This section of London is called The City where 2,000 years ago the Romans called it Roman Londinium. Yes, this is remnants of a Roman wall. More can be seen from the roadsides spanning from Tower Bridge to Blackfriars Bridge.

The Tower of London. In its day, it has served as a castle and is still listed as one of the queen's residences, it holds the crown jewels, and most notoriously as a prison and execution site for threats to the throne and rebels. Every square inch of this Tower has more bloody history than anywhere else in Britain.

Little did we know what we were about to learn about this pretty little fortress. We were just happy it wasn't raining and I was glad to be wearing the only long-sleeve shirt I brought for the third day in a row without being washed. I started smelling a lot like the history in this tower, stinky.

This is the area of the original moat in front of the tower. It was filled in late because all the dead bodies that were dumped there with sewage and refuse would stink up the surrounding area and could be smelled as far as six miles away. The health risks and sickness that ensued from this practice weren't good either. After it was drained, the area was used for training exercises for the guards.

In 1080, William the Conqueror began building this massive fortress. If you look closely, you can see a whole in the top of the arch. Three of these existed in the entrance gates to the Tower. If the Tower was being breached by foreign forces, hot liquid such as tar would be poured through these holes as a last defense upon entrance.

And who is this dashing lad? None other than a Beefeater, formally known as Yeoman Warders whose primary responsibility is to take care of prisoners in The Tower of London and protect the royal jewels housed on the property.

The Beefeaters were commissioned under Henry VII in 1485 to guard the Tower. Today, there are 55 Yeoman Warders and one Chief Warder who have to have at least 22 years of military service to even be considered for the appointment. All beefeaters live with their families in The Tower of London. Most of their duties today revolve around giving tours to visitors instead of watching prisoners. No one is certain where the name beefeaters came from. Most believe it is from the payment of these guards in pounds of beef from the kings table. At times, money was scarce and payment was given in goods. To these officers, a portion of meet. The commoners were not afforded such luxuries as meat. When the Yeoman wanted some cash instead of meat, they would sell their excess to the commoners, becoming known among the peasants as the Beefeaters. The name stuck.