Some previous visits to the Vyne are below:
Spring Afternoon at The Vyne (National Trust, Hampshire)
Days Out: The Vyne in Basingstoke, Hampshire
I visited the exhibition site on my first full day and got up early to visit. The sky was very cloudy, but some sun tried to shine through. The site is located a short train twenty-minute ride from the centre of Brussels.
Outside the train station at Heysel are the exhibition grounds. Actually, two Expos were held here. There was one in 1935, and the second was in 1958, soon after the second World War and near the beginning of Cold War tensions. The above building is an Art Deco exhibition centre built for the 1935 Expo. Grounds were also built and sculptured and illuminated at night with fireworks displays.
As I arrived early and before the Expo opened, I first had a look around. As mentioned above, grounds (next to the Atomium) were created and landscaped in 1934 for the 1935 exhibition, and I visited them. Jules Buyssens was the inspector of parks and grounds and promenades in Brussels, and he developed the Parc d'Osseghem. The grounds include forest, which is steep in places due to its former use as a quarry. This was incorporated into English-style gardens with curves and viewpoints to encourage painting.
The grounds also includes an open-air theatre. This open-air theatre had excellent acoustics for orchestras and performances that took place in 1935 and 1958. It also hosts a jazz festival. The cylindrical beech trees are one of the park's features.
The 1958 exhibition site covers over 200 hectacres and divided into sveral areas of pavilions, squares, palaces, fountains, gardens, and statues. New architecture designs and materials were experimented with to create the buildings. Most of those buildings are torn down, but Atomium is one of the structures that remains.
Atomium was built to showcase the iron and steel European community founded in the 1950s, but aluminium was used instead. The structure itself was designd like an atom, and the material and form were combined to create the name of the structure "atomium". The structure became an icon. It was a symbol of hope to popularize atomic energy. It was the centrepiece of the exhibition centre in 1958.
After wandering around the gardens, I got to the Atomium and took my trip up via th elevator to the top. The elevator takes guests up to the top orb. This is the viewing area, and there's also a restaurant at the top. There is a wonderful view over Brussels, though the Atomium is a few miles outside of the centre of Brussels.
Here are some facts of the Atomium structure: The structure includes 9 spheres, and it is 102m tall. The elevator in the middle of the structure shoots up to the top in five meters per second.
I visited the restaurant and had a cocktail and enjoyed the view. I enjoyed the view, and I was the only one in the restaurant during my visit. It had a late-1950s feel about it. The cocktail was a special one for winter, and it was delicious. It was called "Winter Fell Atomium" and includd Curacao, amaretto, cocnut puree, basil, and lemon.
After the restaurant, I continued to admire the 360 degree view. One of the attractions that I wanted to see was Mini Europe, but it was closed for the winter. I could see some of it from above. I will have to visit it some other time.
I took a photograph of the park that I visited earlier.
Once I had seen the view, I got the elevator back down to the ground level and was then shown the way to the museum. This was located up some stairs and then to other orbs connected by stairways and escalators. The first part of the exhibition contained information about the Atomium structure and 1958 Expo.
It included some drawings of the structure, a map of the 1958 exhibition, branding materials and advertising worldwide, and information about the running of the Expo or World's Fair.
There was also a model of the structure.
The other parts of the museum included various artistic light shows. The next escalator brought me to the next orb with different light colours and patterns with a soundscape. There were various rooms with lights too.
The last light room included a relaxing soundscape with benches.
The exit back down to the ground floor includd another light show in the escalator with audio sounds from space and astronauts.
I enjoyed my visit to the Atomium. I would book it in advance and arrive early in the day to make the most of it. Entrance to the structure also gives free access to the Design Museum, located a short walk away.
]]>The projections started outside on the building opposite the church and the church itself as I waited. The building opposite depicted some machinery-inspired imagery with the Earth.
After going inside, I walked through the crypt, which was lit up with soothing ambience audio and colourful floral imagery in two of the rooms. This looked stunning with the arches.
After the crypt, the main experience was held inside the church with a fifteen-minute immersive show covering the walls and ceiling of the church. It covered all aspects of life from small organisms to oceans, jungles, the insect world, and birds. The show transformed the church, and it was very beautiful.
After the experience in the church, I went outside to see the projection on the side of the church. I could not really see this before as I was at the front of the queue and the sky was not dark enough. The projection on the side of the church was more of a human and cultural theme with different patterns and cultural imagery.
Overall, this was a good experience, but I felt that it was much too busy. Some people had tickets for later but turned up early, so this could be one reason why I felt that it was over-crowded, and I did not feel that it was best-managed nor organised from this view, which meant that I felt on edge thinking I was standing in everyone's way and did not get to fully enjoy it. Other than that, it was amazing, and I enjoyed the transformation.
