Have a cuppa

From BoingBoing today comes two London-licious entries. First, a link to a lovely blog all about having a sit down with a Nice Cup of Tea. Then, a little missive about a biography of London, and philosophical rambling about the nature of continuity and the identity of a city.

Obsessive

I'm finding myself more and more obsessed with London lately, devouring every scrap I can find about the city. I've programmed my TiVo to find any television program that includes London -- I've been watching "Keen Eddie" just to see the locations -- as well as searching the web for live cameras, interesting trivia, etc.
I have a feeling that I will already know the place when I actually get there.

Sinful Things

Mac over at Go Fish recommends "Sinful Things," an exhibit at the London Science Museum that features, among other things, a 1930s vibrator that finally put an end to the practice of "genital massage" by doctors, which was thought to combat "hysteria" in women.
And I have to go to London to see it.

Places to do

A first list of places to visit!

• The Museum of London
• The London Eye
• The British Library
• The British Museum
• Dali Universe
• The Design Museum
• Natural History Museum
• St. Paul's Cathedral
• Tower of London
• Westminster Abbey
• Windsor Castle

Lookie Loo

Look! Live traffic cameras in London!

Trafalgar Square:

Hyde Park Corner:

Albert Bridge:

More traffic cams:
Marble Arch, close to our hotel:

Oxford Street at Regent Street:

Charing Cross Road (if only live cams existed when Helen Hanff was writing):

Panoramic cameras:
Westminster and the London Eye:

and courtesy of the Travel Channel, Parliament:

Venus di Milo for a new age

In Trafalgar Square, the home of one-armed Nelson's Column, there are four plinths for display of sculpture. Three contain heroic statues of generals, and the fourth has been empty since the square was created more than 150 years ago.
They've finally decided what to put on it: a sculpture of a pregnant woman who was a victim of Thalidomide, with no arms and stunted legs.

The Disability Rights Commission welcomed the statue as a source of pride, and a blow against the cult of perfection.

Bert Massie, the chairman of the commission, said: "I'm extremely proud that one of the most popular tourist attractions in London will display a very powerful sculpture of a disabled woman.

"Congratulations to Marc for realising that disabled bodies have a power and beauty rarely recognised in an age where youth and 'perfection' are idolised."

Mind the gap

Welcome to London Calling!
In May 2004, my aunt Maura Cordova and I will cross the pond for an 8 day visit to swinging London. This is a new experience, this international travel, so I've created this blog to document everything for those interested readers who enjoy that sort of thing. You know who you are.
Maura and I will post info on London, travel tips, and ultimately a diary of our experiences.