Category: Living Simply

While in London I watched a few shows . The first was ABBA Voyager. ABBA Voyage is a revolutionary concert experience. ABBA perform as unbelievably realistic digital avatars (called ABBAtars), They used motion-capture technology to create avatars from their 1974 selves. The show is in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. A live band and singers played along, giving a real concert feel. The use of cinema and theatrical lighting made it a great experience. Images and videos were not allowed throughout the performance. London Bridge on the way to the concert.

Waiting for the concert to start in the dance floor section.

I went to the Arcola Theater in the East side of London. The production was Crocodile Fever about 2 Irish sisters in the 80’s in a dysfunctional family. It was pretty good and funny. It was exciting to be in a small theater where you are seated on the sides and close to the actors.

After the play, we ate at an Ethiopian restaurant . Yummy!

The last production was the musical. The Devil Wears Prada in Central London. It was much like the movie with many of the same dialogue but with some different twists. The music and dancing was phenomenal.

Before the musical, we ate at Din Tai Fung. This is a restaurant I went to in Guangzhou. I especially wanted the Dan Dan noodles which have a sesame sauce on them. They also had a chocolate bao with a cream sauce. Delicious.

In a nearby building was a display that changes often throughout the year.

Brighton is a vibrant seaside city on England’s south coast and known for its pebbled beach, lively pier, and creative atmosphere. The Lanes have a variety of independent shops that I had fun browsing. There are great second hand shops which came in handy since I needed a sweater now that the weather is much colder.

The pier attractions were mostly closed but I drank a pint while I waited for sunset to unfold and see the murmurations of the Starlings. After, I stopped to buy hot donuts. They are not like the big sugary donuts or the US, but smaller and with a little bit of frosted sugar on top. They were delicious and warm. I also ate at Flint House which has amazing food!

The Royal Pavilion is designed in an Oriental theme inside and out. I was happy to see the influence from Guangzhou (Canton) as that was the area that designed textiles for export to London. Queen Victoria stayed here several times over a few years. Unfortunately, even though disguised,some youths heckled her and she was very put out. She ordered the Pavilion to be torn down but instead, the townspeople begged to buy the structure. She removed many of the interior decorations though. Later, she agreed to return some of them and the rest were given on loan.

Coffee at Pelícano.

This shop has antiques and so much more. Worth the time perusing.

The Royal Pavilion.

From the Pavilion, I walked through the Lanes to get to the pebble beach and the pier. I also had the hot donuts before finding Flint House to eat small bites before leaving.

At the Flint House, their specialty is corn fritters. They were delicious!

My visit to the Imperial War Museum was like a peek into the stories behind conflict. It is a collection of artifacts, but shows also how war shapes people and the world we know today. From the beginning you can see aircraft suspended overhead and then journey through the WWI and WWII galleries to see personal letters, photographs, and testimony. I found it very emotional but with clear history of countries and their peoples. From the video, audio, personal accounts, and history it was an amazing museum.

Outside the museum is a section of the Berlin wall.

They even had a simulated bunker to walk through.

Jewel tower

This is across from the Palace of Westminster, and is one of London’s quietest medieval structures. It was built in 1365 to safeguard the treasures of Edward III. It was also used to hold royal documents. It has great information that complements all the other sites. It did have a lot of stairs!

I have seen a coronation and weddings as well as the Queen’s funeral and it was amazing to be able to tour it. I also like looking at gravestones so those that are inside are even better!

I found it fascinating that Queen Elizabeth and Mary Queen of Scots are buried near each other despite the intense rivalry.

St. Edward the Confessor shrine

The coronation chair

Apsley House is an amazing place to visit and was built in the 1770s for Lord Apsley. It is also nicknamed as “Number 1, London”, because it was the first house seen by visitors arriving in the city from the west. Arthur Wellesley bought it in 1817. He was the 1st Duke of Wellington and a war hero defeating Napoleon at Waterloo. He added a grand State Dining Room which was used every year to celebrate the defeat of Napoleon with other commanders. He also added the Waterloo Gallery which houses major paintings from 1500 to 1800 and include many Dutch paintings. One is a painting he commissioned of one of his Waterloo celebration dinners. The house is home to the Wellington Collection, a world-class assortment of art, silver, porcelain, and sculpture most notably a colossal statue of Napoleon by Antonio Canova (Napoleón as Mars the Peacemaker). After Wellington’s death, the house was opened as a museum though part of the house is still used as a residence by the Wellington family.

