ABC...Z the end of the round

I had to think through what I might use from our trip last summer to conclude with the theme I have used for nearly all of this round. We didn't visist any countries starting with Z such as Zimbabwe or Zaire or New Zealand. We weren't in Italy, so we didn't eat any zabaliogne or zitti. We didn't go on safari or visit a zoo, so we didn't see any zebras or zebus.

But there were some specific zones we visited.




For example, this Central Controlled Zone is around the Scottish Parliament Building. (I'm not sure what is controlled, maybe it is vehicle traffic. It's not girls in shorts.)








Near our hotel in the outskirts of London, the Pedestrian Zone may end, but it still stands. The Construction Zone in the area, however, ought to be ended by now.

I may pull out images from our UK trip for other blog entries in the future, but for this round, this is the zzzzzz, the end. So I will leave the ZZZZZZZs with my husband resting his eyes as we traveled through the Highlands back to Edinburgh after our week of hiking.

ABC Wednesday -- the end of Round Seven.

See you next week as we begin Round Eight.

Y is for...

Yeomen of the Queen's Bodyguard



Originated in 1485 to guard the new king Henry VII, the yeomen's duties have change in modern times. Still devoted to the monarch, these colorful gents act as guides to the Tower of London, regaling us with its fascinating history and entertaining along the way.


All are veterans of the military services, and experts on their subject matter.

For the history of the Yeoman Warders, Yeoman Archers--other versions of their title--visit their website.


The Tower of London



Reaching the letter Y means we will soon be leaving ABC Wednesday's Round 7. But don't worry, we'll be back for Round 8 immediately following.

T is for

Continuing our visit to the UK, while in London we visited the

Tower of London

 London is a city with a lot of contrasts. You can see above  the Tower of London, with some of the modern architecture of recent years in the background. Within the Tower compound itself, there is also contrast between portions of the castle built in different centuries--the earliest construction begun in 1080. In the apartments in this Tudor portion of the structure that Lady Jane Grey resided until her execution.

Our guide to the history of the Tower was this most delightful and colorful member of the Yeomen Warders who thoroughly enjoyed what he was doing.

 There is always restoration and preservation going on


















at a site as old as this. This is one of the oldest walls.

 If we make a return trip to London in future years, we will give the city more time. Then perhaps we will be able to attend some of the demonstrations that take place in the Tower precincts. Previously in this round of ABCs I showed you part of the Royal Armory for R, and mentioned that the Tower is included as one of the Royal Palaces while we were "searching" for the Queen in Q. The Tower is also home of the Crown Jewels.

 As we cruised the River Thames we passed under the Tower Bridge, which has only it proximity to the Tower of London to thank for its name.

Look for other examples for the letter T at the ABC Wednesday homesite. We are in the seventh rouind (my sixth) and it is amazing what we can find each week to illustrate the theme letter.

ABC Wednesday--S is for

For today's letter we will proceed to the finest of literature. As I have drawn this round's alphabet from our visit to the UK, I present to you, words from Shakespeare:

...from a poster at the Globe Theatre. If you didn't think you knew any Shakespeare, just glance at a few of the phrases you may have used yourself. The picture is pieced together from three shots, and I am afraid that I lost the bottom in the piecing.

.

But what is this, shall we travel on the subway or should we go by hansom cab? Because we do have to head on up to 221B Baker Street

so that we can sit in the sitting room of the renowned private detective, Sherlock Holmes.

I was designated as Sherlock, whilst hubby played the part of Dr. Watson.

Literary fun--both--as we continued to wander London.

ABC Wednesday--what next?

ABC Wednesday--R is for...

 The Royal Armory  is located in the Tower of London.

 

ABC Wednesday

ABC Wednesday--Q is for...

Q is for Queen.


So, while we were in the UK we could have gone looking for the queen. Officially, the Great Hall here at the Edinburgh Castle is hers for entertaining.

But she wasn't there.

She wasn't at Holyrood Palace at the other end of the Royal Mile, either.
















When we got to London, we could have seen the queen, too.

We went right up to her gate.

Be she wasn't home.

There are many places where the queen has the privilege of residence. Even here:

But I will save that for T.



ABC Wednesday,
Round Seven,
Found here.

ABC Wednesday P

When we were in London, we went to
Picadilly Circus, where we saw
a play at the famous Criterion Theatre.

We saw Buckingham Palace from the London Eye

and from much closer.

We attended Evensong at St. Paul's Cathedral.

and had meals at several Pubs--this one dates back to the 1500s, but the current building is from 1877.

And we even observed a political protest.

ABC WEdnesday, Round Seven, the letter P. See more with the links here.

ABC Wednesday--M

Many marvelous monuments mark the metropolitan London scene.


Victoria Memorial




remembering the Queen Mother




Samuel johnson's cat



Cleopatra's Needle

honoring the contribution of women

lions are good for climbing

Admiral Horatio Nelson

The many memorials of London make for a trip through history, and a great stop for M in the seventh round of Wednesday's ABCs. What other wonders have been found this week? You can see here.

Working

London Bobbies


Ever watchful

Another Weekend Reflection in London

The differing angles of the glass in this modern building cause the reflection to be disjointed. Turning around, here is the view of Westminster Cathedral.

James has been hosting Weekend Reflections at Newtown Daily Photo for more than a year now and this Weekend Reflecction was taken almost two months ago in London. How time flies.

Tower Bridge SkyWatch

London

It's been nearly two months and I'm still showing you London. I wonder what I would do with a longer trip. 

SkyWatch posts from around the world will be found linked at the SkyWatch site. It is amazing to see the variety, and yet the unity, among skies around the world and how we react to them.

The blue bits of sky among the clouds here look promising, but the second image gives a truer picture of what we could expect that day, and indeed, before the day was over we would duck into a Thai restaurant along Fleet Street for a long  dinner to avoid the cloudburst.

It's a job! Somebody has to do it!

When I started doing Men and Women at Work most Thursdays, I was looking for ordinary people doing ordinary jobs. It didn't occur to me the variety of both ordinary jobs and unusual jobs that ordinary people do. In another couple of weeks I will run out of picturesque jobs in British royal or historical (or both) locations.

We did not see the official changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace when a whole platoon exchange duties, but as individual guards change shift it is almost better.



Palace Guards at Buckingham Palace and at St. James Palace, London--men at work.