Day 4

That mysterious time of vacation is occurring where I have no idea what day of the week it is.  I checked, it's Friday.  That would also explain the immense amounts of people in both the museum and transportation today.

Right now I am sitting in a cafe having Afternoon Tea.  It is possibly the best thing I have had yet.  A pot of tea, with a side of two scones, strawberries, clotted cream and strawberry jam.

I don't know what is up with these strawberries, but they taste amazing.  A very intense strawberry flavor, absolutely delicious.
The clotted cream kind of melts on top of the scone and it acts a little like warm frosting.  I waited until after I'd tried it to Google what it is.   Turns out it's just a sibling to butter.

So this morning I went to the Natural History Museum.  I had pinned this on Pinterest as a place that I wanted to go.

Picture from Pinterest *not my photograph

Now below are my photos

This is the outside, the view from my picnic spot. 

And finally my view from the inside.  This photo does not do this building justice.  My camera card reader doesn't seem to want to read my card, so I will keep trying, and in the mean time try to take a few photos with my phone to share.  (I've also made a note to try and align myself with the other side of the camera next time, you know for variety.)

I believe that this museum has just become my number 1 museum of all time.  It wasn't so big as to be unmanageable and each section was done so well (except the marine environment  but when you have the London Aquarium to go to, this seems an acceptable slight.)  I also kept imagining a third Night at the Museum taking place here.

My favorite section was the dinosaurs, there were many full skeletal fossils to look at from ground level or higher up walkway.

I got there right at 10 when they opened, and there was a huge line waiting to get in, mostly school groups and such. It was very busy at first, but the masses seemed to disperse around the whole building making it easier to manage.

Called it an early day out and about, read some, and then met up with the tour for check in and instructions.  Tomorrow at apx 6:45 we will be getting together and departing shortly after that.  It was nice to talk with a few people tonight, already seeing the buddings of a few friendships.  Paris is our end destination tomorrow with a stop in Dover along the way.  I believe tomorrow we are going to scale?  ascend? climb?  the Eiffel Tower tomorrow.  Depending on internet access there may be a delay in postings.  :)

I find it so odd not to be telling these stories over the phone to many of you, that when I see you next in person, you will undoubtedly hear it all again.  I'll apologize in advance now.  :)