Busy Dizzy Sabbath

Day 20

Up we got very early and headed to the train station with all our luggage and were quite a sight.  We were wonderfully lucky and rather early for our train that we got a whole section of the train to ourselves and our luggage so that we could talk and laugh and enjoy our time together talking about what is to come and our experiences with the traveling in Europe.  Once we got to Cambridge we headed to the taxi area (and I love having gentlemen around because I didn't end up carrying any of my own language).  We had a short and easy ride to the church building and were able to simply relax.  We were even lucky enough to find members of the church willing to give us a ride to Aubrey's flat.

Isn't it just an adorable location?

2nd floor window is her study.

The deadly stairs...the smallest, steepest I have ever encountered, not to mention the addition of carrying up suitcases.

She quickly set up her adorable little room very nicely.

 Than we headed to King's College for her check in.

Can you believe that she gets to go to school there?

That evening we went back to the King's College and attended evensong.  All young men singing reminded me of "Perfect Harmony" and is very soothing.  I mean boys singing is such a pure innocent tone.

Aubrey was terribly relieved to finally be able to unpack and settle herself in one place.  It does get a little exhausting living out of a suitcase and moving around every few days.  Homes are just wonderful.

New Friends....Good and Odd

Day 19

Morning was rather easy as we weren't in too much of a hurry.  We realized we had to book an extra night in our hostel for we had apparently miss counted somewhere, but they had a spot for us so no problem.  We also had a fun surprise in the fact that several of the people from the Cambridge program that Aubrey was in were staying in our hostel.  So we made plans to meet up with them later.  And a random rather older and odd Hispanic guy that was in their room joined us.  First place we headed was...

The British Museum

The Rosetta Stone

Now I can't read it at all but it is a rather interesting piece of history and to tell the truth Aubrey got so emotional that she teared up a bit when she saw it.

Another of my lions.

Ramesses II

My fun thought was the fact that this whole in his chest is believed to be from Napoleon's expedition trying to remove the statue in the early 1800s, having been created in 1270 BC.  That Napoleon seems to get himself in everywhere in history.

Red breccia figure of the goddess Taweret who is the goddess associated with childbirth.  Shown as usual as a pregnant hippo, which made me thought of Sharon's comparison of herself as a hippo when she is pregnant.  Just plain sweet if you ask me.

Tribute bearers bringing a pair of monkeys to a king who collects exotic animals.  If you get to do that, I might enjoy being a king.

Return from the Lion Hunt

After all my majestic lions it kind of made me sad to see this.

The Nereid Monument

It was absolutely beautiful to be able to look at and want to touch a great deal.  These museums have such large pieces that makes me wonder how in the world  they built the building.

Horse Day

There was an exhibition of riding horses outside and throughout there were fun hands on art tables for people to get more involved in their experience.  I loved it as so many feel like art as well as history are too dry and unable to be touched or affecting their own lives.

There was a band teaching us how to make horse beats in this collection area.  I even joined in and used a tambourine to make a lovely noise.

Perikles, citizen and soldier

Such a beautiful piece of skill.

Gold coin of Croesus

How would you like to wear such a headdress?

An old game I want to make and possibly play.  Who knows it could be a lot of fun.

Directions.

The Royal Library at Nineveh

Words have always had such an affect on people of the world.  We can never let it go or remain undone.

Mummies

There were a lot of sarcophagi and it looks rather cool.

The Discus Thrower

or the Discobolus of Myron originally done in bronze down in Greece.

What a fun statue.  Color was great.  But would I put in my home?

Can you believe that my companion, Aubrey, can read this?

Husband and wife, always an important relationship.

Those are some horns.

Aren't carvings just amazing to see how they kept their own stories.

Aubrey and I kept getting separated as we looked at everything, but we always found each other again.  Our odd friend stayed in touch with us for a while, but then we lost him.  To be honest we didn't wait more than a minute after the time we said we would meet.   He was a little odd and we were very hungry and almost completely museumed out as we had been to so many so close together.  It was fun though.

At lunch this is what we drank.  I love that companies make their products personal to the location.  We also ate cheeseburgers and fries at a Greek restaurant in London--made us feel very at home. 

We met up with Aubrey's friends on the river Thames by the Globe theater and headed up and down the road for food and fun.

