Lovely Lists: London

I'm home. And it feels bloody amazing. Yes, I know I've just had an amazing week away, and I should be sad that I'm not still on safari, but now I'm home, I'm happy. I'm not really getting any work done (I'm jetlagged and could have maybe been sex trafficked out of Ethiopia*, whaddya want from me?!) so in response to Alex's post about things she loves about home, here's my list of the things I love about London. I didn't grow up here, but it's been my home for nearly ten years. Hopefully this post will make Alex cheery and less homesick too.

1. The view from the trains to Charing Cross as they go over the river. This is ALWAYS my favourite thing.
   
2. Pecan and maple tart from Rhodes in Greenwich.
3. Bumping into someone you know, in totally the wrong part of town.
4. Knowing that if you fancy a beer after work, someone you know will always be in Soho.
5. There's an awful lot of carousels.
6. And the zoo is pretty damn cool.
7. Music. Everywhere.
   
8. Finding that really great new place that everyone you know will get really excited about as well, but keeping it a secret just for a little while first.
9. Finding a really good tree to sit under while you read your book.
10. You can cross the entire city in an hour, yet you're still only 50 minutes from the beach.
11. Walking around, getting lost.
12. Talking to strangers.
13. NOT talking to strangers.
14. Accidentally staying out all night.
    
15. OMG THE FOOD.
16. The random street theatre. Everyone knows about the statues on Southbank, but every now and again, you see some cool people doing something strange in the middle of nowhere.
17. The kids skating at Southbank.
18. Those nights out where you don't really know what you're planning on doing, you just know it's going to be really really really fun.
19. Exploring new bits.
20. The river at Richmond.
21. Feeding the ducks.
    
22. Walking along any kind of bridge is pretty fun too.
23. So is nabbing the last table in your favourite bar.
24. WIMBLEDON.
25. Takeaway lattes taste better here.
26. Smiling at cute strangers going the other way on tube escalators.
27. Them smiling back.
    
28. Spotting someone reading the same book as you, and wanting to ask them what they think of it.
29. Standing on the right.
    
30. Rebato's in Stockwell. Why haven't I moved to Stockwell yet?
    
31. Not being able to find the perfect dress in your size in one Topshop, and popping down the road to another one to buy it.
32. Cute boys. London has more cute boys than anywhere.
    
33. Pulling into your local station after a long day.
34. Gordon's Wine Bar.
35. Gallery gift shops.
    
36. Those fabulously dressed women that make you a little green with envy, and also gawp a bit too much.
    
37. Black cabs.
38. Window shopping in Liberty.
39. The parks.
40. The markets.
    
41. Neal's Yard.
42. Your favourite place. The place you don't tell anyone just how much you like. The place you smile when you walk past. That one.
43. Farringdon pubs. And Dave's flat.
    
44. The guy that you always see who makes you smile - the dude who hands you your paper, the bloke you buy your coffee from. The happy people whose name you don't know.
45. The graffiti when you're pulling into Euston station.
46. The beautiful buildings.
    
47. And the tiny little passageways.
48. Thinking that you might have spotted someone really famous, probably haven't, but pretending you did anyway.
    
49. That DLR thing is always fun.
    
50. So are bus journeys.
    
51. Going to the theatre. Especially if you're dressed up.
    
52. Funny tube drivers who talk to you.
53. ALL THE STUFF THERE IS STILL TO DO.

London is amazing. I'm so lucky it's my home. Wanna add something to the list? That's what the comments are for.

*The possible trafficking was nothing to do with those lovely folk who organised my trip to Kenya. Totally airline incompetence. Long story, ask me about it over a beer.

Flickr image from Netlancer2006's photostream.