Divorced, Beheaded, Died; Divorced, Beheaded, Survived

Yesterday I didn't get my camera out.... So not many pictures to take. We went out and celebrated the birthdays of Allie, and Martha who are now officially 21 years old. By going to the club, Ministry of Sound. It was fun but I have a few opinions about it (I'm not going to share them on here). 

So today was a totally crammed packed day!!! When I was on the Tube heading to Westminster's Tube Station, I realized I totally forgot to take my camera's battery off the charger!! I felt awful!!!! Then when we get to the first tour to find out that there were to be no pictures taken past the Westminster Hall. Oh, believe me.... I was so Jonesin' to take all the pictures of everything I was able to behold with my vision!!!! It was all more than I could EVER imagine!!!! My brain is on current "Overload" right now.... I can't even focus enough to write this.... but it's gotta come out!!!


First the tour of day was a tour of Parliament here in London... You know "Big Ben?" Though nothing was said about the clock. When we walked into "The Palace of Westminster" (aka: Parliament), we walked into Westminster Hall.... this HUGE open room. Our personal Tour Guide, Victoria, said that this room gets more than extremely cold during the winter. It is the oldest part of the Westminster Palace, being built when William ll ruled, during the 11th century. Westminster Hall and a few other rooms remained after the two fires one in 1512 and a far more worse fire in 1834.

This was inside of The Palace of Westminster/ House of Parliament. The first set of steps we went up to what looked like a really fancy court room or a big business meeting room

The other side of the set of the steps had a lion on it.

Looking back outside through the door and the BIG stain glass window (well just the royal coat of arms was on this one) 

In all honesty I wanted to get a good picture on the inside of how grand this "hall" truly was. But I forgot to turn my flash on....

Twice

Okay... three times.... maybe more. But this is a panoramic shot.... or an attempt at trying to get it

SELFIE!!!! But it allows you to kinda see it's size of Westminster Hall (sort of)

We went up these steps.... but first to your left was a little chapel, there was a wedding going on today. Our guide, Victoria, told us that in order to have a wedding here the bride or the groom has to have a member of parliament in their family or they themselves have to be a member.

These are steps that were in the middle of the hall

Another selfie.... but the sun whited out the back ground I wanted.... :(

This is to the right when you go up the steps. They are working on restoring the stone work and the ivory in Westminster Hall so a lot of scaffolds and coverings were all over the walls.

This was in the center right under the big stain glass window that was absolutely gorgeous!!! 

This is the double doors we went through to see the House of the Lords, and the Commons Chamber, the Queen's Robing Room, and MUCH MUCH MUCH MORE!!!

This was on the way out.... I think I was standing in the center of the Hall looking at the doors that I came in and would walk out.

More pictures with no flash....

One of the MANY curious doors this place has

Looking at the fountain that was just outside.... when this dude walks in front of me.... but you can see it still...

A better picture of the fountain

Big Ben Bell Tower

The Palace of Westminster/House of Parliament

Next we went to the Westminster Abby. Where Katherine Middleton and Prince William got married a few years ago i their Cinderella Wedding.

This place was beyond my expectations!!! Granted when the wedding took place I imagined this place to be A LOT bigger.... And it impressed me that they have over 26 Royal ancestors and 38 Notable People like; Charles Darwin, Sir Isaac Newton, Geoffrey Chaucer, Charles Dickens, George Frederick Handel, and many more!!! They've also commemorated at least 19 people there. There is MANY more interesting facts there. 

The title of this blog: King Henry VIII had 6 wives; 

1. Catherine of Aragon - Divorced because she couldn't "Produce an heir" (even though we all know it was Henry's fault that he never had an heir with her..... the males' sperm decide the gender of the baby....), 

1. Anne Boleyn - Beheaded for high treason, adultery, incest and witchcraft. But later on after her death she was recognized for her a key figure in the upheaval that begun the English Reformation (both political and religious).

1. Jane Seymour - Died within a matter of days after giving birth to a son, Edward VI. She was also the only wife of King Henry VIII to receive a queen's burial, and it is she who is laying next to him there in Westminster Abby. It was believed that Jane was the only wife he ever truly loved, because he grieved deeply for her after her passing.

1. Anne of Cleaves - Divorced - King Henry VIII sent out an artist Hans Holbein the Younger (who was told that he was very good.... but he was not) to paint pictures of all the maidens. Falsely lead on by a picture... he marries her only have met with her 3 official times and once unofficial - then married her. Saw her the wedding night and was turned off.... and annuled their marriage. King Henry said to have never consummated the marriage with Anne. After their divorce she was called the King's beloved sister, and was given a big settlement.

1. Catherine Howard - Beheaded for treason, and adultery - she was also Queen Ann's (Boleyn) first cousin.

1. Catherine Parr - Survived, she married King Henry VIII on 7.12.1543, and out lived him.

Again we weren't allowed to take pictures in the abby, but out and around the abby we were allowed so I have a ton of pictures of the grounds, and of graves that are in the cloisters that's around the court/garth.

Westminster Abby/Church

We entered the Abby through the arch that is in the center of the building.

Westminster Abby and Big Ben

I met a nun!! She was nice!!! But I didn't get her name.... oops

Where Prince William and Katherine left the church as "Man and Wife"
During the tour of this part of the Abby.... some where having a "Kate" moment as we walked those steps that Katherine Middleton walked in her wedding to the alter to meet her Prince

This is the door we entered to go to The Cloisters and then into the church

The Cloisters

Cloister Garth

Kings and Queens, and Princes and Princesses were buried along the walk ways that lined the path of The Cloisters

Surrounding schools to the Abby are: Westminster School and Westminster Abbey Choir School

Sorry for the picture over load again!!! And to think if I had my camera.... I'd a gotten A LOT more pictures!!!!