Spain, France, England 2025: 9/22/2025 Breakfast, National Gallery, Trafalgar Square, afternoon tea-Claridges

9/22/2025 Breakfast. I had my cranberry almond muffin. It was delicious. Tea. Don't remember what Richard had. Today I want to go to the National Gallery. We'll take the tube. We walked to Earl's Court Station. District Line to Embankment-then Northern Line to Charing Cross. Up the escalator. Follow the sign to exit 5 for National Gallery/Trafalgar Square. Easy. Good signage in the tube stations plus there's always someone you can ask if needed. We only used the tube this morning so our total cost for each of us was 2.80£/$3.79

Walked from the Charing Cross Station to Trafalgar Square where the National Gallery is located. Short walk.

National Gallery. Located in Trafalgar Square which we will visit after we're done here. Short walk from Charing Cross Station. Top collection of paintings 1250-1900. Masterpieces by artists like Van Gogh, da Vinci, Rembrandt, Monet, and so much more. Founded in 1824 the collection was built through government purchases and private donations. Sainsbury Wing entrance. Free admission. Security waved us through. At the gift shop I bought a guide book and some postcards. Cost 7.00£/$9.49 Richard and I agreed to explore on our own. He said I take too much time taking pictures and reading the signage by the paintings. We agreed to meet here in this spot where we are now at 1:30 pm. It's 11:30 am now. I am happy to do this on my own. I loved all that I saw. And I'm sure I didn't see everything. I returned to the spot but no Richard. There's a gift store right here that I don't remember from before. After a while I realized I'm in the wrong area! I am confused as to how to get back to the meet up spot. I finally exit the museum and walk to the Sainsbury Wing entrance. Enter and there's Richard. I'm laughing now as I type all this but back then I was freaking out. I'm bummed that I ran out of time to see the rooms-Rococo to Romanticism-where there was art by Canaletto, Gainsborough, Turner, and others. I also didn't get to visit Annenberg Court. But Richard is ready to leave.

Guide book I bought

English or French-The Wilton Diptych (around 1395-9) Made for the private devotion of Richard II King of England from 1377-1399. The youthful king is introduced to the Virgin and Cild by SaintJohn the Baptist and two of England's patron saints, Edward the Confessor and Edmund. Clad in deep blue robes, the angelic retinue wears Richard's emblem of the winged hart (adult male deer)

Leonardo da Vinci-The Virgin of the Rocks (about 1491/2-9 and 1506-8) Originally part of a larger altarpiece intended for a church in Milan. Conveys the then new and still controversial subject of the Immaculate Conception. The Virgin embraces the infant Saint John the Baptist as she extends a protective hand over the Christ Child, witnessed by an angel. The rocky, watery cave and eerie lighting evoke the mysteries of the dawn of time.

Botticelli-Four Scenes from the Early Life of Saint Zenobius (about 1500) Illustrates some early moments from the life of Zenobius, patron saint of Florence. Scenes placed before an architectural backdrop resembling the city's streets. After renouncing his world life, Zenobius is baptized. At the right, he is made a bishop. This panel was designed to decorate a domestic interior.

Filippino Lippi-The Virgin and Child with Saints Jerome and Dominic (about 1485)

As Saint Jerome gazes adoringly at the Virgin nursing her son, Saint Dominic remains absorbed in his reading. In the distance, to the left, Jerome appears again in a dark cave, its entrance protected by his companion lion. Look closely at the base-Saint Francis and Mary Magdalene look towards the central image of the dead Christ in his tomb. This altarpiece was painted for the burial chapel of the Rucellai family at San Pancrazio in Florence.

Botticelli-Venus and Mars (about 1485) Venus reclines clothed and alert as she contemplates her naked lover-Mars sleeps so deeply that he does not notice the boisterous young satyrs or the wasps buzzing beside his head. Wasps-vespe in Italian-may refer to the Vespucci family who possibly commissioned the painting.

Postcard

Botticelli-The Adoration of the Kings (about 1470-5) The Holy Family sits in the ruins of a vast temple, attended by the Three Kings and their bustling retinue.

Giovanni Bellini-Doge Leonardo Loredan (about 1501-2) Portrait is both an official image and an intimate likeness. Captures qualities expected of an ideal leader-justice, austerity, serenity and kindness with his half-stern, half-smiling expression. Loredan wears the ceremonial horned hat, linen cap and robe of the doge-the head of the Republic of Venice. Marble parapet-both a windowsill and shelf to hold a sculptured portrait bust. The blue sky evokes the passing of time.

