In what would appear to be officially a "trend" (two postings in a row), I present this photo from a drive-about this weekend. It just made me chuckle. But my creative mind works in other ways as well. These two items also caught my eye and made me do a double-take and smile.
On our third day in London, we hopped a regional train, and headed to Windsor. We had missed Her Majesty in Buckingham Palace, and she was absent from Windsor Castle as well. (The Queen prefers her private residence at Balmoral Castle in Scotland...so maybe she was there.)
So, I've gone through the first pass of London images. We Americans are so familiar with London, that it makes it hard to visit and NOT end up with iconic images: the red phone booth, Buckingham Palace and its guards, and "Look, kids...Parliament!".
Its also tough to ignore all the tourists. Like all the major capitals of Europe, Central London is loaded with fellow travelers. So, this leaves the observant photographer with the option of photos with and without people...even though the photos WITH people are more realistic.
Thankfully, one spot that seemed almost devoid of people was Green Park, which was a half-block from our hotel. True to its name, Green Park was lush with greenery and provided a quiet place to begin and end our day.
Two new items along the Thames are remnants of the Y2K celebrations: the London Eye and the Millennium Bridge. The London Eye is an enormous wheel (apparently NOT a Ferris wheel, but LIKE a Ferris wheel) with large 25-person capsules that make a single revolution every 30-minutes. The Millennium Bridge is a dramatic footbridge that crosses the Thames at a SLIGHTLY-older icon--St. Paul's Cathedral (completed in 1710).
On our second day in London, we walked to the British Museum, which is truly a reflection of the former might of the British Empire. The building itself is a sight, and the collection is enormous. I mean...we're talking trinkets like the Rosetta Stone. Not that we could get close the the Rosetta Stone...did I mention all the people?
We didn't really have any "eventful" meals in London. We did stumble on a couple of pubs for good fish and chips. And on our last night...we found outstanding mojitos in Soho.
In the end, you just have to love London for that healthy British sense of humor :)
No sooner had I posted the pictures of the mama dove than another bird swooped in and ate them! I guess mama was off getting something to eat, but when I peered out the window, I noticed that I couldn't see the eggs. Glancing over the balcony, I spotted the eggs in the neighbor's yard with the insides eaten. My folks believe that it was most likely the act of a blue jay or a crow, both of which eat the eggs out of nests.
A restless night. "Pillowmania" couldn't overcome "ineffective air conditioning-mania." Nevertheless, a very nice breakfast (including eggs, bacon, pain du chocolate, and the requisite cappuccino) took the edge off an early start. Took the warm Malpensa airport shuttle bus directly across from the hotel at Milano Centrale--a 50-minute ride seemingly to Switzerland :) Hugged Sherie goodbye--she is heading home to LA thru JFK on Alitalia and American. Check-in at Lufthansa and the security check point went smoothly. Gate A7. First leg is LH3883 to Frankfurt. Seats 8D/8E. Flew over the hazy Italian, Swiss, and German Alps. (We think we flew over Lake Geneva.) Circled Frankfurt and looked down upon tiny hamlets. Waved hi to Jeff's sister Julie and nephew Keegan (aka, Gunter) who live in nearby Mainz...we think. (Unfortunately, this vacation itinerary was Southern Europe, so we did not make it to Germany for a proper visit, and Julie is on some sort of field training for several weeks.) Landed in FRA, which was alive with World Cup Fever. (Turns out that we watched Germany beat Costa Rica yesterday 4-2 in the Piazza del Duomo in Milano.) Got free face paint to wear our national colors. Wound through an endless string of passport check points. Flight UA901. Discovered that "waitlisted" is United's way of saying "You're really sweet, but I like you as a friend." Sooooo found our seats in Economy Plus (Row 42, Seats H/J/K). Chris was able to switch with man seated between us so we could all sit together. Snickered when the flight attendant said 'duty'. Spent our final euros on wine. A few movies played, but on a 747 only a privilaged few at the front of the cabin can see the faintly lit screens. iPod to the rescue...Don and Mike save the day again. The North Atlantic was hidden by the clouds. Chris pulled out the pharmacy and supplied us with vitamins to survive the contagions on the flight. As Greenland approached, the clouds cleared and chunky ice appeared on the ocean below, followed by the spectacular mountains and snowfields and frozen lakes of Greenland itself. Lunch was traditional economy fare: salad, chicken with a creamy sauce, veggies (UGH...broccoli), and rice. Desert was yummy strawberry ice cream like you get in grade school...including a little spoon. Clouds over most of Canada. Entered the US over Washington state, over the Puget Sound. The clouds seemed to break up at the border, revealing the green, snow-tipped Cascade Mountains. The German meal for the flight arrived in the form of a snack over Oregon: a turkey and cheese sandwich with Mittelscharfer Senf (mild mustard), red paprika-flavored Chio chips, and a KitKat Chunky. Landed uneventfully at SFO. Luggage pick-up. Customs check-point. Foggy and 60 degrees. Home :)
