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Gracie Mansion Photos

From Gracie to Guggenheim

Trip Over to New York

Having seen Gracie Mansion from our cruise around Manhattan Island, it looked like it was definitely worth a visit. I looked it up online and called the number to book for the 1pm tour that day. Unable to get through, I left a message, but as the answering machine told me to expect a call back within a few days (by then I would be back in Sydney), the decision was made to head on up to Gracie Mansion and see if we could join the tour.

We headed out, jumping on to the #6 train from 28th Street to 86th Street, then walked a few blocks east down to the river. Gracie Mansion sits majestically looking over the East River in the top end of Carl Schurz Park on East End Ave at the end of 88th Street. Home to the New York City Mayor, should he choose to live there. Fortunately for us, Mayor Bloomberg chose not to, so it was more accessible to visitors. It is open, less often, for tours when a mayor is in residence, which is understandable – having tour groups coming through your private home would be a nightmare!

We arrived at the gates at around 12.45pm, where we met a lady who was checking off names of the people who had pre-booked. I explained that I had tried to book but couldn’t get through, I was tut-tutted at and told I should have called to book well in advance. After apologising for my tardy behaviour, we were sent up the back to stand with 3 others who had failed to book in advance. A lady in that group told me they had been standing up in the ‘naughty line’ for 10 minutes waiting to find out if their unruly behavior could be overlooked and they would be allowed in. There we all stood giggling like naughty school children waiting to discover our fate. The ‘good kids’ at the front were all ushered in through the gates while we were left outside not sure if that was it, or we would be allowed in, then the security guard came and said they had decided to let us in…………..we must have been forgiven. Phew!!

The tour was very interesting, lovely house (with creaking floors, a bit of joist work required), beautiful views out on to the gardens and the river, looking straight out at RFK and Hell Gate Bridges (Hell Gate Bridge is the one like a tiny Sydney Harbour Bridge). No photos were allowed to be taken inside, only in the gardens.




After the visit to Gracie Mansion was over we walked up East 88th Street, past the Church of the Holy Trinity to 5th Avenue to the Guggenheim Museum, first we went into the uninspiring looking restaurant for a late lunch, the menu looked good and we had high hopes after eating in some really great museum restaurants during our stay in New York. We should have realised there were problems when the couple on the next table were looking very glum, he had nearly finished his meal, she hadn’t yet been served. We saw another couple leaving having a heated discussion about the bill with the waiter. We ordered cocktails to drink while we read the menu. The cocktails still hadn’t arrived by the time we placed our order, then our soup was served, a fairly bland cauliflower soup with a sort of floating thing in it, still no cocktails and the couple on the next table had given up on her ever receiving her meal and walked out. Now there was only us and one other table of customers still there. Eventually we got our cocktails after asking many times, and every time the kitchen door opened the arguing and yelling in the kitchen could clearly be heard – it was like being in a TV drama.

I asked how much longer it would be before our main meals were served, the waiter disappeared back into the kitchen, lots more shouting could be heard. Eventually the waiter came out and plonked some plates in front of us, Christine got the meal she asked for, I didn’t.

I had ordered chicken that came with all sorts of vegetables, what I got was a pile of green spaghetti with 6 prawns dotted around the edge of the plate. I explained that wasn’t what I ordered and was told they had no chicken left so the chef cooked me that! I asked if I could see the menu so I could order something else (I suspect this is what happened to the couple next to us). Every time I said what I would like, they didn’t have it, I said I would keep the prawn thing and he offered to give us 10% off the bill – big mistake, the prawns were tasteless, the pasta was horrible, when he came back to see if everything was OK I told him it was disgusting, he said he would give us a free round of drinks. I thought that meant we wouldn’t have to pay for the cocktails we had already, but he brought more and said we would get a 10% discount on my meal only. I told him that I wasn’t prepared to pay for something I didn’t order that tasted so bad, now we were not only angry, we had too much to drink, those cocktails were strong. We asked for the bill, only paid for our soup and left. I told the lady at the entrance to the museum how bad it was, as she recommended it over the 3rd floor café. She was horrified.

Church of the Holy Trinity

Church of the Holy Trinity

Book a tour on your Trip Over to New York

Itinerary for Trip Over to New York

Flew from Sydney to New York on Qantas via LA.

Arranged to be picked up at JFK Airport with Viator for the drive into Chelsea, also used for the return trip.

Stayed for a month in magnificent artists loft in Chelsea, found on VRBO.

Bought a one month travel ticket for the NYC Subway.

