Tuesday, February 26, 2019

Notting Hill and Portabello Road Market

Notting Hill, located in West London, north of Kensington, is know for its large Victorian townhouses and high-end shopping and restaurants.  It also features the Portabello Road Market, packing Portabello Road with over 1,000 merchants every Saturday.

I first wander past fabulous residences filling this district.


 Residing in Notting Hill

Reaching Portabello Road, I start at one end and walk through the market, enjoying the sights, sounds, and smells.  There is something for everyone here.  And, there are great traditional commercial buildings lining the road.


 Portabello Road market

 Portabello Road buildings

At the end of the market, I walk back into the side streets of Notting Hill, finding colorful houses and the intriguing architecture of the mews houses, which are old stables, originally with living quarters above, that have been converted to houses, generally located on side streets or alleys.


 Great use of color



Mews houses

Emerging from the side streets and alleys of the mews, I am once again in the land of grand Notting Hill residences.


 Back on main streets

On my way out of the district, I pass by the high-end shops and restaurants of Notting Hill.

 Shopping and dining

Notting Hill has a wide spectrum of activities to offer, from street food in the Portabello Market to renowned restaurants, from the stalls of the market to high-end shops, from living in the mews to Victorian townhouses.  It is truly fun to wander through and see it all.

Friday, February 22, 2019

Somerset House and the Courtauld Gallery

Somerset House is an art center and imposing Neoclassical complex on the Thames near the Waterloo Bridge.  The buildings are used for exhibitions of contemporary art, fashion shows, and special events.  Also located in the Somerset House is the Courtauld Gallery art museum, best known for its impressionist and post-impressionist paintings, including works by Manet, Degas, Monet, van Gogh, Gauguin, and Cézanne.  The collection extends into the 20th century with works by Modigliani, Matisse, Kandinsky and artists of the Bloomsbury group, alongside masterpieces of German Expressionism and modern British art.

I first wander into the courtyard and view the impressive complex.

Somerset House

My first stop is the impressionist collection in the Courtauld Gallery and  I see a lot of familiar artists and works.






Impressionist masterpieces

The special exhibition galleries in the Somerset House are hosting the Sony World Photography Awards, one of the most celebrated and diverse photography competitions in the world.  What a great find, I'm heading in.








 Sony World Photography Exhibition

This has been a great visit, with the combination of fabulous impressionist works and incredible photography.