A final breakfast in Venice. Packed up our new treasures and dropped our bags with the bellman for a final stroll. Made our way to the Basilica del Frari, which we had visited last with Curt and Cheryl. Learned a quirky fact about the Frari: that the interior brick walls of this enormous church had been plastered over at the time of construction so that the walls could be decorated. So what did these folks paint on the walls? Bricks. Still pondering this architectural puzzler, stopped for one last gelato from 'Il Doge' in S. Margherita. Nutella and menta were today's choices. Picked up our bags and departed the Ca' Pisani for our winding path to the train station (Ferrovia). Walked today versus the vaparetto. Met up with Chris and Sherie at the station. Boarded our Eurostar train: Carozza 1, Posti 16/14. Watched Venezia fade into the distance as the train crossed the lagoon. We will surely return again. Lunch on the train (sandwiches and chips) near Padova. Three hours to Milano Centrale train station. Checked into the StarHotels Anderson, which is a really hip looking hotel directly across from the train station. More importantly, this hotel has 'pillowmania'! Hopped on the Metro #3 linea to go inside the amazing Milan Duomo. (On our last visit to the Duomo with Curt and Cheryl, we chose to go on the roof...which is equally stunning.) Unfortunately, can't say much else other than that the Duomo is huge, old (early 15th century?), and beautiful. The church ushered people out 15 minutes early, so our stay was very brief with no time for reading. Walked through the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele, built in the late 1800s as 'Millan's sitting room' that today houses Prada and Gucci stores. Chris and Sherie joined us from their shopping spree at Armani where Chris picked some hip new shades. Walked through the Piazza del Duomo, filled with hundreds of cheering World Cup fans watching Germany and Costa Rica play on a giant screen. Had a final dinner nearby in the shadows of San Sebastiano--amazing wood fire oven pizzas. Back to the hotel and into bed early. Tomorrow is an early flight home and the Malpensa airport ain't close!
All good rules are meant to be broken. The perfect example is the #1 rule of visiting Venice: There is more to Venice than Piazza San Marco. The fact is, however, that there are some amazing sights in and around San Marco, and you just have to take your patience pills and plunge into this beehive of activity. Started this morning in San Marco around 10:30am. The pigeons are up. The crowds are manageable. People are laughing. Did a three-in-one museum stop in the imposing stone buildings surrounding the square: the Museo Correr (focused on the grand Venetian history and art), the Museo Archeologico (lots of Greek statues), and the Biblioteca Mariana (Venetian records and books). Had pizza and gnocci nearby for lunch. Returned to San Marco to visit the impressive Doge's Palace, the seat of Venetian power for centuries. The palace truly reflects the once-great wealth of Venice, with gilded ceilings and enormous paintings. Adjacent to the palace across the romantically named 'Bridge of Sighs' is the former prison...cold and gloomy. Let's just say that the prison cell ceilings are NOT gilded with gold leaf. Took a break from San Marco and walked to the train station to reserve seats to Milano tomorrow on the Eurostar. Afterwards had gelato near the Friary and then beers out on Campo S. Margherita at Orange. Returned to Rosa Rossa for dinner (more Chianti, pizza, and tiramisu). Then wandered back over to San Marco for a totally different experience. San Marco is at its best at night. The crowds and tour groups are gone, and the remaining visitors are finally relaxing. Everything is alive with music and light and food and drinks and laughter and dancing. After an hour or so of strolling and picture taking, left San Marco to head back to the hotel. Decided to visit Santa Maria della Salute one last time. A total opposite from San Marco, Campo della Salute and the narrow streets to and from it were vacant and absolutely silent. Sigh. We will miss Venice.
