Who knew it was a world heritage site! The Tower of London was not only a royal palace but an infamous prison, a place of execution, beheading if you were lucky, from high treason. If you were a commoner, hanging was an hour of suffering by strangulation. You were considered lucky if a commoner pulled on your dangling legs to hasten death. The last public execution took place in 1780, collecting more viewers than the population in London. The flimsy wooden stands surrounding the square collapsed due to the weight of the crowds and killed six viewers. Anne Boleyn 2nd wife of King Henry Vlll beheaded for trumped up charges of adultry in 1536.
Once again, our tour guide from London Walks was an encyclopedia of British knowledge rambling off dates names and incidences seamlessly. After two hours he left us to explore on our own but picking the most crowded weekend of the year the cues were too long. Hence a visit to the Crown Jewels were aborted. Besides, my feet were already numb and I couldn’t wait in the cold so I abandoned the Tower of London.
The rest of the day was kind of a bust, everything was either booked or closed as I arrive late on a busy Sunday. So I walked and walked, admiring the unique architecture of London’s sky rises. Walked to Spitalfields market full of stores and pop ups. Then the underground to Soho, Chinatown, finally the West End. My plan is to purchase same day-tics where they release 20 seats in the front row, 1st come 1st serve for 20 euros: Girl from the North Country, music and lyrics by Bob Dylan and a recommended, sold out show Everybody’s talking about Jamie. Today I logged 8 miles. Tomorrow I move from my fleabag hotel to my London flat for the next eight days where I will be in luxury taking hot baths making my breakfast and sleeping in a queen-size bed with views!
Indulged in my first “walking tour” with 16 others from all over the world. Our guide was animated and informed. Neoclassical design, originally the collection from a physician of the royal family. A century later, it was open to the public. 3000 glass panel ceiling turn of the century, that connects the round reading room to the facade.
Our first room was devoted from cradle to grave, across the worlds culture, Day of the Dead etc.
The Easter Island stone figure is known as the stolen one from Easter island. Currently in negotiations between the Polynesian peoples and the Brits.
The key to the Egyptian hieroglyphs. The most important find in history of the Rosetta Stone, from Egypt. Discovered in the river Nile, 1799, in Rosetta. 3 different types of Egyptian carvings including hieroglyphics, demophic and Ancient Greek. Meaningful because the pharaoh translated the hieroglyphics- which opened up the translation of hieroglyphics. 176 BC
Largest collection of Egyptian mummies outside of Egypt. Also, the largest, heaviest bust of King Ramesses, smiling to reflect a benevolent leader.
Cubism, surrealism, contemporary, Impressionism, modern art all under one roof located next to the River Thames. When the Tate opened its doors, it was a small collection of British artworks. Today the Tate displays a national collection of British artwork from 1500 to the present day. 
Many well-known artists are represented: Picasso, George Braque, Miro, Modigliani, Diego Rivera, Paul Klee, Salvador Dali, Monet and an American favorite Jackson Pollock. 
Notable LA artist, Ruscha painted 26 gasoline stations, 34 empty parking lots (aerial), 9 pools all reflecting commentaries of American culture.
Another American artist, Jenny Holzer, 1950 originally posted across NYC, each essay has 100 words and 20 lines that reflect her title piece, “Inflammatory Comments” reflecting political and moral positions intended to instill a sense of urgency in the reader.
Lastly, Irving Penn provides photographs of rubbish in NYC, shows overlooked objects into intriguing works of art.
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