World War I memorial.

Wellington arch used to be a police station and has 4 narrow floors. It was interesting to look at all of the pictures. They even had a resident cat at the station.

This was all about life in Lagos, Nigeria and the life of men who workout to be formidable and the life of those in the butcher markets.

The Tate Modern. There was a great exhibit about the Indigenous people near the Arctic and loss of the reindeer due to global warming. It was heart wrenching and very interactive and immersive as you sat on the reindeer hides and listened to the stories.

Other displays at the Tate Modern.

This next display generated noise and it obviously changed depending upon where you stand.

After we walked towards St. Paul’s across the bridge and saw Shakespeare’s Globe.

Tricia and I on the bridge.

Afterwards we met up with Dan and Alex for pizza.

I was definitely conflicted about going to the museum knowing that the majority of the items were taken from countries illegally. Nevertheless, it is one time to see a large amount of different not treasures from around the world.

I actually spent two days (about 4-5 hours each here) before being on brain overload.

Ancient Greece.

The Nereid monument

Assyria and the lion hunts

Egypt.

Africa.

Rapa Nui. This moai is very different from what is left on the island and I was surprised that the place card stated that they were currently talking about that issue.

There was an exhibit of mummies and how scans were able to show what was inside the wraps of the mummy including jewelry and other artifacts.

The flood tablet found in Mesopotamia 1000 years before the Bible story telling the exact same story as that in the Bible.

The second day I came, I started out with a traditional British tea. It was delicious but very carb heavy. A lot of energy for the rest of the day.

Sekmet, Vishnu, and Dionysus in a display about religion.

The Rosetta Stone

Sutton Hoo was an area where the ground had settled and it looked like that of a ship. It was a burial mound with the original deceased decomposed as well as the wood of the ship which left impressions. What also was left were the artifacts buried with the person.

Jade. My favorite pieces were from the Yuan dynasty.

These prices below are from an ancient burial ground.

I took a tour from London to the Cotswolds to visit several locations. The Cotswolds are an area in England where the limestone is close to the surface and therefore changes land use. The land is good for grazing and not crop farming. This opened up the area for woolen markets. The stone was used to build houses in the iconic light brown color. Later, when markets changed and the area remained relatively unchanged, it became a tourist generation due to the quaint towns.

The first town was Bilbury.

Bourton on the Water

It is said that if you dip your toe in the river you will have a year of good luck. Of course I did.

I stopped to get ice cream from one shop. The flavor was cherry and clotted cream. Delicious.

Temple Guiting is a knights Templar church. Very different looking than the other churches and especially with a small door in the back that is permanently sealed. It is called the devil’s door and where he cannot enter as it is locked…

Snowshill is the location for shooting parts of the Bridget Jones diary films.

This is the Bridget Jones house.

On the way out we went by a lavender farm (not the right season) that was created when a woman learned her family would need to sell the failing farm. She now employs many local people and they bought land for planting for their international business. (Cotswold Lavender)

A little further away there was a gentleman who had a fair bit of land and wanted to marry the woman he loved. Her response was that he did not have a castle so instead he made a tower for her. On the grounds are red deer.

Chipping Campden. We stopped here for lunch and to view the only a stone houses in the area with peat roofs.

Stratford upon Avon. The statue and home of William Shakespeare. They also have a marker for Greenwich mean time.

A really long day with lots to see. Beautiful country worth seeing.

Audley End House and Saffron Walden was a great escape in the countryside of Essex. The Audley End House is a frozen glimpse into England’s grand past. It is one of the largest and most opulent homes from Jacobean England. The stunning architecture showcased beautifully restored state rooms. I loved the gardens. I was happy to have my friend Tricia spend the day with me.

Behind the wood paneling at the top is an alcove where the minstrals played but could not be seen from the people below.

There were many stuffed birds and animals in the great hall including this one which is the largest flighted bird, the Great Bustard, which was hunted to extinction in England and threatened in other areas.

The village of Saffron Walden enchants has medieval streets with a market square.

After walking around the town, we met at the 8 bells pub for dinner. Of course, fish and chips were great as well as the sticky toffee pudding.