Lynne Kiesling
The KP Dad and I played hooky over the weekend and spent a few days in London. One highlight was a delightful evening with Mr. and Mrs. Seat, down from Edinburgh for the weekend.
2006 marks the 20th anniversary of the first time I set foot in London; it also marks the first time my father has set foot there. Thus I was keen to see how different our reactions to various things would be, given our shared prediliction for Monty Python, P.G. Wodehouse, tea, pubs, and other hallmarks of British culture.
I continue to be amazed at the vibrancy of London culture, particularly given how expensive it is. Lots of new construction and refurbishment of old construction, lots of tourists … I am as fascinated as I was last year when I visited London’s East End and ate well. I remember London as being a bit grim in the mid-80s, with little economic dynamism, even less concept of consumer service, and a pretty backward-looking sense. That’s so not true today.
In any case, a good time was had by all. Even at this painful exchange rate.