A Day At The Tower.

I was really excited after reading the forecast for yesterday's weather: light snow was supposedly on the agenda for London! I wondered what to do with myself, should I stay warm at home ready to jump on the balcony and experience the snow should it fall? Or should I brave the chill and go out, and hopefully be able to capture the snow falling?

The novelty of staying warm at home didn't last long, so I decided I'd head out - this time I knew exactly where I wanted to go, though: the Tower of London. I visited here last time I was in England with Jason, and we did the standard tour and enjoyed the sights for a while - but for some reason, ever since arriving back on these shores, I've wanted to do it again. Jason wasn't particularly fussed, so I had already put it aside for one of my solo tourist days. Today worked out perfectly, a nice little half day outing.

It only took about 15 minutes to get there from home, as I caught the DLR (Docklands Light Rail) from my doorstep, straight there. The weather wasn't just cold, it was icy cold. Definitely different from every other cold morning I'd experienced here so far, and seemed perfect for snow. It quickly went from cold to freezing, I was wishing I'd put on a few scarves and extra layers! Cloudy skies, but no snow to be seen.

As I was waiting in the queue, these tourists behind me kept on trying to shove their way past me. I put on my best football linebacker stance, with my legs spread apart and my arms in my pocket, to block them from squeezing ahead of me, and thankfully it worked. I can't stand people who cut queues! I paid for my 16 quid ticket, and then hovered inside te gates out of the wind waiting for one of the Yeoman Warders.

This is the White Tower in all of it's glory. Can you spy any ravens in this photograph?

It was the same old tour, even with the same old jokes, but I still loved every second of it. I love all of the grizzly historical facts, I love exploring the old rooms, and I love standing in a place so old. In other words? I am a nerd. Forgive me?

The beef-eaters made jokes about it snowing, but alas.. snow it did not. It was still mighty cold though; and the guide I took a picture with made a joke about my fitting in with the snow should it start to fall, obviously because I am the palest Australian in the history of the world. (Even Englishmen are more tanned than I am!)

I spent a fair amount of time hiding inside the buildings within the Tower, because it was so bloody cold I could hardly think straight. Saw the Crown Jewels, the Armoury, some of the old quarters, and a few very expensive souvenir shops, before I decided I was done. Once exiting the site, there are some beautiful views of the Thames and London bridge, but sadly there was still no snow in sight.

I noticed a family a little further down the path that were taking pictures in front of London Bridge, and offered to take a picture for them. Thankfully I didn't drop their pretty camera, because my hands felt like chunks of ice at this stage. They repaid the debt, and took a picture of my whole body standing in front of the bridge.

And you thought I was just a giant floating head... tsk tsk.

I didn't see any snow, though. When I got back to the apartment, I thought it had begun to snow, but when I opened the window, it was drizzling instead. I also managed to break the window handle too, because I am a genius. I blame the snow.. or lack thereof.