Category Archives: London

Golden London

09 Friday Nov 2012

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I have never been to the UK, let alone London, this late in the season.  It may have something to do with My Beloved Brit’s fear of having to actually experience Britain’s cold, damp weather again.

But this November visit I have found to be golden in London’s Kensington area on the edge of Notting Hill.

The last hurrah… golden tree in Kensington Gardens. photo by me

Everyone was out to enjoy the last blast of color even if the skies were grey.

All the bike rental stalls at the entrance to Hyde Park were empty. Photo by me

The arbor at Kensington Palace’s sunken garden has definitely changed since I last saw it in June.

A detail from the arbor at Kensington Palace in November. Photo by me

The air was quite chilly as I sat on a bench under the ash arbor at one of London’s most famous sites. I asked My Beloved Brit when he called me on my mobile, “Why does 50 degrees in England feel so much chillier than 50 degrees in the southern United States?”  He suggested it might have something to do with the damp, windy, grey skies that usually accompany the temperatures. The Grey Country?

The statue of Queen Victoria looks out over Hyde Park and grey skies on the east side of Kensington Palace. Photo by me

The gates at Kensington Palace, laced with gold inside and beyond. Photo by me.

I was quite comfortable walking along Kensington’s roads with my hat, gloves and scarf firmly in place.  It was golden.

Outside the palace gates in the very center of London. Photo by me

A front garden wall on a Kensington side street. Photo by me

Goodbye Autumn.

The final hours near Notting Hill. Photo by me

 

 

The Tower and The Shard

11 Saturday Aug 2012

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Coming across Long Island from La Guardia Airport into New York City last week, My Beloved Brit and I could see a huge new tower in the distance in lower Manhattan. When we went downtown on Monday, we stared right at it and realized it was the new One World Trade Center, better known as 1 WTC.

The 104-story skyscraper has reached its height, and will be finished by 2013.  It is quite impressive now…

The new tower nearing completion in downtown New York City on the site of the twin towers. Photo by me

…and will be even more beautiful when it is finished.

Rendering from the Wikipedia website

When completed in 2013, 1 WTC will be the tallest building in the western hemisphere and the third-tallest in the world, with its spire reaching the symbolic 1,776 feet in reference to the year of American Independence.

On the other side of the pond, The Shard opened in London on July 5th of this summer.

The Shard, to the left of the photo, from their website

The Shard, designed by architect Renzo Piano, is spectacular on the London skyline, positioned on the South Bank, it is by far the highest building along the Thames.  When I saw the new tower in lower Manhattan, I couldn’t help recalling the sloping sides of The Shard. The Shard is only 1,016 ft tall, but in a city like London, it seems much taller in comparison to the buildings surrounding it. It is the tallest building in Western Europe, and houses the 5-star Shangri-La hotel.

From The Shard’s website, you can see its relative height on the South Bank of London

Located in the London Bridge Quarter on the South Bank of the Thames, the developers are hoping the new skyscraper will add new life to the area with a transformed transport hub, new retail space, offices and restaurants. This is the look of modern London.

The Torch Has Arrived In London!

20 Friday Jul 2012

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The Olympic Torch arrived in London! The torch was carried by Royal Marine Martyn Williams as he rappelled down into the Tower of London from a Royal Navy Sea King helicopter July 20th. Read the story in The Washington Post here.

Photo by Jae C. Hong from The Washington Post article.

Crowds lined the banks of the River Thames as the torch arrived, and word has it that the 2012 Olympic medals are safely stowed away at The Tower of London ready for the winners.

Let the games begin! The countdown begins to the final week.

A path to explore

18 Wednesday Jul 2012

Posted by in Art, Art Museums & Exhibitions, England, London, paintings, sketching, Travel, Uncategorized

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It is always good going to my gallery in Rehoboth Beach.  I get to see the other work…

Santo Mirabile (mobile) and Rose Minetti (painting) at Gallery 50, photo by me

 

…and discuss with Jay (the owner of Gallery 50 Contemporary Art) my thoughts on my art.  This trip has confirmed a thought  process I had been having about exploring cities in a social context.  The gallery sold one of my favorite new small paintings, “Gallery View”, the week before My Beloved Brit and I arrived.

“Gallery View”, oil painting by me

I had been giving a lot of thought, after all my travels, that I wanted to explore social interaction in three major cities…NYC, London and Paris (3 of my favorites) and see what they had in common and what made them unique.

