Before I take you back to London, I have one thing to say.
VOTE
If you don’t vote, you are, in fact, voting. You’re voting for the other side – whatever that is to you.
I cannot imagine choosing not to vote. Since the moment I was eligible to vote, I have never taken this right for granted. I have never missed a vote – whether I was away at school, out of the country, in a new home in a new city – I have always made sure I was registered, had an absentee ballot, if necessary, and that I could vote. This doesn’t deserve a pat on the back. It’s my duty as a citizen of this country. It’s what everyone should be doing.
I remember reading several comments on this blog during the 2016 election that went something like this: “I don’t like either of them, so I’m not going to vote.” Are you kidding me? That’s the coward’s way out. And that, my friends, is a big part of why our democracy is fighting for its life at the moment.
So. Vote. If you don’t have transportation, Uber and Lyft are providing free rides to the polls. If it’s raining and storming as it is here, so what? Grab your umbrella and go. If you’re not sure of your polling place, visit this site on the web. Just go. It’s your right, a right many fought and died for. It’s your duty as a citizen of this country. You owe it your children, your grandchildren, your nieces and nephews, the Earth, the air we breathe, the animals on this planet, the children who have been stolen from their families and who are still being held in detention camps…I’ll stop there because the list is endless. Thank you.
____________________________________________
Our last day in London. We headed to Knightsbridge and landed here – at Harrods.
I wanted Don to see the famous Food Court because there’s nothing like it. And there’s no way to describe it. You have to see it.
He couldn’t believe it. I haven’t been there in about 20 years, so I was all agog myself. It’s simply stunning. And it goes on and on. The tile work is extraordinary.
Everything you can imagine is there – from the savory to the sweet. It’s almost too much to take in.
We bought some chocolate praline truffles that were incredible – we just finished them last week.
I headed upstairs to see if they still carried a vintage Harrods egg up that I’ve seen, but they didn’t. On the way, we ended up in an art gallery where they were selling original Picassos and Bob Dylan drawings. They have everything there.
It was SO crowded – it was a Sunday – that soon we both felt the need to escape. But what a visit!
We headed down the road toward the Brompton Oratory – somehow I didn’t take a picture – and the Victoria and Albert Museum. The V & A is my favorite museum in London, but it was late in the day and we didn’t have much time to spend there. Admission is free, so we went in so that Don could get a taste of this incredible place.
I was entranced by this tin-glazed sculpture by della Robbia.
In the entrance to the museum, a Dale Chihuly glass sculpture:
Just glorious.
Fingers crossed, we’ll get back there for a longer visit.
Then we headed toward Hyde Park and the Serpentine, which is the lake that winds its way through the park.
The Albert Memorial.
It was now early evening and the sky and gradually setting sun were so glorious that I’ll let the rest of the photos speak for themselves. Let’s just say that we were in the right place at the exact right time – something that happened to us throughout our journey.
We couldn’t have timed it better. And I can’t imagine anything more magical for our last evening in London.
Tomorrow, the trip to Edinburgh.
Some of you have asked questions about the trip and I know they’re sprinkled throughout this series of posts. If you could leave them again in the comments on this post, I’ll have them all in one place and I can address them in a separate post. Thanks so much!
Happy Tuesday.
What an adventure you had! Beautiful photos, all, but the ones that speak to me the loudest are those of the sky and water reflections and that magical little cake (?)! How could you ever bite into something that beautiful?
I couldn’t! Thanks, Shanna!
My 19 year old granddaughter and I voted this morning. She was #3 and I was # 4. We live in a very rural area in PA.
I’m loving your posts about your trip.
Good for you! Thank you, Linda.
I am so charmed by your visit and the beautiful buildings. The sunset was a lovely gift to you on your last day there! Glorious.
I voted! I am praying all will vote. Our voices must be heard!
It was other-worldly! Thanks so much, Linda. I’m praying too. I’m about to head out in the pouring rain to vote.
The water that are in the pictures is that the Serpentine? Reason I am asking is that I am reading a book by Anne Perry called “Murder on the Serpentine. How exciting. Voting is a family affair for us here. I remember my first time voting and how excited I was to vote. We live in a great country in that we can vote.
