A Conversation for Amy P's 2017 NaJoPoMo

Amy P's 2017 NaJoPoMo Day 10

Post 1

Amy Pawloski, aka 'paper lady'--'Mufflewhump'?!? click here to find out... (ACE)

Saturday morning at Agapanthus's flat, everyone managed to wake up in time to actually eat before we headed out to see who besides the 3 of us (Ag, minichessemouse, and myself) will be going on the Brunel tour, the first of 2 planned tours for the daytime portion of the London Meet. We arrived at the Embankment Tube station a little early, and headed towards the Starbucks to borrow the wifi. Superfrenchie joined us there, as did Bald Bloke. Sol met as as we were heading back through the Tube station to the Thames side, where a small crowd was starting to gather. The guide arrived, and we set out for the first leg of the tour--a boat ride under the Brunel bridges of London, and a discussion of the Brunels and their nonLondon bridges. After an enjoyable boat ride (including my first sight of an operational paddle wheel boat, which I found hilarious, given their association with the US (granted, more with the Mississippi than anywhere I've ever been, but still, the Thames?) I don't want to give away too many tour details, because it was too good to spoil (yes, I'm definitely recommending it, and I would go again if I'm ever back with Tom)--I will say that even the Londoners among us learned new things about London, and all of us thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. For a walking tour, ther was less walking than one would assume--besides the boat, we also rode the Tube for a bit, before walking again. While we were walking, I experienced a true London summer--a nice downpoursmiley - laugh The tour group found quite a large tree to huddle under, where we stayed listening to the guide for a bit, before the rain let up enough for us to continue to our final stop on the tour--the caisson at the Brunel Museum. The first caisson in the world, with many attendant stories--and a new staircase. I ended up buying both books offered by the tour guide, but not as "trophies" (fellow tour-goers will knowsmiley - winkeye)--I had decided I wanted them when we were still under the treesmiley - tongueout

The British Museum was our next stop. The plan was to take the London Walks tour of that, as well, but the rain delay cost us that--the Brunel tour ended 15 minutes before the British Museum tour was due to begin, and we were 45 minutes away from the starting point... (This, by the way, marked the beginning of a pattern. Just watch how official tours end up throughout my tripsmiley - winkeye) We did make it to the Museum eventually, and decided that there would likely be less of a queue if we went in 'round the back. Evidently, so did everyone elsesmiley - laugh While we were waiting, I decided I wanted to see some of the most iconic holdings of the British museum--the Rosetta stone, the Elgin Marbles, and mummies, along with whatever else was in between. Once we got in, we headed for the Great Court and food. Though I ended up only getting a drink, because... I don't know why, actually. It could very well be that my conviction that I had been lucky enough to avoid jet lag was just plain wrong... Anyway, messages flew back and forth between our group and MMF--he was supposed to meet up with Icy and then meet us at the Museum. This never materialized, and we ended up meeting them later. It's probably just as well--the Museum was *packed*, and navigating in a scooter, or just plain finding us to meet up with us, would've been difficult-to-impossible. I did get to see all I had wanted to, and I also saw artifacts from Sutton Hoo, and the Ashurbanipal exhibit. Lots of lion hunting. After our whirlwind tour (it being less than 2 hours before closing when we arrived at the museum), I popped into the gift shop, and bought a smiley - bus for Tom--one of his specific souvenir requests.

After being chased out of the Museum (along with hundreds of others) due to closing time, we were off to Shakespeare's Head, the site of the evening portion of the Meet--which I write about tomorrow, as it is late, and this looks like it's already fairly long...


Amy P's 2017 NaJoPoMo Day 10

Post 2

SashaQ - happysad

smiley - biggrin

The British Museum is amazing - so much to see. I was very lucky to visit it when it had extended opening hours - I got chased out the back at 5.30pm, but was able to go back in at the front and stay in the Great Court and my favourite the George III Room until much later smiley - ok

Not too bad with early closing though, really, as there is plenty to do elsewhere in the city after 5.30pm smiley - ok


Amy P's 2017 NaJoPoMo Day 10

Post 3

FWR

smiley - applause


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