day one: you're here alone?

If I had to pick a theme for my first day in England, it would be "you're here alone?" It was the first thing I heard on English soil at Immigration, (that and "who exactly do you know here?") and just about the last thing I heard on Friday night (from the cabby asking why I didn't have friends with me when going into Brixton to see Primal Scream). You'd think no one ever saw a single gal traveling on her own!! All kidding aside, with the exception of Immigration, Londoners have been helpful and friendly...unless you're at a concert or on a crowded train on the tube.

London is a little unexpected, in the sense that I feel very comfortable here. On my first trio to New York City, I was so excited, I couldn't wait to go exploring. I wanted to pack in as much as I possibly could in the short amount of time I had there. I feel all that here, but it's more peaceful. Relaxed. It feels like home. I did some shopping on Kensington High Street made the "no shit, Sherlock" observation that all the homes really did look like they belonged in England, didn't mind the gap and tripped into the train my first trip on the tube, rode my first double-decker bus, crossed the Thames to meet some of Kate's friends, who I managed to fool into thinking I had been here before, was almost run over by a car because I'm not used to looking right and topped off the night by flying solo to The Brixton Academy to see Primal Scream perform their seminal album, Screamadelica. Many people were concerned about me venturing alone into that district (think Oakland with English accents), but I had a great time at the show and was really happy my first night in London ended on such a high note. 

Day Two includes watching the Oxford/Cambridge boat race and looking for The Winklevii. 

Cheers!