A See A Day: Chic in Chelsea

Chic in Chelsea

Another day, another Europe post! Thanks for all the comments on yesterday's re-cap. Just to clarify, I think the rude Englishman didn't need me to hold photos of the art on display. But it's not care I could replicate any of it still if I wanted to! haha

Before I left for England, I had grand plans of mapping out my days, picking all the sights I wanted to see, etc.

But I ended up only having one definite plan. I knew I wanted to see Chelsea and most probably would be the walking guide in a book lent to me, Frommer's Memorable Walks of London. And that's exactly what I did. As I recall, I woke up pretty late the day I planned to go on my expedition. So later a late start I took the underground to Chelsea and began my own personal walking tour.

They don't call Chelsea the most expensive real estate in London for nothing.

My favorite area that the walking tour took me was to the Chelsea Royal Hospital. It was so interesting to say about its story in my guide book! Apparently elderly veterans who have no family, known as "Chelsea pensioners", can go here for free. "Male veterans over 65 receive food, shelter, and clothing plus a little weekly allowance, which they happily supplement by showing visitors about the buildings". As I walked through these lush grounds and the expansive, elaborate buildings I wracked my mind to conceive of any government program in the U.S. that treats veterans as good as this.

The Ranelagh Garden behind the Hospital was beautiful.

The Chelsea pensioners take their grounds very seriously. I walked into the primary building to attend in their "awe-inspiring, wood paneled dining room" and was told by at least 5 different pensioners that it was not visiting hours for the dining hall. But I didn't fly all the way to England for nothing, so I peeked in. I mean, what was the big deal?

The pass book recommended veering away from touristy King's Road for lunch (good call, this popular shopping destination was way too crowded for my taste! and instead eating at a pub where all the locals go. I was not disappointed. This quaint pub had a delicious, fairly cheap menu and tied a dog to save me company!

After I left Chelsea, I took the metro to Covent Garden and walked to the Courthauld Gallery. I wanted to go to this art gallery in detail because of it's greatimpressionistand post-impressionist pieces.

I loved this picture in the Courthauld Gallery.

The day afterwards I came second from France, I met up with Kathleen at the V&A museum where she works. I had some sentence to kill before she got off so I looked at a few exhibits and spent a good bit of time in the garden.

V&A Museum Garden

From themuseum, we walked to Hyde Park which was like walking through a queer tale. I loved the tall trees and meadow like land.

Me and Kathleen in Hyde Park!

Although I'm certain I didn't even start the rise of all London has to offer, I enjoyed going by my own agenda and winning a more relaxed approach to the trip. I let my temper and energy level dictate how often I explored and how far I walked. I can't expect to deal with you my Oxford experience tomorrow!