After looking into those closed eyelids That hold the memories of history, I think of the secrets that they once hid, And how they have endured the trickery That took them out of their burial place And encased them within this modern tomb. Visitors forever stare in his face, Wondering what lesson there are to learn From his wrapped body and leathery skin; The curled lips always showing his smile Of battles he lost and lands he did win. At one time, he was the king of the Nile; Now, he lies in a glass sarcophagus To put on a show for the rest of us.
I have been many places in the world where history is around every corner, but I have never been to a place like Egypt. The history that is in this country pre-dates many of the places I have visited, and the representation of that history is so grand in design that it is hard not to feel overwhelmed by it. There are many historical sites that people visit when out here like the pyramids, and the ancient city of Thebes, but Egypt has recently opened a new museum that will quickly rival those traditional spots, the Grand Egyptian Museum.
The building itself is an impressive structure located in Giza in the shadows of the pyramids. It has slowly been being built starting in 2006 when they moved the impressive statue of Ramses II which used to be located in the center of Cairo. Since then, they have opened up other sections of the museum over the course of the next couple of decades, and as of the writing of this in 2025, there is 80 percent of the planned museum opened up to the public right now.
This includes the hanging obelisk just on the grounds up to the main building. It is the first thing that most visitors will see and it is a great introduction to the treasures that are held inside. It is a great introduction to the culture. There are many hieroglyphics carved into the stone, but the most interesting one is the one carved on the bottom. Here Ramses hid his name, so if any other kings came and tried to erase his name to take credit for his accomplishments, people would still be able to find the truth on the bottom of the obelisk.
There is also the grand staircase. Visitors have to travel up this staircase to get inside the main gallery. The staircase is covered with the largest collection of Egyptian tombs, statues and arches. They are the ones that are too big to bring into the main gallery, but are still impressive to see. Each one holds its own story, and I would highly recommend hiring a guide so they can take you to the more important ones, and tell you the stories that they hold.
The main gallery was just opened in October of 2024, and is where the main collection resides. There are so many pieces in this place that it would be impossible to see all of them in just one days. In fact, our guide told us that if we spent a minute looking at each one, then we would be in the museum for the next 80 days.
It is broken up into different rooms that follow the history of Egypt as it progresses down the hall. They then break up each era into the culture, history, and stories of that era. It is a lot to take in, so I would recommend taking a guide who can point out the more important pieces, and tell the stories behind them as well. I would not have gotten out as much from the experience if I did not have a knowledgable person to guide me.
I found out that there is a lot to see in Cairo, and that you need to make some decisions if you are planning a short trip out there. The pyramids and the sphinx are obvious musts, but there is another one that most people need to see as well, and that is the Grand Egyptian Museum. I was blown away by the sheer scale of it, and I could not imagine how it will grow even more when they open up the last twenty percent of it. It just gives me another reason to plan another trip some day to go out there to enjoy the museum again.
Why does one generate so much hate That a person across the vast ocean Will throw a vicious tirade on the state Of the world h made on a personal whim? Does he believe in the mass destruction Of mankind is something we can sustain? Does he think economic production Is better than what relationships gain? He will sit on top of his mighty throne, Pissing off an Irish man in a bar, Thinking his popularity has grown Since he has not seen the inflicted scar. We will have to listen to his loud blare As long as money is our only care.
There are a couple of places in the world where theatre is one of the main attractions. Of course, many Americans know of the appeal of Broadway in New York, but even before that became the gold standard, there was the West End in London. It has been producing some of the highest quality English speaking plays, and musicals dating all the way back to 1806. Many of the productions bring in the best of the stage and screen, and people travel from all over the world to see a production here. It is a big part of what makes London the city it is.
You know you are in London when you travel on the tube, and every time you get off a train, you see poster after poster promoting a production that is now showing in the West End. This includes classic stories from Shakespeare, some of the bigger musical productions that have toured around the world such as Wicked and Les Miserables, and some movies that have been turned into new musical productions such as Clueless and Mean Girls. There is always something to see there, and some of the biggest productions happen in the neighborhood known as the West End.
The West End is a quaint little neighborhood filled with great restaurant, interesting stores, and of course theaters. It is nestled right next to London’s Chinatown, and there is so much to see just wandering up and down the streets. I enjoyed seeing what Chinatown had to offer, and it also boasts one of the biggest bookstores I have ever been in, Foyles.
The streets also hold their own charm. You can take a quick turn, and can easily find a street that would only be comfortable in the confines of London. If you can find it, Craven Street has been the inspiration for many locations in great British writers’ works. Supposedly down the street is where Charles Dickens came across a knocker that inspired him to impose the face of Marley on it for his Christmas Carol. It is also the street that inspired J.K. Rowling to come up with Knockturn Alley from her Hairy Potter series. It is a little hidden, and not many people find it, so if you can, it will be like you are on the street on your own.
But if Craven Street is not enough Harry Potter for you, there is always the London production of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, the eighth story in the series, and a two part play. It is only in London where they perform the complete play. Everywhere else, it is a condensed version of the story. You can watch this play in two different ways, either break it up in two nights, or watch the first part in a matinee, and the second part three hours later. I would recommend seeing the play in one day. It is a long day, but the time just flies by and there is enough to do in the neighborhood during the break to make the day one that you will never forget.
Whether you go to see one of the big plays playing out in London, or just wandering the neighborhood, the West End is a great place to visit when traveling to this city. It is also a place that will be different every time you visit because there will always be something new to see. I enjoyed my time out here, and I can’t wait until I can come back and see the next performance on one of their stages.
