This afternoon I visited two famous addresses: 221B Baker Street and Abbey Road.

[caption id=“attachment_89” align=“alignnone” width=“224”]Home of the world's only consulting detective, who was sadly not at home. Home of the world’s only consulting detective, who was sadly not at home.[/caption]

 

The Sherlock Holmes Museum, located at that address, is a painstakingly re-creation of Mrs. Hudson’s flats, complete with period furnishings, souvenirs from famous cases, and even statues of the buildings' more famous residents and visitors. Touching of most props was permitted, although I’m not sure that Holmes' violin was included in that.

[caption id=“attachment_69” align=“alignnone” width=“300”]That funny look on my face is partly because I'm holding Sherlock Holmes's violin, and partly because I'm nervous that one of the maids might tell me I'm not allowed to touch it. That funny look on my face is partly because I’m holding Sherlock Holmes’s violin, and partly because I’m nervous that one of the maids might tell me I’m not allowed to touch it.[/caption]

[caption id=“attachment_72” align=“alignnone” width=“224”]Watson's bookshelf. Watson’s bookshelf.[/caption]

[caption id=“attachment_70” align=“alignnone” width=“300”]Memorabilia of certain cases, including a medal from the French government--presumably not real? Memorabilia of certain cases, including Holmes’s watch and a medal from the French government–presumably not real?[/caption]

[caption id=“attachment_71” align=“alignnone” width=“224”]The chair in which Arthur Conan Doyle sat to model for a portrait of the detective. The chair in which Arthur Conan Doyle sat to model for a portrait of the detective.[/caption]

After leaving the museum and gift shop, we discovered that Abbey Road was a twenty-minute walk away. We decided that a trip was in order. Once we arrived, we found a dozen people gathered around the familiar crosswalk and–to my surprise and delight–a crossing guard who would happily (and somewhat safely) photograph tourists during the lulls in traffic. Drivers at the intersection seemed to expect delays and generally slowed down so as not to hit any overexcited Beatles fans.

[caption id=“attachment_77” align=“alignnone” width=“300”]One of the pictures snapped of my flatmates and I. One of the pictures snapped of my flatmates and I.[/caption]

[caption id=“attachment_79” align=“alignnone” width=“224”]Can anyone tell me why the Beatles chose this perfectly quiet, normal, residential street for their album? Can anyone tell me why the Beatles chose this perfectly quiet, normal, residential street for their album?[/caption]