The National Gallery

Today I ticked off another goal on my Bucket List - a trip to the National Gallery in London. The weather was disappointing again with heavy grey clouds and a chilly temperature, but we set off nonetheless. We had a good journey down to London, but became a bit unstuck when I found I couldn't turn left just after the V&A museum to park in Hyde Park...

I must admit I panicked a bit and carried on into Knightsbridge, and then spotted a car park behind Harrods. I didn't see any charges displayed but I was so thankful to find a parking space I didn't care...

We left the car, walked past some very posh shops indeed (Dolce & Gabana, Harvey Nichols) and found our way to Hyde Park corner, Buckingham Palace and the Mall. There were crowds of tourists everywhere and we saw one of the guards striding through the park opposite Buckingham Palace still wearing his ceremonial uniform. To be honest it was a bit creepy seeing him among the trees with his bearskin and scarlet tunic and he seemed very out of place! Is it even allowed, we wondered?

Once at Trafalgar Square we had lunch in a branch of Caffe Nero and then walked the short distance to The National Gallery. There was something Indian going on in the square as there were loads of stalls selling Indian food and we were accosted by a young woman asking if we wanted to take part in yoga! We told her we were on our way to the National Gallery so she sent us on our way with a smile! We noticed a street "statue" and Sophie went to put some money in his box - he was very good but a bit scary!

We had a great time in the Gallery and saw some beautiful paintings by Constable (The Hay Wain), Monet, Cezanne, Van Gogh, Rembrandt, Gainsborough, etc. There were lots of boobies on display including some frankly rude pictures which surprised us both! I enjoyed seeing some of the famous paintings close up but I do wonder what all the fuss is about with regards to Van Gogh - his Sunflowers painting was on loan to an exhibition in Amsterdam but the one of the chair was on display and I'm afraid it did nothing for me! This was the one I thought was beautiful...

I wasa drawn to her eyes and how lovely she was - the painting is Susanna at her Bath by Francesco Hayez and tells the story of Susanna, a virtuous woman who was bathing in her garden while two eldermen looked on. They threatened to report her for adultery unless she slept with them, but she protests and is finally proved innocent. I think the artist is intending for the viewer of the painting to be the men watching her as there is definitely a reproachful look in her eye!

We saw all that we wanted to see at the National Gallery, treated ourselves to a muffin and a drink, and then made our way back to the car park where I discovered that it had cost me £38 to park for just under four hours! We won't be using that car park again but my little Audi was in good company - there were some seriously posh cars in there!

It was great to get home and have a drink and a chat with Keith and tell him about our day. I love visiting London but it's just a bit expensive!