Postcard

Giovanni Bellini-The Assassination of Saint Peter Martyr (about 1505-7) In 1252 Saint Peter Martyr (left) and his companion Dominic were attacked by assassins as they traveled through a wood. While Dominic tried to escape, Peter accepted his death. The violence is echoed by the woodsmen felling trees, which bleed in sympathy for the friars' murders. Links the holy figures with the natural landscape and bleeding trees are also mentioned in Classical and Renaissance literature.

Bartolome Bermejo-Saint Michael Triumphs over the Devil (1468)

Piero della Francesca-The Baptism of Christ (probably 1437-1445) River Jordan where Christ was baptized is set in this painting in the hilly terrain of Tuscany. Feeling of great balance and calm.

Jacopo di Cione and workshop-The San Pier Maggiore Altarpiece (1370-1) Made for San Pier Maggiore a Benedictine nunnery in Florence. In the main section saints watch Christ crown the Virgin Queen of Heaven. Scenes from the life of Christ are shown above. At the top, choirs of angels adore the Trinity-God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Jan van Eyck-The Arnolfini Portrait (1434) One of the most famous paintings in European art and one of the most elusive. The couple portrayed belong to the Arnolfini family, a rich Italian merchant dynasty based in Bruges.

Postcard

Paolo Uccello-The Battle of San Romano (probably about 1438-40) Large and busy painting. Shows the Florentine victory at San Romano in 1432. The Florentine commander, Niccolo da Tolentine, rides a white charger and wears a magnificent red and gold hat. He leads a cavalry charge from the left, while at the right a knight on a white horse fights off three others.

Paolo Veronese-The Adoration of the Kings (1573) The Three Kings have come to visit the infant Christ in the stable where he wa born. They bring gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh, and have journeyed from the East (Matthew 2: 10-12). The stable at Bethlehem is attached to the ruins of a great classical building with a triumphal arch in the background. Angels appear in the sky, along the ray of light that falls on Christ. The dominant diagonal, created by this beam of heavenly light, is countered by the diagonal formed by the adoring figures, with the Virgin Mary and Christ Child placed where they intersect. Painted for the church of S. Silvestro in Venice for the wall of the nave beside the altar of the confraternity dedicated to Saint Joseph.

El Greco-Christ driving the Traders from the Temple (about 1600) Christ visits the Temple in Jerusalem and discovers it is being used as a marketplace. He throws out the traders (left), watched by the Apostles (right).

Jacopo Tintoretto-Christ washing the Feet of the Disciples (about 1575-80) Christ kneels to wash his disciples' feet. Saint Peterthrows out his arms in protest.

Titian-Portrait of a Lady ('La Schiavona') (about 1510-12) Unknown sitter looks towards us with a steady gaze that conveys calm self-possession. She stands behind a stone parapet on which is carved a profile relief, recalling ancient cameos, that seems to replicate her features. The 'La Schiavona' title-meaning 'the woman from Dalmatia' a region of Croatia-was during the 17th century.

Titian-Bacchus and Ariadne (around 1520-3) Abandoned on the Greek island of Naxos by her lover Theseus, a distraught Ariadne is surprised by Bacchus, god of wine, and his troop of rowdy resellers. As Bacchus leaps from his chariot, they fall in love at first sight. He promises to immortalize her as the constellation Corona Borealis, seen as a circle of stars in the sky.

Raphael-The Garvagh Madonna (about 1510-11) Complex arrangement of gazes and gestures between the Virgin, Christ and the Infant Saint John the Baptist.

Hans Holbein the Younger-The Ambassadors (1533) Celebrates friendship. French diplomats Jean de Dinteville and Georges de Selve during their mission to England in 1533, as King Henry VIII was breaking with the Church of Rome. The rich setting-sitters' splendor and learning. Lute's broken string and miscalibrated scientific instruments-turmoil of that time. Viewed on the right the distorted gray shape -a skull and reminder of death. The tiny crucifix at top left-hope of everlasting life through Christ.

Jacopo Tintoretto-The Origin of the Milky Way (about 1575) To make his illegitimate son immortal, Jupiter took him secretly to breastfeed from his sleeping wife, the goddess Juno. When she woke in surprise, her milk spurted up to the sky forming the Milky Way and down to earth creating the lily flower. The lost lower section of the painting once included lilies.

Peter Paul Rubens-Portrait of Susanna Lunden (probably 1622-5) Daughter of Antwerp silk merchant Daniel Fourment, an old friend and client of Rubens. Susanna was the sister of Ruben's second wife Helene.

Perter Paul Rubens-The Rape of the Sabine Women (Probably 1635-40) In the legend of the founding of Rome, King Romulus devised a plan to overcome the shortage of young women in his newly built city. He invited the neighboring tribe of the Sabines to a festival of games and ordered his soldiers to abduct their women. All the men are dressed in classical Roman costumes while the women appear in contemporary Flemish dress.

