We’re in the middle of the London portion of our 20-day adventure in Great Britain and Ireland, a trip we’ve always hoped and dreamed we could make one day. We hope you enjoy coming along with us vicariously!

Today began at the Tower of London. The Crown Jewels were amazing, but the entire tour was so rich in history and a number of neat surprises.

Pictured above is the Imperial State Crown. The diamond on the bottom center is the Cullinan II, or the ‘Second Star of Africa’ and it is 317.4 carats. It is the second largest stone cut from the great Cullinan Diamond, the largest diamond ever, which weighed about 3,106 carats in rough form when found in 1905 at the Premier mine in Transvaal, modern-day South Africa.

And just because I know you’re curious, the Cullinan I, or the Great Star of Africa, is a pendeloque-cut brilliant weighing 530.2 carats (106.04 g) and has 74 facets. It is set at the top of the Sovereign’s Sceptre with Cross which had to be redesigned in 1910 to accommodate it.

And, not to be outdone, look at the ruby just above the diamond. The ‘Black Prince’s Ruby’ is a large, irregular cabochon red spinel weighing 170 carats (34 g) set in the cross pattée above the Cullinan II diamond. It is one of the oldest parts of the Crown Jewels with a history dating back to the middle of the 14th century. It has been in the possession of England’s rulers since it was given in 1367 to its namesake, Edward of Woodstock (known as the ‘Black Prince’). The stone is believed to have originated from the Badakhshan mines in present day Afghanistan and Tajikistan,[4] the principal source of large spinel gems in the Middle Ages.

Then, we walked across the Tower Bridge to enjoy a wonderful lunch and a delightful visit to Borough Market. The endless stalls were a foodies paradise. Every imaginable fruit, vegetable, meat, dairy products, cheeses galore, and international foods like crazy. Of course, being Sunday afternoon, it was jam packed. We took the picture below for some wonderful friends from Croatia, Inés and Miljenko, wish you were here.

After that, it was to a nice late-afternoon walk to The Shard and up 72 stories to the highest viewing platform in London.

We’ve purchased picnic items and are looking forward to a picnic on the back of the River Thames this evening. Then to bed early as our last day in London, tomorrow, is jam packed.

But, what a wonderful day we enjoyed. Sunny skies, light winds, 70 degrees. Perfect. Wish you were here!

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