for 2 days, 2 people and me. Condensed time. Plans made before. Change of plans on site. But with a little bit of flexibility everything is not so stressful.
Ah – we did not need an umbrella, had 95% sunshine. A very nice hotel in London’s Eastend – so the region Hoxton/ Shoreditch to discover. Nice little shops and cafés, old and brand new buildings. Walking around west and south of Arnold Circus was just amazing. White Cube Gallery. Etc.
Attended a crowded opening at the White Chapel Gallery on Wednesday (Adventures of the Black Square) with wonderful works you have not seen on the wall for a long time. Starting with a classic Malewitsch black square you follow more minimalist positions up to an actual American outlook on the 1st floor – more colorful.
And not to forget a horse ride in Hyde Park – walking and trotting only the 1st time *what is OK* more to come if you want to the next rides (up to jumping and canter!). From a horse back you have definitely another view.
Public transport makes it easy to reach the most important places to visit. For us as Germans the British Museum was a must with the running show (until 25 January 2015): german Memories of a nation. A 600-year history in objects. Hm – the ‚Denker und Bastler‘ how DER TAGESSPIEGEL named it – we saw an exhibition very museum like. Classic. Starting with an Anselm Kiefer piece and statement and a video with scenarios of the night the wall was teared down you end up in a little tourist shop *even with the German Dachshound in both varieties*. AND WHERE IS THE STANDARD SCHNAUZER, hä? Too bad – they missed me …
The most impressive object for me was the Beetle in the Central Court of the Museum – right hand driven grey VW. This is Germany: ‚Der Deutschen liebstes Kind‘. VW, THE CAR, adapted for the British market. For use in another country. This is German Engineering.
As the fall of the wall – engineered by Germany, executed with partners, inspired by democracy. Greece is ‚die Wiege der Demokratie’, Africa where human being started. And many more countries who contributed to Europe being Europe.
Do not miss the Sir Sloane’s Museum, only a 10 minutes walk from the British Museum (walk through the little Sicilian Avenue!). An eclectic 3 part house – filled with lots and lots of antiquities, paintings and superb architectural ideas – 19th century, saved for today. Ah, what a wonderful and cosy hideaway after these crowdy places. The unusual ‘first look right and then left’ before crossing the street was really hard for me as a German.