February 13th 2007

So today I had intended to get up at 8:00, but ended up getting out of bed at 7:00 in the morning, because the girl beside me is a substitute teacher and got called into work. So, I dragged myself down the ladder and went downstairs to grab breakfast, which I ate with Susan (the Hungarian girl) after that, I tried to upload some photos, but had no luck, so I may try the internet cafe down the street later. I left the hostel and took the tube down to the British Museum, which has so far been one of the highlights of my trip. It didn’t open until 10:00, so I was a bit of a keener, getting there at 9:30. So, I popped into the nearest Starbucks, got a latte, read the paper, and felt very European. The Museum, like the National Gallery was free of charge, but I still forked out two quid for a map to tell me where I was going. The first thing I saw when I entered the first room was the Rosetta Stone. To be honest, I didn’t even know what I was looking at until I read what was written beside it. I apparently had good timing, as after I snapped a picture, the area was flooded with a horde of Japanese tourists and their Nikons. The rest of the room was filled with Egyptian sculptures. I was so excited to be in a room filled with so much history, that I was indifferent to the masses of school children parading about. After thoroughly browsing through the Egyptian section, I went and had a gander at the Elegian Stones from the Parthenon. Apparently the British are still very sensitive pertaining to the issue of the artifacts’ ownership. It was quite surreal to be surrounded with all of the history that I had been fascinated with as long as I could remember. The best part of the museum was being able to see all of the mummies. In total, I spent around 6 hours in there, before unknowingly venturing through the ghettos of London, in search of the wax museum. £21 later, I was inside the building, face to face with the likes of Jerry Springer, Brad Pitt and the Pope. While I was happy to have seen the place; as the models were very well done, it still seemed a little steep for an endeavour which only took me a little over an hour. I was also quite pissed that I missed the Pirates of the Caribbean exhibit. I would have settled for a wax Johnny Depp if I couldn’t have the real thing. Anyways, after that I took the tube home, after getting some good advice as to which tubes to take from a very friendly street vendor and her son. I also helped a South African woman make her way home. When I finally got back, Corrine, Alyssa and a couple of Kiwis and Aussies when out for some Indian food. I got invited to go out to the pub after, but I was tired so I declined. Apparently I’m getting a new roommate tomorrow.

Cheers!

Allison