After a relatively early breakfast, headed to San Marco and the bell tower (campanile) to beat the crowds. Morning above Venice is spectacular. The terra cotta roofs, the grey church domes, and the striking blue lagoon are all dramatic, yet softer than in the afternoon (and midday must be totally avoided). Descended the tower, and the crowds had arrived! Headed for less populated parts of the city and found the elusive Santi Giovanni e Paolo church (Saint John and Paul). This church was ordered by the Vatican (Dominican order) in the 13th century, begun in the 14th century, and completed in the 15th century (the plauge and all delayed things). Afterwards, crossed Venice to visit the Fenice opera house, which was meticulously reconsturcted after a fire devastated the famous structure in the mid 1990s. The new building is breathtaking. Lunch (again) on the Santa Maria de la Salute steps (yummy panini). Visited the Peggy Guggenheim Collection (Picasso, Calder, Kadinsky, Chagall, Pollack, Rothco, Legere, Man Ray), which is displayed in her former Grand Canal-front home. Chris and Sherie arrived from Rome, so we met them in San Marco. Tasted traditional Bellinis at Harry's Bar on the waterfront. Dinner, gelato, and mojitos in S. Margherita. Walked back to the hotel unded a bright moon in a cloudless sky.
Last night's storms had blown through by morning. Awoke to clear blue skies and light breezes. Another yummy breakfast in the hotel. Took advantage of the perfect temperatures and...well...walked. Its what you do in Venice. Ducking into the occasional church to stare at muraled ceilings. Returned to a couple of favorite streets with some local artisan shops we had been eyeing: paper, glass, masks, books. If you choose wisely and select true artisan shops, every shop owner seems to have a story and a friendly smile. Discussing different marrionettes in one shop, for example, we learned the background on one of the classic Venitian figures: the "plague doctor," whose long, down-turned white mask was packed with medicinal herbs to ward off the plague as the doctor tended to the sick. Ate panini's for lunch on the cool marble steps of Santa Maria de la Salute overlooking the busy Grand Canal. Took the #82 vaporetto over to the Giudecca--the long, narrow island just to the south of Venice. Our first visit to the Giudecca. Toured the Tempio del SS. Redentore (a temple to the Most Holy Redeemer). This church was designed by Palladio in 1577 on orders from the Doge as thanks for delivering Venice from the plague, which killed over 50,000 people in Venice between 1575 and 1576 alone. (FYI, an unrelated figure: the current population of Venice is down to about 60,000 permanent residents...a third of the population 1950!) Spirits needed lifting after plauge talk, so it was time for gelato from our favorite spot in Campo S. Margherita. More walking and wandering. Circled and circled unsuccessfully without a map to try to find SS Giovanni e Paolo, an enormous church that somehow eluded us today. Gave up and had dinner in Campiello San Stefano as the rain returned. Topped off the day with jacuzzi baths to soothe aching muscles. Falling alseep to the rain and not-so-distant thunder.
At last...a HOT breakfast. Haven't had one since London. Even better...this breakfast included a very good cappuccino. Pleasantly warm morning for a walk through the Dosoduro neighborhood to Santa Maria de la Salute...perhaps the most photographed church in Venice after the Basilica in San Marco. Caught the #42 vaparetto around Venice and out to the island of Murano...famous for its many centuries of glassmaking. Hadn't been to Murano since our visit with Curt and Cheryl. Had a pleanant lunch on Murano, including fresh calamari (Cheryl would be proud). Bought several Murano glass items from a friendly glassmaker who told tall tales of his friendships with Menachem Begin and Telly Savalas--an unlikely pair to name drop. The cool morning turned into a warm and sunny afternoon, so the direct #5 vaparetto was in order. Photos of pigeons on the way through San Marco. Back to the hotel to drop off our glass objects d'art. Early evening stroll and then dinner along the canal facing the Giudecca. Pastas were excellent. Got 'adventurous' with fish dishes and ended up with fish mouths staring up at us. Thank goodness for post-dinner gelato. (Returned to one of Cheryl's favorite gelato spots...we think it has declined and that Cheryl should return with us to sample new spots !) Walked off dinner as a light rain began. Caught a summer lightning show on the horizon over the Giudecca. The rain should make everything smell fresh tomorrow.
