Life is short, so live it. Love is rare, so grab it. Fear controls you, so face it. Memories are precious, so cherish them. We only get one life, so live it!
My Europe Trip _Part # 1 : Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the places and moments that take our breath away.~ Mark Twain ~ “Cuộc đời không đo bằng số hơi thở mà bằng những nơi chốn và khoảng khắc khiến ta nín thở”
-Listen To Music : The Best of Mozart :
The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only one page. ~ St. Augustine of Hippo ~
- Click on:Europe Map||_(Click on any Country for its Map & Information)
London is the capital city of England and of the United Kingdom. It is the most populous region, urban zone and metropolitan area in the United Kingdom. Standing on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its founding by the Romans, who named it Londinium. London's ancient core, the City of London, largely retains its 1.12-square-mile (2.9 km2) mediaeval boundaries and in 2011 had a resident population of 7,375, making it the smallest city in England. Since at least the 19th century, the termLondon has also referred to the metropolis developed around this core. The bulk of thisconurbation forms the London region and the Greater London administrative area,governed by the Mayor of London and the London Assembly.
London is a leading global city, with strengths in the arts, commerce, education, entertainment, fashion, finance, healthcare, media, professional services, research and development, tourism and transport all contributing to its prominence. It is one of the world's leading financial centres and has the fifth- or sixth-largest metropolitan area GDP in the world depending on measurement. London is a world cultural capital. It is the world's most-visited city as measured by international arrivals and has the world's largest city airport system measured by passenger traffic. London's 43 universities form the largest concentration of higher education in Europe. In 2012, London became the first city to host the modern Summer Olympic Games three times.
London has a diverse range of peoples and cultures, and more than 300 languages are spoken within its boundaries.London had an official population of 8,308,369 in 2012, making it themost populous municipality in the European Union, and accounting for 12.5% of the UK population. The Greater London Urban Area is the second-largest in the EU with a population of 9,787,426 according to the 2011 census. The London metropolitan area is the largest in the EU with a total population of 13,614,409, while the Greater London Authority puts the population of London metropolitan region at 21 million. London had the largest population of any city in the world from around 1831 to 1925.
Windsor Castle is a royal residence at Windsor in the English county of Berkshire. The castle is notable for its long association with the British royal family and for its architecture. The original castle was built in the 11th century after the Norman invasion by William the Conqueror. Since the time of Henry I, it has been used by succeeding monarchs and it is the longest-occupied palace in Europe. The castle's lavish, early 19th-century State Apartments are architecturally significant, described by art historian Hugh Roberts as "a superb and unrivalled sequence of rooms widely regarded as the finest and most complete expression of later Georgian taste". The castle includes the 15th-century St George's Chapel, considered by historian John Robinson to be "one of the supreme achievements of English Perpendicular Gothic" design. More than five hundred people live and work in Windsor Castle.
Originally designed to protect Norman dominance around the outskirts of London, and to oversee a strategically important part of the River Thames, Windsor Castle was built as a motte and bailey, with three wards surrounding a central mound. Gradually replaced with stone fortifications, the castle withstood a prolonged siege during the First Barons' War at the start of the 13th century. Henry III built a luxurious royal palace within the castle during the middle of the century, and Edward III went further, rebuilding the palace to produce an even grander set of buildings in what would become "the most expensive secular building project of the entire Middle Ages in England". Edward's core design lasted through the Tudor period, during which Henry VIII and Elizabeth I made increasing use of the castle as a royal court and centre for diplomatic entertainment.
Windsor Castle survived the tumultuous period of the English Civil War, when it was used as a military headquarters for Parliamentary forces and a prison for Charles I. During the Restoration, Charles II rebuilt much of Windsor Castle with the help of architect Hugh May, creating a set of extravagant, Baroque interiors that are still admired. After a period of neglect during the 18th century,George III and George IV renovated and rebuilt Charles II's palace at colossal expense, producing the current design of the State Apartments, full of Rococo, Gothic and Baroque furnishings. Victoria made minor changes to the castle, which became the centre for royal entertainment for much of her reign. Windsor Castle was used as a refuge for the royal family during the bombing campaigns of the Second World War and survived a fire in 1992. It is a popular tourist attraction, a venue for hosting state visits, and Elizabeth II's preferred weekend home.
Queen Elizabeth II was born Princess Elizabeth Alexandra Mary on April 21, 1926_became queen on February 6, 1952, and was crowned on June 2, 1953
-VIDEO :Visit Windsor Castle: Official Video_View the official video for visitors to Windsor Castle, the largest and oldest occupied castle in the world, and one of the official residences of Her Majesty The Queen.
Open throughout the year, the Castle's dramatic site encapsulates 900 years of British history and covers an area of 26 acres. Highlights include the magnificent State and Semi-State Apartments furnished with treasures from the Royal Collection, St George's Chapel where ten monarchs are buried, and a masterpiece in miniature - Queen Mary's Dolls' House.
Windsor Castle at sunset as viewed from the Long Walk in Windsor, England.
Windsor Castle Henry VIII Gateway_TheHenry VIIIgateway in the Lower Ward
Windsor Castle Norman Gatebuilt byEdward IIIand remodelled in the 19th century
The Round Tower in the Middle Ward, built by Henry II and remodelled in the 19th century
Curfew Tower, Windsor Castle
The South Wing of the Upper Ward; the Official Entrance to the State Apartments is on the left.Windsor Castle Upper Ward Quadrangle.
The State Apartments in the Upper Ward; (l to r) the Official Entrance, St George's Hall; the Guest's Entrance
The lower ward (bailey) of Windsor Castle in England. St George's Chapel is on the left and the Round Tower is centre right. Image by Joseph Nash published 1848.
Windsor Castle from the Air .
An aerial view of the castle: (l to r) the Lower Ward, the Middle Ward and Round Tower, the Upper Ward, with the Long Walk in the lower right hand corner. The River Thames can be seen in the upper left of the picture.
Windsor Castle, seen from the north; (l to r) Upper Ward, Middle Ward, Round Tower, St George's Chapel, Lower Ward and Curfew Tower
Windsor Castle UK Full aspect panorama showing St Georges Chapel, Curfew Tower, Round Tower, Upper & Lower Wards
-VIDEO :IMMS-UK: Household Division Bands - State Visit, Windsor - April 2014_Military bands from the Household Division accompanying the State Visit to the UK by the Irish President. The Bands shown are from the Grenadier, Scots and Irish Guards and the Life Guards and Blues & Royals. If you're a fan of military music, find out more about the International Military Music Society in the UK by searching IMMS-UK on Facebook.
