Friday Fishwrap: Odd Stuff from Europe

Have a whale of a time in London: Ok, so you're in your London Eye pod, rotating slowly over the Thames like a chicken on the spit, and down below there's a a bottle-nosed whale sauntering along, banging against small boats moored picturesquely. It's true: Whale spotted in central London.

Speaking of odd in Britain...Have you been to North Piddle yet? Took your honey and a ping pong paddle down to Spanker Lane? These are just a few examples of Rude Britain.

Send in the Clowns: Did you know that the 2006 Winter Olympics will end on a Felliniesque note? Yes, costumes featured in Fellini's 1971 film "The Clowns'' will be used in the closing ceremonies. The circus theme also will include aspects from Italy's winter Carnival, according to NBC Olympics. For more on Carnival (or Carnevale), see Italy for Visitor's Carnevale Festivals in Italy. Did you know that I will be at the Olympics, bringing you stories from behind the scenes? Nothing to do with the title of this section, really.

Has Senior Travel Guide Ferne Arfin nailed the Trip of a Lifetime, destination Provence? She's got pictures: Photo Gallery: Provence and the Camargue.

And finally, about that illustration in the upper left. Those are anchovies in a Bologna open air market. See Bologna Italy Pictures for less organic parts of the Red City.