Day 11: Didn't get to explore the British Museum and Tate Modern as planned today. Went on the New Europe London Tour, which pretty much went to every place that I went to myself yesterday. But the cool stories at each spot definitely made the attractions more interesting. Did you know that Big Ben is actually the name of the bell inside the tower, and not the clock itself? And that it's actually sloping and they're doing restoration work on the building joined to it because it's tearing apart? The only new thing today was Buckingham Palace, where I happened to catch some of the changing of the guards ceremony. However, I only saw a bit since the tour had to move on, and my camera battery died so I couldn't get any cool photos. Besides, the massive crowds there meant I couldn't really see much anyway. Who knew that there were so many tourists in London on any given day? Apparently the Queen wasn't in today so the guards could play some more informal songs. They played the James Bond theme!! But when the Queen's there, they play the formal songs lol.
I also learnt today that Henry VIII had six wives. The rhyme goes "divorced, beheaded, died, divorced, beheaded, survived". Mighty interesting. Also learnt the story behind Guy Fawkes Day. He was a guy who planned to blow up the House of Parliament, hoping to wipe out the entire royal family, government and aristocracy. However, the secret was blown when he tried to warn his brother-in-law in a note, not realising that his brother-in-law couldn't read and had had his servant read the note out loud at a dinner party with a lot of parliamentarians. Guy Fawkes was arrested, along with his conspirators and all were hung, drawn and quartered. Hung so that they were deprived of oxygen but not enough to break their necks, thus prolonging their torture. Then their balls were chopped off. Then their intestines were pulled out of their bodies. Finally the heart was pulled out which was when they finally died. Then each limb was tied to a horse and the horses would rip the limbs off the body. Finally the head would be dipped in tar and then impaled on a stake and left on top of the London Tower to warn others against committing crimes against the state. Although Guy Fawkes was never subjected to any of the torture since he was smart and ran and jumped off the stage whilst the noose was around his neck thus breaking his neck and sparing him the pain of torture. The next guy tried to do the same but just broke his leg (he was subsequently dragged back up onto the stage by his broken leg and the torture resumed). Gruesome. Yet so interesting.
The tour guide today was OK. Wasn't as good as the one in Madrid. And the way he acted at the end didn't really make me like him. He seemed disappointed/bitter at the end after he had received all his tips. I guess it's understandable but you should really be professional about it. He even made the comment to one of the tour members that what he got today wouldn't be enough to pay rent. I gave him £5 which I thought was reasonable. Planning on doing the Grim Reaper tour which goes around London Tower and all places that Jack the Ripper went. Hoping I get a different guide. I don't think I can see this guy in the same light again. Not professional at all.
It was raining today so I got to see London the way it usually is. Wet. Got soaked during my tour. I don't think the fireworks were very big tonight since it's still raining. So much for heading out to watch the fireworks and the bonfire. Spent the night at home catching up on Glee and Survivor. Night well spent indeed.
Catching a bus to Edinburgh tomorrow at 11:30pm. Yes. PM. So I'll have a whole day in London to explore so I plan to finally check out the British Museum and the Tate Modern, plus I'll have a whole day in Edinburgh to explore as well. At the moment, I've booked three nights at Castle Rock Hostel which is apparently really good according to Dan and Cathy, and according to Hostelbookers.com as well. Should be awesome.
HBL signing out from London, UK. Happy Guy Fawkes Day!!
Henry VIII was a pimp.
ReplyDeleteYou didn't know about Henry VIII!? Did you listen in history at school? =P
ReplyDeleteLOL we never had any history lessons about other countries. It was all Australia for us lol. And Ruchi, yes, pimp indeed (although he was fat, ugly and had rotting open wounds in his later years).
ReplyDeleteSeriously?? You know the Anglican Church was formed as a breakaway from the Catholic Church coz' he wanted to divorce his wife? True story. Christians are ashamed.
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