Petrie Museum - Touring Tuesday - Museum Mile

Our journey continues along The Museum Mile.  Please see a summary of the other museums in this collection here.  The Petrie Museum is another museum in the UCL Museums & Collections, and I previously visited the Grant Museum of Zoology.  

The Petrie Museum has one of the largest collections of Egyptian artifacts in the world.  I have very little information that I can share with you about what I saw as my knowledge about Egyptian history is paltry.  What I do know was learned at the British Museum and focuses mostly on mummies.  

I will let the photos do the talking today.  

I found this old soul quite interesting.  Apparently some people believed in burying their loved ones in terra cotta bowls.  

The museum had a table set up for children's activities.  They could explore with hieroglyphics through a matching game and write their name using the ancient alphabet.  

  
The Petrie Museum is located on the UCL campus and is free to visit.  It is open Tuesday through Saturday from 1:00-5:00.  It is located within a easy walk from Euston Square (Hammersmith & City, Circle Line, and Metropolitan Line), Warren Street (Northern Line and Victoria Line), and Goodge Street (Northern Line) Underground stations.

The Foundling Museum - Museum Mile - Touring Tuesday

I'm continuing my tour of all participants in the Museum Mile.  Please enjoy my summary of all the sites I have visited here.  

The Foundling Museum is nestled on a wooded street near the Russell Square Underground station.  The Foundling Museum is another gem in the Museum Mile.

The premise of this museum is more emotional than the others in the collection, and I have a lot to share with you.  It tells the history of the Foundling Hospital, which operated from 1739-1954.  At the hospital's beginning London was in a bad place, and people were struggling to survive.  For some bringing a baby into the world was too much to handle, and many babies were abandoned across the city.  The Foundling Hospital was created by Thomas Coram to look after these children whilst their parents found their way again.

When a child was admitted to the hospital their parent left a token behind in the child's file.  This was essentially the claim ticket the parent would use when they returned for their child.  Some families left strips of fabric which were cut into two pieces so the hospital could have one part and the parent the other.  Still other parents left elaborate coins, pieces of jewelry, or ornate trinkets that could be described when they returned. 

The token was vitally important for the identity of the child.  After admission to the hospital, each child was renamed and baptized.  The token was the only thread to their former life.  Sadly, only about five percent of parents ever returned for their child.  If a parent returned for their child they were responsible to repay for the boarding and care of their child.  

The exhibit had audio and video snippets from former residents at the Foundling Hospital.  They accounted the daily routine and weekly outing around the neighborhood.  It reminded me of a military-style life with meals and playtime highly planned.  

When the children reached certain ages (I seem to remember 14), they were sent out into the community to work.  Some children moved up the ranks in their jobs and some did not.  

Further research indicated that the hospital kept immaculate records.  The data keepers made sure every last detail was recorded at admission.  The City of London Archives has many of the Foundling Hospital's actual records.  

Fast forward to present day.  While the Foundling Hospital is no longer in operation, the founder's legacy continues.  Coram is the group that continues to look after children in England.  The group supports parents and children through training, and they also assist with adoptions.

The Foundling Hospital is open Tuesday through Sunday and admission is £8.25.  It is located near the Russell Square Underground station (Piccadilly Line)

Thoughts About Souvenir Shopping

The weather in London is spectacular right now.  By Friday the temperatures might push 85 degrees!  Before it heats up too much and I melt on the Central Line into the city, I took a walk through Leicester Square.  This area of London houses a majority of London's big theatres.  I've passed by before, but I've never actually walked around.  I was surprised to find this fountain and green space for casual picnics.

The area is also jammed with restaurants, buskers (street performers), and souvenir shops.  Guess what?
  
I found the tourists.

I knew this because many had bags from M&Ms World and the plethora of souvenir shops.  Whilst on my walkabout I came up with a few tips to keep in mind when you shop for chachkies in London.  

• The souvenir shops are always having a sale. 
• The souvenir shop owners think their customers like rap music, so they play it really loud. 
• All of the souvenir shops carry the same merchandise. Really they do. Believe me on this one. 
• The London souvenirs are not quality, but I suspect this does not come as a surprise. 

