The Giant Oat

Snippets of where I’ve been and what I’ve been up to (time’s running short so I need to hurry it up!):

Borough market on Saturday: lovely, tasty, likely a bit touristy market

Walking down the street I experienced dark clouds, light rain, and bright sun all at the same time. It impressed me and reminded me of days in Ireland and Halifax. Later in the day a little hail storm added itself to the mix.

I’m staying in an area called London Bridge. It used to be a warehouse area and is now turning around. Apparently everyone thinks that Tower Bridge is London Bridge, but it’s not. London Bridge is actually rather plain and I@m happy to report that it is not falling down.

I’m terribly impressed by London’s architecture…especially the new. It has such character and doesn’t clash with the old, which is a major feat. I’ve never noticed buildings as much as I have here. I will need to read up on it.

I’ve visited the National Gallery twice, and would make it a round third if I wasn’t leaving tomorrow. It is a beautiful gallery and somehow more appealing to me than the Louvre was. Perhaps it was less overwhelming. The collection of impressionist paintings is especially lovely.

Trafalgar Square, Picadilly Circus, Big Ben, the Queen’s front lawn and palace, as well as a good dose of the financial district were all visited by me today, some on purpose and some by accident.

I was delighted to sit down on green grass, look at fully bloomed daffodils, and watch others sprawl in the typical spring and summer fashion. It’s been warm, finally, and the season has changed for me in more ways than one.

There’s a feeling of familiarity here that I can’t pinpoint, but I would certainly live here if I had the opportunity. In some ways it feels like a much bigger, grander, exciting version of my Canadian city, which was built largely under British influence.

I’m thoroughly enjoying the banter and drinks with new friends here as well. My mind is waking up in a few ways, and it’s refreshing. Like a good spring cleaning, the windows of my brain are opened adn the dust is flying out while sweet new warm smells waft in.

Sorry for the randomness of this post, but along with all the lovely London experiences I’ve had, I’ve also been seriously lacking in sleep.

I don’t know where I’ll be tomorrow, as I’m waitng to see where I can get the best flight deal to.

My trip from Paris to London was eventful. First, I missed the bus, because i failed to properly read all of my information. While the bus ticket OFFICE is located at St. Germain and St. Jacques, the actual bus STATION is actually outside of Paris!

 I eventually did make it on an afternoon bus, and for a mere 45 euro I was crossing the French countryside and into England. I found the French countryside flat and rather unremarkable. I had a brief moment of clausterphobic pannic when my bus inserted itself into a metal container, not unlike a shipping container, which would then zip us under the English Channel and deliver us to the other side a half hour later.

Im a lot too tired to get into all the specifics, but I found England to be immediately pleasant, lovely, and familiar. Sheep on rolling hills also helped.

That evening, my friend Sam and I joined some of his friends for a birthday outing including a pub, a club, and a houseparty.

Saturday morning, though beautifully sunny, was spent in the densest of fogs.