London: Last survivor

Few cities in the world can really stir emotions - romantic dreams, adventurous spirit waves excitation and even reek of envy. Over time, they became the source of inspiration for the novels and films, obsessions voracious warmongers and producers marketing tools that their images Flash on our screens make us gush, "OH, it must be a new program international important, credible covering major stories that they" and "Smashing!" Show travel has been really cool places, see where they venture tonight. »

However, you can only really tell you the changes as a truly wonderful city when they write a rhyme on one of your bridges, even when it is dropped. London is the ultimate survivor. He has endured and overcome conquests, wars, fires, plagues, terrorism, youth movements repeated defeats at the hands of victory, even Chris De Burgh, clutch sports singing Lady in red at the top of the charts for three weeks.

Across this London were proud and defiant that they adapt and continue to build their fair city. One of the most popular tourist destinations worldwide, this enormous city offers the traveller a mixture of old and new worlds like nowhere elsewhere. On the one hand, London is innovative, energetic, dynamic and scandal; on the other, historical, conservative and desperately established. A mash anticipated and unanticipated bangers, but rarely the disappointing - and those who live here have it any other way.

Most people know a little before London officially introduced. It may be the familiar symbols of Royal, melon, well maniérés gents cricket, hats ladies well heels, majestic castles, the Thames flowing, tennis Wimbledon, afternoon tea and scones, monopoly Board guides, West End Theatre and comedy East End that come to mind. Could cobble stones Dickens Street, passionate football fans, fish n chips from drowning in vinegar, the labyrinth of underground, or cultural events and festivals celebrating music from swinging decades 1960, by the 1970s punk of the 80's new romantic headdress and pop rock indie, dance and hip hops of the 1990s and beyond.

More than that, the city is famous for its rich history and culture. As home to Britain's national art collections page striking architecture, more than 200 museums, worlds first theatre productions, 5 major orchestras, big 2 Opera companies; There is something for visitors of all historical and artistic horizons. Any familiar television programs and films set in the city would be forgiven for thinking that we spend all our time in our local pub tell jokes and stories of hard luck or make deals on goods which conveniently fell on the back of a truck.

In fact, there are many parks and green spaces in London in any city of its size in the world, where we wander, picnic, and the game away from the bustle of the big city - life prior to the opening of the pub anyway. The city is a shop-a-holics nirvana – just ask any woman with a credit card and the lamest excuses for a spending spree. Large stores of designer shops and street markets, if you only find in London, probably there is no. And once you have spikes paths all this loot back to your hotel, there are hundreds of restaurants, pubs, cinemas, night clubs, live music and comedy sites continue to entertain you in the early hours. London has also adopted multiculturalism as very few places in the world. It has become a cultural melting pot with more than 10 million people worldwide now call home.

Integration of cultures of the West with people from Africa, the Caribbean and in Asia has transformed the city into one of the most diverse destinations for the first time travellers and hundreds of thousands of people who come back year after year. "Just stop there, old chap" hear you say. "It is all rather charming, moving and patriotic, but you have not yet how damn expensive to mention the place is." In fact, we only get to the part.

It is true. London is one of the most expensive cities in the world, painfully as is the case for some. In fact, it is said that rather than use the whips and chains, now just standing London dominatrix research very rear during conversion of travel of ruthless English pound international clients in their currency local submission with a leather bound calculator. Ouch! London is great fun, so if you are visiting or planning visit you have a wonderful time.

Gareth Owen is the owner and author of London vacation guide. For more information and resources on visits to London, please visit http://www.londonvacationguide.com

Dick Whittington, Mayor of London - How He Grew Rich with the help of a cat and a King

For the reader who is not familiar with the myth, the story is as follows: Dick Whittington was a poor boy who was walking in London, at his home in Gloucestershire, to seek his fortune. He began working in the House of a wealthy merchant and soon fell in love with the daughter of his employer, Alice. Bedroom Dick was in the attic, but hampered by many mouse, Dick has decided to make a cat to solve the problem, but, when his boss gave the opportunity to invest in a company of sailing, Dick sold the cat to raise funds servants.

Dick later decided to leave London back to Gloucestershire, because he could not see any future for himself in London. He got as far as the Highgate Hill and order because he heard the bells ring in London - they seem to say: "Enable new, Whittington, three times Mayor of London".

Because Dick thought that it was a good omen, he returned home from Fitzwarren and learned that the ship in which it had invested had returned with very good news. The vessel came to a foreign land to discover the Court of the King was invaded by rats. Dick cat excludes all rats and grateful King paid a large sum of gold to buy the cat. Now, a very rich man Dick wife Alice and later became mayor of London.

But even those who are familiar with the story of Dick Whittington and cat who made his fortune, don't know "the man behind the myth." Richard Whittington has been very "real" in his time and was a friend of princes and of so many poor people.

Born in 1350's, it was Gloucestshire boy who was the youngest son of a Knight of Gloucester. Dick may well have been inspired by the sound of Bow bells and might even have a cat – for two portraits of the 16th century to describe the cat. He did not find the streets of London opened with gold, but he eventually "mercer" and provided canvas fine and valuable to the Royal Court. It became a very wealthy man, and it is said that when the King and Queen Catherine come to dinner with him in Hart, burned Whittington street back a link whereby Henri IV had to pay him £ 60,000.

In 1397, the King chose Whittington to become the new mayor. He was re-elected in the following year and once again to 1406-7 and 1419-20. This is Richard Whittington, the Mayor of London four times.

He used his wealth to build houses for the old and gives London a drinking fountain long before any other city had one. Because of his generosity, crumbling Hospital of Saint-Barthélemy and infamous Newgate prison, were reconstructed. In his will he left valuable land to the city and underprivileged London still benefit from the charity Whittington.

Whittington, who never had children, who died in March 1423 and was buried in St. Michael London Royal Paternoster. His wife Alice, daughter of Sir Ivo Fitzwaryn died before him and is buried beside her husband.

In 1821, a stone was placed on Highgate Hill in London, at the place where Dick is supposed to have sat and listened qualifier - 1964 Bow bells, a statue of a cat has been added.

This article is by Josephine Moss - web-master of spend in London: a free guide for your time in London.

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