The Tower as seen from the Thames -- the last view more than a few people had. (Photo by Les Hutchins) People tend to think of the Tower of London as a place of violence and bloodshed. It's understandable; after all, the Tower was the site of numerous murders and executions (including those of King Henry VI and Anne Boleyn), not to mention imprisonments (famous residents include Thomas More, Walter Raleigh, and Guy Fawkes). And it was also the setting of one of history's most infamous unsolved mysteries, the disappearance of King Edward V and his brother, Richard, the Duke of York, otherwise known as "the Princes in the Tower." Combine all of that, and it's obvious why the saying "sent to the Tower" evokes such fear. But the Tower's main purpose throughout history has been as a royal residence, rather than a prison (though criminals were imprisoned there as recently as 1952, when the mobster brothers the Kray twins called the Tower home). It was originally established as a fortress during the reign of William the Conqueror, and was later turned into a castle and home by Henry III. It also housed the royal menagerie, which included lions, leopards, camels, and even a polar bear! While that zoo no longer exists, the Tower is still home to an "unkindness" of ravens. Legend has it that if the ravens should ever leave the Tower, the entire structure -- and indeed Britain itself -- will collapse. Today, there are ten ravens in residence, whose care is paid for by the British government. Mostly a tourist attraction today, the Tower and its treasures, such as the Crown Jewels and the Royal Armoury, are protected by 35 Yeoman Warders, more popularly known as "Beefeaters." (The exact origin of this name is debated, but it may stem from the Middle Ages, when the guards were paid in rations of beef.) These retired military officers (traditionally all men until in 2007, when the first female guard was hired) live in the Tower proper with their families. One guard is given the title "Ravenmaster," and is responsible for the care of the Tower's avian tenants. But perhaps even more famous than its ravens and its Beefeaters are the Tower's other residents: its ghosts. Anne Boleyn (who carries "her head tucked underneath her arm"), the aforementioned princes, and Catherine Howard are all among the figures believed to haunt the Tower and its grounds. It's said to be the most haunted place in England, outranking even Stonehenge and Whitechapel (where the Jack the Ripper murders took place). If you visit the Tower today, you're seeing more than just some old buildings -- you're witnessing more than one thousand years of British history. Just watch out for bird droppings and headless ghosts! Suggested Sites... The Tower of London - official site for the Tower of London. Tower of London: Virtual Tour - take a look inside the Tower and learn more about its history and architecture. Camelot International: The Tower of London - site devoted to the Tower, run by its Yeoman Warders. CastleXplorer - explore Britain's many castles and discover more about their place in U.K. history. The British Monarchy - official site of the British Royal Family.

Directory categories: Tower of London, Castles, Middle Ages, London, UK Royalty

Archived under: Buildings, England, Hauntings, History, London, Museums, Prison, Royalty, Tourist Attractions, U.K. History, United Kingdom

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To paraphrase Groucho Marx, "we don't want to belong to any club that would accept us as members" Yesterday, we shared some of the things that Yahoo!s have never done -- and don't care who knows it. While the first round of confessions dealt with television shows we've never seen, today's round concentrates on travel and food. Pretty much everyone has a place they've always wanted to visit, or a location they return to over and over. But there are places that we've never been to -- and couldn't care less if we did. In my case, it's Walt Disney World. I know there are millions who share a fervor to visit the Magic Kingdom and who go annually -- or even more than once a year, but I can think of fewer places that hold less interest than the greater Orlando area. Other than heat, humidity, and crowds, I can't see what they offer. But where do Yahoo!s long to not travel to? Sarah: I have never been to Las Vegas, even though I grew up just off the 15 freeway in Southern California. Despite how glamorous it looks in the movies, I have no interest in gambling, buffets, or rooftop amusement parks. Richard: I’ve never been to Canada Eugenia: I’ve never gone camping! Mitzi: I’ve never done any traditional camping (tent, sleeping bag, etc.). Never been to Walt Disney World/Epcot (although I’ve been to Disneyland many times).(Editor’s note: Ditto and good for you!) Now, there are plenty of us who don't own a television or who never travel, but one thing we all have in common is eating. Some of us may have more limited menus than other, but we all need sustenance -- excepting, of course, those things we've never eaten or restaurants we don't want to visit. Myself, I've never eaten lobster and have no desire to. Those giant waterbugs just look disgusting and the whole process of cracking open the shells is repulsive. Anyone else? Mitzi: Never eaten at the Olive Garden (and don’t plan to). Ali: I really don't consider this to be noteworthy, but since you're being so inclusive ... I have never had a cup of tea or coffee. I'd never really thought about that in the "never" sense, so thank you for the opportunity to feel incomplete. Lydia: I’ve never eaten a bagel. At first, it was because bagels pale in comparison to the sweeter pastries that my palate demands for breakfast. Now, it’s more so I can say “I’ve never eaten a bagel” on random occasions -- like in a blog about random things people have never done. What say you, gentle reader? Anyplace you have no desire to visit? Is there some delectable dish that turns you off? Tell us about it, and we'll be back tomorrow with more stuff we can't wait not to do. Suggested Sites... I Hate Disney World - ...and so do her kids. I Hate Las Vegas - and he's the editor of a travel magazine! Why I Hate Camping - all of these only prove we're right not to have done this stuff. I Hate Coffee - you wonder why we don't want to try it? The Spark: Don't Forget the Jellied Eels! - a whole bunch of foods we don't want any part of, from pork brains in milk gravy to cheeseburger in a can.

