January 14, 2018 – Seniors' Sabbaticals

Day 25

We were so excited about being with family in London that we didn’t really give much thought to what we wanted to do and see. We did want a shopping day, to stock up on clothes for the sea voyage home, but nothing else was fixed in our minds.

Hamleys

Gray’s cousin suggested we have a day in the city and we are so glad we did.

BigToys

In Hamleys we were intrigued to observe parents and grandparents with young children who were excitedly and haphazardly searching for their ‘favourite thing’ and remembered over 30 years ago when we’d caught a train into London with 3 enthusiastic lads, pocket money burning holes in their pockets, determined to have a great spend up.

Playing

It was wonderful to see that this great toyshop still allures young spenders.

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Day 20

Monmartre

No matter how much you plan and prepare before you venture off, there are always surprises. That’s one of the many great things about travelling, revelling in the surprises!

Visiting Montmatre was quite a focus of our visit to Paris; not so much the buildings, but more the people. After taking in the spectacular views of the city, we meandered around the streets intrigued by all the ‘artists’ setting up their easels ready for another day of tourists. We reflected on how this area would have been many years ago when Toulouse Lautrec, Renoir, Picasso and Van Gogh lived and worked here.

MonmatreArtists

In our wanderings we discovered the Dali Exhibition. What a display! Time just flew by as we pondered over the melting clocks and his other works of art.

Dali

We acknowledge that many great creative artists were poor, tortured souls. Anyone who has studied art history, which I confess I have not, will probably tear me to shreds, but I kept thinking that Dali’s work was more circumspect. I think that he was pointing out human foibles and frailties. Whatever is the true explanation, this exhibition is not to be missed. We were so glad that we came across it in our wanderings.