Why am I always writing about FOOD?

Saturday, February 16, 2013

Hello!

Elizabeth Tower

Westminster Hall

In Westminster Hall

Today has been another lovely and tasty day!  Up by 7 and out the door about 8 to make our way to the ticket office for a tour of Parliament.  To complicate matters this weekend, several of the closest subways are closed – for the entire weekend!  Basically, both the District and the Circle lines, which run along the same track taking people from this area (South Kensington and Chelsea) through into central London, are out of commission.  We needed to head over to a ticket booth or machine – located, of course within the subway stations.  Arrived at Sloane Square to find the entire station pretty much shut up tight – very unusual looking – although there was a staff member allowing people inside to use the machines.  So – with all-day passes now in hand, we caught the local bus for Westminster Abbey.  Even though we weren’t there right when they opened at 8:45 a.m. there were only a few people in line in front of us, which was nice.  Grabbed tickets for the 9:30 a.m. tour and headed across the street to get through the security check and into the waiting area.  It seemed so odd to finally be able to visit a building that we have looked at for years on the outside; now we were going “in!”  The waiting area turns out to be in Westminster Hall – which was OBVIOUSLY not heated – it was like a meat locker in there!  But we didn’t have long to wait there before Caroline, our guide, collected up about 20 of us and told us the rules:  No eating, no drinking, no mobiles (i.e., cell phones), no sitting and (for most of the tour) no photos.  So…sounded easy enough!

First we toured through the areas where the House of Lords sits.  The route of the tour actually follows Her Majesty’s route that she follows every year for the formal opening of Parliament!  What fun!   Through the robing room, which contained Queen Victoria’s Parliamentary chair, and along some stunning hallways, and finally, into the Queen’s seat in the House of Lords formal chamber itself.  Wow!  

The building itself is very interesting architecturally – it was originally constructed as a palace for long-ago kings, but once they departed for warmer and dryer (it’s a bit damp right on the Thames River) digs, the legislators moved in for good.  During World War II, the side housing the House of Commons was destroyed by bombing and totally rebuilt, but the side used by the Lords was preserved.  It is an interesting mix of older and newer pieces, all put together with lots of gilt and walls of fresco’ed scenes out of England’s storied past.  I just loved some of the stories that the guide was telling – my favorite being that apparently in the deep dark past, the monarch would, of necessity be very leery of visiting Parliament – I mean, sometimes relations were anything but cordial!  So now, before the reigning monarch goes to Parliament, she needs to be invited by a member of Parliament who comes to the Palace and remains there as hostage until the Queen safely returns from Parliament.  Imagine!  Also, every year for the opening of Parliament, the Gentleman of the Black Rod (head clerk for the House of Lords) goes to the House of Commons to invite the members to join the Lords for the Queen’s address.  However, because of custom, before he gets to the door of the Commons chamber, it is shut up and locked from inside, and he is required to use his mace to bang on the door so it can be opened for him.  We even saw some damage on the wood from the hammering!  Hmmm…

So, through the House of Lords and into a very large “lobby” – which is actually used even today for members of the public to address their elected representatives in an attempt to “lobby” them to vote certain ways!  Some things never change!

Finally, into the House of Commons.  Oh yes - Everything in the HOL (House of Lords) is in red – leather and velvet – and everything in the HOC (House of Commons) is in green.  They have a very convoluted method of voting on issues – first the member reports to a particular “side” of the HOC, then, when the vote is called, he or she files through a specific corridor (one for “AYE”, the other for “NO”) where his name is checked off, and then his vote (whatever “side” he was on) counted.  Finally, the clerks deliver the summary of votes to the head of the House for announcement.  Whew!  Whatever happened to “Yea” or “Nay?”

The tour then wound back into the frigid Hall where Caroline talked about some of the stained glass that was on display.  (Lots of it was lost in WWII, when the building was bombed.)  We had a nice sit-down in the small café they had, to discuss where we would head next.

Nelson's Column

As it was nearly lunch-time, we decided to walk down Whitehall to Trafalgar Square.  On Trafalgar Square sit both the National Gallery (which is basically the country’s art collection) and the National Portrait Gallery – which is just what it contains.  As we have had such a good time eating in the various museum restaurants, we decided to give the National Gallery a try.

Walked through Trafalgar Square and past some sort of peaceful demonstration – not sure what it was about! – and past some of the sculpture, including a kid on a rocking horse!  An so into the Gallery.  We had a nice walk around and through the galleries (we could spend forever in the BM or the Natural History Museum, but we neither of us have a long tolerance for “flat art.”)  and ended up at the Restaurant.  Well…a truly lovely meal!

Scallops Tartare

Cauliflower Soup

We were seated right next to the windows, giving on a great view of the Square – Nelson’s Column, the fountains, as well as the London Eye rising up behind everything!  Over a wonderful bottle of Sancerre wine, we ordered the following:  I had their truly amazing cauliflower soup – it had walnuts and a few other bits on top; Robert had their scallop tartare with caviar and bits of cucumber; both very happy!  For mains, Robert had lemon sole with potatoes in a parsley tarragon herbed sauce, and I had chicken (surprise!) breast in butter sauce with pearl onions and MARMITE balls of stuffing!  (I was very dubious about those, but actually, they were great and I never caught a taste of Marmite…fortunately!)  For dessert, I had warm poached pear with crumble bits and elderflower honey; R had an amazing pumpkin and brown sugar custard with sour ice cream and red fruit (currants), coffee on the side.  Altogether, a truly delicious and memorable meal!

Lemon Sole

Chicken in Butter Sauce

From here, we decided that we’d seen enough sights for the day, so caught the #11 bus back to Chelsea for a wonderful (and obviously much needed!) nap!  (I think my sleep bank is just about caught up now, but naps are always good!)  

Pumpkin Custard

Poached Pears

Up now for blogging and then we’re heading out to see where the local buses will take us!  Have pass, will ride forever!

Lots of love,

m

xxx