I had something planned for today. One of the things on my list, of things to do in London, was to go to the Queen's Gallery. It just so happened that the last part of my time here the gallery is going to have a Victoria & Albert: Art and Love exhibition; perfect timing. A couple days ago I bought a ticket to the exhibition and to the Royal Mews. After getting up and eating my breakfast I start the short walk to the Royal Mews. The Royal Mews is where the house all the state coaches, other coaches, the horses, and the gold coach that is ridden in for coronation. I got a free audio guide which was very nice. I enjoy audio guides, but when they're not free I don't usually bother. It was very interesting to hear about what each coach is used for and where they came from. There is an Australian coach, that was made in Australia and it even has the Australian Coat of Arms on it. There is also a Scottish coach, which is used when the Queen goes to Scotland, at least sometimes.
No. 1 State Coach
No. 2 State Coach
No. 3 State Coach
State Limousine
No. 4 State Coach
Australian Coach
No. 5 State Coach
No. 6 State Coach
When I got to the horse stalls and random carriages there were no horses. Kind of sad, but probably for the best just in case people try to pet them. Above each horse stall they had the names of all the horses, I found Jasper, for Jasper County. On the opposite wall they had all the other carriages. Some were very small and others were bigger, nothing like the state coaches though. They have a Christmas coach that is decorated, and every year Santa gets on that coach, or sleigh, and goes around handing out toys, or maybe just toys to families living at the Palace. I'm not quite sure, nor do I remember all that well. I forgot to mention, that before the stalls there was the room with all the horse harnesses, well some of them.
Horse Harnesses
Horse Stalls
Carriages, the far left is the Christmas Carriage
Next and last stop in the Royal Mews was the Golden Coach, which is used only for coronations, minus the time Queen Elizabeth II used it for her Silver Jubilee. The coach looks magnificent, as well as the horses outfits. Except, the coach is said to be terribly uncomfortable, I am sure it is uncomfortable, but the looks make up for it (sort of).
Golden Coach
Closer up
Some detail on the coach (the back)
Myself and the Coach
Coach driving by
When I was about to leave I got the chance to see one of the coaches driving by, it went pretty fast so I had to take this picture in a very short time. After I was done looking at the coaches I headed out to the gift shop, which I passed by the Royal Mews Riding School, no one was in it but I saw the arena they use.
Royal mews Riding School
My next stop for the day was the Queen's Gallery. (I am just going to point out here that it was a nice morning/early afternoon. The sun was shining and there was no hint of rain.) I got to the gallery and waited in line, I then headed up the stairs to get my audio guide and start walking through Victoria and Albert's art collection. With the Royal Mews audio guide they told you what to push, so for about five minutes I was trying to figure out how to listen to this audio guide, yep, on some of the wall-texts they have the number you are to push for that piece of art. Whoops, when I figured it out it was smooth going from there. The couples art collection is quite large. With beautiful pieces of furniture and paintings, as well as jewelry and small little trinkets (well nothing was 'too' small, all very expensive). If you read the wall texts, they told you who bought it and which one got it. Albert got a lot of things for Victoria, but she did her fair share of buying as well. Albert had living in Italy for about five months and he knew an art dealer so he was very good at picking out art that they would buy. The last room of the exhibit had a model of Prince Albert's grave, also his memorial that was built. Also, after Prince Albert died, at a young age, Queen Victoria stopped collecting art because she didn't know what to buy without him, she also wore mostly black for the rest of her life. I just love Victoria and Albert's story. I won't go on though, since I don't know how much of you really care. Part way through the exhibit I heard some people mentioning rain, yay (sarcasm). I hate rainy London, I love sunny London, or London, but not when it rains. I thankfully brought my umbrella along with me. I didn't know what it was going to be like, but once I stepped outside I wasn't happy. It was pouring and it was very windy. I didn't even want to walk back, but since I couldn't stay I had to. I start walking back, holding my umbrella so it doesn't turn over in the wind and I finally make it back to VH. The rest of the day I spent inside, since I got back a little after 4pm. I thought it was a productive morning and just something else I can check off my list!
I also had to work more on packing. I started laying things out about a week ago, but I have to be sure I can fit it all in my tiny suitcase and backpack. Of course this is what Wednesday will be for. Cheers!
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