With Jack out very late with
Charlotte, we got a slow start to the day. Eventually, Sharon and I wandered down the street and got oatmeal and a breakfast sandwich for Jack at Starbucks.
The plan for the day was the National Galley. We caught a Piccadilly line train to Leicester Square and then walked to the museum.
All of the London museums are free. We spent a long afternoon wandering the gallery. We have been dragging Jack to museums since he was born. He is going to get an art history minor at Georgetown. At this point, I just follow in Jack and Sharon's wake feeding off their analysis and debate. Jack and I had a long discussion about a set of paintings by William Hogarth called The Marriage A-la-Mode series.
I am on a quest to see all of Caravaggio's paintings. There are sixty plus spread across the world. I think that I have probably seen as many as thirty at this point. I have been planning to build an index to the ones that I have seen, but haven't got to it yet. The National Gallery has three. Two of them were on display: The Supper at Emmaus and Boy bitten by a Lizard. The third--Salome receives the Head of John the Baptist--was not on display.
I was a little disappointed that part of the post-impressionism wing was closed. I am always looking for Von Goghs and Picassos.
After the National Gallery, I wandered around Trafalgar Square. We ended up having a light very late lunch at a pub called The Chandos. I initially balked at the choice, but Jack pointed out that we should hit pubs in London.
Taking the underground back to the apartment, Jack and I stopped and had a beer at the
Tattersalls Tavern. We watched some of the second half of the Everton versus Livermore Premier League game.
Getting cleaned up for dinner, we took an Uber to
Dinner by Heston Blumenthal in the Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park Hotel. This is a Michelin Two Star restaurant. It will probably be the nicest dinner of the trip...
Sharon had a Roast Marrowbone Royale [c.1720 - Smoked anchovy, snails, radish, mace & lovage] as a starter, while Jack and I split Frumenty [c.1390 - Grilled octopus, spelt, smoked sea broth & pickled dulse]. For entrees, Jack had Powdered Duck Breast [c.1850 - Braised grilled red cabbage, spiced umbles & pickled cherries], Sharon had Spiced Squab Pigeon [c.1780 - Onions, artichokes, ale malt] and I had a very good Roast Iberico Pork Chop [c.1820 - Smoked hispi cabbage, pickled onion, ice cider Robert sauce]. For desert, we split a Tipsy Cake [c.1810 - Spit roast pineapple].
The concept for the restaurant is that all of the dishes are based on historical recipes. It was a very good meal!
By the time that we walked home and got ready for bed, it was after eleven. I think that I am finally getting in rhythm with the time change. I finished the day buying a two day pass for the "Big Bus." The plan for Monday and Tuesday centers on using the hop-on hop-off bus.
I went to the Sacramento Kings versus Dallas Mavericks NBA game. Wanting to see Doncica play and go to a game in March, I bought a single ticket (Section 111, Row L, Seat 15) a couple of months ago. Larkin also ended up buying a single ticket for the game (Section 111, Row H, Seat 9).
Sharon and I were both up and moving shortly after 5 am. When we arrived ten days ago, we arranged for a cab through London Connections to pick us up at 7 am and take us to Heathrow. With the light early Sunday morning traffic, we were at the airport by about 7:40 am. The three of us breezed through the luggage check and security.
Walking back to the underground, we headed to the Tate Britain. I enjoyed the galleries more than I expected. They are laid out chronology. Starting about 1500, we walk your way up to present day. The collection is exclusively British artists. The museum is also home to the largest collection of works by JMW Turner.
I was also impressed with the Raphael Cartoons. They are a set of seven full-scale designs for tapestry painted by Raphael (1483 – 1520). The cartoons are considered one of the greatest treasures of the Renaissance. They were commissioned in 1515 by Pope Leo X for the Vatican’s Sistine Chapel and depict the lives of the apostles Saint Peter and Saint Paul.
It was about a two hour drive from London to Stonehenge. You take a shuttle bus from the visitor center to the actual site. Our driver said that this is a change in the last couple of years; you should be able to drive right up to the site. Although it was very windy and cold, I really enjoyed the stop.
It was another two hours from Bath to Windsor Castle. I had a nice nap in the van. At Windsor Castle, we toured the State Apartments and walked the grounds. St. George's Chapel closed just before we got to it. The place was essentially deserted.
Although Jack was out late again with Charlotte, I was able to get everyone up and moving reasonably early. We had a quick bite to eat at McDonalds around the corner from the apartment.
