"I asked dad if I could buy something in the shop and he just gave me the admission ticket as a souvenier."
- A young teenage boy overheard at the Tower of London.
- A young teenage boy overheard at the Tower of London.
As I've mentioned previously, a little while after I moved to England I started writing a list of quirky dreams and many of them have come true during my time here (e.g. enjoy a proper afternoon tea, see a panda bear, walk on the cobb at Lyme Regis, toss a coin in Trevi Fountain). I update my list whenever a new dream comes to mind, but there are only a few items remaining. One of the items is "See the crown jewels at the Tower of London". I've been trying to figure out if there is anything affordable I want to see during my last few days in England and I decided this is one final dream that can come true so I better make it happen.
Platform 3 of 6.Waiting for my train to London at the Basingstoke train station.
Anyone who has gone on the Tube in London understands the phrase, "Mind the Gap". This warning is painted on the edge of every platform in every station and is announced over speakers on the trains, sometimes the message varies, but the idea is always the same.
"Please mind the gap between the train and the platform edge."
I was shocked by how well this turned out! I wanted to capture the blur of the train passing the sign on the platform and I thought it would be good to have the red of the doors in the shot. The train was moving so quickly that I just pushed the button and hoped for the best. My jaw dropped when I looked at the display screen on my camera and saw the doors so perfectly aligned above the text. People seem to look at my photos and think they're all planned, but many are simply brilliant accidents.
"Way out" = "Exit"These signs make me feel like I'm leaving a bomb shelter. Considering that the Tube stations were used as shelters during the blitz on London during World War II, it's not a big stretch.
The well-known bulls-eye design works for many different signs.
Even the graffiti is written with an accent!
It doesn't take long to figure out that this instruction is important on the Tube escalators. If you stop on the left you'll get glares and nasty comments from impatient commuters.
I joined in a tour with a Yeomen Warden upon arrival at the Tower of London. He delivered plenty of clever banter and facts about the history of the fortress/jail/palace.
A seven hundred year old spiked gate, one of two original gates in the fortress.
I took in a special exhibit of the armour of Henry VIII, including armour used by horses. It's the first time in five hundred years that his entire collection has been exhibited in one place.
A map of the Tower of London fortress to give perspective.
The Traitor's Gate where prisoners were brought in by boat from the Thames. Queen Anne Boleyn, Sir Thomas More, and Queen Catherine Howard are among those brought through this gate. The arch is a medieval feat of engineering - there is no keystone, just overlapping bricks.
A tiny room in a tower.
Part of a sculpture on the top of an outer wall.
The queue to see the jewels is quite long but the line winds back and forth through several different rooms with huge screens displaying video clips of the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II and close-ups various crowns, rings, and sceptres with photos or paintings of them in use. As I watched the clips, I was surprised to find my eyes welling with tears and a lump forming in my throat. I tried to figure out why I was responding so emotionally and I think it was a combination of a few factors, but mostly just being in complete awe of the wealth and freedom we enjoy. Video clips with thousands of people cheering wildly for their new queen. The grandeur of robes trimmed in fur and crowns laden with jewels. The hundreds of years of rule represented by the jewels I was viewing. Our history is rich and we are unbelievably blessed to be free to pursue dreams and walk down any path we choose.
Visitors walk through a set of massive vault doors to view the jewels, but the odd thing is, I don't remember going through a second set of doors when leaving the display. Moving walkways pass by either side of the glass cases to ensure people keep moving.
I saw the second largest diamond in the world, the First Star of Africa (530.2 carats [106.0 g]). It was created from the largest rough-cut diamond ever found. The diamond is used in the Sceptre with the Cross.
Another crown is displayed in the area, although it's not officially part of the crown jewels. It is the Imperial Crown of India, created for King George V in 1911 to wear on a visit to India. The crown is stored in a glass case set apart from the other jewels so visitors can just stop and stare at it up close as long as they want. The sparkling jewels are quite overwhelming - it's difficult to really grasp how many jewels there are and how much they must be worth!
As a friend reminded me before I went to the Tower of London, all the jewels in the world can't compare to the splendours of heaven!
My Canadian friend, Marijka, is returning home soon and it worked out perfectly for us to meet for supper. She had tickets to see Mama Mia at a theatre about a ten minute walk from the theatre where I was attending a show. It was so great to see her one last time before we both return to Canada. She arrived in England a few weeks before me and worked full-time as a teacher in London; we've both seen God working in our lives and had amazing adventures in Europe. It was an unexpected blessing to be able to share this time with her and be able to stay connected with someone from back home.
Marijka and me on Shaftesbury Avenue in front of Queen's Theatre.Before I met Marijka for supper I decided to try to get tickets to a West End show (four West End shows in just over two months seems reasonable to me!). I considered a few options and decided on Hairspray because I wanted something lighthearted, energetic, and fun. I stopped by the Shaftesbury Theatre and picked up a seventh row ticket for £25 (regularly £64). The bright colours and big hair didn't disappoint!
Cast:
- Nigel Planer as Wilbur Turnblad (I was laughing out loud when he and "Edna" came out of character and started laughing during their big duet scene)
- Chloe Hart as Tracy Turnblad (I want to sing like her when I grow up!)
- Liam Tamne as Link Larkin
- Liz Robertson as Velma Von Tussle
- Zoe Rainey as Amber Von Tussle (looks just like Kirsten Dunst)
- Paul Manuel as Corny Collins
- Sandra Marvin as Motormouth Maybelle
- Adrian Hansel as Seaweed
- Catherine Greeney as Lou-Ann
As this was my last train trip between Basingstoke and London, I decided to recreate the image I shot on my first trip to London almost eleven months ago.
3 comments:
Those shoes have done some walking! They're cinched up a little tighter now, I think. :)
PS: I want to meet Emma.
Are the seats really that red? So bright! Is it cheerful, or gaudy, when actually travelling in the train?
Carol
They're really red - depends on your screen settings, but they're definitely a bright red. Not gaudy, just hide stains really well, keep you awake, and aren't too formal.
Post a Comment