Tower of London

　　We took our purchase back to our hotel, then went out again. We took the tube at St. James station. It was the first time to use the tube, but it wasn't difficult. Our destination was the Tower of London.
　　I believe that I have some knowledge about the Tower of London to a certain degree for a Japanese. It might be more than the average Briton's. I was all the happier for my knowledge to walk around in and outside of the Tower of London. Not only its historical and archaeological importance but its collection of valuable things attracted me. Among other things, the real inherited queen's crowns and the Japanese armour given to King James 1st. as a gift from the shogun of those days, Hidetada Tokugawa, surprised me. The Japanese armour is also the token of the starting first-ever diplomacy between Japan and the U.K.. The possible murder of two young princes committed by their suspicious uncle, cruel executions of queens and miserable lives of numerous prisoners,,,. I was at the special site which had seen those incidents. The pier for the prisoners who were taken to the Tower of London by boat still remained. I took a break over a cup of coffee seeing wings-cut crows, the symbol of the Tower of London. It was my blissful time to be a part of the history.
　　The staff members with red outfits were called Yeomen Warders also known as Beefeaters. I had long assumed that "Beefeater" is the name of a gin. Anyway, they were veterans with exploits and lived in the Tower of London with their family. They weren't routine tour guides.

ホテルへ戻り、荷物を置いて再び出発。今度はすぐそばにあるセントジェームス駅から地下鉄に乗車。初めてだったが迷うことなく乗れた。一度乗り換えてTower Hill駅で下車

ロンドン塔については日本人としては自身、結構知識が有る方だと思っている。もしかしたら平均的なイギリス人以上かもしれない。そのおぞましい歴史を知っているだけにこの場所に来ることが出来て、中を歩くことが出来て本当に嬉しい。建築物としての歴史的、また考古学的価値はもちろんなのだが、収蔵されている宝も国宝級の価値のあるものばかり。女王の王冠の実物(撮影禁止)に驚いたし、徳川秀忠からキングジェームズ１世に贈られた甲冑には本当に驚いた。日本とイギリスの国交開始を記念する品々の一部だという。犯人として伯父にあたる人物が疑われている殺害の可能性が高い不可解な王子たちの死、女王たちのむごい処刑、無数の囚人達の死、いろいろな歴史を見てきた建物の中を自由に歩いた。船で運ばれてきた囚人がロンドン塔内へ初めて入るところなどそのまま残っていた。飼われている羽根を切られたカラスを眺めながらしばしコーヒータイム。歴史の一部になる至福の時。

赤い服を着ている人たちはヨーマン・ウォーダーズ（ビーフィーターとも呼ばれる）と呼ばれる。聞けば、彼ら、彼女らは軍功のあるエリート軍人だと聞いて驚いた。ロンドン塔に家族と共に住んでいるという。只のガイドではないのだと知った。

Comments

[KUMO]

Thank you for your comment and I apologize for my delayed reply. My camera is Canon! This trip was also great.

[Shiroi Tora]

I am surprised at the crystal clarity, ultra sharpness, and the deep color renditioning of your camera. Is it a Canon?

Anyway, I always enjoy reading of your foreign adventures.