Tower of London - Beheadings, Torture and the Crown Jewels

The Tower of London - General History

The Tower of London is located in Central London on the north bank of the river Thames. It is comprised of the original White Tower built in 1078 by William the Conqueror, surrounded by an inner wall with 13 towers, an outer wall with 5 additional towers and a moat. It has over the centuries been a palace, a prison, a zoo, the Royal Mint, an observatory, an armory and a treasury, as well as a place of execution and torture. My personal favorite is that it has been the home of the United Kingdom's crown jewels since 1303.

On my last visit to London I was only in town for about 24 hours on a long lay over so I didn't get to visit the shiny wonders again. However, I did have time to snap a pic of the Tower at Night.
This photo was taken from the nearest Tube stop to the Tower of London, Tower Hill.

The Tower of London - Beheadings and Torture

While inside the torture chamber many tools were used, the best known is the Rack. These methods were used to extract information from prisoner. A charge of heresy was more likely to bring a turn on the rack. Condemned lower class criminals were usually hung. Higher profile prisoners were beheaded publicly, while women and a few other nobels were beheaded inside the complex privately. Treason was the most common reason for beheading and the list of people who lost their heads includes:

• King Baliol of Scotland (1296)
  
• William Wallace (1305)
  
• Sir Thomas Moore (1535)
• Anne Boleyn (1536)
• Thomas Cromwell (1540)
  
• Margaret Pole, Countess of Salisbury (1541)
• Catherine Howard (1542)
• Jane Boleyn, Viscountess Rochford (1542)
• Lady Jane Grey (1554)
• Guy Fawkes (1606)
• Sir Walter Raleigh (1618)
• Last Execution(firing squad): Josef Jakobs (1941)
  

The Tower of London - Home of the Crown Jewels

The Tower became home to the Crown Jewels in 1303 after they had been stolen from Westminister Abbey. Most of the Crown Jewels were melted down by Oliver Cromwell in 1649 after the establishment of the Commonwealth. Upon Charles II Restoration, most of the regalia were replaced. St Edwards Crown, made in 1661, is commonly used in the coronation ceremoney. This Crown includes 444 precious stones and is purportedly heavy and uncomfortable to wear.

Imperial State Crown, British Crown Jewels housed in the Tower of London

The Imperial State Crown was made in 1937. This crown boasts 2,868 diamonds (including the Lesser Star of Africa Diamond), 17 sapphires, 11 emeralds and five rubies (including the Black Princes's Ruby). The Crown Jewels kept in the tower are considered to be one of the largest jewelery collections in existence.

Sacramento Mac n Cheese

Ah, what a wonderful town - they've got great Macaroni & Cheese! We arrived in Sacramento about noon and my traveling buddy was hankerin for breakfast. Breakfast served all day is apparently not the thing in Sacramento.

So in our search for breakfast we stumbled upon Bernardos off 28th and Capitol. Had great Peppermint tea and cheesy mac n chi too - a great find.

Later for dinner we ate at Dawsons at the downtown Hyatt. Once again - fabulous Mac n Cheese. The crabcakes were just ok, the fries disinteresting and the veggie lasagna needed marinara it wasn't served with.

However, dessert was amazing. The service was flawless. And along with great Mac n Cheese, what else do you really need?

Fly thru Airport Security with no waiting with Flyclear.com

My flight out of JFK left at 8:30am so I got there at 7am like a good traveler. Didn't want to get stuck in airport security. Its always such a dice roll....get there early and have to wait and wait until your plane arrives, or cut it close only to risk a run for the gate if airport security is too backed up. This trip the airport security line was pretty short so I had plenty of time to wait for my flight. And I noticed something new, a separate - completely empty - security line with a big blue cube that said CLEAR. I investigated further at flyclear.com when I got home.

So here's the deal - you sign up for Fly Clear and you get to skip the security check like a rock star. Strictly front of the line service. You'll get to submit an application, and then go in person to get your fingerprints done and a eye scan (it feels so Bond) and you're new clear card and you're all set. So far they are set up at twenty airports across the country including the big airports like San Francisco, Dulles and JFK. Currently LAX is in the works, here's a complete list of the flyclear.com serviced airports.

And the cost? An annual membership at flyclear.com is $199. If your time is valuable and you do a lot of traveling its well worth the saved time. There are also discounts for multi-year purchases - save $40 on at two year subscription, $100 on three years, $300 on 5 years or a whopping $800 on a decades worth of quick lines. There are also special offers for Delta Skylines Members and Amex Corporate Cardholders. Both Hyatt's Diamond and Platinum Gold Passport Members and Starwood Preferred Guest Platinum Members can get a year for FREE. There's also referral discounts so if you get 12 people per year to sign up you can Fly Clear for Free too!

It looks promising - It will be interesting to see how far flyclear.com expands. Happy flying!