The Windsor Castle In UK
The Changing of the Guard is one of the highlights of a visit to Windsor
Windsor_Castle_Crimson_Drawing_Room
Carved_unicorn
Angle of the East Corridor, Windsor Castle
Ballroom, Windsor Castle
East Corridor, Windsor Castle
Windsor Castle - Grand Reception Room
Take the Virtual Tour :(Click on View: Flash Large)
The bridge consists of two towers tied together at the upper level by means of two horizontal walkways, designed to withstand the horizontal forces exerted by the suspended sections of the bridge on the landward sides of the towers. The vertical component of the forces in the suspended sections and the vertical reactions of the two walkways are carried by the two robust towers. The bascule pivots and operating machinery are housed in the base of each tower. The bridge's present colour scheme dates from 1977, when it was painted red, white and blue for Queen Elizabeth II's silver jubilee. Originally it was painted a mid greenish-blue colour.
-The bridge is 800 feet (244 m) in length with two towers each 213 feet (65 m) high, built on piers. The central span of 200 feet (61 m) between the towers is split into two equal bascules or leaves, which can be raised to an angle of 86 degrees to allow river traffic to pass. The bascules, weighing over 1,000 tons each, are counterbalanced to minimise the force required and allow raising in five minutes.
The two side-spans are suspension bridges, each 270 feet (82 m) long, with the suspension rods anchored both at the abutments and through rods contained within the bridge's upper walkways. The pedestrian walkways are 143 feet (44 m) above the river at high tide.
The tall shipWylde Swan passing under Tower Bridge decorated for the London Olympics in August 2012. Note the Olympic rings folded up to allow passage of the mast.
A tall ship passing under Tower Bridge decorated for the London Olympics in August 2012.
Tower Bridge with 2012 Olympic rings lit up at night
Tower Bridge opening at night for a ferry
Aerial Tower Bridge
The Shard, also referred to as the Shard of Glass,Shard London Bridge
The Shard,[also referred to as the Shard of Glass, Shard London Bridge and formerly London Bridge Tower, is an 87-storey skyscraper in London that forms part of the London Bridge Quarter development. The Shard's construction began in March 2009; it was topped out on 30 March 2012and inaugurated on 5 July 2012. Practical completion was achieved in November 2012. Its privately operated observation deck, the View from the Shard, opened to the public on 1 February 2013.
The Tower of London, officially Her Majesty's Royal Palace and Fortress of the Tower of London, is a historic castle located on the north bank of the River Thames in central London. It lies within the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, separated from the eastern edge of the square mile of the City of London by the open space known as Tower Hill. It was founded towards the end of 1066 as part of the Norman Conquest of England. The White Tower, which gives the entire castle its name, was built by William the Conqueror in 1078 and was a resented symbol of oppression, inflicted upon London by the new ruling elite. The castle was used as a prison from 1100 (Ranulf Flambard) until 1952 (Kray twins), although that was not its primary purpose. A grand palace early in its history, it served as a royal residence. As a whole, the Tower is a complex of several buildings set within two concentric rings of defensive walls and a moat. There were several phases of expansion, mainly under Kings Richard the Lionheart, Henry III, and Edward I in the 12th and 13th centuries. The general layout established by the late 13th century remains despite later activity on the site.
The Tower of London has played a prominent role in English history. It was besieged several times, and controlling it has been important to controlling the country. The Tower has served variously as an armoury, a treasury, a menagerie, the home of the Royal Mint, a public record office, and the home of the Crown Jewels of England. From the early 14th century until the reign of Charles II, a procession would be led from the Tower to Westminster Abbey on the coronation of a monarch. In the absence of the monarch, the Constable of the Tower is in charge of the castle. This was a powerful and trusted position in the medieval period. In the late 15th century, the castle was the prison of the Princes in the Tower. Under the Tudors, the Tower became used less as a royal residence, and despite attempts to refortify and repair the castle, its defences lagged behind developments to deal with artillery.
The peak period of the castle's use as a prison was the 16th and 17th centuries, when many figures who had fallen into disgrace, such asElizabeth Ibefore she became queen, SirWalter Raleigh, andElizabeth Throckmorton, were held within its walls. This use has led to the phrase "sent to the Tower". Despite its enduring reputation as a place of torture and death, popularised by 16th-century religious propagandists and 19th-century writers, only seven people were executed within the Tower before the World Wars of the 20th century. Executions were more commonly held on the notoriousTower Hillto the north of the castle, with 112 occurring there over a 400-year period. In the latter half of the 19th century, institutions such as the Royal Mint moved out of the castle to other locations, leaving many buildings empty.Anthony SalvinandJohn Taylortook the opportunity to restore the Tower to what was felt to be its medieval appearance, clearing out many of the vacant post-medieval structures. In the First and Second World Wars, the Tower was again used as a prison and witnessed the executions of 12 men for espionage. After the Second World War, damage caused duringthe Blitzwas repaired, and the castle reopened to the public. Today, the Tower of London is one of the country's most popular tourist attractions. Under the ceremonial charge of the Constable of the Tower, it is cared for by the charityHistoric Royal Palacesand is protected as aWorld Heritage Site.
The White Tower is a central tower, the old keep, at the Tower of London. It was built by William the Conqueror during the late 11th century Peter Beefeater at the Tower of London
Henry, c. 1531._Henry VIII(28 June 1491 – 28 January 1547) was King of England from 21 April 1509 until his death. Besides his six marriages, Henry VIII is known for his role in the separation of the Church of England from the Roman Catholic Church. His disagreements with the Pope led to his separation of the Church of England from papal authority, with himself, as King, as the Supreme Head of the Church of England, and to the Dissolution of the Monasteries. Because his principal dispute was with papal authority, rather than with doctrinal matters, he remained a believer in core Catholic theological teachings, despite his excommunication from the Roman Catholic Church.
