|
|
Post by lola on Jul 15, 2009 23:23:03 GMT
 This is my older daughter, not the Antigone one, and we had just made it through her first year off to college in MN. We've been talking forever about visiting the English countryside, and this time we really did it. |
|
|
|
Post by lola on Jul 15, 2009 23:36:32 GMT
 We stayed on Cromwell Road for the first two nights at Fraser Place Queen's Gate, and liked our studio very much.  The evening we arrived, we saw L'Elisir d'Amore at Royal Opera House, in the Lower Slips, cheap seats with a good view. The opera was funny, lively, beautifully sung, and imaginatively staged. |
|
|
|
Post by lola on Jul 16, 2009 0:17:56 GMT
My. We sound pretty grand so far, don't we? The Cromwell Rd. apartment was included with our airfare, as part of BA promotion. We moved on to thrifitier lodgings near Fitzroy Square after that, but in the meanwhile took advantage of being near the Victoria and Albert Museum.  We loved the amazing cast room (above), with bronze, marble, huge columns all reproduced in painted plaster by some Victorian era geniuses. Also loved the Jewellry Room, the new theatrical rooms, the cafe in the courtyard.    We walked a lot, jumped off and on buses and underground trains, and generally soaked up beauty and culture.   One evening we walked along the south bank as evening fell. A woman stood facing the river, playing a harp. |
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Jul 16, 2009 0:27:40 GMT
Oh lola,what superb photos! (you really redeemed yourself dear girl!,not that you needing redeeming,well,maybe a little.Maybe the imec thread?) Anyway,thank you so much for sharing these. The Opera House shot is dazzling and the harpist on the river just wonderful. And your daughter is a real beauty. Thanks again   |
|
|
|
Post by lola on Jul 16, 2009 0:43:03 GMT
Thank you dear casimira. I aim to feel at least partially redeemed at all times.
The photos, except those of MC, are by her. She was the one brave enough to climb down the steep stairs/ladder to get near the riverbank harpist.
|
|
|
|
Post by lola on Jul 16, 2009 1:11:17 GMT
We took the train to Brighton one day, since we both love the sea and are landlocked by many hundreds of miles. We lat on the beach and soaked up the sun above and warmth from pebbles below. The beach was lively, with musicians on the esplanade, kids horsing around, a few brave souls swimming.    It was too beautiful a day to tour the Prince Regent's pavilion, and anyway I am increasingly impatient with ego trip palaces as I get on in years. |
|
|
|
Post by bixaorellana on Jul 16, 2009 1:36:42 GMT
Lola!!! ~~ I am AWASH in admiration. (okay awash-in-admiration for some reason feels a little like sick-with-envy, but ............. )
My gosh. You all really did it. You really made a dream come true. Fantastic thing to do together and a wonderful, much-appreciated look at your trip.
You produced not one, but two raving beauties? Dang, girl -- you must be some pretty yourself!
All of the pictures are quite beautiful and informative, and the one of the harpist is downright moving.
Thank you, thank you!
|
|
|
|
Post by lola on Jul 16, 2009 1:58:37 GMT
You guys are so kind and supportive.
|
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Jul 16, 2009 3:58:57 GMT
Wonderful photos, lola. There is nothing more fascinating than seeing which little tidbits of a place that each person discovers. When one is not concentrating on just the monuments, it makes even the most ordinary trip interesting and unique. (Hey, I don't want that to sound like I think you made an ordinary trip! -- I'm talking about the different things that each of us might photograph on a trip to our local supermarket or glimpse when just walking around somewhere... like river harpists.)
|
|
|
|
Post by lola on Jul 16, 2009 4:49:15 GMT
Thanks, Kerouac, I very much agree. MC will be very pleased; she's followed your photo threads with great interest.  We did a mega tourist kind thing where there weren't any other discernable foreigners: the Major General's Review. This is a pre-dress rehearsal for Trooping of the Colour, with splendor, red coats, bands, glittering armour. The two horses center right are fitted with double bass drums. Lots of families, old soldiers wearing their regimental blazers, everyone British. |
|
|
|
Post by lola on Jul 16, 2009 5:37:08 GMT
|
|
|
|
Post by tillystar on Jul 16, 2009 11:27:41 GMT
Oh I love your pictures, it looks like you had a great time! Its really great looking at these as I walk through the places in London so often and I see through new eyes in your pictures! I really love the harpist picture. And the one of the couple on the balcony at Somerset house is my favourite…I think! And the picture of the river at night is one I always try to capture and never get it like that! And its a small world, your picture of the Prince’s Palace in Brighton looks like you were standing almost outside my brother’s flat! I wonder if he was looking out the window and saw you Where is Bakewell? It looks so pretty, a real chocolate box town! |
|
|
|
Post by bjd on Jul 16, 2009 12:12:05 GMT
Bakewell is a village in a park in the Peak District. I went through there in 2006 when driving from Manchester to Yorkshire. It's quite touristy and has a famous pie.
|
|
|
|
Post by bixaorellana on Jul 16, 2009 14:57:35 GMT
Eeeeek! This keeps getting better and better! Where was that rehearsal held? I would stay in Bakewell in a heartbeat -- it feeds every English fantasy I've ever had.
|
|
|
|
Post by lola on Jul 16, 2009 22:46:06 GMT
|
|
|
|
Post by lola on Jul 16, 2009 22:58:48 GMT
tilly, thank you! I noted the balconies of some flats across from the Pavilion, and wondered how it would be to live there. Does your brother like it? It would be an easy commute for London even, just 45 min by train and lots of them all day.
