Home at last
We are finally home. 107 in Dallas but with the wind chill it only feels like 106! Ha!
Posts
National Gallery
After Westminster Abbey, we went to the National Gallery and had a wonderful time—an immense collection of treasures. Botticelli Rembrandt’s Belshazzar’s Feast Charles I on horseback. Titian, Jesus answering the question about paying taxes to Caesar El Greco, Jesus driving the money changers from the Temple. Van Gogh, Sunflowers Titian, portrait of a man. Notice the character in his face. Oops, I forgot. British National Gallery: Da Vinci, Madonna of the Rocks
Westminster Abbey
On Wednesday, we went to Westminster Abbey for Eucharist. No pictures of course, but we did get a shot of the Churchill statue and the Houses of Parliament amid the crowds of tourists.
V&A Museum
Tuesday, it was raining all day, so we went to the Victoria and Albert Museum. Fascinating. One of several fabulous Della Robbias in their collection. Rodin’s Prodigal Son. Elizabeth I’s personal virginal. A Van Dyck painting showing three views of Charles I’s head (while he still had it). And finally, Ellen contemplating a statue of Handel.
St. Paul’s Cathedral
We went to Evensong at St.Paul’s on Monday—very lovely service. We heard a guest choir from Philadelphia sing a service by, I believe, Howells and an anthem, Geistliches Lied by Brahms. The latter was not well chosen because, while well sung, the 8-second resonance in the sanctuary obscured the counterpoint. Below are the altar area and the dome.
Buckingham Palace
On Monday, we went to Buckingham Palace. It wa jammed with tourists, of course. The part that was open to tourists is much like a museum. The Picture Gallery was by far the most interesting. There are some real treasures here—two Rembrandts, several Van Dycks, Rubens, and two marvelous Titians. Almost all the paintings on display were from the 16th or 17th century. Priceless. The accompanying photo gives a sense of what pictures could be taken in Buckingham Palace.