Saturday: Portobello Rd Market and The Globe Theatre

You hit the ground running and you never look back! After that amazing trip to Hampton Court Palace we don't stop , but the next day we visit Portobello Road Market in the morning. It is a huge market, like the flea markets or farmers markets.

Portobello Road Market

At the top of the road are many antique dealers and stalls, but as you continue down you get to the real farmer market stalls, selling food, household goods, clothes, knickknacks, tourist stuff, a regular market. I picked up a wool shawl/blanket from an Indian Stall in a green weave with red running through it. I wanted something to keep me warm that night. We went to Shakespeare's Globe and stood in the pit to watch "The taming of the Shrew"! 

Waiting in Que to enter the Globe Theatre

There was a lot of standing and waiting that night! During intermission we also sat on the ground. It was so fun! I was standing just an arms length from the stage  a little left of center, and the actor's and audience was very interactive (especially a couple people from class!) It was a very fun night!

Three levels in the round

four if you count the pit - Everyone takes pictures

Intermission

Tired of standing, yes?

Me at the Globe during Taming of the Shrew!

It was a long but fun night!

Friday: Hampton Court Palace

If ever there was a place to love, this is it! All those dreamy castles, all those fairy tale houses, they can all be found here! This palace is located on the bank of the Thames, southwest and upriver of London. The water is clean and the river is narrow, so it very pleasant.

Front Gate of  Hampton Court Palace

Approach over the moat

We got there around 9:30 am, and after a brief introduction by Tim and getting our Tickets, we were free to explore to our hearts content! Be still my heart!

From first courtyard looking out

first courtyard - (and that is Jane)

Chimney's all over the place! And not one the same brick design!

I started with a Great Hall with amazing tapestries and then moved throughout the Kings quarters and chapel. There was no photography allowed in the chapel - or of his crown - but it was beautiful. I actually shed a few tears just looking at it.

An original medieval Great Hall

Ceiling of the Great Hall - it was originally painted dark blue with gold trim. Imagine that flickering in the firelight!

Fireplace in the Lords waiting room, just beyond the Great Hall

Ceiling of the Lords Waiting Room

Stained Glass was throughout the Palace, many of it Modern Era but still wonderful

Tapestries, tapestries!

and more tapestries!

And this Palace has stairways all over the place! Some are highly decorated, while others are simple and elegant. There were a lot of times when I thought I would be going into a room of hallway and suddenly a magnificent stairwell was in front of me!

Private stair, shh no one is around...

Wait, where did this come from?!

I also went through the Queens Rooms before going outside, inside, then outside again.

Queens Waiting Room

Royal Dining Room, with folded napkins and Ruben's on the wall

Inner Fountain Court

Palace Lawn out back doors

That's me! See, I actually am here!

Royal Carriage on back lawn

Interior courtyard, small and private

And on the north is the famous Hampton Court maze, which although smaller than I imagined was still enjoyable to walk through, and on the south more formal gardens and lawns.

Lilacs

and then I found another door around the corner and I was in a museaum of Roman Statues and paintings! Wow!

Sarcophagus

There is so much more at Hampton Court Palace, but I wore myself out exploring. With luck I will be able to go back. It is a wonderful place!

 

Thursday: Courtald Gallery and National Portrait Gallery

What do you think, should I continue labeling my posts with the days of the week? Comments welcome! And on anything else!!

After class - which included excellent discussions on the plays we've seen and are reading - Jane informed me of an exhibit at the Courtauld Gallery at Somerset House that would be closing Sunday. It was a viewing of Botticelli's illustrations Dante descending into Hades and then ascending into Heaven. Very beautiful! I didn't get pictures of the exhibit, naturally, but I did a couple shots of the Mansion. I'm planning on going back!

Stairway in Somerset House

That evening the group went to the National Portrait Gallery for a tour. Tim took us around the monarchs and courtiers living during Shakespeare's day.

Expounding on history

There were some amazing paintings here, we only saw a small sample. Like this cartoon, a draft of painting:

cartoon

This is only a portion of the cartoon, but how immense it is! We also came across a concise chart of the monarch of the period,

Succession of the Tudors and Stuarts

There were a lot more paintings, as I said, but the building itself was amazing! This is just a stairway between galleries, but how fun it is!

in the National Portrait Gallery

The Gallery is located behind the National Gallery, which faces Trafalgar Square. It was dusk when we exited the Portrait Gallery, so I went back a later day and got more pictures.

Entrance to National Gallery

I'm still uncertain about the horse, but it is so cool! That bow around his neck flashes neon words at night.