Awoke from a dream around 5:30 just long enough to hear the train whistle blow as we paused at Milano Centrale for passengers to disembark. Alseep by the time train pulled out again. A couple of hours later, a light (very very light) breakfast arrived courtesy of the coachman. Arrived in Venice a short while later at the Santa Lucia station. Bought 3-day vaparetto passes. Discovered that the Grand Canal vaparetto routes were not running this morning. No explanation at the time, but learned later that a colorful regatta was being run today--large and small rowing craft crowded the Grand Canal. (These regatta seem to be good luck...we happened upon one last year as well.) Took a packed #51 vaparetto counterclockwise from the train station. Spotted not one, but SIX cruise ships berthed alongside the northwest tip of Venice...note to avoid San Marco during the day! Disembarked at the Zattere stop in the Dosudoro section and checked into our hotel: the Ca' Pisani...a fun, hip "high design" hotel with a rooftop terrace that feels like it is sitting on top of the city. Had a much needed lunch in Campo S. Stefano. Walked our butts off criss-crossing the city. Stopped for gelato at our favorite gelateria in Campo S. Margherita. More walking. Bright sun and the need for a restroom brought us back to the hotel for a shower and some relaxing on the terrace. Watched a cruise ship drift by taller than the city itself...taking people away hopefully :) Venturing out for dinner after 7pm revealed a much quieter city. Ate at a pizzaria that we found last visit: Rosa Rossa. Caprese. Two pizzas. Chianti. And an amazing tirimisu for dessert. Took the long way home after dinner. Wandering lost among the canals at night is a favorite activity. Took a nighttime ride up the peaceful Grand Canal on the #1 vaparetto. Really need to sleep well tonight.
Awoke to an honest-to-goodness sunny day. Checked out, packed the Citroen, and headed out of Amboise. Drove down the Loire River to the first of two chateaux--Villandry. The Renaissance-style chateau was built around 1535. The true highlights of this stop are the stunning terraced gardens, including a tranquil water garden with large pools and fountains, ornamental knot gardens of boxwood borders with flowering interiors, and the expansive 'kitchen garden' that uses flowers and herbs and vegetables to create colorful, intricate patterns. There are two plantings and harvests each year...so the colors change with the seasons. Leaving Villandry was hard. Next stop was sleepy Langeais. In spite of all the trappings of a fun stop, this one just disappointed. Just tired perhaps and ready for the train ride to Paris and our connection to Venice. Took one last leisurely drive down the Loire. Grabbed a quick bite to eat. Topped off the gas tank (a winding adventure on its own). Reuturned the car in St. Pierre-des-Corps and boarded the TGV for Paris. Voit 13, Place 62/63. Arrived in Paris at Gare Montparnasse. Took our old friend the Metro #6 line to Gare de Bercy, our departure train station for Venice. (There are seven train stations in Paris, which can be a bit confusing.) boarded the Artesia de Nuit overnight train to Venice. Treated ouselves to a private sleeping coach. Coach 92, compartment 21/25. Sat reading and writing in peace and quiet with the sun setting and the French countryside out the window. Saw broad rivers and quiet riverside towns; trainyards and factories and trees catching the setting sun; weekend campers with their campfires; small private vegetable gardens and expansive tree-boardered fields; distant churches on hilltops: the huge orange sun on the horizon; sheep. At 9:45, the coachman came and turned down our beds. Two bunks in a private room...this is sweet. The sun set shortly after 10 signaling the time to head for the dining car. Dinner was served near the town of Dijon. Pasta with tomato and basil...pork cutlets with baby potatoes...some sort of tort...fresh fruit...and chianti (of course). Finishing this entry as the sway of the train lulls us to sleep.
