...at Shakespeare...
...and Handel.
The Bellagio has nothing on this place ;)
A beautiful pendulum clock hangs down one entrance of the V & A. Glorious.
The metal works were just beautiful. This is, as legend has it ;) the house that Jack built.
The medieval section of the museum.
Followed by the angelic section.
I couldn't get over how large the installments were inside the museum. It was just an amazingly large space.
Altars, saints, shrines...continued.
Outside the museum, the outdoor garden stood in wait. Since the weather was so crappy, I only withstood it for a short time. It was quite grand though...well worth the damp moments that followed.
Looking back at my favourite part of the day...
This is my favourite picture taken on this mini-mini-break. Just loves.
A garden in the centre of the square...
...around which these houses were built.
And then I was on my way to Harrod's. Emma's father has told me that Mr. Harrod set up a shoppe in Kensington and slowly began to acquire more and more stores as his business expanded. That is why, he explained, the floors are all different heights and the building looks so unique. Amazing what a little hard work can do, non?
It's so very posh here...
But by FAR, the best part of Harrod's was Laduree, the small boutique cafe from Paris. Once inside, I was smitten by the smells, the atmosphere, the black and crystal chandeliers, the glutinous but all the while still luxurious spread of French confections that tickled my sweet tooth. It made me feel like a princess just to be in the store. Unfortunately, I couldn't take pictures of the patisserie which, I have to admit, sort of annoyed me, but I guess there is something alluring in the unknown of the shoppe. Is it really as good as I say it is? Isn't it worth a visit for yourself? ;)
Smitten, swooning, and feeling high on life, I wandered the streets back to South Kensington from High Street. What a dream world I am living in.
Oh! Can't forget one of the best parts of the day: Japanese food! Yeah, I know, every part seems to be the best part of my day, right? Right. That's the way it should be, folks. Why not?
Had some udon noodles in a hot, spicy soup at this little place and totally feel in love with the dumb waiter, the two-person wait staff for the overly crowded seating area that housed about 25 people (shockingly for a space that measured about 10 feet by 20 feet).
My heart really does swell for love of the Asians at times like this. Makes me miss my friends back there too. And as they all start to disperse after their one (or three!) year(s) commitments there, I can't help but feel that a little part of my past is now actually over. They say you can't go home again. True, I guess, if Korea was home. I guess it was home, for a short time, it was a place to call home, that is for certain. Alas, now I feel a bit nostalgic.
And in keeping with the Asian theme (you're going to love this), here is the scene from one corner of the Natural History Museum. Since the place takes up a whole city block, you can well imagine this scene was played out three more times around three different corners.
I have to say though, I was tickled pink to travel on a full train from Dartford to London. It really warmed my heart to see parents and carers (as we call them) take their kids into the big city for a day out at, of all places, a museum. Just when I lose faith in the town and the townspeople's ability to do the right thing by expanding their childrens' horizons, I see them making a HUGE effort to educate during the holiday.
Well done, you!
I hopped on the subway (with forty thousand children and parents) to Charing Cross, where I popped into the National Portrait Gallery for one last look around before I called it a day.
There is a portrait there of Paul McCartney called, "Mike's Brother". It's sad and beautiful and really a show-stopper.
Then again, wasn't everything I saw and did for the last 48 hours a show-stopper? I thought so.
I hope you are all doing well, enjoying the cities around YOU, and taking vacations, holidays, lunch breaks and even coffee breaks when you can.
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