Nice to See You Again, Mondrian

As promised, dear reader, our recollection of our London adventure begins. As it has been so long and you have waited so patiently, I will not extend that pause, and shall start my narration promptly.

From my previous entries you must be aware of my passion for fine art. We begin this trip much as our last, at the Tate Modern museum, that transformed power plant on the far end of the Millenium Bridge.

Look up, a Calder mobile, so often overlooked.

Minimalists many, a lovely late Mondrian caught my eye.

Next, a museum close to my heart, of course, the Natural History Museum.

The extinct Dodo,

The complete fossilized skeleton of a Diplodocus.

And imagine my joy of finding some lovely representatives of some very large cousins.

As well as some somewhat smaller cousins.

Being a civilized seal, the most appropriate dinner at the end of such a lovely day is fish and chips at a traditional British pub, the Hereford Arms.

My words may be brief today, dear reader, but it is not lack of passion, simply some of that cruel mistress jet lag. And now, dear reader, I must sign off. Tomorrow is a day certainly of more art, and perhaps performance.

Is This Thing On?

Hello dear readers. It is I again, your humble pinniped servant and world traveler, Surf.

It has been some time since our last adventure. Let me adjust my settings of photographs and we shall discuss my loud, untimely disappearance.

This sign says "Arrivals" dear reader, I do apologize for the blur. My mentor does still have much to teach me.

Ah, yes. Here we are, a familiar hotel in a familiar borough of London. I cannot entirely explain my absence, only to say I did take the advice of my mentor and followed the passion in my briney heart. A seal of honor will never divulge certain things. What is important is that I have become wiser in matters of the heart, my grand paramour has set me free and I have once again joined my mentor in her travels.

Our adventures shall begin again on the morrow!

Of Seals and Seine

I apologize for my short absence, dear readers. I must say that Paris is quite the distracting lady. I initially arrived in Paris by train, the high speed Eurostar which spanned the distance between London and my new destination in no more than two hours and some pence. As the travel was so quick, I found I slept through most the journey, and therefore lack photographs of the trip. Of this I also apologize.

I shall introduce Paris to you as I was, by the Seine. This was a suggestion of my mentor, for an opportunity to gauge the city from an alternate tableau.

Does it surprise you to see me in a seat on a boat? Because I am a seal? I fear I must remind you I am a seal of class, and while I appreciate my aquatic provenance, I have been freed from the physical requirement of swimming to my destinations.

As many who visit Paris, my introduction was a ride upon the Bateaux Mouche.

Splendid bridges.

The sheer massive scale of the Louvre.

The grandeur of Notre Dame.

These places and more shall I visit in my time traveling in the City of Lights. Although my personal photographs are a drab comparison to the real Paris, dear reader, I would be delighted if you are at least entertained by this minute pinniped's adventures.

London, part the second

Ah, London. Land of fish and chips. I especially appreciate the fish.

As a learned seal of some years, I have come to appreciate certain historical sites. My mentor, Mrs. M, suggested that I tour the Tower of London.

These fellows have the right idea. Fur is quite warm and intimidating to others.

A cousin of mine sat as a model for the lions of Trafalgar Square. Can you not see the uncanny familial resemblance?

The theatrical arts are a love of mine, I do enjoy immersing myself in creative culture. As my mentor suggested, I took in a viewing of Billy Elliot at the Victoria Palace theatre. While I do have this image of myself at the venue, I do not have any of the stunning performance. This would have been terribly rude, of course, and I am not that kind of seal.

Surf in London

Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Surf. Please do not call me a stuffed animal, I am quite slim, and I am one hundred percent seal. I am a world traveler, having accompanied my mentor, who I will call Mrs M, on many journeys. It just so happens this is my photographic debut.

I have been in London most recently, in a quaint hotel in Earl's Court, in a room that overlooked a garden courtyard.

Big Ben is even bigger when you're a little seal!

If you must know, I am quite the purveyor of art. The Tate Modern was quite delightful.

Mrs M has suggested I limit myself to five photos at a time. "Leave them wanting more" says she. Also writing is quite the daunting task with flippers.