The Tower of London
The view from Tower Hill (just outside Tower Hill underground station). Click here for more about the Tower History, Events Tours and Admission and here for the White Tower Interiors (Armour and Weapons) and here for nearby All Hallows Church (the oldest in London). Visitors can photograph most places except for the Jewel House (home of the famous Crown Jewels). There will be queues for exhibits such as the Jewel House and it is better to arrive early.
Tower Bridge and the Tower itself. The bridge was originally raised by steam powered hydraulic engines but in recent times by an electrically powered hydraulic system . Visit inside the bridge here ⇒.
There is always one of these standing guard.
The tower once had a menagerie.
Those accused of treason would be transported to the tower by river and entered via traitors gate and might then go to the Bloody Tower. Below the tower is the remnants of a torture chamber. Visitors were queuing up.
There are a number of tour guides, all happy to be photographed.
The cage holds some of the tower’s ravens. They are not all let free at the same time. The legend is that England will fall if the ravens ever left the tower. They are very well cared for and locked up at night. They also think they own the place.
The guards are not allowed to interact with anybody but you can stand beside one and have your photograph taken. Should anybody get too familiar, or just because the guard feels like it, he will let out a blood curdling scream and present the pointy end of his rifle. Then there is vigorous marching up and down. It has the desired effect.
The Tower is amazing gave me almost a epiphany experience~
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March 1, 2015 at 23:25
I hope it didn’t hurt. Thanks for stopping by. 🙂
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March 2, 2015 at 14:45
I would poop my drawers if a soldier let out a blood curdling scream near me!
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March 2, 2015 at 01:55
Haha! Me too!
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March 2, 2015 at 04:34
I think it has the same effect on the soldier 😀
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March 2, 2015 at 14:46
I was all set thinking how lovely the architecture is, and then I came across the Traitors Gate and Bloody Tower. Humans are capable of such greatness and such brutality.
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March 2, 2015 at 04:35
Yes, we are the rough and the smooth. I think the smooth is winning gradually. A fellowship, which is why it is winning. Thanks for stopping by. 🙂
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March 2, 2015 at 14:48
I am positive smooth is slowly winning. In fact, I recently read an interesting piece on higher IQs over time, even controlling for things that would influence the outcome. They (whoever “they” are) are theorizing that our world requires more cerebral thought now, and less brawn. Interestingly, the same article discussed that those who read fiction are better at empathizing with others. There’s hope yet 🙂
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March 2, 2015 at 15:47
Yes. Certainly fiction does expand ones horizons and capacity to understand outside of our own experience. Have a nice day wherever you are. 🙂
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March 2, 2015 at 18:28
Splendid photos, Graham. I love the monkeys. They’re absolutely terrific.
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March 2, 2015 at 15:06
If they were roaming around free at the time, it would be no place for the incautious pedestrian. 🙂
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March 3, 2015 at 12:23