Cy Twombly at Tate Modern, London

The Louvre, Paris, photo by me

 

The Metropolitan Museum of Art, photo by me

The blending of location and culture has always intrigued me, and this was an interesting progression to take in my art. I’ve looked at cities before, and the interaction of their inhabitants.

“Metropolitan Spring”, painting by me

MBB and I have discovered, living in a more rural area, that we really are urban animals.  There is nothing I like more than the feel of hot pavement under my feet taking me to explore a great museum, or view an array of shop windows or wander into a park.

“The Voyeur”, painting by me from a park seen in England

A cafe in the Tuileries, Paris, photo by me

I will probably focus on the leisure activities of the cities…what people do when they just want to relax and unwind…and of course it will revolve a lot around what I do with my free time.  So as I explore museums and parks and walking around great cities, I imagine these new pieces will go in that direction.

Playing boules in The Tuileries, Paris. Photo by me

But that is the beauty of a new series.  I am never quite sure where it will take me.

St. James’s Park, An Oasis

27 Wednesday Jun 2012

Posted by in England, Gardens, History, London, The Royal Family, Travel, Uncategorized, United Kingdom

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I spent a great deal of time in St. James’s Park on Jubilee Weekend because of its proximity to Buckingham Palace and The Mall where many of the regal activities took place.

One of the most elegant entrances to St. James’s Park from The Mall. Photo by me

Skirted by three royal palaces–the ancient Palace of Westminster (now known as The Houses of Parliament), the Tudor styled St. James’s Palace, and Buckingham Palace where the Monarch has lived since 1837–St. James’s Park is located in the heart of historic London. It is also one of the most beautiful parks in the city.

St. James’s Park, one of the prettiest in London. Photo by me

In 1536, King Henry VIII decided to turn the marshy farmland and woods into a deer park conveniently located near his palace at Westminster.

The Palace of Westminster, now known as the Houses of Parliament

He acquired the land and eventually built a hunting lodge on it which finally became St. James’s Palace.

St. Jame’s Palace is just around the corner from The Ritz on a busy London Street during Jubilee. Photo by me.

St. Jame’s Palace borders two worlds, the park and The Mall on one side, and a busy London Street on the other.

The side of St. James’s Palace backs up to St. Jame’s Park. The Palace is still an active court. Photo by me.

After many reincarnations, the park got another makeover in the 1820s in the naturalistic style when George IV did a major renovation project creating many of London’s best-known landmarks, including Regent’s Park and The Mall as a grand boulevard.

The Mall, a grand processional boulevard next to St. James’s Park. Photo by me

It was overseen by landscaper and architect, John Nash. His design is pretty much as you see the park today.

It was designed by John Nash in a natural style.  Photo by me.

The natural curves of the lake fits in beautifully with the English landscaping. Photo by me

A small cottage on the south edge of the park was the bird-keeper’s cottage built in 1841. Photo by me.

You may picnic in the park, but many people prefer to just stroll through the grounds admiring the flower beds…

The flowers bloomed just in time for the Jubilee. Photo by me

 

The color combinations were so creative. Photo by me

…and seeing the amazing collection of wildlife. With over 5.5 million visitors a year it is amazing that the habitat survives.

The park is very well used, especially on bank holiday weekends. Photo by me.

But survive it does, and flourishes. There are over 15 different species of waterfowl in the park.

A mother and her babies in St. James’s. Photo by me

Some of the waterfowl are beautifully colored. Photo by me

To commemorate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, The Royal Parks fashioned a magnificent crown which is a floral replica of the St. Edwards Crown that was used in the crowning of Queen Elizabeth II during her coronation ceremony on 2 June 1953.

The Royal Parks Jubilee Crown. Photo by me.

I could have spent many more hours just getting to know the park a little bit better.  It makes me want to return for a sketching day along the lake. For more information on the Park, visit their website with a click here.

The lake at St. Jame’s Park looking towards the Horse Guards Parade off Whitehall. Photo by me.

 

Kensington Palace

23 Saturday Jun 2012

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I had so many adventures in England it all seems a blur now that I am home in the US.  I have been going through my photos recalling the details, and realize there were many really special days.

One in particular was a rather dreary morning in London during jubilee weekend. The Queen was busy at Epsom Downs for the races, so I decided to head down to Kensington and see the new renovation of the exhibition halls at the Palace.

A busy dog walker in Kensington Gardens. Photo by me

I decided to take the bus after learning how to get and use an “Oyster” pass.  With the crowds coming in to London for the weekend, it seemed like the sensible thing to do, and it turned out it was easy to use on either a bus or the “underground”.

