Kew Gardens – Art and Nature in the Sun
Trip Over to London
Kew Gardens is very easy to get to from the centre of London. The District Line on the tube takes you straight there. For us, this meant a lovely walk down through St James’s Park to St James’s Park Tube Station. Here you need to make sure you get on the correct train, as there are also Circle Line trains and District Line trains to Ealing Broadway. The train you need to get to Kew Gardens is the District Line train to Richmond, Kew Gardens is the second last station on this line, just before Richmond. Once you get off the train there are signs to show you the direction to Kew Gardens, just a few hundred meters away along a dead straight, flat road that leads you right to Victoria Gate, the main entrance to the Gardens.
Entering at the Victoria Gate, there was a queue for tickets (Should have bought them online!!) but it moved quickly, and we got a 10% discount as we had become members of the Historic Royal Palaces. This membership gives you unlimited entry to Kensington Palace, The Tower of London, Hampton Court Palace, and Banqueting House, along with the 10% discount on the Kew Gardens ticket, all for less than the price of single tickets to each of these places. If you lived near Kew Gardens I am sure you would become a member of Kew Gardens so you had unlimited use of beautiful gardens and the many other benefits that come with membership.
First we went on the Kew Explorer, a hop-on hop-off ‘train’ that takes you on a huge lap of the Gardens, with very interesting commentary, from here you can see a lot of what the Gardens have, and you can decide what to walk back to. The tree that was used to make a mould for one of the trees in one of the Harry Potter movies was pointed out to us, I think I am one of the only people in the world who is not a big fan of Harry Potter and I have never seen any of the movies, but the tree was amazing. Do you think we could find it again???? Kew Gardens really needs several visits to do it justice, so if you only have one day, make it worth it!
The Great Pagoda is quite stunning, bringing a bit of Oriental flair to that area of the Gardens. It was completed in 1762 as a gift for Princess Augusta, George lll’s mum, the founder of the Gardens. If you are feeling fit (I wasn’t!!) you can climb the 253 steps to the top, I understand it offers amazing views of London and the River Thames.
Fortunately when we were there, there was an exhibition of Dale Chihuly art works, one of the world’s most celebrated glass artists. The magnificent glass sculptures are placed throughout the Gardens, and inside the glass houses. They both blend in with and stand out in all environments. Dale Chihuly has worked with glass artists from all over the world and put on amazing outdoor exhibitions of his stunning works. I would have loved to have seen the one he did in Venice some years ago with chandelier like creations hanging over the canals.
Many of the permanent sculptures in the Gardens were gifts, or moved there from other parts of England and the rest of the world. The bronze sculpture of Hercules wrestling a serpent stands in the lake in front of the Botanical Restaurant, it was on the North Terrace at Windsor Castle in the 1800s, then did a short stint and Hampton Court from 1957 to 1961, when it was moved to Kew Gardens. The pair of white Oriental lions on the edge of the lake looking over the Palm House were presented in 1958, they possibly date back to the Ming period from the 1300s to the 1600s.
Strolling on through the Gardens searching for some of the things spotted from the ‘train’ was really lovely, the lakes, flower beds, trellis arrangements and buildings make for a great day trip away from the hustle and bustle of central London. Bringing a picnic would have been a good idea – maybe next time……
Eventually we came to Kew Palace, the summer home of George lll and Queen Charlotte, and their 15 children!!! That is way above the call of duty – Charlotte was clearly an over achiever! The Dutch looking building dates back to the early 1600s, sitting on the banks of the River Thames and surrounded by its own beautifully manicured gardens. It was offered to Princess Victoria and her mother to live in in the late 1800s, but was deemed to be ‘quite unsuitable for the future Queen of England’ by her mother. Sometime later it was opened to the public until it went through a major restoration starting in 1996, then re-opened in 2006 after Prince Charles had hosted the Queen’s 80th birthday bash there.
