Even when there's absolutely no one with you, it is amazingly difficult to feel completely alone. There are people around you who manage to make you feel like a vital part of their experience. The city too draws you into its adventures. It is like living each moment through them, experiencing a bit of their lives and therefore feeling like a tiny, yet significant part of the whole.
I played photographer to a big Indian family (who looked like they were on their first holiday abroad), to a rather cute couple (who for some strange reason wanted a picture kissing on the Millennium Bridge) and an old gaily British bunch of people, probably from the country. I sat on the steps of St.Paul's eating a sandwich, watching people go about their business. I heard snatches of conversation all the way home and concluded that Londoners had two favourite topics of conversation:
I played photographer to a big Indian family (who looked like they were on their first holiday abroad), to a rather cute couple (who for some strange reason wanted a picture kissing on the Millennium Bridge) and an old gaily British bunch of people, probably from the country. I sat on the steps of St.Paul's eating a sandwich, watching people go about their business. I heard snatches of conversation all the way home and concluded that Londoners had two favourite topics of conversation:
- Love, life and relationships
- Office gossip
As I walked on, there were wonderfully delectable hot dogs oozing with mustard and a smiling old man selling caramelized peanuts. I smelt gelato as I walked past the Globe and made a mental note to treat myself to it soon (the strawberry flavour, to be precise). Hearing the energetic chatter from 'The Swan", I imagined the cast laughing over some wine in preparation for the evening's performance of 'Troilus and Cressida". Even the Thames didn't seem as grey that day! I continued to breathe in the sights and sounds of London, with a serene expression on my face and a hint of a smile forming at my lips.
Watching people downing their pints, engaged in conversation, I absorbed every bit of the lively atmosphere at 'Vinopolis'. The smell of peri-peri chicken wafted through as I passed Nando's. My eyes scanned the remains of the day's spoils at Borough Market. I finally turned a busy corner on to Borough High Street. At Sainsbury, I talked myself into buying exciting dinner, even though I had food at home. It was one of those days when I would not have resented splurging ten pounds on a nice dinner and wine somewhere. But I was homeward bound!
I turned to cross, decided to be brave and take another route back. I was home within minutes, feeling oddly satiated.
Watching people downing their pints, engaged in conversation, I absorbed every bit of the lively atmosphere at 'Vinopolis'. The smell of peri-peri chicken wafted through as I passed Nando's. My eyes scanned the remains of the day's spoils at Borough Market. I finally turned a busy corner on to Borough High Street. At Sainsbury, I talked myself into buying exciting dinner, even though I had food at home. It was one of those days when I would not have resented splurging ten pounds on a nice dinner and wine somewhere. But I was homeward bound!
I turned to cross, decided to be brave and take another route back. I was home within minutes, feeling oddly satiated.
2 comments:
just reading this takes me back to the sights,sounds n smells of London!
:)
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