"The history of the abbey starts in 1050, when King Edward The Confessor decided to build an abbey. Only a small part of this original Norman monastery, consecrated in 1065, survived. The only representation of this original building is shown on the Bayeux Tapestry. Most of the present building dates from 1245 to 1272 when Henry III decided to rebuild the abbey in the gothic style. Large parts were later added: the Chapel of Henry VII was added between 1503 and 1512, while the two West Front Towers date from 1745. The youngest part of the abbey is the North entrance, completed in the 19th century." - from http://www.aviewoncities.com/london/westminsterabbey.htm
Almost every monarch has been crowned at Westminster Abbey and about every King and Queen has been buried here. Shakespeare, Isaac Newton, Charles Darwin, Charles Dickens, Rudyard Kipling, Laurence Olivier, Handel, and many other well known people were buried at WA also.
The abbey was georgeous and there were so many things and details to take in. It was truly amazing and I'm glad I got to visit - I just couldn't comprehend all of the details. It was bit too much to take in...
So I have done lots of things since I've posted last. I've been to the Tower of London, Greenwich, the London Eye, Harrods, seen Jersey Boys (which was spectacular), taken a tour of the East End (great bagels w/ cream cheese and lox), and gotten lost and gone to an opposite side of London. I can't even remember all of the things I have done - I shouldn't have waited this long to blog.
Tomorrow we are going to take a weekend trip and travel to Bath, Oxford, Stratford-upon-Avon, and Stonehenge. I'm quite excited; I will be seeing some very well known places. I can't wait to see the crescent of buildings in Bath and go to the actual baths. I'll write about it when I get back.
So I'm going to talk more about Jersey Boys. I had wanted to see it for a long time, but I wasn't expecting it to be as amazing as it was. I didn't know only three or so songs. But otherwise it was all of my favorites! It included Sherry, Walk Like a Man, My Eyes Adored You, December 1963, Can't Take My Eyes Off of You, and Let's Hang On. It was extremely entertaining to listen to Nick Massi (the bass in Jersey Boys) go from his "Jersey" accent into a british accent. Their accents were actually pretty convincing, though. The production was spectacular and the singing was, too. The actors looked almost identical to the real deal from the first balcony. If anyone every gets the chance to see Jersey Boys, do!
I'm missing the states already and I am really going to miss the fireworks on the Fourth of July ( yes, I am already thinking about the Fourth of July). The weeks are going by very quickly and I hope everyone is enjoying the weather at home (it is usually cool and rainy here).Well, I have to go to bed. I feel like I'm getting sick and I have to travel tomorrow.