After an early breakfast of croissants and jus d'orange, hopped in our tiny Citröen Picasso for a day visiting chateaux along the Loire and Cher rivers. First stop was the Chateau de Chenonceau, which shines brilliantly in the early morning light. This chateau actually straddles the Cher River and has beautiful formal gardens. Left Chenonceau and took a winding 30-minute drive through the Loire countryside skirting Blois. Arrived at the Chateau de Chambord, an enormous 426-room "hunting lodge" built for Francois I. Ate croque monsieurs and frites before hitting the road for Chateau de Cheverny with its well furnished rooms and manicured lawns. Visited with the 70+ hunting dogs at Cheverny and then drove along the Loire River to our final destination...Chaumont-sur-Loire, built in the 15th and 16th centuries. This chateau is perched high above its town, and has classic pointed towers and a working draw bridge. This chateau also has an amazing stable built in the 19th century. The horses were better housed than most people at that time. Headed back to Amboise with tired feet for a relaxing dinner of pastas, Chinon wine, cappucinos, and crepes. Four chateaux in one day is fun, but exhausting!
Checked out of the hotel in Paris and waved 'au revoir' to Chris, who heads to Zurich, Switzerland and then into Italy to meet his friend Sherrie. (Chris and Sherrie are scheduled for a reunion with us in Venice). Metro line 6 to the Montparnasse train station. Slight confusion as the ticket agent tried to send us to Toulouse in southwestern France instead of Tours in the Val de Loire (!!!). Confusion resolved, but leaving barely 5 minutes to locate the correct train. Departed Paris aboard the high-speed TGV bound for Tours. Voite 13, Place 33/36...first class...the only way to travel and for just a six euro supplement to our Eurail Pass. Arrived in Tours, picked up a rental car from Avis (luckily a stones throw from the station), and scooted quickly out of town. Short scenic drive up the Loire River to Amboise with its imposing Chateau sitting above the town. Checked into our beautiful hotel: Le Manoir Les Minimes (big kudos to Jeff for this gem). The hotel is an 18th century manor house. Wide open windows with views of the Chateau and the river. Walked into town for a late lunch at the Bigot Patisserie. Had scrumtuous Feuilletes Jambon Gruyere, which are warm, flakey pastries filled with ham and gruyere cheese. Climbed up to the Chateau Royal d'Amboise, which dates back to the mid-15th and 16th century. The ramparts and towers offer sweeping views of the town below and the Loire Valley. Within thecomplex, the tiny, magnificent St. Hubert Chapel is built in the "Flamboyant Gothic" style...read lots of carved stone tracery. The entire castle was 'restored' by Louis Phillipe...the last Bourbon king...in the mid 19th century. Took a long afternoon walk through the town, including a hidden church--Eglise Saint Denis--dating to the early 12th century. Walked along the Loire and crossed the river to walk along the grassy bank finding a quirky statue looking like Leonardo de Vinci...naked. Definitely bug season on the river banks...the swallows are in heaven. Dinner a short walk away beneath the walls of the Chateau. L'Amboiserie, where crepes are the house specialty--both the main course and for dessert. A local wine (a red from Chinon) with dinner. Jeff's crepe with chocolate, whipped cream, and mint ice cream was amazing. Topped off dinner with capaccinos to die for. Ended the evening relaxing with the sound of a gurgling fountain in the courtyard.
