Funerary relief(c.100) translation from Latin "To Dusumia Soteris set up by Lucius Dasumius Kallistus to the best freedwoman & most revered wife, with whom he lived 35 years with no dispute hoping that she would have outlived him, rather than left him surviving." Quite sweet, would you agree?

No photography or digital cameras back in the good old days. This is how people remembered historical figures and family members. You had to have money to do this, though.

The famous "Rosetta Stone". When I first saw this in the 1970's, it was displayed in a horizontal manner and was not in a protective case. It is because of this stone that we are able to read hieroglypics in ancient Egyptian tombs.

Remember, it has the same text repeated in 3 different languages, thus breaking the language code. So, what are the 3 languages?

King Idrimi of Alalakh(1570-1500 BC)According to the inscription in cuneiform [not visible, but within the rectangular area], he went into exile. Why this was necessary, I don't know.

Now, for 2 photos of musical instruments. They are both Sumerian lyres. One is known as the "Queen's Lyre"(Ur) and the other the "Silver Lyre"(Ur-Great Death Pit).

Amazing that these 4000 year old instruments survived! Well, it is time to leave and continue our tour.

This is Queen Elizabeth II's mother. She is known affectionately as the "Queen Mum" She turned 101 years old on August 4, 2001. The photograph was taken when she was 7, and it is in the National Portrait Gallery. She is beloved in the United Kingdom. She was married to the former king, and I think that this photo is incredibly sweet.

After a quick look through the National Portrait Gallery, I went to the nearby National Gallery to view the Vermeer Exhibit.

This is a pretty impressive building. Note the dome, columns, fountain, and of course, the red London buses in front!

This exhibit of Dutch painters from the Delft School was quite impressive. Well-known paintings were borrowed from throughout the world. This painting is by Johannes Vermeer "The Milkmaid,c.1657-58

This is different from the typical still life. By Harmen Steenwyck, it is titled - "Still Life: An Allegory of the Vanities of Human Life., c.1640