On Tuesday, I (Rachelle) joined some Rambler friends for a tour of "Legal London". I hopped aboard a touring bus with 40 white-haired tourists and traveled to the Royal Halls of Justice (see picture with gates). Our guide was a former solicitor (lawyer), who was very knowledgeable about all things legal. I now know the difference between a solicitor and barrister (a solicitor dispenses general legal advice and prepares things like contracts and wills while a barrister is in the courtroom)and was able to see actual court cases in action.
Yes, the barristers and judges still wear those silly white wigs, although our guide said that this is likely to change for civil cases, but not criminal. There seems to be lots of complicated tradition surrounding law in the UK. For instance, there are 4 "inns" that barristers belong to. They have actual halls where barristers meet and are required to share at least 12 meals with their colleagues.
We stopped for lunch at a pub, which was famous for its location between Sweeney Todd's barbershop and his mistress's pie shop (see Ramblers at pub). Tunnels connecting the two ran right under the pub, allowing Sweeney to supply his mistress with fresh meat (human meat) for her pies. I refused the pies and dish called "faggots" given this information.
We also stopped in the Temple Church, those of you who read the Da Vinci Code might remember it. I loved the sculptures of faces of those in Purgatory (see picture).
All in all, it was an interesting day.
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