Slug and Lettuce
Trip Start
Aug 09, 2008
1
7
34
Trip End
Sep 16, 2008
London,
United Kingdom
Friday, August 15, 2008
Off to South Kensington to see the Natural Museum of History. The cabbie drove past it when I arrived here. Such a grand and beautiful building. I just had to see it.
It's a fair way from Limehouse, but only one connection change at Bank, so it won't take long. And it didn't. I was there within 30mins. I rate the underground well. It's not hard to find the museum, or any of the museums. There is signage for them, but the best thing is that there is a subway that leads to them. I'm not likely to get lost.
When I emerged from the subway I'm, again!, just taken aback by the size and beauty of this building
Natural Museum of History
. It's just awesome. It's a nice sunny day, so the sunlight just brightens the museums grandeur. I'm of the opinion that museums are dull, dreary places. Not anymore.The queue to get in is long, but moving quickly and I'm inside within 20mins. Not bad for free entry hahaha. The first thing you see when you enter is, not including the security guards who check all bags, is a massive dinosaur skeleton. It's huge. The main foyer is, and I know this is obvious but still needs to be said, just massive. It has a huge dinosaur in it. What would you expect.
What to see first? The dinosaur exhibit is a good place to start. Oh?!? there's a queue. It's long, and one of the signs says queueing time is about 45mins. I'll comeback when the queue has dropped in size. I decided to just wonder around.
There are lot's of awesome exhibits. Really, there are just too many to describe. You really need to see them yourself. I guess, if I had done the dinosaur exhibit ( the queue was just the same when I returned 2 hours later ) I most likely would have said it was the best. I didn't, so I'm not haha!! But I did find the rock collection really good
1-Natural Museum of History
. Don't screw your face like that. It was interesting!!The museum is huge, and the crowd is getting bigger. Two hours later, I'm hungry, and I'm ready to leave. Outside the sun is still shining and there are some food stalls on the edge of the grass area infront of the museum. I buy the Beef Burger. At 4 pound 25, it's a reasonable price, if you are a local. I'm not, so I do the math. That's nearly $13. $13 for a burger!!! on that subject, 4 pound a pint. 6 pound for cigs. Relatively speaking, if you don't earn pound sterling, then I think London can be seen as expensive.
Anyway. It was a delicious burger. I have no complaints about that. Science Museum now. Back down the subway, and the Victoria and Albert Museum ( commonly known as V&A ) have an entrance connected to the subway. Ok I'll have a look. Again, it's free admission. It is massive as well. 6 floors of exhibits and displays. There is room after room after room of stuff dating back to 1400 AD. Massive paintings of scences from the bible by Raphael, Statues ( My favourite ), Carpets, Paintings, the works. From the four courners of the world. I'm glad I popped there. Another 2 hours later, and I still hadn't seen it all.
While I was inside V&A, a thunderstorm had passed over
2-Natural Museum of History
. I could hear the thunder from within. Must have been a good storm.Back down the subway to the science museum. Again free admission. And again it was huge. 5 floors this time. The space exhibit is my highlight. Old rocket engines, Lunar Landing Module, V2 Rocket, Old GMT machine that was decommisioned in 1990.
After an hour there, I'm starting to get pretty tired. I want to see it all, but the old legs say no. Besides Katie is taking me out to dinner in the Bank District.
Back to Limehouse on the tube, get showered etc. And off we go to a Bar/Restaurant called Slug and Letttuce. Colourful names on these pubs. Nice bar, full of drunk suited ladies and gentleman. Band playing in the background. Thursday night is Pub night. Not friday. Apparently, they don't want hangovers in their own time, so Friday is hangover day?? Bizarre? Correct me if I'm wrong, but that is what I've been told.
Lucky night for us, It's Gordon gin's cocktail night. 3 pound per each. Dinner was great. I had the sirlion steak. Katie had the Lasagne. Couple more drinks then off to the Sterling to met Tim. It's a bar at the bottom of the Gherkin. I'm kinda under dressed in jeans, but the atmosphere was nice. Most of the people there would work for a finance company or bank. They'll be involved in one way shape or form.
Dying now and it's 10pm. Back to Katies and Tim. A couple of night caps then lights out.
What a long day.!!!
