London... So Far

4 weeks in country.  That sounds a bit like the intro to some Vietnam war epic but in a way London is similar to the jungle.  It's very overwhelming but not in the way NYC is; instead of skyscrapers and flashing flights there's cobblestone alleys and ageless history.  It's beautiful but it's also a constant reminder that London existed long before I arrived and will most certainly be around long after I'm gone.

London has an almost biblical feel to it, like the ancient city of Babylon.  Every street looks the same so you get the notion that even the locals can't navigate seamlessly through their area.  Central London is tricky- it's very touristy (and by extension, expensive) but there are nooks all over town where you can eat or drink for cheap.  You just have to know where to look.  Public transportation is excellent.  The subway system (or "tube," in the King's English) is very efficient with an almost paradoxical simplicity.  You see, each station extends a couple stories underground (to accommodate the different lines) but the actual network is incredibly easy to understand and navigate especially compared to the labyrinth that is the NYC metro system.

The tube closes at midnight, however, and if you want to avoid selling your kidneys for cab fare- you have to find the right Nightbus.  This can be difficult, particularly if you've been drowning your liver at the pub for a couple hours.  Speaking of pubs, the English drinking culture is very different than that of the United States.  Binge drinking is still prevelant among the youth, but there is more of a solidarity between generations.  Most pubs are attractive venues for all ages, which encourages socializing between different demographic groups.  My friends and I have been engaged, on multiple occasions, by older groups of gentlemen perhaps to entertain their nostalgia for their own youth or simply out of benevolence.

That's all for now, stay tuned for my review of Brighton Rock and a discussion of the European perspective on the american political machine.