Back into the Swing of Things

London is a city where you have to hit the ground running- which is one of the things I love most about this place!

We hadn't been back in Battersea long before we found ourselves getting ready to head out for Rachael's Bon Voyage celebrations. We didn't have to venture far- just down to Sugar Cane, via the Slug- to the Junction. Thankfully, by the time we made it to the Peacock, it was line up for Dallas chicken or bust. We turned down an offer to Acton, and wisely returned to Cabul Road.

The following day, I slept late before getting myself together enough to head over to Camden. My hope had been to find Caitlin down by the Lock somewhere. I had planned to meet her and Anna in Camden around 4pm and attend the Fact Magazine party at the Lock Tavern, but her phone had died the previous day, and I had no way of contacting her. Still, I took my chances, and went and sat down by the Lock, and waited... Fortunately, it all came together, and I sat and waited in the English sunshine til I spotted the girls walking along the bank not long after. The Fact party was fab- great DJ's, Al fresco rooftop set-up, and a fine summer evening. We crashed in Kentish Town for the evening, and it was a tough job getting back South the following day.

Whilst all this had been happening for me, Hayley had done a walking tour 'round the London traps, and wanted to return to The Tower of London, and St. Paul's Cathedral, which I was all for- I'd not been to The Tower yet, however I'd been to St. Paul's, but it was on a Sunday, and given the galleries are closed on Sundays, I was keen to get back and check it out.

We were fortunate to have such a beautiful day to make our way around the Tower of London, and an outstanding Beef Eater tour guide to tell us all about the history and going-ons there over hundreds of years. The brutality that had taken place there, and up at Tower Hill, is quite shocking- lots of "Off with their heads, your majesty!" I particularly enjoyed the Medieval Palace, and peering out the same windows that Kings and Queens did a thousand years ago. I also loved visiting the rooms where the Crown Jewels are kept, and watching the video footage of Queen Elizabeth II's coronation; June 2nd, 1953.

I was also quite moved when visiting the Chapel of St. Peter ad Vincula (St.Peter in Chains- see picture above), which adjoins the Tower Green. What a wonderfully gruesome history this place has (especially for a place of worship). The Chapel was the site of the “private executions” of the British royal family, and was restored under the reign of Queen Victoria. During the restoration, the stone flooring had to be taken up and the bodies of hundreds of people (as many as 1500) were discovered. The Chapel is the sight of Anne Boleyn's final resting place- her body was one that was identified in renovations of the chapel in 1876, and is now marked in the marble floor. The other five who were beheaded upon the Tower Green, and are laid to rest beside Anne include; Catherine Howard, and Lady Jane Grey (the so-called nine-days’ queen) as well as Lady Jane’s husband Thomas Dudley, Jane, Viscountess of Rochford who was Catherine Howard’s lady in waiting, and Queen Elizabeth I’s pet Robert Devereux, the Earl of Essex.

After visiting the Chapel, we visited some of the dungeons and rooms where 'high class' prisoners were kept- and there you can find ancient 'graffiti' (done between the 1530s and 1670s)- markings carved into the stone- which I thought were really cool- click on the link for much better snaps than I could've possibly taken!

We stopped for scones and jam (of course!) mid afternoon, before checking out the current exhibition, Dressed to Kill which focuses on the life, pursuits and hobby's of King Henry VIII. There were plenty of impressive coats of armour, belonging to Henry, as well as all the kings horses and all the kings men, weaponry (jousting sticks!), sports equipment, paintings of Henry and interactive, multi-media displays.

We concluded the activities of the day rather royally, with a light snooze and a chuckle with a man wielding a metal detector in Green Park.

The following day, we made our way back into the city- this time to St. Paul's Cathedral. We started by checking out the ground floor, which was amazing, and I managed to spot the John Donne memorial, which I was excitied about! Then we headed up into the Whispering Gallery, which was cool (picture above), but made me feel a little bit uneasy, and so I sat, glued to the edge of the wall; I didn't try out the whispering wall trick- there were too many people trying to do the same thing. From the Whispering Gallery, I managed to make it up one more level to the Stone Gallery (a further 119 stairs up) which from outside, presented fantastic views over the city of London. However, this was as far as I was prepared to go. For some reason, I was more at ease there than in the Whispering Gallery...wonders will never cease.

After we finished up at St. Paul's, we decided to head over to The Tate Modern to see what was happening over there. Hayley thought she wanted to check out a Futurism exhibit, but changed her mind upon reading the exhibition's synopsis, no matter- we checked out the rest of the gallery. Since last I was at the gallery, a new installation has appeared, entitled No Ghost Just a Shell, featuring a gorgeous manga character 'Annlee'.

You can't help but fall in ♥ with Annlee...her sad little eyes and face. But she has a voice, a life, a dance routine, and stories to tell. The Tate comes through with the goods, yet again. Check her out!