On our walk down the river we saw this skate park.  Doesn't it just look quite interesting and artistic?  I think most people do not see graffiti that way but it is truly a style unto itself.

I think my favorite is all the layers.

Waterloo Bridge and St. Paul's

We were trying to figure out if anyone else was coming by using the free wi-fi of one of the the buildings on the street.  We hung out with these two guys walking quite a ways down the road and then having dinner at Nandos.  One of the guys asked how such complete opposites as Aubrey and I could be friends.  I told him that we are enough alike in the important stuff and we bring out the other stuff in each other.  For example I am louder and more crazy and Aubrey is a bit more serious.  But then Aubrey went to get our sauces and ended up coming back with every single one they have, meaning 7, and it took 3 trips.  The more she brought the more she got excited.  It was then the guy said smiling, "Okay, I can see that."

The Globe

I got excited when I saw this, but I didn't get to go see a show for a couple of days yet.

Kensington and Hyde Park

After we ate we decided to head to the park to see the parks and the Princess Diana Playground.  On the way we were talking and enjoying the greenery.  We saw a group of boys playing soccer and all mentioned just so great it is that there are some ways of communicating that go beyond language.  It is taking America a little while to really get on the ban wagon, but a few of us truly understand it.

As we walked we passed one of my favorite things...the statue of

Peter Pan

On the bottom of the statue it has, fairies...

rabbits... and much more. :)

Wouldn't you want to fly away to Never Land with that playful boy?

Queen Victoria

Outside her childhood home of 

Kensington Palace

We actually got kicked out of the park by a policeman driving by with a bullhorn.  But we were headed to try and find a few more guys from the Cambridge program to give them a suitcase someone had brought over for them.  As we walked over someone grabbed one of the guys and pointed at his BYU shirt, he was wearing a BYU hat!  It ended up being the guys we were looking for.  Wahoo, it all worked out.

We spent the rest of the night hanging out with them in our Hostels mainroom and decided that we would all travel down to Cambridge the next morning on the same train and go to church together.

Are you brave enough to come to the Tower?

Day 18

We got up and headed out with a quick realization that the weather in London was going to be rather fickle.  The day before had been nice and warm and now today was cooler, and eventually got rather cold as it got wet.  Not to be stopped by weather, as it hadn't stopped us yet, we headed out to the Tower of London.  The name of our stop apparently had two stops, but we got off on the first one and so had the fun opportunity of crossing the Tower Bridge to get to our sight.  And since the Olympics are about to start we saw it decorated with the 5 Great interlocking Rings: Blue for Europe, black for Africa, Red for Americas, Yellow for Asia, and Green for Oceania--as I have come to learn.  I wish I could have seen an event, "Faster, Higher, Stronger!"

Tower Bridge

There were signs all over London that I now make jest of: Umbrellas are Great (Britain)!

What a thing to see in the middle of the modern business world.

Tower of London

A Royal Palace and Fortress, which do you remember?

Very windy

In it's great days there was a menagerie on the outer regions and these statues remain as a memory.  How wonderful that must have been as a Royal to have your own personal Zoo that also added more defense to you palace that you could not plan for or measure.

An entrance of the ages.

This area was once all mote, it was terribly wide and just plain filthy.

Yeoman Warder guided tours: FREE and Well Worth the time.

Aren't there underdress uniforms just plain fun?

 Housing, did you know that the yeoman actually live in the Tower, paying rent.  They were created by Henry VII, first of the Tudor Line, in 1485 and there are still 37 of them today living there.  Eligibility is limited to those that are retired from the Armed Forces of the Commonwealth Realms and former senior non-commissioned officers (NCOs) with at least 22 years of service and they must be recipients of the Long Service and Good Conduct Medal.  Plus they have to have a residence outside the tower for when they retire.  I don't know about you, but I was stunned to think of this place known for death and pain as a home. 

Traitor's Gate

I don't think any wanted to enter through this way, but it did not originally mean death to all who entered.  Among them that passed down the Thames under the London Bridge (where heads of the recently executed prisoners were displayed on pikes---ominous a bit) were Queen Anne Boleyn (Henry VIII's 2nd wife), Sir Thomas More (Henry VIII's friend that was a bishop unwilling to give him a divorce from his 1st wife), and Queen Catherine Howard (Henry VIII's 5th wife).

