Bank Holiday weekend Canalway Cavalcade, Little Venice

Narrowboats from all over the country are gathering in Little Venice, near London’s Paddington Station, this weekend for the annual Canalway Cavalcade. It’s held in the pool, where the Grand Union and Regent’s Canal meet. The free event, which runs from April 30 to May 2, 2016 is now more than 30 years old. It brings plenty of very British fun, with Morris dancing, bunting, music, stalls and entertainment for youngsters, as you can see from these photos of last year’s event.

The Cavalcade, organised by the Inland Waterways Association, is a celebration of a great success story. Almost 200 years ago the canals were the motorways of their day, transporting goods and people across the country during the Industrial Revolution. Then in the 1820s came the railways, with faster and cheaper options. Canals, especially rural ones, fell into disuse, and many were closed. But after WW2, people began to appreciate the leisure opportunities they offered. The IWA was formed to campaign for their continued use, and has been pivotal in restoration of the network.
https://www.waterways.org.uk/events_festivals/canalway_cavalcade/iwa_canalway_cavalcade

Reflections on Covent Garden

London’s Covent Garden has a surprise for visitors – the eastern facade has been wrapped in 32,000 square feet of mirrors. But the reflective surfaces aren't just there to provide unusual perspectives of the surrounding architecture and be a background for selfies - their real purpose is to conceal building works for new restaurant.  The installation, by Sculptivate, will be in place for about eight months. If only all construction sites could be made to look so good.

Palmyra Arch in Trafalgar Square

A replica of Palmyra’s Arch of Triumph has been erected in Trafalgar Square. The two-thousand year old original was destroyed by IS militants after they overran the complex of ancient ruins in Syria in May last year. Palmyra was recaptured in March, but by then, some 20 per cent of the buildings had been reduced to rubble.
The scale model - 20 ft high - is two-thirds the original size, and made of Egyptian marble. It was created using 3D technology, using photographs of the arch built by the Romans.
The director-general of antiquities and museums in Syria, Professor Dr Maamoun Abdulkarin, said the arch was a 'message of peace' and that plans to rebuild Palmyra - a Unesco World Heritage site - should be treated as a global mission.

The arch will be on display in London until April 22, then travel to cities such as New York and Dubai before finding a permanent home near its original location.