OBU in London #7 - July 24 (Tower of London)

July 16 – August 14, 2018 – “The London 15” – OBU Student Abroad in London, England 

Scale model of Tower of London

This summer, I had the privilege of spending a month in England with a group of 15 students from Oklahoma Baptist University.  Dr. Lindsey Panxhi (an English faculty colleague) and myself, along with our respective spouses,  conducted a faculty-led Study Abroad that spent four weeks on the ground in London teaching OBU courses to OBU students while being immersed in the culture and history of Great Britain.  These

The White (central) Tower

are our stories! 

Our Pickwick Hall room!

Tuesday, July 24 – Tower of London!

London Skyline from top of White Tower

1 of 7 Tower Pigeons

We switched things up a bit today.  We walked to the Tower of London this morning – it was an absolutely awesome morning!  Hot as blazes, but we learned a lot of fascinating things about  England’s oldest castle, and the strongest

Memorial to Tower Executees
including Henry VIII's wives

dungeon and armory in the nation.  Lots of pictures to try to convey the importance of the castle.  Henry VIII had a couple of his wives (and at least one of their lovers) 

A Beefeater (Tower guard)

executed at the Tower of London.  The White Tower at the center of the Castle is the oldest part of the castle, and the central armory.  We had a fairly extensive tour and spent a lot of time there.  I could have spent several more hours exploring all of the apartments and other towers, but alas,

The Shard (and skyline)

our time ran out.

Tower Bridge

I did get to see the Crown Jewels at the Tower.  At least, we are told these are the real Crown Jewels!  Lots of bling, that’s for sure.  Incredible amount of wealth tied up in  necklaces, rings,

Last Words of Tower Prisoner

crowns, serving bowls, cups, ornamental swords, maces, etc.  Quite impressive. 

We walked back to Pickwick Hall for lunch, then had classes in the afternoon.  Then supper.  Then Colloquium.  We went out for gelato after Colloquium – very yummy!  It was extremely hot today: +34 Celcius (93F), and our bedroom didn’t cool off

much at night.  Very uncomfortable.

Pictures that follow are of the armor and weapons held in the White Tower, the Tower of London's primary armory.  Very cool stuff!