All Over the Map

Today dawned WINDY (it woke us up) and clear. The wind settled down and we went to the Serpentine Gallery in Kensington Gardens. There is a very interesting installation there with rooms lightly filled with stage smoke and images projected into the haze. The artist's work was really compelling. We also went to the Diana Memorial Fountain since it was being cleaned when Katy first arrived in London. We spent the rest of the morning at Kensington Palace, which has become a memorial to Diana. The state rooms are still there but you have to ingest huge helpings of exhibits centered on the late Princess of Wales before you get to the good stuff. (I know, that's my opinion, but it is my blog so you will get my opinions.) We had lunch at the Orangerie at Kensington Palace and then Katy and I went to the Wallace Collection to see a few paintings and a boatload of French decorative arts.

We spent the rest of the afternoon wandering through the West End on back streets and the high streets. We heard a killer steel band playing on Oxford Street, a brass quartet on Carnaby Street (had to change a Puma shirt for a smaller size), and a flute duet in front of the Royal Academy. Those musical bits were highlights. We visited Picadilly Circus and continued along Picadilly Street to Fortnum and Mason, the Royal Academy, the Burlington Arcade, Lower Bond Street, Berkeley Square, and back to Oxford Street just in time to catch a 94 bus home, arriving exactly at 5:00 P.M. for dinner. Tonight we are just blogging, reading, and Katy is watching a movie at the Ringers.

The ladies headed for the Serpentine Gallery on a beautiful morning

The Princess Diana Fountain

The Round Pond, Kensington Palace on the far right,
and Kensington Church in the background

Lunch at the Orangerie at Kensington Palace

The misplaced Wallace Fountain (belongs in Paris)
in front of the Wallace Collection with Katy

Katy and the Angel of Christian Charity (called Eros)
at Picadilly Circus

Fortnum and Mason done up for Christmas -
we saw the clock strike four

Posh Burlington Arcade

Lower Bond Street is all asparkle for the holiday season

Katy spotted these two cute little G-Wiz electric-powered
cars parked in a single space on Berkely Square

I don't know what our final Saturday in London holds, but we will keep you posted.

OXO

D.