Kew Gardens and the surrounding areas are really lovely, with such handy links directly to London. There is even a pub on the platform at the station called ‘Tap on the Line’, what more can you ask for? I’m sure Kew would be a great place to live, but it is on the flight path to Heathrow Airport…………the planes are still high enough not to be too noisy, but there is one flying overhead every few minutes……….when flying into London if this is the approach to the airport that day, it was when I flew in and I had views over Westminster, St James’s Park, Green Park, Buckingham Palace then over Kew Gardens before touching down at Heathrow – a great start to the holiday, it really got me in the London mood.
While in London you might like to take a walk from Camden Town along Regent’s Canal, or be part of London’s amazing history at the Tower of London, or if you are in London at the right time of year, visiting the Chelsea Flower Show is very inspirational, even for a non-gardener like me!
If you feel like a long walk through London’s History or for a leisurely day out, catch a boat up the Thames to Hampton Court
Read the PostCards I wrote on my recent Trip Over to London, shorter stories and pictures of places I visited.
Itinerary for my Trip Over to London
Flew from Sydney to London Heathrow via Singapore, with Qantas on QF1, then QF2 to come home.
Stayed at the Royal Overseas League in St James’s.
Picked up at Heathrow by Naz from Black Lane Limos.
Travelled around London using a Visitor Oyster Card.
Bronze sculpture of Maktao, an orphaned elephant, by Gillie and Marc. He`s playing with the rest of his herd at Spitalfields Market in London. Click on my website link in the bio to find out about all my finds on my long walk in London.
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#maktao #theherdofhope #herdofhope #herdofhopelondon #londonwalks #spitalfields #spitalfieldsmarket #london #londonlife #ifoundparadise #londontravel #londontrip #londonhistory #londoncalling #londonisalwaysagoodidea #londonstreets #londonsbest #seekandyoushallfind #seetheworldthroughmyeyes #traveltheworldwithme
All Christmas ready in the Strand Arcade in Sydney!!
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#strandarcade #strandarcadesydney #christmasinsydney #christmasdecorationseverywhere #christmasdecorations #christmasiscoming #startingtolookalotlikechristmas #shoppinginsydney #sydneyhistoricalbuildings #sydneylocal #myhometown #sydneylife #sydneyaustralia #sydneycbd #sydneyshopping #sydney #sydney_insta #seekandyoushallfind
Looking down Barrack St, peeking between the Burberry Building and the old Sydney GPO, now the Fullerton Hotel, at Martin Place getting set up for the Christmas markets.
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#christmastree #christmasmarket #martinplace #barrackstreet #martinplacechristmastree #starontop #sydneycbd #sydneychristmas #sydneylife #sydneyshopping #sydney #sydneyaustralia #sydneylocal #sydneyhistoricalbuildings #seetheworldthroughmylens #australianflag #explorethecityyoulivein
The old dock yards converted into rows of town houses and canals, so close to the busy centre of London, but so quiet. That`s Tower Bridge in the background of one of the first pic. I`m so pleased I just kept walking that day with no plan, just looking to see what I could find. Follow along and read about my long walk by clicking the link to my website.
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#stkatherinesdock #londoncanals #downbytheriver #towerbridge #livinginparadise #londontravel #londonlife #londonlocals #london #solotravelinlondon #longwalk #londontrip #londonhistory #londonwalks #londoncalling #seeeverythingdoeverything #seetheworldthroughmyeyes
David acting cool in Piazza Della Signoria, he`s not the real David. The real one by Michelangelo was taken away for safe keeping inside Galleria dell`Accademia in 1910 and this one replaced him. You are not allowed to photograph the real one. I have no idea who created this David, but I think anyone who can create a David, or even any recognisable shape out of a piece of rock is pretty skilled!!!
The second pic is a bronze sratue of Perseus having severed the head of Medusa. This one is in the Loggia dei Lanzi, just near David.
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#florence #piazzadellasignoria #loggiadeilanzi #david #michelangelo #perseusfirenze #perseuswithmedusashead #artinpublicspaces #sculptures #traveltheworldwithme #traveladdict #travelinitaly #solotravel #solotravelinitaly #neverstopexploring #neverstoptravelling #seetheworldthroughmyeyes #seekandyoushallfind #seeeverythingdoeverything
The Alfresco Emporium at the QVB, all Christmas ready 🎄!!
