Time to tick off a few more items on the wishlist. On the way though ... early on I posted some houseboat photos, I forgot that of course the tide goes out sometime!
First off walked to the Chelsea Physic Garden. This was founded in 1673 to assist in the use of botany in medicine. Not designed as a 'pretty' garden, though there were several nice plants flowering. This time the trick was to find a flower photo WITHOUT bees, there were heaps of them.
It was more interesting than I thought it would be, with the beds laid in sensible groupings. For example, there beds for plants used for hygiene and cosmetics, housing, paper/rope/fabric, science/research and this one for plants used as a dye.
They had another area where the plants were grouped by the continent they came from. Then they had all the edible plants, but in groupings by vitamin. This was the vitamin C bed.
Very educational. But also attractive and peaceful.
Then off to the Royal Mews where the state coaches, horses and state cars are kept and are responsible for all the royal transport. The coachmen, grooms etc live in flats above the carriage houses and stables. In this picture of Buckingham Palace it's the square complex bottom right with the trees in the courtyard.
You can only see a couple of 'sample' horses, the coaches and the riding school, as the more modern remainder of the complex is out of sight.
The Queen names all the horses, and their names and birth year are on the outside of their stall.
Working harness room
The stables were built in 1825 and still has the original tiles etc.
You can view a half dozen other state coaches, each impressive, until you get to the Gold State Coach. Wow. Built in 1762 it still gets used, amazing that you can get this close to it.
The riding school building was built in 1764. Used for training the horses in tolerating drums, crowds, etc as well as for the Royal Family members to learn to ride or practice.
Then on to Harrods to see the ground floor food hall which I missed last time. The tiling and decoration are amazing.
I went looking for a cafe in the store to sit down, quite footsore after nearly 20km of walking today. Godiva Chocolate Cafe? That'll do!! Quite possibly the best dessert/cake I have ever had! Sea Salt Caramel Croquembouche (with a toffee 'topper', lots of toffee bits and a caramel mousse inside). With a mix it yourself mocha (a jug of liquid Godiva chocolate). Ridiculously expensive but my first real 'treat' in London.
One more stop for the day, the Serpentine lake area in Hyde Park. Another Regency stop where they used to go for picnics/drive carriages etc etc. Deck chairs for hire again.
Demarcation line ... seagulls get the posts ...
... and pigeons get the archways of the old bridge.
I can understand after battling through the streets and in Harrods just how nice it would be to have this place of peace and quiet to go to. Especially living in the apartments cheek-by-jowl.
This is a first
The toilets were only the second place in London I've had to pay. You would think that for the small cost it wouldn't be worth all the equipment cost (and having to collect the monies during the day I assume). 20p to pee.
The Princess Diana Memorial Fountain is here, not at all what I expected, it's effectively a circle of 'rapids' that kids can play in. Probably what she would have liked I guess.
Time to find a bus home, a lot more walking before I did so. Phew, I was getting worried as I hadn't seen a phone booth all day. This one outside the Victoria and Albert Museum.
First off walked to the Chelsea Physic Garden. This was founded in 1673 to assist in the use of botany in medicine. Not designed as a 'pretty' garden, though there were several nice plants flowering. This time the trick was to find a flower photo WITHOUT bees, there were heaps of them.
It was more interesting than I thought it would be, with the beds laid in sensible groupings. For example, there beds for plants used for hygiene and cosmetics, housing, paper/rope/fabric, science/research and this one for plants used as a dye.
They had another area where the plants were grouped by the continent they came from. Then they had all the edible plants, but in groupings by vitamin. This was the vitamin C bed.
Very educational. But also attractive and peaceful.
Then off to the Royal Mews where the state coaches, horses and state cars are kept and are responsible for all the royal transport. The coachmen, grooms etc live in flats above the carriage houses and stables. In this picture of Buckingham Palace it's the square complex bottom right with the trees in the courtyard.
You can only see a couple of 'sample' horses, the coaches and the riding school, as the more modern remainder of the complex is out of sight.
The Queen names all the horses, and their names and birth year are on the outside of their stall.
The stables were built in 1825 and still has the original tiles etc.
You can view a half dozen other state coaches, each impressive, until you get to the Gold State Coach. Wow. Built in 1762 it still gets used, amazing that you can get this close to it.
The riding school building was built in 1764. Used for training the horses in tolerating drums, crowds, etc as well as for the Royal Family members to learn to ride or practice.
Then on to Harrods to see the ground floor food hall which I missed last time. The tiling and decoration are amazing.
I went looking for a cafe in the store to sit down, quite footsore after nearly 20km of walking today. Godiva Chocolate Cafe? That'll do!! Quite possibly the best dessert/cake I have ever had! Sea Salt Caramel Croquembouche (with a toffee 'topper', lots of toffee bits and a caramel mousse inside). With a mix it yourself mocha (a jug of liquid Godiva chocolate). Ridiculously expensive but my first real 'treat' in London.
One more stop for the day, the Serpentine lake area in Hyde Park. Another Regency stop where they used to go for picnics/drive carriages etc etc. Deck chairs for hire again.
Demarcation line ... seagulls get the posts ...
I can understand after battling through the streets and in Harrods just how nice it would be to have this place of peace and quiet to go to. Especially living in the apartments cheek-by-jowl.
The toilets were only the second place in London I've had to pay. You would think that for the small cost it wouldn't be worth all the equipment cost (and having to collect the monies during the day I assume). 20p to pee.
The Princess Diana Memorial Fountain is here, not at all what I expected, it's effectively a circle of 'rapids' that kids can play in. Probably what she would have liked I guess.
Time to find a bus home, a lot more walking before I did so. Phew, I was getting worried as I hadn't seen a phone booth all day. This one outside the Victoria and Albert Museum.
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