I hope that your trip to London isn't ruined by learning this information.  I care about you, and I'd rather you spend your hard earned vacation money at a museum or delicious restaurant (I don't mean TGI Fridays).  If you must by something, know that it won't last forever.  It may not even last until you get home if you purchase the nail care kit complete with clippers and really long metal nail file.  I'm sure the airport security folks would like it instead.  

Cheers!

Taking the High Road - Touring Tuesday

I do not mean metaphorically.  

I mean literally.

The High Road is a vital part of most boroughs in London.  It is where residents go for daily necessities and social gatherings.  Each one has its own vibe that's akin to the neighborhood.  I've found that High Roads in boroughs like ours tend to have a similar collection stores and cafes mixed with some bespoke (British for original, one of a kind) shops such as stationers and framers.  

What is the best way to describe the High Road?  It's like the road/plaza where you find Target, Walgreens, Starbucks, Goodwill, and Ace Hardware in the United States.  The big difference is that you don't need a car for the High Road because all of the shops are close together, and it's a pain in the arse to park.

I am on the High Road everyday since it's on the way to the kids' school.  For practical purposes, the road is around one mile in length. Get your walking shoes on, and come along with me for a tour!  

The High Road has several produce stands.  The selection is beautiful, and the prices are typically the same or better than the grocery store.  Plus, it's a great way to see produce that is not a part of the typical grocery fare.  The people that work at the stalls have an endearing gruff personality that can quickly change to sweet and helpful, depending on the customer.  Thankfully I get the sweet and helpful guys that call me "Darling."   

I was surprised to see that we have a high quantity of charity shops (British for Goodwill & Salvation Army).  These aren't your typical shops where you have to really dig through the racks to find something good.  These charity shops are filled with quality merchandise that's in great condition, and I've heard that you can often find designer goods.  I am a big fan of the charity book shop where I've found books that are still on the best seller list.

We have three regular grocery stores dispersed on our High Road.  One is a higher end, not quite Whole Foods but slightly snooty.  It even has a funny Facebook page of the ridiculous things overheard at the store.  "Do we need fresh parmesan at our city and country house?"  The second, and my favorite, is more like a Trader Joes.  Almost all of the products are private label.  They have a nice niche market for ready to cook meals.  The final grocery reminds me of the typical suburban grocery store like Jewel or Publix.  It has everything, it's always busy, the produce isn't the best all the time, but it gets the job done.  I opt for home delivery of basics from this store since I have a difficult time carting everything home in my roller bag.  Then I go to the other two for fruits and fresh meat. 

Next along our walk are the chain shops that are on every High Road.  Not much to say about these, other than they are known brands to the general population.  We have many mobile phone shops, clothing shops, and UK sit down chain restaurants.

No High Road would be complete without coffee shops and bakeries.  Ours has many.  Some even have two locations on the same road, and all have their own personality.  The culture in the coffee shops is certainly relaxed.  Tables line the sidewalk all year, and on nice days they throw open the bi-fold doors to blur the line between inside and out.  The bakeries have delicious pain au chocolate, almond croissants, flaky croissants, scones, and sandwiches to go.  Of course Starbucks is represented twice.  The crumbs in the photo below are what was left of a chocolate croissant.  It was delicious.  

Yes, we have plenty of pubs and bars.  Like the coffee shops, the pubs have their own personalities.     

Finally, there are the niche shops that makes our High Road uniquely ours.  There is an American-owned cafe/bakery that I visit quite often.  It's where I can procure favorite American ingredients (marshmallows!), eat delicious desserts, and have a good conversation with the American owners.    

Thank you for going on this walk with me.     

The 4th of July in London

It was just a regular Friday to most Londoners.  

But to us it was a very patriotic holiday.

We were determined to celebrate the 4th in London, even if fireworks were out of the question.  An American family from the Chicago suburbs recently enrolled at our school, and we've become fast friends.  So there was no question who we'd invite over to celebrate the 4th.

The kids had school on Friday as it was just a regular day to the rest of the country.  As we walked out of the playground, one of the moms asked about the weekend's plans.  

"We are having a little 4th of July BBQ this afternoon," I shared.

"Oh, that's right.  Today is your big day!" the mom laughed.

"Is the 4th a sticky topic to discuss?" I joked.

"Oh, no," she said, "we'll let you have your freedom," the other moms chuckled.

