Blustery Day in London - May 9, 2013

Tower of London

It was a blustery day in London today.  We got up early and arrived at the Tower of London around opening time.  We headed straight for Waterloo Block where the Crown Jewels are kept.  We breezed through the very interesting exhibit which culminated in a viewing of the Queen's Best Hat (thanks to Rick Steves for suggesting to head straight there as about an hour later the line was about 2 hours long) - visitors yesterday would have arrived at the end of the exhibit to see a sign where her Crown usually sits saying simply "In Use".  We then toured White Tower which was the main complex inside the double walled fortress.  We took a free tour by the Beefeaters (real names are Yeoman Warders) which was very interesting.  While the Monarchy lived here at times, it was also very well used as a prison and execution staging area.  Anne Boleyn was beheaded here and rests in the Chapel Royal of St Peter ad Vincula on the grounds.  The Tower Bridge (which many refer to wrongly as London Bridge) is right next to the Tower of London.  We had some soup at the cafe and then took the Tube to St. Paul's Cathedral.

Bob with Tower Bridge Behind

St. Paul's Cathedral is majestic.  As you walk in and see the Nave it is awe inspiring.  It was designed by Christopher Wren who designed numerous post fire buildings in London.  You could sit under the dome and look at the paintings 53 metres high forever.  Interesting that paintings were used in the dome instead of mosaics which adorn numerous other areas of the Church because it was too expensive - for a building which cost about $50 Million Dollars (in today's dollars) to build.  We walked up to the Whispering Gallery of the dome up 257 steps about 30 metres up - in this area of the dome you can whisper and be heard 100 feet across the other side of the dome.  We started up the steps to the Stone Gallery (119 steps and 23 metros higher, but I chickened out and came down - that darn heights thing.  We then went down to the Crypt where numerous notable people have tombs and are buried like Lord Nelson and The Duke of Wellington.

St. Paul's Cathedral from the Millenium Bridge

We walked back to the hostel through Borough Market - amazing fresh and different foods.  We had to change rooms to an 8 bed dorm for the next 2 nights.  We had dinner at Thameside Restaurant on the South Bank and returned back to the hostel for an early evening.  Tomorrow is a tour of Westminster Abbey and the Harry Potter Studios Tour.  Ciao for now...