tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32570460.post7472321851277761015..comments2024-03-13T07:34:24.149+00:00Comments on The Age of Uncertainty: Tower PowerSteerforthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07627936539372313828noreply@blogger.comBlogger23125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32570460.post-45154646409843170362011-04-30T19:24:09.776+00:002011-04-30T19:24:09.776+00:00I didn't know that there were pyramids in Tene...I didn't know that there were pyramids in Tenerife!<br /><br />I love Lanzarote. It's an acquired taste isn't it, but I loved the bare volcanic rock and the brilliant white buildings with green shutters (it helped that I stayed in a remote villa with a private pool and a sea view). I haven't been since the early 90s, but it seemed mostly unspoilt (partly thanks to Ceasar Manrique's input?). <br /><br />There's an attractive minimalsim about the island: rock, sea and sky. I can see why some people find it too bleak, but I loved it. <br /><br />Lucky you!Steerforthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07627936539372313828noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32570460.post-54780429583282826632011-04-30T12:38:50.344+00:002011-04-30T12:38:50.344+00:00Lanzarote actually. We chose it to retire to, havi...Lanzarote actually. We chose it to retire to, having tried Fuerteventura, Tenerife and Gran Canaria. We have since visited Alegranza and Graciosa. We know we made the right choice. The early history is fascinating; did you know there are pyramids in Tenerife? I may put it in my blog someday. <br /><br />We just watched 'United' the drama about the Munich air disaster. However did Bobby Charlton carry on after that one?! I don't think they had hypnotherapy in those days. However, someone I know very well says it works, so go on - give it a go.Little Nellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11862657943846727987noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32570460.post-47673450020983238302011-04-30T10:12:38.831+00:002011-04-30T10:12:38.831+00:00Which island? Tenerife?
Yes, the Canaries do have...Which island? Tenerife?<br /><br />Yes, the Canaries do have a fascinating history - I'd love to know more about the mysterious indigenous inhabitants - but it's not like going to Florence, where you feel overwhelmed by the architectural heritage.<br /><br />I love the Canaries. I've been to Lanzarote, Fuerteventura, Tenerife and El Hierro (a truly magical place) and have always hoped to visit the remaining three, but I've had a phobia of flying for the last few years and trips abroad are now limted to northern France. <br /><br />I know that my fear of flying is irrational, but it hasn't been helped by events: I flew on an American Airlines flight from Boston to LA one September morning and also had a terrifying journey from Brazil to Spain, along the same route as the crashed Air France jet. I know that millions of other people have too, without any problems, but that still doesn't help.<br /><br />I might try hypnotherapy, as I don't want to spend the rest of my life holidaying within a 500-mile radius.Steerforthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07627936539372313828noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32570460.post-64606168892163835792011-04-30T09:31:42.397+00:002011-04-30T09:31:42.397+00:00Ah, the recently colonised volcanic islands - I ha...Ah, the recently colonised volcanic islands - I happen to live on one! You're right about very little history (in the sense of Tower of London visits etc); however, The Canary Islands have a fascinating recent (in relative terms) history, well documented from the early 15th century, and before that its neolithic inhabitants. Let me know next time you visit!Little Nellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11862657943846727987noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32570460.post-69427738674830009842011-04-29T18:00:16.080+00:002011-04-29T18:00:16.080+00:00Oops, yes...I got my wires crossed, but did commen...Oops, yes...I got my wires crossed, but did comment early hours of the morning. And/or I've lost a section of the plot!Gardener in the Distancehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14478393904059307841noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32570460.post-67184618519310151252011-04-26T20:59:34.370+00:002011-04-26T20:59:34.370+00:00Tattyhouse - I didn't ruin the occasion by bri...Tattyhouse - I didn't ruin the occasion by bringing children with me ;)<br /><br />Laura - Apparently, Henry wore it once and very briefly - for purely ceremonila purposes.<br /><br />Chickadee - I love the history too. It makes up for the weather. But curiously, when I go abroad, I'm drawn to recently-colonised volcanic islands with very little history and no ancient buildings. <br /><br />Annable - Three times! You're making me wish I saw the Crown Jewels after all.<br /><br />Gardner - Do you mean Thomas à Becket? He was a bit earlier than More (or Moore as I originally wrote), but also committed the tactical error of choosing God over king. <br /><br />Lyne - thanks.<br /><br />Martin - No, I haven't watched the <i>Tudors</i>. When I heard that it had been 'sexed-up' I decided to avoid it. Was I right or wrong?<br /><br />Kim - thanks for the link. I'd really like to try this, but when the weather's gloomier. It was hotter than Istanbul when I went to the Tower and the dungeons didn't seem quite so menacing. I agree about climbing over walls - I used to enjoy exploring Hyde Park after the pubs had closed.Steerforthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07627936539372313828noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32570460.post-55379237619562397062011-04-26T07:15:41.433+00:002011-04-26T07:15:41.433+00:00Lovely post, but you did not write about the blood...Lovely post, but you did not write about the blood thirsty ravens aggressively stalking small children that haunted us last time we went. Or perhaps yours are a bit bigger and not so covered in crumbs?Bev https://www.blogger.com/profile/04640812762955604592noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32570460.post-20596653552892284922011-04-26T00:10:38.858+00:002011-04-26T00:10:38.858+00:00Many Happy (and belated) returns Steerforth!