]]>Love Letter Bath Bomb: This is a love letter bath bomb made with coconut milk and cocoa butter, and it has a strawberry scent.
Love Potion Bath Bomb: This is a purple bath bomb with caramel scent and popping candy; the scent wasn't for me, so it's not pictured above.
Big Squeeze Bath Bomb: This two tone purple and pink bath bomb has a zesty scent, and it reminds me of the Valentine's Day fizzy sweets.
Whispering Heart Bath Bomb: This pink bath bomb has a heart-shaped hole in the top that is for whispering into or putting a note inside.
Love Bug Bath Bomb: Shaped like a Volkswagen Beetle and pastel-coloured, this bath bomb is a citrus and orange scent.
Flower Bombshell Bath Bomb: This bath bomb is extra large and tied with a ribbon; it is filled with dried flowers, and visitors to the Oxford Street store could pick their own mixture of dried blossoms and petals.
Strawberry Crumble Bubbleroon: This is a bath bomb designed to melt into the bath and make the water extra-moisturising, perfect for the dry winter air.
BFF! Bath Bomb: This bath bomb is made with cocoa butter and extra-moisturising in the bath, which is perfect for the dry winter air.
Strawberry Heart Soap: The soap has a light strawbrry fragrance and designed with heart shapes.
My Lil' Chia Piglet soap: These soaps are shaped like pig faces and contain chia seeds to add moisture into the bath.
Sex Bomb Bath Bomb: This bath bomb has a sensual and relaxing scent with ylang ylang and jasmine.
Rose Jam Bubbleroon: The bubbleroon contains extra moisturising butter that melts into bath water, and this one contains a rose scent.
]]>The pancakes and drink were delicious. The only downside was that the service was very slow and disinterested, and they were stocking up and left all the boxes of items on the floor and blocking the stairs down to the toilets, which is a trip hazard. The staff were not professional, which is a pity.
]]>I watched the teams compete. They had to run one way and flip the pancake three times, then pass it to their team mate, who had to race it back. This was good fun. This year, they used bowler hats for everyone participating. Only one person dressed up; I do like the costumes so it's a shame others do not dress up.
Hopefully I will get to the Inter-livery Pancake Day race next year, if the rain holds.
Check out some of my Pancake Day posts:
The afternoon tea is in association with Floris, and the sandwiches included a mushroom and chestnut quiche tart, smoked salmon and caviar, chicken coronation, egg truffle mayonnaise, and a chestnut and cheddar Yorkshire pudding. I had the vegetarian options, which replaced the meat with avocado and an Indian-inspired savoury. The menu was the winter menu.
The decor felt very 1920s.
I noticed that the design on the plates and teapot were the Thames.
I hope I got my worth of the bottomless champagne.
The desserts included: chestut vanilla and cassis tart, orange and chocolate, and bergamot and spiced. I had the vegetarian/vegan options, which were diffrent.
Two scones were also a part of the aftrnoon tea, and these were served with clotted cream and raspberry jam.
The afternoon tea was quiet with a small room in The Parlour, which made it a more intimate event. There is also a bar, which is designed in the art deco style.
]]>I first discovered a few "locks of love" here on the fence in Shoreditch in 2012 (read about them here), and they keep growing each year.
]]>If you want to head over to Battersea Power Station to see the light sculptures, there is still time. The light festival started on the 25th of January and will finish on the 25th of February.
"Butterfly Effect" - Masamichi Shimada: This light sculpture projection features six large butterflies in and around the fountains near the power station. They are in different poses, and the small butterfly magnified gives a sense of power and beauty at the same time.
'Cloudy Lanterns' - Mad Rhizome. These thre tree-like sculptures are actually clouds and change colour and light pattern in a subtle way, shifting glows from green to orange to red to purple and then to blue.
'Singularity' - Squidsoup: This sphere uses audio and different light patterns to depict population growth and change.
'C/C' - Angela Chong: This interactive sculpture can be used as a bench and lights in the dark. It is motion-sensored, and the different LED lights produce a rainbow of colours once interacted with.
'Lightbattle III' - Venividimultiplex: The power of energy from cycling these bikes creates light and movement. The sculpture is fully interactive and encourages visitors to go to either side of the sculpture and cycle in attempt to battle the other cyclists by using the lights to show who is winning.
'LightPiano' - Arion de Munck and Mark Ridder. Located inside the power station, this piano can be played and adjusts the colours and patterns of the cube lights on the sculpture overhead. This attempts to visualise the audio producd by the piano.