In spite of the periodic rain showers, today was the day to travel to Versailles. Taking the regional train (the RER) wasn't as simple as it should be. After a couple of false starts, we arrived in Versailles and headed for the enormous Chateau. We headed straight for the State Appartments seeing half of the newly restored Galerie de Glase (Hall of Mirrors). The rooms and grounds were equally impressive. In addition to the main Chateau, walked through the Grand Trianon, the Petit Trianon, and the Hameau de la Reine. Rain showers drove us undercover a few times, and we finally gave up and took the park tram back to the Chateau. The temperature was bitterly cold for late May. Yahoo weather predicted sun and 70 degrees...how more off could they be 24 hours previous? It centainly didn't get out of the mid-50s. A late train back to Paris on the RER to St. Michael (Notre Dame). Walked thru Isle de la Cite to the Marais for one last dinner with wine (nice pinot noir from l'Alsace). After dinner drinks topped off our last evening in Paris.
[Note: Technology Update. These blog updates are written on my Treo phone and then emailed to my Blogger account for automatic posting. I can review (but not change) the postings via the Treo's web browser.
For my relentless photography, I am trying (and trusting) Apple, and their simple iPod connector for cameras. This tiny device automatically transfers all photos from my camera card onto the iPod, where I can view and store them. Then I can clear and re-use the camera card. Apple swears that the files are a straight transfer and are not altered. I did a test at home and it seems to be true. So far I have transferred about 600 photos from this trip!]
An early morning return to the top of the Arc de Triomphe revealed the mottled sun and fantastic grey and white clouds that would accent scenes throughout the day. After breakfast, caught the Metro down to the Isle de la Cite, the island where Paris began. Toured La Chapelle--a church built in the 12th century. La Chapelle is renowned for its stained glass, which wraps around the church as one nearly seamless window. Afterwards, walked down into a museum that gives you a peek at the early Roman foundations of Paris. Then it was on to the main event on the island: Notre Dame. The cathedral is truly magnificent both inside and out, with medieval eye candy in every direction. Lunched across the street from the cathedral having a yummy croque monsieur and nutella crepe. Afterwards, walked along the Seine to the Musee d'Orsay--a "modern" art museum (by European standards) in a grand old train station. Saw some amazing Art Nouveau decorative arts, impressionistic painting, and a lot of sculpture. Picked a couple great books...one on the building of the Paris Metro. After closing the museum, headed back down the Seine to Notre Dame for some early evening photos. Went around back and saw the Holocaust monument at the eastern end of the island. Walked over to the ajoining island, Isle St. Louis, for a short stroll thru the picturesque streets. As the daylight waned, headed for the Eiffel Tower. Waited out some rain showers on the way and then joined the throngs for this must-see check-list icon. The views from the middle and top levels got better and better as the sunlight faded and the city lights came on. The view was only marred by the bone-chilling winds. Ended the day with a post-midnight dinner at Hippopotomas, near the hotel on the corner of Rue de Wagram and Rue de Faubourg de St. Honore.
A mix of sun and fluffy clouds today with periods of gray and light rain. Perfect day to tackle the Louvre. Wound around and around and up and down through the massive collection of sculptures and paintings and other objects du art. Yes...saw the Mona Lisa among other art icons. Morning and afternoon in the museum were separated by a light lunch. Walked a short while along the Seine before returning to the hotel to rest tired feet. Dinner in La Marais (charming a second time).
Woke at 5:30 today to beautiful sunshine. Decided to get up and walk in Green Park one last time. Had the park to myself for some vivid green pictures. Back to shower and pack and pick up Jeff for our early Tube ride to Waterloo station. Insane check-in lines at the Eurostar terminal. Platform 21, Coach 15, Seats 15/16. Sped through green English countryside. Entered the Channel Tunnel...popped out 20 min later to find green French countryside. Hot ham and cheese sanwiches on the train...spent our last pounds. Arrived in Paris at Gare du Nord trainstation and picked up our euros. Walked a few blocks to the #2 Metro line to the Arc de Triomphe station. Arrived at our hotel--the Hotel Élysées Ceramic. Dropped off luggage and walked back to the Arc de Triomphe. Bought our Paris Museum Passes. Got dizzy climbing the circular stairs to the top of the Arc for panoramic views of the city. Lunch with outdoor tables along the Champs Élysées. Took Metro to the Louvre...not to go in today, but as a starting point for a healthy walk through the Jardin des Tuileries past the Grand and Petit Palais and along the broad Champs Élysées returning to the Arc de Triomphe where we began. Dinner in La Marais.
