unexpected end of cruise

Sunday June 8

As we were stowing our stuff away in anticipation of our departure for France, we realized that Leslie's passport (along with credit cards and dollars and euros) was still in her suitcase which we threw out.  This required a serious change of plans.  We sailed for England.  Adventures with the Embassy to follow.

On our way we ran into a small storm. Unfortunately, we were in the English Channel shipping lanes at the time, which requires locating and dodging other boats.  It added a bit of adventure.

Back in Dartmouth, Bruce cancelled credit cards while Leslie went to the embassy site.  It required forms completed and an appointment scheduled.  The forms would not complete, but we finally got blanks printed.  The closest appointment is three weeks out and the emergency appointment link does not work.
 

M&S lasagne.

 

 

Monday  June 9

 

We awake early and pack.  To our surprise, everything fits in the new suitcases.  We have a quick breakfast and catch the 9:30 train.  We check in our hotel (smaller than the Piet Hein) and hurry over to the embassy.  We are informed that we can not get in without an appointment which, of course, I could not get last night.  He gives us a little paper with the website and emails and a phone number.  The number is no help.  I send an email to emergency passport services.  Now, we wait, checking the email every hour.

I have an appointment scheduled for Wednesday 8:30am for a limited validity passport.  I think it just gets me back to the US and then I have to get another regular passport.

Lovely Indian dinner:  lamb tikka balti, tarka dal, Peshawar nan.

 

 

Tues June 10

 

 

After getting passport pictures, we went to the Natural History Museum...

to see the highly recommended "One Million Years of the Human Story"exhibit on man in Britain.

We are used having the development of the various species of homo presented as a forward progression.  Thus, Leslie was bemused to see some of the figures on the chart facing back.

Needles were found associated with man and not Neanderthal.  The conclusion is that man tailored his clothes while Neanderthal tied his on.

After we finished the exhibit, we explored the rest of the enormous museum.   There was a section on natural history drawings.  We would like to hang this one of a Portuguese  Man of War by GW Dalby at home:

The museum had rocks in two places.  As usual we found many we liked.  This is granite before the crystals have been squished together:

There was "the crystal mystery box":

It is believed that the brown siderite formed around a cube shaped fluorite. The fluorite then dissolved and then the other crystals grew in it.  How the fluorite dissolved and left the siderite undissolved is unexplained.

This is a glass model of a marine invertebrate by Blaschke. No one has been able to reproduce his technique.

Slate workers showed off their skill by making slate fans:

Marbles of Rome:

Davys Wine bar dinner:  sausages, cheese