Someone had to be the target of the first picture in London. It was Mom + Dad's backpack on the Underground from Heathrow to the stop near our hotel in Kensington Square Gardens.
Views from the train
View down the Underground at Bayswater Station
Our room
There is no screen on our hotel room's window. I climbed right out and took pictures.
This stunning tulip/fountain sits in front of Kensington Palace
Trying to get Mom and Dad in a photo together. A bit like pulling teeth...
Round Pond
Who doesn't love a good swan shot.
I was so excited to see a Greylag Goose. Konrad Lorenz practiced his animal behavior experiments using Greylags. These were the birds that Lorenz had imprint on him, thus introducing the world to the science of imprinting. In his book, "King Solomon's Ring", the Greylag just follow Lorenz all over his farm into their adulthood all because of imprinting.
Lots of pigeons looking for handouts. Mary Poppins did the world a slight disservice by guilting us all into buying that bag of bird feed.
Some sort of parakeet escaped from a zoo or "let into the wild" by a "loving" owner? I was surprised how many we saw in the park.
The Albert Memorial
This was built by Queen Victoria after her husband, Albert, passed away. It is huge and gaudy and stunning with it gold gilding and elaborate statues.
Each continent is represented in statue on each corner of the memorial.
"America"
"Europe"
"Asia"
"Africa"
Royal Albert Hall
I have never seen a Tibetan monk in person...
Teaching Mom the art of the selfie
Long Water
Gorgeous wood duck
Can't remember...ask Dad
Grey Heron
Not sure if these birds were "freed", "runaways", or an experiments, but I don't think they are "native" to the park.
This woman and 2 young girls were aggressively feeding the pigeons. It was beautiful and gross to watch these birds landing right on their outstretched hands.
Grey Heron
Peter Pan statue
Italian Gardens
We were trying to get this picture with the fountain on. They turn the water off at 6 pm on the dot.
A drinking fountain
These grey squirrels were as friendly as the pigeons. They are also quite acrobatic. We saw one jump 2-3 feet straight up and catch on to a tiny piece of branch to climb a tree. Very impressive.
So exciting!
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