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#alfrescoemporium #alfrescoemporiumqvb #alfrescoemporiumchristmas #queenvictoriabuilding #christmastrees #christmasinsydney #christmasdecorations #shoppinginsydney #windowshopping #sydneyaustralia #sydneylocal #sydney #sydneylife #seetheworldthroughmylens
St Bartholomew the Great church founded in 1123, London`s oldest surviving church. It survived the Great Fire and both World wars. See more photos and read about all the places I discovered on my walk around the south west area of the East End by clicking the link to my website in the bio.
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#stbartholomewthegreat #clothfair #historicchurch #historicbuildingsenrichourlives #londontravel #londontrip #londonlife #london #londonhistory #londonwalks #londoncalling #londonsoldestchurch #traveltheworldwithme #seekandyoushallfind #seetheworldthroughmylens
Somewhere in Venice - I`m lost again 🤣!!
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#venicestreets #venicetravel #veniceintherain #venicearchitecture #venicetrip #venice #venicewalks #exploringvenice #italytravel #venicetravel #seetheworldthroughmyeyes #seekandyoushallfind #lostinvenice #solotravelinitaly #solotravel #neverstopexploring #traveladdict
Strolling around the arty area of Venice, Dorsoduro, looking in the windows of some of the galleries, this is a quieter area across Academia Bridge, turn left!!
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#venice #veniceitaly #venicewalks #venicetravel #veniceintherain #venicestreets #venicetrip #veniceart #dorsodura #dorsoduravenezia #solotravel #solotravelinitaly #seetheworldthroughmylens #windowshopping #artinvenice #seekandyoushallfind #traveltheworldwithme
The Florence Duomo, all made of marble, hoping to go inside once the Easter crowds disappear, also hoping the Easter crowds do disappear!!
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#florence #florenceitaly #florenceduomo #firenzecityitaly #firenzeduomo #florencetravel #florencetrip #solotravelinitaly #marblebuilding #historicbuildingsenrichourlives #italianhistory #seeeverythingdoeverything #traveltheworldwithme #seetheworldthroughmyeyes #neverstopexploring
At the Rialto Markets in Venice, seemed to be a lot of locals shopping there, I bought a punnet of strawberries, so fresh and juicy. I thought the Risstto kits looked like great gift ideas, but bringing food items back to Australia isn`t going to work.
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#rialtomarkets #shoppinginvenice #wherethelocalsshop #fishmarket #fruitandveggies #veniceitaly #venicewalks #venicelife #venicetrip #venicetravel #solotravelinitaly #solotravel #neverstopexploring #seeeverythingdoeverything #seetheworldthroughmyeyes #traveltheworldwithme #travellerau #traveladdict
The newest cruise ship to come into Sydney Harbour, Richard Branson`s latest venture, The Resilient Lady, moored off Cremorne Point. It makes the ferry look like a toy boat!
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#resilientlady #resilientladyvirginvoyages #virginvoyages #richardbranson #sydneyharbour #cremornepoint #sydneyharbour #sydneyharbourwalks #sydneynorthshore #sydneybythesea #sydneylocal #myhometown #blueskyandsunshine #walkinthesun #seetheworldthroughmylens #sydneyferries
The dome of St Paul`s Cathedral in London, this was the starting point for my walk that went slightly off piste!! I kept getting side-tracked by more points of interested until I realised I had been wandering around exploring for 7 hours!!!
Read all about it and see more pictures by clicking the link in the bio, I`ve included a map so you can do it too🌞
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#stpaulscathedral #stpaulsdome #londonwalks #londonhistory #historicbuildingsenrichourlives #oldbuildingsmakemehappy #londontravel #londontrip #londonpics #londonsights #london #londonsbest #londontimes #londonarchitecture #londondiaries #londoncalling #seeeverythingdoeverything #seetheworldthroughmylens #traveladdict #traveltheworldwithme #solotravelinlondon
Siena Duomo, building it took from the year 1215 until1348, it is an unbelievable place, all in black and white marble, the bell tower is so high you can see it from everywhere, if you can`t see it you will be able to see the Torre del Mangia, also built by 1348, rising up out of Palazzo Pubblico in Piazza Della Campo, the main square in Siena.
