The Tower of London

The Tower of London is a structure of beauty, power, intrigue, and horror. It was built by King William I, better know as William the Conqueror, in the 1070’s after his coronation. He was nervous concerning possible rebellion and built the fortress as a protection and to prove his power. It took 20 years to build and has other structures of interest inside of it. The inner wall has 13 towers of protection while originally the outer wall was a moat filled by the Thames River. The moat was drained in 1843. I learned a lot here but mostly that the Tower of London is not a single building. Here is a picture of today’s map to give you an idea of it huge size.

The heart of this facility of course is the White Tower, Britain’s most famous castle.

Inside the castle is the unique Romanesque chapel, Chapel of St. Joh the Evangelist. The stairs were too much for me so my daughter took some pictures for me.

And of course the most intriguing part is, this is where the Crown Jewels are still kept. And no, we were no allowed to photograph them but I promise they were amazing.

Another interesting thing was the Royal Beast. For those who know what an animal lover I am, this was amazing, not because of the animals that are no longer there but the artists creations of these beast out of wire mesh. This evidently was the first zoo, ever, as animals from different parts of the world were given to the King as gifts from their country. Of course my favorite was the elephant – amazing life size artwork.

Other life size animals were bears, lions and an array for different monkeys.

There are still living creatures around the fortress and are well cared for…and they are noisy. Ravens. Plus they are all named.

There is a long standing legend that states that the Tower and the Kingdom will fall if the ravens were to leave. Now I am familiar with black crows and their size but these birds are huge.

Legends aside…the Yeoman Warders are the true protectors of this amazing place. They have been there since 1337. Today men and women are recruited for the Armed Forces taking on a royal oath of protection.

Another form of protection were massive cannons. This one in particular seem to have more bling that most cannon should.

Below are some of the more interesting building starting first with the main entrance.

Going through this beautiful facility, I was reminded how history can be beautiful, powerful and insanely cruel. I am reminded of how if we could all learn to be honest, kind, and caring for one another to one another, what a difference it may make in the whole world.

Amazing Adventure

Our trip to England, Scotland and Ireland was unbelievable. I have shared with you a portion of day 2 of London and those are only 1/4 of the site we saw…on day 2. For the entire trip I took over 600 photos and trying to get those organized is a challenge.

So lets jump to day 3 as it was a little less busy because we went on a tour out of town to Oxford, Stonehenge and Windsor Castle. We were not originally scheduled for Oxford but their were issues at Rosslyn Chapel and Oxford was put in its place.

There really isn’t much to say about Stonehenge other that …WOW. We have all seen pictures of it, know of its mysteries and curiosities but to stand next to those massive structures, unbelievable.

And to prove we were actually there…in the rain. This was the only day we really saw rain and that is amazing in itself.

My daughter and I at Stonehenge in the rain.

All around the the area were sheep farms. Beautiful rolling hills were filled with sheep. In the distance you could see the formation of possible other henges which are actually round formations with surrounding mounds of protection.

From Stonehenge we headed to Oxford. Oxford seems like a typical college town but the concept is different that what we think here in the US. This town was created because of the college sometime around 1096. Today it is a massive University with 39 separate colleges and these college are not you typical 2-4 buildings per college, they are each full blown colleges.

My daughter and I main purpose in visiting these beautiful historical towns is to see the ancient architecture and the beautiful churches. Oxford did not disappoint as in the middle of town is the church of St. Mary Magdalen.

As you approached the church that is centered between a split of two streets, you first saw the massive monumental spire on the outmost point.

With closer inspection you see the statues and intricate carvings.

The church exterior at first is somewhat plain until you get behind it on the cemetery side.

Since we were not expected to go here, we did not get a chance to study what all we would see. So I have included some of the more interesting buildings.

It was interesting the fast food place we know here are everywhere there. See the Wendy’s sign? The food in London, because it is a major city of foreign trade, did not have a lot of food that interested us. If you into Mediterranean, Indian, or Thai, you will be fine. I am sure that outside the the city proper, you get more a English fare.

