Category: Uncategorized

• Glow in Kingston: a journey of lights

  

  Long and dark February nights wrap around you like a heavy duvet. Christmas lights have faded, and Valentine’s chocolates are long gone. What’s next? Spring still exists only in imagination, as reality slaps you in the face with a freezing wind. London evenings make you want to hide under a cozy blanket and hibernate until the first cherry blossom. Yes? No! Because there’s something else to do. And it’s not just about eating and drinking. Well, not only.

  The Week of Glow has arrived in Kingston, and it’s time to enjoy the art of little neon lights turned into colorful creatures, scattered and hidden in various corners of the medieval town.

  It feels like a cheeky treasure hunt: to get discounts at restaurants and shops in Kingston for the Week of Lights, you need to visit at least 6 out of 10 installations and get your postcard stamped.

  I started at Kingston Railway Station, where a slightly frozen volunteer handed me a card, stamped it, and pointed me to a wall. It was still a bit too bright to see anything clearly. He told me it was a projection on the building, and I had to take his word for it. My next stop was near the Royal Exchange on Brook Street—still too bright for good pictures. The festival runs from 16:30 until late evening, but the best time to go is after 18:00, when the darkness turns the modern town into a glowing fairytale.

  After visiting two installations, I was a little frozen, but my spirit was still high. At the Ancient Market, I found a bright, colorful maze, though I felt a bit shy inside the place, which was filled with screaming toddlers.

  Near the bridge, I discovered an archaeological exhibition—it also had some light installations, but I was more mesmerized by the history of the place and the discovery of the old Saxon bridge.

  The best light installations were set on the riverside. Two neon benches and two seahorses that constantly changed colors. People were queuing up to take pictures.

  When my card was fully stamped, I headed to one of the restaurants and enjoyed a generous 25% discount on my dinner bill.

  The light show runs from the 14th to the 23rd of February. I’ll be back again to pamper all my senses with the colors and the food.

  February 19, 2025

  photography, travel, writing

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• From Powerhouse to Power Games: A Day Out at Battersea Power Station

  Romantic day out? Tick. A lot of food? Tick. Quirky bar? Tick. River view, city view, shopping, a boat instead of a tube, lights, music, and shows? Tickle me! Because I must be dreaming. Is it really possible to have it all? Yes! Because you’ve arrived at a special destination – Battersea Power Station.

  The first time I heard about this London wonder, it was in relation to Pink Floyd’s album, where the infamous building became the iconic cover.

  Almost a century ago, Battersea Power Station supplied electricity to the Houses of Parliament, Buckingham Palace, and a fifth of London’s population. However, it closed in the 1980s.

  Now it supplies entertainment on a large scale.

  In February 2024, Battersea Power Station hosted a Light Festival – free to visit and spectacular to enjoy. I couldn’t resist the temptation, jumped on an Uber boat, and arrived there for the first time.

  It was a thunderstruck experience for all the senses. A huge building with four symmetrical chimneys pointed at the dark sky under the full moon. A giant blue butterfly next to the sleeping fountain, where an adventurous labrador tried to test the waters…

  I walked down the riverside, glancing at the nearby restaurants, totally enchanted by the enticing aromas from Italian, Indian, Malaysian, Spanish, and British gastronomic masterpieces…

  Everything here is about electricity. If there’s a boulevard, it’s Electric Boulevard. If you want a cocktail, you can choose between the Voltmeter, Ammeter, or Synchroscope. The bar is located in the former control room, hence the name. Prices bite a bit, but the perfect rock playlist compensates for the pain.

  Inside the building, you can indulge your inner shopaholic (I’m trying not to – they are too good!).

  Most of the restaurants and cafes are dog-friendly.

  Since then, I have visited Battersea Power Station several times – in all seasons, and I’ve probably tried all the places around, except Lift 109 – which brings you to the top of one of the chimneys for 360-degree views of London.

  Battersea Power Station is easily accessible by overground train, tube, and boat. You can take an Uber boat from most of the London piers – from Greenwich to Putney.

  Now it’s time to come back – to experience the Christmas spirit at Battersea, to ice skate while looking at the giant 30 ft Christmas tree, and trying not to fall!

  November 23, 2024

  architecture, battersea, england, london, travel

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• Magic moments at Hampton Court Palace

  London keeps many jewels in its crown, and Hampton Court Palace is a particularly precious one. Located in Richmond upon Thames, not far from Central London, it is easily accessible by train from Waterloo Station. The best part: with a train ticket, you can claim a 2-for-1 offer for the palace entrance ticket.

  Once a famous playground for the rich and noble since the 16th century, it is now a magnet for modern-day activities. It hosts one of the biggest flower shows in the country, summer music festivals, and a magical sparkling ice rink in winter.

  It’s the perfect place for a solo or family day out, and especially for a romantic rendezvous.

  The moment you enter the palace, you feel an intangible touch of magic, as if you are glancing into an era of kings and dark secrets.

  Through the centuries, many have written extensively about Hampton Court, praising its architecture and the mystery of the place. Even Jerome K. Jerome expressed his love for this jewel in his comedic novel “Three Men in a Boat.”

  It’s definitely worth visiting once—or twice. I’ve been to Hampton Court at least a dozen times with family, friends, and loved ones. Each time, it reveals something new to me. How did I miss that incredible medieval painting? And the hidden lane in the garden leading to the beautiful rose plants?

  Hampton Court has become a favourite location for many costume dramas, including Vanity Fair, The Young Victoria, Pirates of the Caribbean, Cinderella, and Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story, the Netflix prequel to Bridgerton.

  The Maze is the UK’s oldest surviving hedge maze. Commissioned around 1700 by William III, it covers a third of an acre and is known for confusing and intriguing visitors with its many twists and turns.

  At Christmas, you can travel back in time and visit the palace when talented actors bring you into the 16th century, as Henry VIII strides through the rooms, urging the public to kneel down and chant: “God save the King!”

  Sometimes, at the palace kitchen, you can buy the tastiest meat pie to munch on while you chill after your rich historical experience.

  If you want to try something different, just a few steps away is the 17th-century Mitre Hotel, with a riverside bar and a delicious restaurant. Complete your day by sipping some wine while watching the graceful swans gliding on the river.

  October 21, 2024

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