The busy bus stop at Green Park in London. Photo by me

I got to Kensington Palace at Hyde Park at 10am.  It was gray and misty but lovely and very quiet. Grey skies or not, people seemed to be out enjoying the park and getting on with their day.

People were still enjoying the park despite the misty weather. Photo by me

I did a quick tour of the entry with the statue of Queen Victoria and the sunken gardens, and then headed inside.

Kensington Palace from the sunken garden. Photo by me

The new exhibit was wonderful.  There were several areas to view and each had it’s own personality and distinct style.

The exhibit as a bit cheeky and had a sense of humor to it. Photo by me

The rooms managed to combine the rich history of the royal apartments with a rather modern design element that kept it fresh.

An interesting design representation of Queen Anne’s lost children–out of 18 pregnancies, none survived to adulthood, resulting in the extinction of the House of Stuart, and the throne passed to the Hanovers. Photo by me

I rather like the way London has combined a modern sensibility with their historical past.  I wonder at times if it was a controversial decision or whether the modern Brits just accept it. Everyone seemed quite enthralled by it.

A beautifully restored classic ceiling in the King’s apartments. Photo by me

Either way it was great fun for me, and I actually lingered in many of the spaces, especially the state apartments George I and II.

The staircase to the apartments. Photo by me

There was also a beautiful set of rooms in the exhibition “Victoria Revealed”, where you got a real sense of the life of the wife, mother and woman behind the crown. This is where Victoria spent her childhood and became Queen, and artifacts tell the story of her love for Albert and her great loss when he died.

Victoria’s wedding dress. Photo by me.

And Victoria’s mourning clothes. Photo by me

The temporary display on Princess Diana gave just a brief glimpse in to the life of this famous resident of the Palace,

Two of Diana’s dresses on display. Photo by me

and a chance to see some of her most beautiful dresses.

The whimsical wallpaper leading to the exhibition of five of Diana’s dresses. Photo by me

The golden gates at the south side of the palace were covered in floral tributes to the princess after she died in 1997. In the following days every inch of railing around the palace was covered, “and the flowers stretched out like a carpet into Kensington Gardens.”

The gates to Kensington Palace. Photo by me

It’s interesting to think of the lives that have passed through these hallways.

The history these halls must have witnessed. Photo by me

Prince William and The Duchess of Cambridge (Kate) are now preparing a large apartment in the complex to become their future home.  And so the history will continue to the next generation.

In the entry vestibule, some past and current residents are pictured on the walls. Photo by me

I did enjoy my visit, and loved the touch of whimsy and design detail that carried throughout the exhibition, like this directional sign for the public toilets. Those Brits do have a wonderful sense of humor.

 

It is an amazing place.  It makes the imagination run wild when you think who has walked these hallways.

Kensington Palace with the statue of one of its most famous residents, Queen Victoria. Photo by me.

 

 

Sunday Roast

10 Sunday Jun 2012

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We arrived at My Beloved Brit’s sister’s and her family’s home right on the edge of London to spend a weekend catching up with the family.

A Street in Upminster. Photo by me.

It’s the perfect accommodation, and we get to catch up with our three nieces who still reside under this roof

The city house where three small English cars can fit out front. Photo by me

This is a wonderful way to spend an English day, preparing Sunday Roast with family all around and good food flying out of the kitchen onto our plates.

Preparations begin with dad and the youngest taking control of the kitchen. Photo by me

The Bold Brother-in-Law orchestrated the cooking with much help and cajoling from all around.

Family stays close by. Photo by me

It was a classic.

Can we have a bit of help here. Photo by me.

A gorgeous pork roast with crackling, yorkshire pudding, lots of veggies and roast potatoes.

Dishing up. Photo by me

Aaaaaaaah!! Photo by me

Let the feast begin…

The attack. Photo by me

Two of our lovely nieces, fondly known as the seagulls for the amount of food they can consume in a short time. Photo by me.

It was the best of Sunday afternoons, and an English tradition that is unparalleled anywhere in the world.

After the meal... the remnants of a pitcher of "Squash" a very British refreshing drink. Photo by me

The Jubilee Day of Thanksgiving

05 Tuesday Jun 2012

Posted by in England, History, London, The Royal Family, Travel, Uncategorized, United Kingdom

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It is another busy day in London, and it is not supposed to rain until this afternoon, so what better way to spend a morning than to see if I can catch a glimpse of the Queen. Unfortunately, Prince Philip is in hospital and will not be able to join her today, and I am sure he will be on her mind most of the day.  It is a shame he can’t be there to share all the special events with her.

