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Slower Daze

The British Museum.

A couple of slower days. Kind of. The schedule in London has allowed us to sleep in a bit more which is nice. Yesterday Kim arranged High Tea at The Savoy which has to be the most elegant meal Sydney ever participated in. Or so she says. Afterwards we walked down The Strand to Trafalgar Square before catching a taxi home. A quick dinner at Bibendum Oyster Bar topped the slower Sunday. Nice

Today was about Museums. And shopping. Kim joined the Victoria and Albert Museum and The British Museum before we left, she noted that the cost of three tickets was about the same as membership but membership meant we could walk into any special exhibit at any time vs a timed entrance so why not. And it worked. The Victoria and Albert Museum is quite large, bigger than we expected so we concentrated on the fashion related exhibits which Kim loves. It also had a special exhibit on Frida Kahlo de Rivera, an exhibit we all enjoyed which opened our eyes to who she really was. Catch it if you can. We then beat it off to The British Museum to show Syd the Elgin Marbles, The Rosetta Stone and a great exhibit on how Rodin was inspired by Greek sculptures. A fast paced but fun day.

We ended the day at Harrods, a department store located near our flat. Words do not describe this store, a throwback to another time.

OK it is almost 2am. The bed is calling…

Sydney at High Tea at The Savoy.
Sydney at High Tea at The Savoy.
Entrance to The Savoy, London
Entrance to The Savoy, London
A London Pub.
A London Pub.
Life on The Strand, London.
Life on The Strand, London.
A busy Trafalgar Square
A busy Trafalgar Square
Trafalgar Square
Trafalgar Square
The former Michelin House in London.
The former Michelin House in London.
Natural History Museum, London
Natural History Museum, London
Women wore this?
Women wore this?
Altarpiece of St George in the Raphael Gallery in the Victoria and Albert Museum.
Altarpiece of St George in the Raphael Gallery in the Victoria and Albert Museum.
Wow!
Wow!
The British Museum.
The British Museum.
Egyptian monuments at The British Museum.
Egyptian monuments at The British Museum.
The real Rosetta Stone. There is a copy you can touch elsewhere in the museum.
The real Rosetta Stone. There is a copy you can touch elsewhere in the museum.
Parthenon Sculptures at the British Museum
Parthenon Sculptures at the British Museum
Fish mongers in Harrods.
Fish mongers in Harrods.
Food hall in Harrods.
Food hall in Harrods.
The Egyptian Escalator in Harrods.
The Egyptian Escalator in Harrods.

 

Posted on

Quiet Riot

Protesters on Whitehall.

First day of touring in London and what a day. We had a chance to sleep in!  Ok it better than that. We visited Westminster Abbey which is resplendent (yes I said that) with history.  I will not even try to describe the events and monuments associated with this place, one of my favorite but rarely (for me) visited places in the world. No pictures allowed inside, sorry. Follow the link above and if you decide of visit pre-buy your entry, it will speed you up!

One thing different on this visit was the ever present sound of helicopters flying overhead. Several coincidences lined up here, it is a Saturday, there is unrest in the United Kingdom over Brexit and President Trump of the United States is in the U.K. as well. The protester’s presence was felt throughout central London but the interesting thing was for all the noise it was actually rather peaceful and organized. The police and protesters seemed to have agreed that as long as you stay peaceful we will too. The protesters had their time and not only did the London police let them have their say they were most definitely interacting with them. No more details than that but as long as thing stay orderly all was OK. Of course the police blocked Whitehall and would not let anyone near Downing St. but that is understandable.  What a lesson for Syd, we told her to read the crowd, if there was an issue we would not be here. Hope she gets the point.

After all this Kim and Sydney let me walk around during the magic hour to photograph the neighborhood. A picturesque area, see the pics for details.

A good day. Cobble stones and G&Ts. Nice.

The west portal of Westminster Abbey.
The west portal of Westminster Abbey.
Westminster Abbey with Victoria Tower in Palace of Westminster.
Westminster Abbey with Victoria Tower in Palace of Westminster.
Westminster Abbey and the ever present police helicopter.
Westminster Abbey and the ever present police helicopter.
Oops...
Oops…
Protesters near Parlament.
Protesters near Parlament.
Protesters on Great St. George Street.
Protesters on Great St. George Street.
Protesters near Parlament
Protesters near Parlament
London Police protecting Whitehall and Downing Street.
London Police protecting Whitehall and Downing Street.
Protesters on Whitehall.
Protesters on Whitehall.
London Police protecting Whitehall and Downing Street.
London Police protecting Whitehall and Downing Street.
A display honouring eggs in the Gloucester Road Underground Station.
A display honouring eggs in the Gloucester Road Underground Station.
Queen's Gate in London.
Queen’s Gate in London.
Alfred Hawthorne
Alfred Hawthorne “Benny” Hill lived here. Queue Yakety Sax.
Lieutenant-General Robert Stephenson Smyth Baden-Powell, founder of the Biy Scouts lived here.
Lieutenant-General Robert Stephenson Smyth Baden-Powell, founder of the Boy Scouts lived here.
Winston Churchill lived (and died) here.
Winston Churchill lived (and died) here.
The Queens Gate entrance to Hyde Park.
The Queens Gate entrance to Hyde Park.
Evening life in Hyde Park.
Evening life in Hyde Park.
The Albert Memorial and the Royal Albert Hall (The hall contains 4000 holes. Reputedly)
The Albert Memorial and the Royal Albert Hall (The hall contains 4000 holes. Reputedly)
The Gore and Bar 190 where the photoshoot for The Rolling Stones’ 1968 album Beggars Banquet occurred.
The Gore and Bar 190 where the photoshoot for The Rolling Stones’ 1968 album Beggars Banquet occurred.
Sunset on Queen's Gate Terrace
Sunset on Queen’s Gate Terrace