London
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It
was a short bus ride to Speaker's Corner in Hyde Park. Anyone
can pull up a soap box, get up and have his say. Various
sized crowds were gathered around one or another of the
speakers. It was most interesting that one was a Palestinian while
less than 30 yards away was an Israeli -- both speaking of the
same events, but obviously from a far greater gap.
It was a nice day -- sunny and not too cold -- so I walked the paths of the park to Hyde Park Corner.
Sir
Arthur Wellesley, Duke of Wellington, was the hero of the final defeat of Napoleon at
Waterloo in 1815. One of London’s famous landmarks is
his memorial arch and house in the southeast corner of the
park at Hyde Park Corner. In his days this was on the
fringe of the city. While there I saw the mounted Horse
Guards pass between the columns of the Arch and ride off into
the park.
The
upper (closed) part of the house is still in use by the
family. The house is where the veterans of the campaign
would gather in the large dinning room on the anniversary of
the battle and regale one another with war stories. I
could almost see the old vets swapping tales -- Lord knows
I've been to enough of these.
Across
the traffic circle from Wellington's house begins the grounds
for Buckingham Palace. I walked up the tree-lined
boulevard to the Queen's Gallery where the
Fabergé Collection was the featured display.
The Royal collection of works by Fabergé, the great Russian jeweler and goldsmith of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, was acquired almost exclusively through the exchange of personal gifts between the Russian, Danish and British royal families. The exhibition charts the royal passion for Fabergé through over 300 of his finest pieces.
I love the fabulous 'surprise' eggs that they have done, so this was a real treat for me. I lingered and 'Oohed and Ahhed' and thoroughly enjoyed it.
Enroute back to the hotel I stopped off at the famous London department store, Harrod's. It was PACKED with shoppers. They have EVERYTHING it seemed. There is even a nifty food area and many deli bars for all types of taste. I nibbled here and there and so make a grand dinner for myself.
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