Day 8: The Day Strangers Took My Picture

Another wonderful day! Although I am, unfortunately, very sick at the moment, I am also heavily medicated. I did sleep in a bit in the morning, but my stamina was severely limited today. I still managed to see and do the most incredible, memorable things.

First, I went the British Museum, a real life treasure trove of WORLD history, full of the most exquisite, priceless, and diverse artifacts "acquired" by the British over the centuries. I did a highlights tour with a Blue Badge Guide, which was a good idea, as I doubt I would have been able to locate these things myself with as little hootspa as I have.



Here it is! It began as the collection of Sir Hans Sloane, the royal physician, who had a collection of curios, and which snowballed into this magnificent collection. At the top, in the pediment, there are sculptures alluding to the triumph of knowledge. I LOVE pediment sculptures, because they are usually very creativity and imaginatively laid out, the artists make unique use of the shape. Here's is an example...on the end, we see..


...a crocodile in fine detail, representing the swamps of ignorance. Gradually you move on to a man reaching for a lamp (like a genie lamp), the light of knowledge, and in the center, victorious, is a powerful, wise woman. This was the time of Queen Victoria, so it was common to depict strong women in allegorical roles.


Inside, there is an open courtyard, which only recently was given this fantastic glass ceiling. It is really quite something to stand under, and I am so glad for the lovely day, as the photos turned out rather splendidly.


What a cool shadow effect!



I remember the day my mother got a small replica of the Rosetta Stone and hung it up in the study of our house. She explained is significance to me, and as any kid is fascinated with Ancient Egypt, I was instantly awed with the stone's significance. And today, my dear readers....


A dream come true! What a thing to see, what an object to stand before, to appreciate, and to know what a gift it is to the knowledge of world history.

And then, as if it couldn't get any better....


We come into the room of the Parthenon sculptures. It is apparently not correct to refer to them anymore as the Elgin sculptures. I did learn that the British Museum is in talks with the Greek government, since they have built a suitable museum to house these. I would like to see them back in Greece, at the base of the Parthenon. But only because I've already seen them here. I would definitely make a trip to Greece if these were moved home!


This entire section was built to to display the pediment and frieze sculptures.

After a quick run through of the Egyptian mummies, I was struggling to stay upright, and had to leave to make it to my next appointment.


I wished I was this little bird, fluffed and settled, resting peacefully while the sunlight gently warms me from the inside out.

But....one more thing to check off the list....


My super exclusive super fancy super wonderful VIP tour of Buckingham Palace!!!!! This...was...a...spectacular....experience.

For one thing, the group is limited to 30 people. We have our own private guide, a rear escort, and were literally ushered into the grandest state rooms after hours. I was the youngest person by probably 30 years, and everyone had dressed up for the occasion. I wore my chignon, and the blue dress I made. I wore my St. George defeating the dragon brooch, since that is the symbol of Her Majesty the Queen.

Sadly there were no photos allowed. We entered in through the main entrance, where all the coaches and cars drop off all the important people. We went up the grand staircase, taking the path of dignitaries, politicians, celebrities and what have you. We visited the current exhibition, Royal Faberge, which was stunning, and then moved on to the Grand Ballroom/multi purpose room, aka the largest room in London. It was also the throne room of Queen Victoria. It currently has on display in the center the wedding dress of the Duchess of Cambridge. She wanted it displayed open, with no glass, but as they were worried about fanatics, there is a thin net surrounding the gown. I cannot begin to describe to you how beautiful this dress is, and all the lace. The television screens, no matter the HD quality, could never show the fine detail. They had close up images and practice lace that you could examine closely. Apparently the people who made the lace changed needles every 3 hours and washed their hands or changed gloves every 30 minutes. It is really a very spectacular gown.

They also had on display the actual wedding cake, which is such a masterpiece that they couldn't cut into it. And as the cake is very heavy and made primarily of fruit and sugar, and covered in fondants, it stays perfectly preserved in a case. You can see where they made the "cut" with a sword. They then had another cake which was cut and served. It took 2 months to make the cake, and it really was a work of art. Bravo to those pastry chefs!

All the rooms, including the throne room, were opulent and divine. I particularly liked them because they are slightly smaller than most royal state rooms, like the ones at Windsor, which makes the decorations seem more concentrated, and the sense of the room more intimate. I wish I could go on about each room, but my heart is aflutter with the memory, and I feel words could never do them justice. After the tour we were led through the room where Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother had her 100th birthday, and given champagne and the opportunity to meander around the gardens and the sculpture hall.


The gardens of Buckingham Palace at sunset. Image a herd of corgis tearing around, chasing after all the exotic birds.



This is at the very back of the palace, overlooking the gardens.


You can see my St. George pin.



And here, at the front of Buckingham Palace, is where I was driven out by the escort, right through that tunnel in the center of the photo. The main balcony is just to the left. All the people standing at the gate began to take pictures of us, so I did only what was completely natural. I smiled brightly, lifted my head with dignity, and gave the people of England my finest, most practiced, royal wave.