Seriously, the subways here are great. For one thing, there are security cameras all over the place. And they are actually monitored. There are signs that tells you how long ’til the next train. Lighted arrows show you the way out of the station. Entry and exit points are clear and accurate.
Orderly and safe. Nice. At 6 AM I set my yoga mat down, settled on a bench, pulled out the iPhone, and read for the 13 minutes that had to elapse before the next train arrived.
After practice, a breakfast of latte (as I ordered, I realized that my pronounciation — lah-tay — was corrected to “one lat-tee” as the counter guy called out my order to the barista). Along with the latte, Greek yogurt with rhubarb purée and almond granola. Heavenly!
Breakfast finished, I spent some time thinking about the oblique anonymity of urban spaces. Cities are great. You can go around with your own thoughts in your head, and all around are other people. It’s social and private at the same time. Streets, subways, stores, restaurants — tons of people, but everyone going about their own business.
Lunch was a business meeting and lasted 4 hours. Very interesting. At one point our British hostess asked us about why global warming doesn’t seem to be on America’s mind. Then she asked, prefacing her question by saying she didn’t want to insult us, what the deal is with creationism. Sigh. We need to rehab our image…
More discussion of the triple bottom line: economic return, ecological sustainability, and social responsibility. Goodness, it’s really on everyone’s mind!
Dinner meeting took place in a pub. Uh, not good. The place was packed with guys having a pint before heading home. One fellow offered to buy us a round.
“What’re you celebrating?” my colleague asked him.
“Getting through the day,” the man answered cheerily.
I had about an eighth of a pint and was done. The conversation was interesting but the standing in a crowd in a hot space for 90 minutes wasn’t so much fun. And beer isn’t a good dinner for me. As soon as the meeting ended, I ran back to the hotel and called room service. I need to kick back and get some rest. Tomorrow we take a train to a conference in Manchester.
Pics of an art installation in front of… oh, I can’t remember what this building is. One of our London commenters will remind us, I trust. Anyhow, there are ten of these huge stumps on display — remnants of deforestation in Ghana. Tons of people out looking at them, photographing and filming and milling about. Sustainability and social responsibility. Are we sensing a theme here?
“We need to rehab our image…”
uh, yeah we do. Too bad you didn’t have your copy of Going Rogue on you- that would have been great to whip out!
Your breakfast description is making my stomach growl! delicious!
Looks like The Tate on Trafalgar Square to me.
Glad you are enjoying our city.
That’s the National Gallery building.
fascinating.
Yeah, the National Gallery on Trafalgar Square. Kevin knows that : ) Glad you are getting to see stuff!
Gosh, you make it sound like heaven over here. I guess I should be glad I’m here! Although I can assure you it’s not all Mary Poppins and trains running on time…
Social and private at the same time, that’s what I love about it too.
Oh, and that’s where the four plinths are that we were telling you about!