We did our best to have a traditional 4th of July BBQ.  I decorated with streamers since there were no American flags to be found at the party shop.  Matt fired up the Weber to grill burgers and hotdogs.  The thing I missed the most was potato salad.  We ended the meal with apple pie & ice cream.  

The ultimate test of a good celebration?  The kids passed out at the end of the night.

  

The Dickens Museum - Touring Tuesday - Museum Mile

This week, you'll journey with me to the Charles Dickens Museum.  It is a part of the Museum Mile, which you can see a summary of each museum here.  In the summaries you will find links to the museums and my original posts.  

Charles Dickens called the city of London home for a few years.  One can see many of his influences around town.  Most notably, he is buried at Westminster Abbey.  I learned that his funeral at the abbey was a small family affair, and he dictated prior to death that his grave marker was to be understated.  If you choose to visit Westminster Abbey, you will know the spot of his grave by the high number of visitors in that area.

When Dickens lived in London, his house situated in historical Bloomsbury.   This area was full of famous late 19th century writers including Virginia Woolf and T.S. Elliott.  The Charles Dickens Museum is located in a beautiful Georgian terraced house, which is also his former residence.

The rooms are displayed as originally used.  The tour started on the ground floor that was comprised of the public rooms, such as the reception room, a library, and dining room.

Then the tour went downstairs to see the kitchen, laundry area, and the outdoor wine cellar.

Next, I made my way up to the remaining floors.  I walked through another reception room, Charles' bedroom, his bathroom (as in a room without a toilet and an actual bath), his sister's bedroom, and a nursery up on the top floor.

The top floor had an adorable nursery.  

On the way out, I passed through a temporary exhibit focusing on Dickens's literature.  Tables full of his writings were alongside comfortable chairs which allowed for a short bit of reading.  

The Charles Dickens Museum is open every day 10-5.  Admission is £8.  It is easily accessible from the Russell Square (Piccadilly Line), Chancery Lane (Central Line) or Holborn Station (Piccadilly & Central Line) or Kings Cross/St. Pancras (Circle, Piccadilly, Northern, Victoria, Metropolitan, and Hammersmith & City)

A4 Update - June 2014

We've hit the seven month mark in London

• We bought a grill!  Of course it's a Weber that came all the way from Palatine, IL. 
• Holly & Oldest Kiddo ran a Rainbow Loom bracelet stand at the school summer fair.  It was tolerable once the Pimms were served to the adults.
• We are almost done planning a summer holiday - can't wait!
• A new family from the Chicago suburbs started at our school!  We will celebrate the 4th of July together.  
• We ventured to Windsor to tour the castle.  The Queen was in residence during our visit, but she forgot to invite us to tea.
• Oldest Kiddo performed in a choir concert at the town hall with seven other schools.  She has decided that she'd like to continue with clarinet lessons in the fall.  

Hunterian Museum - Touring Tuesday - Museum Mile

The Hunterian Museum is another Museum Mile participant.  If you want to catch up, I summarized the others I've visited here.  This museum is nestled in the heart of the UCL college campus inside the Royal College of Surgeons building. It is slightly tricky to find, but it's in the building across the street from the tennis courts if you ever find yourself looking for it.

As the museum is a part of the Royal College of Surgeons, you can make an informed guess as to the content of the museum.  The presentation of the jars is sleek and beautiful.  The LED lighting in the display cases allows for a clear view of the specimens.  I neglected to see the No Photography signs at the museum until I almost finished on the second floor.  You benefit from my lack of rule following..... 

A quick history of the museum indicated that John Hunter is the namesake for the museum.  He worked with his anatomy teacher brother where he learned to dissect and prepare specimens for study.  Hunter traveled the world to acquire specimens for the collection.  During World War II the museum took a direct hit, which destroyed many of the specimens.  Thankfully for us, the museum has recovered.  

The museum categorized the specimen cases by species (mammals, reptiles, plants), systems (reproduction, muscular), and ailment (medical condition).

Precisely why you should brush your teeth

  I'll admit I did have this face for several of the displays as I read the information cards.  

Kristen Wiig as Aunt Linda on SNL

Upstairs presented displays about the history of surgery.  Lawsy mercy, thank you to the brave surgical patients that endured crude surgeries that guided medical improvements.  

The Hunterian Museum is another gem on the Museum Mile.  You can get to the museum after a short walk from Holborn Station (Piccadilly & Central Underground Lines), and admission is free!