Lip Gloss and Black

London - Kensington Palace

Ahh the beautiful Kensington Palace! There is too much I'd like to say about this House. I've been wanting to visit this one since I came across with Queen Victoria's story, and what a great monarch she was. Victoria was the first monarch in the British history to achieve the Diamond Jubilee actually, and she was well beloved
by the English people. This 17th house was built by William III and Mary II, and it was Victoria’s childhood home, until she was crowned queen.

It’s a palace full of stories, well decorated with the romantic touch inspired by Victoria’s life and it’s all so well preserved! Thank goodness I was able to photograph, and I would stay there forever because it was a sea of inspiration for me once I got inside.

It was also Princess Diana’s official residence and the current Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, even though they moved into a more private apartment.

So here it is, the Kensington Palace.

The Round Pound, in front of the Palace. I never thought it was this huge!

This Victoria's statue, in her Coronation robes, was sculpted by her daugher Princess Louise, but some claim that it was actually her tutor Joseph Edgar Boehm the true creator. Either way, it's majestic!

Transcriptions from her diary were all over the walls of her appartments. I had to read them all.

Victoria's wedding dress.

Let me tell you this... Queen Victoria and her husband Albert were both great art collectors. They would ask for unique pieces of art so they could give to each other. Sculptures, paintings, even theatre. This is a particular painting, because it portrays Victoria in a seductive, sexual way, as a gift to her beloved husband. There are not many paintings of monarchs showing this private side, is there? I think it's stunning.

This installation is inspired by the song birds that Mary kept in the gallery om velvet-trimmed cages.

This strange object in the centre os the room is a clock, a music box that plays Hendel and an artwork to boot.

Memories to be kept forever. ♥

London - Hyde Park

Hyde Park is gorgeous and GIGANTIC! I thought it would be just like a cool park, to hang out, but I thought we could see from side to another. It's like a forest inside the city, how can that be possible? It's beautiful, a breath of fresh air in the heart of London, literally.

I wanted to see the memorial fountain for Princess Diana, but the park was so big and we had to go to the Kensington Palace, that I didn't even manage to find it. And also the Prince Albert statue. Well, I guess I have to go back to London some other time hehe.

London - Picadilly Circus and the M&M shop

This was so much fun! Picadilly Circus at night is everything I expected and more. It's packed with a crowd of diferent people, from everywhere. And then we came across the huge M&M Store! I heard it was awesome but I never thought it would be so much fun in a way I'd stay there forever. Anyways... Lots of fun and colourful pictures. God bless my wide-angle lens...

London - Big Ben and London Eye

Of course, we had to visit the typical british icons! The Big Ben and the Westminster Palace are still part of my favourites must-sees.

London - Somerset House and City of Westminster

This was the first house I saw, right in the first day we landed in the UK. The Somerset House is amazing! I only wanted to see the outside, because of how beautiful it's arquitecture is, and it was the main scenery of "The Duchess" movie so yeah, I had to check it out. It was also many monarchs home. The young Edward VI and princess Elizabeth is among them. It was also the main home for some queens regent, including the portuguese Catarina de Bragança.

All set now! I promisse I won't bore you with historical facts, just some curious learnings about the places, because once you know at least a little about the places, the more beautiful they become. At least for me it works that way... Enjoy.

This is St. Mary le Strand Church, close to the Somerset House.

Like a Sir!

♥

London - an Introduction

As you all know, I went to London for a few days with my boyfriend, a couple weeks ago. The result? Tons of photographs, amazing memories and a bigger wish to go back, once again. Sharing this trip with my boyfriend couldn't get any better, as he enjoyed London very much (because he has this amazing girlfriend who acted as his private tourist guide hehe). Above all, London is still gorgeous, more than ever this year, since it's the Queen's Diamond Jubilee year and the Olimpics! How crazy is that!

So anyways, there will be an amount of posts, difered by themes which makes it easier to understand and so I can talk a little bit about them, equaly. I hope you enjoy them, as much as I do.

For this trip I only used my new wide-angle lens, and I couldn't stop shooting, randomly. And that's why I've got so much stuff that it took me hours to make a good selection so I can post.

Will all said... enjoy! ♥

July

Today was another turning point. I just got back to Lisbon, and a mixure of feelings just hit me and I'm not really sure whether I'm happy or sad. 6 months in my hometown just passed by, so fast that I can't believe I'm actually back to my Lisbon cosmopolitan life, the total oposite of my country chilled back life, in the Azores. I cried, I smiled, cried again, but in the end of the day I'm doing what I'm meant to do, and what I feel like it's the best.

And besides all that, yes, I am happy.

And in 2 days I'll be in London, spending some days with my boyfriend!

Here's some pictures from the last sunset colors I had the pleasure to view from my house, in Terceira, Azores. As you all know, the thing I will probably miss the most is the distinct azorean sunset color... I can't never get enough of it, and I will miss it terribly, specially because I'm spending the summer in Lisbon for the first time.