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Comfortable, Humbling London

Thu Apr 5, 2007, 2:10 PM
Do you know why most Europeans are so skinny? 1: Because they have to walk a lot. 2: Because there are stairs everywhere, and very few elevators. 3: Food is really expensive. And 4: You HAVE to be. The restrooms where extraordinarily small (not much bigger than an enclosed phone booth). Most alleys, staircases, cafes and hallways were just big enough that walking through, your shoulders barely miss brushing along the walls. But all of it you get use to pretty quickly and I must admit it is rather charming.



London is a city in a state of constant vacillation and not just because of the large amount of people. The city has had a few devastating fires throughout its history and it was attacked during a few wars as well. But after it’s destroyed, they build right over the rubble and not having a stable foundation, most of the city sways like you’re on a ship. It’s subtle and I don’t know if the Londoners themselves notice, but we definitely felt it. The first half of the week, we kept looking at each other, asking, “Did you feel that? Are we moving? Is this building moving?” And after we got ourselves educated on the history, we finally put it together.



The architecture, the art and the gardens were staggeringly beautiful and humbling. The sheer age of the city is humbling and awe-inspiring. It’s a city I would love to get to know even better. I was in love from the moment I looked out the window and saw the edges of the island. Everyone is so laid back there. And they don’t hate us (as Americans are repeatedly told) so much as a view us with a sort of mild irritation and it seems to be because of our general uptight attitudes and national superiority complex.



Oh but I must mention the play! Oh… what can I say? The script was phenomenal, the cast was excellent and the story was satisfyingly relevant. *sigh* I really miss theater that much more after seeing this. And yes, Mr. Radcliffe, the reason for being there at all, was awesome in this!! It was really freeing for me to be able to finally put another illusion of mine to rest. Magic is seductive and frightening in its mystery – but going to the most magical place on earth and seeing the most magical boy on earth showed me that there is no magic. Everything is real and tangible and so beautifully unromantic that I can happily let myself fall in love. If all the people I love so dearly didn’t live in the western US, I would move to London instantly. A piece of my heart has always been there and in leaving it, I could feel it break again. But... as I keep telling myself, I’ll come back… I can always come back.

~PottersLily

~*~

Devious Pick of the Week:


by: :iconelven-38-stone:

  • Mood: Sadness
  • Listening to: Rain (Breaking Benjamin)
  • Reading: The Tale of the Body Thief (Anne Rice)

Devious Comments

love 0 0 joy 0 0 wow 0 0 mad 0 0 sad 0 0 fear 0 0 neutral 0 0
:iconrhionne:
I'm glad you liked it :D

Of COURSE we don't hate Americans :O Who said that?
:iconpotterslily:
Dude! It's like all the time in movies and stuff, Europeans saying like, "Hmf! Stupid American! See, that's why we hate you!" (You have to do that with like a French accent to get the full picture, LOL :XD:)

We were seriously terrified to speak the first couple of days because we didn't want anyone knowing we were American! Lol! But we eventually learned that no one seemed to care. :)

I even thought that maybe someone would laugh at our accents (b/c I laugh at foreign accents all the time -- it really never ceases to be funny) ... but no. I guess because London is such a melting pot and there are people from EVERYWHERE living and touring it that nobody raises an eyebrow about funny accents.

I really wanted to try doing an accent, just to see if people might believe I was from London -- but I didn't want anyone to slap me in the face for being cheeky!!

LOL!! :XD: ... Oh, ouch! Ach, I miss it that much already...

Do the random dance of happiness and smiling :dance: !!

--
Be fearless. Be unapologetically you.

.: My short films [link] :.
:iconrhionne:
:dance: Tehe!

I think the American accent is awesome! There's a load of confusing dialects but in general it's coool! :D
:iconpotterslily:
Talk about numerous confusing accents! Britain has so many that I don't even know them all!! :)

--
Be fearless. Be unapologetically you.

.: My short films [link] :.
:iconelven-38-stone:
Cool! You went to London... T_T
My cousin is going to marry someone from London and she's moving there (she lives in the U.S). She invited her family, close ones and us, but we can't go! We don't have the money.

I want to go to Europe someday, to Germany, Italy, United Kingdom, Netherlands (especially Armsterdam), and many other places. Closest to possibility, is Italy, cause next year (Senior year) we'll have an italian language elective course, and if the teacher makes it possible, we'll go on a trip to Italy. :D I crossing all my fingers for that trip.

I have wondered about that too, how do Europeans see the Americans or if they would react a different way towards us.

I think I heard once that, with me for example, it was better if I spoke spanish (my mother tounge) than in english. But I dunno, maybe it was somekind of a joke.

Anyways, thanks again for the pick! :) :hug:

-Sarai
:rose:

--
My Second Account
- Song/Poems, Pictures, Manips

..."So cold what’s around; And your sweet warmth
Penetrating my skin; Holding my breath".....
:iconpotterslily:
Sarai? Is that your name? That's so cool!! Very beautiful, very unique!

That's so cool about Italy! I'm going there summer 2008! ...You know, travel isn't all that expensive. At least, not as expensive as I once thought it was. My 7 day trip to London rang up to about, uh ...

500 -- flight
550 -- hotel
140 -- london pass (attractions and transportation)
150 -- food (about $20/day)
150 -- souvenirs
$1500 -- total

We really really did our research before we left. If we had gone through Expedia or some other travel website, we'd have had to pay A LOT more. We read travel-on-a-shoe-string books and spent a lot of time of TripAdvisor.com [link] If you do your research, you'll save a lot. It sounds like you're still young enough you don't have a full time job -- but when you do, remember that travel is easier than you think!

And like you, I am so dying to go to Germany, France, Switzerland, Ireland, Greece, DC, Alaska and way too many more places to name! :XD:

:boogie: <-- Happy dance for the love of travle!!

:icq:

--
Be fearless. Be unapologetically you.

.: My short films [link] :.
:iconpotterslily:
BTW, do you notice the city moving?!

--
Be fearless. Be unapologetically you.

.: My short films [link] :.
:iconrhionne:
Haha, also true. I suppose it's the same wherever you go...
:iconrhionne:
Nope :S I never knew about that until I read this.
:iconidajorsing:
Glad you had an awesome trip to london!
I had too :D
i might post some pics later on :)

I'm a bit sad over that i didnt see mr. radcliffe.
but i did see someone (check my journal)

--
"It will remain a secret between You, Me and Allan"

Journal History

A guy creates a robot with the ability to feel rage. The robot kills the guy. Whose fault is it? 

71%
17 deviants said The Guy
29%
7 deviants said The Robot

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