Deadly Towers and Sensory Bliss

Deadly Tower: The Tower of London

Tower of London

 The Tower of London if a place full of history.  It was built as part of the Norman Conquest (1066) and since then has become synonymous with death, murder, and torture.  It's hard to say which death would be most familiar to readers.  Perhaps the beheading of Anne Boleyn?  Perhaps the still unsolved murders of the child princes (Edward V and Richard of Shrewsbury)?  Perhaps Lady Jane Grey?

Anne Boleyn's name on the memorial to those killed at the site

The Tower's history isn't all gruesome though.  It is also home to the crown jewels.  Unfortunately, you can't take pictures inside but the crowns, sceptres, and ceremonial swords were astonishing.  The jewels in each piece alone were huge!  I don't think I've ever seen anything shine so bright.

Reenacters are situated throughout the Tower (which is more a fortress with several towers) and will start reenacting things that would occur in daily life there.  My timing was never quite right to catch a full scene (which would last a few minutes) but I did catch part of a duel.

It's hard to pick the best thing I saw at the tower today.  It was awesome seeing the armor of Henry VIII and William the Conqueror and I loved walking around the Tower, especially exploring the White Tower (though coming down the narrow, spiral stairs was a little disorienting).  I even enjoyed the military history building, particularly the part about the American Revolution and the different look at the historical events. 

As much as I enjoyed the Tower though I have to admit that there was a definite eery feeling for me, perhaps because of my history background.  This was a place of great sorrow for so many.  Even Sir Walter Raleigh and Elizabeth I were imprisoned here for a time.  They say the ghosts of some of those who were killed here still remain.  I don't know about that but I do feel for those who suffered here whether to the point of death or to the point of torture.  It really sat in the air for me today.

But now for something completely different...

Towers of Food 

After the Tower, we explored the Borough Market, which is a giant farmer's market.  It was sensory bliss.  Wonderful smells, tasty samples, and bright colors filled the market.  I wish we had visited it sooner.  I had to hold back because we're leaving for the weekend and most of the food I would have bought would have spoiled.  I did get a treat for my family though and I'm looking forward to sharing it with them (contrary to the picture below, it's not cheese).

Some of the goodies there included:

• Artisan Cheese
• Artisan Bread
• Turkish cusine
• Bakery desserts
• Eggs
• Butcher shops
• Olives

I finally found a place that sold iced tea too so I got a glass.  Sri Lankan Earl Grey tea with fresh mint and lemon.  While the tea was sweet, it wasn't overwhelmingly so.

This weekend we're Paris bound and I won't have my computer.  I will have some new posts for you beginning Monday though.  Until then...