I am so in love with the British Museum. One fantasy right now is to move to London for a year with the express purpose of visiting the museums each day — taking in all they have to offer bit by bit! This first visit was spent almost exclusively in the Egyptian section. With a brief peek into the "Enlightenment" themed gallery . . . can't wait to return to explore more of this incredible museum! |
Next, we toured the traveling exhibit: "Indigenous Australia: Enduring Civilization." What I especially enjoyed, when first walking into the Museum was a small niche gallery that had Australian aboriginal "Larrakitj," which are decorated hollow log coffins. Each is decorated with the deceased's clan designs, and over time the elements — wind, rain and sun — wear away the larrakitj and its contents. In this way, funerary rituals span years. |
Similar to the Quechua people of the Andes, the aboriginals believe that their cosmology is embedded in the landscape by Creator so that they would know how to live, make everything grow and continue what he provided in the first place . . . and it is their responsibility to whistle, drum, sing and dance that knowledge so their children and their children's children learn the stories to put new life into those teachings. They understand, too, that acute observation and knowledge passed down b Elders helps to preserve their knowledge base.
I especially drawn to the North Mabuiag mask- and figure-makers work near the Torres Strait, the bark baskets created by the Tiwi people of the Bathurst and Melville Islands, and the wooden shields made in New South Wales. One of the artisans was quoted: "The stonework and textiles and others are gifts from our ancestors left to aid us on our journeys and to become the launching pad for contemporary practices and understandings." — what a beautiful knowingness!
Afterwards, I fell in love with the neighborhoods, storefronts and graffiti walking from the Museum through the Soho district to lunch.
I especially drawn to the North Mabuiag mask- and figure-makers work near the Torres Strait, the bark baskets created by the Tiwi people of the Bathurst and Melville Islands, and the wooden shields made in New South Wales. One of the artisans was quoted: "The stonework and textiles and others are gifts from our ancestors left to aid us on our journeys and to become the launching pad for contemporary practices and understandings." — what a beautiful knowingness!
Afterwards, I fell in love with the neighborhoods, storefronts and graffiti walking from the Museum through the Soho district to lunch.
Loved, too, the great window and merchandise displays at Fortnum & Mason. . . Here are a couple of my most favorite displays . . .
Mostly, I love English department stores that sell veggies, fruit, cheeses, charcuterie, and meats/fish/fowl!
Then, a taxi back to our hotel via our favorite bar Salmontini for a repeat of sushi and cocktails — with a decadent dessert to celebrate our 12,000+ steps walked today — before heading back to our hotel to pack in readiness to move to the Marleybone district where we begin our ACE Camp Culinary tour after attending the Chelsea Flower Show. |