Thevlakevin Regent`s Park, London. With weeping willows, ducks and seagulls enjoying the park as much as the people walking around the lake.
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#regentsparklondon #regentsparklake #regentspark #lakeinthepark #viewacrossthewater #flyingbirds #ducks #seagulls #royalparksandgardens #royalparks #londonlife #londonparks #londontrip #londonwalks #london #blueskyandsunshine
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Hampers full of Christmas cheer in the window display @fortnums on Piccadilly.
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#fortnumshamper #fortnumandmason #fortnumschristmas #fortnumswine #fortnums #christmaswindowdisplay #christmasinlondon2022 #christmasinlondon #christmasatfortnums #windowshopping #londonlife #londonlandmarks #londontrip #londonchristmas #shoppinginlondon
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Upstairs in Fortnum & Mason on London`s Piccadilly, in the beautifully decked out china and hampers area.
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#fortnumandmason #fortnumandmasonpiccadilly @fortnums #ilovefortnumandmason #piccadilly #shoppinginlondon #oneofmyfavouritethings #christmasinlondon2022 #christmasatfortnums #christmasdecorations #londonvibes #londonlife #londonlandmarks #londontrip #londonchristmas #londonstyle #londonatchristmastime #london #london
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Fortnums hampers full of chocolates in the Christmas window display on Piccadilly, you can never have too much chocolate!!
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#fortnumshamper #fortnumandmason #fortnumschristmas #firtnumandmasonchocolates #fortnumschocolates #fortnumschristmaswindow #fortnumandmasonpiccadilly #oneofmyfavouritethings #windowshopping #shoppinginlondon #windowshopping #londonlife #londontrip #londonlandmarks #londonchristmas
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One of the Royal parks in London for some time out from the hustle and bustle.
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#regentsparklondon #regentspark #londonparksandgardens #royalparksandgardens #londonwalks
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Christmas decorations in front a shelves full of black and white checked McKenzie Child teapots, kettles, aprons and all sorts of lovely things in Fortnum & Mason on London`s Piccadilly.
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@mckenziechildarm @fortnums #fortnumandmason #fortnumandmasonpiccadilly #piccadilly #mckenziechildsdecor #mckenziechilds #blackandwhitecheckdecor #blackandwhitecheck #christmasinlondon2022 #christmasdecorations #christmasatfortnums #londonlife #londontrip #londonchristmas #londonatchristmastime
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Exploring St James`s in London, there are many little lane ways, visit them all and see what is to be discovered.
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#stjamess #pickeringplace #pickeringplacelondon #exploringlondon #traveltheworldwithme #seetheworldthroughmyeyes
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Darling Harbour from Pyrmont Bridge, looking very tropical on a Sydney spring day.
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#pyrmontbridgesydney #pyrmontbridge #darlingharbour #darlingharboursydney #whotel #palmtrees #tropicalscene #sydneycbd #sydney #sydneylunchtime #sydneylife #sydneyharbourwalks #sydneyaustralia #sydneywaterways #sydneylocal #sydneyinspring
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In the Christmas windows at Fortnum & Mason, the turkey is ready with all the trimmings.
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#fortnumandmason #fortnumschristmas #fortnumschristmaswindow #fortnums #christmasdinner #christmasdinnertable #windowshopping #shoppinginlondon #londonlife #seekandyoushallfind #piccadilly #londontrip #londonlandmarks #london #londonchristmas #christmasinlondon
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Inside Fortnum & Mason on Piccadilly, their famous hampers, cups and saucers, teapots, tea cosies, and all the Fortnums goodies you can dream of.
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#fortnumandmason #fortnumandmasonpiccadilly #fortnumshamper #cupsandsaucers #teapots #teacosies #piccadilly #christmasatfortnums #christmasinlondon2022 #londonlife #londonlandmarks #londontrip #londonchristmas #londonatchristmastime #shoppinginlondon
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Pickering Place is London`s smallest public square, located in St James`s not far from St Jame`s Palace, home to London`s oldest wine merchants Berry Bros, it feels a but like you are walking into someone`s private courtyard.
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#pickeringplace #pickeringplacelondon #stjamess #london #historiclondon #sculptureinthesquare #exploringlondon #londonlife #londontrip #seetheworldthroughmylens #christmastree #walkingaroundlondon #seekandyoushallfind
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Bondi Beach with tge Bondi Pavilion in the top right corner of the photo. I love tge colours of the water swirling off the rocks, it looks inviting, but I understand it`s quite treacherous.
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#bondibeach #bonditotamarama #bonditotamaramacoastalwalk #bondi #bondipavilion #bluewater #sydney #sydneylife #sydneyaustralia #sydneyphotographer #sydneyparks #sydney_insta #seetheworldthroughmyeyes
