When I was in London last summer, I went on a guided tour of the city. One of the stops was a tour of the Tower of London. I got to see the Crown Jewels up close. Now that's what I call a rock collection. After I saw the Crown Jewels, I stopped in the gift shop near the exhibit and bought the book about the Crown Jewels. I didn't go to the other gift shop at the exit of the Tower, if I had I probably would have bought it while I was there. I also have the Illustrated History of the Tower of London which I just started reading. What I have read so far about the origins of the Tower are fascinating. As I get deeper into the illustrated history of the Tower and read the souvenir guide book, I'm sure that I will learn a lot from its bloody past.