The tour started in the City of London, at the site of the Blackfriar Church. I don't have any pictures (it's just a courtyard now anyways), so this first picture is the Thames from the north side, just before we crossed under it into Southwark. Look close to find the London Eye!
Ah, it was so satisfying to finally get a picture of the Globe. I won't have any pictures of the interior until next time, but for now just appreciate it for its round glory. Of course, this isn't where the original Globe stood...
This is where the original Globe stood, and we know this since they preserved the ferryman's seat from the original theatre. This is the seat the ferryman who got everyone across the Thames for the performance would use. It now sits on the side of a Starbucks. About twenty feet from another Starbucks. During the tour, I was thinking that people 1000 years from now will not understand archaelogical records when they find two Starbucks that close. They'll think we all had very short-term memories. Or maybe they'll read this blog, and discover that one lone, brave voice saw the strangeness of it.
This is the door into remains of the old Rose Theatre, a competitor of the Globe that had to shut down for that very reason. Christopher Marlowe's plays were often performed here. We couldn't go inside; you need very special permission.
Here is where the Globe would have stood. The sign on the ground says "The Globe," sorry I couldn't get the shine out of it. I don't know how to, and I probably needed extra equipment.
Fun fact: this is the pub overlooking the Thames that they say Samuel Pepys sat in and watched the Great Fire of London. Whether or not he gave patronage to the prostites afterward is anyone's guess.
And this is a recreation of the ship (The Gilded Lady, I think) that Drake sailed in...around the world, I think. I'm sorry I'm so unclear, the group didn't stop here and I had to take a picture instead of read the sign.
Okay, here's where it gets serious. By viewing these pictures you are violating a thousand ancient Biblical laws. This is Southwark Cathedral, where Shakespeare is buried, and I found out after only two pictures that you need a permit to take pictures. Some guy in a funny outfit told me so; I think he may have been a monk. So these pictures are precious and should not be squandered.
I'm just warning you, this may be the like the end of Raiders of the Lost Ark. If you see these glorious works of God (without a permit), your face may melt off.
This is where we all had lunch, and where I finally had good fish and chips. The pub has been there since the 15th century, so I guess they had time to figure out how to do it right.
This is Watergate, or the Traitor's Gate, from the outside. I think I included this in my ferry pictures as well. Traitors were brought in through this gate and then beheaded. At high tide, the gate may have beheaded some of the taller prisoners itself.
They had two helmets the guards would have worn displayed inside the Salt Tower (I checked, no Pepper Tower). It was smart of them to chain the helmets to the table, because if they didn't I would have stolen both in a hearbeat. No question.
The Jewel Tower. It holds the Crown Jewels. I saw them, and they remained unchanged from the last time I saw them. Question: why is there a coronation spoon? Is there a coronation soup bowl? A coronation napkin? Some coronation crackers? A coronation mint? Okay, I'm done.
Okay, that's the Tower of London. At the point we had finished, we were exhausted, since we had been going since 9 and walking lots. However, before we left and went back I bought some presents for some little cousins o'mine. They will receive them soon!
Parliament tomorrow. Must rest. Night all.
I am catching up on all your posts - we have been very busy. Great pictures, I'm really glad I gave you that camera. Henry VIII's codpiece is the best part of the Tower of London. Someone thought a bit highly of himself.
ReplyDeleteThat codpiece was ridiculous. I bet it worked in battle, thoug; if I saw it, I wouldn't be able to fight for laughing.
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