Moat Movie . . . Fire Monument . . . Queen's Fancy Fashions

Luna Cinema

Luna Cinema’s movie under the stars = Star Wars: The Force Awakens” viewed while actually sitting IN the Tower of London moat! Whaaaat?!? It was a crazy location and such a kick to perch on chairs in the grass among the other picnicking people with the giant movie screen in front of us and a blanket of stars overhead. I had to pinch myself a few times to see if it was real that I was in such a place, viewing space and feeling history literally so close! 

Monument to the Fire

Traversed the crazy spiral staircase of the Monument to the Great Fire which decimated the city of London in 1666. The blaze started from a spark in a bakery on Pudding Lane and burned for days. Once we ascended the winding and tiny stairs, the views of the city which literally rose from the ashes and continues to flourish were fantastic! Mike, mom and I agreed, it was worth the hike – and we earned a certificate for our 311 stairs efforts.

Interesting Monument Facts:

• The Monument is a Doric column made of store and topped with a gilded urn of fire. Its base has inscriptions in Latin on 3 sides and on the fourth, a sculpture of the destruction of the city and directions for its restoration.
• Sir Christopher Wren (of St Peter's Cathedral fame) was one of it's designers. 
• "It's height marks its distance from the site of the shop of Thomas Farriner (or Farynor), the king's baker, where the blaze began." 

-Wikipedia

Buckingham Palace State Room and Queen’s Fashions Tour

A great girl’s day out for mom and I came as we dropped into Buckingham Palace’s State Rooms for a behind-the-scene’s look at her majesty, Queen Elizabeth’s fashions throughout the years. Some stunning, some sturdy, always with a hat, the clothes were lovely and it was a fun peek into her world of color, texture and design.

Favorites included her intricate and beautiful wedding dress, gowns worn to formal diplomatic dinners and weddings, riding gear, and outfits for Ascot, state visits and garden parties. It was interesting to learn about her staff: dressers, hat makers, seamstresses, tailors, jewelers and the like. Who knew getting dressed was such an event?!?

Mom and I also delighted in the rent-a-chair option at the lovely park by Buckingham Palace and soaked up some sun and people-watching before our tour.