I will finish off day three with Windsor tomorrow. Until then, remember to be kind. While on this trip, we really saw the benefits of kindness.

St. Bartholomew The Great

We saw many wonderful churches as we roamed the streets of London, but the one that quickens my heart the most was St. Bartholomew the Great. It is London’s oldest surviving parish church, built in 1123, with the Hospital of St. Bartholomew the Less. St. Bartholomew the Great is the central parish, while St. Bartholomew the Less is a chapel within the parish, situated within St. Bartholomew’s Hospital.

The priory gained the reputation of healing powers, with many people filling its aisles on St. Bartholomew Day. Many disabilities were noted as being cured, and others were cured within the hospital that is still in operation today.

This entrance was adjacent to the hospital and an entrance to the used for the St. Bartholomew Festival, on August 24, England’s largest medieval market attracting aristocrats as well as the poor.

Inside the church is a different kind of beauty, knowing the church’s era and some of its history. Several movies were filmed in this church – Robin Hood, Shakespeare in Love, Sherlock Holmes, and even Transformers.

Like most of the churches we saw, graves and tombs were above ground and on display.

But the beauty of this church was lost on me, even now, because it reminds me of the cruelty of man. An artist, Damien Hirst, created an amazing statue of gold overlay depicting St. Bartholomew’s death as he was skinned alive before being decapitated for preaching Jesus’ love.

Then you go just outside and see where William Wallace was drawn and quartered within sight of the church near the entrance of the hospital.

Have we gotten any better as human beings? I look at today’s news, and still, we see horrific ways that we treat each other. I pray that God reaches our hearts and shows us a better way.

More of Day 2

There was so much to see there that my brain is still on overload. So, I will take the time today to share some of the sights we saw while walking around London on day 2.

The walk along the River Thames was as enjoyable as it was relaxing, and I learned a bunch of stuff, like the image in my head of London Bridge is actually Tower Bridge as it leads to the Tower of London. London Bridge is a concrete bridge much like the ones we see today with wide walkways for people to walk.

From London Bridge, you can see Tower Bridge

Tower Bridge is much more graceful and elegant than the other bridges in London. It was built in 1894 with roadways that lift for passing ships. It is an engineering marvel and an icon for London.

Continuing your walk down the Thames, the first statue/monument you see is that of Queen Boudica. Boudica or Boudicca was a queen of the ancient British Iceni tribe who led a failed uprising against the conquering forces of the Roman Empire in AD 60 or 61. She is considered a British national heroine and a symbol of the struggle for justice and independence.

Our goal was to walk down to Cleopatra’s Needle. Cleopatra’s Needle in London is one of a pair of obelisks, together named Cleopatra’s Needles, that were moved from the ruins of the Caesareum of Alexandria, in Egypt, in the 19th century. Inscribed by Thutmose III and later Ramesses II of the Egyptian New Kingdom, the obelisk was moved in 12 BC to Alexandria, where it remained for over 1,800 years.

It was presented to the United Kingdom in 1819 by the ruler of Egypt and Sudan Muhammad Ali as a diplomatic gift. Although the British government welcomed the gesture, it declined to pay to move the obelisk to London. It was subsequently erected in the West End of London on the Victoria Embankment in Westminster in 1878.

On either side of the Needle are Sphinx that protect it. Along the bottom of the Sphinx, you will see holes and damage from bullet/shrapnel fire during WWI.

As we walked through the city, we kept seeing this tall monument. I took pictures from several streets that showed it’s central location of the area. Standing 202 feet high and 202 feet from the spot on Pudding Lane where the great fire is thought to have started, The Monument to the Great Fire of London is the tallest isolated stone column in the world.

I think this is in Latin, maybe you can read it

Below are other buildings with interesting architectures that I enjoyed.

I hope you have enjoyed these as much as I did. I am always fascinated with these grand structures built so many years ago with such grace, elegance, and artistry.

I close with a reminder to be kind and show that we can change the world with kindness…if everyone is kind.