Peter Paul Rubens-The Judgement of Paris (about 1597-9) Paris awards the golden apple for beauty to the goddess Venus. Juno appears angry and Minerva turns her back to the viewer.

Anthony van Dyck-St. Ambrose barring Theodosius from Milan Cathedral (about 1619-20) Saint Ambrose, Bishop of Milan, bars Roman Emperor Theodosius from the cathedral. This is the punishment for massacring the people of Thessalonica.

Rembrandt-Belshazzar's Feast (about 1636-8) A scene from the Old Testament. The Babylonian king, Belshazzar, served wine at a feast in precious vessels that had been looted from the Temple at Jerusalem. A divine hand appeared and wrote in Hebrew 'God has numbered the days of your kingdom and brought it to an end; you have been weighed on the scales and found wanting'. Belshazzar died that same night.

Rembrandt-Self Portrait at the Age of 63 (1669) Rembrandt appears quite frail in this moving likeness painted in the final year of his life. His hands are limp, his skin is pasty, and even his characteristic wiry hair seems subdued.

Francesco Guardi-Venice: Piazza San Marco (about 1760) View looks across Venice's celebrated piazza towards the domes and spires of the Basilica di San Marco. Beside this building stands its striking campanile (bell tower) which reaches into the blue sky. Scene of everyday life in the city with people talking and making their way through the square dressed in bright clothing and carnival cloaks.

Monet-The Thames below Westminster (about 1871) Dock workers stand on the pier of the new Victoria Embankment with Westminster Bridge, the Houses of Parliament and St. Thomas Hospital in the background. Fleeing the Franco-Prussian War Monet settled in London in September 1870 and was there for 10 months. During that time he painted five cityscapes focusing mostly on the Thames. The hazy sky is result of London's notorious fog caused by industrial pollution. Steaming tugboats chugging along the Thames highlight the river's industrial importance.

Postcard

Alfred Sisley-View of the Thames: Charing Cross Bridge (1874) Sisley lived in France but visited London for the summer of 1874. Most of his works from that time were painted near Hampton Court. This Thames scene is the only painting he made of central London. Standing close to the South Bank he depicted the busy London dock with the dome of St. Paul's Cathedral in the center.

Monet-Snow Scene at Argenteuil (1875) Records the heavy snowfalls of the 1874/5 winter. Two figures plough through the snow on a road, while meandering cart tracks lead us to the other travelers in the background.

Monet-Lavacourt under Snow (about 1878-81) Winter scene at Lavacort, a small village on the bank of the Seine near Vetheuil where Monet settled in 1878. Play of light on the snow.

Monet-The Gare St. Lazare (1877) Two locomotives give off steam as passengers disembark. A third disappears under the bridge on the left. Focus is mainly on the light shining through the clouds of steam and smoke emphasizing the vast space of the railway terminus.

Monet-The Beach at Trouville (1870) Monet painted this picture of his first wife Camilla-Leonie Doncieux and a companion while on honeymoon at Trouville in 1870. The shoe hooked on the empty chair might belong to their son Jean playing somewhere on the beach. The grains of sand and shell still embedded in the paint surface are evidence that Monet worked in the open air.

Monet-Bathers at La Grenouillere (1869) Monet and Renoir spent the summer of 1869 painting together at the popular cafe and bathing resort of La Grenouillere/The Frog Pond on the Seine near Bougival.

Renoir-The Skiff (1875) Two fashionably dressed women row in a skiff. Picture probably painted at Chatou, a small town on the Seine west of Paris and a popular boating destination.

Edouard Manet-The Execution of Maximillian (about 1867-8) In 1864 Napolean III installed Austrian Archduke Ferdinand Maximillian as the puppet emperor of Mexico. Rejected by Mexican Republicans, he was executed in 1876 along with two generals. Manet painted this work in response to what he saw as Napolean's incompetence. It shows the moment the squad opens fire . Only Maximillian's left hand is visible, clasping a general. This painting is the second of four versions. Manet abandoned it and it was cut up after his death but largely reassembled by Degas.

Postcard

Edouard Manet-Music in the Tuileries Gardens (1862) Fashionable Parisian crowd. Manet is far left holding what seems to be a paintbrush. His friends-poet Charles Baudelaire and artist Henri Fantin-Latour are amongst others. The crowd has gathered in the Tuileries Gardens for a concert although we can't see the musicians.

