St. Ermin is legendary London spy haunt

January 28, 2012 at 6:58PM
Photographer: Barbara Willett of Roseville. The scene: Willett had to do some maneuvering to capture this eagle on Kachemak Bay, with Poot Peak as the backdrop, during a trip to Alaska this past August with her husband. She explained by e-mail: "The slippery rock field in front of the eagle was hard to negotiate with a camera in hand and I truly expected the eagle to fly away just about the time I was ready to push the shutter. That did not happen. The eagle waited and I got this wonderful pictu
Photographer: Barbara Willett of Roseville. The scene: Willett had to do some maneuvering to capture this eagle on Kachemak Bay, with Poot Peak as the backdrop, during a trip to Alaska this past August with her husband. She explained by e-mail: "The slippery rock field in front of the eagle was hard to negotiate with a camera in hand and I truly expected the eagle to fly away just about the time I was ready to push the shutter. That did not happen. The eagle waited and I got this wonderful picture, thanks to this patient bird, a beautiful day and the tide that was out." (Special to the Star Tribune/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

The big-screen version of "Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy" has put London spy haunts on the radar. The historic St. Ermin's Hotel in Westminster, which was renovated and reopened under new ownership this year, was a haven for spies, who were recruited over dinner at its restaurant. It was here that Prime Minister Winston Churchill founded the Special Operations Executive, which committed espionage against the Axis powers during World War II from a full floor of the hotel. Don't be surprised to see members of Parliament and Scotland Yard sharing drinks. www.sterminshotel.co.uk. NEW YORK TIMES

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