What...Many Happy (and belated) returns Steerforth!<br /><br />What an excellent present. <br /> <br />As for 'Enery VIII, who does he think he was kidding with that codpiece? Not that he could have worn that get up for more than about 10 minutes anyway before collapsing under the weight of it, but I remember marvelling at it on my own (more public) visit.<br /><br />That's so sweet of you to perform a special piece for the upcoming Royal Wedding like that - I'm sure Kate and Wills will be duly honoured. ;-)The Poet Laura-eatehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07779308486569849157noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32570460.post-53100405744406139422011-04-25T17:30:21.151+00:002011-04-25T17:30:21.151+00:00What a wonderful post. I did enjoy your playing o...What a wonderful post. I did enjoy your playing of Henry VIII's melody. Very nice.<br /><br />Britain has so much wonderful history, and so many places where interesting things have happened, that a trip to any town (or even village church) can become an adventure. But what a lovely way to see the Tower -- when we went, we were part of the unlovely group of tourists milling around. But at the time I wasn't aware that one could book a separate tour.<br /><br />Thanks for sharing a lovely experience.<br />Canadian ChickadeeAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32570460.post-79123394166213293142011-04-25T12:52:48.596+00:002011-04-25T12:52:48.596+00:00We took our daughter a couple of years ago out of ...We took our daughter a couple of years ago out of season - and as we arrived at opening time and it wasn't so crowded, we went round the Crown Jewels conveyor belt three times - little pleasures eh!<br /><br />Loved the post, and a fab birthday present.Annabelhttp://gaskella.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32570460.post-46985249863305380432011-04-25T12:03:46.461+00:002011-04-25T12:03:46.461+00:00I respect Thomas More enormously. What I know of h...I respect Thomas More enormously. What I know of him comes from my 16- year-old class reading of T S Eliot's 'Murder in the Cathedral' and subsequent re-enactment of it in our school chapel, where, despite my awful acting skills, I got to take part. I'm so grateful you've included a picture of his tomb. What a fascinating blog you have, Steerforth! Don't stop.Gardener in the Distancehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14478393904059307841noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32570460.post-65321660479095471122011-04-25T11:16:14.350+00:002011-04-25T11:16:14.350+00:00Excellent blog! And Happy Belated Birthday.Excellent blog! And Happy Belated Birthday.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06263759245522206776noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32570460.post-91634214757708448502011-04-25T07:47:08.800+00:002011-04-25T07:47:08.800+00:00I so much want to take our grandchildren to London...I so much want to take our grandchildren to London, but I don't think the Tower will be on the list of things to see, for all the reasons that have been put forward.<br /><br />Loved the piano piece. Have you seen anything of 'Tudors' shown by the BBC? Hmmm...Martinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13494219959077922220noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32570460.post-25509552044729931332011-04-25T00:34:37.386+00:002011-04-25T00:34:37.386+00:00Happy birthday! Although it's not a tour, per...Happy birthday! Although it's not a tour, per se, another way to see the Tower without hordes of tourists is to apply to attend the Ceremony of the Keys - the traditional locking up of the tower every evening. Here's a link in case anyone is burning to do this:<br /><br />http://www.hrp.org.uk/toweroflondon/whatson/ceremonyofthekeys.aspx<br />I did it many years ago and the groups are limited to 6-15 people.<br /><br />As a history lover, I agree it's very hard to get any sense of the past from sites like the tower or Westminster Abbey even in the off season. Although you can get lucky and hop the wall at an historic site during off hours, if you're so inclined (not that I am advocating this, of course - but Middleham Castle is quite lovely at night :-) PS love the last photomagiciansgirlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03381303565184561031noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32570460.post-55511356425196738152011-04-24T21:34:39.520+00:002011-04-24T21:34:39.520+00:00C.B. - I think that you were very wise. Places lik...C.B. - I think that you were very wise. Places like the Tower of London feel like a huge heritage machine, extracting money from tourists. The gift shop was very depressing. I'd advise anyone to follow your example and visit the smaller museums. Also, get out of London and see England, Scotland and Wales. <br /><br />Lucewoman - I'd broadly agree, although I'd prefer to be in an Aston Martin than a Daewoo Matiz.<br /><br />I like the word verification!