In which FHC is a tourist in the UK and enjoys it

My first impression is that London manages so adroitly to be located at the crossword of the historical European refinement as well as the best of the world modernity and pop culture that the roughness of the United States - New York in particular - seems completely overrated and a bit lazzy in comparison. Of course, NYC remains the most impressive city from a “guts feeling” perspective for the traveler when he gets there I believe but London has a much more intellectual and sensual touch. Also I must admit that the boys from the City and even the ones with diamond earrings with their rosy cheek, naturally trimmed bodies and short blond hair are all very sexy.

This being said, my first contact with the city was as awful as one would expect: the war-era security (three checkpoints) to get in the flight to LHO, the rain and gray weather, the sad sad British Airways arrival lounge, the noise at Paddington, all of it was a little too aggressive coming from the gorgeous hills of Africa after only a few hours a sleep. I really hesitated to take the next flight to DC. I was actually amazed by my own determination to visit the f***ing city and getting it done with: after seeing the huge cab line at Paddington, I went ahead and took the overcrowded tube by myself – it must have been my first contact with public transportation since 1987. To get in London in the early morning during the week is just impossible. I welcome any idea on how to catch my plane on Wednesday morning without taking the tube and fast train. By the way I understood why it was just impossible to get a room: Wimbledon and the Queen’s birthday could be the explanation.

I dragged my luggage to the gorgeous apartment of my friend sweating like a pig annihilating the shower I had just had at Heathrow. It took me exactly 24 hours of traveling between my hotel and her place. And then at 11 a.m., I courageously went ahead in the rain and took the tube (with an Oyster card) to Hyde Park Corner, saw the little beefeaters guys marching in front of the Palace and some royal event at Saint James square. I was amused by the fact that everything was said to be in Westminster, and thought a few times that I would have sworn I was in London. But of course, my main stop was on Jermyn st. which for me is the most magical place of all. T.M. Lewin and Charles Tyrwhitt were on sale and I might even have bought a little shirt. In London, it really seems that it must be awfully hard to dress badly - even Kevin D. would become somehow elegant if he lived there. I then went by 10 Downing st. (to check it off my list), the Parliament and Westminster. I also sipped a coffee while reading the Evening Standard hoping to be mistaken for some local. At 3 p.m. I just gave up and bought an 18￡ plastic umbrella at the National Gallery which I also visited. As in most major museums in the world, the most interesting thing are the fresh American teenagers strolling around. I definitely enjoyed more the Portrait gallery and thought that I would have done Charles Dickens if I had had the opportunity. I went back very quickly through Picadilly and took a little power nap.

Honestly, I would tell L to pack our bags immediately if it wasn’t for that awful weather, the Brit’s passion for football as well as what seems to be a pathological fear of terrorism (which is, I admit, justifiable given 7/7, the local version of 9/11). Also next time, I’ll take L with me because I felt a little helpless. Finally, I found it quite strange that people understood my English.

I hope you people in DC enjoy being flooded, tomorrow will be allocated to a few more interesting neighborhoods as well as the Tate Modern.

Comments

[LL]

At this point, awful weather and an annoying passion for "football" are the worst aspects of life in DC as well, F.

And next time we would love an invitation to Londres, if only for a shower and massage in the BA lounge.

[Cub]

FHC, you might enjoy Sir John Soane's Museum, which is near Lincoln's Inn Fields and is quintessentially British (filled with bric-a-brac from various adventures, etc.). I would also recommend the much-overlooked Wallace Collection, which is in a beautiful old mansion up by the Marble Arch and north of Oxford Street.

Just stay away from Hamstead Heath at dusk.

[Carlos U.]

FHC, I highly recommend a visit to Heaven, if for no other reason than to get drunk, flirt with the bartenders, and charm your way into the VIP lounge to mingle with the beautiful gays.