We planned to take the train to Hampton Court and the boat back down the Thames. First thing we found on arriving is that the boat trips ended the first week of October. So I miss the opportunity of pretending that I’m a 16th century member of court, leaving the palace and returning to London, being rowed in a small barge. Pity.
The rest of our visit was magical. This is how the royals lived at leisure. Henry’s rooms are large and brash, just like the king. William of Orange’s rooms are more refined, looking onto lovely gardens. The art collections are splendid. There are more notes on the individual photos.
Home on the train, dinner chez nous.
Norah enjoying the free newspaper they give our morning and evening at all transport stops. A different paper each morning and evening. Print media still has lots of legs in the UK.
Approaching Hampton Court, on the Base Court
Ceiling of the main entrance gatehouse. Most of the rooms from Henry's time have magnificent carved wooden ceilings.
Henry's Great Hall, surrounded with huge Flemish tapestries. This was where the staff and lesser visitors ate; the king usually dined in his quarters.
Elephants from one of the Flemish tapestries next to the elephants from a huge Rubens painting at the National. They were both created in the late 16th century.
Beautiful painting of a page looking through a window, artfully displayed in shadows.
The Queen's Staircase (Queen Mary, wife of William), cobbled together by me to show the size and beauty.
Willam's dining room - intimate, refined.
Door handle with monogram of William and Mary.
Down the alley outside the enormous kitchens that served the palace.
Like the royals, we ate well, but surrounded by the hoi polloi.
Alas, not a Tudor red rose, but a lovely pink with a hint of scent.
Commuter bikes outside our flat. Every morning the rack is empty and by ten am, it is full, then empty by seven pm. Santander (national bank of Portugal) purchased the naming rights, so their name is everywhere in a positive way.