Hidden Gems and Oddities

On my second trip to Londontown, I decided to squeeze in a bit of sightseeing, particularly as we were staying in Borough/Bankside along the Thames among a maze of alleyways and tunnels. The remains of Winchester Palace, the Golden Hind--replica of the famed ship Sir Francis Drake circumnavigated the globe in, the infamous Clink Prison, and the Globe Theatre were all within 2 minutes walking distance. We were even able to walk to the Tower of London where the Crown jewels and three beheaded queens rest. I was most struck by an amazing mural dedicated to women in the Chapel Royal where the bodies of Anne Boleyn, Catherine Howard and Lady Jane Grey lay. Artist Russell Haines created the piece, titled, "Faith, Hope and Charity." One building in the Tower complex was a wall of portraits of 'famous' visitors---among them Phyllis Wheatley!

Back in Edinburgh there are also fascinating stories and gems---one I pass everyday on my walk to the office---a ceramic tableau attached to the stone wall along Dalkeith Road. There's a quote on it that reads: "Let my blood be a seed of freedom and the sign that hope will soon be reality." According to good ole Google, the quote is from Salvadoran Archbishop Oscar Romero, nonviolent leader for justice and peace, much like Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Through his position he was able to move great numbers of people to nonviolent acts of social justice and just like MLK he was assassinated in 1980.

Last week I attended the Edinburgh College of Art Book Fair---zines and handmade books galore--I couldn't resist buying the zine "Bad Pam!"