Hong Kong August 8th

The last two nights of our trip was spent on a stopover in Hong Kong at our favourite hotel near the airport. The view from our hotel window.

 

We took the cable car up to the hill opposite the hotel.

The views were amazing.

The Big Buddha dominates the top of the hill.

Gateway to the Po Lin Monastery.

One of the warriors on the path to the Buddha.

Bill taking it all in.

Heading up the long steps to the Buddha.

 A waterfall taken on the ride back.

 

Almost down.

Looking towards the airport and thinking of home.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

More of London

We hired Boris/Barclay City bikes for a day. Riding through the parks was lovely, but the road biking was pretty scary. This is Kensington Palace. By now the hot, dry weather has taken it's toll on the lawns.

 

The Princess Diana Memorial Fountain in Kensington Gardens was being put to good use.

Horses kicking up dust on Rotten Row.

The Wellington Memorial.

 

Looking across St James Park towards the Horse Guards and Whitehall.

Across St James Park again, with the London Eye in the background.

Riding across Horse Guards Parade.

Bill racing a London taxi.

 

A fellow cyclist.

 

This little cottage in St James Park was built in 1841 and belonged to the park's bird keeper.

 

The Victoria Memorial in front of Buckingham Palace.

Gates into the Palace area.

 

Riding past Buckingham Palace.

 

Craft on the Serpentine.

 

On Sunday we walked along the South Bank of the Thames from Westminster Bridge to Tower Bridge. We didn't realise most of London would have the same idea. Still, it was fun.

 

Sand art by the Thames.

A replica of Sir Frances Drakes ship, the Golden Hind.

The Tower Bridge open to let in a ship with a tall mast.

 

Walking over Tower Bridge.

 

The Shard building is now complete. Looks great actually.

 

An amazing pub in Kensington Church Street.

 

The rocking beam at the top of a huge Cornish steam engine at the London Water and Steam Museum.

Looking down on the valve gear of the engine from 3 stories up. The engine was running on the day we visited.

 

The dome of the Courtald Gallery. The art here is excellent.

 

As usual the favourite was Cezanne. Look at the concentration of these card players 

S

The Wallace Collection was another museum worth a visiit .

 

The Laughing Cavalier by Frans Hals. The colours in this painting are beautiful.

  

A wind blown last picture, our one and only selfie. We had to take one in front of Big Ben.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

London for two weeks 23 July - 6 August

Before returning home, we had a lovely, relaxing two weeks in London, staying in a nice apartment at Notting Hill Gate, quite near Kensington Gardens. Our apartment was the two windows on the end, on the third floor.

 

Regent Street with balloons advertising Magnum icecreams.

 

Carnaby Street.

 

St Paul's.

Around 30 degrees, so heat wave conditions. Warning, stay hydrated!!

 

The Albert Memorial.

 

The Albert Hall

The Arts and Crafts Movement dining hall at the Victoria and Albert Museum.

A plaster-cast of Trajan's Column.

A Dale Chihuly extravaganza hanging from the rotunda in the V and A.

Portobello Rd on a Saturday morning. Bill's idea of hell on earth 

As it was just around the corner, we went back during the week. Much quieter and most of the stalls were open still.

 

 

Typical houses on Portobello Road.

 

Covent Gardens markets.

 

Bill heading for a tube. Love the handbag!

 

St Pancreas station. From here you take the Eurostar train to France.

Jamie Oliver had a shop and cooking school just around the corner from our apartment. This is some of his produce. We tried a few things and they were tasty.