Yesterday was a day of contrasts and just another big reason we both LOVE LONDON. First we took the tube to Hyde Park and entered from a totally different entrance than we have ever done (off Lancaster Gate). We are trying to 'keep with the programme of expanding the mind and experience'. Step into the English countryside, complete with monument, fountains, lakes, flowers and gardens and stone arches from the 1800's lined with people reading, chatting and enjoying the sun. It's the type of scene that you see in the Jane Austen novels.
We kept walking, enjoying the paths leading to The Serpentine Gallery to see Jeff Koons' Popeye art exhibition which has been reviewed so highly (and again it was free). First of course, we stop for tea under an "installation" called The Pavillion, set up around the Gallery itself, then proceed to take in the initially weird exhibition that grew around both of our hearts as we walked from room to room soaking in the art form before us. I cannot begin to describe his work, except to say, google him and look for the Popeye art he has created. Beyond wonderous.
After and we again began to walk. This time past the Diana Princess of Wales water memorial full of picnics and kids enjoying the space, past the lake with Canada geese (yes they came with us), British geese lounging beside the neatly laid out lawn chairs on the grass, and the swans at the lakeshore with their babies lounging on the cement sidewalk as families watched in amazement at close range. Around the lake to sit in the restaurant for lunch and to rest the sore feet. And then we're off again....
Walking away from the English countryside atmosphere of Hyde Park towards a little alleyway from the park through to Knightsbridge Street and the noise, the dust and people explode out of the woodwork at us. This corner i of London is 'crazy-busy' with tourists and shoppers because it's right outside of Harrods Dept store. The people are everywhere, crowding around us....no idealic countryside anymore...this is London at it's other best, and that's why we came over to live in it.
Walking briskly across two lanes of traffic, lorries (trucks), busses, cabs, cars rushing past and people just trying to keep moving forward. And then we look around and like the countryside setting we just strolled out of, we are catapulted into a scene straight from our Womens' Studies text books. Why?
Harrods and Knightsbridge area are full of women completely robed and veiled, some you can only see their eyes (even their hands are covered) following men in western dress carrying top designer shopping bags. They are juxtaposed with young women who have face paint, body piercings and short enough skirts to make the 60's mini-skirts look conservative. It is a wonderous sight to see the diversity and to witness and experience it as if it is just the most usual phenomenon (which it is).
Side story...as we walked down the sidestreet, we passed 3 women all in black from head to toe and as we squeezed past each other one of them lifted her ground-length dress just slightly to reveal bright pink socks in very handsome black heels! A split second into her secret world that brought a smile to my red-painted lips. Two different worlds, years and cultures different, yet we both shared the love of colour and adornment in fashion. This reminds me of several days ago in Selfridge's dept. store when Toby called me back to look at this amazing site of 3 women, completely covered from head to toe, purchasing items from the Agent Provocateur lingerie dept. If you are unfamiliar with this line of lingerie, I suggest you get googling and discover why this situation was very intriguing to me!
Ah, London. A city of contrasts, a city of life, a city to be lived....my new home.
At a point very soon, we will begin to show you just HOW we made this all happen and how you can find yourself living your own dreams and goals.
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