Hello Everyone!
I am safe and sound in London and have found an internet cafe that plays classical music right across the street from my cafe. What could be more relaxing? I have had a productive 2 days so far and am getting ready for an exciting third. I hope to post some pictures on the London part of my trip on Friday. I landed in London at 10 am on Monday, got myself an Oyster card at Heathrow, and made my way into town. That afternoon, after conducting some little business I went to see the Orientalism show at the Tate
http://www.tate.org.uk/britain/exhibitions/britishorientalistpainting/default.shtm

It was wonderful! Of course I was going on 2 hours of sleep so I had to take a Pepsi break to get through all the Lewis' and Lears!
Yesterday I went to John Soane's Museum which was absolutely fantastic! They had this special exhibition on architecture in Berlin, intervention vs. restoration. It was a very interesting to go to as I will be in Berlin soon and I will be thinking about classical architecture the whole time I am on this trip. Check out the link and tell me what you think of the concept...
http://www.soane.org/next.html
And then on to Kenwood House in Hampstead Heath which enabled me to do two of my favorite activities - hike and look at art. Hampstead Heath is my new favorite place, and had a lovely pint in a garden on Hampstead High Street.
By the way, the weather in London is great, warm, sunny, and filled with flowers.
Today I am off to Richmond for the day to visit Ham House and Osterly Park with my Attingham colleague Sarah from the Peabody Essex Museum. Must pop on the tube any minute now!