Buildings of Philadelphia

In any city with history, you have wonderful architecture from major craftsmen and artists. This beauty can not be reproduced for several reasons, such as cost, but mostly because of the lost craftsmanship of a gone-by era. While modern-day architecture is a marvel to look at, there are no longer amazing artisans who make imbedded statues within the walls of a building.

Philadelphia has many beautiful older buildings and I will share a few of those with you today. This is the front and side of City Hall.

Check out the closeup of this amazing artwork that I presume to be stone.

We expect churches to be amazing on the inside but some wonderful structures from the early 19th century and later are striking on the outside.

The Masonic Temple entrance had intricate arched layers as it came down to its arched door.

Along with churches, the Christ Church Cemetery had monuments of artesian flair.

You have to be of a certain age to get a chuckle and be amazed by this building’s stained glass masterpiece. I chuckled with fond memories of the TV commercials when I was a kid.

If the window does not ring a bell, it is the RCA music mascot, Nipper. Since I have always been an animal lover, of course, I would remember Nipper. This building is now apartments and shops.

A must-see if you go to Philadelphia is Elfreth Ally. It’s the oldest neighborhood in the entire country still being used as it was first built. They are still homes plus a museum giving history information of the ally.

A photo contrasting the buildings of 1700 and today…

I close with a smattering of photos taken at random as we walked the streets of Philadelphia. The last day was misty rain but the beauty of this place could still be seen.

One last string of photos – if you go to Philly, you have to visit Reading Terminal. Shop after shop of amazing food.

Well, the Philly trip is done, I hope you had fun looking through my picture fun. Don’t forget that wherever you may travel, always be kind. When you are kind, kindness will be returned.

Thursday Doors & Tour

The architecture tour from Tuesday through the older buildings of Davenport, Iowa, had many amazing doors, but I think my favorite one was once the First National Bank building which now houses the US Bank Center. It very much fits with the Thursday Doors prompt.

The bank was built in 1924, this year marks its 100th birthday. Smith and Childs, an architectural firm from Chicago, and architect O.H. Breidert, designed this beautiful building. While it is still a full use bank, it also displays a section of the history of the area with photographs and historical information. But its brass door…

Inside the archway of the door are raised sculptures reflecting the Renaissance Revival period.

Here is a closeup of one of the figures. Amazing detail.

When you first enter the entrance alcove of the bank, there is a wall display on marble slabs of important people from the area, from Chief Blackhawk to Bix Beiderbecke.

When you go into the main lobby of the bank, the ceiling may make you forget what century we now live in.

Check out these closeup details of the ceiling.

I find it heart breaking that this era of design is no longer affordable to build plus not having the artistic skill with stone they had back then. So enjoy your older buildings while they are still around and appreciate the talent it took to create them. Don’t get me wrong, the architectural talent we have today is just as amazing, it just doesn’t have that artistic flare that I love.

In closing, I remind you of the value of kindness in all that you do. Your gentle smile may be just the thing that a hurting person needs to carry on with the day.

Amazing Stonework, Craftsmanship

A couple of years ago, I was amazed by the architecture of the surrounding area where I currently live. So, I created a series of post called Amazing Stonework featuring some of those buildings.

This morning I went on an architectural history tour put on by the public library. And it was amazing. We must never take for granted that these beautiful buildings will be here forever and enjoy them while we have them.

For me the most amazing building in this area was once a prominent bank building. Today it is apartments but in its day, wow.

In 1927, Walsh & Kahl Construction Company, with the designs of Weary and Alfred of Chicago, built the tallest building in the area. The lower section of the building is black marble and the doors and windows have intricate metal details surrounding them.

The second floor shows the Roman style columns with detailed capitals and recessed arched windows.

As cool as I have always thought the outside was, on this tour, we got to go inside. The bank lobby is no longer used but coming into the side entrance where people access their apartments, we got to see the lobby from its back window. I would have never thought this architectural beauty existed in Davenport, Iowa. Amazing.

