Confusing London

Reading Titus Andronicus is crystal clear compared to trying to navigate through this city. I can read all five acts and follow every insane and barbaric action better than I can understand how this city of 10 million people is set up. All the streets are narrow and constantly zooming. Double decker buses honk obnoxiously (but definitely do not slow down) when people cross the street. Not to mention all the traffic is going in the opposite way than I am use to.

This morning, I was nearly run over by a bicycle. I know that doesn't sound dangerous- maybe in America. Here, cyclists go as fast as the cars and they literally scream at you if you cross their path. I looked the wrong way when I was crossing and here comes a cyclists screaming bloody murder at me. So I dodge him while yelling and jump, hop and trip my way onto the median.

 

On the tube during rush hour in the morning from about 8 to 10 a.m., there are TONS of people just jammed packed like sardines on the subway cars. It's a mad rush to squeeze in.

Many of the crossing stations to walk across do not go straight across in the direction you want. Oh no. Instead they kind of zig zag across.

People don't drive in just one lane either. They are constantly dogging in and out of the lanes or sometimes even driving between lanes. Buses turn on the curbs. If you stand on the sidewalk, you can feel the air of the bus brush up against your arm. They are so close!

To really see the crazy side of London, drive. My family decided to rent a car when they got here and boy was that a mistake. Some areas of the streets are so congested that you have to pay to drive through them. Plus almost all cars are manual in Europe and because you are driving on the left side of the road, you shift with the stick with your left hand. The first day my dad drove down a wrong way and blew a tire.

So if you are deciding between reading a gore-filled Shakespeare play or to drive around on the streets of London...pick the play.