Postcard from Manhattan: Little wedding scene {+wedding-themed summer farewell}

Gazebo wedding, Central Park lake. The lake is also a lovely place to rowboat. And below, since our summery autumn heatwave is finally ending, a farewell look at that most summery of scenes - weddings.

{Clockwise from bottom left - all Summer 2013: colorful-quirky Princeton, elegant Paris, Cinderella London horse-drawn carriage and its London bride outside St. Paul's Cathedral.}

Two towns, one color family

I'm still between London and Princeton time, so here's a bright 'duet' from both places: classic letterbox in London ("VR" = Victoria Regina, it was placed during Queen Victoria's reign), and classic locker from a Princeton high school (Mr. L, resident Brit, exclaimed: "I've never seen American school lockers up close.").

A little cheat II: Roman ruins, London

Argh, the forecast said sun, but yesterday was mostly drenched. So here's another peek at London and Roman ruins under Guidhall Art Gallery. London's major Roman amphitheatre was lost for centuries, until these ruins were found in 1988. (After gladiatorial games, the dead were thrown in the Thames.)

Postcard from London: Peaceful moments

Early evening, back at St. James's Park. Below, even at hectic St. Pancras station, a musical interlude (on "Play Me, I'm Yours" street piano). Enjoy your weekend! I'll be taking a break next week to travel home:)

Postcard from London: Cutty Sark in Greenwich

The 1869 Cutty Sark was one of the last sailing ships ever built, before steam power.

Also, a big thank you to Petrea Burchard at Living Vicuriously, as I - who have never won anything - just won her book, Camelot & Vine, in a giveaway...excited about a new read!

And continued apologies to those with Wordpress blogs, as I'm still having trouble leaving comments.

Postcard from London: St. James's Park

Lazy, hazy day. Still in London, but back to regular Princeton posting by end of next week. Thanks for bearing with my 'postcards.'

Postcard from London: Millennium Bridge view

Blue skies!

Postcard from London: Bossa nova in Soho

I thought I'd be in Princeton by now, but I was wrong. This was Saturday night with Rosalia De Souza - Rome-trained, Brazilian bossa nova songstress (YouTube clips of her smooth sound here and here).

My tiny point-and-shoot can't capture indoor, low-light images, but I tried. Sorry about the quality!

Postcard from London: The Codebreaker

{One of the first general-purpose programmable computers, based on Alan Turing's 1945 design}

This is my last London post. A current Science Museum exhibit highlights the life of Alan Turing, famous for his WWII codebreaking work at Bletchley Park and pioneer of the modern computer. Sadly, Turing was treated horribly, forced to take hormones to "cure" being gay. He died aged 41 of apparent suicide.
***
A brief but lovely article, humanizing Turing, was published by Princeton University when he was voted one of its most influential alumni (Turing received his PhD from Princeton in 1938).

Postcard from London: The Foundling Museum

The Foundling Museum tells the story of the Foundling Hospital (1739-1954) for abandoned infants. Founder Thomas Coram was appalled by the sight of children left to die on London streets. Among the poignant artifacts are notes left by mothers with their babies, including a 1789 poem ending: "That I in better plight may live/I'd try to have my Boy again/And train him up the Best of Men".

***

Across the museum, on former hospital grounds, is Coram's Fields, a children's park. Adults may enter only if accompanied by a child.

Philanthropist Thomas Coram

Happiest New Year

Back from travels and hope your New Year is off to a great start! This was a brief moment of London sun by the British Museum last week. May your 2013 be filled with bright moments, no matter the forecast!

London-themed day

Sunday in London, our pre-Princeton haunt, courtesy of Mr. L (a rare co-contributor:), who is there for work.

(via an oldie-but-goodie 2008 model iPhone)