Today I Hate Southwest Airlines

I've always loved Southwest Airlines - cheap tickets, no stress, no hassle and some fun on the side. Lately though Southwest has been losing its luster. First there was that time earlier this year when my flight got canceled. I thought, "Hey, no big deal, happens to everyone eventually" until flew back a week later. I started talking with other passengers flying the same day to discover they had canceled about 30 flights just between Southern California and Northern California...not so cool.

Then there was this trip. It wasn't that they did anything particularly horrible. It was just a general feeling of frustration with grumpy and unhappy Southwest employees and Southwest's short hop addiction. I know, its my own fault for wanting to fly into Long Island instead of JFK. I knew I wasnt going to get there nonstop. I just haven't taken three legs to get across the country in a long time - wow! did it suck! Starting at 5am west coast time LAX to Phoenix, then a layover, then Phoenix to Chicago. Welcome to layover number two. Then Chicago to finally arrive in Long Island at almost 7pm east cost time. All told it was just a mere 14 hour project to get across the country.

At least I didnt have to worry about the flights getting cancelled. Every seat was taken on every one of those three flights. And I had slacked off and not checked in until 12 hours before my flight so on the second leg we were practically at the back of the line. Middle seats for everyone!

I did feel a bit of love for Southwest Airlines budding in me as I paid that $40 luggage fee to Delta on the way home. Southwest is still great for saving on all those stupid fees there are these days. Still I'm feelin a bit burnt on Southwest and will just be keeping them around for short hops. Maybe I'm just gettin old - but its time to focus on the nonstop service from now on. Thankfully getting back to one of my favorite places was worth it. As was the night in the city and the New York Pizza. And of course, Go Islanders!!!!

Cesky Krumlov - UNESCO World Heritage Site Plaque

This just touched my heart. Cesky Krumlov is a perfectly preserved wonder and I am grateful that the people there care enough to keep it up.


The text of the plaque is:

In the year 1992 the historical town center of Cesky Krumlov was added to the UNESCO List of World Cultural and Natural Heritage. Thus, the skills, feelings and love which our ancestors put into building this town over the past eight centuries have been duly recognized. It is our duty to enhance those values with equal love and preserve them for future generations.

Stuff to Do in San Diego: Tour the Taylor Guitar Factory

What's better than having fun? Having fun for FREE!!!! The Taylor Guitar Factory, located in El Cajon, California, offers free tours of their guitar factory five days a week. Whether you're a guitar player, aspiring luthier, or just love music, this is an entertaining and enlightening way to spend an afternoon.

The tour leaves the lobby at 1:00 p.m. and starts in the lumber yard. Taylor uses a variety of different woods to produce their guitars - everything from Maple and Walnut to Ebony and Indian Rosewood. One of the more interesting woods they use is Stika Spruce. It is estimated that the planet only has about 9-years worth of Sitka Spruce left for consumption (the trees take 500 years to mature to make a guitar soundboard, and it's also used for pianos and sailboats). In the lumber yard, you'll get to check out raw hunks of wood as they begin their transformations into Taylor Guitars.

Most of the parts Taylor creates for their guitars are machine-made. While some may scoff at this fact, there are two very prominent reasons why Taylor chooses to go the machine-made route: first, it drastically cuts down on waste and second, it gives the guitars a higher level of consistency and quality. On the tour, you get to observe every stage of guitar manufacturing, and it's not as though there are just machines and robots everywhere. There are people who are passionate about the product they are creating!

Once the individual pieces are created, they have to be put together. Skilled woodworkers complete the finer points of crafting while a team of amazingly detail-oriented women carefully glue bracing on the tops of the guitars. Another team of workers assembles the guitars.

Probably one of the coolest jobs at the factory is the quality control. After all the hardware is installed, each and every Talor Guitar gets tested and played by a person who is directly responsible for the quality of the guitar - they're not going to sign off on an instrument if it's not playing perfectly, and to me, that says a lot about the high standard of quality that Taylor upholds.

Of course, there's a neat gift shop too!

Taylor Guitar Factory Tour Info from TaylorGuitars.com:

A free, guided tour of the Taylor factory complex is given every Monday through Friday, at 1 p.m. (excluding holidays). No appointment is necessary; simply check-in at our receptionist desk in the lobby of our main building by 1 p.m. sharp, tell the receptionist that you’d like to take the tour. The tour lasts approximately one hour and 15 minutes. Our main building is located at 1980 Gillespie Way in El Cajon, California. Map / Directions

There is a good amount of walking involved, and due to the technical content of the tour, it may be unsuitable for small children.

Large groups (more than 10) and school-supervised groups must schedule special tours in advance by calling (619) 258-1207 and asking for the Factory Tour Manager. Please give us at least two weeks notice.

The TaylorWare store is located in our visitor center. Here you'll find everything for the Taylor fan, from apparel to gift items to replacement guitar parts. New items are added all the time, so be sure to stop by often.

A free, guided tour of the Taylor factory complex is given every Monday through Friday, at 1 p.m. (excluding holidays). No appointment is necessary; simply check-in at our receptionist desk in the lobby of our main building by 1 p.m. sharp, tell the receptionist that you’d like to take the tour. The tour lasts approximately one hour and 15 minutes. Our main building is located at 1980 Gillespie Way in El Cajon, California. Map / Directions

There is a good amount of walking involved, and due to the technical content of the tour, it may be unsuitable for small children.

