The view from the upper deck of the double decker buses isn’t so amazing. I saw into one restaurant from above, in a cool way, but everything else is pretty much the same as at street level. People seem to primarily sit up there if they are going longer distances, and they seem to stay downstairs if they’re only going to be on the bus for a few stops.
There are little storefronts throughout the city that say ‘mini cab,’ often with a flashing police car-like siren on them. At night, lots of young guys seem to wander in and out of them. Maybe they are the dispatch offices, to which calls to cab companies get routed. However, none of them seem to have a specific cab company name on them – but then again, neither do London cabs. And the signs show cars that don’t look like cabs. And speaking of, there is nothing ‘mini’ about London cabs. So, either a front for something nefarious, or a not-particularly-cost-efficient way to manage gypsy cabs.
As in Ireland, liquor stores are called ‘Off License.’
Pedestrians don’t really have the right of way. You take your life into your hands when crossing the road, even in a crosswalk.
When the pedestrian light changes from green to yellow, you must run, because the tide of traffic is about to mow you down. Run, Forrest, run!
We never actually saw a real human using a London phone booth. This makes sense, because when was the last time you saw someone use a phone booth in the US? Even if your phone is dead or broken, you’re more likely to ask to borrow someone else’s than to go looking for a pay phone. (Plus, the last time I tried to use a pay phone in the US at an airport a few years ago, it was like $2/minute!)
The city crest seems to be featured on a decent percentage of city buildings and on all street signs. Do US cities have crests? If so, does anyone know what they look like?
The underground, overground, DLR… all various forms of subway cars. The difference is pretty much in where they go, or how far it is between stops; otherwise, you take whichever one goes where you want to go.
Though everything (housing, food) seems to cost more than in the US, the wages do not appear to be commensurately higher.
There are the security forces for tourists (e.g. the Horse Guards, the Buckingham Palace Guards) and the real security forces. The former look to be 15 years old and have fancy gear but little in the way of effective weaponry. The latter carry hand guns or machine guns.
It didn’t rain overly much, but it was overcast much of the time.
There’s more construction happening around the city than I would have expected. Lots of new buildings, many of them apartment complexes.
Most of the bras they sell have padding, and they’re very full coverage; plunge bras are not a thing here, it seems.
People are quite fashionable. I consistently felt like a frump, no matter what I was wearing.
they also drive on the wrong side of the road, and the buses at the airport play chicken with the planes !!!! i didn’t think i was going to make it off that bus lol
Yes! When I used to think about cars driving on the left, I thought it would make driving tricky. While it does, the thing I never realized is how hard it is to be a pedestrian when cars are driving on the left. You have to remember to look right instead of left any time you’re crossing the street.
We were fortunate to avoid airport chicken… That sounds scary!
are little storefronts throughout the city that say ‘mini cab,’ often with a flashing police car-like siren on them. At night, lots of young guys seem to wander in and out of them. Maybe they are the dispatch offices, to which calls to cab companies get routed. However, none of them seem to have a specific cab company name on them – but then again, neither do London cabs. And the signs show cars that don’t look like cabs. And speaking of, there is nothing ‘mini’ about London cabs. So, either a front for something nefarious, or a not-particularly-cost-efficient way to manage gypsy cabs.
are the security forces for tourists (e.g. the Horse Guards, the Buckingham Palace Guards) and the real security forces. The former look to be 15 years old and have fancy gear but little in the way of effective weaponry. The latter carry hand guns or machine guns.
I never think you’re frumpy!
RE the London, crest… Chicago has a municipal device that people are rediscovering. Its all over if you are looking for it http://forgottenchicago.com/articles/the-municipal-device/
Oh, cool! I had no idea! Thanks for sharing, and for reading!
they also drive on the wrong side of the road, and the buses at the airport play chicken with the planes !!!! i didn’t think i was going to make it off that bus lol
Yes! When I used to think about cars driving on the left, I thought it would make driving tricky. While it does, the thing I never realized is how hard it is to be a pedestrian when cars are driving on the left. You have to remember to look right instead of left any time you’re crossing the street.
We were fortunate to avoid airport chicken… That sounds scary!