Monday 13th November 2023
Traveling to a place I know and a city that once intimidated me today, was fun. Of course by now, you might know that I love train trips, and today felt exciting. Being in the UK in the middle of Autumn is very different from mid summer with the cold and dark afternoons. Coming into London made me giddy as I started to recognise the outlying suburbs. Kings Cross station looked so clean as busy as the afternoon workers were making their way to the different trains. Outside, the nearby St Pancras station, just showed off in it's majestic way.
My friend was home by the time I got to her, so I kept my jacket on and we immediately set off to walk the adorable puppy, Murphy. 8 months old, but so well behaved and charming, he guided us through the dark streets to 'his park'. After spotting some drug deals happen in the shadows, we thought it wiser to walk to a different park. Elle showed me a lovely park that had a sloped roof garden which had a lovely view of the city skyscrapers. Then we saw the mosaic memory tribute of a bulldozed estate that made way for modern (expensive) flats. There were lovely repurposed churches, buildings and a cool looking subway emergency route thing, that I need to see in the daylight.
Walking around in the dark was strange for me. I didn't feel at all scared but there was the hangover South African feeling like I should be scared. I loved seeing in the open windows into sitting rooms and lobbies, and some homes had some twinkling lights up already. I love London and it's multi cultural buzz. Lots of people in small spaces, all getting along, for the most part.
I'm looking forward to the next few days of continuing my London exploration.
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