On your mark, get set, go!
Yes, The Amazing Race BRS has begun...
We are already into Weeks 1-4. Tom has finished his meeting in Jakarta & Seoul. He is presently in Tokyo and leaves for Rome tomorrow!
Prior to Tom's trip to Jakarta we were both in London for a few days. It was really a lot of fun (for me - he had to work). It was only a few days but I packed a lot into those days. Unfortunately, we were there during a Tube strike (for 2 of the days) so I got to do a lot of walking around. We were lucky enough to be staying in the West End - close to many things:
- Trafalgar Square
- The Nation Gallery
- The National Portrait Gallery
- Piccadilly Square & Circus
- Chinatown
Our hotel was the W in the west end - an oddly modern hotel but still comfortable. Excluding what we woke up to daily (I thought I looked bad in the morning). Take a look...
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| This was the wall in our room! |
Since walking around is what I do best, I had a great time just enjoying the lovely city of London!
First I walked down to Trafalgar Square to see the new art installment I have heard about ob BBC news -
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Titled - Cock, 2013
by Katharina Frtisch |
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It was unveiled on
My Birthday, 2013...Cheers! |
What I found to be brilliant was the ingenious way the city keeps pigeons out of Trafalgar Square. They hire a man with Hawks to patrol the square...too cool!
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| NO feeding the pigeons! |
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| or the lions... |
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| They were just looking around... |
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| ...and professional! |
Then I walked down to the Thames and around to Big Ben! It was a foggy morning but cleared up quickly!
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Big Ben & Parliament...
A foggy morning on
the Thames |
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| Big Ben! |
After leaving that area, I starting walking up towards Number 10 Downing - unfortunately, you are not allowed on that street - so I walked over to the Armory and found a few photo ops...
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| Guarding the entrance... |
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| ...thanks helpful stranger! |
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| Poor kid on guard... |
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I thought he was sleeping
but with the help of another kind
stranger...he took a photo with me! |
After leaving Armory, I decided to head back to the National Gallery and the National Portrait Gallery.
As usual, no photos were allowed but I can't seem to get my mind wrapped around that concept...so...
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| Amazing mosaics on the floor... |
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| & beauty from floor to ceiling! |
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| Official portraits of Divas... |
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| ...Princesses... |
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| ...Beatles... |
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| ...and Queens! |
Lastly, they had a wonderful exhibition on Vivian Leigh...
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| A legend of Hollywood... |
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| ...and loved by the Brits! |
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| A centennial celebration... |
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| ...to an amazing star! |
After looking into the history and culture that London provides - I decided to head back toward the hotel but stopped at one more place. A place that more suits my personality!
Right next door to the hotel was an amazing place - a magical place - a colorful place -
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| The London M&M Store! Woohoo! |
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| The Royal Guard! |
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| A Knight of the Realm! |
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| Goin' topless with Blue... |
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| ...& Strollin' on Abbey Road! |
To top off my trip to London I got the chance to do something I have always wanted to do. During our time in Switzerland I have been watching a ton of British TV (or Telly). One of the shows that I am hooked on is a game show called
Pointless. The concept is to find the most obscure answer to questions asked (based upon a survey of 100 people). Before arriving I wrote to the show and requested tickets to be in the audience - I was told that there were no tickets available for the days I would be in London.
Fortunately, the day we arrived I received an email stating that a ticket had become available...so...I was going to see the show taped live! As with everything I seem to do - no photos allowed...so you know the story...
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| The stage from the audience... |
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| ...& the contestant podiums! |
I had a great time and it was a lot fun! Oddly enough - it was also very disappointing. When watched on Telly the staging and everything looks soooooo big - in reality my living room is bigger than the entire set. It was still a great adventure and something I have wanted to do!
Ok, almost at the end of this posting...
Tomorrow I leave for Rome and the next leg of our Amazing Race. On Friday - Tom, Angi and Rob meet me there for a lovely 4 day weekend in our former adopted country. Can't wait! Seeing my honey, seeing Rob & Angi and Real Italian food again - Yes!
On the home front everything has been pretty quiet. I have been trying to get the BRS Europe in order for visitors and doing my usual ceramic stuff!
I finally finished a few pieces that I am very proud of...take a look:
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| My cheese/fruit poolside platter... |
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| ...called 'It's 5 o'clock somewhere'! |
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And a set of Herb pots
for my kitchen garden! |
Well, I think that's enough for this posting.
We wish love, happiness and health to all our family and friends!
Next posting will include: Rome a long weekend, Swiss Adventure with Angi & Rob and Let the Construction begin at the BRS USA...
Ciao for now!
Ron & Tom
