This originally was an email about my trip to London. At my brother's urging, I added it to my site.
My original note about “how was London ?” was about five pages long. In this version I will attempt to condense it down to just the salient points.
London was awesome. Mostly, the weather agreed with me and I was able to see quite a lot of it on foot. I got a good blend of wandering around, seeing the sights, seeing the non-sights, soaking up the culture, and sampling the local beverages. I left there thoroughly physically exhausted and wanting just a bit more.
My plane landed at 9:30 in the morning; luckily I was able to check into my hotel so early. Despite a long, sleepless night on the plane there would be no nap for me; I was dying to see the city.
I started walking that morning and more or less only stopped to eat or sleep for a short stretch. I got rained on 3 times on Friday, but then not again until I left for the airport. It was, however, so bitter cold in the mornings that I retreated into cafes where I understood the reason behind the “full English breakfast.”
My M.O. for the trip: wake up, walk until I was hungry or tired, eat or rest (whichever is appropriate) then continue walking. Unless I felt like stopping. I just followed my whim, going in the direction of whatever appealed at any given moment. Attention Deficit Dream.
I covered all the major sections of London , traversing the big streets, the little streets, the outdoor markets, the residential alleys, the shopping districts, and the palaces of royal excess and tradition. From Tower Bridge to the western outskirts of Chelsea , and both sides of the river.
So what did I love? I loved its character as a city. There’s a lot going on, but in a somewhat understated way. I loved the juxtaposition of the old and the new, and I loved that there was so much old. I loved the tight and winding streets where any place would make a great movie-chase scene. I loved the little outdoor markets that seemed to pop up when you least expected them. I loved the homey local pubs.
What didn’t I love? I don’t care for English bacon; what good is it if it’s not crispy? I don’t like the pound coin; a paper bill is much easier to deal with. Still not a fan of fish and chips.
I was also sad to see the ubiquity of some chains in London ; Pret a Manger and Caffe Nero could teach McDonalds and Starbucks a thing or two about aggressive expansion.
I must admit that this was my first trip abroad. That’s part of why I went. So what did I think of international travel? I think I could get addicted. It was an amazing experience to be so removed from the familiar and comfortable, to be in my mid-thirties and suddenly not able to make change, not know how traffic lights work. Everything was new and exciting, even the mundane.
I did manage to find a local pub where darts were being thrown. I shared a few drinks in camaraderie with the locals and held my own while throwing a few games.
Other random thoughts: All the cops in helmets are about 16 years old. There are a lot of beautiful women, but they all smoke. Black taxis are awesome and we should have them in NYC. Tea isn’t as good in London as you might expect. I ate reasonably well, didn’t spend too much money, and had very little to declare to customs.
All told, I’d call the trip a complete success.