Eltham Palace and Tour de France

Anne came over and we went to breakfast in the little lane around the corner from our hotel where we had breakfast many times last year. I have slept pretty well but Dave has not. We are going to Eltham Palace today. This is one of many English Heritage Houses which Anne has read about. It is an Art Deco home built next to and on the grounds of a medieval castle which was the childhood home of Henry VIII. It makes for an interesting contrast. We walk to the Russell Square tube station, take it to Leicester Square and from there, walk to the Charing Cross train station. A half hour ride brings us to Eltham, a charming little town. We walk from the station to the Palace. The weather is refreshingly cool and I give credit to this for my good energy level. 

The house was built by Stephen and Virginia (Genie) Courtauld who lived there from 1936-1944. Stephen Courtauld was independently wealthy through his family's textile business and Stephen was a patron of the arts, and engaged in other philanthropic causes. The house is an excellent example of Art Deco design. They restored and incorporated what was left of the medieval palace so the juxtaposition of the two is very interesting (see picture). A free audio tour gave information about each room and the extensive gardens. We ate lunch in the little tea room before starting back.

The Tour de France came to London today and we watchd a little of it on a huge TV screen set up in Trafalgar Square, one of several viewing areas in the city. Anne and I eventually walk back to the room. Anne reports that, according to her pedometer, we have walked 5.3 miles today. We watch the rest of the Tour on our TV and then go to the bar in our hotel where we have a drink and some nibbles before going to dinner. 

We have dinner at the North Sea Fish Restaurant on the side street just down the lane and around the corner from our hotel. We came here last year on Mr. B's (Anne's UCLA advisor) recommendation. By the way, Mr. B is not in London this summer for reasons he has not revealed other than something about taking care of Christine. This is probably the first time he hasn't been here and I think Anne misses him. He is a fixture of her visits here. 

All in all, it has been a most enjoyable day! I am so glad to be here! I even enjoyed the little bit of rain we had.

                                                    Eltham Palace

                      The old and the new - Art Deco on the left; Medieval palace on the right

                              Watching the Tour de France on the big screen in Trafalgar Square