Woken two hours (!) early by an erroneous wake up call...but the hotel staff are so polite, who could be upset. After 30 min trying to fall back asleep, decided to wander and take photos instead. The city is quiet on a bank holiday weekend morning. Had to wander until 7am for the coffee shops to open. Sipped my latte in Green Park. After breakfast, hopped the Tube to Waterloo station and caught a train to Windsor. Walked the grounds of Windsor Castle ('the oldest and largest occupied castle in the world') and toured the extravagent state rooms. The Queen was out, but this was Jeff's third visit, so he played tour guide. The castle's grand medieval chapel--St. George's--provided a gothic roof over our heads when the rain started to pick up. Fish and chips in town for late lunch and then back to the train station bound for London. After a rest and break from the rain at the hotel, we had drinks and dinner at Bertorelli in Soho. Walked back through Picadilli Circus. Early to bed to pack and catch a train to Paris in the morning.
[Note: The trouble with pounds is that prices in London are just about right if the conversion was 1:1. For example, my grande latte at Starbucks was just under 3 pounds, which is what it costs in dollars in SF. Food, drink, and transportation seem similarly priced. But the exchange is almost 2:1 right now (!), which makes everything here outrageous. Not sure how the average person here lives. On the upside, this will make the Euro seem like a deal.]
Woke to a light rain out the window. Hearty English breakfast in the hotel...'the best in London'. Grabbed a latte from Cafe Nero nearby. Walked through posh Mayfair on the way to the British Museum. Wandered aimlessly through the museum collections. Throngs of schoolkids, particularly in the Egyptian parts. Short walk to the Soane Museum, a small architecture collection. Took the Tube back to Green Park to meet up with Chris, who is joining us for several days. A quick lunch of sandwiches and soda near the hotel. Then back on the Tube to Knightsbridge. Walked through Harrods...Chris bought some chocolates. Walked through a very green Hyde Park to the Albert Memorial and then to Kensington Palace. Hopped back on the Tube to SOHO where we had dinner at the Dehli Brasserie. Crowd watching in SOHO until the bars closed at 11. Back to the hotel to rest the walking feet.
Flight from SFO to London Heathrow. Upgraded to business class (thank goodness). King Kong. Beef short ribs. Pecan crusted chicken. Lot's of wine. Landed and breezed thru the priority arrivals line. Took the Heathrow Express train to Paddington Station and then a cab to the hotel. Hilton Green Park. Small comfortable modern room. Walked through Green Park to Buckingham Palace. Queen's Gallery. Westminster. London Eye. Lunch on the Thames at Eat, a local chain of gourmet sandwich shops. Thames walk to the Millennium Bridge at the Tate Gallery. Crossed to St. Pauls Cathedral. Walked through The City and then back along the river. Well needed shower and nap. Dinner at a nearby pub in Shepard's Market, a cozy square in Mayfair. Fish and chips at the King's Arms. Shrort walk through Mayfair. Chrashed for a nice cool night.
I worked on a couple of new 'industrial' images this evening. The first is another in what could easily become a chair series...if I needed a gimmick :) But seriously, where the hell do all of these chairs come from. I've got a couple more that I snapped pictures of this weekend.
Sorry. But I understand you do not want that I arrived to you or you do not want to help me on trip to you. It is insulting. I think that you write to me only for dialogue. Is it the truth?I'll try to trigger another reply, but this could very well be Elena's swan song.
But life is not ALL rain and graffiti. It is spring, after all. So, I present here three springtime images. The first is of one of Jeff's favorite orchids...this one smells like chocolate! Jeff has four orchids in bloom at the moment. The third image below is of one of our lemon trees, which is now producing enormous lemons. So, I'm making lemon-butter grilled shrimp tonight :)
This was a day on my feet. I got out for lunch and made a daytime trip to the Alamo. The harsh afternoon sunlight made for horrible photos of the building, so I stuck to some of the plants in the partial shade.
If things just don't work out with my current line of work, there is always the Texas Jail Association next door in the convention center. I'm SURE there is a satisfying option for me there!
