Good Friday Haunts

It was my first Good Friday service ever! I went grudingly, as I wasn't sure I wanted to endure a three-hour-long service. However, I hoped the service at St Paul's and the choir would make it worth the while. Unfortunately, the choir was absent, and the minister merely read out previously written sermons. These sermons came every half hour, succeeding a hymn and preceeding a long silence. After repeated nudging and whispered "Let's Go"s, R agreed! We got out in two hours, sore (mood and butt)! However, with the peppered chicken panini, i was more cheery.

From there we got to the Tower of London, home to the Crown jewels, the ravens, and Anne Boleyn's headless apparition. The place was swarming with tourists, so i decided i'd return again later, for a tour of the Tower.

Here's an imitation of the crown that Colonel Blood stole in 1671. The Tower was also used to store important documents. Here's the armour of a soldier guarding the Tower. After watching a film on the tower, we went out to explore further. We crossed the tower bridge, to explore the south bank of the Thames.

The bright sun was a welcome change. Everyone seemed to be outside, and restaurants by the Thames placed chairs in the sun. Like sunbathing cats, people sat outside, taking pictures, drinking beer, talking, and reading. We walked on, past the Golden Hinde.The Golden Hinde is a replica of Sir Francis Drake's 16th century galleon. A little further, as we went looking for the tube station, we found the Clinks Prison museum.

Despite the 5 pound (each) entry fee, I was lured in by its "gore" factor. The skeleton at the entrance, the ancient chants, and the dark dungeon put all other doubts to rest. So we went in! Inside we got a peek into different torture techniques used in the past.

First came the weapons.........

...then came the Scolds Bridle that was used on women who were in trouble. Then came the horror stories! The torture chair, the locks used to imprison prisoners, the thief catcher that locks your jaw after a bang on the head, the chastity belt,

other torture machinery for minor crimes,

and....

the execution center! (Pssst..that's not a real axe i'm threatening R with!)

In addition to all this, we also got to read horror stories of how prisoners were kept and treated. Women who were accused often had to prove their innocence by walking on fire, or by carrying hot coal on their head. If unscathed, they were declared "not guilty". Sometimes they were punished further by having their arms and legs pulled by horses on different directions.

The worst was the story of the rat man, who fattened a rat in prison, so he could eat it to satiate his hunger. Exhausted we finally climbed out to find a place to relax in. A drink later, we were looking for the tube station as intended earlier. Now we're back lounging on our sofa, promising ourselves to sleep early, so we're on time for our Oxford/Stratford/Cotswold trip tomorrow.

More updates then.