I've Arrived!

After being sardined nine hours inside a flying metal tube, I made it to London. Needless to say, the flught was not terribly enjoyable. I guess the complications started earlier in the day when I flew out of Vancouver Friday afternoon when the entire world flew out to Europe from YVR. I suppose all the waiting and lining up are precursors of things to come on my trip.... My advice is don't fly with steel-toed boots. Or if you are in that situation and there is no other alternative, voluntarily remove your metal footwear because it would save a lot of hassle. Basically, I was pat down five times after settng off the metal detector and all this in front of impatient travellers watching this idiot emptying pockets and removing articles of clothing. And then the flight was a lesson on patience and longsuffering. My seatmate insisted on having her elbow in my space. I was already sitting all the way to one side of my seat. Meanwhile people walking up and down the aisle never seemed to have the notion that individuals might not be able to fit neatly into their seats, so of course my other elbow got the brunt of passengers brushing by. On top of that the cabin crew weren't the friendliest, or at least they had a smiling impediment.



Ah, that felt good to rant a little bit. Which brings me to my next point that the English have a different sort of temperament. I notice that they really don't go out of their way to smile. As well they aren't as approachable as I had thought. But I'd like to investigate this further during my subsequent days here. I have to admit the friendliest guy I've spoken to is the customs officer who asked me a whole bunch of random questions but managed to laugh and joke as well.



London definitely has a sense of antiquity. Most of the buildings are Victorian and stone. Beautiful facades and columns for sure. And the rail and Tube networks are amazing. The high speed train that took me from Gatwick to Central London must've been the smoothest train ride I've been on to-date. (I expect the TGV to be even better.) The Underground passageways and platforms remind me of the New York Subway. I haven't gone too far yet to truly appreciate the transit here. (I'm still at the hostel typing this.) In fact, I'm going to the nearby shopping centre to grab some cheap lunch, and then zipping down to the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben and Trafalgar Square for some night scenery.