Natural History and Unnatural Queues

           Today I explored the Natural History Museum in South Kensington. But before I get to that, let me explain an anomaly in this country known as brown sauce. The base ingredient is malt vinegar, but the sauce produces a sweet flavoring due to the dates and tomato in it. The consistency is similar to ketchup, but slightly less thick. I was bold enough to try some brown sauce on my sausage and egg breakfast sandwich. It was quite delicious. I enjoy the kick of sweetness, yet lingering spices and sourness of the vinegar. Which reminds me, I recently discovered another condiment known as salad cream. Now, this particular sauce is like mayonnaise’s sweet cousin. It looks deceptively like mayo, but once you taste it, the topping has a more pickled, relish-like taste. Apparently, salad cream also tastes amazing mixed with canned tuna.

Anyway, back to my excursion to the museum. Completely forgetting that many others are on holiday, I did not anticipate the forty-five minute queue I would be forced to stand in. Not only were both entrances backed up; there was a carousel and ice-skating rink directly outside of the building. Thus, all day, between the Natural History Museum and tube lines, I was immersed in a clusterf*ck of tourists. I am sure the free entry added to the area’s appeal. There was so much history to peruse that I was walking around from about 2:30 till closing at 5:30, with many exhibits left unseen. The layout of the museum is comprised of four main zones. The items on display range from replicas to real elements found on this earth. I was able to explore biology, ecology, and geology. In fact, the sections about tectonic plates, rock formations and volcanoes took me right back to my college days of Earth Systems Science lectures. The most popular exhibit, by a long shot, was the dinosaur wing. I saved this for last, so that my interest in the archaeology overpowered my sore feet and back. I also thoroughly enjoyed the “Creepy Crawlies” exhibit. I am simultaneously fascinated and terrified of all bugs, so tackling this display was exhilarating. Despite having to push past multiple strollers and exasperated parents, I had a wonderful outing. Other museums near this one, which I did not have time to visit today, include the Victoria & Albert Museum and Science Museum.