Date uploaded in London – 4 JUNE 2024
Contact – swami_48@yahoo.com
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Picture of Tower of London
(Welcome to London : Try lifting 13 Kilo Gold Bar in London Museum (Post No.13,292) was posted here on 31 May 2024)
There was a surprise waiting for us in London on 15th May 2024. The Tower Bridge opened for us during our cruise on Thames. Having lived in London for over 37 years, I don’t go round the city very often; only when relatives or friends visit London, I take them to all spots of scenic beauty . when I took my brother and his wife to the Tower Bridge, I told them the bridge would open when ships come on Thames like our Pamban Bridge in Tamil Nadu. They showed great interest and asked the Bridge authorities what time that would open on that day. They told them that it would open after 5.30 pm on that day. We didn’t wait and came back home. Next day we took the Thames River ride. It is a must for every tourist.
If you take the boat up to Greenwich (Pronunciation- greenich- W is silent. If you say greenWhich, they will know that you are a stranger. When I lived in Madurai 37 years ago, during weekend I and Mr Ganesan, now Governor of Nagaland state in India , took a town bus/city bus to go to a place very near for RSS work,I asked the bus conductor for two tickets to Airaavatha Nallur. When I said Airaavathanalloor, many people stared at me. Then Ganeshji told me you have to say Ailaanoor like local villagers. When I went to Trichy for an RSS camp at Tiruppaithurai, I saw the board in the bus with that name. I asked the bus conductor whether the bus goes there just to double check. The bus conductor told me to get down from the bus. Then came the second bus with the name Tirupparaiithurai. I boarded the bus and asked the same question. Bus conductor shouted at me saying ‘Get Down Get Down’. I was surprised. Then a Trichyman, local guy, who watched this drama, called me and said “I understand you are a visitor from another town and here you have to say TiruPPLAAthurai”. And then the third bus came I asked for a ticket t to TiruPPLAAthurai and he said “come on, board the bus quickly”. So it is important to say the word with local pronunciation. Or show it in writing.
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While we were on the boat, there was a running commentary in English explaining the importance of famous buildings or land marks on both sides of the Thames. Suddenly he announced over microphone, “Guys! you are all lucky today, the bridge is opening for a ship”. Actually a boat with tall mast was coming. All in the boat took their cameras, videos, mobile phones etc and clicking and clicking for ten minutes .
A few years ago ,when I went there just to see the bridge opening, I waited for hours to see it. The height of the road bridge is NOT fit for big and tall ships. So they have to open the bridge. It consists of two parts. All the buses and vehicles will be stopped when both parts are lifted.
The Tower Bridge is an engineering marvel. Tower Hill is the nearest underground station. After getting down there, you have to cross the road and walk along the London Tower Fort where our Kohinoor Diamond and other Royal Jewellery are on show. If you buy the ticket and enter the Tower you can see where the crows are carefully kept with a special care taker. The British believe if the crows fly away the Royalty will face big dangers. And the guide inside the Tower will tell you a lot of stories about the execution of famous queens and traitors on the rampart . Henry VIII sent many of his queens to be executed there. On those days the whole of London came thereto watch the Death Sentence of the queens. They did not show any sympathy but enjoyed with joyful shouts.
After passing the Tower, you go along the river banks and climb the Tower Bridge. Half way through you can see the division or parting where the Bridge is divided into two. There is a ticket office where you get tickets to see the Story of Tower Bridge and its wonderful engineering work.
Everything is FREE unless you wanted to see Tower and Royal Jewellery, unless you want to see the engineering work. Sometimes there may be a long Queue in front of the Safe Room where the Royal Crown on display.
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Tickets for Boat Trip
You must pay for the boat trip. There are many types of tickets. I bought £12 ticket to go half way and come back to Westminster. Some people bought tickets up to Greenwich. If You want to come back, you will have to pay more. But many people go to Greenwich observatory where zero-degree longitude is marked; the earth is divided into two with those imaginary lines. You may now about GMT.
The tickets can be bought in many piers. But the big pier is very near Big Ben Clock or Westminster Underground. To go up to Greenwich it would take 45 minutes or one hour.
What is Tower Bridge?
An iconic London landmark and one of Britain’s best loved historic sites, Tower Bridge is open to the public 363 days a year. Within the Bridge’s iconic structure and magnificent Victorian Engine rooms, the Tower Bridge Exhibition is the best way of exploring the most famous bridge in the world! (To see the exhibition you have to buy tickets; but walking on the bridge is FREE. You can see boats ad ferries on both sides of the River Thames.
The modern concrete and steel structure we know today was opened to traffic in 1973. Tower Bridge was built in 1894.
Tower Bridge is a Grade I listed combined bascule, suspension, and, until 1960, cantilever bridge in London, built between 1886 and 1894, designed by Horace Jones and engineered by John Wolfe Barry with the help of Henry Marc Brune
London Bridge and Tower Bridge look very different, yet both are famous bridges in their own right, and both are must-see attractions in the city. Both bridges are free to walk across, and they’re both in great locations surrounded by other amazing attractions.
You can walk across the bridge for free or for a slight fee you can walk up inside the bridge, take in the breathtaking skyline and walk across the glass bottom walkway.
(The Pamban Bridge in India, also called as Cantilever Scherzer Rolling Lift Bridge; was named after the German engineer Scherzer, who built the Pamban viaduct; has a road bridge that was constructed parallel to the original rail bridge back in 1988 which connects National Highway 49 with the island of Rameshwaram.)
–subham—
Tower Bridge, Thames Cruise, Greenwich, Tower, Royal Jewellery , Crows, Execution of Queens, Pamban Bridge
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