Around the corner at St. James's Palace, and free flags to wave from The Daily Mirror. Photo by me

I wandered down to the Mall and glued myself as close as I could to the railing with many others to wait for the Queen drive by on the way to St. Paul’s.

Massive, friendly crowds...again. Photo by me.

The  crowd, as always was in a splendid mood and burst into song “God Save The Queen” and “Rule Britannia” at a moments notice.  There were two groups on either side of The Mall that often broke into a cheering and flag waving competition.  All very high-spirited and fun.

Definitely, non-stop, the best hat of the Jubilee. Photo by me

And I did manage to see the flash of pale blue as The Queen drove by following the car with Prince Charles and Camilla.

The Queen passed by and gave me a wave. It is all a blur. Photo by me

It was actually pretty exciting, and I must say, I have a sense of satisfaction that I have seen the Queen in her Jubilee Year. There was something poignant about her sitting with her Lady in Waiting, The Lady Farnham, rather than Prince Philip, but she was still all smiles when she reached St. Paul’s. You’ve got to love this woman. She just keeps soldiering on.

The web cam was massive and great to catch up on other areas of the celebration. Photo by me

This lucky person was obviously at the Buckingham Palace Garden Picnic last night as witnessed by her official picnic basket. They were given to ticket holders as a gift! Photo by me

I watched a few minutes of the service at St. Paul’s Cathedral on the large screen in St. James’s with many others…

The Mall and St James's was filling up fast. By 12:30 when I passed it again, they had stopped any additional access. It was full. Photo by me.

…and then headed back to pack up and head off. I had to get to Charing Cross Station which was right in the middle of all the motorcades winding back and forth throughout the day.  This was going to be interesting.

The Mall waiting for the carriage procession at 2:30. Photo by me

I passed streams of people heading to the Mall to see the procession and appearance on the balcony later this afternoon.

The crowds just keep streaming towards the mall and parade route. Photo by me

And so I am off to Kent today to meet up with My Beloved Brit.  He has promised me a day or two of magnificent garden tours if weather permits before we enjoy the company of some of his family we haven’t seen in ages. The perfect way to end a perfectly wonderful Jubilee Celebration.

 

The Concert of a Lifetime

04 Monday Jun 2012

Posted by in Art, Art Museums & Exhibitions, England, entertainment, London, Music, paintings, The Royal Family, Uncategorized, United Kingdom

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After a wet Sunday on the river, it was time for the Jubilee Concert.  I had heard the drifting sound of music in the air all weekend as the bands rehearsed on the giant sound stage set up at The Queen Victoria Memorial Fountain outside Buckingham Palace.

Preparations for the concert have been going on all weekend. Photo by me

Mastermind of the three-hour BBC produced musical extravaganza Gary Barlow promised Sir Paul McCartney, Stevie Wonder and Sir Elton John.  It also promised to possibly be a rainy night on the Mall.

The clouds are building Monday morning as the blimp flies over St James's Park at the Westminster end. Photo by me.

The crowds were already flooding the park before noon staking out their spots with flags and blankets.  The 10,000 grandstand tickets had been awarded ages ago by a national ballot.  Those lucky sods also got a picnic in the Buckingham Palace Gardens. These additional attendees were people outside the inner fence trying to get a good view of the big screens set up down the Mall and in St. James’s Park.

These St. James's Park residents could have cared less about the invasion going on around them. Photo by me.

The best part of the morning was Stevie Wonder rehearsing and although there was no image, you could hear “Superstition” loud and clear throughout the park. His music continued for quite a while. Everyone was already rocking.

Before noon, people were already arriving for the show which would really begin at about 8 pm. Photo by me

I decided to take a break, and headed to the end of the park at Trafalgar to pay a visit to the National Gallery.

The National Gallery of Art, the perfect spot on a cool, cloudy London day. Photo by me.

I got my floor plan and carefully laid out my plan of attack on the massive museum. I began with the Impressionists.

Cezanne at The National Gallery. Photo by me

I also managed to fit in lunch at the museum cafe…an asparagus, fennel, and goat cheese tart and salad.  It was the perfect accompaniment to Turner.

Turner, The National Gallery. photo by me

After lunch, I decided to spend another hour with Cezanne, Rembrandt and Botticelli. Finally, it was time to leave these perfect companions, and head back through the Mall.  The crowds were now setting up mini-tent-towns.

