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selenak: (VanGogh - Lefaym)
[personal profile] selenak
Sunday was a bit gloomy, weather-wise, but Monday was sunny, and thus I did again something I hadn't for two decades and went to Kew Gardens. Then, because it was such a fine day, I added something I hadn't done during previous London trips, full stop, and took the boat on the Thames instead of the train in order to get from Kew Gardens to Hampton Court. (Aka how the the kings and queens and their courts did it.) Of course, by the time I arrived in Hampton Court clouds had gathered and I was a bit frozen, but never mind, it had been worth it. All in all, it was a great way to say goodbye to London for this year, although not quite, because in the evening I went to [personal profile] rozk's book launch, which was fabulous. Now I'm off to the air port, but won't be able to resume my fannish life until next week because tomorrow I'm bound for Prague! (Where I was only once in my life before, and then I was 13, so I hardly remember anything.)


Meanwhile, share the beauty of gardens, mansions and palaces, not to mention the Thames:


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Kew Gardens near Richmond is mainly famous for two things: a) gorgeous botanic gardens, and b) the madness of George III. As places to spend both intermittent and permanent nervous breakdowns in go, this one is great. When you arrive by underground and enter throught the Victoria Gate, you first come across the Palm House:

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Then you stroll in the direction of the Pagoda...

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...before turning to the other direction to pay the Rhododendron Dell a visit:

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There's Minka House with the bamboo garden around it:

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Queen Charlotte's cottage:

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And finally Kew Palace, a very Georgian mansion, from both sides:

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If you exit through the Elizabeth Gate, you're soon at the pier where the Thames river boats leave in both directions. As mentioned, I hopped into one to Hampton Court, up river. The Thames looks exceedingly pretty here:


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And you see the occasional mansion en route. Like Syon House:

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Then there's the occasional harbour:

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And a mansion again, Marble Hill House:

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The beauty of the river again:

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It's one and a half hours, which is of course faster then it would have taken a royal barge and its rowers, and then Hampton Court comes into sight:


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Not bad, Cardinal Wolsey, not bad. The backside is the newest part, a later, baroque edition:

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But the interior is Tudor era dominated, like the Fountain Court:

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Henry VIII.s dining hall (I think the tapestry they had Henry give to Cromwell in "Wolf Hall" is from there):

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The kitchens:

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Where the pages lived and ate:

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You also meet the occasional reanactor, err, ghost:

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One last look:

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And that's it for this year! Goodbye, England!

Date: 2015-04-28 08:08 am (UTC)
From: [personal profile] wee_warrior
Aw. I must visit London again - it's been 21 years! Thank you for all the beautiful pictures. And enjoy Prag! Are you mostly working, or will you be able to do some sightseeing as well?

Date: 2015-04-28 02:14 pm (UTC)
laurashapiro: Two figures walk near a lit bridge at night. Text reads "london" (london icon by infinitemonkeys)
From: [personal profile] laurashapiro
Oh, lovely! I'm going to have to take that river trip the next time I'm there.

Date: 2015-04-28 06:44 pm (UTC)
maidenjedi: (Default)
From: [personal profile] maidenjedi
Well, now that river trip is high on my priorities list. Thanks for sharing all these pictures, it's been fun to experience it all vicariously!

Date: 2015-04-28 09:56 pm (UTC)
jesuswasbatman: (Crossovers R Us (by Nostalgia))
From: [personal profile] jesuswasbatman
It was lovely to see you again, and I'm glad you had some good weather.

Date: 2015-04-29 06:14 am (UTC)
goodbyebird: Community: Shirley is smiling. Text: Oh, that's nice. (Community that's nice)
From: [personal profile] goodbyebird
Oh wow, this looks well worth the trip. Definitely keeping this in mind for when I'm next in London. And I only spent a day and a half in Prague at 16, all I'm left with is the knowledge that I'd like to go back! Enjoy your trip :D

Date: 2015-04-29 06:37 pm (UTC)
watervole: (Default)
From: [personal profile] watervole
I could imagine Turner painting that view of the Thames.

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