Let Them Eat Beef

We grabbed a quick breakfast en route to the Tower of London.  The Tower, built in 1078, wasn't just a prison, and over the years has served as a fortress, royal palace, prison, armory, treasury, mint, zoo, and tourist attraction.  We enjoyed an animated tour from a Yeoman Warder (aka Beefeater) who explained much of the castle's history and details of the most famous executions, including that of Anne Boleyn and other wives of Henry VIII.  We walked through Bloody Tower (where Elizabeth I was held), sat in a small chapel that holds the remains of over 3000 headless bodies who had been executed on Tower Hill, and took in a good view of Tower Bridge from the outer wall.  

We were also able to view the Crown Jewels, including a 530ct diamond, which Lindsey was in awe of and Steve was pleased was not for sale.  The only letdown was the museum inside the White Tower, which was under renovations and lacked its normal supply of armor and torture devices.

One interesting surprise was that the Beefeaters actually live on the Tower premises with their families and each night they are locked in ceremoniously at 10pm, which tourists can view. It must be a pretty eerie place to live.

From the Tower, we headed to the centuries-old Smithfield's Meat Market for lunch with some of Steve's old Merrill colleagues at 'Smiths'.  Lindsey highly recommends the BLT and we figured the meal was fitting for our time with the Beefeaters.

In the evening, Matt and Isabelle prepared dinner for us and his sister and brother-in-law and were kind enough to open a bottle of 96 Vintage Dom Perignon.  (They're leaving the country and drinking everything they have left!)

Following dinner Matt and Steve donned plastic guitars and whaled away on guitar hero until the wee hours, powered by some rather potent tequila.