The Tower and Almost Westminster

Today was the Tower of London. It's incredible to me that there are buildings here that have been here since the Romans inhabited England. Do you realize how incredibly old that is? I often don't. After seeing portions of the Roman wall and the tiling of a kitchen I started to think; nowadays we get so excited whenever we find something that's from a time gone before, even if that time wasn't that long ago. Was that still the prominent attitude in Shakespeare's day? If someone of that time had come across the ruins of a Roman kitchen would they have strove so earnestly to preserve it? I wonder.

Tangent aside, the Tower of London was cool. I loved all the buildings (we only went into a few, and I couldn't take pictures of the things I wanted most to capture. Now would be a good time to be an incredible artist with a photographic memory. . .) and, while I was a bit chilled today (I forgot my coat and only had a sweater), it was entirely worth it. I won't be leaving the Centre without a jacket in the future, though.

The first attraction in the Tower we went to see was the Crown Jewels display. Photography in that building was strictly prohibited (and the workers there were SERIOUS about that. So many people got yelled at. Scary stuff), so I don't have pictures of them, but I'm sure Google has a few. I mean, it's Google, after all.

(Imaginary images of crown jewels here)

The crown jewels were incredible, though. There were some that were as large as a toddler's fist! I'm not usually one for lots of sparkles on everything, but these were tastefully arranged and I found myself in complete awe. They were beautiful, plain and simple. Also, Queen Elizabeth II is incredibly dignified and regal and. . . queenly. I can see why she's adored everywhere.

We wandered around the Tower grounds for a bit before we decided to visit the Tower Bridge which was absolutely incredible. I am in love with that bridge. It is majestic carved stone that almost catches the clouds. Actually, all of London, while incredible, is a lot shorter than I'd expected it to be. It's more sprawling side to side than it is vertically. It's more approachable than New York City in that way. And the tube is a lot less sketchy than the subway.

After the bridge we set out in search of a church Dr. Talbot told us about. It's right next to the Tower of London and has a crypt museum with a portion of a Roman kitchen in the basement. I didn't take many pictures of it, though, because I wasn't entirely sure photography was allowed until we were leaving (it was). The church was beautiful and peaceful and reverent. And the crypt museum was amazing, as well. We were walking on and looking at something that has been there since Roman times! They had normal lives just like we do today, but with fewer commodities. I love the time travelling I get to do by visiting museums.

We were then going to go to Westminster Abbey for an assignment, but we were super hungry. We got off at Westminster station and decided to grab a bite to eat before going through and completing our assignment. We found this AMAZING restaurant called Cafe Concerto (Italian food that exceeds anything I have ever had in America) and sat down. I wish I had taken pictures. There were several large chandeliers and everything felt so classy, but most of the people there were in jeans or business casual attire. I guess that kind of decor is more common in London?

The food was incredible and I enjoyed every bite of the spinach ravioli. The waitress came and cleared our table and then we were left waiting for the check. A half of an hour later we finally were able to flag one of them down and request that they bring us our checks. We had asked earlier if they could split the check and the waitress said that only the manager had that capacity and then she went to go talk to him. The check we received was not split at all and so we ended up just pooling our money in a rough idea of what our meals cost. So we left an enormous pile of bills and coins on the tray and left. Hope it was the right amount!

I still haven't sat down and figured out the money system here so whenever I purchase something with cash I end up holding out a handful of coins and letting the cashier be my brain. It's embarrassing. I should work on fixing that. . .

Because lunch took so long we only had an hour and a half to get through Westminster Abbey and get back home. Not.enough.time! So we made an executive decision to go tomorrow instead and stood on a nearby bridge to take pictures. It was magical and I didn't even mind that I felt like a tourist. I am one, after all.

After dinner things slowed down for us and we read more of King Lear and finished a few other assignments. I'm glad I'm here for a study abroad, but sometimes homework is the least appealing idea--even if the assignments are designed to throw us out in London. I can't complain, though. My life really is so incredible and I feel so blessed to have this opportunity.

Pictures!

On the morning train to Tower Hill

 Basically one of the coolest structures over here, no big deal.

Caitlyn, me, Lizzie

 "Oh look it's where they behead people!"

The gorgeous and picturesque Tower Bridge. I wish my camera could capture its awe-inspiringness

 Super old wall just chillin' on Tower Hill.

I believe this was Cradle Tower, but I can't remember. We didn't go in this one. It's super cool, though.

That's where the crown jewels are!

This was in the White Tower, I believe. Just through the doorway was St. John's chapel (where photography was prohibited) and it was breathtaking. It was white stone pillars and floor and ceiling and it felt so clean and fresh and pure, even though it's old.

Even the toilet can be defended by bow and arrow

This was a dragon created from a bunch of the weapons we saw displayed. There were pretty scrolls in the legs/ankles and so that's why we get this angle.

Become the lion

Because why not include another picture of the bridge?

I love this because you can see the super old Tower of London juxtaposed by the super new city behind. I love that about London; you can see the transition of architecture everywhere you look.

This was the church with the crypt museum and the Roman kitchen

And also William Penn

The Tower of Big Ben (which is actually the Houses of Parliament building, but who calls it that, anyway?)

The view from the bridge.

And that was London today. I sort of love being here, if you can't tell.