Our body clocks are still all over the place. Lots of 2am TV.
This didn’t stop us having a wonderful day at Kew Gardens with my cousin, Megan and her daughters, Gwen and Lauren. I miss my big cousin and it was so wonderful to catch up, I really appreciated them making the 3 hour trip up to Kew.
Our trip was a ½ hour on the tube and then a 10 minute stroll from the station, through the charming streets of Kew.
Then an excited family reunion before we headed off to explore the historic landscapes, enchanting gardens, temples, statues and castles.
Kew gardens was beautiful, with extraordinary landscapes and architecture. There was an astounding and diverse collection of botanical species from forests, mountains, deserts and savannahs. We missed the giant redwood sequoias in Yosemite but saw them in Kew.
The giant glasshouses transport you to other worlds, from steamy rainforests to arid deserts.
We climbed the Xstrata Treetop Walkway, that circles at 18m above ground, giving us breathtaking views across the gardens and an insight into the rich ecosystems of the tree canopy.
We visited the great pagoda and Kew Palace, where King George, Queen Charlotte and their 15 children spent their summers.
All this culture didn’t dampen a day of lots of laughs and a wonderful catch up. Thanks to my cousins for a great day.
In the evening we wandered up to Shepherd Market, a charming square and piazza with a variety of boutique shops, restaurants and Victorian pubs. It was busy and vibey, with people enjoying Friday evening drinks. We had dinner at The Little Square Café, a family run restaurant with great food and the New Zealand Chardonnay was a great accompaniment.
Pandas in Africa 