Kensington Palace built by Christopher Wren 1689, merged his preferred Baroque style into classical. Recall the times of the 1665 Great plague and 1666 Great Fires. Princess Victoria at 18 years old, becomes Queen of England upon her Uncles sudden death. Until then, Princess Victoria was born at Kensington Palace and reared by her overbearing Mother. At 18 years, upon becoming Queen, Victoria moves out of her childhood Kensington home, and moves to Buckingham Palace. She was the first Queen who reigned during the advent of photography-heralding in the Paparazzi and seven assassination attempt. Currently, six Royal families live at Kensington palace. Actually the current royals are living in the maids quarters from Queen Victoria’s reign. Maids quarters are really private residences because they are hidden and not seen from the palace. The most famous painting at Kensington Palace is by Van Dyke, a mythological themed Cupid and Psyche, circa 1639.

Before the London bridge was built, London did not exist. What made London bridge so famous and why it made my list to visit: it is Medieval, and at one time, counted over 30 spiked heads beheaded for treason and dipped in tar for preservation, displayed on the bridge, circa 1600. More recently, in 2017, London Bridge was the target of a terrorist attack. As a response, security barriers were installed between the bridge’s pavement and road. I felt safe crossing.

Harrods dept store was on my list mainly to see the princess Diana memorial. To my dismay, this memorial was removed six years ago and Mohamed Fayad no longer is the owner of Harrods. As relayed by a shop keeper, the Queen denied Fayad citizenship, forcing him to sell the business and move to Switzerland. Nevertheless I had something to eat, something to drink, took a picture, and shopped for clothes. Bypassed the American Brands and tried on a number of fashion from Italy and Great Britain, alas nothing really fit….

Just like Jim Morrison’s grave in Paris, you follow the crowds and arrive at Abbey road and Abbey road studio. The setting is tranquil, well to do suburb of London. Although just another intersection on an ordinary street, I really enjoyed my visit to Abbey Road, as I watched myself on live cam feed waiving to whoever was watching!

I ended my day at the Prime Ministers home, 10 Downing Street, but it was gated and guarded. I passed the Cabinet War rooms, a tour I would have loved to see! I jumped a bus to Piccadilly’s circus which resembles NYC Time Square. Had Mac and cheese with a gin and tonic and talked to a Canadian reservist Captain, stationed in Iraq and returning to his home in Nova Scotia after six months. We talked about everything from when the British and Commonwealth resisted World War II and the Americans reluctant to get involved. We talked about the Commonwealth of which Canada was one, and how much influence America has in the world reflected by the marketing of Coca-Cola, Nike and Hollywood cinema.

Tomorrow my last day, beginning with a sold out exhibit of Christian Dior at the V & A, to a tour of St Paul Cathedral, Covent Garden and a great seat at her Majesty’s theatre to watch Phantom of the Opera to unify my trip to Paris and London!