Does anyone else see a pattern about those that came here?

Our Guide 

or Beefeater, a nickname given them by the fact that they were given a generous portion of beef to eat possibly even from the King's table.  Our guide pointed to his great girth and mentioned that he definitely was not missing any meals.  He was absolutely hilarious; I wish I could have recorded the tour for he said many things I could not write down or remember enough of to share, but it was so worth every minute.

For example he spoke of how the Crown Jewels did not belong to the Queen or King, but to the members of the commonwealth; he welcomed Australians as being home and a part owner with himself in the riches, but mentioned that we Americans did not have a share as we were obnoxious rebels (while smiling greatly).

His other favorite was to tell of the gruesome stories of the Tower, describing to us the difference between the public executions on the Tower Hill that were done for warning and entertainment and the private executions of the noble on the Tower Green.  For example Queen Anne Boleyn called for a swordsman from France to perform her execution rather than an ax man and he had her look up to the heavens in prayer and surprised her by sweeping off her head cleanly and with shock still visible on her face.

It was here that I also learned of the 9-Day Queen, Lady Jane Grey.  I had heard her name several times in the many stories that I have read about the time of Queen Elizabeth II, but had never realized just what part she played in the story.  She was beheaded here and so was her husband and father I believe.  I decided to get a book or two on her and learn more.

The Chapel Royal of St. Peter ad Vincula

Our guide was very kind to warn us all of a step at the entrance where many trip and fall or nearly fall on their faces.  And to add to his generosity he mentioned that any lady could count on him to catch them and hold them slightly longer than is proper and enjoy himself and any gentleman that falls can expect him to laugh and mock him in front of the entire company.

 As we were learning about ownership of famous things, our guide told us that this Chapel was owned by Queen and Royal Family and not the Anglican Church as one might think.  And for this and other reasons you are not to wear hats or take pictures or video within.  (The photo below is a published one to give me a remembrance and you an image.)

Another slightly gruesome bit of story we that was shared with us was that those buried here have none of their heads except one or two.  

One person holds their head under their arm, I think so that it would not be mocked, showing Henry VIII's great kindness to the family--ha ha.

This story is kind of gruesomely odd: one man was beheaded and his head paraded and stuck on a pike but then his family wanted or had started a portrait of him but had not gotten the face done yet, so they brought his head back, sewed it on and painted it from there.  Therefore this nobleman had his head attached when he was buried; it had just been detached once.

White Tower

Home for the Queen or Royalty, now a museum inside.

"Never poke a sleeping dragon in the eye."

I mean look at it; they made it out of all the things they used in medieval times and it looks so cool.

Angel lion

 We found the Royal guards again in there redcoats.  We really wanted to walk up and try to make him laugh, but we were afraid they might kick us out.  Why is it so hard to repress our childish desires?  Why do we have to repress them? Wouldn't it be more fun if we did our silly things more often?

 To joke or not to joke, that is the question.

 As you walk around the outer walls you can look down and see all the cute little houses that have been tended and taken care of by conscientious old people.  Sometimes I think that we should all have green thumbs and help things to grow and live and make our homes and cities beautiful.  We saw them more often than I thought we would when I left and it made me very happy.  I think that my home will have to have plants in it or flowers or all.  I just hope I don't kill them all.

The walls inside the Beauchamp Tower, and several others,  are covered with carvings by prisoners to show that they were there and possibly to use up all their time, although some of the carvings were done by professionals paid for by the prisoners.  It was rather amazing to see.  And even tragic as you realize that these are the final thoughts and signatures of many of these prisoners.

Lady Jane Grey, 9-Day Queen

Sir Thomas Moore

Now that is a signature.

 Professional?

 I mean seriously this is just impressive and crazy.  To imagine deciding what to put and what to say and then to realize that may be all that is remembered and might possibly never be understood.

A coat of arms or a vase of flowers?

 The had all of the carvings covered so that people would not touch them and wear them away, plus they used the empty wall space to put up these little squares to explain what some of them said or why they were carved.

There is a superstition that says, "If the Tower of London ravens are lost or fly away, the Crown will fall and Britain with it."

