OLD FRIENDS--TRIED AND TRUE

A comparatively easy day. No rushing. No tickets to buy.

When we had all pulled ourselves together, we set out for

Trafalgar Square

Trafalgar Square using Karin's favorite form of public transportation, the London underground.Yesterday, during the day, we'd been surprised at how crowded the underground was, but last night made the day trips feel like strolls in the park. Coming back from the play, for example, the crowd was so backed up that the hallway leading to the train platform was totally blocked. Couldn't move. So, today, we were prepared for the worst, but the trains were almost empty.

National Gallery

Anyway, our goal was to visit old friends in the National Gallery and the National Portrait Gallery. In the former, I like to say hello when I'm in town to Rembrandt's Self Portrait at age 62. Wasn't there. Part of some special exhibit, just as it had been a couple of years ago. So, on to the Caravaggios. Of three, two were on loan to the National Gallery in Ireland for a special exhibit. Fortunately, there were we several other old friends who were still there including Vermeer's A Young Woman Standing at a Virginal. Striking.

In the National Gallery

Their ONE Caravaggio!

In the Portrait Gallery, which is just around the corner, we

National Portrait Gallery

spent some quality time with Elizabeth I and members of her circle, and (for me) Sam Johnson and his biographer, James Boswell. Karin particularly wanted to see Lawrence Olivier, but like Rembrandt and Caravaggio, he was out. I was interested though, to see how much they've modernized the Portrait Gallery. Great job. 

Finally, with sore feet but warm hearts, we took an almost-empty train back to our neighborhood, where, walking back to the flat, Bob and Karin stocked up on Prosecco and red wine. That's sure to dissipate any of the minor disappointments we endured.

Tonight, for theater, we saw "An American in Paris." How can you go wrong with Gershwin music? Show was great!

An American in Paris, the opening set