Tents were popping up everywhere like mushrooms. Photo by me

The boards kept flashing notices that if you were planning to stay in the park overnight to view the parade tomorrow, you had to be in St. James’s Park, not on the Mall.  In the park overnight!!!

Food stalls were set up everywhere, these two outside Clarence House. This was a mini-Woodstock. Photo by me

This might be a bit tough to get anywhere close to the action tonight. OMG! These people were serious.

Tents in St. James's with Big Ben in the background. Photo by me

I was bound and determined to at least try.

I love the woman with the high heels...what was she thinking. She was going to the palace and she was going to wear her best shoes, that's what! Photo by me.

Security was ultra strict, thank goodness, and they were already limiting access at certain points and checking backpacks and purses as they came in to the area.

The crowds kept pouring in. I imagine within the next couple of hours it would be impossible to get anywhere near. Photo by me.

I was informed by three concert security people that the sneak route I had planned through Green Park would be closed off…for the next two days.

The Official Souvenir Stands were doing a brisk business. Photo by me.

It looked like I might have to open my window and listen to the music from afar, but we’ll see.

These two music lovers have claimed their positions for the night. Photo by me

The weather may have something to do with it. It was threatening rain by 4 pm. The concert and beacons that would light up the sky were planned for later tonight.  England’s skies don’t get dark until very late this time of year.

I headed over around 5 pm and made it in with many other revelers.  Everyone was in an extremely jolly mood to say the least.

A happy group of Jubilee Concert goers. Photo by me

Some people put some real effort into their ensembles. Photo by me.

The sky got dark and it started to rain.  But all was not lost.

Even the rain couldn't dampen spirits. Photo by me

Soon the sun was shining again and people were dancing in the street.  I had a classic British dinner at the concert…chips (french fries to you Yanks) and a hot chocolate to ward off the chill.

There were many dining options at the Jubilee Concert. I chose chips, a popular choice. Photo by me

And then the boards lit up and it began.

Let the party get started. On the lawn in St. James's Park. Photo by me

The crowd was enjoying the music thoroughly.  At the least provocation they sang along, cheered and waved their flags.

One of my favorite moments. This couple had their Queen and Prince masks on the back of their heads, and people kept running up behind them and having their pictures taken without them even being aware. Photo by me.

As it got dark, the music got better and better. Again, the crowd control was phenomenal.

The crowds were huge all over the area, but it was so well organized it was fine. Photo by me.

There were police, security and concert staff everywhere inside and outside the concert area to make sure everything ran smoothly…and it did. I don’t usually like huge crowds, but this never bothered me.

It was finally getting dark, and Annie Lenox came on. Photo by me

I waited for the queen to arrive, and decided it was time to walk back to my room (the concert actually started at 7:30).  My usual access was cut off so I had to walk around a much longer way, but there were lots of people with me, a happy crowd, who had spent the day celebrating and were also ready to go home, and plenty of security on the streets to guide me home.

I can still hear the crowds and helicopters outside from my room as I write this.  London is a very happy place tonight.  May it always be so joyous. Happy Diamond Jubilee everyone.

I head back to the country tomorrow to join My Beloved Brit after his weekend of sailing.  It will be so good to see him, but I will miss London.

 

 

The Flotilla on the Thames

03 Sunday Jun 2012

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Rain was predicted heading in to the weekend for Sunday, the day of the staging of the largest flotilla in decades to parade down the Thames in honor of Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee.  The event was supposed to begin around 2:30 pm and start near Battersea Park, heading up river for Tower Bridge. All looked relatively calm on Saturday, although there always seemed to be a helicopter overhead, and police sirens kept rushing through the city.

The River Thames on June 2, 2012 looking very calm. Photo by me.

I woke up to the sound of rain outside my window on Sunday morning, and rushed down to Piccadilly to see if I could score an umbrella.  I did at the local newsstand for only 5 pounds.  We’ll see if it survives the jubilee.

I decided the best approach for the day was to head over to Tate Modern Art Gallery on the South Bank.  If it didn’t stop raining, at least I will have gotten to see the Damien Hirst exhibition. If it did, I might be able to catch a glimpse of the river parade.

The banner for the Damien Hirst exhibition at Tate Modern, located in an old power station directly on the Thames. Photo by me

Some poor souls were camped out on the banks of the river waiting for the pageant to begin.  They still had over 5 hours to go before even a hope to glimpse a boat.

