We started our Sunday by stopping by and take pictures with Big Ben, Parliament, Westminster Abbey, and then walked down to the National Gallery, which is spectacular!

On our way to the National Gallery we walked through St. James Park on the Eastern side and it is truly lovely. We found this incredibly adorable cottage on a lake that looks like its straight from a children’s book.

The National Gallery has many paintings from the Italian Renaissance. Most of our day was spent in the Gallery.We could have spend the full day, because the collection is very extensive and wonderful, but we had other plans. It is free entry except for special exhibitions.

Next stop National Portrait Gallery to see the special exhibit of Russian artists (which you have to pay forvitbwas about 4pounds each). The exhibit was very small and not very impressive, especially after the wonderful National Gallery.

In most European cities Chanel boutiques are closed on Sunday (France, Italy, Spain, ect.). England is the exception to the rule. We went to the Old Bond Street Chanel. They have a decent choice of handbags. I was on the hunt for a caviar m/l classic, at the time I was not sure of the color or the hardware I wanted. Usually I choose gold hardware, it seems almost the color that Chanel bags should be required to come with.

We entered the boutique and looked around until a sales associate was available to help (it was a very little wait).

He informed us that none of the classics in the diamond pattern that are caviar were only black, they did not have any color! I asked if they had chevron pattern in caviar in color and lucky for me they did! He showed me the red, but I declined since I have the dark red Boy medium. Next came the black with silver hardware and it truly looked too close to my black caviar and gold hardware classic diamond pattern, but plainer. He also showed me the Navy blue, chevron pattern, m/l caviar bag with silver hardware and it did nothing for me. Best for last was the bright blue caviar, chevron, m/l with silver hardware. It was love at first sight. Unfortunately, with the chevron pattern in blue it had a lot of wrinkles, when you are paying (even if in Europe it’s over a grand cheaper) a lot of money for a bag, make sure that it is perfect for you. Do not leave the store unsure and with a sub-par item.

Please inspect all bags in the store for the following:

1. The stitching to fully line up. Flap to bottom, and the back pocket to the back (in classics).

2. No wrinkles in the leather (it can annoy you in the long run, as well as decreasing the bag’s value if you ever consider selling).

3. Make sure that the serial number on the authenticity card matches the number in the bag (there have been instances when people get bags that don’t match (by accident), they leave the country without checking and are stuck with a mismatched card and bag).

4. The hardware is not chipped or discolored on the bag, chain, or clasps.

5. Make sure that the inside of the bag is not damaged or can be pulled out.

The two bright blue that they had in stock at the boutique were both too wrinkled for my taste and I could not and would not live with it. The sales associate looked in the system and told me that Selfridges London Oxford Street Store, had at least one in stock and was not a far distance away. In fact it was only a 10 minute walk to the store. It was a very small Chanel location and VERY crowded. The Sales associate that helped me in the Chanel section is one of the most lovely associates I ever had. She was enthusiastic and incredibly nice. She pulled out a bright blue square mini for me and a purple lambskin square mini to try on, in case I wanted that, while she looked for my bag. I really wanted to buy a bag from her, but unfortunately they did not have m/l in-stock, only a jumbo. She was lovely and looked in the system and found that Harrods actually had 3 in-stock and that I can go and get it there. It was too late for us to get to Harrods so we put it off until Monday.

My mother asked me to pick up Molecule 1 from London, which is only sold in Liberty London. In the States the same “perfume” (it’s not really a perfume, most people can’t smell it, it reacts with your hormones and some people can pick up the scent while for others it smells like nothing) costs $145 plus tax. In London I got 2 bottles, got VAT back and it cost $78 per bottle for me. Almost half the price!

We walked around a bit and went to eat dinner in Steak & Co. Which is a chain in London, the food was not very good. It was okay, but it felt like a waste that we ate there and not in a different restaurant.

We walked around Piccadilly Circus (London’s Times Square) at night for a bit. Most stores were closed at that time so we took the subway back to our hotel.

Till next post!

London, England, Chapter 1

England:Stonehenge, Roman Baths, and Windsor Castle, Chapter 2

London, England, Chapter 4

London, England: Chapter 5 Last Day