Yes, that’s the Serpentine, Trina. I agree. We’re able to vote and we must!
Good morning!
Regarding the voting:
Well said madame, well said!
Regarding Harrods:
The food hall is always a stop for me; it’s divine. The closet food halls that could compare to Harrod’s is in the large department stores in Tokyo but Harrod’s is still VERY special.
Thank you for taking me there, with you.
Cheers,
Deb
You’re most welcome!
We vote by mail, dropping our completed ballots into the lockbox at City Hall, Claudia, so i was done weeks ago. I was proud of the youngest (though this is not her first election). She actually reads the pros and cons, and researches which groups and who backs the propositions and candidates. Just like I taught her!
We had high tea at Harrods, but we’re disappointed that the service wasn’t as polished for such a place, and though the food was good, we had far better and more imaginative high teas elsewhere. I have to say that after polishing off any of the high teas we had, we were much too full for dinner later in the evening. I love all the stairways in Harrods, and how they have different names. But my favorite will always be Liberty, mainly because of the fabric/haberdashery department.
The V&A is my favorite museum in the world. I made time to spend a whole morning there, so we spent about 5 hours, and then we couldn’t even see it all!
I like actually going to the polls on the day of the election. It’s very exciting for me. And today, our local polls in this little town were packed! Such a big turnout!
I have had high tea before, years ago at some exclusive London Hotel, the name of which I can no longer remember. For me, it was a great experience, but not one I need to repeat. I think everyone should experience it at least once, however. We really didn’t have the spare time for high tea this time around. Don wasn’t into it. I did get him to try scones with clotted cream and he enjoyed that.
We also went to a “science tea” at a small boutique hotel near the British Natural History Museum. Most branches of science were represented, from chemistry with the beakers and Erlenmeyer flasks for the starter tea (mix it yourself) and the different sugars in test tubes, to astronomy with desserts in the form of planets, to paleontology a box of chocolate cookie dust that one sweeps off with a brush to reveal chocolate dinosaurs. My girls loved it. The tea room was decorated with old-fashioned botanical and avian prints. High tea does take a lot of time, I agree.
And I can scones anytime, as my daughter keeps a batch of preformed ones I need the freezer for us to bake at any time! She bakes the best scones!
Sounds like fun!
I used to make scones all the time, but I stopped because…sweet tooth is already out of control!
Great pictures ! Thank you so much. We vote this morning. The polls were busier than usual. I hope that is a good sign.
Our polls were much busier than usual. We have our share of conservatives, however, so I’m cautiously optimistic but only cautiously!
My husband has reported that voting in our little village is quite brisk this morning. The rain stopped around 11, so that helps as well.
Said it before, and I will say it again ~ especially after seeing those beautiful pictures ~ Magical Mystery Tour!!
Very busy here, as well. And raining. So I got a little wet. It was worth it to finally get to cast my vote!
The electoral college determined who is currently in the White House. My vote for president didn’t count in TX in 2016. At least there is no electoral college making a mockery of today’s voting. If our right to vote in this country were threatened to be taken away, that would most likely result in a bigger percentage of people casting ballots. I voted on Halloween as that seemed appropriate with choice of candidates: trick or treat.
I pray that someday the electoral college is eliminated. It should be one man, one vote and every vote counts. Period!
Thanks, Mary!
Voting brisk here today, too…fingers crossed. It’s going to be hard to just wait and see. Your post is a most welcome distraction…that ceiling is fantastic! ;)
I’m not even sure if I will be able to watch the results – I’m that nervous!
Oh I know….we’re planning on distracting ourselves by watching the Badger basketball game on tv. That will work for a couple of hours at least! ;)
Don’t know what we’ll do…maybe the Great British Baking Show??
I love Harrods particularly the food hall and the toy section. As a lover of Scrabble, I was entranced by the games created for different alphabets. I’ve never seen them anywhere else.
I don’t think I’ve ever been to the toy section. Next time!
Oh how beautiful it all is! I must get back to London.
You must! Thanks, Sally.
I am so glad you had such wonderful weather for your special trip!
It rained a bit during the night in London and we bought umbrellas but we never had to use them!