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Waiting at McMahon`s Point for the ferry to Circular Quay, lovely day for it, blue sky, blue water, what more can you ask for on a weekend.
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#sydneyharbour #sydneyharbourbridge #sydneyferries #sydney #sydneyaustralia #sydneywaterways #sydneyoperahouse #sydney_insta #sydneylife #sydneyweekends #bluesky #bluewater #outandabout #exploretheworldwithme #explorethecityyoulivein #sydneycbd
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Fortnum & Mason on Piccadilly, all decked out as an Advent Calendar for Christmas. Fortnums is definitely one of my favourite stores in London, but trying to get inside on Christmas Eve was impossible!!
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#fortnumandmason #fortnumandmasonpiccadilly #adventcalendar @fortnums #piccadilly #oneofmyfavouritethings #localgrocerystore #londonatchristmastime #christmasinlondon2022 #christmasshoppingtime #londonvibes #londonlife #londonlandmarks #londonstyle #londontrip #londonlover #londonchristmas #seetheworldthroughmylens #traveltheworldwithme
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A day out in Sydney, catching a ferry across the harbour then heading out to Bondi Beach and walking around the headland looking at Sculpture by the Sea.
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#sydney #sydneyaustralia
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The Christmas windows at Fortnum & Mason all festive with baubles, lights and chocolates, even the reflection of the Christmas angel lights above Piccadilly showd in the window.
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#fortnums #fortnumandmason #fortnumschocolates #fortnumschristmaswindow #fortnumandmasonpiccadilly #fortnumschristmas #piccadilly #christmasangel #christmasbaubles #christmasdecorations #windowshopping #oneofmyfavouritethings #lovelondon #seetheworldthroughmylens #londonlandmarks #londontrip
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After a few years of not being able to hold the annual Sculpture by the Sea along the coastal walk from Bondi to Tamarama......it`s back!!!
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#sculptureinthepark #sculpturebythesea #bonditotamaramacoastalwalk
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As my ferry pulled in to Circular Quay I saw this new sculpture near Government House in the Royal Botanic Gardens.
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#sculptureinthepark #sculpturegarden #artinpublicplaces #governmenthousesydney #royalbotanicgardenssydney #sydneyharbour #sydneyharbourwalks #sydneyaustralia #bluewater #explorethecityyoulivein #seetheworldthroughmyeyes
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Sculpture by the Sea returned to the Bondi to Tamarama coastal walk this year after it`s Covid hiatus. This one is my favourite.....
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#sculpturebythesea #bonditotamarama #bonditotamaramacoastalwalk #sculptureart #sculptureinthepark #sculpture #artinthepark #sydneycoastalwalk #sydneyinspring #clearbluewater #pacificocean #sunnyday #explorethecityyoulivein
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Another sculpture gleaming in the sunshine at Sculpture by the Sea on the coastal walk from Bondi Beach to Tamarama, looking out over the Pacific Ocean.
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#sculpturebythesea #sculptureinthepark #sculpture #artinthepark #sydneycoastalwalk #pacicocean #bonditotamaramacoastalwalk #artinpublicplaces #sydneylife #sydneyaustralia #sydneyparks #sydneywalks #exploretheworld #seekandyoushallfind
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The water receeds around the edges of Tunks Park under Long Gully Bridge, but there seems to be another downpour forecast next week, so itbis likely to go under again. But look how green the grass is!!!
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#tunksparksydney #tunksparkwalk #tunkspark #longgullybridge #longgully #greengrass #parkunderwater #aftertherain #sydney #sydneyparks #sydneylife #sydneyharbourwalks #myhometown
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From the National Maritime Museum in Sydney behind the boats in the foreground you can see the masts on the replica Endeavour, on the right are the glass towers in Barangaroo.
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#theendeavour #sydneymaritimemuseum #australiannationalmaritimemusem #barangaroo #darlingharboursydney #tallships #sailingboats #sailonsydneyharbour #glasstowers #sydneyharbour #blueskywhiteclouds #visitthemuseum #sydneylife #sydneyaustralia #sydneywaterways #sydneylocal #myhometown #traveltheworldwithme
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The Endeavour at the National Maritime Museum of Australia. It`s a replica, but a very good one. You can go onboard and take a look around - all those ropes, how did they cope?
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#nationalmaritimemuseum @sea.museum #maritimemuseum #endeavour #theendeavour #tallship #darlingharbour #sydney #barangaroo #outonthewater #sydneyharbour #thewayitusedtobe #sydneylife #blueskyandsunshine #seetheworldwithme #seetheworldthroughmylens
