A week ago ..
I'm French, but I've had the opportunity to live in London (UK) a few times over the last 7 years.
At first, I was your typical tourist: always wandering around Piccadilly Circus, Trafalgar Sq., Leicester Sq., Big Ben and that was pretty much it.
But when in London for the 2nd time, I decided that it was enough so I drew up my first 'Quirky London List'. It was blue-tacked to my bedroom wall the entire year and I would cross things out once they were done.
I remember the first item I noted was Highgate Cemetery. It can seem strange that the first thing of which I thought was a place full of long-since dead people but at the time, I was reading 'Her Fearful Symmetry' by Audrey Niffenegger (on my favourite authors list - I love making lists) and Highgate was the main location.
And it was awesome. On the day I visited the weather was just glorious and it gave this huge, magnificent cemetery a super nice feel.
Highgate Cemetery
And the checking-off of the list went on and on for a year.
I went back to London a week ago, visiting my previous bosses and friends. And to stay true to my rule, I made another (albeit smaller and because of my shorter stay) 'Quirky London List'.
I am so completely amazed at what is hidden -in full sight, might I add- in London and about which most people don't know.
I stayed gobsmacked for a couple of minutes by the beauty of this place:
The Shri Swaminarayan Mandir Hindu Temple is in Neaden (Stonebridge Park Station), and will take your breath away
Although, I think that the following is the quirkiest thing I have seen in London.
It was built by a French sculptor; it travelled around quite a bit and finally came to stay in Canary Wharf (Trafalgar Roundabout). Apparently, it caused a few accidents and traffic jams as people would stop and go as the lights turned red or green.
I had a hard time finding it (mainly because the bridge to it un Canary Wharf was closed off for repair last week and impeded my crossing to the other side to Billingsgate Fish Market) but once you actually get to where it is, it's pretty simple.
Here:
Traffic Lights Tree by French sculptor Pierre Vivant
I could go on and on and on about London. This probably won't be the last article about it on this blog either. It's a big part of my life and of who I am.
I'm the Frenchie with the snobbish London accent flying in and out of 2 countries because I can't settle on whether I should rather:
- live where my loved one are
- live where I love to be
Till next time x