Art in the Park

One of my tasks recently has been to get a police criminal records check done in Greece (for my sponsorship of Mr B's NZ visa application).  Doing anything official in Greece is a bit of a bureaucratic nightmare so I appointed an agent.  Even to appoint an agent to make the application I had to travel to the Greek embassy in London to have my signature witnessed on the appointment form.

The London Embassy of the Hellenic Republic is on the edge of Holland Park.  Afraid of being late for my appointed slot with officials, I arrived plenty early and wandered about in Holland Park (working off some stress).

There is some interesting art work on Holland Park.

This one is in a quiet place I sat and contemplated, immediately beside the gate to the Greek Embassy.  

Holland Park - for those who might be interested - it is the site of a former stately home.

(From the website of the Borough of Kensington and Chelsea.)  

History of Holland Park

Holland Park is spread across 54 acres of what used to be the grounds of Cope Castle, a large Jacobean mansion hidden in the woods. Sir Walter Cope built it in the early 17th century. He became Chancellor of the Exchequer under King James 1.

It was renamed Holland House after the Earl of Holland’s wife Lady Rich inherited the property.

Holland House was badly damaged during World War II. One wing was saved and is used as a youth hostel. A section of the front terrace was saved. This is used for the park's summertime open-air theatre productions and classical concerts.

Kyoto Garden was designed and built by an eminent Japanese Garden designer and his team. It was created to celebrate the Japan Festival in London in 1992. This was a co-operative project between the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea and the Kyoto Chamber of Commerce in Japan.