London Calling

South Bank of the Thames River, near the London Eye

London is nothing like Los Angeles. In L.A., people drive from place to place to avoid congestion. Anything older than 30 years gets torn down for something new. There's no central hub, no dominant culture, no unifying force.

In London, it seems different. All of the community and the festivity seems to be centered around the river. The people are proud of their English heritage in a different way than Americans are, I can't quite describe it. God save the queen, or something.

Arriving in London Gatwick Airport, I felt a little overwhelmed... not with emotion, but with wonder. I got off the plane, wandered through customs and eventually figured out how to get into "real" London. They say it's the capital of the world, and I can see why.

A relatively brief train ride took me north to Victoria Station. That place is huge. I've been to big train stations before, but there was something more than just its size that made it seem almost menacing. I think it might have been the people. Everyone moving about every direction with purpose and intent. Smokers and businessmen, students and older people all scurrying like part of a complex performance that isn't beautiful until you're on the outside looking in.

I wandered the streets for a while with that "Holy Crap, I'm in Europe" feeling before I found the bus tour I was looking for. The lady who sold me the ticket asked, a bit surprised, "You're traveling alone?" Yep. I miss the people I care about, of course, but it's nice being able to go where I want, when I want to go with no consultation required. That said, next time I come, you're all invited.