Farewell to England

 

In keeping with my rituals, it’s time to thank the U.K. for its hospitality and note what made it feel different. I’m at Heathrow Airport, preparing for the next chapter of my 8-week Odyssey, with 9 days of teaching in Austria. Yesterday was a visit to the Tate Modern that never revealed why this was worth an hour of my life, a short visit to 221 Baker St. and the Sherlock Holmes Museum and then a refreshing stroll in the Rose Garden, where no signs were necessary to explain the artist’s vision of a post-modern de-constructive reality. Just the dependable work of an un-nameable and un-knowable creator who gave us both the color, scent, shape and beauty of roses and the equal reality of thorns. Dinner at a Thai Restaurant and then off to the theater to see a play! With many choices and affordable prices, still a great activity to add to any London visit. 

 

And so my list of little things that make London feel different from San Francisco, New York, Vienna (where I’m going next):

 

• The Underground: An extensive well-used subway system, with the convenience of getting through the turnstile with your credit card. (Which also works for the buses. No cash or coins or specially purchased transit cards.)

 

• Dogs in pubs and restaurants. Notice the waitress petting the dog who jumped up on the table!!

• Expensive Hotels: Prices for dinners and such are similar to San Francisco but the theater is cheap! Saw last night’s play for 35 pounds (about 42 dollars) with excellent seats and would have been fine with the 20 pound price. But hotels have always been over the top and no exception today. Hard to find something for under $200 anywhere in London—and I’m talking about the most basic and simple place in an out-of-the-way nieghborhood.

 

• Sports: We have baseball, basketball, football. They have cricket, rugby, football (ie, soccer). And rowing.  

 

• Food: The classic fish and chips, eggs/sausage/tomato/beans breakfast, tea, scones and crumpets are still present but overshadowed by “ethnic” restaurants from scores of countries. Some unique English things like clotted cream, Yorkshire pudding, flapjacks (not pancakes, but a kind of oatbar—excellent!). Lager and lime and Guinness. Never found a good IPA beer.

 

• Coffee: Years ago, it was hard to find a coffee place amidst the Tea Shops. Now coffee places outnumber the Tea Shops by a 20 to 1 ratio!

 

• Miscellaneous: CCTV, Left-hand side driving (not so unique for me since I continue to experience it in Hong Kong, Singapore, Thailand, India, Australia,  Japan and yet more countries), double-decker buses, thatched roofs in the countryside towns, cleaner streets and much less homeless people than San Francisco, friendly, personable people (in my experience), great bookshops and just about every book the same price (10 Pounds). 

 

It has been a marvelous and most memorable 16 days in London, Oxford and the Cotswolds. Thanks to all (especially my wonderful Turkish hosts in London!). On to Vienna!