Sunday, December 26, 2010
8:30pm
London, England
It’s strange being a tourist in your own country. I know far more about the States than I do about the UK, and it is the UK that I guess I call “home” for all intensive purposes. Is that wrong of me? I am so lost in this place, and yet I feel so incredibly comfortable among this bustling city’s diversity and mish mash of boroughs. Perhaps this trip will help me redefine that little word, home. I am going to live here one day. I want to name this little project ‘Finding Myself.’ The proposal: document each day I spend here in the UK, using a combination of both written and pictorial memoirs. Then to reflect and hopefully discover some previously hidden truths or facets of me that choose to surface themselves as these two weeks go by.
After a delayed departure from RDU yesterday thanks to a prolonged de-icing operation on our plane, we thought we were all set to get our frozen little butts to London. But as it must go, something else went wrong. Just after the flight attendants had served me my vegetarian, vegan, gluten and wheat free dinner (white rice with lima beans and broccoli), our captain came on the PA and announced that we were experiencing a “minor” mechanical difficulty and would have to turn around mid-Atlantic and head back to the States. We landed in New York’s JKF airport at around midnight, Eastern Time. After sitting at the gate for a couple of hours while the problem was amended, we got underway again. Flight AA 147, take two, to LHR.
I was restless the whole flight and barely slept. Somewhere over Ireland, breakfast was served (corn-meal-thickened yogurt, fruit, and a gluten and wheat free German chocolate cake flavored cookie). We landed in Heathrow a little under two hours later. Finally! After we got our bags we headed towards the trains just to learn that there had been a switch error in the Paddington / London line and that all trains had been suspended. We waited nearly another hour for the problem to be remedied, and eventually got on a train and ended up in London. Then it was just a short and crowded taxi ride to my Auntie Lucy’s house in Maida Vale, a borderline upscale part of town. I haven’t seen Lucy since I was about 3 years old. It’s been a while. After our hellos and hugs and a little settling in, we gabbed over tea, then headed out into the cold London late afternoon.
I haven’t been outside of the States since my family and I moved here, over nine years ago. It’s weird coming back to a place that has so much to do with your life, and is yet so disconnected from your current reality. This whole ordeal must be that much more interesting for my parents. This country was where they both grew up, met, and started their lives together. This was their stomping ground. And now they want to show it to my brother and me. This is how it was, this is what’s still the same, and this is what’s new. I am so amazed by cities that can grow and explode, yet still hold on that special something that reminds its residents of what was good back then. London is one of those cities.
London is so full of absolutely stunningly beautiful architecture and history. Almost every building has a story, and every road holds a memory. My parents are trying to remind my brother and me of those stories and memories. I can’t wait to learn more. A few things looked vaguely familiar; some things more than others. It would be a lie if I told you I knew where we were and were we went today. I quite frankly, had absolutely no idea. I can’t decide if that horrifies me or thrills me. I’ve known where I’ve been going for so long that this whole thing is kind of coming out of left field.
We took a double-decker 6 bus from Lucy’s house to Central London, riding along the absolutely packed Oxford Street, bustling with holiday shoppers fighting for their Boxing Day deals. The streets were lit so beautifully with Christmas lights of all colors, and the storefronts were equally impressive. We eventually got off the bus and marched with purpose through the crowds along a convoluted route towards the River Thames. We walked along Regent Street, saw Gordon Ramsey’s Claridges restaurant, past Hyde Park, near Buckingham Palace, along Prince Charles’ palace, by Parliament and Big Ben and Westminster Abbey, and a hundred other stunning and inspiring locations. Hopefully I’ll be able to see more tomorrow in the daylight.
We eventually arrived at the London Eye and took our “flight.” It’s amazing how being above the world puts it into perspective. The view was gorgeous. I felt like I was floating above an ocean of Christmas lights, and there were a few moments where I just wanted to cry. This is my city. I just don’t know her that well yet.
After we 360-ed the Eye, we disembarked and made our way back to Lucy’s house. Several crowded bus rides later, we arrived at her door and got dinner going. Home-cooked Chinese food complete with champagne, wine, and chocolates for dessert. Conversation and plans.
It’s late now though, and I haven’t slept in over 24 hours. More tomorrow, plus a loaded agenda. Thanks for coming on this adventure with me.
Phillipa
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