London Chronicles – Page 10 – The city through the eyes of a stranger

Travel

Addison Lee

Post author By yaili
Post date 18 May, 2009
2 Comments on Addison Lee

I tend to book very early flights to Faro, which means I have to be up at 4am and go to Liverpool Street or King’s Cross to get the train to the airport. At that time, the buses are infrequent and it’s not pleasant to wonder through the streets alone, so I usually take a cab.

Someone that goes to bed at 1am and has to wake up at 4am is usually grumpy, sleepy and not thinking straight.

I like how AddissonLee let’s me know when the car is on it’s way, and how they are always 5 minutes early. A service well done, that is all I need.

Miscellaneous

Do you like living in London?

Post author By yaili
Post date 4 May, 2009
6 Comments on Do you like living in London?

I’m often asked if I like living in London. I do. But I feel everyone is expecting a longer answer.

Restaurants

Restaurants in London aren’t as expensive as I used to think they were.

Streets

Cats

Post author By yaili
Post date 28 April, 2009
2 Comments on Cats

You rarely see a cat in the streets of London. And when you do, they all look like they’re just out for a walk, and are not abandoned. Where are all the other cats?

Money

Shopping

Post author By yaili
Post date 23 April, 2009
3 Comments on Shopping

The British Pound has been quite low, sometimes as low as the Euro. This made shopping in Portugal more expensive, particularly in international shops, like clothing stores. A dress in London can cost £40 while in the same shop in Portugal it will cost €60, which was once true, but it’s not anymore. So my advice is: if you’re visiting London and like to do some shopping, enjoy; if you’re visiting Portugal, spend the money on food instead, it’s well worth it.

Travel

Traveling

Post author By yaili
Post date 16 April, 2009
No Comments on Traveling

I’d say people here travel more (to other countries). Why not? Tickets are so much cheaper than compared to, for example, Portugal.

A return flight to New York departing on the same day is 50% cheaper if you leave from London than if you leave from Lisbon. A flight to Vienna in August costs £20. You can be in Paris in 2.5 hours by train. Brussels in 2.

I’m surprised that there is so many people in the city during the weekends.

Food Work

Lunch time

Post author By yaili
Post date 9 April, 2009
5 Comments on Lunch time

One of the first things I noticed when I started working here was the shortness of lunch breaks and, more important, how everybody seems happy with having lunch at their desks, in front of their computers, and, most of the times, while working or reading the news.

At first it was a bit strange, now I do it too.

Going out

Staying home

When you move to London, you think how great it will be to live in a city with all these things going on, so many places to go and visit, so many events to attend. The funny thing is that, once you’re here, you’re life is not much different from any other city. I’d say most people don’t really enjoy London in a way that they could. But the feeling of knowing all these things are so close, a few Tube stations away, that is good and makes all the difference.

Weather

Sunlight

Post author By yaili
Post date 6 April, 2009
No Comments on Sunlight

I don’t love the sun, going to the beach and being sweaty. And I rather enjoy being inside while it’s raining outside. But I have to admit that now that there is more sunlight during the day, it does make a difference.

Weather

Cold

Post author By yaili
Post date 6 April, 2009
No Comments on Cold

I now find myself thinking “Wow! This is a pretty warm day!”, when there’s 12ºC outside.

(I used to think all those people laying in the grass were overreacting…)