Tower Greenis a space within the Tower of London where two EnglishQueens consort and five other British nobles were executed bybeheading. The Tower Green is located on a space south of the Chapel Royal of St. Peter ad Vincula. Beheading in the privacy of the Tower Green was considered a privilege of rank; the executed were spared insults from jeering crowds, and the monarch was spared bad publicity. Other prisoners in the tower were executed in public on Tower Hill, just outside the fortress, or at Tyburn on the other side of the city. In the middle of the green is a small square plot paved with granite, which shows the site commonly believed to be the spot on which stood the scaffold on which private executions took place.
The Tower Green Memorial -“Gentle visitor pause a while, Where you stand death cut away the light of many days. Here, jewelled names were broken from the vivid thread of life. May they rest in peace while we walk the generations around their strife and courage, Under these restless skies Anne Of The Thousand Days 1969 Complete Full Movie:
-Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace_(July 17_2013):
Buckingham Palace (1837)
Queen Elizabeth celebrates official birthday with military parade_Sat June 13, 2015
The queen was joined by her husband, Prince Philip, and other members of the royal family for the ceremony in central London
Queen Elizabeth II marked her official birthday Saturday with a spectacular military parade and awards for actors, sportsmen and sportswomen, business leaders and community workers.
The queen's actual birthday is on April 21 -- when the British monarch this year turned 89. But in line with tradition, her birthday is also celebrated on a summer Saturday when the weather is likely to be better for the parade, known as Trooping the Colour._Sat June 13, 2015.
Live from Horse Guards Parade in London, this world-renowned military parade where the Colour of 1st Battalion Welsh Guards is trooped to mark Her Majesty the Queen's official birthday. Celebrations include the famous balcony appearance and flypast at Buckingham Palace.
The custom of Trooping the Colour dates back to the time of Charles II in the 17th. Century when the Colours of a regiment were used as a rallying point in battle and were therefore trooped in front of the soldiers every day to make sure that every man could recognise those of his own regiment. In London, the Foot Guards used to do this as part of their daily Guard Mounting on Horse Guards and the ceremonial of the modern Trooping the Colour parade is along similar lines. The first traceable mention of The Sovereign's Birthday being 'kept' by the Grenadier Guards is in 1748 and again, after George III became King in 1760, it was ordered that parades should mark the King's Birthday. From the accesssion of George IV they became, with a few exceptions and notably the two World Wars, an annual event.
This impressive display of pageantry is now held on the occasion of the Queen's Official Birthday. It takes place in June each year to celebrate the official Birthday of the Sovereign and is carried out by her personal troops, the Household Division, on Horse Guards Parade, with the Queen herself attending and taking the salute.
Since 1987, The Queen has attended in a carriage rather than riding, which she did before that on 36 occasions, riding side-saddle and wearing the uniform of the regiment whose Colour was being trooped. The regiments take their turn for this honour in rotation as operational commitments permit.
Over 1000 officers and men are on parade, together with two hundred horses; over two hundred musicians from six bands and corps of drums march and play as one. Some 113 words of command are given by the Officer in Command of the Parade. The parade route extends from Buckingham Palace along The Mall to Horse Guards Parade, Whitehall and back again.
Precisely as the clock on the Horse Guards Building strikes eleven, the Royal Procession arrives and The Queen takes the Royal Salute. The parade begins with the Inspection, The Queen driving slowly down the ranks of all six Guards and then past the Household Cavalry. After the event, the Royal Family gathers on the balcony of Buckingham Palace to watch an RAF flypast:
Buckingham Palaceis the official London residence and principal workplace of the British monarch. Located in the City of Westminster, the palace is a setting for state occasions and royal hospitality. It has been a focus for the British people at times of national rejoicing.
Originally known as Buckingham House, the building which forms the core of today's palace was a large townhouse built for the Duke of Buckingham in 1705 on a site which had been in private ownership for at least 150 years. It was subsequently acquired by George III in 1761 as a private residence for Queen Charlotte, and known as "The Queen's House". During the 19th century it was enlarged, principally by architects John Nash and Edward Blore, forming three wings around a central courtyard. Buckingham Palace finally became the official royal palace of the British monarch on the accession ofQueen Victoria in 1837. The last major structural additions were made in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, including the East front, which contains the well-known balcony on which the royal family traditionally congregates to greet crowds outside. However, the palace chapel was destroyed by a German bomb in World War II; the Queen's Gallery was built on the site and opened to the public in 1962 to exhibit works of art from the Royal Collection.
The original early 19th-century interior designs, many of which still survive, included widespread use of brightly coloured scagliola and blue and pink lapis, on the advice of Sir Charles Long. King Edward VII oversaw a partial redecoration in a Belle Époquecream and gold colour scheme. Many smaller reception rooms are furnished in the Chinese regency style with furniture and fittings brought from the Royal Pavilion atBrighton and from Carlton House. The Buckingham Palace Garden is the largest private garden in London.
The state rooms, used for official and state entertaining, are open to the public each year for most of August and September, as part of the Palace's Summer Opening.
Queen Victoria, the first monarch to reside at Buckingham Palace, moved into the newly completed palace upon her accession in 1837.
The Victoria Memorial is a monument to Queen Victoria, located at the end of The Mall in London, and designed and executed by the sculptor Sir Thomas Brock. Designed in 1901, it was unveiled on 16 May 1911, though it was not completed until 1924. It was the centrepiece of an ambitious urban planning scheme, which included the creation of the Queen’s Gardens to a design by Sir Aston Webb, and the refacing of Buckingham Palace (which stands behind the memorial) by the same architect.
Like the earlier Albert Memorial in Kensington Gardens, commemorating Victoria's consort, the Victoria Memorial has an elaborate scheme of iconographic sculpture. The central pylon of the memorial is of Pentelic marble, and individual statues are in Carrara marble and gilt bronze. The memorial weighs 2,300 tonnes and is 104 ft wide. In 1970 it was listed at Grade
-VIDEO :Queen Victoria's Empire- Complete Documentary(2015)Victoria (Alexandrina Victoria; 24 May 1819 – 22 January 1901) was Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837 until her death. From 1 May 1876, she used the additional title of Empress of India.
-VIDEO :Buckingham Palace Expedition (2016)_The Buckingham Palace Expedition takes you on a virtual tour through some of the Palace's State Rooms and highlights works of art from the Royal Collection that furnish them. Starting at the Grand Staircase, learn about the history of the Palace as a royal residence, before discovering how the State Rooms are used today by The Queen for official events. The tour can be viewed in either VR (virtual-reality) or 360 format.
