“I haven’t been everywhere, but it’s on my list.” – Susan Sontag
Coffee and Trains
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Not much to say for today. We got a last wander around Gothenburg, complete with a cardamom bu/coffee stop. The rest of the day and into the night will be a train to Stavanger, with a brief stop in Oslo.
A morning at the British Museum absorbing artifacts from our collective past was rewarding, despite feelings about plundering other cultures. Having walked (in 2013) on the Isle of Lewis where someone discovered the Viking Chess Set, we made our way to the room where they are displayed, this magnificent whalebone set with Viking-related pieces. The berzerker took the place of the commonly known rook. The "Berserker" rook is an alternative found only in the Isle of Lewis set, depicting a Viking warrior in frenzy for a battle, so excited that he's biting his shield. Also of interest was the watch and clock room, especially the clock from 1685 with a luminous dial -- lit by a lantern placed inside. (See the 10 lit up on the left clock.) It is my opinion that the London Tube is the easiest underground system I've ever used, not to mention comprehensive and efficient. After a pub lunch of fish and chips (Doug ate the chips, I ate the fis...
After a rocky start, delays and rebooking, we arrived. After a short rest, did some exploring, then went to the Quaker House for a wonderful exhibit (Drawing Hope) of the artwork drawn by children from around the world, depicting their hopes for peace. This project started with children in North and South Korea, then spread to Belfast, Cambodia, South Africa, Colombia, and more. Very touching. And given the deaths last weekend of schoolgirls in Iran, extra poignant. In our exploring we found a (possibly fake) Banksy mural, reminders to tourists to watch traffic from the right, an insect hotel in one of the ubiquitous parks, an old telephone booth for sale, and a monument to conscientious objectors. A good start to our week in London. "When [one] is tired of London, they are tired of life; for there is in London all that life can afford." (Samuel Johnson) "To all ...
... Harrods, Handel, and Hendrix. The forecast correctly predicted rain today so we planned indoor visits, beginning with Harrods. It's a bit pretentious, but fun to explore. The food court alone was worth a visit -- a gastronomical array of delights. We bought a few things for our lunch (several dumplings, a pakora, a custard tart), then rode the Egyptian-styled escalators, and enjoyed the toy department. The next stop was the Handel Hendrix House, where both Georg Handel (18th century) and the inimitable Jimi Hendrix (20th century) lived. Full of scores and harpsichords, guitars and recordings of interviews (with Hendrix, not Handel, of course), bedroom suites and even a wig like Handel wore, it was a pleasant place to stay out of the rain and listen to the Hallelujah Chorus. It's time to relax and read a bit. With only one day remaining, we need to check if we hit our personal highlights. ...
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