So they keep six ravens required and a seventh in reserve.  And this tradition goes back supposedly to Charles II wanting to not have them in the way of his telescope but knowing it was back luck to kill a raven, so just clipping their wings.  Others say they were brought or drawn there by the executions and left to add to the gruesome atmosphere.  It is said, "Even the ravens of the Tower sat silent and immovable on the battlements and gazed eerily at the strange scene.  A Queen about to die!"

Atmosphere

They have men and women dressed up and talking in the style of Elizabethan England.  They were very funny telling stories of themselves and chatting about all the "latest" social events that gave them all the new gossip about everyone at court.  I think on most days it must have been very hot and slightly uncomfortable work, but the day that we were there it began to rain and the wind blew to the point that I was shivering and thought they looked very comfortable.  It took time, but I learned to always have a jacket in London and possibly always an umbrella. 

Probably one of the best touristy things we ever did.  What a historical treasure and about a time period that I have been slightly over obsessed about since I was in middle school.

This was the bus we took from the Tower.  Isn't just the cutest old fashioned bus?  We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves getting on and off and talking to a conductor who came and collected tickets and called out the stops since all the technology on the bigger buses weren't there.

Trafalgar Square

We didn't stay long but it was very pretty and fun.  It is historical but not much to do except go in the museum or eat or play in the water of the fountains...oh but you probably aren't supposed to do that.

There was also this counter that told you exactly how long until the Olympics.  Fun.

Regent Street

Speaking of the Olympics this is what we saw when we went shopping after our touristy time.  I think countries get a little excited about hosting the Games.  What an amazing chance to experience that atmosphere and joy and pride in your own country.  May we never forget just how lucky we are to live where we do and to be able to use our bodies to do such amazing feats.

Hamley's Toy Store

I am not sure what it is with me and toy stores, but they are just too fun.  This one is also pretty famous and has about 5 floors.  Each one making you smile.  A barbie floor, a movie floor, a stuffed animal section, candy section, and so much more.

A Lego section...I wasn't able to take a picture of the real Crown Jewels, so I took a picture of these.  When we actually saw the Jewels at the Tower of London, Aubrey and I had very different reactions. 

Mine: Those would be heavy (about 5 lbs for the crown...talk about a headache)

Aubrey: There's one way to fix your economy and get out of debt.

Queen Elizabeth II on her Diamond Jubilee (60 years of reigning)

The longest reign in British history is Queen Victoria of just short of 64 years, so we shall see if Queen Elizabeth II will beat her. Go Ladies for living so long and reigning so well!

Sherlock Holmes

One of my favorite stories by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.  I have read them all many times and love to see how such a mind as that works.

The Royal Wedding

Prince William and Miss Catherine Middleton

Celebration of the Queen's Jubilee and the coming Olympics

The GAP London

We did a lot of window shopping and then some wonderful sales rack shopping here.  It amazed me to see that they had some of the same things we see and here and much we do not.  Also the prices are a little different.  I loved the sales rack there.

Actually not long after we left the store Aubrey's sandals broke, not the strap mind you, but the bottom came off and started flapping whenever she stepped.  They had served there purpose and been fun, but it was rather sad and kind of funny to see and hear her walking home.

 We loved the underground as public transportation, but I would say that if you are going to be there for even a couple of days that you should get a subway card called an Oyster Card because the ticket price is half that of an individual ticket.  Also be forewarned that the subway in summer that get extremely hot and stuffy, even rather smelly.

Bookstore

One the way home we saw a bookstore and I stopped in to get a book on the Lady Jane Grey and am becoming an expert slowly but surely.  They are a little crazy but very fun since they must conserve space as much as possible and still have enough books for interest.  Those are my kind of places.

Indian Food

I have to say that if you like spicy food you have to take the opportunity to have Indian food in London.  It is absolutely amazing and authentic as it is made by native Indians that have moved to the country.  This was good enough to enjoy it well for someone like me who loves Indian food, but has only some tolerance of spice, but also able to make Aubrey--the spice addict--think that it was hot enough to make her sweat a little.  Oh the joy of good food.  That is something I would say is worth the time and money if you are going to travel.  (And we found this place by asking one of the office people at the hostel.)

The second bookstore we stopped at that night just for fun.  The prices were better than they are in the States.  2 pounds for a paperback, I like it.

That night we just hung out at the hostel in our room and got to know some of our neighbors. :)  It was always fun to make friends for an hour or so everywhere we went.