits, long heavy sharp pointy things used to poke people, and wooden horses which don't rock. The Crown Jewels are very sparkly, all the gold and silver dishes highly polished. Although this may be a trick of the eye because the rooms were very dimly lit in contrast. None of us wanted to apply for a cleaning role, and we didn't think the plates would fit in the dishwasher.
Lunch of vegemite and cheese sandwiches in the still (apparently unusual) sunshine, and even an icecream!
The Mint display was perhaps our favourite, tucked away and quiet. Now we can chant in pirate-parrot style "Pieces of eight, pieces of eight" and know what they look like. Matt has qualified as a master apprentice in making pure silver, Nick in grading gold. Jobs for the future, or is that past?
The boys went to see the display of instruments of torture in the Bloody Tower dungeon, where Matt was highly amused by the rack - not sure it would really be a laughing matter! Karen decided she has plenty of ideas of her own in this area. Besides, she needed the loo. A most unusual occurrence at the Tower - arguably more so than any other historical mystery or intrigue - was played out before her…… for perhaps the only time in recorded eons the queue for the loo was outside the GENTS and the ladies could just walk straight in! I know! And we have the pictures to prove it, otherwise no-one would ever believe it happened.
Timing perfect again - up on the ramparts we noticed a commotion outside - the Tower Bridge was opening! Out with the camera and presto! Photos for the album.
We managed this twice, because just as we were leaving the bridge was raising again. More pictures for good measure. Back down the Thames, a stroll down the empty street past the Ministry of Defence and a check on directions with a policewoman with her big, scary automatic weapon keeping everyone safe, then into Trafalgar Square, full of people and late autumn sunshine.
It is a busy, bustling place, but still quieter than the roads circling it for rush hour. Not sure any of us wish for a monument to be erecting in honour of our awesomeness, they all seem to be covered in pigeon poop, running down their heads like some bad hair dye… Matt threw a coin in the fountain, to ensure he returns. Yoda was hanging and hovering around, feet off the ground.
Tea taken care of, we made our own way home via the Underground. Luckily Karen was the last to step onto the escalator as the angle and length of the journey to the deep depths of the earth made her feel quite ill as it was, and she is sure to have fallen if she was leading the pack and had a clear view to the bottom.
Things to note:
- don't believe everything a tour guide tells you, but sometimes they aren't joking
- a person holding an automatic weapon can still be the friendliest one on a street full of suit wearing business people on their way home
- free postcards are often the best
- London beer is not only served warm, but flat.....
- comments
Jo Vegemite and cheese sandwiches! Your own supply? Late autumn sunshine? Are you sure about that? Which hemisphere are you in?? I'd always thought my impression of the beer was unfairly influenced by me not being a beer drinker at the time...
Cassie Loving reading your posts - sounds like lots of fun!! Xx
Karen Yeah, blame the jetlag - definitely spring sunshine, sorry! we took 2 large jars of vegemite to be safe - have discovered Tescos sell it too, so we will be ok. Beer is bad, trust me!!