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#siena #sienaduomo #sienaduomobellissimagiornata #torredelmangia #piazzadelcampo #palazzopubblico #palazzopubblicodisiena #seekandyoushallfind #seetheworldthroughmyeyes #historygeek #solotrip #italianhistory #italytravel #italytrip #solotravelinitaly #neverstopexploring #historicbuildingsenrichourlives #oldbuildingsmakemehappy #seekandyoushallfind
A bronze variation of David up the hill in Piazzale Michelangelo looking over Florence as if he owns the place.
The Florence he owns, the Duomo, amazing building, you can see it from everywhere.
Ponte Vecchio, and all the other bridges that cross the River Arno, apparently the Ferris wheel was put up at Christmas time and not taken down, maybe it`s waiting for next Christmas!!
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#david #michelangelo #michelangelosdavid #michelangelosdavidreplica #bronzesculptures #piazzalemichelangelo #florenceduomo #viewfromthetop #lookingoverflorence #pontevecchio #riverarno #florencebridges #viewsofflorence #blueskywhiteclouds #traveltheworldwithme #traveladdict #solotravel #solotravelinitaly #neverstopexploring #seeeverythingdoeverything #historicbuildingsenrichourlives
Flower carts at Covent Garden in London, one of the beautiful market places in London, and has been for hundreds of years.
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#coventgarden #coventgardenmarket #coventgardenlondon #flowercart #londonmarketsarethebest #londonmarkets #londontravel #londontrip #londonhistory #londoncalling #londonisalwaysagoodidea #seekandyoushallfind #londonwalks #london #solotravelinlondon #solotravel #exploringlondon
One of my favourite stores - Liberty, I love that is was built using the timber from a couple of old ships, it all creeks as you walk through. See the golden ship on the wind thingy on the roof of the 3rd pic. They usually have an amazing display hanging down through the middle of the store, I was expecting something with an Easter theme, but nothing!!
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#libertylondon #libertyaddict #liberty #shoppinginlondon #historicalbuildingsenrichourlives #londontravel #londontrip #londonhistory #londoncalling #londonisalwaysagoodidea #londonstreets #londontaxi #londonlandmarks #oneofmyfavouriteplaces #oneofmyfavoritethings #tudorstyle #traveladdict #neverstopexploring #teaveltheworldwithme
Looking out of the windows at Pitti Palace into Boboli Gardens where the rulers of Florence once lived.
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#pittipalaceflorence #boboligardens #florenceitaly #florencetrip #florencewalk #florence #florencetravel #traveltheworldwithme #traveladdict #solotravel #solotravelinitaly #neverstopexploring #seeeverythingdoeverything #seetheworldthroughmyeyes
Another reptile looking over a rock to check out the surf at Manly Beach in Sydney.
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#lizardonarock #lizardofinstagram #lizardlife #reptile #manlybeachaustralia #manlybeach #sydneybeaches #sydneybythesea #sydneyweekend #sydneylocal #myhometown #seekandyoushallfind #seetheworldthroughmylens #traveltheworldwithme #neverstopexploring #sydneylife #sydneyaustralia #sydneywalks #sydneynative
The Martin Place Christmas tree is set up, but I am so over seeing it every year with the red and green beach ball look, surely we can have something different occasionally. Looks great for visitors, but if you live here........same old, same old......
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#martinplace #martinplacechristmastree #sydneycbd #sydneylife #sydney #sydneyhistoricalbuildings #sydneylocal #christmasinsydney #christmasiscoming #sydneylunchtime #fullertonhotelsydney #seetheworldthroughmylens
On the "beach" side of the Prospect of Whitby on the River Thames. It was originally named The Pelican 800 years ago, the stairs to the river still have that name, later named The Prospect of Whitby after a ship that used to moore out the front. When I arrived at the pub the tide was lapping around the top of the steps, by the time I had finished eating, the tide had gone out completely!! I wasn`t eating for that long, and only one glass of wine!!! The water on the Thames moves fast!!
