Monday, August 01, 2011

Hard Shaking the Family Tree!

Hard Shaking on the Family Tree!




My last few days in London did not commence with any theme. Verity and I both wanted to see the world's favorite museum of natural history. So one London rainy day Verity and I headed out.






After gaining entry, Verity welcomed me into this sacred (forgive the blasphemy) cathedral of natural history!










Almost instantly I found this statue of the most famous of Natural History's gods, Charles Darwin. In my philosopical tradition this photo may be my most coherent representation! I love this picture! Thank you Verity!





With that, a theme for the day arose. Both Verity and I regretted we would miss our annual family reunion. Although it was never formally announced, this day became a family reunion of vastly wider scope and thus it took on a delightful flavor.



These photos, left and right, help explain where I am going with this. While some of my more traditional associates might find it challenging, for the others, welcome to my extended family.






The members of the vastly extended family are present below. You may recognize our five branches of the family tree, the five major representatives apes, our most notable family members. Unfortunately these photos were taken with shaky hand into glass enclosed displays.





As we to pass on to our human branch of the tree I see a womanly figure, perhaps Eve in the family's evolution.







Of course this is all endlessly interesting and we humans are the most interesting of the lot. Here one of my fellows lines up with elephants, rhinos and the eye of a blue whale.






Verity could not resist taking this photo of a tourist family brought low under the blue whale.






Somewhat later, as we got to the top of the museum Verity took one of those silly photos where you set the camera timer, run like hell, assume a silly pose and hope it turns out. This one seems satisfactory for the genre.


Finally I took this picture of Verity against the backdrop of the spectacular architecture, the complex of arches and stairways in this wonderful building.





Then it was packing the bags, checking out and flying on to Dubai en route to Beijing on Emirates Air in an AirBus 380 - wow, what an gigantic aircraft!

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