Day 7: Top-offs and Takeaways

Modern London

Londoners don’t get things “to-go," nor do they get “refills” or “reloads.” When you’re ordering out, you’re getting it to “take away.” If your Oyster cards needs more mileage or your cell phone needs more minutes you get them “topped-off.”  Although I’ve been tempted once or twice now to say,”Whaddya mean you don’t understand what I’m saying?? I’m not the one with the accent buddy!” I’ve refrained. Instead I am learning to “speak the language.” And the language here isn’t limited to the enunciation, pronunciation or the vernacular of speech, it is an entire cultural language onto itself.  London is a modern city living alongside its historical past. 

The Crypt at St. Pancras

The steam-punk vibe of the industrial underground quickly evaporates to old gothic cathedrals when exited above. Updated London ‘black cabs” or hackney carriages, give the streets a classic feel of the early 1900’s, while traditional double decker buses freshen up with ads of the latest Nick Cage movie. Contemporary storefronts such as Dwell and Paperchase face old English churches and "castles" across the street.For every steel and glass modern feat of architecture erected on one side, there is a revered, historical landmark of mortar and brick on the other.

An "old castle" peers above the modern library

The mixture of old and new is a juxtaposition that is classically England. It's hard to imagine what this city would look like without its history. I suppose the streets here are a lot like the language the people speak. The city doesn't “takeaway” the old when the new comes in, it merely “tops-off” what it already has.