Vincent van Gogh-Sunflowers (1888) Nicknamed the painter of sunflowers by his artist friend Paul Gaugin, Van Gogh associated the color yellow with hope and friendship

Postcard

Trafalgar Square. Major public square in central London named after the 1805 Battle of Trafalgar. Landmark for historical importance. Gathering place for protests, celebrations and events. Nelson's Column-has 4 bronze lions at its base and a statue of Admiral Lord Nelson at the top; honors him after his victory in the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805. National Gallery. Beautiful fountains. Last time we visited here back in 2008 I climbed up onto the base of Nelson's Column and posed with the lions. Uber back to the apartment. Cost 21.35£/$28.95

Me in 2008

Nelson's Column

Uber to Claridge's-cost 14.59£/$19.79

Claridges. Afternoon tea. A classic combination of finger sandwiches, scones served warm and sweet pastries accompanied by a huge selection of wonderful loose leaf tea. I made a reservation for 4:45 pm. This is a very posh place from what I've read. When we arrived men dressed in very classy duds greeted us and opened the door for us to enter. Upon entering you feast your eyes on the foyer. Art deco inspired. Glancing around you take in the sweeping staircase, the light fixtures, the flower arrangements-all very impressive. This place had atmosphere galore. Beautiful.

Our über

Claridge's

Greeted by a lovely woman-I assume the hostess?-who checked that we did indeed have a reservation. She led us to a table and asked us if the table was satisfactory. It was. Signature Claridge's fine bone china, and silverware. Our server was Alona. She was friendly, knowledgeable, and a breath of fresh air. Menus had the afternoon tea in it with what it all entailed. There were pages for the different teas. You chose a tea for each course. Tea that will complement the food perfectly. All tea was prepared and poured at our table. The process-each step carefully explained by Alona-was so intriguing that I completely forgot to take any pictures! A tea for the sandwiches, a tea for the scones and a tea for the desserts. You could have more sandwiches if you so desired. Also could have more tea. And if tea is not for you there was a menu section for coffee, etc. We got a bottle of natural mineral water for our table. Even the glasses had a special engraving on them! I was blown away by the light fixture and flower arrangements in the dining area.

Our table

Claridge's pattern-bone china

Loved this unusual light fixture

Stunning flower arrangement

Our first tea that we chose was a green tea to go with the sandwiches. Emerald green tea. The tea is served from a specially designed stand. This tea was wonderful and I asked for another cup. The sandwiches came out on a platter. Looking at the display you could see the balance between the thickness of the bread and the filling. The sandwiches were: roasted Dorrington ham/mustard mayo/cornichons on onion bread, Burford brown egg mayo/watercress & chives on white bread, roasted chicken/tarragon/baby gem lettuce on granary bread, English cucumber/mint cream cheese on white bread, smoked salmon/dill creme fraîche/radicchio on rye bread. They were so tasty and really filling so we didn't ask for any more. Next was the Claridge's blend tea to go with the scones. Plain and raisin scones, Cornish clotted cream and a specially made afternoon tea jam. Tea was just perfect with the scones which were also perfect. Question-jam first or cream? I did jam first, then the cream and loved every bite! Our last tea was Malawi antler. Strange sounding but it went well with the sweets. And OMG those sweets were to die for! Incredible. There was a hazelnut milk chocolate mousse with lemon confit, mini caramelized apple tart satin with cinnamon cream, Claridge's dark chocolate & coffee choux, plum & yogurt tart. My favorite was the plum & yogurt tart. We loved the scones so much that we got a little box of them along with a jar of the clotted cream and a jar of the jam to take back to our apartment. Since we couldn't finish all the sweets, they were also boxed up for us. Truly our afternoon tea at Claridge's was magical. Pricey but so glad we did this. Can definitely recommend this as a great experience. Most time the food over shadows the drink but here the teas were so special and made each course "sing". As you leave there is a table with candy and paper cones. You can take some of this if you want. All these added touches make Claridge's special in my opinion. Cost 218.50£/$296.37

Left to right-complimentary chef's seasonal savory; ham, egg, chicken, cucumber, salmon

Plain and raisin scones, Cornish clotted cream, afternoon tea jam

Claridge's Blend tea that we had with the scones

Jam first or cream?

Sorry about the blurry picture. Front row left to right. Hazelnut milk chocolate mousse, apple tart satin, Claridge's dark chocolate & coffee choux, plum & yogurt tart

Our to go boxes

Here are some pictures from other memorable afternoon teas we've had on other trips.

Hong Kong, China 2007 Afternoon tea at the Peninsula Hotel.

Luxor, Egypt 2011 Afternoon tea at the Winter Palace Hotel. This is the hotel where Agatha Christie wrote Death on the Nile.

Uber back to the apartment. Cost 24.90£/$33.77 Looking forward to tomorrow. I have booked tickets for the Churchill War Rooms. Walked only .15 miles today. Not much at all. It seemed like more. Put our Claridge's take away box of clotted cream and jam in the fridge. Also the sweet boxes. But the scone box could stay on the counter.