April 20: British Museum, Masonic Temple, Greenwich and Gypsy. Phew!

How’s that for a day?  Kathleen has picked out some pictures, and they are now here for you to enjoy!

View of Tower Bridge from the boat.

Kathleen and I got up this morning for a great breakfast at the hotel, and were away to the British Museum in time for their opening.   

We managed to see the “top ten” in both the Ancient exhibit and in the European exhibit, and then headed off to the Masonic Hall.   

We had hoped for a tour of this beautiful building, but there was only one tour today – normally there are five – and so we were only able to visit the library and museum.  Kathleen was nearly arrested when she tucked her visitor’s pass into her pack absentmindedly with her purchases, and set off the alarm.

The Covent Garden tube station nearby was closed so we decided to walk and see a bit of London in the glorious weather.  We walked through Trafalgar Square with all of the buskers and tourists, down the Mall, wandered by the Horse Guards, and the beautiful St. James Park, full of Londoners enjoying the warm spring day.  We admired Big Ben (or as Kathleen keeps reminding me, the parliament clock tower, since you can’t see Big Ben), waved to Queen Boudicca on her bridge, and then caught the boat to Greenwich.  We were more than ready for our pub lunch, then went off to explore Greenwich.  At the Naval Academy we saw the Painted Hall (a former dining room) and the chapel.  Both were beautiful, and we walked up the hill to see the Prime Meridian and the Observatory.  A quick trip to London, and a beautiful walk through the Embankment Gardens, and we were at the Savoy.  Alanna and her friend Alicia joined us to see Gypsy, starring Professor Uxbridge from Harry Potter, Tristan Farnan/Dir., Who, and the Dominatrix from Sherlock.  The production was just wonderful.  We picked up a couple of sandwiches at Tesco, and are plotting our plans for tomorrow.  We are hoping for a picnic in Hyde Park.