So the day was finally here. Sightseeing! We started off at our lovely Baker Street tube station (where Sherlock Holmes is from) and got off at Westminster. What was right above us? Why, Big Ben and Parliament! So we ran across the road and got the ultimate London tourist picture. The phone booth with Big Ben. I took one with 3 different poses lol
Then of course posing in front of it with the London eyesore was necessary.
Of course I'm not going to let you get away without a little history so here you go! England currently operates under the Constitutional Monarchy meaning the monarchy still exists, but power is mostly in the hands of the Prime Minister and Parliament. Big Ben is the clock tower connected to the Parliament building. The monarch used to be the supreme head in charge of everything until 1688 when the Glorious Revolution put William and Mary jointly on the throne, but established the constitutional monarchy and the English Bill of Rights. However, this is not the first act trying to limit the powers of the monarchy. Way back in 1215, King John was forced to sign the Magna Carta limiting his power, but it really did not do much and kings ignored it. Obviously, since we all know about Henry VIII's accomplishments. Since 1688, the power gradually shifted to the ministers and now the monarchy really only exists for ceremonial purposes. The Queen has veto power, but no monarch has vetoed something since Queen Anne in 1705. So there's your little history lesson!
Next on to Westminster Abbey and guess what? MORE HISTORY!
Westminster Abbey was built in 1065 by Edward the Confessor. It been added on since then many times and was used as a home to an order of Benedictine monks and place of worship, once Catholic, now Anglican. William the Conqueror was the first monarch to be crowned here, and since then, all monarchs of England have been crowned here. Many of these same monarchs are buried here a long with other influential Englishmen like William Shakespeare, Charles Darwin, Charles Dickens, Isaac Newton, and Geoffrey Chaucer. On a happier note, 16 royal weddings happened here like what we just witnessed with William and Kate! A lot of history here and I will definitely go inside next time. Just a bit expensive for one short on pounds.
Next stop was Buckingham Palace! And the flag was raised, meaning the Queen was inside!!
Just when you thought you were done with history, there's more! Buckingham Palace was built as a state house in 1705 for a duke, but was enlarged and converted into the official residence of the Monarch of the United Kingdom. Queen Victoria was the first to reside in the palace making it the official royal palace of the British monarch. It is located at the end of St. James' Park and you can see the changing of the guard everyday. Yes the guards wearing red and the black furry hats that won't laugh. See that wasn't so painful, was it?
Next we found a little pub and had fish and chips! When we left it was night already! It gets dark very early. Here is a gorgeous shot of Big Ben at night.
DAY 2
Next it was time for the Tower and Tower Bridge!
The Tower definitely had me freaking out and we didn't even go inside yet! Just when you thought you were done, more history! The Tower was built by William the Conqueror in 1078 as a castle for the king to defend if necessary and keep an eye out on the river. The Tower has been used as an armoury, treasury, menagerie, home of the Royal Mint, public records office, prison, royal residence, execution site, and home of the Crown Jewels. It was a royal residence of the monarch and expanded during the 1200s. Famous prisoners were held here including Henry VI, Elizabeth I, Jane Grey, Guy Fawkes, the missing two princes, Thomas More, Thomas Cromwell, and Sir Walter Raleigh. It is tradition that each monarch about to be crowned spend the night in the tower and process to Westminster Abbey to be crowned the following day. Not too many people were actually executed here though. The 2nd of 5th wives of Henry VIII in addition to 2 monarchs, Jane Grey and Charles I. The Tower was reserved for very important people to lose their heads. Most executions happened on Tower Hill. Basically, a TON of history is here, and when I go inside I will probably get emotional.
This is the Tower Bridge, not the London Bridge, and is directly adjacent to the Tower. Very pretty!
After that, we walked around the "seedy" area of London, had a cup of tea and hopped back on the Circle Line of the tube and went home! Sightseeing was great, I just love London! Tonight we went on a cruise on the Thames River which was very cool to see everything lit up at night. My pictures did not turn out very well though. After we went to eat Indian food, which I did not enjoy very much. So until next time!
Cheers!
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