#theprospectofwhitby #pelicanstairs #pelicanstairslondon #riverthames #historicpubcrawlslondon #londonsoldestpub #londontravel #londontrip #londonlife #historicbuildingsenrichourlives #historiclondon #oldlondonpub #londonwalks #londoncalling #londonisalwaysagoodidea #london #traveladdict #travellerau #traveltheworldwithme #neverstopexploring #solotravelinlondon
So many photo ops in Venice, I`m loving it, just wandering around, getting lost, getting found again.....beautiful!! 😊
The internet here is a bit difficult at times, so posting photos taken with my camera has become quite an exercise, but we`re getting there.
#Venice #venetiancanals #lovevenice #gondola #exploringvenice #veniceisbeautiful #waterworld #solotravel #solotravelinitaly #venicetravel #neverstopexploring
Further along London Wall, the remains of the hospital entrance, Elsyng Spital, built in the 1300s, but a couple of World Wars were too much for it.....😒 Visit my website by clicking the link in the bio, to read about my long walk through London`s history.
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#elsyngspital #londonwall #londontravel #londontrip #londonhistory #londonwalks #londoncalling #londonisalwaysagoodidea #londonstreets #seetheworldthroughmyeyes #seekandyoushallfind #solotravel #historicbuildingsenrichourlives #historiclondon #london #solotravelinlondon #longwalk #traveladdict #neverstopexploring
The pulpit in Siena Duomo, and the stairs leading up to it, I can`t get over the fact that people have been walking in here for over 1000 years, and I`m one of them🌞
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#siena #sienahistory #sienatravel #sienaitaly #sienaduomo #sienaduomobellissimagiornata #sienatrip #sienaitalia #solotravel #solotravelinitaly #solotrip #italianhistory #seeeverythingdoeverything #traveltheworldwithme #traveladdict #travelinitaly #historicbuildingsenrichourlives #oldbuildingsmakemehappy #seekandyoushallfind #sienaduomopulpit
The next place I came across was London Museum, but sadly it was "temporarily closed", but this horse sculpture was outside. Oh well, keep walking to see what`s around the next corner.....see the map of my walk and read about all the places I found along the way by clicking the link in the bio.
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#londontravel #londonmuseum #london #londonwalks #londonlife #londontrip #londoncalling #horsesculpture #artinpublicspaces #neverstopexploring #solotravelinlondon #solotravel #londonart #seekandyoushallfind #seeeverythingdoeverything #seetheworldthroughmyeyes #traveladdict #travellerau #traveltheworldwithme
Inside Siena Duomo, amazing to think it was built over 1000 years ago, and is still standing in original condition. You can pretty much guarantee that there will be nothing built today that will still be standing in 1000 years!!
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#siena #sienaduomo #sienatrip #sienaitaly #sienahistory #italytravel #italytrip #madeinitaly #solotravel #solotravelinitaly #neverstopexploring #neverstoptravelling #seetheworldthroughmyeyes #historygeek #seekandyoushallfind #blackandwhitemarble #historicbuildingsenrichourlives #oldbuildingsmakemehappy
This is Porcellino, the bronze pig next to the New Market. Rubbing his nose brings you good fortune, so it is polished to a high shine from all the fortune seekers over the years. There is a replica of Porcellino on Macquarie Street in Sydney, so I`ll check in on my fortune when I get home!!