'Large Diamond' - Freerk Wilbers: Inside the power station is a large glowing crystal object that catches the surrounding light. The sculpture rotates and causes the light to shimmer and dance off surfaces.
Previous visits to the Battersea Light Festival on this blog are linked below:
]]>In addition to the new mural, I am also posting an image of the ape face that is painted on the side of a corner shop on Brick Lane. This wall is always obscured now, so it is difficult to get any photograph unless visiting very early or very late.
I also saw this mural, which I don't seem to have posted yet. It features the artist's silhouette style with two children playing a game with an apple logo during a war.
Another mural has been repainted as it was looking very faded, and this is located on the side of The Viaduct bar in Shoreditch and features a royal guard.
I've previously posted about Otto Schade's street art in the following posts:
Otto Schade - The Viaduct and Other
Otto Schade on Farnshaw Street - Eva's Green Apple
New Snoopy Street Art and Other Street Art by Otto Schade in East London
Otto Schade Paints Donna Summer on "Bull In A China Shop" in Shoreditch and Others
Otto Schade Murals on Kingsland Road
Long Street - Otto Schade, CodeFC, The Krah
Street Art by Otto Schade
Otto Schade Paints "The Lady Don't Protest Enough" Mural on Bateman's Row
Otto Schade "Jack the Ripper 2040" Street Art
Otto Schade 'The Believers' and 'WTF'
'Bull in a China Shop', 'Osch-car' and 'Flies Around Sh*t'
Otto Schade 'Peace and Love on the Streets'
Street Artist Otto Schade Paints Southampton 'Zany Zebra' for Charity (and other work)
Street Art Round-up: Spring & Summer 2015
Otto Schade's New Street Art (Meerkats, Portraits, & More) in East London
New Street Art from Horror Crew, Swoon, Otto Schade, HIN, and others
Street Art: Otto Schade
More posts by David Speed on this blog:
]]>The female is surrounded by various winter foliage, bringing back the pagan meaning of the winter season.
The artwork represents that the cycle of nature is ever-changing, and nothing lasts forever.
]]>I loved the decor of the restaurant, and the tap water comes in glass fish-shaped bottles.
I ordered three different cocktails. I had the silk road Negroni, which was made very strong with saffron and cinnamon. I also had the Pom-Pom Mojito, which used pomegranate. I also had an alcohol-free cocktail, the Coco Loco, which was served in a breast cup.
I had the truffle pasta, which was delicious. For dessert, I had the Incomparable Lemon Pie. This was a massive slice of lemon pie with toasted whipped meringe. I could not finish all of the mergine and found it too sweet. I would have liked more of the lemon in the ratio.
The food and cocktails were delicious, and i enjoyed my visit.
]]>Overall, the buns were okay but not nearly the best I have had. I like my cinnamon buns to be a little more on the gooey side with a lot of cinnamon and icing. I visited one of the Canry Wharf branches but not the one outside of Waitrose.
]]>Carpo is a chocolate, nut, dried fruit, and yogurt shop that hails from Greece. I was greeted when I walked in and offered chocolates to try before purchasing. I settled on some nut varieties. Pistachio clusters and dark chocolate were my favourite, and I also had sesame seeds with dark chocolate dipped on one side and some florentines with one side dipped in chocolate. The chocolate-covered nuts are simply devine. My main purpose, however, was the hot chocolate.
The hot chocolate was liquid chocolate. It was good, but it's not the best I have had. This was on the slight bitter side, which some may prefer.
The sesame seed and florentine chocolates I purchased are located above, and they are definitely delicious.
I also left with a couple milk and dark pistachio clusters and a couple sea salt and caramel chocolate truffles. The truffles were not my favourite either as there's another chocolate shop that does them better in my opinion (Dark Sugars on Brick Lane). However, the pistachio clusters and sesame seed chocolate is delicious and I will be going back for more.
]]>There were works being done on the grounds, so entry is via the walled garden. Despite being the middle of January and being a very cold January, I saw the daffodil sprouts in the garden.
I decided on the walk through the woodland, which starts from the other side of the lake.
At first, the walk way was nice and dry, but it wasn't long that it became very muddy and not possible to walk down, so we gave up and went back.
We went and had a look in the bird hide with the view over the wetlands.
We headed around the house, a little disappointed due to the mud. Then, I discovered the house was open so went inside to make the most of the visit. It's a nice property to explore, and I've previously been inside it, but my friend had never visited.
I've still never visited the full interior of the house as it has always been closed.
Some previous visits to the Vyne are below:
Spring Afternoon at The Vyne (National Trust, Hampshire)
Days Out: The Vyne in Basingstoke, Hampshire