This morning, we took the Tube to Sky Garden in the financial district. We had brunch at the Darwin Brasserie, surrounded by lush greenery and a breathtaking views of the London skyline. Despite the rain and overcast skies, from 36 stories up, we could see ships on the Thames and far beyond.
From there, we walked around Leadenhall Market a colorful galleria lined with lovely shops. I poked my head in Reiss and wound up buying some clothes. Then, a short walk to the Tower of London, the castle and fortress founded by William the Conqueror in 1066, on the banks of the Thames. That sentence alone blows my mind William the Conqueror. In 1066. Over the centuries, the Tower had two sets of walls, a moat stocked with fish, and even a village where the Yeomen lived—and still live today, including the Yeowomen! There was also a private collection of exotic animals, gifts for the man who apparently had everything. A bear swam in the Thames (tethered), while other animals were often not in their cages. I don’t want to imagine the gruesome accidents that may have occurred.
And the Crown Jewels. So many crowns Including my favorite, Queen Victoria’s, which was tiny compared with the others. Diamonds, precious stones, jewel-encrusted clothing—and the legendary Koh-i-Noor diamond. The sheer opulence was almost obscene. It was dazzling and overwhelming.
The Tower itself was an intense place, steeped in history—the good, the bad, and the very ugly. Prisoners, including Sir Thomas More, spent their final days in dark, cramped quarters. Some carved their last messages into the stone walls, leaving behind sad reminders of their lives.
For a long time, money was minted on the premises headed by… of all people…. Sir Isaac Newton, who knew? There is so much more to tell: there are resident ravens, rooms filled with armor & swords, tools & coins—both genuine and counterfeit— separate living quarters for the king & queen, and their fascinating biographies. Every room seemed to hold another discovery, another amazing detail, another piece of history. The list goes on and on. This place would require several visits to see everything it has to offer.
The one thing that lightened the mood was the Tower’s many Halloween displays and decorations, complete with live actors in frightening costumes who sprang to life just when we least expected them.
Boo!
9,930 steps