It's been several weeks since my last post and now I'm completely in love with this fantastic city. It's remarkable how in some ways it's so similar to New York and California, and yet so different. One of my friends once remarked that if you squint a bit, and ignore the bright red double-decker buses and black little cabs as you walk down the street, then it's almost like walking down Broadway in New York; cars whiz by you, tourists anxiously consult their maps, and employees dash across the streets to make it to work on time. Everybody's busy and preoccupied and so interesting to watch.
London is also very unique and different because it mixes the ancient buildings with the new and modern ones. I live in one of the newest buildings in my area -- the skyscraper as my dad calls it -- and it's so close to this Renaissance themed hotel (featured in my last post) and just blocks away from Charles Dickens' old apartment. Daily I walk by blue plaques marking the former residences of famous novelists, poets, and politicians. It's remarkable!
The city also has no rhyme or reason. It's not organized, despite what people might tell you, and there is no logic behind it's messy layout. Whilst studying a map you will quickly discover that one street can have up to five names ranging from odd numbers and letters to actual words. The streets also do not follow any pattern or grid like the ones in New York. I think one of my advisers described it perfectly by saying:
"You New Yorkers love your grid system -- in fact, I'd call it borderline obsessive -- but here in London we love our squiggly lines."
So true. Too much, I'd say.
However, it does add to the charm of the city. I've gotten lost on several occasions and happened to find fantastic new pubs or restaurants because of it! Speaking of which, the pubs, clubs, and restaurants back here are excellent! You always meet some interesting, and sometimes creepy, people back here. Yet, I've been very impressed by how polite and friendly most people are when my friends and I go to a new restaurant. We've rarely had to pay the advertised price on the menu for a dish; instead, the workers usually take a couple of quid off the final bill for us. Not sure why, but it's nice!
It's also somewhat of an adjustment not to tip everyone back here, or to tip a smaller amount than we would in the states. This is just a social custom for them. When I asked a couple of Brits about it they said that people usually get offended if you tip them here or over-tip them. They told me that most people are happy with the minimum wage and feel insulted if Americans come in and try to give them more than needed, which is kind of interesting. It's also helps me save a bit more money for shows and trips to Europe, so I like it!
Well, I could go on about this fantastic city forever but I think I'll stop here for now. Enjoy the update.
