Day 2 (May 2nd, 2001)
I wake up around 6am. Lingered on bed for another hour before I go to the hostel's lounge for breakfast. Juice, buns and some jams. Today I want to be a normal tourist and go to places where every tourist would go in London. I leave hostel around 8am and take central line subway to my first stop: St. Paul's Cathedral.
The cathedral is old looking, kind of have that wet dark look on its walls. I pay 4pounds admission and step into the cathedral. Here I stand in the central corridor near the entrance, and what appears in front of me is absolutely magnificent. The walls along the corridor are adorned with figures and carvings. Carved columns line the corridor and painted ceilings rise above the floor. I am not much of an artist but I can feel the dedication put forth by the masons, workers, and artists in the construction of this Cathedral. The abbey of the Cathedral buries many great admirals and royalties. One of them is Horatio Nelson, an admiral of the British Navy, who my teacher told me my first name is from. :) There are busts and figures all over the place that make up the pieces of the British history. A definite place for a visitor to go.
The next stop is London Tower. I thought it would be a simple tower, but in fact it is more like a fort. The admission is a hefty 8.50 pounds...yikes...but I have to go since I am here now. I joined one of the many free walking tours and hear the guide tell the stories of the tower: of deceptions, of struggles for power, of the prisoners of the tower and of knights' glories. There are plaques at each interesting spots that tells the story that makes this spot interesting. There is also the jewel room, where the crown jewel are kept. Wonderful stones, big and crafty made. There is the armory housing real plate armors and an assortment of weapons (some of them show traces of use, like dents and scratches, hope I am right to assume they were actually used by knights). There is also the torture room, with displays of various torture methods, short of actual re-enactment :). The tour is very informative. A warning to all who visit the tower: watch your step and your head. Some places have really low ceiling and narrow and steep stairs. Extra care for elderly who visit the place. Next stop: parliament building.
Parliament building is famous for its clock tower: the Big Ben. There is a story on how that name came about, but I don't remember it now. The place is not open to the public so I just took a few pictures and walk across the street to the Westminster Abbey. Another magnificent building, more so than St. Paul's Cathedral. I guess it is because the Abbey is the final resting place of all the kings and member of the royal families. Beautiful marble carvings, mantles, painted ceilings and windows. It's a place wonderful to look at. At the center of the Abbey is a group of chairs and benches. There I met a keeper of the Abbey, who told me on these chairs sits royal families and political figures during ceremonies. The benches are for choir. He points out to me where the prime minister sits, and the chairs of some dukes I never heard of. He also told me that a high priest in Britain makes about 55,000 British pounds a week!! That's about 111,000 canadian dollar per week!! What the heck a priest would spend that much money on?? New robes everyday or rave party every night? Unbelievable. Stayed there a bit, took some nice pictures and than I leave for Buckingham palace.
It is a long walk. Think it is more than half an hour. I didn't see the change of guards, and the Palace is not open to the public at this time of the year. So I just took photos and then walk to Trafalgar Square. What luck, the square is under some sort of construction. The statue of admiral Nelson is off access. Too bad, can't get a picture with Nelson :). The Square is infested with pigeons. Bird droppings everywhere and you have to look up to avoid bombs. There is the natural gallery (free admission). It is close to the evening, and I took the subway back to the hostel. After dinner I went to a cyber cafe right around the corner to send emails. Rest my feet and body for tomorrow's tour of Bath.
¡@