My first weekend down was to spend some relaxing time with Geoff, and take some time out from study.
The following weekend was spent out and about London town. I arrived to a stunning Spring day in London (it’s still winter here but the temps were in the teens and the sun was out and it very much felt like Spring was in the air). We couldn’t bear to stay indoors, so we took a visit to the National Gallery at Trafalgar Square.
This was very much due to the enthusiasm of our friend Tom, who raves about the National Gallery to anyone and everyone. But we now appreciate why.
The National Gallery is a huge gallery in one of the busiest parts of London. Admission is completely free and you could literally spend a whole day there, wondering (and getting lost) through the maze of endless rooms of original paintings.
You’ll find Da Vinci, Michelangelo, Turner, Monet and Van Gogh among many others. I have to say Van Gogh’s yellow and ochre Sunflowers is a stunner in its original form. The intensity of colour makes it both a memorable and stand-out piece in the room and entire gallery.
If one does visit all the rooms, then recharging batteries is a must. We found a wonderful café, Peyton Byrne, on the Lower ground floor. The cakes and treats here are not to be missed.
Sunday was another stunner of a day. Mid-morning we set out under the clear blue skies to Kew Bridge to have lunch with Geoff’s cousin, Scott, his wife Tina and their 9-month baby girl, Lara.
They found a wonderful little pub right on the banks of the Thames where one can soak up the sun and enjoy a cold beer, especially perched on the river walls and public footpath which runs right outside the pub.
It was such a lovely day we decided to spend the afternoon at The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Kew Garden is a huge park with lots to see. It is immaculately maintained and it takes a few good hours to walk around. Some places we visited were:
Kew Place and its parterre garden
The Temperate Houses
filled to the roof with tropical plants from all over the world
The Japanese Gardens and Pagoda
The lake,
And the spotting of numerous Henry Moore sculptures peppered throughout the gardens, such as this one here with the backdrop of the Kew Gardens Gallery.
By the late afternoon, the sun was setting and the temperatures were cooling down considerably so we wrapped up our our busy weekend with some relaxation on Sunday night.
Monday continued more busy activity for me in London. I spent the day at the Design Council for a catch up with my supervisors on the progress of my research, attended a talk at the Royal Society of Arts and had dinner with intrepid traveller, Adam, fresh from the French snowfields.
We dined at Chez Gerard in Covent Garden and I just have to recommend the steak there having had that twice now. It was great to catch up with a familiar face from home.
Sometimes in London, I can't help but to think about how amazing it is to spend time and meet with people from home, on the other side of the world. What a great city!
