London

'Llyn-din' to the Celts, Londinium to the Romans, and pop heaven to the 60's crowd, London remains, after many centuries, a vast stage upon which world figures and events come and go. The River Thames continues to flow, the Tower of London stands watch, the sun filters through the stained glass of Westminster Abbey and the majestic lawns of Hyde Park, Kensington Gardens and Regent's Park continue to offer a delightful refuge for the city's inhabitants . . . as well as for a multitude of foreign visitors.

A long parade of great historical epochs, from Roman to Medieval to Victorian, have imprinted themselves upon this grand, meandering city. Some favorite landmarks include the great National Gallery just off legendary Trafalgar Square, the stately Regency mansions, the warmth and culture of Covent Garden and the colorful bustle of Piccadilly Circus and the Cockney East End. Visible London is indeed suspended between the most pleasing aspects of its numerous pasts. Queen Victoria herself would, today, have an easy time finding her way around.