Day 3 started out with a proper English sit down breakfast just outside of the British Museum. The kids were excited for waffles & French toast and Tom was excited about a full English breakfast!
Avocado Toast for me :)
The British Museum is free, but you need a timed ticket. I was so glad Tom had booked us in early so we were able to walk right in with no wait.
More history coming to life - I loved showing the kids the Rosetta Stone! It was discovered by the French during one of Napoleon's military campaigns, but was surrendered to the British 2 years later under the Treaty of Alexandria. It has hieroglyphics (used for the priests/upper class), Demotic (Egyptian cursive everyday people used), and Ancient Greek. Even after its discovery, it still took 23 years to decode the Egyptian text. It's one of my favorite things in the museum!
Carolyn studied Egypt and mummies this year, so seeing actual artifacts was quite an experience for her.
The Gebelein Man - Andrew found this one very interesting.
Andrew's other favorite exhibit - The Lewis Chess Set
Ancient Greece in real life.
The museum itself is a work of art. I'm rather partial to it because of one of my favorite book series. Elizabeth Peter's Amelia Peabody talks about the British Museum all the time.
Gold Chariot from the Oxus treasure trove. So intricate and pretty. From 500-400BC.
The family booth was closed the day we were there so we weren't able to pick up that packet, but they had some seek and find type books for the kids to do on different sections of the museum. Carolyn chose Egyptian and did a good job finding the artifacts and answering the questions. She got a stamp for completion.
Reading the description made this even more impressive - such detail! The horse is tired and striving to finish its daily task and the signs of his labor are evidenced in his eyes, his mouth and even in the bulging veins under his skin.
This was a really fascinating hands on exhibit. A farmer discovered this cache of Roman coins a few years ago while digging up a new area of his property. Roman soldiers would bury their savings to keep them safe, and for some reason, this jar was never recovered by its owner. They are silver denarii and don't represent much, but this soldier had been working hard at saving to have accumulated this much. We all got to touch two of the coins, and Laura and Andrew knew the Roman emperor and empress impressed on them from their studies at school.
I loved these mosaic pins. The glass is so tiny and the patterns are pretty, artistic, and impressive!
Pretty dishes, shell jewelry, a cameo and a crown. I could have taken pictures for days in the museum.
Winged lion statues from Mesopotamia.
Aphrodite/Venus
Elizabeth noticed that I was paying close attention to the Grecian vases. I was excited to try and figure out which gods/goddesses/mythical creatures I could identify on each one. She whispered to Tom that I was looking at a lot of naked guys. 😲😅 I promise that I didn't even register the lack of clothing until she said something, and that I was NOT ogling anatomy, but rather the historical scenes the represented!! (So now you know in case she says something to you!)
Aztec granite rattlesnake
Aztec Double Headed Serpent Mosaic mostly made of turquoise - the picture doesn't do it justice.
Somehow the girls each talked me into stuffed bear keychains that had to join the family, and our photo.
Becoming masters of the Metro.
Tea at the Orangery at Kensington Palace!! I've been wanting to go back here ever since Tom and I came here 16 years ago. It was a trip down memory lane and as delicious as ever.
The building and decor is all so stunning and elegant.
Oh the clotted cream!
Cute little choux buns with orange craquelin to look like oranges!
In front of the Orangery as a family of 6 now! Last time we were only two!
Diana's Sunken Garden was closed for maintenance - so pretty and peaceful.
All dressed up for tea!
I loved this shaded, vine-covered walkway. I'd like one in my backyard, please!
Young Queen Victoria.
Dressing up in the same room Queen Victoria used to dress up in.
I hadn't remembered that Prince Albert had died so young. Victoria wore mourning much of her adult life. Very elegant and expensive clothing, but not very colorful.
An example of another mourning dress. Queen Alexandria wore this to a horse racing event at Ascot. It was considered "fashionable mourning" - whatever that means.
Young Elizabeth II and Margaret's matching dresses. It's hard to imagine The Queen so young!
I'm glad I'll never have to wear a dress like this! I laughed when I saw it!
The Cupola Room in the King's apartments was breathtaking. We'd started with Victoria's apartments and while historically interesting and enjoyable to see her life as a young person, it was not all that captivating for the littles, so they gave up and found a playground with Tom. I toured the Queen's apartments and then the King's and was disappointed that we hadn't started with the latter. So, so impressive.
Ceiling in the Cupola room.
Statue in the Cupola room.
Staircase up to the King's apartments.
We're all Royal here. 🤣
I enjoyed our visit to the Palace (we'd missed it the last time) on this hot London day!
We had afternoon coffee at Cafe Erol next to Harrods. Tom got Turkish coffee with Turkish Delight and sherbet (not ice cream, but some sort of heavily spiced drink). The kids all tried Turkish delight and agreed that it is good to try new things.
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