London, Second Time Around

I really did come back to London with an open-mind, sure that my second experience would far exceed my first. It was better, yes, but I think it’s safe to say I will never live in London or go back any time soon.

Some journal entries from couple-day stay:

September 23, Thursday

Accomplishments:
• I finally saw the touristic sites of London
• I gave another tourist directions on how to get to the station
• I managed to get a place to stay
• I smiled at a fireman
• I Got my adapter back from Stefano
• I gave another tourist directions to the station (I know, I just felt this one needed repeating)

Failures:
• Ended up in the ghetto of the ghetto in London
• Did not get to see Hannah :(
• Er, I still suggested the tourist to ask a local…just to be sure. So maybe that didn’t deserve a two-time mention.

London is SO great that…

London is so great that when I had to register online to use wifi at McDonald’s, my disposition sitting in a lonely both stranded in who-knows-where, London, wondering where I would sleep come night, inspired the password of—in asterisks for the sake of delicacy— ****London (you can put it together).

London is so great that it has rained hard three of the four days I have spent here.

London is so great that I wanted to stay in a public restroom (a fairly nice one, granted) because it was the warmest place I’d come across all day.

London is so great that instead I spent a large portion of my day in a department store testing out furniture, smelling every single candle, and people watching to avoid said rain.

London is so great that I got stuck in the doors of the subway (yeah, I'm gonna call it that because that's how anti-London I am right now) three times because of how very crowded it was. Also, chivalry is dead here. Don't bother, boys, offering your seat to the distressed girl with the huge backpack on her shoulders getting stuck in the doors. You just keep listening to your iPod while I hold on to this railing above my head.

The first time I got stuck, my Hollywood-polluted mind freaked and I thought I was gonna end up mangled in the tunnel. Instead the doors just opened again, rather anti-climatically.

London is so great that I went to three different libraries because the first one was freezing and the second one charged entrance for non-members, which I feel entirely defeats the purpose of a library.

London is so great it has significantly heightened my sense of sarcasm.
 

This woman in the pink sweatshirt tried to sell me a tissue paper flower for “the children.” When I said “No thanks,” she walked away and said, “Yeah, you wouldn’t.”
Excuse me for being more poor than your manipulative guilt trip of imaginary children that I choose not to afford myself the luxury of your tissue paper flower on this rainy day. Truly.

 Here the pink-sweatshirt woman has acquired her target while I innocently capture her in a picture...minding my own business.

And here she is, angrily walking away.

Meet Manuel

He hosted me for my stay in London and saved me from sleeping outside :)

He made me the best toast and had the coolest red shoes.

And I will miss his silly self.

Well, I think London was a necessary thruway. In Ireland, I did not want to go home. In London, I could not wait to be home. It all works out.