Museums are fun*

Hi everyone!

Today is Museum Madness. I started my day at the Bank of England museum. I learned a lot about the history of banking in England, and about features of British money that are designed to prevent counterfeiting. I even got to hold a gold bar that weighs 28 pounds!

Author inside the Bank of England Museum. Author is holding a gold bar through a circular opening in a clear plexiglass display case.

I went and saw the Gherkin building, which resembles a pickle, and the Leadenhall building, nicknamed "the Cheese" since it is wedge shaped

Bullet shaped office building with an exterior covered in triangle shaped panes of glass. The panes alternate between dark blue and light blue, and are arranged in diagonal lines that appear to wrap around and up the building. A historic church is next to the office building to provide contrast between old and new archetechture
The Leadenhall Building: A glass sided skyscraper that is wedge shaped. Three sides of the building are vertical while the fouth side is slanted creating a point at the top of the building.

I spent my afternoon at the British Museum; they have the largest collection of Egyptian artifacts outside of Egypt. 

Harold really liked this hippopotamus statue found in an Egyptian tomb. The ancient Egyptians were terrified of hippos!
A lavender colored hippopotamus stuffed toy appears to be looking at a dark green marble statue of a hippopotamus through the right side of glass display case. The toy hippo is close in size to the marble statue.


They also have the Rosetta Stone, and an amazing glass ceiling rotunda.

Selfie of the Author in the Rotunda of the British museum. The ceiling of the rotunda is made entirely of diamond shaped glass panels that arch from a white circular building in the center to the outside walls of the rotunda. There is a white marble lion statue visible in the background.

This evening I went to the Tate Modern art museum and saw several paintings by Picasso. I also witnessed a marriage proposal while crossing the Millennium Bridge.

Artistic night photgraph taken of the City of London from the bank of the Thames River, under the Millenium Bridge. The futuristic bridge arcs across the top of the photo. The city of London is visible in the center of the photograph, the city lights are white, and accented with blue and purple which are reflected in the river. A very tall pointed skyscraper known as the Shard is a prominent feature of the cityscape.

London may be the most tourist friendly city ever. Just when I think I might be lost, there is a map on the street to show me where to go. Navigating the subway is also easy to do, just follow the signs. Everyone is friendly and helpful, and always willing to take a photo for you.

I found five more sheep today. I was informed by an adorable British girl that there are 50 of them throughout London, so yes, I will be taking my picture with each one I find! I've got to get pictures with two of the ones I spotted next to St. Paul's tomorrow.

Artistic night photo of St. Paul's Cathedral, taken from the Millenium Bridge. The white dome of the cathedral is featured prominently in the center of the photo. The Millenium bridge has blue lights along the lower edge of each side, which direct the eye from the bottom corners of the photograph to the cathedral in the center.

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