Large groups (more than 10) and school-supervised groups must schedule special tours in advance by calling (619) 258-1207 and asking for the Factory Tour Manager. Please give us at least two weeks notice.

The TaylorWare store is located in our visitor center. Here you'll find everything for the Taylor fan, from apparel to gift items to replacement guitar parts. New items are added all the time, so be sure to stop by often.



Tours are held at the Taylor complex every Monday though Friday (excluding holidays) at 1:00 p.m. - and once again, the tour is FREE!

Stuff To Do in San Diego: The San Diego Zoo

No trip to San Diego would be complete without a visit to what is commonly regarded as the nation's best zoo, the San Diego Zoo. And if you think if you've seen one, you've seen 'em all - think again!

In addition to being one of the few zoos in the world to house pandas as well as over 800 different species, the San Diego Zoo is also home to a wild animal park (San Digeo Zoo's Wild Animal Park) in which endangered animals from around the globe roam in free-range enclosures. In stark contrast to a typical zoo, in which animals are displayed in cages, the animals of the park are exhibited in their natural habitat. It's as close as you can get to a Safari without leaving the country!

San Diego Zoo Exhibits

• Monkey Trails
  
• Absolutely Apes
  
• Panda Research Station
  
• Polar Bear Plunge
  
• Gorilla Tropics
  
• Ituri Forest
  
• Owen's Rain Forest Aviary
  
• Sun Bear Forest
  
• Reptile Mesa
  
• Kopje
  
• Wings of Australasia
  
• Flamingo Lagoon
  
• Tiger Rive
  
• Children's Zoo

San Diego Zoo's Wild Animal Park Exhibits

• Journey Into Africa Tour
  
• Lion Camp
  
• Heart of Afirca
  
• Elephant Overlook
  
• Hidden Jungle
  
• Nairobi Village
  
• Condor Ridge
  
• Lorikeet Landing
  
• Kilimanjaro Safari Walk
  
• African Aviary
  
• Harter Veterinary Medical Center
  

Here's what the folks over at TripAdvisor.com have to say about the San Diego Zoo:

The San Diego Zoo is truly one of America's treasures. With it's long history of research and breeding of rare animals, the San Diego Zoo is much more than a Zoo. It is a glimpse in to how zoologists care for thousands of species while giving visitors a unique look at many of these magnificent creatures. Be warned, the habitats are built for the animal's comfort, not the visitors feet. A walk through the enormous park can be a trying experience. Bus tours make this task much easier and is highly recommended. To locals, this Zoo is one of the most important locations in San Diego and one if it's most irreplaceable sites. Don't miss it! The San Diego Zoo is unique by any measure and will leave you much more educated and excited about these magnificent creatures.

Maloo, baby koala, born in April 2001.

A lucky couple gets a visit from a polar bear cub at the Polar Bear Plunge exhibit.

Lions with cubs in the Lion Camp exhibit.

Visit SanDiegoZoo.org for ticket info, schedules, and the latest happenings at the San Diego Zoo!

Stuff To Do in San Diego: Balboa Park

A trip to San Diego would not be complete without a visit to Balboa Park. Balboa Park is the largest urban cultural park in the United States. It's also home to 15 museums, numerous performing arts venues, lush and beautiful gardens, and the famous San Diego Zoo. 

Of the many beautiful spectacles within Balboa Park, here are some of my favorites:

Balboa Park Carousel: Before you head into the Zoo, spend 5-minutes on this antique ride. Originally built in 1910,  the carousel still features all but two original hand-carved creatures. The Balboa Park Carousel is also one of the few remaining carousels to play the Brass Ring Game.

Japanese Friendship Garden: Within the two acres of exquisitely maintained Japanese gardens you'll find a Zen garden for meditation, koi ponds, a bonsai exhibit, and a lush & tranquil Fujidana (wisteria arbor). there are classes offered on the weekends for sushi-making, bonsai, calligraphy, and conversational Japanese. 

Spanish Village Arts Center: This is where the artists of San Diego gather to sell their goods. Over 200 local painters, sculptors, metalsmiths, jewelry designers, clay artists, gourd artists, photographers, printmakers, glass artists, basket weavers and more assemble here daily. There is something for everyone to enjoy in this unique market. Don't waste money on junky souvenirs, buy something lovingly handmade by a San Diego artist to commemorate your trip.

Museum of San Diego History: There are many wonderful museums within Balboa Park, but if you don't have time to see them all, make sure you at least see this one. To truly appreciate the city of San Diego, one must first appreciate the colorful and diverse history of the region. In this museum, you'll discover a dazzling array of artifacts, costumes, textiles, art, and photographs detailing life and development of the local area. 

For the extensive list of  attractions and activities of Balboa Park, visit the official website, BalboaPark.org.