The British Museum: And Why I Did Not Enjoy My Visit

 

A Proper Good Afternoon to You

Don't get me wrong. I love the British Museum--although (ahem) some methods of acquiring a lot of its contents were dubious. On my many trips to London, it was always a must visit, and I thoroughly enjoyed every one.

But since the Pandemic ended, Britain and Europe have been flooded with tourists from all over the world. Museums in all major cities have instituted a reservation system--no more just showing up unless you want to risk being turned away,  And the British Museum is renowned and its exhibits attract millions of visitors each year--the Egyptian Hall is almost as good as a trip to Cairo. It felt like they were all there at once today!

As my timed ticket was for later in the morning I did a few errands before setting out. I got some skin cream for my aging epidermis, took out some recycling and went grocery shopping. I set out early so I could stroll around and get my steps in.

The British Museum is not far from my home, so I was there very early. I strolled up to Russell Square and moseyed around the park and appreciated the dogs. A small dog appeared to be defending it's family's blanket from some non-existent threats.

I went back to the Museum and found the entrance, showed my ticket and was admitted. No one asked about the time, and I was twenty minutes early. I went through security, which you will find at most museums, and entered. In the photo note the nearly invisible Pride Flag flying over this World Heritage Site.

The place was packed! Clearly no one was paying attention to timed entry. If you had a ticket you were let in as I was.  But whoa--floor to ceiling tourists. I had a hard time getting around. There were some things I wanted to see. I got to see some of them but not very well. Numerous tour and school groups parked themselves in front of the most important objects. People took selfies. They messed with their phones.  They chatted and hung out. I was there for the history, but I did not have much of a chance to enjoy it. Here are some shots I got of the Elgin Marbles. Here are some bas reliefs from the frieze inside the temple.

The "Three Goddesses" (We aren't sure which ones) from one of the Parthenon's pediments.

I'll tell you what. I am unlikely to get to Greece myself, but I wish that the UK would return these to Greece. Whatever excuses the UK makes about keeping the sculptures safe have long since evaporated.

So many people were there, it was hard to move around, and impossible to see a lot of things. Moreover, it was stuffy and hot. I needed to get out.  And to be honest, it was a genuine relief to emerge.

The day was warm, but the forecast is for more heat, so I decided to get more fish and chips. (Hey cod has Omega 3, and chipped potatoes have . . . some nutrition.) It was a short detour on my way home, but I was glad to get back to my air conditioned room to eat and rest.

Cheerio