Day 2 - Church and State

Our second gray London day had us on our first minding the gap tube ride where exited at the lovely Tower Bridge. 

We were in our way to the Tower of London. 

We started the Tower of London Complex with the Crown Jewels, where we could sadly take no photos. However, we saw crowns, orbs, maces, gigantic diamonds, and a solid gold punchbowl bigger than a kiddie swimming pool. 

Next we joined a tour with ne of the famous Yeoman Warders (known as Beefeaters) - royal guardians and also pun filled storytellers at the Tower. Our Beefeater guide shared stories of the 3 queens executed here (two of which were wives of Henry VIII) and many other sad and grisly tales.  Beefeaters actually live within the walls of the Tower with their families and are retired British military.  Ours said he was the 431 Beefeater in history, saying more people have been in space than have worn this uniform. 

Next up was the White Tower (though it appeared to me to be more of a beige tower?) which is the oldest part of the complex and was built by William the Conqueror around 1080.  It still “towers” over London and was meant to intimidate the conquered locals as well as any potential invaders coming up the Thames. 

This building, originally a palace for William, has also served as mint, armory, and famously a prison and torture site. It now houses a collection of armor and weapons (and a few items used for the removing of the heads of enemies and inconvenient royal wives).

Here is Rich posing with the metal suit of King Henry VIII who is apparently excited to wear his armor. 

We glimpsed some of the famous ravens who myth says keep the White Tower (and kingdom) from destruction.  Just to make sure, their wings are clipped.   Phew - Kingdom safe! 

Lunch was at our first pub of the trip - steak and ale pie for Rich and curry veg for me - along with my first cask ale. Cheers!

We’ve noticed that one way London is very different from NYC is that it’s the center of both finance AND government - and we see lots more (mostly) men in suits here than back home. Some can be glimpsed in the far background here. 

Next up we visited Westminster Abbey.  It too has had more than one life serving first as a palace and later as tithe center of religious life in England. (As well as the final resting place of kings and queens, Chaucer and Dickens, Isaac Newton and Charles Darwin and Stephen Hawking, among many others)

There are also many plaques commemorating other famous Brits from Jane Austen to Edward Shackleton. 

I also had to take a photo commemorating the librarian. And had to look up what muniments were just now! https://www.westminster-abbey.org/about-the-abbey/library-research/muniment-collection

It’s a beautiful building full of important (dead) people and site of  historic events like royal weddings, funerals and every single coronation. 

From the seats of old power and religious power we moved on to current power and dropped in to watch some live debates in Parliament. We got to visit the House of Commons ( and listen to impassioned debate about investigation into military interaction in Ireland during the troubles) and the posh House of Lords where they were debating how much landlords could charge pet owners). Quite a contrast.  We were unable to take phones or cameras into the visitors chambers (called the Stranger Gallery at the House of Lords) but it was a fascinating time, and free.  Highly recommend if you ever come to London. 

Then and interesting walk home with an audio guide.  Turns out we’ve been walking past 10 Downing Street, home of the Prime Minister, without realizing. It’s well guarded and we couldn’t really see it. But we have a picture of black door #12!

Another trip through Trafalgar and its might lions and then on to a fun dinner at a Peruvian restaurant in SoHo. Day 2 complete.