We started on Monday with my #1 priority for our entire time in London, the British Museum. I spent most of my time in the ancient Near East sections. I went first to the Cyrus Cylinder https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/
We connected with my sister and her family at the museum and shared lunch together. Anya then went off with them to 221B Baker Street and the Sherlock Holms museum. I spent more time with the Assyrian and Greek collections. I hate to admit that this biblical studies nerd had goose bumps at the seige of Lachish friezes. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lachish_relief.
This shows the story identified in 3 Old Testament texts. Here’s two.
“Later, when Sennacherib king of Assyria and all his forces were laying siege to Lachish, he sent his officers to Jerusalem with this message for Hezekiah king of Judah and for all the people of Judah who were there”-(II Chronicles 32:9)
“Now it came to pass in the fourteenth year of King Hezekiah that Sennacherib king of Assyria came up against all the fortified cities of Judah and took them.” – (Isaiah 36:1-2)
The room is about 20 feet by 50 feet which is an impressive size documenting this one siege. In Sennarcherib’s palace, it would indeed strike fear into any coming to see the king!
Scott said being in the ancient Near East section of the British Museum with me is like me being with him at a Shakespear play!
There is way more to this museum, and highlights for me were one of the lions and blue ceramic from the Babylon Gates of Ishtar, the Elgin marbles of the Acropolis from Athens, the Rosetta stone. We just scratched the surface! I could post a hundred photos, but I won’t. Just visit the British Museum website for professional quality photos. http://www.britishmuseum.org/. Better yet, go some day. It is FREE!
But it was time to transition. I walked Elenn and her family to the Tube (subway) station with my 22 pounds of Maasai beads and books that she will take back to the USA for me. Then I have 22 less pounds to lug through Tanzania on my way home.
We rendezvoued again after dinner to see the musical Wicked. This was Anya’s #1 priority for London.
It was a sublime spectacle! Again, Scott’s professional theatre insights were icing on the cake. I was the only one who hadn’t seen it in any form, so I was the one who had the greatest “Aha”, but Anya is so enamored with musicals, so she had perma grin all night!
The Apollo Victoria theatre is right across the street from the Victoria Tube station, so getting “home” went amazingly well, though a bit later being out to a show.
What a wonderful day!
Thanks for all the prayers for us! We haven’t looked the wrong way when crossing the street and been hit by a double decker bus. We haven’t forgotten to “mind the gap” in the Tube and stumbled or fell. We have rarely had any sprinkles or oppressive heat. And we’ll be headed out of town just half a day before the Tube strike starts. We are blessed!
With blessings,
Beth