The Chinese dining room on the main floor of the Prince Albert wing facing the mall. Buckingham Palace
Chinese Dining Room, Buckingham Palace
Red dining room -Buckingham palace
The-white-room-buckingham-palace
Blue Drawing Room, Buckingham Palace The Blue Drawing Room was originaly known as the South Drawing Room. Today it.is used by guests who gather here before large luncheon parties and grand State and diplomatic occasions.
Buckingham Palace - the Green Drawing Room
The Guard Room_Buckingham Palace
Buckingham Palace Bedrooms
A painting of Queen Alexandra, wife of Edward VII, by Francois Flameng, in the White Drawing Room.
A general view of the State Dining Room in Buckingham Palace, which will be used during the wedding reception of Prince William and Kate Middleton
the-white-room-buckingham-palace The White Drawing Room is used for receptions and audiences and has been used as the backdrop for a number of formal photographic portraits of members of the Royal Family.
A painting of Queen Alexandra, wife of Edward VII, by Francois Flameng, in the White Drawing Room.
Buckingham palace white drawing room
The Blue Drawing Room_Buckingham Palace The Blue Drawing Room was originaly known as the South Drawing Room. Today it.is used by guests who gather here before large luncheon parties and grand State and diplomatic occasions.
Chinese Dining Room, Buckingham Palace
The Green Drawing Room
The State Dinning room
the White Drawing room-buckingham-palace
Red dining room -Buckingham palace
The Green Drawing Room, Buckingham Palace
The Queen's Gallery at Buckingham Palace
The Queen's Sitting Room
The Green Drawing Room, Buckingham Palace
The-Yellow-Drawing-room
The Throne Room The Throne Room is used principally for the reception of formal addresses on important occasions, such as those present to The Queen’s Jubilees in 1977 and 2002.
Unicorn on the Britain national seal
The Belgian Suite
Blue Drawing Room, Buckingham Palace The Blue Drawing Room was originaly known as the South Drawing Room. Today it.is used by guests who gather here before large luncheon parties and grand State and diplomatic occasions.
The White Drawing Room is used for receptions and audiences and has been used as the backdrop for a number of formal photographic portraits of members of the Royal Family.
The Albert Memorial is situated inKensington Gardens, London, directly to the north of the Royal Albert Hall. It was commissioned by Queen Victoria in memory of her beloved husband, Prince Albertwho died of typhoid in 1861. The memorial was designed by Sir George Gilbert Scott in the Gothic Revival style. Opened in July 1872 by Queen Victoria, with the statue of Albert ceremonially "seated" in 1875, the memorial consists of an ornate canopy or pavilion, in the style of a Gothic ciborium over the high altar of a church, containing a statue of the prince facing south. The memorial is 176 feet (54 m) tall, took over ten years to complete, and cost £120,000 (the equivalent of about £10,000,000 in 2010). The cost was met by public subscription. Prince Albert Memorial in Kensington Gardens_2013_06_03
2013_06_03_The Royal Albert Hall is a concert hall on the northern edge of South Kensington, in the City of Westminster, London, England, best known for holding the annual summer Proms concerts since 1941 The Royal Albert Hall Royal Albert Hall Crop, London - Nov 2012 Covent Garden is a district in London on the eastern fringes of the West End, between St. Martin's Lane and Drury Lane. It is associated with the former fruit and vegetable market in the central square, now a popular shopping and tourist site, and the Royal Opera House, which is also known as "Covent Garden". The district is divided by the main thoroughfare of Long Acre, north of which is given over to independent shops centred on Neal's Yard and Seven Dials, while the south contains the central square with its street performers and most of the elegant buildings, theatres and entertainment facilities, including the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, and the London Transport Museum.
The Covent Garden_London "the garden of the Abbey and Convent". The land, now called "the Covent Garden", was seized by Henry VIII, and granted to the Earls of Bedford in 1552
-VIDEO :London: Covent Garden, Walking Experience, Shopping, Dining, Street Entertainment
-MOVIE :My fair lady (1964) :A misogynistic and snobbish phonetics professor agrees to a wager that he can take a flower girl and make her presentable in high society.
The Royal Opera House is an opera house and major performing arts venue in Covent Garden,central London. The large building is often referred to as simply "Covent Garden", after a previous use of the site of the opera house's original construction in 1732. It is the home of The Royal Opera,The Royal Ballet, and the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House. Originally called the Theatre Royal, it served primarily as a playhouse for the first hundred years of its history. In 1734, the first ballet was presented. A year later, Handel's first season of operas began. Many of his operas and oratorioswere specifically written for Covent Garden and had their premieres there.
The current building is the third theatre on the site following disastrous fires in 1808 and 1857. The façade, foyer, and auditorium date from 1858, but almost every other element of the present complex dates from an extensive reconstruction in the 1990s. The Royal Opera House seats 2,256 people and consists of four tiers of boxes and balconies and the amphitheatre gallery. The proscenium is 12.20 m wide and 14.80 m high. The main auditorium is a Grade 1 listed building as noted by Theatres Trust
Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II waits for lawmakers to arrive from the House of Commons in answer to her summons before delivering the Queen’s Speech in the House of Lords during the State Opening of Parliament in London on May 27.2016. (Alastair Grant/AP)
May 27, 2015.
It’s that time again…
The Queen’s Speech, taking place today, marks the start of a new parliamentary session and is a lot like the beginning of a new school year for politicians.
Full of pageantry and political significance, peers, MPs and dignitaries gather to hear the list of laws the government hopes to get passed through parliament, read out by her Majesty.
And this year, with a new government at the helm, the State Opening of Parliament will set the scene of Cameron’s and his ministers legislative plans.
The Queen returns to Buckingham Palace in the state coach following the State Opening of Parliament
Westminster Abbey, formally titled the Collegiate Church of St Peter at Westminster, is a large, mainly Gothic, church in the City of Westminster, London, located just to the west of the Palace of Westminster. It is one of the most notable religious buildings in the United Kingdom and has been the traditional place of coronation and burial site for English and, later, British monarchs. The abbey is a Royal Peculiar and between 1540 and 1550 had the status of a cathedral; however, the church is no longer an abbey nor cathedral.
