Londonward

This past weekend it hit me. I live in London and actually quite like it.

Finally.

I have to say, I was under the impression that holidays and breaks were meant to make you get back feeling refreshed, not more tired. In any case, I’d call this past weekend in Paris an epic success. Though I was sometimes disturbed, I was probably more often laughing convulsively.

Cool things included, firstly, the Eurostar itself and the ease of travel. Though we were delayed because of the repairs in the channel tunnel, a suicide on the line and some track damage near Paris, it was smooth and relatively quick. Sweetened, of course, by the company’s offer of compensation for the entire train: A free single ticket or a half-price return. Not bad.

Secondly, I really dug the atmosphere in Paris. People are elegant but less hurried-seeming than in London. Of course the city is entirely different architecturally and planning-wise. People were just chilling in their sunglasses and designer wear at brasseries on street corners. Speaking of which, the food was fantastic and reasonably-priced. A three-course meal for 18.50 euros was, after getting my head around the currencies again, really well-priced even for a student.

Didn’t get a chance to see too much of the city as the activities tended to centre on the night-time, but I am definitely going again to do some of the more usual visitor things. Catacombs, churches, all that jazz.

I think mornings like these are the only times residential London is quiet. I can hear the hum of the high road but it’s only faint, not a roar like it is usually. As a student I’m rarely up this early, especially on a weekend. Today is special because I need to be out of the house by 7:30 to be at St Pancras well in time to catch my train to Paris.

I’m pretty excited about a long weekend south of the Channel. I couldn’t really afford it time-wise, but I’ve promised myself to study extra hard next week. And yes, though I don’t expect it to happen, I have some reading packed along with my overnight bag. You can never be too sure.

Now to get dressed, vacuum up a bowl of muesli and hit the road.

Working on a presentation for tomorrow’s class. Being holed up here in my room with the draft tickling my toes blue (yes mom and dad I am wearing slippers it’s ok) it makes me wish I had a games-capable computer. I’d love to while away a few hours on a good adventure game or revisit old play-them-in-my-sleep classics like Doom or Quake.

I guess I could visit a post-apocalyptic wasteland or shoot some space sheep.