This has been a whirlwind trip, cramming a lot into a brief time. Today our friend Jacqui took the train down from the Midlands to meet Sue and me. After catching up during a leisurely breakfast, we headed to the Tate Modern. The Tate Modern, opened in 2000, is a massive museum housed in a former Power Station. The special exhibits were sold out, but that was inconsequential, since it would be impossible to see the entire collection on a single visit, or even two or three.
We started with a guided tour of a tiny slice of the collection. The guide was terrific, explaining the history and intent behind six paintings. The museum provides portable seats, which made it much more comfortable.
After the tour we headed to one of the many cafes. While we weren’t interested in food at that point, we did want to take in the view. The Tate Modern is on the bank of the Thames, overlooking St. Paul’s Cathedral, the Millenium Bridge, the Shard, and the financial district. We ate lunch at another of the cafes, this one at ground level facing the river.
Our next stop was for a view from a different vantage point, the tenth floor of the museum’s second building.
Sue and Jacqui went for another tour, I wandered around the galleries. While much of the collection is a bit too far out there for my taste, there was enough to capture my attention and make me think—the hallmark of contemporary art.
By that point we were exhausted, slow walking around a museum will do that. Grabbing an Uber, we headed to the Covent Garden area to a tea shop Sue wanted to try—The Chai Guys. It’s housed in a food hall that was packed, though it wasn’t even 5PM. The Chai was delicious, some of the best I’ve ever tasted.
We said goodbye to Jacqui as she set off for the train station to return home. While the rain had held off all day, it reappeared as we walked to dinner. Because we’d had trouble making a reservation, we ended up at a burger place owned by Gordon Ramsey. It was mediocre at best, but the location was ideal.
When we were done, we were one block away from the Noel Coward Theater where we saw “The Motive and the Cue.” The play is about the rehearsal period where Sir John Gielgud directed Richard Burton in Hamlet. Fabulous cast and an interesting story.