We left the flat after 9.30am this morning, we walked to the National Portrait museum. On the way we stuck our head into Brown’s hotel, we were going to go to Fortnum & Mason but it was closed due to a power failure. We came across China town, so explored there for a while then we saw the Apollo theatre where we are going tonight.
We walked down Cecil Court, it is full of old book shops, but the outside was being renovated. The shops looked interesting, will come back next time we visit London and explore these shops some more.
Eventually we arrived at the National portrait gallery, we really enjoyed the portraits. This is my favourite gallery/museum that we have visited while in London. Probably has something to do with my fascination with people’s faces. I felt alive in the gallery, will seek out more portrait galleries on our travels.
Afterwards we walked to Trafalgar Square to see thousands of people demonstrating. There seemed to be hundreds of causes people were demonstrating for. Never seen anything like it. It was peaceful, lots of people holding banners, they were all different.
We went back to the portrait gallery, down into the basement for lunch at the cafe, it was good food and not costly. Unlike the restaurant on the 3rd floor with the lovely view over the rooftops to Trafalgar Square, which was expensive. Was a good choice to eat in the basement! Simple, tasty food.
It had started raining when we left the cafe, (the demonstrators had disbanded) we headed across the road to St Martin in the fields for their free lunchtime concert. The Kennedy Ensemble, consisted of 4 Violin, 2 Viola and 3 Cello musicians. We listened to, Octet in E Flat by Mendelssohn, it was finished in 1825, when he was 16, it was his favourite piece from his early years. We really enjoyed the music it was light and uplifting, and the musicians had a lot of vitality. A most enjoyable hour.
On the way back to the flat we went to the National Gallery, spent about an hour there. Some of the paintings were over 550 years old. So much history. We enjoyed it there.
Afterwards we tried Fortnum & Mason, but it was still without power! Surrounding shops were effected too. Evidently something went wrong with the power underground. They were handing out free chocolates, that were delicious ?.
We had a few hours to relax when we got home. Watched the rest of the Federer vs Wawrinka game in the French Open. Great game, Federer won in the 4th set. That is him through to the semi finals. Ash Barty plays tomorrow. Fingers crossed for her. We have enjoyed being able to watch the French Open late in the afternoon, something we can’t do at home without staying up late into the morning.
After dinner we headed out to the Apollo Theatre in the West End to see Everyone’s talking about Jamie. So glad we went. Brilliant show, has some important messages, worth seeing if you get a chance. It was sad and uplifting all at once. A show that will stay with you, long after you have left the theatre.
Lunch with a friend tomorrow, the Shard awaits!
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So much culture! It sounds magnificent.