London Tourism Dispatch

Winter in London?

To enjoy a weekend of London tourism is to step into the whirlwind of a world-class city, a city on the edge of forever. Its summer months are beloved getaway moments for everyone from Rod Stewart to Michael Richards to Cher. And now, for the first time this year, snow blankets London, Ontario.

There is palpable rejoicing and relief in the streets, homes, and community centres at the sight and at the chill. The heavy snow is a good sign that the demon lord Prince of Convenient Falsehood, also known by his name as the dread Klai'ma T'Chen-dze, has been held at bay, trapped by the sum of globally raised awareness in his prison-vortex of infinite entropy -- at least for one more year. The sacrifices worked, but will smart metering and mass performance of the ritual of the green bin be enough to keep him away next year, and the year after that?

But this is a moment of relief. For now it's enough to know that it will be cold again.

Yes, the snow brings the news of our reprieve; but few will rest easily until the formal announcement appears on the front page of tomorrow's Free Press.

There is so much for world-class people to do in this world-class city. Why not watch the London Knights skate around in our magnificent John Labatt Centre? Eat the finest tomato a toonie can buy as you Christmas shop at the Covent Garden Market. Huddle against a wall in the cold in the Library Reading Garden -- if the doors to it aren't chained. Duck in to the Convention Centre for a moment of warmth and smiles, then leave because there's nothing for you to do there.

Welcome, winter. Let's look back to the summer sights of London, before the snow blanketed the town. Here are some images of London in the summer to remember how different London once looked, here in our new, white and grey world. They were taken by London-based Mitchieville parachute mayoral candidate Lisa.

Here's a world-class idea. Why not put away the PS3, and drive in the the snow to beautiful, world-class London, Ontario? We've got a lot of snow to offer.

I, Municipal Communications Consultant for Tourism and Culture Belinda di Vitti, wrote this.