Kew Palace

Today on the 8th of July, my friend and I went to Kew Palace and Kew Gardens.

Built in 1631, Kew Palace was built for a wealthly London Merchant called Samuel Fortrey. By the 1750s it was used as a school house for young Princes and bought b the Roal Family. After 1801 it became a Palace itself. King George III, Queen Charlotte and their children lived in Kew Palace during the infamous time of the King's apparant insanit, now recognised as porphyria. Queen Charlotte died at Kew Palce in 1818, and today we saw the chair that she died in. Slightl eery but interesting non the less. After her death it was no longer used as a Royal Palace but we learnt today that Queen Elizabeth had her 80th birthday in the Palace. It is located in a gorgeous picturesque setting in Kew Gardens and it was such a lovely day it made it seem all the more beautiful.

As usual I felt quite at home, but there was a strange eeriness that I didn't really like upstairs....spooky but still beautiful. Oh and I got my first pair of Hunter Boots or wellies, and I am super excited about! I got an original Hunter boot, in pink of course and they have been around in Britain for 150 years. Designed to battle Britain's rugged and wet terrain, these spectacular boots even have a Royal Warrant of HM from the Queen who wears no other wellies!

Fulham Palace

 When I first moved to Fulham Palace Road, the first thing I asked was whether or not there was a Fulham Palace. So distracted was I with everything else to see and do in London I didn't actually find out until very recently and here is what I found, 10 minutes walk down my street!

One of the least known and beatufiul palaces in London is Fulham Palace. Bishops have owned land there since the yer 690AD and used it as their country residence since the 11th Century. A mixture of Tudor, Georgian and Victorian architecture , Fulham Palace once boasted the longest moat in all of England believed to have been dug in the 10th Century or even by Romans. The Bishops vacated the property in the late 70s and it is now run by the Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham.

While I was there, I had high tea with scones and cakes, frollicked and Irish Danced in the garden, followed the 1.4km Moat Trail around Bishops Park and the Palace, walked through Fulham Cemetary and All Saints Church as well as climbed some trees!

Hammersmith - Where I live in London

When I moved to London, I based my location on where to live somewhere that was near to the school I was working at. I had know idea about any boroughs or places in London and got lost many times looking at apartments and flats. When I did move, I moved to a studio in Hammersmith on Fulham Palace Road. Now I know, Hammersmith is in West London (West is best), neighbouring boroughs include Kensington and Chelsea, Putney and White City. I am in Zone 2. I live in Brandenburg House, a place I've mentioned in a studio flat in the basement at the front of the building. This is what it looks like now.

Here is some amazing history about the building in which I live. On Fulham Palace road there was a stretch of land between Fulham (Neighbouring borough near Chelsea) and the River Thames; this is where Brandenburg House was built. It was originally built by Sir Nicholas Crispe in the beginning of Charles I.'s reign. A general in 1647 moved here during the Civil War, and his troops afterwards plundered the house; but at the close of the war Sir Nicholas returned and restored his property to its former state. After his death in 1666 it descended to his nephew, who sold it seventeen years later to Prince Rupert, who gave it to Margaret Hughes (his mistress). It then passed through the possession of various owners.

In 1792 it became the property of the Margrave of Brandenburg-Anspach and Bayreuth, and at his death the Margravine, formerly Lady Craven, continued to live there. Faulkner gives a minute account of the house and a long inventory of all the pictures in it while it was the residence of this lady. She built a theatre near the waterside, and herself took part in the performances. Though Brandenburg House was situated in Fulham, it is often described and spoken of as in Hammersmith.

On May 3, 1820, Queen Caroline, wife of George IV, came to live at Brandenburg House, and on the fifteenth of that month was presented with a congratulatory address by the inhabitants of Hammersmith. She had been sent there after her husband the King, refused to let her attend his coronation. The Queen stood on the balcony of her residence and bowed her acknowledgments to the enthusiastic crowd. The Queen died in 1821, and the King caused the house to be destroyed shortly afterwards, it is said, in jealousy of her popularity. 

Below is the London Underground tube map, which gives a good indication of where I am situated. I am in Zone 2, near to Knightsbridge (Harrods) Kensington, Chelsea as well as not being too far from Picadilly Circus and central London. The Piccadilly Line is my favourite. (Dark blue line)

One more fun thing to do that I thought was pretty amazing; British Airways are having a massive conspiracy and trying to keep people in London during the Olympics. One fun feature is that on their website you can input your address and you can watch a British Airways plane depart from Central London and land on your street. Mine is a bit off but my postcode is W69HH if you would like to play!   http://taxi.ba.com/?source=R06TPC410941000

Paris

Paris.... It sounded like the most beautiful place to first explore Europe. It was not high on my to-do list, however when some of my friends suggested a girly trip I definitely wanted to go. Paris was so beautiful it is difficult to describe. All the cliche lines and movie scenes made me wonder what was so special about the city. Dubbed the City of Lights, it was truly a spectacular sight of beauty and wonder and an overall feel of romance, sophistication and elegance. Those people who have visited will know exactly what I mean.

I went with my two friends Amy and Gemma and we stayed in a quaint hotel with three single beds about 20 minutes on the Metro from the Eiffel Tower. We travelled by Euro Star from London St Pancras Station, a train that actually goes underneath the Channel between England and France. We began day one by climbing the Eiffel Tower and it was far bigger than I anticipated. It was very very high and I was slightly nervous going up but it was a breathtaking view from the top.

On day two we went to the Lourve and I saw the Mona Lisa and many other spectacular sights. I was intruiged by the buildings and what they were before they became a museum. we went to the Notre Dame Cathedral, a Catholic Cathedral that was smaller than I imagined but amazingly beautiful. I lit candles inside for the people that I love and those who are sadly no longer with us.

That night we went to the famous Crazy Horse, a burlesque style show of the perfect combination of sex and sophistication and with champagne made it all the more luxurious. We then had dinner very late in perfect view of the sparkling and twinkling Eiffel Tower and I was even given a rose!

On the third day we went to the Palace of Versailles and despite the rain, I felt quite at home. The extravagence and marvel of that palace is truly breathtaking and I had a great time imagining that I was Marie Antionette...

Finally we went on a river cruise that showed us all the impressive sights of Paris from the river Seine. It was so beautiful.

Paris was far more extraordinary and more beautiful than I imagined and I now know why people always talk about going there. I hope to go back soon with Adam as it truly above all the City of Love.