Hyde Park

Where can we be more social then in a crowded place like Hyde Park? Here we find noisy children, weirdly dressed teenagers, overly affectionate adults and grumpy old men, not to mention the barking dogs. Of course, as you imagine, I have exaggerated the picture just to put a little humour in this trip that I would like to suggest to you: one hour in Hyde Park. This walk may be quite a nice guide to someone who want to spend just a short time in an open and wild place.

Let's see what we discover in this beautiful place!

 

It's a sunny day and our family, dog included, starts this little trip in Hyde Park Corner, a classical style gateway which was designed in 1825 for King George lV as a grand royal entrance to park. After no more than 100 metres we arrive at the first stop - Rose Garden, a superb collection of flowers. Beside the pleasant scents, the statue "Boy and Dolphin" reminds us about Alexander Munro, who made it in the 19th century. Few steps more and we find The Serpentine. When I heard for the first time about it, I didn't understand very well what is, in fact, this Serpentine. After a little research on internet, I know that in 1730 Queen Caroline, wife of George II, ordered the damming of the River Westbourne in Hyde Park as part of a general redevelopment of Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens. Now, although the 16 ha recreational lake is official The Serpentine, people refer only to the eastern half of the lake. Here, me and my husband want to stay for a coffee, our daughter wants to swim at Lido and grandma likes boating. We don't have so much time, sorry guys... It's time to take a look at the Speakers' Corner, a traditional site for public speeches and debates since the mid 1800's when protests and demonstrations took place in Hyde Park. It is a symbol for free speech and many well known names spoke here like Lenin or G. Orwell. We leave the park through Cumberland Gate admiring the Marble Arch, built in 1827 by John Nash for Buckingham Palace as the main gateway. After 20 years it was moved to Hyde Park and it's still here.

We go home now and I think that grandma is a little bit tired, that why she looks upset. Dog is happy in the car, he doesn't bark anymore. My daughter arranges her funny hat to suit the colourful scarf... maybe she wears too many colours? Me and my husband, you ask? Of course we are very noisy, it was a very nice trip!

By Anne Marie