Women of World War II

One of many memorials along the road in Whitehall. Not sure what I think of it. I think I like it...

Whitehall

No wonder they call it Whitehall.

Parliament all lit up

'Nuff said.

So much niiiiighttime

When the sun sets around 4, you get a lot of night pictures, whether you want them or not.

Westminster Palace

Jumped at the chance to take a free tour of Parliament the other week. Saw the House of Commons and literally stood feet away from where Tony Blair used to stand when he repeatedly and consistently kicked the opposition's ass every Prime Minister's Question Time in the late 90s. Not gonna lie, it was pretty amazing. Snapped this shot on the way out.

Coppers

I tried to take the bus to Trafalgar Square this evening to see some of the carolers that are singing there every night under the big Norwegian pine. But my usual bus was unexpectedly re-routed and I found myself suddenly on the wrong side of the Thames. So I got out to see what was up and came upon a group of student protesters at the Houses of Parliament. The MPs were in the middle of voting to increase tuition for UK universities (after many of them had promised not to) and the protesters were in the street waiting to hear the results of the vote.

Snapped this shot of police vans lined up to block the street next to Big Ben. And below is a fairly poor shot of the students with the Eye in the background.

I used to be something of a protester in my youth (I say youth...my high school years, I guess), but I was quickly disillusioned and now tend to stay away from mass rallies and demonstrations. As I was shooting pictures of the students, they were in the middle of voting on what song they wanted to hear next on the loud speaker. Didn't exactly change my mind regarding the effectiveness of protests.

But then I saw this hideous report on the BBC. And, voilà, they have my sympathies again. I'm as changeable as the wind.

Twentieth Century Martyrs

Westminster Abbey installed statues of "20th century martyrs" in these empty niches in the 1990s (see this article from the BBC). Can you spot Martin Luther King, Jr. in a toga?

Hello, London

I recently moved to London to attend grad school and am starting this blog to share my new city with those I have left behind in the States (and anyone else interested). You can see my previous "work" at Photo A Day in Saint Paul, a project I hope to return to someday.