Thoughts on London

We are planning our final day here in London, and Abbey Road will likely be our first stop.  As we look forward to coming home, I generally like to reflect on our visit.  Among the things I adore about London include:

1.       The Tube: It is fast, efficient, clean, and it goes everywhere.  The “carriages” always seem to run on time, and I wish we had Tubes all over the U.S.

2.       The People:  In addition to the diversity of people here, everyone is unfailingly polite and helpful.  I don’t know that I have ever been anywhere in my life where people have seemed so genuinely kind and willing to help perfect strangers.  It seems so odd that in a huge city like London there are so many people that are willing to just be nice to perfect strangers.  The world would be a much better place if it were more like London.

3.       The Food: I can’t get enough of the food.  It is so good.  When you think of London, you don’t think of “cuisine,” but we have loved everything we have eaten here – fish & chips, fish dogs, British ice cream, sausages, etc.  My guess is part of why the food is so wonderful is that Europe does not allow GMO’s (genetically modified organisms) in their food like the U.S. does. 

4.       The Surprises: Everywhere we go, we see or experience something we did not expect.  It has been magnificent.  Heck, see Queen Elizabeth and Prince Charles on the day we landed was certainly a surprise!

Among the things I won’t miss are:

1.       The Weather:  The cold I can stand, but the constant rain (or threat of it) is a bit much to bear.

2.       The Prices: This is a pricey city.  You need lots of money to live here.  Internet access has cost us about $17 per day!