NEVER LIKED LONDON

As a kid, in my late teens, and in my 20s, I had been to London a few times. I always had a fine time and I remembered meeting some very good people there, but for some reason, London left a bad taste in my mouth. About eight years ago I returned with my daughter, my girlfriend and her daughter. We did all the sites (again) tourists do. We shopped and we dined. We spent about 6 days there at the time. I haven’t been back since, and my husband and I never traveled to London. I don’t know why, but it just never felt very enticing. Last year, in Barbados, (and we just returned from Barbados three days ago.) we met an Italian family who now live in London. It was a great connection between she and I, and then in the beginning of April they showed up in New York on a family trip. During that trip we spent lots of time together. And they could not understand why we did not like London. We did not have an answer but my husband and I felt the same way. Five months later my son decided to move to London for a few months. I had lots going on at home. Finally I was able to allocate a week to fly to London see my friends, spend time with my son and reevaluate. I had also met great people in Ischia over the summer, and they too live in London. And in July in St. Tropez, I met a wonderful guy, who also lives in Europe. So I booked my trip. I planned my days and my nights. I spent time with my son. I spent time with my friend who I met in Barbados, and her family. I spent time with the people that I met in Ischia. And my friend who I met in St. Tropez flew to London to meet me for drinks and then he took me to dinner. Sweet dear. I stayed at Claridge’s. I have stayed there before. The hotel is wonderful. There are approximately 500 employees at all times. The service is absolutely marvelous. Breakfast is a daily occasion, and the menu is long and luscious. The bars are hopping and the drinks are divine. The hotel is in a perfect location. I did not get to one museum. I did not see any sites. I had been only in restaurants with the most lovely people you could imagine. My son and I spent more time with each other than either of us allocated. We dined well. We went to the movies and saw Bohemian Rhapsody, which was my second time in 10 days and again I loved every minute of it. I also loved it the third time and the fourth time. (I am very happy Rami Malek won all of the awards. He deserved them all. He was incredible. Freddy Mercury would have been proud.) My son and I ordered Indian food sent to his apartment so we could stream the New England Patriot game. My son is a huge fan. He met Tom Brady at a VIP Super Bowl Party when my son was young......and so was Brady. Brady took him under his wing and said “Come on short stack, you stay with me tonight.” It made a big impression on a little boy. It was the beginning of a love affair. Anyway, back to London. I had marvelous weather. I didn’t need the umbrellas. I didn’t need rain boots that I panicked and bought prior to my trip, in two colors. I did better with the fur coat than I did with the raincoat. The city was swarming with people. Not so much in the area around Claridge's Hotel, but the streets were very crowded, and I was quite surprised. As far as the traffic in the city was concerned, I was absolutely flabbergasted that you were just unable to navigate London. We had to go down one street to reach the highway, and that one street took literally one hour. The streets are very narrow. There is one lane in each direction. There were lorries parked all over. There is a ton of construction going on in London. No different from any other big city. London has grown up. London has become a lot more sophisticated. London has good food.....finally. London has beautiful restaurants. And stores. To me it’s still London-town. We will return sooner than later. And let’s get out to the English countryside also. Then we can talk about the green green grass and the big old castles that are letting rooms to keep them afloat. For another time.