Tower of London

     On Wednesday, January 12th we went to the Tower of London.  This eighteen acre fortress was founded by William the Conqueror about 1,000 years ago.  I enjoyed walking up and down the fortress' walls and into the various towers that lined The White Tower in the center.  The Bloody Tower is a main attraction and is said to be haunted because this was where the prisoners were tortured for valuable information.  Various torture devices can be viewed in it today, however I was informed that most of the prisoners were held in The White Tower, which I was disappointed we could not go into because it was undergoing renovations.  We were however able to see the Crown Jewels in the jewel house constructed in 1868.  I was blown away by the grandeur of the jewels, I have never seen such gems that sparkle so much in the light.  My favorite item of the treasures was the Star of Africa, or the Cullinan I, the largest diamond in the world, cut from the Cullinan diamond which is over 3,000 carats!  This beautiful jewel is embedded in the top of the Royal Scepter.  The jewel house was my favorite part of the Tower of London, apart from the great view of the London Bridge from the fortress walls.