The Royal Albert

Tuesday - 1/26/10
I had every intention of seeing the Victoria and Albert Museum - up until I realized I wasn't at the V&A - not even close. I walked through Hyde Park a different way today - towards Kensington Palace, passed the Peter Pan statue and various monuments, and around Round Pond. This little jaunt was extremely entertaining as an entirely new aviary was discovered with an impossibly larger population of birds and ducks, swans, and geese than inhabit the Serpentine. Shocking. The sun was shining, the geese were squawking, and the wind was brisk. I made my way towards the dome of what I thought was the V&A. - The V&A, by the way, is the museum of decorative arts (makes Martha Stewart types very very happy). They have one of the biggest, most eclectic collections of objects - anywhere.

Turns out the beacon I was following was really the Royal Albert Hall. This place is a great piece of architecture, it's a circular building with a domed ceiling, massively proportioned, and ornately decorated. (There is currently a Cirque du Soleil show playing there). Directly across from the Hall is the Albert Memorial. This is something to behold. The steeple rises so high into the air, you have to hold your head to look at it. It has gilded decoration, lavish and intricate carvings, and is so ornate it would be tacky if not for its heritage. It's Prince Albert - sitting on a throne, looking at his Royal Hall. Albert was Queen Victoria's husband, in case you were wondering what the fuss was about.

Anyway - disillusioned and hungry, I braved the raging winds to get to the Serpentine Bar & Grill. I had a wood-oven pizza with spinach and olives and tomatoes. Delicious. I watched the sun set over the river and the daylight make way for the dusk. The people were few and my walk back was leisurely. I decided that although headed for the V&A museum, I had a decent detour and will try again another day.