11 May (Thursday) continued.
My mom really likes waterlilies, so I thought what better thing to do but take a bunch of pictures in the Waterlily House for her? She grew up in Taiwan, a much more tropical climate than D.C. has. Though, believe it or not, we do have the Lilypons water and garden center about 30 or 40 miles north of where we live in Maryland (go figure). When I entered the Waterlily House, there was already a big group of schoolkids in there, and a staff gardener was cleaning up some debris and "feeding" the plants, having gone in there with rubber pants held up with suspenders. I got these 3 pics of different colored waterlilies, plus one of a canna. My mom tried growing cannas last summer in front of our house, as a way to encourage me to step out the front door of the house (when I could).
By the time I made it to the Temperate House, I needed a break. I went into the Pavilion Restaurant near there, intending to eat something, but getting disappointed when all I saw were baked goods (we're talking brownies, cookies, croissants - stuff that a wheat-allergic girl like me cannot even begin to think about), a couple pies, and lots of juice and drinks. So I got two boxes of apple juice and sat down to catch my breath and try and towel myself off. It was so hot, and I'm sure by that time my head looked like a tomato with hair. Blasted photosensitivity. At least I could stop and take a look at the map, and thoroughly defeated I felt after seeing what I hadn't seen yet. I'd estimate that I only got through 1/3 of the garden, maybe? I was disappointed. I had hoped to see more. But after I downed 2 boxes of juice, I decided that I needed to conserve my energy to make sure I got back to the tube station in one piece without fainting. I also realized, with near horror, that I'd left the lion's share of the money I withdrew from an ATM at Heathrow in my hotel room! I couldn't for the life of me remember where I had put that envelope, if I had left it on the bed, or what. I just hoped that the chambermaid had a conscience and would not my 200 quid. Needless to say though, my peaceful attitude had been rudely interrupted!
The ruined arch. There was a woman sitting on a stool near the arch and was drawing the arch on her canvas with pastels.
Camellia on a tree and cyclamen I spied on my way back to the entrance of the park.
Had I been less exhausted and not worried about my money back in the hotel, I may have stopped at the book and chip shops that were conveniently placed right next to the park entrance. But I was a nervous wreck and felt I would not be relaxed until I got back to the hotel. It was probably a good time to call it a day because I felt oversunned and my legs were in desperate need of respite. And despite my anxiety about the money, I did snap this photo of the London Eye on the way back to my hotel from Westminster. Though I never rode it when I was in London, it is quite an engineering feat and surprisingly taller than I thought. County Hall is that big building on the right side, and my hotel was on the side of the building not facing the water.
posted 12/04/06
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