From RAA through St James, Turnpike Lane to Wood Green

Rainy Bank Holiday Monday didn't discourage me from going into town. Owing to a friend's membership I could reassure myself that the tickets for the current exhibition are outrageously overpriced. However, should somebody enjoy this sort of art, I'd strongly recommend a visit to The Muzeum Sztuki in a Polish city of Lodz.

In a nutshell, the works on display at the RAA are by Latin American artists who took inspiration from modern European art.

This piece made me think about the new clock on The Arcadia Shopping Centre in Ealing:

I told you recently how upset it made me. I really miss the previous old-fashioned one.

Yesterday I took a picture of the new one. It didn't even show the right time! Can you believe it???

The largest exhibited piece occupies nearly the whole wall in a small side room on the way to the exit. Thoughtfully, the curator's team have provided the visitors with a long bench alongside the opposite wall. You can sit back, relax and enjoy the effects of changing colours and once you've rested you can walk along the picture to see different effects.

Whether you stand on the left or on the right, the only colour you see is red from these positions.

Treated to a mini apple pie and a cup of tea at the courtyard café, I parted with my friend and went on search of the dandy who I failed to meet and introduce to my friends from Mexico a few weeks ago.

I walked behind Fortnum and Mason's taking a picture of the restaurant window as this time the usually sensational front shop window displays weren't that appealing:

And there he was!

A cigar shop window on the street leading to St James Palace:

Frederic Chopin stayed at this address according to this blue plaque:

Can you see what this round object is?

Well, well, you don't need to enter a museum or art gallery to see a  Renoir!

The Over-Seas League is at the end of this little street:

One of many construction sites in London:

There is a house at the end of the courtyard and there is one underneath as well:

Sir Robert Walpole and his son, Horace Walpole lived here:

The Ritz:

 After yet another walk in the rain I took Piccadilly Line from Green Park and got off at a station called Turnpike Lane. That's what I saw there:

The building in the distance looks like a castle, don't you think so? I decided not to find out whether it is or not, took a picture, crossed the street and went back heading for a small restaurant which intrigued me.

However, there were still more questions to answer: Is it a fruit or a vegetable?

On what occasion do men wear such headgear?

Well... By that time I became seriously hungry and decided to try a typical Mauritian dish at a small eatery supposedly specialising in this cuisine  in the street called Turnpike Lane. (Have you ever eaten a Mauritian dish?) The customers spoke enthusiastically about all their dishes and highly recommended a king prawn dish. To be honest, I was not impressed at all. Not that it was bad, but definitely nothing special and quite overpriced. On leaving the place, when asked by the man who served me, I told him that honestly,  I didn't think my 10 pounds were well spent...

 Not waiting for his answer, off into the wet exterior I went, sheltered under the indispensable  brolly.

 

Well, I couldn't go back into the tube after this experience. I turned left on the corner by the station and walked ahead in search of anything interesting in that area. It was hard...

Somewhere I saw a Savage London shoulder bag with a giraffe enjoying a meal on it:

I kept walking in order to find any sight in the street I could take home with me. Well... It wasn't happening, but I kept trying:

Not sure if a cat lover would like a T-shirt like this:

 Finally, probably some half way towards the next tube station, I saw some buildings that may remember more prosperity in the area:

I

Then I reached a huge shopping centre zone and photographed a mural on the side:

 Having gone past many ethnic shops earlier, mostly Asian and Arab, I finally saw a Polish one as well:

 I left the shopping centre behind as quickly as I could:

'Hollywood' didn't tempt me either:

 Only a large crossroad separated me from the next tube station, Wood Green, when I shot this street scene:

 Like a detective, I sniffed around, saw a church which didn't make a good picture and paid respect to the fallen soldiers  at this monument:

Nearby there is a poppy on the grass commemorating the 100th anniversary of WWI outbreak:

 The Grand Palace doesn't seem to have much life in it, but can you see the poster on it?

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think this building once used to house a pub. It is a police station now.

I mentioned a church, you can see a fraction of it right behind the blue car.

 Now I was only heading for the station and crossing this small side street I was startled: what is this edifice far in the distance???

Answers welcome! I'll be most grateful!

Good night!