United Kingdom
Kensington

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    • Day 12

      Paris

      May 20 in England ⋅ ⛅ 21 °C

      Our day in Paris was a mixed bag but enjoyable. The visit to the Louvre was a little overwhelming mainly because of the heat ( no air conditioning) crowds, maps hard to read, and after figuring it out to discover one of the highly recommended exhibitions was closed for restoration!! We saw Mona Lisa - from a great distance. Up close and personal with Venus de Milo. Naturally all this was making memories but we were both so pleased to escape to the fresh air. Some smelling and buying at the Fragonard shop and then riding on the hop on and hop off bus ended the day and as we hopped off at the last stop Paris had a massive thunderstorm so a coffee was in order. Taxi back to Gard du Nord and home at 300kph on the Eurostar. Bed was most welcome especially for Carina who has developed a cold poor thing.Read more

    • Diana: 25 years on…

      June 15, 2022 in England ⋅ ☀️ 22 °C

      It is always a reflective time when I visit Kensington Palace. Sure, I love all the history, particularly related to Queen Victoria and Princess Margaret who both lived here. But, obviously my biggest reflection is Diana. Everybody remembers where they were when they heard the news. I was living in London that year and remember feeling devastated as I travelled around France and Spain at that moment in time. I watched the funeral in Spain and the normally busy streets were completely void of people. It was eerie. Such a waste… Such an outpouring of grief. Can’t believe that it is 25 years this year. I couldn’t wait to get back to London. I lined up to sign the book of condolence at Kensington Palace and I saw the amazing floral tributes in front of Kensington Palace. They were as high as me and as far as you could see…💐🌹🌺🌸🌼

      Today all I had to do was walk out of my hotel room and cross the road to be at the palace. How fantastic is that? ❤️👑 I have visited and toured the palace many times but I get just as excited 😆 when I am doing it again. Today is no different! Last visit I saw Diana‘s dresses 👗 exhibition and this time the exhibition is ‘…life through the Royal lens…’📸

      And, what an exhibition it is! So many wonderful photographs… some never before seen. Queen Victoria started the photographic craze mid 1850’s with her reign. There is one photograph that shows her face smudged. Queen Victoria did this to the negative because she did not approve of the way she looked. It was with her children and they all are untouched. I simply devoured all the information around the photography and how it completely changed the public perception of the Royal family… as expected, the Queen calls all the shots when ever she has a photography session.✊🏻👑

      There was another story about Queen Mary crying for three days when she was to marry William. But, it became a true love story because William would not leave her side for weeks, even setting up a bed right next to her when she was sick and eventually died of smallpox.😢

      I am now standing in a quiet alcove admiring the serenity of Diana‘s statue. You are no longer allowed to walk around in the sunken garden which I was at first disappointed about, but then I spoke to the gardener who explained that a sunken garden is supposed to be appreciated from a distance, as a whole… It made complete sense and made it much more serene and respectful ❤️❤️❤️🪴🌸🌹🌳🙏

      This was indeed another highlight of this trip! There were not too many people so you had to complete silence to just admire and reflect. Beautiful moment 😢❤️🌹

      PS: I went a little bit crazy in the gift shop! Whoops! Rule Britannia! 🤪👑 🇬🇧 🇬🇧
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    • Day 5

      Windsor, Stonehenge, Lacock and Bath

      May 13 in England ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C

      Special to see so close the grave of Prince Philip and the Queen. Queues are sure part of tourism! Beautiful countryside ( yellow is rape), Seen Stonehenge, lunch at Lacock in the old pub George Inn and on to Bath where the rain started. A fascinating and historical townRead more

    • Day 9

      Westminister Abbey and Harrods

      May 17 in England ⋅ ☁️ 22 °C

      Today saw us visit Westminster Abbey. So much history. Pictures show inside, high altar and the Queens coronation chair. This chair has been used for all coronation held in the Abbey. Carina and I both commented how it should be labeled the Kings coronation chair - I can't help think that the queen still holds many more hearts than the King. After 3 hours there we went to Harrods for our reserved afternoon tea ( they don't call it high tea) what a feast - after all the food shown in picture came 4 scones and jam and clotted cream. Needlessly to say we brought home a doggy bag! ( one way to get something from Harrods.
      Thinking of trading the Volvo in.
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    • Day 8

