Mind the Gap: FOR JESS: Kennsington Gardens

The Italian Gardens

This walk was very pleasant and somewhat confusing. If I'm a Londoner, perhaps I'll know when I reach Flower Walk, but... I have no idea what different paved roads are called. That aside, it was a very beautiful walk and I'm glad I was able to experience the tiny little oasis! It's crazy because there are buildings and busy streets just outside the border, but inside it feels a tiny bit like I'm near my mountains. My handy-dandy book informs me that they cut some parts of the lawn and then leave other parts to grow so it has a very realistic feeling - bit ironic, really. But it definitely feels peaceful and beautiful. It really emphasizes to me how much they value beauty in nature. Everywhere we go in London there are beautiful gardens and clearly a lot of time and money taken out to make their city so artistic and beautiful.

Scared of the angry men with guns

When walking along Millionaire Row (aka Embassy Road), try to avoid looking suspicious and/or act American. Also, maybe crossing the street when you're being stared at isn't the best idea. Especially when they're guards with guns because it might antagonize them. Clearly my American nosiness gets the best of me when I get to walk along a road filled with plots of land that are rich and have different countries barricaded from one another. It's actually genuinely fascinating. Just along one road there are so many countries that come together and live next door. That seems to be what London is all about. They love to embrace all kinds of cultures. In my church alone there are tons of different cultures meshing together in one. It's definitely very different than my small little Utah town.

The Albert Monument towers
over the trees

I learned - a lot more visually - that Queen Victoria adored her husband and that when you're the Queen, you can dedicate an entire statue to the consort after he dies. Seriously though, it's really quite striking and is a beautiful monument from a wife to her husband. So that's really quite adorable. It has a really clear statement about the British Empire as well. The frieze has tons of philosophers, authors, musicians, etc. and each corner there is a representation of each of the four main continents (sorry Australia and Antarctica...). You definitely get an image of the kind of empire Britain was at the time. It's a very impressive monument.

No matter where you are or how old you get, literature can cross so many barriers. (What's that? You think I'm an English major?) There is a whole park for Princess Diana that is Peter Pan themed. (She's totally adored by the British people. I knew she was, but it's unreal. I think it's because she really was a princess of the people.) Well anyways, I wish I had a picture, but look it up. Think actual giant pirate ship. In another section, there is also this adorable statue of Peter Pan that was set up in one night to give the impression that faeries set it up - that has got to be one of the cutest things I've heard. Evidently JM Barrie lived right nearby the park which is really cool. I love that Peter Pan is a universally loved boy. I just super relate because I love the exuberance and playfulness of children and I never want to grow up. So Peter Pan is a bit of an idol to me. I love to know that he's an idol to others as well. Oh the power of words and storytelling.