Maybe Avoid Public Spaces on Bank Holidays

 I had been very excited to visit one of London’s “hidden gems”, Kyoto Garden in Holland Park. Monday (5/2/22) was a bank holiday, which didn’t mean much until I got to the otherwise somewhat lackluster Holland Park and walked around marveling at the crowds of people walking around. The garden-in-the-park turned out not to be 1) all that much of a garden - it was basically a walking path around a pond - and 2) particularly “hidden”. The path was swarmed with wanna-be influencers getting their photo at the (admittedly lovely) man-made waterfall. Forget about serenity and reflection. I trekked around the park, did my loop around the pond in Kyoto Garden, and headed back to my Airbnb to pack up to move to the student flats the next day.

(My pictures do not necessarily load on the blog in the order the are saved on my phone; but I got tired of adding them one at a time. Eventually, I may get on here on my laptop and re-arrange them. But probably not.)

The British-est embodiment of a park EVER.

Love the wisteria.

Everyone getting stalled at the waterfall while waiting to move around the pond.

The most photographed element of Holland Park (by way of Kyoto Garden)? I suggest yes.

Lord Holland. Yes, that’s HIS pond. It’s…. a mess.

I love crowds. Especially stupid, oblivious crowds. Bank holiday? Thank you, no.

I headed from Holland Park into the Design Museum, largely because I needed to refill my water bottle and use the restroom, and the Holland Park bathrooms were out of toilet paper. It was interesting, and I needed to be in a better headspace to really appreciate it. (Also, to look better in pictures. Ongoing challenge!)