According to a tradition first reported by Sulcard in about 1080, a church was founded at the site (then known as Thorn Ey (Thorn Island)) in the 7th century, at the time of Mellitus (d. 624), a Bishop of London. Construction of the present church began in 1245, on the orders of Henry III.
Since 1066, when Harold Godwinson and William the Conqueror were crowned, the coronations of English and British monarchs have been held here. Since 1100, there have been at least 16 royal weddings at the abbey. Two were of reigning monarchs (Henry Iand Richard II), although before 1919 there had been none for some 500 years.
The London EyeTheLondon Eyeis a giantFerris wheelon theSouth Bankof theRiver Thamesin London,England. The entire structure is 135 metres (443 ft) tall and the wheel has a diameter of 120 metres (394 ft).
It is the tallest Ferris wheel in Europe. When erected in 1999 it was the tallest Ferris wheel in the world, until surpassed first by the 160 m (520 ft) Star of Nanchang in 2006 and then the 165 m (541 ft) Singapore Flyer in 2008. Supported by an A-frame on one side only, unlike the taller Nanchang and Singapore wheels, the Eye is described by its operators as "the world's tallest cantileveredobservation wheel".It offered the highest public viewing point in the city until it was superseded by the 245-metre (804 ft) observation deck on the 72nd floor of The Shard, which opened to the public on 1 February 2013 The wheel's 32 sealed and air-conditioned ovoidal passenger capsules, designed and supplied by Poma, are attached to the external circumference of the wheel and rotated by electric motors. Each of the 10-tonne (11-short-ton) capsules represents one of theLondon Boroughs, and holds up to 25 people, who are free to walk around inside the capsule, though seating is provided. The wheel rotates at 26 cm (10 in) per second (about 0.9 km/h or 0.6 mph) so that one revolution takes about 30 minutes. It does not usually stop to take on passengers; the rotation rate is slow enough to allow passengers to walk on and off the moving capsules at ground level. It is, however, stopped to allow disabled or elderly passengers time to embark and disembark safely
Statue of Boudica with chariot and leaping horses, located near Westminster Bridge and the Houses of Parliament
Boudicca & the London Eye
This statue of Queen Boudicca (aka Boadicea) and her two daughters sits on the north side of Westminster Bridge in London.
Boudicca was Queen of the Iceni tribe who lived in the region corresponding to modern day Norfolk. She led her tribe in a major uprising against occupying Roman forces and died in AD61.
Some historians believe that King's Cross station was built on the site of Boudicca's last battle at Battle Bridge, and that her remains lie beneath the station.
@ the River Thames and The Palace of Westminster Cleopatra's Needle is located on the Thames Embankment in London close to the Embankment underground station. This ancient Egyptian obelisk is around 21 metres (68 feet) high and weighs around 180 tons. It was originally erected in the Egyptian city of Heliopolis on the orders of Thutmose III, around 1450 BC The Obelisk was actually constructed for Tuthmose III and is carved with Hieroglyphics praising Tuthmose and commemorating his third sed festival. Later inscriptions were added by Ramesses II to commemorate his victories.
2013_06_03_Sphinx_London.
Cleopatra's Needle (London) sphinx
A 360-degree view of Trafalgar Square in 2009
Trafalgar Square 360 Panorama Cropped Sky, London - Jun 2009
The square consists of a large central area with roadways on three sides and a terrace to the north, in front of the National Gallery. The roads around the square form part of the A4 road. The square was formerly surrounded by a one-way traffic system, but works completed in 2003 reduced the width of the roads and closed the northern side to traffic.
Nelson's Column is in the centre of the square, flanked by fountains designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens in 1937-39 as replacements for two earlier fountains of Peter head granite (now in Canada) and guarded by four monumental bronze lions sculpted by Sir Edwin Landseer. The lions were cast in bronze melted down from the cannons aboard French and Spanish ships that had taken part in the battle. The column is topped by a statue of Horatio Nelson, the vice admiral who commanded the British Fleet at Trafalgar.
The site of Trafalgar Square had been a significant landmark since the 13th century and originally contained the King's Mews. After George IV moved the mews to Buckingham Palace, the area was redeveloped by John Nash, but progress was slow after his death, and the square did not open until 1844. The 169-foot (52 m) Nelson's Column at its centre is guarded by four lion statues. A number of commemorative statues and sculptures occupy the square, but the Fourth Plinth, left empty since 1840, has been host to contemporary art since 1999.
The square has been used for community gatherings and political demonstrations, including Bloody Sunday, the first Aldermaston March, anti-war protests, and campaigns against climate change. A Christmas tree has been donated to the square by Norway since 1947 and is erected for twelve days before and after Christmas Day. The square is a centre of annual celebrations on New Year's Eve. It was well known for its feral pigeons until their removal in the early 21st century.
The pedestal is decorated with four bronze relief panels, each 18 feet (5.5 m) square, cast from captured French guns. They depict the Battle of Cape St Vincent, the Battle of the Nile, the Battle of Copenhagen and the Death of Nelson at Trafalgar. The sculptors were Musgrave Watson, William F Woodington, John Ternouth and John Edward Carew respectively.
Harrods London Harrods is an upmarket department store located inBrompton Road in Knightsbridge, in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, London.The store occupies a 5-acre (20,000 m2) site and has over one million square feet (90,000 m2) of selling space in over 330 departments making it the biggest department store in Europe.The Harrods motto is Omnia Omnibus Ubique—All Things for All People, Everywhere.
The bronze statue of the couple dancing is entitled "Innocent Victims" and is located at Door Three in Harrods. It is a life-sized sculpture of Princess Diana and Dodi Fayed gazing lovingly into each other's eyes as they release an albatross into the sky.
Harrods at Night, London - Nov 2012
British Museum_London
-VIDEO :"British Museum". One of the best collections anywhere in the World. London, England
Wellington-Arch,also known as Constitution Arch or (originally) the Green Park Arch, is a triumphal archlocated to the south of Hyde Park in central London and at the western corner of Green Park (although it is now isolated on a traffic island). Built nearby between 1826-1830 to a design by Decimus Burton, it was moved to its present position in 1882-83. It once supported an equestrian statue of the 1st Duke of Wellington; the original intention of having it topped with sculpture ofa "quadriga"or ancient four-horse chariot was not realised until 1912. Statue on Wellington Arch, Hyde Park Corner, London, this statue is the largest bronze sculpture in Europe Angel of Peace Descending on Chariot of War
The bronze sculpture atop Wellington Arch
Piccadilly Circus is a road junction and public space of London's West End in the City of Westminster, built in 1819 to connect Regent Street with the major shopping street of Piccadilly. In this context, a circus, from the Latin word meaning "circle", is a round open space at a street junction.