Second pic is the end of the Uffizi Gallery, down by the River Arno, the top floor is the Vasari Corridor, built so the Medici could walk from here, across Ponte Vecchio to Pitti Palace without having to put up with the stench from the butchers shops that used to be on the bridge, and not have to walk with the peasants.....it is being made ready for visitors, but will not be open until May 2024.....oh well, it looks like I`ll have to come back to Florence one day 🌞
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#florence #florenceitaly #florencetrip #florencetravel #porcellinofirenze #porcellino #uffizigallery #vasaricorridor #florencewalk #travelinitaly #solotravelinitaly #solotravel #seetheworldthroughmyeyes #seekandyoushallfind #neverstopexplroring #goodfortune #rubthepigsnoseforgoodluck #traveltheworldwithme #traveladdict
Postman`s Park in London was a nice place to sit while I checked the map on my `make it up as you go` walk. Everything I did this and formulated a plan, I would find something else that led me off to the next place, there was a lot of recalibration that day! Read the story and see my walking map by clicking the link in the bio.
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#postmansparklondon #postmanspark #postmansparkmemorial #whiteflowers #redflowers #parkbench #londonparks #londonpics #londontimes #londontravel #londoncalling #londontrip #london #londonwalks #londonhistory #londoninautumn #londonisalwaysagoodidea #seekandyoushallfind #traveltheworldwithme
Inside the Royal Albert Hall as they set up for the next performance, not sure what is behind that grubby screen!
2. Apparently the design of the interior was based on the Colluseum in Rome.
3. The King`s Box, they put different chairs in there when it is used by the monarch, often these seats are given to other members of the family, or friends, or staff to attend performances.
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#royalalberthall #royalalberthalllondon #insidethetheatre #londontrip #londontravel #londonpics #londoncalling #historicbuildingsenrichourlives #neverstopexploring #seeeverythingdoeverything #seetheworldthroughmyeyes #traveltheworldwithme #traveladdict #solotravel #solotravelinlondon #walkalloverthecity #neverstoptravelling
Finding inspiration all over the V and A Museum, all the flattened musical instruments strung across this void with fishing line are certainly an idea if you happen to have a lot of flat musical instruments and don`t know what to do with them!!
2. A 17th century table decoration made of lots of small glass vases hooked on to a larger glass vase.
3. One of Dale Chihuly`s glass creations hanging above the main entrance lobby of the museum.
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#victoriaandalbertmuseum #vandamuseum #musicaldecoration #glasstabledecoration #glassvases #dalechiluly #dalechihulyart #dalechihulyglassinbloom #inspiration #artinstallation #exploringlondon #londontravel #londontrip #londonpics #solotravel #solotravelinlondon #walkalloverthecity #londoncalling #londonisalwaysagoodidea #seekandyoushallfind #seetheworldthroughmylens
Inside The Prospect of Whitby that has been serving up drinks for 800 years!!! Swipe to see the board listing all the monarchs who have reigned since it opened, going back to Henry Vlll, they had just enough room to add Charles! And the wall of info about regular punter Samuel Pepys in the 1600s. Amazing history here....
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#theprospectofwhitby #oldlondonpubsarethebest #oldlondon #londonpub #historiclondon #london #londonwalks #londonlife #londontravel #londontrip #traveltheworldwithme #neverstopexploring #solotravelinlondon #seekandyoushallfind #seeeverythingdoeverything #londoncalling #londonisalwaysagoodidea #londonhistory
And all of this, along with everything in the previous pic all needs to fit into this suitcase.....hmmm!!!
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#packing #tripovertoitaly #tripovertolondon #neverstoptravelling #solotrip #howwillitallfit #howwillitallfitinmycase #traveladdict
Surfers dotted around in the ocean hoping to catch a wave out near the headland off Manly Beach in Sydney.
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#pacificocean #manlybeachaustralia #manlybeach #surfing #outintheocean #sydneyweekend #sydney #sydneyaustralia #sydneylocal #sydneycoastalwalks #sydneybeaches #sydneybythesea #sydneylife #seekandyoushallfind #seetheworldthroughmyeyes
Walking up hundreds of steps on a centuries old spiral staircase was a killer, but so worth it for the view from the top of what was going to be the high alter in Siena Duomo, but building stopped in 1339 when the black death wiped out a lot of the population, and it has just stood there like thus for the last 1000 years, it is really high and only about one metre wide!!
