I just got back from a trip to Manchester
and London, England
and Paris, France where I had the opportunity
to take in some soccer, pubs, cafes, museums, cathedrals and very, very cool
looking architecture and historical buildings.
London has some of the best looking pubs I've ever seen and the beer was not bad either! Driving took as bit getting used to but all said and done I prefer driving on the right side of the road here at home!
For me visiting London
is an unforgettable experience as there is a true breadth of history going
back hundreds of years. At almost every corner there are landmark sights
with their own story, and architectural style.
.
London is
not characterized by any particular architectural style, having accumulated its
buildings over a long period of time. I took over a thousand pictures so I had a struggle on which ones to share with you. Below were some of my favorites pictures of London.
One interesting fact I learned was that many of the oldest structures were lost
in the Great Fire of 1666 which started in a bakery shop and resulted in London banning thatched
roofs.
The fire consumed 13,200 houses, 87 parish churches, St. Paul's Cathedral and most of the city government.
buildings. It is estimated to have destroyed the homes of 70,000 of the City's
80,000 inhabitants.
London
Eye:
To get my bearing and see the skyline we jumped on the London Eye.
The London Eye is a giant Ferris wheel on the
south Bank of the Thames River in London. This structure is 443 ft tall and the
wheel has a diameter of 394 ft. It
takes 30 minutes to complete one rotation.
Touted as the tallest Ferris wheel in Europe
it was erected in 1999 for the new Millennium. This Ferris Wheel and was supposed to be a
temporary structure but was so successful that it is now a permanent fixture. What a cool
experience and breath taking views.
Westminster Abbey:
Just a short walk from the London Eye, across the Thames River
is Westminster Abbey. This church is a must-see and significant structure in
British history. It has beautiful Gothic architecture, a truly stunning
building.
Many a King, Queen, aristocrats, poets, priests, heroes and even villains
are all part of the church's fascinating history.
Since the crowning of William the Conqueror in 1066, Westminster Abbey has been
the nation's Coronation church. Many Kings and Queens,
including the current reigning Queen Elizabeth II, have been crowned on King
Edward's Chair.
The Abbey has also seen many Royal Weddings and Funerals through the years; in
2011 it was the venue for the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton.
Highlights of this grand building include a statue of the Virgin Mary holding
a baby Jesus, the Nave with the grave of the unknown warrior and the Little
Cloister leading the College
Gardens.
Big Ben
Everyone knows the name Big Ben. Big Ben is the nickname for the clock at Palace of Westminster and it is directly across
the street from Westminster Abbey.
It is also known as clock tower. The tower is now officially called the Elizabeth Tower
after being renamed in 2012 (from "Clock Tower") to celebrate the Diamond
Jubilee of Elizabeth II. The tower holds
the largest four-faced chiming clock in the world and is the third-tallest
free-standing clock tower. Built
in 1858 it is still in great shape today.
Wellington Arch:
The Wellington Arch is one of the most viewed London landmarks and real historic monument.
Both Wellington Arch and Marble Arch were planned in 1825 by George IV to
commemorate Britain's
victories in the Napoleonic Wars with Wellington Arch originally conceived as
the gateway to Buckingham
Palace.
The Wellington Arch is a great tourist site to watch the mounted Horse
Guards, which pass between its majestic columns every day while exhibitions
inside tell of this London archs fascinating history and introduce the statues
and memorials of London.
Buckingham Palace:
The official London residence and principal workplace of Queen Elizabeth.
Originally known as Buckingham House, the building which forms the core of today's
palace was a large townhouse built for the Duke of Buckingham in 1705.
It was
subsequently acquired by George III in 1761
as a private residence for Queen Charlotte, and known as "The Queen's
House".
During the 19th century it was enlarged, principally by architects
John Nash and Edward Blore, forming three wings around a central courtyard. Buckingham Palace
finally became the official royal palace of the British monarch on the
accession of Queen Victoria
in 1837.
The last major structural additions were made in the late 19th and
early 20th centuries, including the East front, which contains the well-known
balcony on which the royal family traditionally congregates to greet crowds outside.
London's Front Doors:
While wandering around the historic streets of London, I loved the
differing front doors and entry ways of the homes and walk ups. Many doorways had mosaic tile entry floors - a very classy touch and alot of work to do!!!
I was also surprised to stumble across
recurring and fascinating pieces of archaic door knockers in the
form of a lady's hand, delicately holding a ball or a piece of fruit. There were many of them and the one below was my favorite.
We review tools all the time, but the
Pro Tool Innovation Awards aim to take every manufacturer from around the country and put them up against each other to determine the most innovative tools, accessories and fastening products in the industry.
There are over 140 categories, and the awards aim to judge products based on how they've innovated within the industry.
Innovation comes in many forms: Ergonomics, power, weight-reduction, speed, battery-life, and value...these are just a few areas being looked at.
Based on what we've seen so far this year, the competition should be intense. Manufacturers can enter their tools and products online beginning August 9th at the link above.