Piccadilly now links directly to the theatres on Shaftesbury Avenue, as well as the Haymarket, Coventry Street(onwards to Leicester Square), and Glasshouse Street. The Circus is close to major shopping and entertainment areas in the West End. Its status as a major traffic junction has made Piccadilly Circus a busy meeting place and a tourist attraction in its own right. The Circus is particularly known for its video display and neon signs mounted on the corner building on the northern side, as well as the Shaftesbury memorial fountain and statue of Eros. It is surrounded by several noted buildings, including the London Pavilion and Criterion Theatre. Directly underneath the plaza is Piccadilly Circus tube station, part of the London Underground system.
The cathedral is one of the most famous and most recognisable sights of London. Its dome, framed by the spires of Wren's City churches, has dominated the skyline for over 300 years. At 365 feet (111 m) high, it was the tallest building in London from 1710 to 1967. The dome is among the highest in the world. St Paul's is the second-largest church building in area in the United Kingdom after Liverpool Cathedral.
St Paul's Cathedral is a working church with hourly prayer and daily services. The tourist entry fee at the door is £18 for adults (March 2017, cheaper online), but no charge is made to worshippers.
St Paul's Cathedral and the remaining tower of St Augustine, Watling Street, which was otherwise destroyed during World War 2.
St Paul's Cathedral nave looking east towards the central dome and choir.
St Paul's Cathedral Choir, looking west toward the dome and nave.
The choir of St Paul's Cathedral looking east towards the High Altar.
The High Altar of St Paul's Cathedral as viewed from the choir.
The southern organ (the other being on the northern side) of the choir of St Paul's Cathedral.
The interior of the dome showing how Thornhill's painting continues an illusion of the real architectural features.
A view of the interior dome of St Paul's Cathedral from the north west, diagonally across the central dome. Left of centre is the choir, and right of centre is the south transept.
360° view near the High Altar at St Pauls Cathedral in London.
The south-west tower
The gilt statue at the top of St Paul's Cross in the cathedral precinct
Official office and residence of the prime minister, London, England, United Kingdom
The gates at the entrance to Downing Street, London. Taken by Adrian Pingstone in June 2005
Number 10 Downing Street is the headquarters and London residence of the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.
10 Downing Street, colloquially known in the United Kingdom as "Number 10", is the headquarters of the executive branch of the British Government and the official residence and office of the First Lord of the Treasury, a post which, for much of the 18th and 19th centuries and ever since 1905, is also held by the Prime Minister.
Situated in Downing Street in the City of Westminster, London, Number 10 is over three hundred years old and contains approximately one hundred rooms. There is a private residence on the third floor and a kitchen in the basement. The other floors contain offices and conference, reception, sitting and dining rooms where the Prime Minister works, and where government ministers, national leaders and foreign dignitaries are met and entertained. There is an interior courtyard and, in the back, a terrace overlooking a garden of 0.5 acres (2,000 m2). Adjacent to St. James's Park, Number 10 is near to Buckingham Palace, the official London residence of the British monarch, and the Palace of Westminster, the meeting place of both houses of parliament.
Originally three houses, Number 10 was offered to Sir Robert Walpole by George II in 1732. Walpole accepted on the condition that they be a gift to the office of First Lord of the Treasury rather than to him personally. Walpole commissioned William Kent to join the three houses together. It is this larger house that is known today as "Number 10 Downing Street".
The arrangement was not an immediate success. Despite its size and convenient location near to Parliament, few early Prime Ministers lived there. Costly to maintain, neglected, and run-down, Number 10 was close to being razed several times. Nevertheless, the property survived and became linked with many statesmen and events in British history. In 1985 Margaret Thatcher said Number 10 had become "one of the most precious jewels in the national heritage
Winston Churchill emerging from Number 10 holding up the "V" sign for "Victory"and taken prior to 1 June 1957 Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher with US PresidentRonald Reagan outside 10 Downing Street, June 1982 Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher with US First Lady Nancy Reagan in 1986 standing in the entrance hall with its distinctive black and white chequered marble floor. Prime Minister Gordon Brown and US President Barack Obama in the Pillared Room, 2009.
-VIDEO :David Cameron's tour of 10 Downing Street (2011)
Katie Couric gets a tour of 10 Downing Street from the man who really runs Britain: Prime Minister David Cameron.
-VIDEO :Althorp House | The Spencer Family | INSIDE Diana's Family || Documentary english subtitles_(2016)_Step inside the family home of Diana, Princess of Wales. Nestled on over 14,000 acres of English countryside is Althorp House, the childhood home and final resting place of Diana, Princess of Wales. 19 generations of Spencers, one of Britain's most eminent aristocratic dynasties, have lived there for over 500 years. The estate is now in the hands of Diana's brother Charles, the 9th Earl Spencer, guardian to a vast wealth of artistic and historical treasures. Works by Rubens and Van Dyck line the walls while the guest book boasts signatures from such illustrious figures as King William III, Sir Winston Churchill, and Queen Elizabeth II. Earl Spencer leads a personal tour around this noble manor that is to him, above all, still very much a family home, relaying how the history of the house is inextricably bound up with the character, strengths, and weaknesses of those who have lived there before him.
Althorp, childhood home and final resting place of Princess Diana, is currently the home of Diana’s brother, Charles, the 9th Earl Spencer. Nineteen generations of Spencers have presided over this grand estate for more than 500 years. The Spencer dynasty has produced politicians, military heroes, dukes and duchesses and will one day furnish Britain with a king: Diana’s son, Prince William. Noted for their generosity, the Spencers once came to the rescue of a distant cousin fallen on hard times: the great-great-great-grandfather of George Washington.
Althorp House has hosted some of the kingdom’s most distinguished guests, and its rooms have witnessed scenes of great celebration, the first earl’s secret wedding to his sweetheart and most recently, the marriage of the current earl, who takes viewers on a personal tour around the noble manor that’s first of all his family home.
