The Coolest City In The World
One of London’s most iconic and historic tourist attractions is the Cutty Sark, which is the only surviving tea clipper in the world. The Cutty Sark, which was launched in Dumbarton in Scotland in 1869 and travelled between Britain and the Orient transporting tea.
The Cutty Sark is permanently moored at King William Walk, Greenwich in London. The ship was built for a John “White Hat” Wills who wanted it, to be the fasted tea clipper supplying tea from China to England. The Cutty Sark actually broke the world record at the time, by completing the journey in 107 days.
The Cutty Sark unfortunately is still under going renovations from a devastating fire that it had over a year ago and will reopen in March 2010. I for one cant wait to get the opportunity to visit one of the most famous ships in the world.
The Cutty Sark’s wonderful and unusual name comes from a tale called “Tam o Shanter”, which was written by the legendary Scottish poet Rabbie Burns. The name cutty sark is an old Scots word, which means short undergarment and was worn by the beautiful witch Nannie in Burns classic tale. Incidentally the Sark’s orginal figurehead was also named “Nannie.
The tale “Tam o Shanter” immortalizes the legend of Tam’s escape from Nannie, a beautiful witch, who could not catch Tam because he escaped over a river. As we all know witches cannot cross bodies of water.
When The Cutty Sark reopens and they have their fancy opening ceremony, I hope the organisers have the ingenuity and foresight to have someone recite, “Tam o Shanter” in honour of Rabbie Burns and his connection with providing the name of the ship.
London is cool and the Cutty Sark is one of the coolest attractions to visit in London, well it will be when it reopens.
I’m a Scotsman In London, who just happens to be a blogger, entrepreneur and budding Screen play writer. I’m just trying to live the dream and achieve the things out of life that I desire. 
