While everyone else headed off to the National Portrait Gallery I went by myself to the Tower of London. Negotiating my way through the tube system and then the crowds was a little bit of a thrill for me. Never would I have thought that I would explore London on my own. It was a weird “Holy cow I'm an adult now” moment. (Please don't make fun of me too much for this...remember I am only 19.)
Even the outside of the Tower is impressive. I had never before realized just how big the Tower of London was. It's name is misleading because it's not just a tower and not just a castle, but a whole little city within the bigger city of London. It looks absolutely impenetrable as well as inescapable. Apparently only a handful of prisoners have escaped from the tower in all of it's history – and usually they had inside help. I learned there that the tower last held prisoners in the mid-twentieth century including Rudolph Hess who, as many history buffs know, was a famous, powerful Nazi leader.
I wanted to go on a guided tour by a Beefeater but the crowd was too huge for my taste. So I wandered through the different buildings looking at artifacts that had belonged to kings and queens, words prisoners had carved into walls (like the name JANE, the nine day queen!), the lawn where Anne Boleyn was beheaded, and torture instruments that were used on prisoners such as Thomas More. There was so much to see! And the crowning jewel of the experience was...the crown jewels exhibit. They were absolutely fabulous, unbelievable beautiful, and extravagantly enormous.
Then to top off the day I did join up with a smaller Beefeater tour group. The Beefeaters are the guards of the Tower of London. They are all retired military men and the selection process to become a Beefeater is highly competitive. No one knows why they are called Beefeaters today...The best part of the tour was entering the small chapel that housed the remains of many famous historical figures including Anne Boleyn, Thomas More, the Dudleys, and countless others that have not been identified. You can't get into the chapel unless you go on a tour so if you ever make it to the Tower of London join a tour – they're free!
Another great site right next to the Tower of London is Tower Bridge. Apparently, this is not the London bridge we all sing about but it is the one we all imagine. The real London Bridge was bought by some Arizonian who moved it out there. I personally think that should have been illegal. You just can't take the London Bridge out of London! But Tower Bridge is very pretty and it was fun to see that famous icon in real life.
When I had finished with the castle I met back up with the group at the Tate Britain. The only things I cared about seeing there were works by John Williams Waterhouse and William Blake because these are two of my favorite artists. I loved the huge Waterhouse paintings! I think my favorite was The Lady of Shallot. He captures her despair and her courage, she is so full of life but so close to death. It's simply beautiful. Blake's works are very, very, very different than Waterhouse's but I like them just as much. I like how small his works are. They are very dark and imaginative. He used interesting lines and geometries that make his works complex, but simple. I liked when I could see a drawing or hand-colored etching and recognize which of his works he was illustrating. I might like his etchings and drawings better than his poetry.
Next we went to Abbey Road. Yes, THE Abbey Road, complete with Apple Recording Studio and all things Beatles. The whole wall outside of the studio is covered with messages and names of adoring fans, and now mine is there too. We walked across the road several times and I glowed with the euphoria just being there brings. I don't know how to express my feelings for the Beatles so I'll state it simply: I. Love. The. Beatles. And they love me too – I can tell every time I give them a listen.
Next up was Portabello Road. If you haven't seen Bedknobs and Broomsticks with the immortal Angela Lansbury then you probably don't know how terrific this street is. But it is. It's a huge outdoor market for antiques, clothing, books, knick-knacks, food, you name it. It's sure to be found on Portabello Road. Unfortunately, the huge weekend market wasn't out but there were still plenty of vendors to see and visit.
We tried to eat at an Indian restaurant that Susan loved but it didn't open until later so we grabbed some food at a Tesco and headed to King's Cross station. Hannah and I needed to see Platform 9 ¾. Because of construction the platform got moved. I was a bit worried for wizards who needed to get to Hogwarts in September but then I realized magic is actually well, magic. I'm sure they've got it all figured out. We all tried to get through the barrier but I think it's time for me to acknowledge the truth. I didn't get a Hogwarts letter when I was eleven, I can not get through the barrier to Platform 9 ¾ – obviously the British Ministry of Magic is as retarded as the Muggle administration system. I've been skipped over by mistake!
From King's Cross we had to run to Soho because Tom had stood in line early that morning for us and scored us some cheap tickets to Les Miserables. We were standing in the back of the balcony but we could see the entire stage and hear everything and we only paid 10 pounds. The show was AMAZING. I couldn't believe the talent of the actors, especially Jean Val Jean. His voice was phenomenal. I cried so many times throughout the show -and it was all made better because I was seeing it in London. It was the perfect way to end the day.
So check marks I have put on my bucket list:
- Visit the Tower of London
- See an original Johns Williams Waterhouse painting
- See an original William Blake etching
- Walk across Abbey Road
- Buy something from Portabello Road
- Try to get into Platform 9 ¾
- See a broadway musical in London
Mission accomplished. Over and out.
Hooray Mariah! This sounds like so so so much fun! Reading your post this morning got me even more excited to head to Europe. Can't wait! I'm so glad you're having these fabulous adventures!
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