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#sienahistory #siena #sienaduomo #sienatravel #sienaduomobellissimagiornata #sienatrip #sienaitalia #viewovertuscany #viewfromthetop #spiralstaircase #historicbuildingsenrichourlives #oldbuildingsmakemehappy #seekandyoushallfind #seeeverythingdoeverything #solotravelinitaly #solotravel #neverstopexporing #traveltheworldwithme
After climbing up about 70 to 80 steps on a really narrow stone spiral staircase you are up near the dome of the Siena Duomo, from there you get a whole different view looking down into the Cathedral, and up inside the dome.
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#siena #sienahistory #sienatravel #sienaitaly #sienaduomo #sienaduomobellissimagiornata #sienatrip #sienaitalia #solotravel #solotravelinitaly #insidethedome #upintherafters #viewfromthetop #seekandyoushallfind #seeeverythingdoeverything #historicbuildingsenrichourlives #oldbuildingsmakemehappy #italytravel #italytrip #traveltheworldwithme #seetheworldthroughmyeyes
The She Wolf feeding Romulus and Remus is the symbol of Siena. The wolf, lupe in Italian, is also one of the Contradas that make up all the different areas of Siena.
2. Siena Duomo bell tower peaking over the top of other buildings.
3. Porta Camollia, the entrance gate to the walled city of Siena, you arrive at this gate after coming up many escalators from the station.
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#shewolf #lupe #romulusandremus #sienaduomo #portacamollia #siena #historicbuildingsenrichourlives #oldbuildingsmakemehappy #solotravel #sienatrip #sienatravel #seetheworldthroughmyeyes #traveltheworldwithme #traveladdict #travelinitaly #solotravelinitaly
Spencer House in St James`s, London, is the home built by Diana`s ancestors so they has a place in the city as well as Althorp House where Diana grew up. Both houses are owned by Diana`s brother, the current Earl Spencer.
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#spencerhouse #spencerhouselondon #historicbuildingsenrichourlives #chandeliers #columns #statues #palmroom #stjamess #londonlocals #london #londonwalks #londontravel #londontrip #londoncalling #londonisalwaysagoodidea #seekandyoushallfind #solotravel
Manly Beach, on the in Harbour side just near where the ferry comes in.
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#manlybeachaustralia #manlybeach #sydneybeaches #sydneyharbour #sydneyharbourwalks #sailingboats #sydneylocal #sydneyweekend #sydneybythesea #sydneylife #sunshine #sydneyaustralia #seetheworldthroughmylens #neverstopexploring
Happy New Year, above Sydney Harbour!!! Hope 2024 is a good one 🥂🤗
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#happynewyear #sydneyfireworks #bringon2024
The Christmas tree in the QVB is in place rising up into the dome.
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#qvb #queenvictoriabuilding #christmastree #christmasdecorations #christmasdecorationseverywhere #sydneylife #sydneyaustralia #sydneycbd #sydneyhistoricalbuildings #sydneychristmas #shoppinginsydney #christmasready #sydney #sydneylocal #seekandyoushallfind
Went on a really interesting tour at the Royal Albert Hall yesterday, behind the scenes and how it came to being is amazing! The new sculptures of Queen Elizabeth and Prince Phillip are looking good.
You have to wonder how it is that without technology they were able to create this magnificent building with all the carved stone work, and then more recently, with technology up the wazoo they stick ugly poles through it to hold up the ugly awning. Sure the awning is great if it`s raining, but seriously!????!!
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#royalalberthall #London #historicbuildingsenrichourlives #londonwalks #londonhistoty #exploringlondon #londontravel #londontrip #solotravelinlondon #solotravel #traveladdict #traveltheworldwithme #seekandyoushallfind
At the end of my long walk, I found just what I needed, an 800 year old pub down by the Thames. Read about the walk I took to get to The Prospect of Whitby for my well deserved fish & chips, click the link in the bio.
