Harrods

Finally, we got back to Harrods and bought a few little things.   It only cost $144.00 but it came with a free plastic bag.

They have an Egyptian Hall and Escalators.   Here is some proof!

You know, considering that the Egyptians at the time of the pyramids didn't even have the wheel, it's amazing that they had invented the escalator.    Now we know how they got those stones up onto the pyramids!

Beautiful representations if not strictly accurate.   I'm pretty sure Pharaohs didn't have lights sticking out of their heads.   The hieroglyphs weren't strictly accurate either.   But that's nit-picking as the overall effect right down to the faded paint on the pylons was brilliant.  

 

This is the proof picture.

 

The Food Hall

This hall is also beautifully decorated and, in some instances, it would only cost a weeks salary to buy a sandwich.   I bet it would be a great sandwich though.   We bought a gift for Gran and Gramps here.   

Fresh food department.

The ceilings and light fixtures are in the spirit of the area in which they are found.   Anyone guess where this ceiling/light fixture was located?

Pastries!

The lolly shop!

Toys

Aw!  You have got to see the toy department.

The security is high here.   They even have Mickey Mouse on guard duty.

This is the original Iron Man suite worn in the movie.

I showed Imran's picture to this camel and now she want's to meet him.

Victoria and Albert Museum

Again, this museum is on the same road as our hotel.   It is dedicated to Queen Victoria and her husband Albert who died some fifty years before Victoria.

This picture of the dome of the building is taken from across the road.

Believe it or not this is one of the dining rooms of the cafe.

Detail of one of the columns in the dining room.

 A little panorama that I took.

 

The following pictures are just a very few of the many artifacts in the museum dating from the 10th century through to today and from many different countries.    

Hotel and Surrounds

We are in the Radisson Blu Edwardian Vanderbilt Hotel in Kensington, London.   This must be the best location in London if the house prices are anything to go by.  One three bedroom unit was £14,999,999.00.

Pinched from the web site, this is very similar to our room but we have a corner window onto Cromwell Road.

Here we are.

Stairs to our room.

Around the Area

We've had a few walks around the area to go for coffee and dinner and just to look around at the homes and hotels in the area.

As you might expect, most homes are in the form of apartments such as this.  Some have private gardens but most are just on the street.

A mews is a row or street of houses or flats that have been converted from stables or built to look like former stables.

London Taxi.   There are thousands of these things in the city buzzing backwards and forwards.   They are all diesel as far as I can tell.   Very efficient but very very expensive I've been warned. 

 

 Speaking of cars, these are a few of the ones that the local residents drive.   They also leave them on the street because there is no secure parking in these homes.






A mews with houses all resembling stables.   Some with wide doors.

Mews gates from Cromwell Road.

These flats are called mansions.   They may cost more than you'll ever earn in a lifetime but they are still flats to me.

These beautiful gardens are actually private gardens for residents and not available to the public.   Even the residents have rules: no dogs, no noise, no music, no sports and no more than three guests.

The blossoms are out in London; absolutely beautiful displays of colours.    Flowers are coming up too.

This little bit of park is on Cromwell Road not far from the Natural History Museum.  We didn't get there because of the huge crowds.