Kensington

I decided to spend my day at the Daniel House by myself by talking a nice 3 hour walk up the Cromwell/Brompton Road to the famous Hyde Park near the far east end. It was a very sunny day, but of course by the time I was done the clouds came in. Along my walk I came across the famous Harod’s Department store. I just had to go in and to say it was very opulent would still not do it justice. There was not a price tag to be found anywhere and employees to be found everywhere. Each employee in full business attire and ready to serve and answer any question. It was impressive.

I am still so impressed with all the architecture and each street is full of so many time periods spanning hundreds of years. It is so much fun to just imagine how much all of what I am currently seeing has changed and what things would have been like at the different periods of time.

Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens together make up over 625 acres in this bustling city and one can just stroll along in the hundreds of acres. Even on a cold January Saturday afternoon the park was full of so many people just strolling along, walking dogs, having conversations, sipping coffee/tea, and just taking some time way from city rising up around them. It is so hard to believe that this sprawling park is just a 10-minute walk from the Daniel House. I get to take my early morning walks in the Kensington Gardens section with so many crisscrossing sidewalks one could never complete them all in one day.

Water ways make up the parks as well. There is the Round Pond in Kensington Gardens and the Serpentine and Long Water ways that span both. I can’t wait till later in our time here to see the many fountains that will spring back to life. The Princess Diana Memorial Fountain is one I really want to see.

The entire space is free and open to public any time. It is a major crossing point for so many people. Bicycles, e-bikes, walkers, runners, people heading to work are just intermixed. We are so blessed to be here.

As I was walking back to the Daniel House, I took a picture of the large hotel that sits right across the street. It is currently under a major renovation and has been closed for several years. I became curious as to its history. Turns out the building is over 50 years old and has an amazing history. You can read about it and watch the YouTube video that is linked in this article if you are interested. Kensington Forum will just be refurbished, says new owner – The Kensington Society

I ended the day by going out and having dinner at a pub with the two male students her this spring. We went to watch the Chelsea vs Manchester football match. We went to the Kings Arm pub in Chelsea, so you know who were cheering for, we even made sure to wear the correct colors. Unfortunately, Chelsea did not play well and lost 3-1. We were hoping to be in a very loud and cheering pub, but it emptied out pretty quick after the match, but we still had fun.