<br /><br />Christine and Mo - glad you enjoyed it. It was a great birthday present and from now on, I shall be asking for experiences rather than things.<br /><br />Mrs Jones - I think that's an entirely rational reaction, but I wonder how many people feel like this? Most of the tourists I saw seemed to regard the whole place as a fairground.<br /><br />Little Nell - I was forced to see 'Yeoman of the Guard' when I was 11, which has unfortunately resulted in a lifelong antipathy to the works of messrs G&S.Steerforthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07627936539372313828noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32570460.post-49200167993639044402011-04-24T21:04:37.457+00:002011-04-24T21:04:37.457+00:00Oh dear. Moore is less. I shall edit immediately.Oh dear. Moore is less. I shall edit immediately.Steerforthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07627936539372313828noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32570460.post-20677842823183594502011-04-24T20:26:10.152+00:002011-04-24T20:26:10.152+00:00It's usually spelt More, actually.
They were a...It's usually spelt More, actually.<br />They were a bit eclectic in spelling then, so Moore may have been the way he spelt it.Rogernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32570460.post-69621310224269957402011-04-24T17:10:51.189+00:002011-04-24T17:10:51.189+00:00What a great idea for a birthday gift. Thank you f...What a great idea for a birthday gift. Thank you for sharing some of the hidden extras. The Tower was the setting for Gilbert and Sullivan's opera, 'The Yeoman of the Guard' also thought to be their 'darkest' - as it isn't all happy endings. Perhaps G&S were affected by some of that same melancholia when they visited the Tower.Little Nellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11862657943846727987noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32570460.post-90992324645823566442011-04-24T15:49:16.006+00:002011-04-24T15:49:16.006+00:00The last time I went to the Tower of London (a few...The last time I went to the Tower of London (a few years back now) I was excited and really looking forward to it. When I got there all I could concentrate on was how much blood had been spilled, how much pain had been suffered, how many tears had been shed there. The whole place reeked with despair and fear. I was not expecting it and I left feeling very, very uncomfortable which saddened me tremendously.<br /><br />The exact same thing happened to me a few years ago when I was in Rome for the first time. Being an archaeologist I was thrilled beyond measure with all the treasures on offer and I thought the Forum and Palatine Hill were just fabulous. Then we went to the Colosseum, and the same visceral reaction happened. All I could focus on was the fear, pain and blood that those stones must have witnessed, and I had to leave.<br /><br />I did like Henry's little tune though.Mrs Joneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06289121990808465890noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32570460.post-83445653670285817782011-04-24T14:00:56.740+00:002011-04-24T14:00:56.740+00:00What a very satisfying post (and a half?!). Thank...What a very satisfying post (and a half?!). Thanks for the private tour, the glimpse of Sir Thomas Moore's chapel, the film clip and for playing us Henry the VIII's chart hit. The end of your post is as good as the end of a good short story. Yes, indeed, humans haven't really changed all that much. Happy Birthday to you as well!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32570460.post-59450472978597525512011-04-24T13:48:08.356+00:002011-04-24T13:48:08.356+00:00What a great birthday gift. I think that is the o...What a great birthday gift. I think that is the only way you'd ever get me to visit the Tower of London. We skipped it on our one trip to England. I did brave the crowds at the British Museum and the National Gallery but stuck with smaller, less traveled museums after that.<br /><br />Somehow, London seemed to attract some of the rudest tourist I've ever encountered. <br /><br />BTW, thanks for playing Henry's little song for us.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06906212382849291562noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32570460.post-13434504515052595602011-04-24T13:33:21.397+00:002011-04-24T13:33:21.397+00:00I think I'd rather be killed in a high speed c...I think I'd rather be killed in a high speed chase with an intoxicated driver at the wheel. Poor lady. Word verification today-'welshi', how apt.lucy joyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04863146546863419637noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32570460.post-75575061049771715952011-04-24T13:00:52.845+00:002011-04-24T13:00:52.845+00:00What a lovely post and a brilliant gift.What a lovely post and a brilliant gift.Mohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06126549814631693504noreply@blogger.com