Staking out their positions on the river. Photo by me

I couldn’t imagine.  It was quite chilly, and a misty drizzle filled the air, but people were in a grand mood, and everyone seemed happy enough.  Somehow the rain just made the whole day more British. I decided to wait it out in the huge Tate where it was warm…and had bathrooms.

The toasty warm...and dry...Tate Book Store. Photo by me

I paid my fee for the special Hirst exhibit (many museums are free in London, but charge a hefty price for special exhibitions) and spent a long time lingering through the exhibition.  Hirst had never been one of my favorite artists, but as usual, the Tate did a fabulous job of really explaining his career in this retrospective.  I saw the diamond skull, and the shark in formaldehyde and the room of live butterflies.

The Physical Impossibility of Death in The Mind of Someone Living, by Damien Hirst (1991) from Wikipedia Commons

I read the small booklet they gave me and saw the very expansive film with Hirst narrating, and walked away with a much better understanding and appreciation of the artist and his work.  I was not allowed to photograph here, but take my word, it was very well done.

I decided to stop by for a quick lunch in the coffee shop (after realizing it was impossible to eat in the restaurant on the top floor which had a view of the river), and noticed crowds were already trying to command a position by the windows on this floor that faced the river.  It was noon, at least 3 hours until the pageant would reach this point.

The Tate Modern coffee shop. The view out the window was very popular. Photo by me

At this point there really was nothing much to see but a misted over St. Paul's across the river. Photo by me

I returned to the galleries after my smoked salmon and cucumber sandwich, and saw a wonderful exhibition called “Energy and Process”.  It had some interesting work that explored the use of new materials for making art, unheard of in its time. There were also some old favorites of mine of Cy Twombly that I had seen the last time I was here, but will never get enough of.

Surface-to-Surface by Susumu Koshimizo (planks) and Ren-Shiki-Tai by Kishio Suga (stone). At the time, these types of materials had never been used to create art in modern times. photo by me

Untitled by Marita Merz, aluminum Photo by me

Bacchus series paintings and sculptures, Cy Twombly. Photo by me.

I spent time wandering through a few more floors, visited the book shop and finally decided to reclaim my jacket and umbrella from the cloak room and head out in to the throngs of humanity which had been building all day.

The crowd had grown outside while I was enjoying art inside. Photo by me.

There wasn't an inch of space to stand near the river. Photo by me

I couldn't even get a view of the big screen set up on the outside of the Tate. Photo by me.

I could see this area wasn’ t going to work out, and I could tell by the crowds cheering watching the screen that the Queen had boarded the barge to start her trip up the Thames.  There were helicopters overhead and bells were ringing.

I decided to head down river.

A bit of ice cream never hurts, no matter what the temperature. Photo by me

But everyone was in a great mood, and it had stopped raining, and there were lots of police controlling the crowds.  If an area got too packed, they blocked off new people coming in and explained how to get around it…and people did.  So civilized.

The South Bank of London. Photo by me

London's finest had everything under control. Photo by me

Finally, I made my way down to The London Eye at Jubilee Park.

The London Eye on a grey jubilee day. Photo by me

Here there was another giant screen set up…and many, many people watching it.  But it was on a hillside so it worked, and the river was in the background so we could hear the boats moving on the river with fire whistles and salutes. It was very festive to say the least.

The crowds loved it. Photo by me

And when the image came on the giant screen showing that the Queen’s barge was right behind us on the river, and you could hear the salutes, the crowd went wild. Flags were waving and people were cheering.  The woman next to me said it made it all worth while coming out to see it live, and not sitting at home watching it on her tellie with a cup of tea.

You could see The Eye on the screen that was right behind us in the park. The crowd went nuts! Photo by me.

The Queen and Prince Philip. The cheers went up again, and the women commented on how lovely she looked. Photo by me.

Once the Queen’s barge went by, I decided (along with about a million other people) it might be time to head for Waterloo Station to get back across the river.  It was growing darker and darker and the sky was looking a bit threatening.

Coming out of the Green Park Underground Station in the wet. Photo by me

As I came out of my station, it was pouring again but I managed to use my trusty cheap umbrella to get me in to my London room. As I passed the library on my way upstairs, I noticed the TV was on with other wet jubileers watching the ending ceremonies at Tower Bridge.  They had been on bicycles and were quite bedraggled, but we all agreed it was a tremendous day.  We sat down and shared a cup of tea to toast the Queen.

Monday night is the huge Jubilee Concert outside Buckingham Palace.  I can hear them rehearsing across the park this evening.  The forecast is for rain. We shall see.