Now, you may remember that ages ago (actually, only two months now but what seems more than two eternities), I was in London town. But, on a particularly knackered (that is English speak for "tired") day, I found myself in the British Museum but could not bring myself to see the Lewis Chessmen. The only reason I even knew about them was because it was one of the many publications issued by the museum on their holdings, and the cover drew me in. Honestly, though, even though my feet were killing me, maybe even having killed me, I should have made an effort to go see them.
Adding more gasoline to the fire, I did not see the remainder of the Lewis Chessmen (there being only two places which own them) when I was in Scotland- but, this time, the reason was because I could not make it- having needed to catch an early train. That, too, was a mistake.
Fortunately, the Cloisters (through the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the source of much joy in my life over the years) brought some of the Chessmen to town, and indeed I was able to see them close-up (behind glass cases, but that is all right), and they are every bit as fun and delightful as the pictures. If anything, they are even more joyous, and they are definitely worth a repeat visit or a number of repeat visits.
Alas, it was not permitted to take photographs, but I was able to take photos from outside the gallery itself- but perhaps that is enticement enough to make one visit. After all, what is an hour on the subway compared to six or seven hours on the plane to London or Scotland and then some? Although, I wouldn't mind going to those places again, either.
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| where hidden magic resides |
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