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Between down pours, Tunks Psrk continued to fill with water. Lucky someone thought to put the "Ground Closed" sign in the middle of the cricket ground 🤣 I think anyone who turned up to play would have realised after wading through knee deep water on to the sodden grass that it wouldn`t work out!😂
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#tunkspark #floodedpark #waterwatereverywhere #greengrass #aftertgerain #walkinthepark #sydneyinspring #sydneylife #sydneyaustralia #myhometown #cricketground #toowettoplay #waterviews
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Bright floral arrangement in the David Jones Spring Flower Show at the Elizabeth St store in the Sydney CBD.
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#davidjonesflowershow #davidjonesstore #davidjones #davidjonessydney #elizabethststore #sydney #sydneylunchtime #sydneylife #sydneyflowers #sydneylocal #sydneystyle #sydneycbd #flowers #flowersofinstagram #flowerseverywhere #notthechelseaflowershow
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Even the tiny little alley/pathway to London`s smallest public square has a proper street sign!
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#londonstreetsign #pickeringplace #pickeringplacelondon #stjamess #londonvibes #londonlife #londontrip #london_city_photo #londonlandmarks #londonwalks #londonssmallestpublicsquare #londontravel #londonlover #londonhistory #seetheworldthroughmylens #seekandyoushallfind #traveltheworldwithme
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At the eastern end of Pyrmont Bridge, one of the old sandstone pylons dwarfed by highrise towers now all around the Darling Harbour area.
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#pyrmontbridge #pyrmontbridgesydney #sydney #sydneyinwinter #darlingharbour #sydneycbd #lunchtimewalk #blueskyandsunshine #seekandyoushallfind #seetheworldthroughmylens #sydneylocal
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The Darling Harbour Ferris Wheel, surrounded by the highrise jungle that is developing in that area, not a person in site!! Yet another soulless enclave!
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#ferriswheel #darlingharboursydney #darlingharbour #nopeeps #nopeepshere #soulless #highriseinvasion #highrisejungle #lunchtimewalk #sydneyinwinter #sydney #sydneylocal #sydneyaustralia
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At the Australian National Maritime Museum, the Lego model of the bow of the Titanic heading down to the ocean floor, with the two funnels breaking away.
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#titanic #titanic1912 #lego #legofun #anmmuseum #legoexhibition #sydney #darlingharboursydney #darlingharbour #sydneymuseum #thingstodoinsydney #myhometown #seeeverythingdoeverything #traveltheworldwithme #visitsydney #sydneyaustralia
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The Red Lion pub in St James`s, one of the old workers pubs, also made a name for itself as a Gin Palace. Apparently holds the 2nd oldest licence in the West End, having been around forvover 200 years!
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#redlion #redlionpub #mayfairpub #stjamess #crownpassage #exploringlondon #seekandyoushallfind #londonlife #londontrip #londonwalks #london_enthusiast #londonlover #londontravel #londonhistory #seetheworldthroughmyeyes #traveltheworldwithme
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A final check on the recipe for the Christmas pud, making surectgatvlast drop of magic is in there. All part of the amazing Fortnum & Mason Christmas window display on Piccadilly in London.
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#fortnums #fortnumandmason #fortnumschristmas #fortnumschristmaswindow #fortnumandmasonpiccadilly #windowshopping #windowtotheworld #london #londonlife #londonlandmarks #londontrip #londonchristmas #londonstyle #londonatchristmastime #christmasinlondon2022 #christmasatfortnums #seetheworldthroughmyeyes
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The trick is to go on Christmas Day to take photos of the lights, not Christmas Eve!! There are 75% less people doing the same thing!!
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#london #christmaslights
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My favourite of this years Sculpture by the Sea on the Bondi to Tamarama Coastal Walk.
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#sculptureinthepark #sculpturebythesea #sculpture #artinpublicplaces #artoftravel #bluewater #bluesky #sydneyaustralia #sydneyinsummer #sydneylife #bonditotamaramacoastalwalk #sydneycoastalwalk #sydneyphotographer #sydneystyle #seekandyoushallfind #seeeverythingdoeverything
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It`s a squirrels life, just sitting in a tree, eating a snack, looking over the lake and watching the world go by.....in Regent`s Park in London.
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#squirrel #squirrelsofinstagram #squirrellife #squirrelinatree #regentsparklondon #royalparks #royalparksandgardens #regentspark #walkinthepark #londonlife #londonparks #londontrip #londonwalks #london #traveladdict #traveltheworldwithme #seetheworldthroughmylens
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In the mid 1800s, Pickering Place was the home to the Embassy of the Republic of Texas before Texas became part of the United States of America. This plaque remains on the wall of the small lane leading to London`s smallest public square in St Jame`s.
