It's been an auspicious start to the journey abroad. An early morning waking, 2 transfers into Toronto, then Air India to Heathrow. I'm scribbling this out on the tube ride into central London.
It's all been pleasant so far. My last encounter with the Canadian authorities involved my not being allowed into their good country. This time they waved me into the side room where I was formally immigrated for the four hours of my stay. It was a visit that ended by sitting down next to a shy sikh man on the plane and - more fine omens - the seat across the isle being taken by an Indian girl of rare beauty. We sat through an abbreviated evening, with 7 hours passing between 10PM in Toronto and 10AM in London. As for airplane food, saying that one's a "Western Vegetarian" to Air India apparently translates as, "I delight in all forms of dairy. Include some in each dish."
London countryside from the air looks perfectly tamed; Not so much manicured in the present as trained into shape over the generations. Dense forests grow in tidy clusters between grassy fields. Squares of forest within forest can be made out from the air - copses of different trees planted within the main grove with a wabi-sabi imperfection of borders. Rivers break into the countryside; not the ruddy-muddy untamed confluences seen around Charolotte hours before, but deep blue ramblings between field and manor.
English Customs was positively genial. An error on my form, a quick explanation, an understanding "these things happen" from the officer. And a welcome to the country.
Taking the tube into town, the ground view is more mended; Cookie cutter tenement houses made individual in their patchwork repairs. A Hobbitton plot of gardens before the Boston Manor station. And the woman on the tube's announcement station announces that we are going to "Cockfosters" without a trace of juvenile humor in her voice.
First observations on life in England:
It's all been pleasant so far. My last encounter with the Canadian authorities involved my not being allowed into their good country. This time they waved me into the side room where I was formally immigrated for the four hours of my stay. It was a visit that ended by sitting down next to a shy sikh man on the plane and - more fine omens - the seat across the isle being taken by an Indian girl of rare beauty. We sat through an abbreviated evening, with 7 hours passing between 10PM in Toronto and 10AM in London. As for airplane food, saying that one's a "Western Vegetarian" to Air India apparently translates as, "I delight in all forms of dairy. Include some in each dish."
London countryside from the air looks perfectly tamed; Not so much manicured in the present as trained into shape over the generations. Dense forests grow in tidy clusters between grassy fields. Squares of forest within forest can be made out from the air - copses of different trees planted within the main grove with a wabi-sabi imperfection of borders. Rivers break into the countryside; not the ruddy-muddy untamed confluences seen around Charolotte hours before, but deep blue ramblings between field and manor.
English Customs was positively genial. An error on my form, a quick explanation, an understanding "these things happen" from the officer. And a welcome to the country.
Taking the tube into town, the ground view is more mended; Cookie cutter tenement houses made individual in their patchwork repairs. A Hobbitton plot of gardens before the Boston Manor station. And the woman on the tube's announcement station announces that we are going to "Cockfosters" without a trace of juvenile humor in her voice.
First observations on life in England:
- No, look the OTHER way when crossing the street.
- European subway networks are still the win.
- European Internet access, contrariwise, appears to be the lose. I'm getting nickled and dimed for 2 or 3 quid a go just to log on here and there. If there are internet cafes that offer access complimentary with your coffee in London, I'm not finding them.
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Hope you're enjoying things so far!