      Kent

      May 16 in England ⋅ ☁️ 17 °C

      Today we took the train to Gatwick airport to pick up our rental car. We motored to Sissinghurst castle and gardens and spent a good three hours in the rain - not much, exploring the magnificent garden. We then went to Wrotham to St George's church where my great great grandfather (Bennett) was baptized.The sun had come out by then. The church dates to the 13 century. Pictures shows the font and inside the church - special. We also visited Ightham where my great grandfather was born. One picture shows the wooden door of St Peter's church Ightham. This church was the site of many Bennett marriages. A great day out in beautiful Kent. Carina navigated some very very narrow roads!!Read more

    • Day 7

      The Tower and National Gallery

      May 15 in England ⋅ ⛅ 20 °C

      A visit to the National gallery, paintings are mind blowing, ravens at the Tower, grim reminder of executions, Chapel showing the burial place of Anne Boleyn. View to tower Bridge and Carina getting close to a beefeater!Read more

    • Day 14

      Tate Britain plus

      May 22 in England ⋅ ☁️ 15 °C

      Yesterday (Wednesday) we went to Tate Britain to see one of Carina's favourite artists' exhibition John Singer Sargent. Here are two of his many paintings and the one called Group with Parasols sold in 2004 for $39,110,000 nz dollars. We walked over Westminster Bridge and met Oliver before having a sail down the Thames and going out for dinner. 12kms today. Earlier in day we did find a very interesting museum called the Garden museum which was housed in the old Lambeth church - was very interestimgRead more

    • It’s good to be back! 🇬🇧🥰

      June 13, 2022 in England ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C

      A tiring travel 🧭 day is instantly cured by three simple words:

      MIND THE GAP ❤️🤍💙

      Staying in Kensington the next couple of days: About 200m from Kensington Palace. Dumped the bag at the Seraphine Olympia on Kensington High Street & headed straight to the “Goat 🐐 Tavern”. It’s the oldest pub in Kensington. It was built in 1695 as an ale house to raise money for education and support for the poor. Love the history! Over 300 years old. Amazing 🍺🍺 But no good to me at the time because stopped serving food so had a pint of cider 🍏 and kept exploring for something to eat after 12 hours travel 🧭😳 Then again…you sorta get beyond food after a certain threshold of tired…maybe another cider 🍺😇😝😝😝

      Hopefully 🙏 Richard has successfully navigated his EasyJet flight ✈️ to Belfast! He will be wrecked after his extended journey! 😳✊🏻🧳

      Strolled across to Kensington Palace just before sunset. I think it’s the first time I have ever come to the palace at night. It is very reflective for me, I always remember in 1997 (25 years ago 😳) when I came and saw the mountain of flowers 💐 and tributes that extended right through the gardens after Diana died… It was something I have never seen before and probably not again. It was as high as me & as far as you could see to the gates. We all remember where we were when Diana died. It is one of those moments in history that most of us will never forget. What a sad sad loss with repercussions that have lasted a lifetime, especially for William & Harry.

      Saw an absolutely amazing full moon 🌕 across the gardens. It was very eerie but beautiful to see. Check out the photos; I couldn’t believe my luck. Photos cannot even capture how amazing and beautiful it is! 🌝 Probably gone a bit ‘Moonstruck’ but it’s just so awesome! I tried to get all ‘Arty farty’ and show Queen Vicki is being bathed in the light of the moon! This holiday is the gift 💝 that just keeps on giving! 😍😇👑

      Looking forward to coming back to Kensington Palace during the day for the unique exhibition exploring the royal family‘s relationship with the camera: “life through a royal lens!” 👑

      Nice to be in a different area of London the next couple of days. Thinking 🤔 of going to see King Henry VIII’s Hampton Court Palace tomorrow…

      Need sleep 😴…always strange to know that when I hit the hay 🛌 everyone back home is just getting up to start ‘tomorrow’

      😘
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    • Day 16

      Beautiful Cotswolds

      May 24 in England ⋅ ☁️ 19 °C

      Today we took a coach (mini van) tour out to the beautiful Cotswolds . We visited three villages, Burford, Bourton-on-the-water and Bibury. All were lovely and quite different to one another but my favourite was Bibury . Very laid back and quiet.Read more

    • Day 11

      Kew Gardens

      May 19 in England ⋅ ⛅ 24 °C

      Kew gardens were the subject of our visit today. They are beautiful! We were both really interested in the Kew Palace where George III spent much of his time especially when he was so unwell.
      We walked 9 kms and were pretty tired at the end of the day especially as it got to 23 degrees. We are just so lucky withe weather- hope it lasts for Chelsea.Read more

    You might also know this place by the following names:

    Kensington, Kensinqton, Кенсінгтон, Кенсингтън, کنزینگتون, קנזינגטון, केंसिंग्टन, ケンジントン, 켄징턴, Кенсингтон, 肯星頓, 肯辛顿

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