We’re back home after a great trip to London. Here are a few snapshots of my mental states to give you an idea. You can expect more in the new few days.
Saturday night, walking through Soho, Chinatown, and Leicester Square: “Dublin is such a cow-town! There’s nothing like this, even in a small area of Dublin. It seems like a square mile of London is packed with all kinds of people.”
Sunday night, earlier than Saturday, walking down Edgware Road past dozens of Middle-Eastern shops, clubs and restaurants: “This is a genuinely cosmopolitan city. I’ve never seen anything like this. I’d like to walk this neighborhood again soon, but I’d really like to get to my hotel room soon.”
Monday midday, crossing the Thames: “It will be nice to get back to Dublin. We’ve done so much, and it will be good to be home.”
Our descent into Dublin Airport took us over the city, and for the first time, I recognized many roads, parks, and landmarks from the air. That made Dublin feel like home in a new sense. Chicago and Saint Louis are the only other cities that I know in that unusual way.
But I also love London even more than I did before. That place is amazing.
2 Comments to “Back in the R.O.I.”
9 October 2007
So does this mean now you like the British (see previous blog about not liking the British)?? or you just like the internationalness & people in London??
I’ve never been to London, but I am sure it is great.
9 October 2007
My fellow travellers will tell you that I had some choice words about the British aristocracy and the fruits of bloody empire. But I didn’t see any of them, and I really didn’t interact with any subjects of the Queen.
I must admit that British society, be it mainstream or fringe, created the London that I love. So I hate the British but I love their cities, their art, their creations in general. I guess I really am becoming Irish!
By the way, our passages in and out of Heathrow were smooth and pleasant. (Still, we didn’t pass through immigration.)