We were having a cup of tea in the little patio outside the Courtauld, watching children splash in the fountain, when we saw the couple come out onto the Somerset House balcony. They didn't seem like professional models. Every couple starting out in life should get photo taken like that, with balloons.
Bakewell is 13 miles west of Chesterfield, is an hr and 45 min north of London by train. It's a perfect walking town, with footpaths and the Monsal Trail right there and an excellent system of buses to take you all around Derbyshire.
Bakewell Pudding is delicious. We didn't buy any until we were about to jump on the bus leaving town, and then regretted not having gotten any earlier.
bixa, the Major General's Review is in the Horse Guards Parade, near Trafalgar Square. We sent off for (free) tickets in February.
|
|
|
|
Post by bixaorellana on Jul 16, 2009 23:41:24 GMT
Gorgeous, absolutely gorgeous! So much history in that area, including that of the tragic Mary, Queen of Scots. The photos above are glorious -- as you say, they define the image of a perfect bucolic England. You all must have run out of superlatives. Were you pinching yourselves to prove it was all real? modified to add this bit of trivia |
|
|
|
Post by lola on Jul 17, 2009 0:46:45 GMT
It pretty much felt like home: the world as it should be. Tons of history around there. The chapel at Haddon Hall has frescoes:  |
|
|
|
Post by lola on Jul 17, 2009 0:59:53 GMT
Bixa, thanks for that trivia link! I just looked back and found it. The present Lord Edward Manners came out to walk his dog as we sat in the courtyard sketching, smiled and said hello. I liked him.
|
|
|
|
Post by bixaorellana on Jul 17, 2009 1:05:45 GMT
He undoubtedly recognized that you were in your true setting.
Wonder when the frescoes were added. They are impressive!
|
|
|
|
Post by lola on Jul 17, 2009 1:08:02 GMT
Actually he smiled at and greeted my daughter, natch, but I liked him anyway. ( Must keep this factual, because she's monitoring.)
|
|
|
|
Post by lola on Jul 17, 2009 1:11:44 GMT
The frescoes had been whitewashed over for quite awhile, apparently, then happened upon fairly recently.
My true setting would have been in the scullery or kitchen garden there.
|
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Jul 17, 2009 1:32:00 GMT
Nice photos lola. The one of Brighton reminds me of days spent on the beach as a kid. I remember one year we took a friends boat and sailed from the Medway to Brighton.
There's nothing quite like the quaint English countryside, just lovely.
|
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Jul 17, 2009 2:25:00 GMT
Splendid my dears. The garden at Haddon Hall,goodness. And are those iris in bloom in the forefront of the water.? I hope you got some wonderful sketching done and perhaps some painting as well.
I'm doubly thrilled you two got to share this experience together. It is very touching indeed.I wish you many more travels together.
|
|
|
|
Post by lola on Jul 17, 2009 3:34:49 GMT
Thanks so much, casimira.
|
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Jul 17, 2009 5:07:32 GMT
Even France often has problems holding a candle to the English countryside. Particularly, the gardening looks so effortless, since an English garden is by definition wild looking, yet perfect. French gardens are supposed to look manicured, so the slightest neglect in any way quickly makes them look 'wrong'.
|
|
|
|
Post by hwinpp on Jul 17, 2009 6:52:07 GMT
A very satisfying thread, Lola. Thanks!
|
|
|
|
Post by bjd on Jul 17, 2009 9:51:28 GMT
Lola, tourists are not necessarily foreigners! When I was there, it was full of English tourists. It looks as though you had nicer weather too. We had the Bakewell pudding in a café there -- it was good.
Did you see the twisted steeple on the church in Chesterfield?
|
|
|
|
Post by tillystar on Jul 17, 2009 10:22:42 GMT
Lola – he does love living there (and I love visiting!) except at weekends when his son (who is 8) comes to stay with him as it is very central and it gets very busy at night with drunk people shouting and swearing outside which isn’t good for the little ‘un. It’s sad because it’s a great place to be but they are looking to move because of that.
Great tip about the Major General’s review, I have set a reminder to try and get tickets in Feb, that would be so fun!
Really glad you had such a great time!
|
|
|
|
Post by traveler63 on Jul 17, 2009 14:59:11 GMT
Lola, your pictures are wonderful and reminds me of the one day we spent in London when we visited Paris in 2007. You have really rekindled my desire to go and spend more time in England!!!
|
|