Directory categories: Walt Disney World, Camping, Las Vegas, Bagels, Camping Equipment

Archived under: Amusement Parks, Camping, Canada, Coffee, Disney, Disneyland, Eating, Food and Drink, In Character, Italian Food, Las Vegas, Outdoors, Recreation and Travel, Restaurants, Tea, The Spark, Tourist Attractions, Travel, Yahoo!

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So if it got really hot, would the building pop? (Photo by brendagayle) Just west of Sioux Falls, in the small South Dakota community of Mitchell, there stands an elaborate palace of corn, complete with onion domes and minarets. Sounds nutritious, delicious, and downright fascinating, doesn't it? We thought so, too. Today, on the first day of the annual Corn Palace Festival, we here at the Spark would like to honor Mitchell's most renowned landmark: the world's one and only Corn Palace. For over 100 years, the Corn Palace has served as a place where city residents and their rural neighbors could gather to celebrate the end of the crop-growing season and harvest. It was originally built as an artistic expression to extol the fertility of South Dakota soil. Just to be clear, the palace isn't itself made of corn, but is instead covered in it: Large murals constructed entirely from locally-grown corn and other grains adorn the many facades of the structure. Each year (with the exception of 2006, when the redesign was nixed due to drought) invites a new theme -- subjects like "Lewis and Clark" and "Everyday Heroes" have been interpreted in painstaking, granular detail by local artists, including the distinguished Native American painter, Oscar Howe. This year's theme, "American Destinations," was developed and crafted by Cherie Ramsdell, who has been at the artistic helm since 2003. It honors the United States' most celebrated tourist destinations, including the Statue of Liberty, the Golden Gate Bridge, Kennedy Space Center, and, naturally, the Corn Palace itself. If, in your travels, you happen to be near South Dakota this week, we urge you to stop by Mitchell for some great music, fantastic food, and a tour of the nation's "corniest" (argh!) roadside attraction. You can't miss it -- just follow the hungry birds. Suggested Sites... Corn Palace Convention and Visitors Bureau - everything to do and see in Mitchell, SD -- including the world's only corn palace. Corn Palace Festival - official site of the annual harvest festival. City of Mitchell - official site for the city of Mitchell, South Dakota. Corn Palace Webcam - check out live images of the famous Corn Palace. YouTube: Corn Palace - 1 of a Kind - AFN commercial promoting South Dakota's Corn Palace.

Directory categories: Entertainment and Arts in Mitchell, SD, Roadside Attractions, Buildings and Structures, Corn, Mitchell, South Dakots

Archived under: Architecture, Arts, Buildings, Corn, Corn Palace, Creativity, Decorating, Design, Events, Festivals, Food and Drink, Midsummer, Popcorn, Recreation and Travel, Regional, Roadside Attractions, Sculpture, Small Towns, Summer, Tourist Attractions, Travel, United States, Vegetables, Weird Stuff

