The National Portrait Gallery

 A Proper Good Afternoon to You

The sky looks like it wants to rain. I would enjoy this. We had another pleasantly cool day. I looked at the weather for the week and made some plans. Tomorrow is likely to be rainy, so I have a couple of museums in mind depending on my mood. I also booked my visit to The British Museum and Kew Gardens. Booking ahead even when admission is free (The British Museum) or a stiff admission (Kew Gardens) where one pays by credit card. This has become very common in Continental Europe as well. Also I looked up some sites, I might want to visit. Whoa ho! I mean I knew London was expensive, but I'm reluctant to shell out thirty pounds, which is a cool forty U.S. Dollars.

The National Portrait Gallery is not as popular as her sister around the corner, but for me it's a definite must see. Portraits of various periods and media are what is on offer. I recognize nearly all of the ones from the Fifteenth, Sixteenth, Seventeenth and Eighteenth Centuries, and most of the Nineteenth. History is my business, and come on, you'd recognize George Washington's portrait. The British historical figures are as familiar to me. Oh and speaking of George, he's featured, too along with Benjamin Franklin--very magnanimous, I find it.

Here' Queen Elizabeth I's Coronation portrait.

And here is the scientist Michael Faraday--a handsome chap I included as a treat for my female readers.

On my way home I took a detour through Covent Garden. I'll do it properly later on, but it's a great place for refreshment and retail therapy although specifically directed toward tourists. But there are many pedestrianized streets and the scene is lively and pleasant.

Less pleasant is the presence of homeless men and the occasional panhandler. The UK, despite Brexit, has solid social supports, but the men need to dry out first.

I'm having more of that lovely Cheddar I got a few days ago, but I'm going to devour it all, so I'll need to go back.  For dinner I'm going to have a microwave meal, so not that exciting.

Cheerio