Paris is Paris, London is London

When I was a little younger, I lived in London for a while and although I got to know the city, life was happening, I was studying, working and feeling cold all the time. The Island has a cruel wind in the winter and in the summer…well, let’s say that there is a slight increase in temperatures between autumn and winter. They say it has changed, but I doubt it.

I caught the Eurostar train from Paris, that one that goes under across the Channel and in 2 hours we were in the UK – I think it is amazing, truly amazing, how they have managed to dig that tunnel. It was nice to be in a place where they could fully understand my sort of British accent.

This time I was a tourist in London, with all the rights to a fish and chips with vinegar, rest and sunbathe on the gardens of Saint Paul’s Cathedral, before climbing the 528 steps to the top, and visit the royalty places.

I enjoyed the feeling of being at home: I remembered the places I’d been, the tube map, where to go. As we didn’t have any time to spare, we decided to make some strategic sightseeing.

Before leaving for the trip, I’d read that the Parliament is always open to visitors to watch the debates in the House of Lords. The tourists either don’t know this or are not interested, so we passed through the multitude of people and selfie-sticks on the streets and walked right in, to check how the Lords behave. There are some that look like 100 years old, mummified, sleeping on their seats while the debate is going on.  Pictures inside were not allowed, but sitting on the gallery, I could hear the years of history in every single corner. As we were leaving, going through the hall, I looked at the floor and saw this:

One of my favorite places is Camden Market, a festival of people, punks, food and bric-a-brac.

Walking by, I saw the sigh and asked Mike if he knew the answer for the riddle. After thinking for a while, he asked me to call the guy. I walked out with my free strawberry and banana smoothie. Of course, I had to take the picture.

There was the classic visit to the Buckingham Palace

We end the Friday at Greenwich

At the end of trip I succumbed to the five o’clock tea at Liberty, and I was happy. London has a way, different from Paris, but London is London.