In the Tower.... photo heavy!!

Once inside we decided to follow the crowd down towards the Medieval Castle, climbing stairs to enter.

This was the way to go but first we would stay at the top of the stairs and take in the view......

The Bloody Tower

The view opposite was the infamous Bloody Tower - will have to come back another day and see inside.

Traitors Gate - inside the Tower 

I have never seen this side of the Traitors Gate, only the view when travelling along the river.

King Edward I's bedchamber

Inside the Medieval Castle, the other side of the windows above Traitors Gate, the rooms were furnished but we only visited this one.  

The private Chapel was behind this door, such a beautiful archway - all the walls were decorated like this.

! ! ! ! !

Once outside I spotted this ........


.......when I pointed it out to PJ, he felt honour bound to join the queue!!!!

The White Tower - with queue

We wandered along and round to the large square where the pride of place was the White Tower.  

Monkeys on the wall

As we walked around to the back, following the queue to view the Crown Jewels, these monkeys made us laugh!  There were several animals about the place, constructed of chicken wire yet most lifelike.

Very Wet!!!

The rain was still pouring down, the queues were very long.

PJ reckoned this one to view the Crown Jewels was about an hour and a half long!!

Queen's House

In the rain!!

This view was a most unexpected surprise!!!   

It is Tower Green itself with the Queen's house in the centre.

It felt like being in the grounds of a stately home, not the middle of London and so close to Tower Bridge!

Beefeater and PJ

I took lots of photographs, PJ just got wetter .... but we found a Beefeater in his winter uniform with a l a r g e  umbrella.
PJ asked him a few questions and I asked permission to post his photo on this Blog!
What a gent!
So friendly and informative.

Poppies from the outside

As we were both so wet we decided to make our way back to the Tube, leaving by the side exit and walking along the river bank.

We came back alongside the drawbridge and spotted the poppies again.

...... meanwhile back at home ....


.......there is a discussion raging about whether the display should stay for longer  .....

...... those poppies represent soldiers who could not stay for longer .......