I know “Yes, we can” isn’t just Obama’s 2008 election motto, but it is what I most closely associate the phrase with. So it was jarring to see this loaf of bread in a London supermarket:
That is an ambitious loaf of bread.
Olney, England; May 28, 2013
St. Leonard’s Church, Ribbesford, England; May 26, 2013
Kew Gardens, London, England; July 10, 2013
The Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew are almost as large as their name is long. They run along the River Thames in the southwest of London, taking up about a half mile square (121 hectares, in case the hectare is a unit of measurement that means something to you). They’re on the World Heritage list because they’ve maintained their size and purpose for over two centuries; they do a lot of plant research here, and have one of the best orchid collections in the world, for example. When my friend Sessily and I met up in London, we decided to pack a picnic and make a day of it at Kew. We spent a lovely day in the warm sunshine, admiring the trees and flowers, gazing out over the pond, having an ice cream, watching kids run around excitedly, listening to the sound check for the Human League concert taking place there later that night… You know, normal gardens stuff.
I don’t know the names of plants, and a lot of plants didn’t have labels (or none that we could find), so I can’t name most of these for you. Feel free to educate me in the comments!
They have their own tube stop.
The oldest tree in Kew, planted in the early 18th century. It’s a sweet chestnut–that name I did find out!
We bought sandwich fixings from a Portuguese deli. This was a very good sandwich.
Treetop walk
The treetop walk featured hilarious plaques noting plant facts. We loved this one because the artist decided to put in the male and female symbols (see where our fingers point), just in case you missed it in the text.
Palm tree in the Temperate House
I think this was a rhododendron–cool star pattern
Giant Japanese pagoda. The gardens also contain a small wooden house, called a minka, which was transferred piece by piece from Japan in 2000.
Pink and blue
I was really into this plant. It’s so airy! It looks like something the fairies might live in.
Kew Palace, the smallest royal residence in Britain. George III lived here during one of his bouts of madness.
They’ve restored the inside of the house.
Do do do, it’s a chair in the house. What’s that little placard say? Ahh! It’s the chair Queen Charlotte DIED in, back in 1818. I jumped away from that chair like the dead woman was still in it.
They make their own ice cream here. This mint chocolate chip was fantastic.
Orchids
In the Princess of Wales Conservatory
Hey, remember when I did this?
Ziggy Stardust, sans Spiders
And this?
Jareth, Goblin King, from “Labyrinth” — tempting Sarah to join my world
I’m a big David Bowie fan, so when my mom saw that the Victoria & Albert Museum in London was having a special exhibit approved by the man himself, she knew she’d found my birthday present. It was such an anticipated exhibit that when I looked for tickets in March, all of April, May, and June had sold out. I actually changed some of my plans just so I could be in London for today, July 11, to see this exhibit.
I don’t know all his music well (the Berlin period is one I really want to dive into more), and I don’t like everything he’s done (let’s not ever speak of the “Dancing in the Streets” video), but I find Bowie fascinating. He’s always trying something new, in a combination of original and appropriated ideas that no other musical artist has perfected quite as well, and he makes some damn fine tunes.
I wish you all a Bowie-filled day, whether that means “Suffragette City” or “Heroes” or “Queen Bitch” or “Golden Years” or “Ashes to Ashes” or “The Next Day.” Now I’m off to see how a Gucci-sponsored exhibit called “David Bowie is…” presents the man and the music.
Hay-on-Wye, United Kingdom; May 21, 2013
Sunset, Olney, England
St. Paul’s Cathedral, London, England; May 17, 2013
Sunset, Bath, England
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