There’s never been a better collection That showcases the world’s history. We will keep it under our protection In a place that’s easy for us to see. Any culture will never disappear Because they have lost their relics of yore; From this point on, they can find it here Though the voyage might be a little chore. We will catalogue every gotten piece With the story of its discovery; Its original import lost its lease When the colonists set its people free. Don’t call us a group of thieves on the lamb Because we brought your stuff to our museum.
The first big trip that I took out of the United States was almost twenty years ago. Christine and I flew over to Europe with backpacks and spent fifty days traveling through ten different countries. It was when I first really caught the traveling bug, and I have recently reached my fiftieth country in the last year. But there was always something about the first place that I landed in. It was the first time that I had to navigate a completely different culture while I marveled at the new places that I was seeing. I was spoiled a little bit because the first of the big cities that I traveled to was London, and the place is so packed with so many different things to see that I instantly got that cultural experience that I was looking for. I was able to see the Tower of London, attend a Shakespeare show in the Globe Theatre, wander through the London Library, and do the tours at St. Paul’s Cathedral. I have kept those early memories of the start of this trip with me ever since, and it was because of these memories that when I was looking for a place to travel to over a long weekend, and saw affordable tickets to London that I had to make the effort to get back to this city that I have enjoyed so many years ago.
I did answer London’s call, but I did not rush to repeat the same things that I enjoyed the previous time around. First of all, we came out in the middle of the Winter when clouds and rainy cold grip the city, so I would not be spending as much time outside checking out all of the sights. Secondly, I now know people who call London their home, so there was time spent catching up with people I have not seen for so many years. This meant that we were not going to go to the big tourist spots all of the time, but instead, we would go to those hidden gems that the locals go to all of the time. One of these was the Beer Mile. This is a series of micro-breweries that are set up in old warehouses underneath one of the train lines. It is a great place to enjoy one craft beer after another as you walk from one small brewpub to another. It also holds the charm of the train rumbling overhead every few minutes because of its location underneath the tracks.
Of course, there were other things that we needed to check out that we missed the first time around. One of these was visiting the British Museum. The nicest thing about visiting London is that all of the museums are free to enter, and there is a big collection of amazing things to be found at these places. The Brits have has a long history of taking the treasures from many places around the world and putting them on display in their museum. Now, I know that there is a pretty bog controversy surrounding this idea, but it is still pretty cool to see what is collected in this big building. We spent a couple of hours there and were only able to really view the collection Assyria, and Ancient Egypt. There was still so much to see in the place, and I might have to hear London’s call again someday to see what else I have missed in this building.
A place that attracted more tourists then the British Museum was the Borough Market. This is an outdoor food market that gives visitors numerous options of food and drink. You can find the typical British options such as meat pies and fish and chips, but there are many other choices out there as well. Dishes varied from paella, risotto, and bao, with drink options including beer, wine, and cider. We were able to enjoy a hot cider while there, but they were serving up mulled wine as well to warm up the people as they strolled through the market. I was amazed at how packed it was on a cold February day. I could not imagine what the place would be like during the Summer months, so I was glad that I got to experience it when I did. I think if it was any more crowded I wouldn’t have wanted to visited it in the first place.
Overall, it has ben nice to come back to this place I have visited so many years ago. I have enjoyed looking for different corners that I wasn’t able to explore the last time I was out here. I don’t know when I will be able to come back again, or if I ever will, but in the meantime, I will just collect more memories of this place, so I can answer the call when it comes again someday.
Sometimes the land turns into a puddle That we must stomp our thick rubber boots through. A whisper from our rain-slicker’s cuddle Keeps us dry from the water the clouds drew From the wintry coast right down the street. I can watch the drips coming from my hood, Making a waterfall down to my feet That is the start of the path through the wood. At this downpour, the trees don’t give shelter, And we will eventually get soaked. We will live according to the letter As to what God considered having joked. They predict the sun will break through the cloud, But for now, it is the rain that is proud.
Some may only see plastic and cardboard Bound by a thick, complicated rulebook. They can’t comprehend why it’s so adored, But then again they do not really look. They do not see the shared story unfold, Brought on by an agreed set of guidelines As the colorful meeples fight for gold While evading the engine’s greatest fines. It brings our laughter from all who attend, And they do not care if they lose or win For the only care they have in the end Was that the tale was able to begin. So do not bring to us your hate and shame; Instead, join us for our little board game.
We have arrived at the land of the delayed Where we have joined the herds found at the gate. All of our travel plans have been frayed, And I am sure we will arrive a day late. Still, there is our priest with a microphone, Preaching a sermon that may give us hope. It helps to know that we are not alone; A congregation allows us to cope. You find us collected in airports And terminals across this great nation. Though we may seem, at times, all out of sorts, We understand each’s indignation. We ask for safe, timely arrival, To never again go through this trial.
As my brittle bones start to creak and moan, And my joints pop with every movement, I stare at the next morning with a groan, And wonder where this half century went. I have gained plenty more bathroom visits, And they seem to take a little longer Because not ev’rything wants to exit Though my resolve to do so grows stronger. The skin around my eyes begins to sag Because I have to squint to see these words. To recall my sharp wit takes a long lag Where the replay comes so late, it’s absurd. Nobody told me it would be nifty, The day after I have become fifty.
John Collings 