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"Anybody see the Mona Lisa? She was hanging there just a minute ago" How is it that the most famous painting in the world could simply vanish, its disappearance not noted for 24 hours, and then not be found until nearly two years later? As with most mysteries, the disappearance of the "Mona Lisa" is certainly stranger than fiction. It was August 21, 1911, when the painting's absence was first noted by Louvre staff. The museum was shut down for a week so that the entire 49-acre facility could be searched. All employees and administrators were ruthlessly questioned by Paris police and many staffers were fired. France's borders were closed and all international shipments were subject to search and seizure. In short, it was the "Crime of the Century" (and offered a convenient distraction from the international conflicts that would evenutally lead to World War I). When the "Mona Lisa's" disappearance became public, everyone had a theory as to the identity of the perpetrators. Could it be an obsessive American art collector? An angry anti-establishment poet? A foreign conman and art forger? Or maybe it was the world’s foremost artist, Pablo Picasso. Picasso was actually questioned by police after being implicated by his friend and fellow suspect Guillaume Apollinaire, but both were eventually exonerated. For hunt continued for two years, but the trail went cold. In late 1913, however, Italian authorities arrested a former Louvre employee named Vincenzo Peruggia. Peruggia had been turned in by two local art experts (one the director of the Uffizi Gallery) after he attempted to sell the "Mona Lisa" in Florence. Peruggia's motive was political: he was angered by the plunder of Italian artwork more than a century before during the Napoleonic Wars and was attempting to restore the painting to its rightful homeland. Peruggia was convicted by an Italian court, but served minimal time and eventually returned to Paris. Embarrassed by the publicity surrounding the painting's theft and rediscovery, French art authorities allowed the "Mona Lisa" to tour Italy before she was returned to the Louvre, where she remains to this day. Even today, the "Mona Lisa" continues to evoke strong emotions. In 1956, two separate vandals attempted to damage the painting by throwing acid and a rock at it. Several years later, the painting was encased in bulletproof glass, which helped protect Mona in 1974, when another vandal tried to spray her with red paint. And just last week, a woman gained publicity (and probably jail time) by hurling a ceramic mug at poor Mona. Meanwhile, the success of the book and film "The DaVinci Code" (as well as other books) has renewed interest in that enigmatic smile (not to mention other features) for whole new generations. The true story of the theft of the "Mona Lisa" may not be as exciting as something out of "The DaVinci Code," but it is certainly has its own elements that would make any mystery fan proud: scandal, celebrity, politics, and some good old-fashioned detective work. Suggested Sites... Vanished Smile: The Mysterious Theft of the Mona Lisa - a new book by R.A. Scotti that explores the painting's disappearance and its widespread appeal. The Crimes of Paris - also new in literature. Dorothy and Thomas Hoober's fictional account of the theft of the "Mona Lisa," focusing on the efforts of a French detective to find it. The Louvre - official site for Mona Lisa's home. Virtual Tour of Le Louvre - take a walk around the home of the world's artistic and historical treasures.

Directory categories: Mona Lisa, Leonardo da Vinci, Le Louvre, Stolen Art, French History

Archived under: 1910s, Anniversaries, Art Museums, Artists, Arts, Crime, Criminals, Da Vinci Code, Detectives, Disappearances, Europe, European History, France, History, Images, Italy, Louvre, Museums, Mysteries, Secrets, Tourist Attractions, Women

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(Photo by Jason Meredith) Back in the good ol' days, county and state fairs celebrated a region's agricultural achievements and drew folks in from the fields for a day of fun. Even though fewer of us live on farms nowadays, a day at the fair is still one heck of an occasion. As soon as you arrive on the midway, that unmistakable smell hits you: equal parts hot asphalt, deep fryer, and livestock. The fairgrounds reek of summer -- and everything else. Whatever your penchant, the fair's got it: prize-winning veggies and crafts, animal races of all sorts, stinky livestock pens, carnival rides, good-time music in the band shell, and lots and lots (and lots) of food -- most of it deep-fried. (Deep-fried latte? Gross!) The mind boggles at how many types of food can be served on a stick. Corn dogs are so passé! Cutting-edge fairgoers save the sticks for such nouveau delights as teriyaki ostrich, roasted alligator, and fried Twinkies. But, if you prefer your animals uncooked and without sticks, you can always count on the 4-H kids to parade the fluffy bunnies, pink piglets, and cute cows. Suggested Sites... State Fair Dates - find out when your fair is happening. Exhibiting and Judging Garden Vegetables - key techniques for blue-ribbon veggies. Meet Me at the Fair - Flickr Photo Group - it's almost like being there. How to Beat Carnival Games - better your chances of winning a prize. Deep-Fried Fair Food - mac-n-cheese, peanut butter and jelly, Oreos, hard-boiled eggs? Is there nothing they won't deep-fry?

Directory categories: State Fairs, Deep-Fried Dessert Recipes, 4-H, County Fairs, Livestock

Archived under: Amusement Parks, Animals, Awards, Celebrations, Contests, Crafts, Entertainment, Events, Festivals, Food and Drink, Fried Food, Junk Food, Regional, Summer, Tourist Attractions, Travel, United States

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