We go to one of our favorite Flickr contributors localsurfer today for our photo of the day. This marvelous shot of
the St Helena’s Church on Lundy Island is a real beaut. The light on the church constrasts nicely with the gloomy, but
intense sky behind. It is also nicely composed, and looks like somethiing we might find on a travel brochure.
Tower of London Ravens to Move Indoors
From National Geographic News: If
you’ve ever been to the Tower of London, you’re familiar with the ravens who live on the grounds — after all, English
legend has it that great misfortune will befall the land if anything happens to the Tower of London ravens.
It’s for this reason that the ravens are now moving indoors — because bird flu has made it to too-close-for-comfort
France, and officials presume that Great Britain is next.
The current ravens — Baldrick, Branwen, Gwyllum,
Hugine, Munin, and Thor — have been moved to aviaries in one of the royal palace’s towers.
"A
lot of visitors are asking where the ravens are, but when we explain the reason why they’ve been put away, they
completely understand," said Derrick Coyle, ravenmaster of the Tower of London, and the person in charge for
looking after the birds.
An unfortunate, but understandable event. So if you’re planning a trip to the
Tower of London, you now know where the ravens are.
But I’m sure there’ll still be many of pigeons
around to admire.
The Traveler's Caddy
Looks like Cool Hunting has a sneak peek on a new chic piece of gear to take on your
travels once it hits the market. The so-called "Caddy" is half mobile suitcase and half
walker you could say. Built to serve as a mobility-aid, the cool, lime green and sleek design down to the wheels make
the item worth wanting by anyone. Created by Wood&Wood Design, the possible new
wave of luggage is still in its prototype phase while the company seeks a development partner. Head to Cool Hunting for
additional photos on the Caddy.
Eating in London
I know Paris has the international reputation as the capital of gastronomy, but I believe there are no
restaurants more delectable, various and eclectic than those in London. During a recent trip, I enjoyed the
London Zoo, the Science Museum, Big Ben and everything, but what I really relished was the food.
As we were traveling with two hectic four-year-olds my husband, and I made a selection of places to eat. As soon as
we landed at Heathrow Airport we headed to my all-time favorite family-friendly restaurant Wagamama at Harvey Nichols (109-125 Knightsbridge). There are about 25
Wagamama restaurants in London and over 40 in all England. The restaurants are modeled on the ramen bars
which have been popular in Japan for hundreds of years and their menu consists of side dishes, main meals and
desserts.
The restaurant design, modern yet warm, welcoming and inviting, the photographs on the walls, the waiters that
listen carefully and patiently as you try to order a bottle of water in obviously awful English and don’t
mind your kids taking off their shoes, you can’t but feel empowered when you eat at Wagamama, and that’s what I love
about this place. Even if it’s popular. We had gyoza and
negima yakitori for side dishes, a wagamama ramen (see picture) and a yaki soba for main meals. The restaurant also has a kid menu available to children aged 10 and under.
The next day we had lunch at Italian restaurant Da Mario (15 Gloucester
Road Kensington) also known as Princess Diana’s local pizzeria. Mario says "inspired by the many visits
of this humble and caring mother of the future king of England, I was delighted and thrilled to create Pizza
Diana". Pizza Diana was conceived with four different cheeses, roasted sweet peppers and oyster
mushrooms. A friend of ours told us the seafood was excellent so we ordered one Spagetthi Seafood and one Pizza
Seafood (see picture). It was absolutely divine. Da Mario also has pasta and mini cheese and tomato pizzas for
kids.
For our last dinner, we wanted to try a Korean restaurant and went to Ran which is located in Soho (58-59 Great Marlborough Street).
Ah the familiar language, smells and meals! The kids had "jabchae" (beef with glass noodles) and "mandoo" (gyoza) and we had "chadolbaegi" (Korean grill -see picture- with
filet mignon and beef short ribs) and "naengmyun" (spicy chilled noodles). The Korean
grill was excellent, but I thought the spicy chilled noodles were a little dull and tasteless.
I can’t wait to go back!
Loch Ness Monster Might Be … An Elephant?
When I was a kid,
I was COMPLETELY fascinated by the Loch Ness Monster. The thought that a real-live brontosaurus might still be
swimming around in an inky Scottish lake consumed me. And if I’m honest, there’s a part of the legend that moves
me, still.
So, talk about my bubble bursting: National Geographic’s website is featuring a possible explanation
to what the photographer behind that famous 1934 photograph of Loch Ness might have actually seen — and it’s
disappointing, to say the least. According to paleontologist Neil Clark, the photographer may have seen … an
elephant.
Clark, who’s also a painter, graphically shows how an elephant swimming in Loch Ness might have
reasonably been mistaken for a monster. As for why a pachyderm might have found his way to take a dip in the
chilly waters, Clark told CBS news: "The reason why we see elephants in Loch Ness is that circuses used to
go along the road to Inverness and have a little rest at the side of the loch and allow the animals to go and have a
little swim around."
Whatever, man. I still say Nessie’s down there.
Somewhere.