-Visions of London HD:
London is 2015's Top Tourist Destination
London leads the MasterCard report in most international tourists, and most money spent by international tourists. (Photo: Thinkstock)
Travel data nerds can rejoice, because today they have an economy-sized bucket of stats to pore over regarding the cities getting the most tourists and tourist dollars.
There’s nothing Earth-shattering about the top two most visited cities according to MasterCard’s 2015 Global Destination Cities Index. For the fifth year in a row, it’s London and Bangkok in the top 2, with London projected to receive a world-topping 18.82 million overnight international visitors this year. Bangkok is a close second at 18.24 million
The Grand Placeor Grote Markt is the central square of Brussels. It is surrounded by guildhalls, the city's Town Hall, and the Breadhouse (French: Maison du Roi, Dutch: Broodhuis). The square is the most important tourist destination and most memorable landmark in Brussels. It measures 68 by 110 metres (223 by 360 ft), and it is a UNESCOWorld Heritage Site
Guildhalls on the Grand Place_2013_06_04_Brussels_Belgium
-Manneken Pisis a well-known public sculpture in Brussels :
Manneken Pis "Little man Pee" in Dutch; French:le Petit Julien) is a landmark small bronze sculpture (61 cm) in Brussels, depicting a naked little boy urinating into a fountain's basin. It was designed by Hiëronymus Duquesnoy the Elder and put in place in 1618 or 1619
The 61 cm tall bronze statue on the corner of Rue de l'Etuve and Rue des Grands Carmes was made in 1619 by Brussels sculptor Hieronimus Duquesnoy the Elder, father of the more famous François Duquesnoy. The figure has been repeatedly stolen: the current statue dates from 1965. The original restored version is kept at the Maison du Roi/Broodhuis on the Grand Place.
There are several legends behind this statue, but the most famous is the one about Duke Godfrey III of Leuven. In 1142, the troops of this two-year-old lord were battling against the troops of the Berthouts, the lords of Grimbergen, in Ransbeke (now Neder-Over-Heembeek). The troops put the infant lord in a basket and hung the basket in a tree to encourage them. From there, the boy urinated on the troops of the Berthouts, who eventually lost the battle.
-Another legend states that in the 14th century, Brussels was under siege by a foreign power. The city had held its ground for some time, so the attackers conceived of a plan to place explosive charges at the city walls. A little boy named Julianske happened to be spying on them as they were preparing. He urinated on the burning fuse and thus saved the city. There was at the time (middle of the 15th century, perhaps as early as 1388) a similar statue made of stone. The statue was stolen several times.
-Another story (told often to tourists) tells of a wealthy merchant who, during a visit to the city with his family, had his beloved young son go missing. The merchant hastily formed a search party that scoured all corners of the city until the boy was found happily urinating in a small garden. The merchant, as a gift of gratitude to the locals who helped out during the search, had the fountain built.
-Another legend was that a small boy went missing from his mother when shopping in the centre of the city. The woman, panic-stricken by the loss of her child, called upon everyone she came across, including the mayor of the city. A city-wide search began and when at last the child was found, he was urinating on the corner of a small street. The story was passed down over time and the statue erected as a tribute to the well-known legend.
-Another legend tells of the young boy who was awoken by a fire and was able to put out the fire with his urine, in the end this helped stop the king's castle from burning down.
Manneken Pis [ˌmɑnəkə ˈpɪs], is a famous Brussels landmark._2013_06_04_Brussels
Jeanneke Pis is a modern fountain and statue in Brussels, which was intended to form a counterpoint to the city's Manneken Pis, south of the Grand Place.
It was commissioned by Denis-Adrien Debouvrie in 1985 and erected in 1987. The half-metre-high statue of blue-grey limestone depicts a little girl with her hair in short pigtails, squatting and urinating.
Location
It is located on the east side of the Impasse de la Fidélité / Getrouwheidsgang (Fidelity Alley), a narrow cul-de-sac some 30 metres long leading northwards off the restaurant-packed Rue des Bouchers / Beenhouwersstraat. The sculpture is now protected by iron bars from vandalism.
-Moules-frites :
Moules, served in the pan, with fries.
Moules-frites or Moules et frites (French pronunciation: [mul.fʁit]]; Dutch: mosselen-friet) is a popular main dish of mussels and friesoriginating in Belgium but also popular in France and in the rest of Northern Europe. The title of the dish is French, Moulesmeaning mussels andfrites fries, with the Dutch name for the dish meaning the same. It is sometimes considered the national dishof Belgium.
The portion of moules in Belgian restaurants tends to be one and a half kilograms per person, which can be prepared in several different ways.
Althoughmoules-frites are popular in France and around the world, it is thought that the dish originated in Belgium. It is likely that it was originally created by combining mussels, a popular and cheap foodstuff eaten around the Flemish coast, and fried potatoes which were commonly eaten around the country in winter when no fish or other food was available On their own, french fries are also closely associated with Belgian cuisine by many Europeans. Although Belgium claims to be the birthplace of french fries, their origin is uncertain and several other countries also claim the title. Moules marinières in Belgium Mussels in white wine (moules au vin blanc) at Au Pré Salé. The triumphal arch was planned for the National Exhibition of 1880 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the independent state of Belgium The triumphal arch in theCinquantenaire Park in Brussels. Triumphal arch (1905) of the Jubelpark in Brussels. Quadriga by Thomas Vinçotte
The bronze statue of Brabant with four horse on the triumphal arch in the park of the fiftieth anniversary in Brussels in Belgium
Most buildings of the U-shaped complex which dominate the park were commissioned by the Belgian government under the patronage of King Leopold II for the 1880 National Exhibition commemorating the fiftieth anniversary of Belgian independence. During successive exhibitions in the same area, more structures were added. The centrepiece triumphal arch was erected in 1905 replacing a previous temporary version of the arcade by Gédéon Bordiau. The structures were built in iron, glass and stone, symbolising the economic and industrial performance of Belgium. The surrounding 30-hectare park esplanade was full of picturesque gardens, ponds and waterfalls. It housed several trade fairs, exhibitions and festivals at the beginning of the century. In 1930 the government decided to reserve Cinquantenaire for use as a leisure park. -Belgium_Antwerp :
Antwerp is on the River Scheldt, linked to the North Sea by the Westerschelde estuary. It is about 40 kilometres (25 mi) north from Brussels, and about 15 kilometres (9 mi) from the Dutch border. The Port of Antwerp is one of the biggest in the world, ranking second in Europe and within the top 20 globally. Antwerp was also the place of the world's oldest stock exchange (nl)building, originally built in 1531 and re-built in 1872, it has been derelict since 1997.
