Chapter 18

Charlotte sat on the bed stretching her legs.
"Why are you seated?" Bella asked.
"Because I want you to carry me," Charlotte answered, lying on the bed.
Bella picked her bag up and then moved closer to Charlotte.
"Come on, let's go."
"I will go if you can pull me up," Charlotte answered.
Bella held Charlotte's hands and tried to pull her up but couldn't. Instead, she fell beside Charlotte on the bed and they both began to laugh.
"We really need to leave now," Bella said after a while.
Charlotte stood up and picked her bag up. Bella stood up too. They left the suite and headed to the reception.
After going through the normal process, they left the hotel and found their way down the street. Since they were taking a walk, they did not need to book a taxi.
The hotel's street had a few things to look at, so they did not stop. Charlotte took a few pictures of the things that piqued her interest. They saw a few other people walking and taking pictures like them.
"Do you think they are tourists?" Bella whispered and Charlotte shrugged.
What if they are here for the fashion summit like them or even a different summit and just want to check out the place before they get busy?
"Or maybe they are here for the summit like we are."
Bella nodded. Maybe Charlotte is right.
But Charlotte had more thoughts. What if they are just here on vacation? Or maybe something entirely different.
They walked in silence for a while, watching couples and friends take pictures of themselves.
"How about we take pictures too?" Bella suggested and Charlotte nodded.
They picked a good spot and began to take pictures. Charlotte asked a passerby to take pictures of the two of them together and he did.
"You both look beautiful," he mumbled, handing over Charlotte's phone to her.
Bella smiled. "Thank you."
"Thank you," Charlotte said too.
The man left and they began to check the pictures he took.
"He is good at taking pictures," Bella said.
"I can't agree less. They came out so well," Charlotte answered.
After checking out the pictures, they continued their journey.
"Where are we heading?" Charlotte asked after a while. "Left or right?"
They were getting close to the junction where they would need to make a turn.
"How about going left?" Bella suggested. "Or maybe right?"
Charlotte turned right and then left. What exact turn should they make?
A group of ladies walked past them. They were talking about going to the museum, which was just a few distance away.
Charlotte and Bella stared at each other. That won't be a bad idea. Would it?
"Let's go with them," they said in unison.
They followed the ladies, keeping their distance. In a few minutes, they were standing in front of the museum.
The ladies stopped to take some pictures. Charlotte and Bella stopped too, to wait for them and also observe.
Charlotte's phone began to ring; It was her mother-in-law, Mrs Miller calling.
"I will take this call," Charlotte said and Bella nodded.
Charlotte moved away from the noise to pick up the call. Her mother-in-law wanted to know how she was faring; Charlotte assured her that she was doing pretty well.
They spoke for a few more minutes before the call ended. Charlotte walked back to where Bella was standing but did not see her. She began to look around.
Where did she go?
Bella walked behind her and tapped her. "Hi, bestie."
"Where did you go?" Charlotte asked.
"Over there." Bella pointed. "I went to take some pictures."
"We should go in now," Charlotte said. "Where are the ladies?"
Bella began to look around for them too. They must have gone in.
"I think they went in," she answered.
Charlotte nodded. They would have to find their way. But what if they need a pass? Or need a reservation?
"Do you think we will need a pass?" She asked.
"I don't think we do," Bella answered. "Look," she pointed. "People are going in without a pass."
They decided to give it a try. Just like Bella said, they did not need a pass, but they needed something different: an identification number.
"But we don't have that," Bella told the young man standing by one of the doors.
"You can't go in without that," he told her.
"We don't have it. We should leave," Charlotte mumbled to Bella.
The man smiled. He just realized they might not know the process.
"You don't need to leave," he told them. He pointed. "Just go over there and get the number."
They looked in the direction he was pointing. There were a lot of people in the queue, waiting to get the number.
The line was long; Charlotte shook her head. They don't have much time left before the gallery opens. They can't join the queue.
She smiled. "Thank you, but maybe another time."
"Are you worried about the queue?" He smiled. "Don't worry, it won't take a long time."
Bella pointed. "Look, the line is moving pretty fast. I think we can make it."
Charlotte checked the time on her phone; they had less than an hour.
She nodded. "Fine. Let's try it out."
They thanked the man and left to join the queue. It did not take long before it became their turn to get their number; there were a lot of people attending to them. They returned to meet the man.
"You've gotten your numbers?" He asked with a smile.
They nodded. They have.
He took the numbers from them and ushered them in.
"Enjoy your visit," he said.
Bella took a few steps and then stopped. "Can I ask a question?"
The man nodded. "Sure you can. We are here to serve you."
"Why an identification number?"
Charlotte nodded. She wants to know too. She had thought about it.
"It's to track the number of people visiting the museum daily."
"Oh," Bella mumbled.
No wonder no registration is required. Charlotte thought.
"I get it now," Bella said. "Thank you."
"My pleasure," he answered.
Charlotte and Bella went into the museum. The museum was bigger than they had imagined.
"Wow," Charlotte mumbled.
"This is big," Bella said.
They went from section to section looking at different collections. Bella wanted to take pictures of a few of them but wasn't sure if she could; there was no one taking pictures either.
"You should ask if you can," Charlotte said.
Bella went to meet one of the guides. "Can I take pictures?"
The young lady smiled. "You can but not for every one of them."
The guide went on to tell her that there are signs on each collection indicating whether their pictures can be taken or not.
"You just have to read the signs," she added.
"I did not notice that," Bella mumbled. "Thank you."
She returned to meet Charlotte who had been eager to know what the guide said.
"Can you take pictures?" She asked.
Bella nodded. "A few of them. It's written on the sign."
Charlotte moved closer to one of the collections.
She nodded. There is indeed a sign.