Connecting from London--day 4

         Hi, Kids.  This entry is going to be relatively short, as I was sick with a fever most of last night and stayed in bed most of today.   I'm feeling a little better now, though I have a SERIOUS chest cough (part of the reason I stayed in the apartment resting today).  I did send the family away to see London, since we had already paid for the visits to the British Museum, Westminster Abbey, and the London "Eye".

Here Emily is waiting outside the British Museum.













One of the main attractions inside is the "Rosetta Stone"--a clay tablet that contained the same thing written in hyroglyphics (the picture writing of the Early Egyptians), in "the common language" of the day, and in Greek (the government language of the day).  Before its discovery, people had found hyroglyphics, but were unable to decipher them.  The Rosetta Stone made it possible to know what was being said in the hyroglyphics.

 Next, they went on to Westminster Abbey.  This is the church in London where the King or Queen is crowned, when he or she becomes  the Royal Leader of England.  The picture above is the "high altar" where the throne is placed on the day of the coronation.
   




After they finished at Westminster Abbey, they had some time to look around before heading over to the London Eye.  Here, a street artist is drawing and coloring Yoda.  Yoda and Star Wars characters in general are "BIG" over here right now.

Then they headed over to the London Eye.  On the left, the Eye is seen from a distance.  On the right, it is seen from below as you are waiting in the queue to board.













This is the pod as it approached the queue.






The oval "side" of the pod opens so people can exit and board.









Here is Emily and her dad "Dr. D." looking out over the town of London from inside the pod.






This gives you an idea of the size of the inside of the pod.  The lady in front is telling everyone where to look to see things, and what they are looking at.






This is the Parliament Building (the part with the white covering over it).  That is where the British government runs England (the Queen is more a figure-head than a leader of England).  The Elizabeth tower on the right holds the world's most famous clock, "Big Ben".





This building is the Scotland Yard building from the time of Sherlock Holmes.  Scotland Yard is the detective division of the police, and still exists, but is no longer housed in this building. 


That's all for today, my Lovelies.  Hopefully, I will be back on my feet tomorrow, since we are spending the day at the Globe theatre, which is a theatre made famous by William Shakespeare.  Emily loves his plays, and is very excited to see "The Merchant of Venice".  We will arrive there in time to have a tour of the place, then see the three hour show, and then have supper at one of the fancy restaurants that overlooks the performance area.

This is a picture of the inside of the Globe Theatre.  Let's hope our luck holds out, and we don't get rained upon, since (as you can see) part of the theater is open to the air.
      Have fun at your Minion Party tomorrow.  I will be thinking of you.