The City

On the way home with our wheelie suitcases, the City was deserted.  The memorial to James Greathead looked as if it disguised a ventilation shaft for the Tube.  The Newshounds are referred to as The Paparazzi Dogs and there are four of them at the entrance to The Royal Exchange.  Finally, Liverpool Street Station. 

 

Art at Tate Britain

At the top is Stanley Spencer's huge Resurrection at Cookham.   Next is An Athlete Wrestling with a Python by Frederick, Lord Leighton.  The next three busts are by Epstein, followed by his Rock Drill from 1915.  A similar figure, Der Trommler (The Drummer) by Michael Sandle, dates from 1985.  

 

The Tate Britain

Tate Britain is the original Tate Gallery, founded in 1897 by Sir Henry Tate, a sugar magnate.  The basic building is square with a spiral staircase and dome in the centre.  It's pleasant to be in and has a good cafe.  (The photo looking down the staircase is Ann's.)

 

The Lambeth Walk

The view from our 8th floor hotel room, opposite a large London Ambulance Service building.  We walked through Lambeth, where the ground floor of the old pub was for sale.  The Henry Moore Studio, once a Mission Hall, is now part of Morley College.  Ann found a Flatiron. 

 

On Tower Bridge

Another tripod session.  Apart from the fire ladder, difficult to sort out best photos, except as historical documents.  197, Blackfriars Road is the HQ of Transport for London.

 

The South Bank in the Rain

Lots of umbrellas.  It was 79 years and 1 day since HMS Belfast was involved in the sinking of the German battle-cruiser Scharnhorst off the north Norwegian coast.  We eat a lot of bratwurst from the Christmas Markets now.  

 

The Tate Modern

We love the building but the artworks are not worth the entry fee.  The red squiggles are by Cy Twombly, and the torn canvas is on the theme of White.  Although the TM's viewing numbers dropped by 77% in 2020, it was still the most visited art museum in the world.  The floating jellies (powered by eight tiny propellers) are called In Love with the World and were panned by the Guardian's critic.  Kids might like them.  Nice coffee in the cafe.  

 

Boxing Day (3)

We spent the evening in Trafalgar Square doing long exposures of the fountains, up to 30 seconds.  The cherry ice cream is on the fourth plinth.  The statue of George IV on horseback shows him remarkably slim!!  I had to desaturate the visitors to the lion because the colours were so garish.  The buildings beside the Eye changed colours all the time.  Back through Lower Marsh Market and Vaulty Towers.