A Wiz

After our long trip we all kind of fell off the face of the earth that weekend we got home. Everyone slept in, everyday. And we were hard-pressed to get on our feet and do much walking after we had walked 3 different towns the past week. I know, I know, we're in London.. why WOULDN'T we walk around. That was a week ago now though.. The week of the 21st was the first day of our Art Tours class, which goes for a few weeks and basically all we do is look at slides in class, then after class we go to really cool museums. The first day of class I actually learned something.. we have some expensive sculptures in Fresno. That spider looking one out side the Convention center (isn't really a spider) is by Alexander Calder titled Bucephalus and we have a Renoir sculpture in Fulton Mall, The Washer Woman. Go check em out if you want to see some expensive art.

Then on Wednesday or so, we went to the British Museum. I for sure need to go back, there are a few exhibits I didn't even get to, and some others I wish I spent more time in. The first big exhibit you hit when you walk in is Egypt.. and some Mesopotamia too. But it's huge, and easy to get lost in. I don't think I ventured very far out of it except I found myself in the collection of sketches and drawings. I came out, turned the corner and came upon a sign that said Japan.. I really should get a map of this place next time. Well, I didn't go into Japan I went home instead. Which is why I say I need to go back. It's free and next door to my school, so I technically could live there.

There were a lot of these. (it's a mummy)

A mummified cat.

The fame, Rosetta Stone.

Some Egyptian guys.

A massive scarab.

Aphrodite yo. Kinda blurry tho.

Then on Friday morning we all piled onto the coach and went to Windsor Castle. THE Windsor Castle, the Royal residence.. not the Windsor Castle on our corner.. our favorite little pub. Easy to confuse though.
Well this place was beaUtiful. When I got inside and started touring the royal apartments.. all the Halls and Chambers and China and furniture and paintings and sculptures it was breathtaking. Huge ceilings with beautiful fabric hanging on the walls adorned with paintings the size of my bedroom. I've seen it all before, on TV and it looks fabulous on the screen still awe-inspiring. But when I turned the corner into Waterloo Chamber I seriously had to take a few steps back and just stand and stare... and close my mouth. Unfortunately though for you (and me) we couldn't take pictures.. It's all in my head. But I did take pictures of the castle from the outside. And we saw another changing of the guard.. there was a band and music just like the other one. But this time (it's smaller and there are less people) we got to hear them being yelled at, and actually change

I hear the weather where you guys are (well some of you at least) has been pretty dark, and wet. We've had so many nice days.. it hasn't been horribly cold (I came prepared both mentally and physically for a lot colder) I've been going some days in just a long sleeve shirt, and maybe a scarf. And the rain has been minimal, I think like 3 or 4 days of real rain since we've been here, and even at that it's never been all day. I know it could get cold real quick, and that we still have a bit more of winter yet.. so for now I'm taking each sunny day as a blessing.