OK -- the 'famous Prada's I told you they weren't sexy. But oh sooooooo comfortable and with a great walking sole. They are probably 10+ years old by now and still look and feel brand new. (they felt so perfect on when I bought them and I knew they wouldn't be available the next season - so I bought 2 pair as insurance but the 2nd pair has never been out of their box)









Just noticed I left off the caption for the two green dresses in post #38 above. Those are two of several copies of the same dress from Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris. The original and one damaged in a fire.

Such an enjoyable TR to read, janis! What a fabulous way to celebrate your birthday!

Thanks for obliging with a photo of the famous Prada flats - they're truly a trusted companion in your adventures.

I've been meaning to read this and today I made the time. It's interesting to read about the slightly off the grid things you do. I always seem to go to London with first timers, so I do a lot of the same things again and again. Maybe I should go alone.

Some random photos:



A window at Fortnum & Mason



My Bedroom at St. James's Club and Hotel



Bathroom at St. James's



View from my table at The Portrait



Wayne Thiebaud Cakes at the Courtauld



. . . and Gum Ball Machines

A very small sampling of Cecil Beaton at the National Portrait Gallery -- the show was enormous with countless photos of the Royal Family. the Dike and Duchess of Windsor, Beaton family photos, stage and costume design, his life in Paris and in the south of England, Debutants, movie stars, many Vogue covers lots of memorabilia and copies of the many books he published.



A room full of exotic beauties



Original photo for one Vogue cover



red red red



Audrey Hepburn in one of his costume designs for My Fair Lady



A very young Marlon Brando



Gary Cooper in 1929



Joan Crawford at the beginning of her career

I'll post a handful of the Neo Impressionists -- some full works then close ups of the details

I am a big fan of the pointillists - in fact a print of the one of the women sitting in the shade on garden chairs hung in my bedroom at my parents' house once they had left Sydney. It was there for years.

Where did you say you saw these? I thought that this painting hung in the Kröller-Müller in Otterlo (Hoge Veluwe, NL)...

Lavandula

It was at the National Gallery -- I first mentioned it in post #1 up top. "Radical Harmony: Helene Kröller-Müller's Neo-Impressionists at the National Gallery. Really REALLY wonderful". I posted a bit more about the actual visit in post #29. The majority of paintings were from the Kröller-Müller collection but some were either in the National Gallery's own collection or on loan from other venues.

Thanks for clarifying. I too find this art wonderful, agree 100%!

Lavandula

Culture, food, comfort. What more could a birthday person want?

How do you suppose Petrus recognizes people years later? Not to imply that you are not memorable.

Because I'm soooo special ! LOL

Actually I think it is just Gordon Ramsay's extreme attention to detail in his high end properties. Likely every on-line and telephone booking they retain the contact information and it pops up on their system. I'm not saying all his burger joints and other mass market places do the same - Maybe / probably not. But when I've eaten in the past at Hospital Road (Restaurant Gordon Ramsay has the best service I've ever encountered) and the River Restaurant at the Savoy they've either commented about where I've traveled from or made some other personalized greeting. (could be in the case of the Savoy, the hotel shares info with the on-site restaurants?? )

My daughter is in London at the moment and went to the same exhibitions- interesting to see what differnt people photograph .Loved the food porn

Such a pro traveler! Thank you for the trip report! Was wonderful to see all your photos.