Tower of London & British Museum

Hello, everyone!

Happy merry Monday, from London!

Today's rain did not prevent us from having a thoroughly enjoyable day; a double-header, visiting both the Tower of London and the British Museum!

Mighty Muscles!  Just... keep... holding... awkward glass building... up!

Emily, Cristina, Casey, Heidi, Emily, September, Karolina

Taking the Tube & being patient with Karen taking "just one more picture!" :)

Ron, Yuri, Josh R, Maria, Juliet, Casey, Cristina, September, Heidi, Karolina

"Are we there yet?" was not uttered once during our 25 minute Tube ride, with transfer :)

Emily, Paulette, Bianca, April (with a rude yellow pole in the way), Pat, Craig, Sam

Waiting to enter the Tower!

Emily, September, Cristina, Emily, Ashley

Seriously?!  Another group photo?! :)

They're so kind and accommodating to pose for so many photos.

Our blog cover for today?  It started like this.  Karen noticed the awkward egg-shaped glass building in the background and the wheels went turning.  Our models did a most fantastic job!

Anchored in place; we call it a "can't-a-pult". (That was for you, Karolina! :) )

Outside the Tower complex.  See the green grass?  That used to be a moat!

Dr. Sally Dixon-Smith, Historical Curator at the Tower, provided a phenomenal tour for us.

The White Tower; home of numerous exhibits, including...

...the Chapel of St. John... and...

... THE CROWN JEWELS!!!!!!

Okay, so they were a bit fancier than this.  Photography wasn't allowed in that area, unfortunately.  Just pretend the picture above in individual glass cases (1 per crown), and you can only view them via a moving sidewalk, and they are sized for adults. :)

The Tower is a very impressive, and expansive, complex.

Our mascot has had a couple of face-lifts over the past decade.  When it's time to freshen the new mascot, I'll keep this one for the suggestion box :)

After touring the Tower for a few hours and enjoying lunch, everyone headed over to the British Museum, where we split up and viewed numerous exhibits, including...

The British Museum

The Rosetta Stone... trying to come up with a joke relating to the software program.  

Alas, I should just leave the puns to Karolina & Co. :)

Amazing Assyrian murals.  The details in person are truly incredible.

Big Gulp version of Viking Drinking Horns.

When everyone had completed viewing what they desired to see, they set out to do a bit of sight seeing:

At Buckingham Palace!

Back: Pat, Craig, Josh T, Jay, Josh R.

Front: Maria, Kylie, Sam, Bianca

Tomorrow, we'll visit Westminster Abbey in the morning.  Everyone will break off into groups and visit at least one other cathedral in the area.  With our train passes, some are planning on trekking to Eli or Lincoln, while others will visit smaller, yet closer, cathedrals in London.

Until tomorrow :)


PS: Karen met with 2 amazing Oneonta alumni today!  On her walk to meet the group at the British Museum, she passed Buckingham Palace and was literally thisclose to seeing the Queen!  (back seat, far side.).