Electoral College to me seems like another concoction to influence the out come of certain vote etc.not unlike Gerrymandering.which we are having a huge problem with. Idon’t have the words to explain,maybe you know what I mean.
Your Post’s have been fabulous and breathtaking. you seem to have put your whole body and souls into your trip! You are both so dang cute, also as a couple!
I am Very proud to know you! Judy A
I think you’re right. That’s why the Republicans are doing everything they can to keep it. It helps them because, as with gerrymandering and redistricting and voter suppression, they have to cheat to win.
Thanks so much for your kind words, Judy.
Your food court photos are fabulous. Isn’t it the best spot? And great timing for the Serpentine. We did that pair (and V&A) the same day, as you did, but our Serpentine visit was in the morning. I’m going to remember to go later in the day next time!
It was such a lovely time to be there.
Right on ! Right on! Right on! Best-stated & most succinct rationale I’ve ever seen about voting. If you don’t mind, Claudia – I’m going to save those paragraphs & may possibly memorize & regurgitate them at points in the future when I run into people too ignorant or lazy to vote. Because like you, that makes me CRAZY!
OK – now a question. Do you happen to know if Hyde Park is the one that has that pretty memorial fountain for Princess Diana? I can never remember which park. Peace.
#Resist
#ProtectMueller
I don’t mind at all!
Yes, the memorial fountain is in Hyde Park, though we didn’t get a chance to see it.
I always vote. in this state it is like spitting into the ocean. but I vote. and London. . .
these pictures tonight made me remember my time there. seeing it again through your lens brought tears to my eyes! I know I’ll never get to go back. the marine and I walked all over it just has you have with Don. I will never forget my time there. every bit of it was magical to me.
health issues now (and finances for that matter!) wouldn’t allow a trip like that. but OH! the fabulous memories!
and you’re right about the food court. it was unbelievable! what am I saying??? the whole of LONDON is! these posts and pictures are wonderful! thank you so much for sharing them.
You are very welcome. I’m glad it brings back good memories for you, Tammy!
I do believe that is food court Heaven you have shown us Claudia…lol…what else could explain such an amazing place to eat?…I voted but I feel half afraid to look at the results!
It is amazing – almost too much to take in!
Good morning Claudia (and Don!). Our first bright morning in a while and I hope it is so at your cottage as well. While it wasn’t a blue wave (which I didn’t expect for a minute), it was a Blue Ripple which to my mind is fantastic! I am uplifted today and that made me think of you, hoping that you too find something positive in the results across the country. While most of the votes were closer than I would have thought, there were some wonderful surprises and advances for women and women of color and men who seem to get it. And best of all the House can now act as a check to the damaging Republican agenda. I hope they do it in a calm way and don’t contribute to the acrimony. And I hope that those who fought for the Democratic candidates who did not prevail will not stop. I see this as a new beginning, a toe in the door. Where the real work of being a citizen begins. I abhor politics but have learned how vital it is and this may have shocked me and others into finding a way to participate. I always go on too long, but I feel as if I have a conversation with you when reading your blog, so I hope you’ll forgive me. I would love to hear your perspective on this in an upcoming post whether we agree or not if you’re willing to share or even know yet what you think. Did you notice how many times I used the word “hope”? I’m sue it’s the most I’ve used it in years (2 to be exact, years that is) especially without a negative associated with it. I know dark days are ahead, problems aren’t solved, but the fascist tyrant can no longer run free in his repressive and ugly playground. Thanks for being here in many ways over the past annus horribles (bad Latin)–helping us thru by showing love of the earth, of small things, of house and home and friends and stories and pleasures of morning coffee and angel biscuits and a well loved partner. I feel a corner has been turned. You’ve been a lifeline. XO
You put it all beautifully, Nora. It isn’t everything we wanted, but it’s a lot and it sure puts a big dent in Trump’s plans. We have oversight – finally – and those who head the pivotal committees are sure to start calling witnesses, issuing subpoenas, and exercising due diligence. We have some power again after feeling for the past two years that no one is listening to us or cares about us.
Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts, Nora. I hope I can continue to be a lifeline of sorts. xo