Back in London!

Following the ye olde fun times in Warwickshire, I made my way down to London for catching up with friends, shopping, and because everyone I know in London is basically there to work, I had some general down time to indulge in my joint pleasures of art and food. 


One these fronts, I caught up with Miss Amandine for some shopping and I was able to eat a chicken pot pie for dinner (mmmmm, I should make these). The next day I started off by going to Sir John Soane's Museum in Lincoln's Inn Fields. 

 Sir John Soane was an architect (best known piece is probably the Bank of England) but during his lifetime he was a collector of art and sculptures which he kept in his house which he used as a private museum. 

The building is undergoing extensive renovations. The collection is quite interesting and the particular highlights are the Egyptian sarcophagus of Seti I in the basement and the Hogarth and Canaletto paintings. 

Following this, I walked over to Chinatown to Rasa Sayang for a bowl of Curry Laksa.

Laska is one of my favourite of noodle soups and I miss it. I actually had it here last time I was in London and it's more on the spicy than coconutty side. It was washed down with another craving, bubble tea.  

After lunch, I took a leisurely stroll to Trafalgar Square and went to one of the few galleries I consider the equal, nay, BETTER than the Louvre, The National Gallery. 

Outside the gallery was a live version of a piece from the collection, Van Gogh's Wheat Field with Cypresses. Supercool! 

And all was good in the world. 

Warwick Castle

Drs. Wallace and Cane flew in on Saturday arvo and the Brits were so happy to see them again that they were lovingly held up at immigration for over and hour. This resulted in a familiar rant from Dr. Wallace about why he left Ol' Blighty in the first place. Ah, it was good to see them again! 


After attempting to recover from jet lag, we three went to another local tourist favourite, Warwick Castle. Formerly the seats of the Earls of Warwick, it is perhaps most famously used during the War of the Roses as where Richard Neville, "The Kingmaker" imprisoned Edward IV. More recently, it was voted the Best Castle in the UK! 

 Yep, looks like a castle!

Uh-oh! Already in the pillory!

Heading towards the main gate...

They weren't very good at stopping invaders - the porticullis was wide open!

 A view from one of the towers

Ye olde town of Warwick

Over the town towards Warwick Cathedral

 More of the town (Warwick)

 It looks so much like a stereotype of a castle. 

 Drs. Wallace and Cane being tourists

I'm not very good at camouflage. 

A very small room? 

 The English (note - not the Union Jack) made Dr. Wallace feel patriotic.

Mediaeval drainage system.

 Awww, so schoen

The castle is currently owned by the Tussaud's Group and so there are lots of wax mannequins around doing random mediaeval things.

I can't remember what these guys were meant to be.

 Or these guys.

He looked a bit lonely

Taking a closer look at what this guy was up to 

 This guy was kinda creepy

Actually, I think this is a real person.

 The delicious wax feast laid out for me!



Ye olde toilet

Dr. Wallace demonstrates the use of ye olde toilet...

 and then selected a sword.

The day was quite good - it was mostly sunny although there was a large cloudburst later.

Also, the Warwickshire countryside is super-green and totally like what you imagine England would look like. 

 Oh look, a stall for authentic courtyard hotdogs!

Heh.

We didn't go into this exhibition because we're tightasses, not because we're snivelling wimps!

 There was also a large collection of various birds of prey.

Oooh, big one. 

Later, we watched Ursa the trebuchet (a kind of catapult) being fired! 

Ursa being prepared for chucking

The guy giving the presentation in his period getup

More getting ready...

While we were listening and waiting for the trebuchet to be fired, the ducks came very close because a lot of people were eating sandwiches. Mine had ham, blue cheese, and piccalilli. 

 FIRE!!!!

There is a large number of things to do at Warwick during the Summer months. I hear there is less to do during the Winter months. 

Looking at the river Avon from the Castle Mill. 

Heh.

Looking into the Great Hall.

*gasp!* I don't remember seeing those people!

 Later there was also a jousting show and various trick riding based around the story of Richard de Beauchamp. I think, I don't remember much.

 Here come the villains (some Germans heh) on their dragon-headed boat!!!

Walking through the grounds looking towards the greenhouse. 

 Topiary peacock

A REAL peacock!

Afterwards, we decided to walk through the town of Warwick and admire it's Tudor-yness. 

 Mmm, contrast...

The castle looming imposingly over the town.


The mill house and gardens which had featured in some English shows I'd not heard of.

 Purdy dahlias.

Noice

The romantic but also somewhat dangerous ruined bridge that I guess used to lead over the Avon to the Castle.
 

 This plant was huge. I should have stood next to it.

 Dr. Wallace was punished with some time in the stocks just because.

And we finished our day with some tea and a scone with Cornish cream for me.