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Day 6 :: Seeing History with Tired Feet

Today was all about government and the first destination was the heart of the Political Structure in the United Kingdom with the Houses of Parliament. We were only able to mesmerized by the magnificent gothic architecture from certain angles through the scaffolding and repair work currently being undertaken throughout the Parliamentary Houses. Big Ben, especially, appeared slightly underwhelming as I personally thought it was more than a black tarp shaped rectangular prism with a great clock. The tour of Parliament made up for part of this disappointment as the guide provided not only a history of portions of the building itself, but provided some explanations of the governmental system in the UK and how it works. The grandeur of the House of Lords and the importance of the House of Commons and the traditions involved between the Monarch's relationship displayed how the building functioned around the governmental system.

While Parliament was mostly centered around creating the laws of the land and the input of the people in this governmental system, Westminster Abbey provided a look at the past histories of the beginning of Monarchies as the site of coronations for centuries as well as the resting place for the some of the greatest people in their fields. Seeing the memorials and grave sites of Charles Darwin, Jane Austen, Robert Kipling, Charles Dickens, and many more gave a reminder of the great number of people in the past that provided accomplishments and works that still affect people today.

After Lunch was a visit to the Churchill War Rooms, which was the site that Winston Churchill lead the UK through World War II. This semi-bombproof underground facility provided an outlook at how the government of the UK functioned during this period of wartime and the conditions the people working in this facility faced being both underground and in secret. These War Rooms also had a museum dedicated to Winston Churchill that was very in depth of his life.

Throughout the day, we saw gathering of the anti-Brexit protesters for the march that was set to occur in the afternoon. We were greatly entranced in watching people holding different types of signs and slogans as well as the abundance of EU flags waving. This protest served as another reminder that change is still happening and that while we are visiting London and learning about how the country has transformed throughout the past, the country is still living and Brexit or another event in the future may be an exhibit we come to see in the coming years.

By Andrew

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