After Angela and I had a wonderful time savoring tea at The Ritz, we hopped into a taxi in the early evening and headed towards the London Eye. Peaking over the London rooftops we saw its iconic shape scrapping the underside of the clouds. A signature attraction for the city, we had arranged to ride on the huge Ferris wheel with a glass of champagne to cap off our night and our quick trip. Because of the time of year we were lucky to only have two other people in our 'capsule' as we did a one half-hour revolution on the Eye.
As expected, my photos with an iPhone, on a continuously revolving object, did not turn out as well as I would've liked. But you can get a sense of the perspective from the ride. It was a very good idea to conclude our trip together on the Eye. I feel so extremely lucky to have been able to have gone to London, see so many beautiful things, and to have spent time with Angela.
Traveling to new places (or revisiting) and seeing new things is an integral part of myself. I'm proud of my curiosity. I'm also lucky to have a very supportive husband who understands my appetite to travel and explore such an amazing and beautiful world.
London was a whirlwind, as it was the first time I visited in 2007. I could spend weeks, if not years, there to explore the rich and interesting history of British culture. Perhaps someday I'll be able to explore more of the country houses and estates that are so intriguing, but until then, I'm fortunate to have had the experience I had this past February.
Located close to Trafalgar Square and the National Gallery, the National Portrait Gallery in London offers a wonderful glimpse at the many people who influenced the development of Britain. From members of the royal family to historical kings and queens, the Portrait Gallery is not only a walk through English pictorial history, but the arrangement of newer paintings combined with older ones was a fresh and engaging curatorial choice. It was wonderful to spot well-known historical figures like Richard III, Henry VIII, and Winston Churchill. The differences of contemporary dress, hairstyles, and customs were wonderful to identify, but also the changes in artistic techniques of the individuals portrayed. I had a wonderful time seeing familiar faces and also learning more about British culture.
