17.07.2007

Today we went to the Tower of London. We had previously only seen the tower from the outside but this time we were keen to go on the tour. We joined the throng of people following a tour guide through the tower grounds. We saw the Bloody Tower and the prison building in which the ‘private’ executions were held. We would have more facts to share but we had a hard time hearing, let alone understanding the Yeoman (otherwise known as a ‘Beefeater’) who was conducting the tour. We did get to hear the response to the question as to why they are called Beefeaters; No-one knows. It started about 500 years ago where the earliest references were made but no reason is recorded as to why. We also went through the building where the Crown Jewels are kept. How much money did these people have?! Every item in the collection is literally covered in diamonds, rubies, emeralds and sapphires etc. The world’s biggest diamond is housed at the head of one of the scepters. I am sure a lot of you would have already known this, but we asked one of the guards what the fur was at the bottom of the crown, white fur with little black dots. It is ermine, a small white stoat which has a black dot at the end of its tail. So whenever you see a royal wearing a cloak made of white fur with little black dots, the number of dots is at least the number of skins used (not counting the off cuts).

We then finished up with a look through the torture dungeon where examples of such devices as the beggars daughter, the rack and the manacles. Nasty. The readings here say that although the tower holds a reputation for torture, apparently it was not often used and only on few of the prisoners.

After looking around town again we met up with Tal and Elisa and another friend from Adelaide, Grant and his new girlfriend Christine at the Angel Bar in Soho for a few pints before Christine had to depart for band practice and the rest of us went for Indian nearby. We had a good meal and it was great to catch up with Grant, and to spend some time with Tal and Elise before we left for Paris the next day. From talking to Grant, we also learned that one of our favourite bands …And you will know us by the trail of dead are playing in London in a few weeks. Once we got back to the house, found that they were playing in Prague the night before we are scheduled to arrive there. Hmmm. (we have now changed our plans and will leave Vienna early to make the show, we’ve got tickets)