Antwerp has long been an important city in the Low Countries, both economically and culturally, especially before the Spanish Fury (1576) in the Dutch Revolt. The inhabitants of Antwerp are nicknamed Sinjoren, after the Spanish honorific señor or French seigneur, "lord", referring to the Spanish noblemen who ruled the city in the 17th century. Today Antwerp is a major trade and cultural centre, and is the world's second most multi-cultural city (after Amsterdam) home to 170 nationalities. It is also known as the "diamond capital" of the world for its large diamond district. The city hosted the 1920 Summer Olympics.
Statue of Brabo and the giant's hand in front of City Hall
Silvius Brabo[ˈsɪɫviəz ˈbraːboː] is a mythical Roman soldier who is said to have killed a giant, and by this would have created the name Brabant.
Later this story was also used to explain the name Antwerp (meaning hand throwing). Brabo once killed a giant, called Druon Antigoon, who asked money from people who wanted to pass the bridge over the river Scheldt. When they didn't want to or couldn't pay, he cut off their hand and threw it in the river. Because of this Brabo also removed the hand of the giant, and threw it into the river.
This mythical story is still shown by the statue in front of the Antwerp City Hall.
The Cathedral of Our Lady (Dutch: Onze-Lieve-Vrouwekathedraal) is a Roman Catholic cathedral in Antwerp, Belgium. Today's see of the Diocese of Antwerp was started in 1352 and, although the first stage of construction was ended in 1521, has never been 'completed'. In Gothic style, its architects were Jan and Pieter Appelmans. It contains a number of significant works by the Baroque painter Peter Paul Rubens, as well as paintings by artists such as Otto van Veen, Jacob de Backer and Marten de Vos.
Construction of Cologne Cathedral commenced in 1248 and was halted in 1473, leaving it unfinished. Work restarted in the 19th century and was completed, to the original plan, in 1880.The cathedral is the largest Gothic church in Northern Europe and has the second-tallestspires. The towers for its two huge spires give the cathedral the largest façade of any church in the world. The choir has the largest height to width ratio, 3.6:1, of any medieval church.
Cologne's medieval builders had planned a grand structure to house thereliquaryof theThree Kingsand fit its role as a place of worship for theHoly Roman Emperor. Despite having been left incomplete during the medieval period, Cologne Cathedral eventually became unified as "a masterpiece of exceptional intrinsic value" and "a powerful testimony to the strength and persistence of Christian belief in medieval and modern Europe"
The nave looking east_Cologne Cathedral, Interior. Germany
The 24-ton St. Petersglocke ("Bell of St. Peter", "Dicke Pitter" in the Kölsch dialect), was cast in 1922 and is the largest free-swinging bell in the world.A person stands to the right of bell clapper_Cologne Cathedral Bell (Peterglocke)
Heidelberg Castle(German: Heidelberger Schloss) is a ruin in Germany and landmark of Heidelberg. The castle ruins are among the most important Renaissance structures north of the Alps.
The castle has only been partially rebuilt since its demolition in the 17th and 18th centuries. It is located 80 metres (260 ft) up the northern part of the Königstuhl hillside, and thereby dominates the view of the old downtown. It is served by an intermediate station on the Heidelberger Bergbahnfunicular railway that runs from Heidelberg's Kornmarkt to the summit of the Königstuhl.
The earliest castle structure was built before 1214 and later expanded into two castles circa 1294; however, in 1537, a lightning-bolt destroyed the upper castle. The present structures had been expanded by 1650, before damage by later wars and fires. In 1764, another lightning-bolt caused a fire which destroyed some rebuilt sections. -Heidelberg, with Heidelberg Castle
Heidelberg Castle (in German: Heidelberger Schloss) is a famous ruin in Germany and landmark of Heidelberg. The castle ruins are among the most important Renaissance structures north of the Alps.
The castle has only been partially rebuilt since its demolition in the 17th and 18th centuries. It is located 80 metres (260 ft) up the northern part of the Königstuhl hillside, and thereby dominates the view of the old downtown. It is served by an intermediate station on the Heidelberger Bergbahnfunicular railway that runs from Heidelberg's Kornmarkt to the summit of the Königstuhl.
The earliest castle structure was built before 1214 and later expanded into two castles circa 1294; however, in 1537, a lightning-bolt destroyed the upper castle. The present structures had been expanded by 1650, before damage by later wars and fires. In 1764, another lightning-bolt caused a fire which destroyed some rebuilt sections.
2009_05_26_Castle In Heidelberg_Germany 2009_05_26_Castle In Heidelberg_Germany:
2009_05_26_Castle In Heidelberg_Germany. 2009_05_26_Castle In Heidelberg_Germany
The market place, with Town Hall on the left Heidelberg's old city centre from the castle above
2013_06_05_Heidelberg: 2013_06_05__Heidelberg _Germany 2013_06_05__Heidelberg _Germany Church of the Holy Spiritserved two congregations (Protestant and Catholic) for a time and was the reason why the court removed to Mannheim.
The Church of the Holy Spirit (German: Heiliggeistkirche) is the most famous church in Heidelberg, Germany. It stands in the middle of the market place in the old center of Heidelberg not far from the Heidelberg Castle. The steeple of the church, rising above the roofs, dominates the town.
Take the Virtual Tour :(Click on View: Flash Large)
The Maison du Roi (King's House), or Broodhuis(Breadhouse)
The Cologne Cathedral (1880)is the largest Gothic Church in Northern Europe
Castle Ruins in Heidelberg
listen), French: Anvers[ɑ̃vɛʁ(s)]) is a Flemish city in Belgium, the capital of Antwerp province in the community of Flanders. With a population of 520,504, it is the most populous city proper in Belgium. Its metropolitan area houses around 1,200,000 people, which is second behind Brussels.
Cologne Cathedral across the Rhine
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