We didn’t get into central London until quite late today because we spent a good portion of the morning preparing for our departure to France and Belgium tomorrow.
First was Saint Paul’s Cathedral, which I visited before, but didn’t get a chance to go inside of last time I was in London. It is very impressive, with several high domes, gilded ceilings, huge crypts, and three different upper galleries (in the biggest dome) to climb up to. I tired myself out with the 164 steps to the first gallery (the Whispering Gallery), but was too tired (or lazy) to go any further. Miark, however, climbed to the topmost gallery (400-something stairs in total) and enjoyed that. After two days of being on my feet, I was happy to just sit. Also of note, the crypt contains rather elaborate memorials to such famous people as John Wycliff and Florence Nightingale. It is also the resting place of Admiral Lord Nelson.
After that, we crossed the river to the Tate Modern, a modern art museum known for a huge interior room, which can house monstrous temporary exhibits. Currently on display. . . a crack in the floor. They actually cracked the concrete floor (nor more than eight inches wide, and about a foot or two deep) and the jagged crack runs most of the length of the interior floor. It was strange to watch people taking pictures of themselves with the very small crevice.
The rest was art and sculpture, including several Picassos, a Monet, and Henri Matisse’s famous “The Snail.” Each piece has a plaque which talked about what the art might symbolize, and I enjoyed the literary dissections of such abstract and often bizarre pieces.
Next we rushed over to spend a bit of time at the Science Museum before it closed at 6:00PM. It was a pity we weren’t there longer, as it was huge and very interesting. One of the few exhibits we had time to visit was a giant room discussing the history of flight. It had planes suspended from the ceilings, dozens of engines, and even a cross section of one of the first Boeing 747. It was a very comprehensive and cool display, covering the mechanics of bird flight, the progression of flying machines, and even huge exhibits showing planes from different countries in major world conflicts.
There was also a section on appliances. For each of the following appliances there was a separate display of early models all the way to recent ones, as well as viewable television commercials showing early advertisements. Featured was the toaster, the washing machine, the kettle, the refrigerator, the vacuum cleaner, and the oven. Some of the earliest models were pretty complicated, and the 50’s style ads with curtsying housewives trying to sell appliances were hilarious. The refrigerator advertisement featured such perks as “removable ice trays,” “three interior lights,” “enough freezer space to hold a carton of ice cream,” and loaded dispensers for cans where you pull one out the bottom, and another one falls into place. Pretty high class stuff.
There was also a room on math that included several machines invented by Charles Babbage. These included several different prototypes of his difference engine, a device used to calculate sums. Read more about it here. There was also a display of his personal writings, belongings, and also a large section of his brain. Because that’s relevant, I guess.
After that closed, we went to this little cafe a few blocks away. I ordered the “American-style Hamburger with Fries and a Salad.” I was aghast to discover that the “hamburger” (hereafter referred to only in quotation marks) came as a meat patty on a bun. Apparently, the British think that Americans serve their “hamburgers” with no condiments, vegetables, or fixings. No mayo, ketchup, onions, lettuce, pickles, cheese, NOTHING. I found ketchup on our table (for the french fries and chips) and slathered the abomination of a sandwich with it, and then took the coleslaw they had given me (two types of salad but NO FIXINGS), and put that in there as well so at least there would be something in the sandwich. As I ate it I tried to imagine the crunch of lettuce, and the tang of pickles, but all to no avail. The “American-Style Hamburger” would not, I am convinced, even be considered an excuse for a hamburger in my country.
Here endeth my rant.
Hope Helps 
