Buckingham Palace, 1888

London Royal residence, Buckingham Palace, 1888
 (Photo by London Stereoscopic Company / Getty Images)

The International Day of the Book

Today, 23rd of April, we are commemorating the International Day of the Book. This event was celebrated for the first time on 1995 and it is organised by UNESCO to promote the reading. The exception is United Kingdom that helds the World Book Day on the first Thursday in March. That's because it is also St George's Day, the National Saint's Day of England. 

UNESCO did not choose that day randomly. The 22nd of April, 1616, the Spanish novelist Miguel de Cervantes died in Madrid but he was buried on the 23rd. Every year, to commemorate his work, Don Quijote is read during two days in Alcalá de Henares, the city where the poet was born. But also, Catalonia celebrates 'The Day of the Rose' since at least 1926. In that day it's a tradition to exchange a rose and a book.

Inca Garcilaso de la Vega and Josep Pla also died on that same day while Maurice Druon, Manuel Mejía Vallejo and Halldór Laxness were born.

They're gonna live forever. Oasis exhibition

Twenty years to the day since Oasis shot to stardom with Supersonic (released the 11th of April, 1994), a free exhibition dedicated to the English rock band opened in Shoreditch. Chasing The Sun: Oasis 1993 - 1997 is taking place at the Londonewcastle Project Space from the 11st until the 22nd of April. 

The showing takes us to their meteoric career through three albums: Definitely Maybe, (What's the Story) Morning Glory, and Be Here Now.

This exhibition includes original pictures taken by Jill Furminovsky, Paul Slattery, Tom Sheehan, Kevin Cummins, and Jamie Fry. The exposition also displays the instruments they played on their first few albums, awards, stage costumes, a Manchester City flag, vintage merchandise or Noel Gallagher’s handwritten lyric sheets.

Ludgate Hill, c. 1920

Ludgate Hill, c. 1920

London Marathon

Photo: The Telegraph / GETTY IMAGES

The Polytechnic Marathon, also known as Poly, was the oldest regular marathon in Europe. It was held in London from 1909 to 1996.  

Inspired by the New York Marathon, the Olympic champion Chris Brasher and the athlete John Disley founded the current London Marathon. Its first edition was celebrated on 29th of March, 1981.

Nowadays it's not just a sport event. The Virgin London Marathon is one of the World Marathon Majors. Giving back, in 2012 it was the largest marathon with 37,227 runners finishing the race and more than 900,000 people have completed it since it was organized for the first time. But it's not only sport and fun because this competition has raised more than £500m for charity so far.

Worcester' and the Cutty Sark, 1953

'Worcester' and the Cutty Sark, 1953 Henry Grant

Oxford against Cambridge

Oxford and Cambridge have been training all year to face each other this weekend and today, at 5.55pm, one of the oldest sporting games in the world was celebrated: the 160th Boat Race.

The race is 6.8 Km long and it took place over the River Thames, from Putney to Mortlake. The itinerary is better known as the Championship Course and it has been used since 1845 with only three exceptions. In 1846, 1856 and 1863 the race was held in the opposite direction. 

This year Oxford University won by 11 lengths, the biggest margin of victory since 1973. With this triumph they achieve their fifth victory in seven years. 

Cambridge had the heaviest crew with 2.6kg per man more than Oxford, but they had the youngest team, 24 against 26 years old. Unfortunately, and besides the two teams had strong squads, the two oar of the Cambridge boat hit the seven oar of the Oxford boat. It was a disaster for Cambridge. The oar number two, Luke Juckett, was devastated.

Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park opens to the public

After a two-year transformation, at last, the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park has opened to the public. On Friday, Prince Harry and Mayor Boris Johnson were the guests of the site but it was on Saturday, at 10 am, when Londoners could visit and explore the whole parkland, 560-acres, for the fist time.

Although the north area and the Copper Box Arena opened last year, it was this weekend when the south side and the Ancelor Mittal Orbit, with its 375ft-high, were accessible. 

This is part of the London 2012 Games' planning. A great east London landmark and a reference place for all Londoners.

In June the Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre will be open, where the European Hockey Championship will be hosted in 2015. The new roof for the Olympic stadium will be finished to celebrate the Rugby World Cup next year and the last piece of the puzzle will be completed in 2016 with the West Ham stadium opening.