“How soon country people forget. When they fall in love with a city it is forever, and it is like forever. As though there never was a time when they didn’t love it. The minute they arrive at the train station or get off the ferry and glimpse the wide streets and the wasteful lamps lighting them, they know they are born for it. There, in a city, they are not so much new as themselves: their stronger, riskier selves.”
— Toni Morrison
Looking through some old photos and feeling very nostalgic.
I moved to London when I was 19. Just packed my bags and off I went with a one-way plane ticket. I was going to work as a nanny. Actually my first stop was Cardiff, Wales. I’d never even spoken to the family I was going to live with. Looking back I think how naive I was. But it was great. Maybe sometimes ignorance is bliss. I will do a little post on how much I love Wales another day. Tonight my heart is in London.
The situation in Wales didn’t work out and I was suddenly all alone on the other side of the great big Atlantic ocean. I’m not going to pretend like I was all strong, independent woman. There were several moments of sheer panic, a few tearful phone calls home, and a whole lot of desperate prayer.
I’ll skip the details but I randomly and miraculously got in touch with another family in London. I spoke to them once, took my first taxi and my first train and ending up in London.
I love London. For me it was the best thing I could have done. Not only was I living on my own for the first time but I was in London. I couldn’t open my eyes wide enough to take it all in. If I wasn’t so lazy I’d find/scan/post photos. But I am that lazy and the photos are not great.
Some of my favorite things about London:
saying “whilst”
riding the Tube
English money is prettier I think
looking at buildings that are older than the United States
the accents, oh gosh I love the accents!
the names of the pubs like The Frog & Radiator
roundabouts
my little yellow Austin Metro
talking to little old English men
driving to Cardiff
going out dancing in the City
my A to Z
Shakespeare’s Globe
getting post
the amazing friends I made
and sooo many more things.
There are things I love about every place I’ve lived. But London was the first.
I think I love it best.
a flash of delight 
I love London as well, and have been there a few times. I would move there in a second! This post was a great trip down memory lane :)
I wish our money was pretty too. That would totally take the sting off of not having enough of it. Wait, maybe then I would just want it more, so maybe it's best that we have less than pretty money.
hey.i was JUST there in that very spot that the photo was taken earlier. it's actually just down the road from our hotel hehe. this city, this place.. is so lovely.
Ah, London. That quote is so true. I love visiting cities more then any other place, I can't really explain why. Bit shocking about the coming over situation, a friend of mine had simular issues when she stayed in London for a year, I helped her lug her things around a few times moving from home to home. Lovely post.