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#texasembassy #texasembassylondon #pickeringplace #pickeringplacelondon #stjamess #exploringlondon #historiclondon #londonlife #londonlandmarks #londontrip #londonwalks #london #londontravel #traveltherapy #traveltheworldwithme #seekandyoushallfind
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The Christmas tree in Pickering Place, St James`s, London. These houses are now the offices for Berry Bros & Rudd, London`s oldest wine merchants.
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#pickeringplace #pickering #berrybrosandrudd #stjamess #christmasinlondon2022 #christmastree #exploringlondon #winemerchant #publicsquare #londonssmallestpublicsquare #londonlife #londonlandmarks #londontrip #londontravel #traveltheworldwithme #seeeverythingdoeverything
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Another shell fullnof flowers at tge David Jones Soring Flower Show at the Elizabeth St store in the Sydney CBD.
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#davidjonesflowershow #davidjonesstore #davidjones #davidjonessydney #flowersofinstagram #flowershow #flowerseverywhere #underwatertheme #notthechelseaflowershow #sydneycbd #sydneylunchtime #sydneylife #sydneyflowers
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High up on a rock on the Sculpture by the Sea coastal walk from Bondi to Tamarama, this `flying` sculpture even has a plane fkying past in the background.
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#sculptureart #sculptureinthepark #sculpturebythesea #bonditotamarama #bonditotamaramacoastalwalk #blueskyforever #highonarock #flypast #artinpublicplaces #explorethecityyoulivein #sydney #sydneylife #sydneyaustralia #sydney_insta #seekandyoushallfind
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This was Christmas Eve outside Fortnum & Mason, it was raining, the store was packed with people - look at all the blue Fortnums bags!!! Plenty of last minute shopping going on!!
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@fortnums #fortnumandmason #fortnumandmasonpiccadilly #christmaseve #fortnumschristmas #christmasatfortnums #christmasinlondon2022 #londonlife #londonlandmarks #londontrip #londonchristmas #london #piccadilly #traveladdict
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Looking south towards Tamarama and Bronte Beaches, and all those people walking on the Bondi to Tamarama Coastal Walk to see Sculpture by the Sea.
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#bonditotamarama #bonditotamaramacoastalwalk #pacificocean #sculpturebythesea #bluewaterwaves #sydneylife #sydney #sydneyaustralia #explorethecityyoulivein #seetheworldthroughmyeyes #outandabout
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The chocolate department at Fortnum & Mason on Piccadilly. So many delicious goodies to choose from - best to just buy at least one of each!!
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#fortnumandmason @fortnums #fortnumandmasonpiccadilly #fortnumschristmas #fortnumschocolates #shoppinginlondon #piccadilly #christmasatfortnums #christmasinlondon #traveltheworldwithme #seetheworldthroughmylens #traveladdict #londonlife #londontrip #londonatchristmastime
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Choppy day out on Sydney Harbour, as I caught the ferry from McMahons Point to Circular Quay, lots of boats around Fort Denison, Sydney`s eastern suburbs in the background.
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#sydneyharbour #fortdenison #sydneyferries #choppywater #sailingonsydneyharbour #boatsontheharbour #crossingtheharbour #sydney #sydneyaustralia #sydneylife #myhometown #explorethecityyoulivein #sydneywaterways #bluewater #seetheworldthroughmylens
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Passing the bow of HMAS Sydney, a WWl ship in the Australian Navy fleet. The bow of the ship sits on the edge of Sydney Harbour as a memorial to its successful battle in the Pacific.
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#sydneyferries #hmassydney #hmassydneymemorial #milsonspoint #sydneyharbour #sydneylife #sydneyaustralia #sydneywaterways #palmtrees #outontheharbour #explorethecityyoulivein #seeeverythingdoeverything #seetheworldthroughmylens #seekandyoushallfind #bluewater
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A twisted woiden sculpture on show on the rocks not far from Bondi Beach on the Sculpture by the Sea coastal walk from Bondi to Tamarama.
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#sculpturebythesea #sulptureontheshore #artinpublicplaces #sculptureart #sculpture #woodengardenart #woodensculpture #bonditotamaramacoastalwalk #bonditotamarama #explorethecityyoulivein #ontherocks #seekandyoushallfind #seeeverythingdoeverything
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A swan and a few ducks on the lake in London`s Regents Park, enjoying a moment in the winter sun.
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#regentsparklondon #regentspark #swansandducks #swansandducksofinstagram #swanlake #outonthelake #reflectiononwater #walkinthepark #londonparks #london #londontrip #londonwalks #londontravel #seetheworldthroughmylens #seekandyoushallfind
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