Tower of London

Where to begin? I have to say the Tower of London was one of the most unique places I have ever been to. William the Conqueror first built the White Tower over Roman ruins in 1078.
Amazing as it is, death seems to be a recurring theme on my trip. As peaceful as Pere Lachaise was, the Tower was its opposite; haunting and disturbing. Not to say I didn't enjoy it. I did, immensely! But it shocks me at the sheer "matter of fact" the British are about the horrors committed by those whom they hold so dear. In the Tower, tales of murder and torture and dismemberment are not one hundred yards away from the Crown Jewels. Yes, the actual Crown Jewels! Queen Ann Boleyn was murdered here by King Henry VIII. Not for any real reason other than he grew tired of her. He had one of his best friends and closest advisers, Thomas More, murdered here as well. They both entered the Tower through the arch shown in the bottom left corner of the picture. Children where murdered here, clergy, poets, all in the name of power. Most people held as prisoners at the Tower where actually murdered just down the street. The Guy Fawkes was tortured here and the more I learn about Guy, the more I wished his plan would have worked. I saw Walter Raleigh's room (um, prison cell) too. Sir walt holds the distinction of being held here on three separate occasions. As grotesque as the stories of intrigue are, the opulence of the royals here is equally unnerving. Some of the biggest jewels on the face of the Earth, stolen from all corners of the world to give to certain people just because they were born. And because they were born they could discretely murder or imprison anyone they saw fit.
The Beef-Eaters were a friendly bunch. And there where several costumed actors interacting with the crowds. But by the end of my tour here, I felt as though my feet had been tortured. Looking down at my iPhone I noticed that I had been at the Tower for 7 hours. Time flies by when you're having fun . . . or a last meal.