A wealthy philanthropist needs to restore this beauty and use it again. It’s a shame this architectural beauty is not seen. The detail in the ceiling shows a riverboat, since that is what brought wealth to the region.

The hall going up to the apartments also has amazing wooden inlaid ceilings.

Because of my art background, I tend to look at architecture from a different perspective than historical. A perspective that we have lost due to it’s cost and the available skill of these amazing craftsmen. I love the artistic view and understand the amount of work this beautiful form of architecture has. And yes, the only place we see this now is in our older buildings. So we must make every effort to preserve this so that later generation can see it. We don’t want to go all the way over to the “pond” to see this amazing artwork.

Below are other picture of this building including a side view showing the stone statues that are on top. I assume they are eagles but they could be winged dragons as well. I will have to do more research.

Remember in all things, always be kind. This morning a young robin was trying to learn to fly and mistakenly landed in the street. One of the ladies in the group instantly went out into the street to make sure the fledgling did not get run over. He hopped under a car and hopefully figured out what to safely do. His mama was very upset.

Monday Windows, March 18

Ludwig always has interesting windows with his Monday Window challenge. This week its round top windows.

To me, the arch windows of older buildings are the most interesting, especially to understand the era in which they were made. Some are smooth curves and some are arched with a point.

Churches are noted for beautiful arches.

Windows are the eyes of a building that allow the sunshine to enter its inner being. I remind you in closing the sunshine of kindness. Let kindness radiate from your face like sunshine coming in through a window.

Interesting Buildings

I enjoyed the post from woollymuses about interesting buildings. When my daughter and I went to New York City in February, we saw many interesting buildings. I have shared some of them off and on but not together so I thought I would do that even if sharing some pictures more than once.

It was amazing to me the mixture of very old buildings along with new modern buildings all throughout the city.

Besides the amazing churches we saw, there were two building in particular that made me do a double look. One was the Oculus Building that was built at the World Trade Center after 9/11 disaster.

The inside is just as amazing.

Another building that I have no clue what its name is or what it is used for we saw from a distance but it made me stop for a picture.

It looks like the game of Jenga. But you can see in this picture a mixture of old and new. New York City, ever-changing. The Chrysler building is an amazing building and to me more interesting that the Empire State Building, which we did not get a chance to see. The new 1 World Trade Center is impressive and thought provoking as well for why it was built because of the unneeded disaster. Over 2000 lives lost.

But we need to remember that buildings don’t last forever but love and kindness do. They get carried with us to our eternal home. So make an extra effort to always be kind. Kindness opens many doors to many situations.

More Fun from NYC

Our trip was a fast 4 day adventure taking us from one end of the island to the other. While there, we saw many beautiful, amazing, and a few sad sights. Below are a few of the miscellaneous sights we saw that we enjoyed.

Carnegie Hall. What a beautiful way to dress up an ordinary brick building with painted-on windows.

The front of Carnegie was being worked on so scaffolding hid the front entrance.

Every city has homeless people but I admired the gentle spirit of this one as he shared what he had with the birds and they adored him for it.

“Who you gonna Call?” Ghost Busters! The firehouse used in the iconic movie Ghost Busters is an actual working fire station in New York City and they are good hearted enough to allow crazy fans…like me…to take photos of them and their station.

F A O Swartz…oh, what a store. I could spend hours there, after all, I am just a big kid. Loved the zebra but don’t think he would fit on the plane.

If you are going to go to NYC, you have to try New York cheesecake and New York Style Pizza. One slice of pizza is a meal!

And the reviews were not wrong. It was the best Pizza I have ever had.

The beauty in the mixture of old architecture and new showed the life of a city that is ever growing.

High End apartments on 5th Ave were something to see.

Then you had the opulence of 5th Avenue. A bit too much for my taste.

Then the night scenes around Times Square.

Or daytime…

New York City is so diverse, that everyone can find something they enjoy. I came away with an understanding that I did not expect to find and I mentioned it in one of my other post. As a whole, the residents of NYC are kind proving how easy kindness can be shared. Always remember the beauty of kindness.