The Garden at 120...

When I went on a sculpture tour in the city center, I learned about the Garden at 120, seen here from Sky Garden. Unlike the higher viewing platforms, which are also free to visit but require tickets which can be difficult to book, this viewing platform on the 15th floor can’t be pre-booked. 

It offers close-up views of the Walkie-Talkie...

…Gherkin...

…Shard...

…Leadenhall Market...

…Tower of London and Tower Bridge.

Across the street there is a construction site for a 20-storey building to be built around a gothic tower that will unfortunately block the view from that side of the garden.

In the meantime, I’ll bring guests there to enjoy the views from all angles and the various blooming flowers throughout the seasons.
 

Views from Sky Garden...

Looking west, up the Thames...

,,,looking south, across the river...

…and looking east, down the Thames.

While we can see Sky Garden from our bedroom balcony, the black building seen behind the red crane and boxy white building blocked the view of our place. 

 

Sky Garden...

Ashlynn arrived back at our house from Tahiti on May 24 with Ciaran (who she has since broken up with). Jimmy was able to join us for a late afternoon visit to Sky Garden, which Ashlynn and I had last visited in 2016 and Jimmy had never been. It’s hard to tell from this angle, but the garden takes up the top 2 floors of the 37-storey building nicknamed the Walkie-Talkie.

The first glimpse of the view after exiting the lift is pretty impressive.

Also very impressive are the two staircases that go up the sides of the building with incredible views on one side and the lovely garden on the other. 

It was so great to have Ashlynn stay with us for several days before she reentered her normal life back in Glasgow. 

 

Chelsea in Bloom...

Starting in 1912, the Royal Chelsea Hospital hosts the Chelsea Flower Show. In conjunction with this major annual event, the surrounding streets and squares display flower sculptures with some 120 businesses participating. The theme for 2024 was Floral Feasts. Here are some of my favorites...

 

Actual Spring in London...

Thrilled that London has so much green space—with 40% of the city covered in parks, London is reportedly the greenest of all European capitals. I regularly go out of my way to walk through parks to be surrounded by nature, while also a nice chance to escape the crowds of tourists.

 

Last Days in French Polynesia...

Ashlynn’s final days in Moorea were not the best as she became disillusioned with academia after witnessing how some of the researchers undermined the others. It was also quite hot, but she still went on an occasional run...

…or hike. 

She really debated about whether to head to Rangiroa, the world’s second largest atoll (ring-shaped island), with some friends after she completed her research. Happy to hear that it was a great place to celebrate her 24th birthday with diving that she described as surreal.

Ashlynn had a great time diving on her birthday and the following day with incredible visibility. Much of the diving was in the open sea rather than on a reef. She said it felt like flying: Was really like we were astronauts.

She wrote that while some fish seemed to show no recognition of her existence, the dolphins, including the baby, knew they were there and came to them. We were guests in their world and they were observing us. She also saw lots of sharks and a manta ray and barracuda. It was great that she could end her three-month adventure on such a high note.