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Published: September 19th 2007
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Day 5—Sept 19th—British Museum, Hamley’s Toystore, National Portrait Gallery.
Piccadilly tube to Holburn and then short walk to Museum. Weather today is forecast 17 degrees and showers so a good day to be indoors. Grey skies on the way to Museum but not wet yet.
British Museum arrived 10am. Unbelievable building to start. Reminds you of the Parthenon a little, but with a giant. Modern round building in the middle of the old courtyard, and a large glass dome over it all. The exhibits are amazing and expansive. Everyone wanted to head to the Egyptian stuff, so Tanya charged off and away we went. We did the Western half of the building in about 2.5 hours and then headed to the coffee shop.
I bumped in to a couple in the queue. She was from Colorado and he was from Nottingham. We had a long chat about the frequency that we tend to all cross paths. I was telling them about our American friends that we had bumped into 5 times in the last 2 days. After getting 2 long rolls that looked sufficient to feed a couple, and 3 large cookies, 2 coffees, 2 teas (Thomas is a cultured Tea drinker now !) and 2 cokes(20 quid, but you stop worrying about how many aussie dollars that is !), I headed over to where Tanya and the kids were sitting. Of course, Judith and her friend had to be sitting next to them !
We pushed on for another hour and did the remainder of the stuff everyone wanted to see. The last part was the extraordinary stuff the British stole from the Acropolis and Greeks. They maintain that they were just saving it(?) We left at about 2pm.
From there, we jumped back on the tube and popped back up at Oxford Circus. Short walk down Regent Street to Hamley’s Toystore. Thomas was beside himself. We spent about 1 hour there. I played PS3, Tiger Woods Golf and aced the 7th Hole at some course I have never heard of, while the kids ran amuck.
Next stop was the National Portrait which is at Trafalgar Square. Aimee figured we should just stay outside and play on the Lions, “cause they’re cool”. I decided we should go inside, because “the weather was cool”. Amazing variety of styles and subjects painted. Helped having an expert to tell me what is an impressionist, and what is an oil (basically all of them), something Tanya is good at.
We did the western end of the NPG from about 4pm till 5.30pm. We then popped down the road to McD’s and filled the kids up with burgers, fries and cokes and marvelled at the A$50 we spent. We are a little over the price of everything and don’t care so much anymore. We went back and finished what we could of the NPG. Some of the rooms were closed because the staff were on strike. We left a little after 6.30pm and headed back to Piccadilly Circus and the tube. A funny thing happened on the way back. Tanya came within 20 feet of being run over a bus, and smiled. We then got on the tube and she was seen smiling again. I think she has finally acclimatised to public transit, even London style.
We were home by 7pm and then we started the task of sorting ourselves out, prior to checking out tomorrow. I have been dispatched to the laundry down the road in Earls Court. I have just downloaded the 140 odd photos from the last 2 days. Would have been more, but NPG is one of the many places you are not permitted to photograph. I am now sitting, drafting this entry and enjoying a Grolsch, and it is the first thing I have cheaper here than at home!!!!!!
PS the other blokes doing their laundry keep running down the road for a pint and coming back every 15 minutes or so.
PPS got a tad wet walking home with the laundry. It does rain in England !
London Update
So far we have missed Westminster Abbey and Marble Arch. One was closed and the other was doubtful value given the weather that was forecast. Tomorrow we will do Westminster. The Arch can wait till we get back at the end of the driving segment of our trip.
Have bumped in to many people who are over here, as well as locals. Those that have travelled here seem to like our route and are sure we will be not disappointed.
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Paul
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Having Fun?
Well, I figured I would try and be the first to add a comment. Sounds like you're having a great time (even though every day seems crammed with things to see and do). From the photos looks like the weather is holding up as well. When we were there they had just installed the Diana Fountain and there were complaints about kids playing in it. They tried to stop them - but that just wasn't going to happen! I look forward to pictures of the Van....