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#theprospectofwhitby #historiclondonpub #fishandchips #londontrip #londonhistory #londonwalks #londoncalling #londonisalwaysagoodidea #londonpub #london #londontravel #londonlife #londonlocals #londonsbest #londonstreets #londondaysout #traveltheworldwithme #travellerau #traveladdict #seeeverythingdoeverything
Walking around the north side of Sydney Harbour - no storms today!! Yet.......
All blue sky and sunshine 🌞 🌞🌞🌞🌞
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#sydneyharbour #sydneyharbourbridge #sydneyharbourwalks #rockpools #sydneyinsummertime #myhometown #outinthesunshine #blueskyandsubshine #sydneywalks #seetheworldthroughmyeyes #seeeverythingdoeverything #travellerau #seekandyoushallfind
The Bridge of Sighs in Venice with the gondolas going along the Canal underneath it, and a row of Manolo Valdes bronze sculptures in Piazza San Marco. They will apparently be there until mid June 2024.
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#venice #veniceart #venicetravel #venicetrip #veniceintherain #venicearchitecture #veniceitaly #brigeofsighs #gondolas #piazzasanmarcovenezia #manolovaldes #manolovaldesartwork #bronzesculptures #seekandyoushallfind #seeeverythingdoeverything #historicbuildingsenrichourlives #traveltheworldwithme
The amazing building that is the Victoria and Albert Museum, all the white marble at the main entrance with the V & A initials. The second pic is in the cafe amidst the columns, arches and lights.
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#victoriaandalbertmuseum #vandamuseum #whitemarble #vandacafe #bigroundlights #marblecolumns #historicalbuildingsenrichourlives #historicroyalpalaces #londontravel #londontrip #londonhistory #londoncalling #londonisalwaysagoodidea #london #traveladdict #solotravelinlondon #solotravel #seekandyoushallfind #seetheworldthroughmylens #londontimes
I spent hours wondering around the Boboli Gardens behind Pitti Palace in Florence, some of the stairs are very steep and seem to go on forever, like the ones in the pic behind Neptune`s Island. Then miles further away there was suddenly this giant sculpture of a head, or really just a face and neck.....
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#boboligardens #neptunesisland #reflectionsonwater #giantheadsculpture #parksinflorence #stairsinthepark #stairwaytoheaven #walkinthepark #neptubesculpture #pittipalaceflorence #florenceitaly #florence #florencetrip #solotravelinitaly #seetheworldthroughmylens #traveltheworldwithme #neverstopexploring #seeeverythingdoeverything #seekandyoushallfind
This is Musiara, an orphaned elephant rescued after poachers attacked her mum. There are 21 bronze sculptures created by Gillie and Marc now located in Spitalfields, London. I have a new post about them that you can read by clicking the link to my website, in the bio.
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#musiara #herdofhope #herdofhopelondon #bronzeelephants #londontravel #londonwalks #seekandyoushallfind #spitalfields #spitalfieldsmarket #london #gillieandmarcart #artinpublicplaces #bronzeelephantsculptures #sculptureoftheday #sculptureinthecity #londontrip #londonlife #solotravelerstories #solotravelinlondon #traveltheworldwithme #traveladdict
Venice streets getting a good wash in the rain, the place in the second pic is where the Rialto markets are held in the mornings.
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#rialto #rialtomarkets #venice #veniceitaly #venicelife #veniceintherain #venicearchitecture #venicestreets #explorevenice #venicewalks #solotravelinitaly #solotravel #neverstopexporing #traveltheworldwithme #venicetrip #venicetravel #seetheworldthroughmyeyes #seeeverythingdoeverything
Taken from the little balcony surrounding the dome of Siena Duomo. A great experience to be able to go up there, then to go outside to see the views as well as look down into the inside of the Cathedral.
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#sienahistory #siena #sienaduomo #sienatrip #sienatravel #sienaitaly #sienaduomobellissimagiornata #solotravel #solotravelinitaly #neverstopexploring #seeeverythingdoeverything #seekandyoushallfind #seetheworldthroughmyeyes #historygeek #solotrip #italianhistory #italytravel #italytrip #solotravelinitaly #outsidethedome
