Though I didn't live in London for long, it was a really great experience. I haven't seen as much of Europe as I would like but so far London makes me feel more warm and at home than any other European city so far. I feel this way because of my family there. It's so nice taking the tube up to Colindale station, walking up the hill in Brent and being greeted by my aunt and the doggies. The house is warm and comfortable. We drink lots of tea and have lots of fun conversations. My aunt's boyfriend is Irish and he's a really fun guy. He's a bit scary looking cause of his stone-cold look of indifference/determination, but once you get him talking it's hard to get him to say anything besides a joke. My cousin is fun too; we would hangout when he's not working. Sometimes he'd go with me to explore the city but mostly he's a busy guy.
I lived there for less than 3 months but it was just what I needed at the end of my time in Germany. I had already been to London to visit several times, each time having an absolute blast. But this time, I just needed a decompression period. Germany was draining on me mentally. I still did a lot of research and analysis while I was on my "hiatus" but ultimately I needed to take it easy for the sake of my health. It is absolutely imperative that I maintain my stress level due to my condition. So I tried to make the most of my time there because I knew that my transition into Taiwan would be stressful too. I took many walking tours of central London and visited nearly every major museum and historical site, though I had already seen most of them before. Some of my favorite spots I would revisit several times and I took these opportunities to get some good writing done.
I also did some stand-up comedy at a club in Holborn, which isn't too far from Leicester Square. I only did two sets there but that was just what I needed. Actually, I was very lucky to have the opportunity because usually performances are booked for several months in advance. I got myself on stage though and I got invited back the very next week. Doing stand-up is one of my greatest thrills, there's nothing like making a room full of people laugh and applaud while you're standing up there with a mic and lights are glaring down on you. I don't think I've ever felt so cool; wearing a chic turtle neck with a pea-coat and posh, Londoner boots complete with a rugged 5 o'clock shadow and whiskey in hand. Many people at the club thought I was German at first, but I really felt like a Londoner. My first set was gold, it felt awesome! I came out of that club feeling like a million bucks. The other comedians there all had distinct styles, and I think that my style was also pretty distinct from them. Definitely one of the most exhilarating experiences of my life.
I also had a short relationship with a really sweet girl. It's really too bad that it didn't work out because we had a lot of fun clubbing and going to restaurants and we really got on well. But our life courses just didn't line up and so I'm just thankful for the time that we had and for the opportunity to know such a great person. We had a really romantic walk through Green Park in the rain and we sat at the fountain in front of Buckingham Palace at night, the lights and the rainy mist were beautiful. We headed down towards the Thames where we stopped on a bridge that crossed a small stream in the middle of the park on our way where we saw a brilliant view of the London Eye. As we continued through the park it was dark and misty so I thought it would be the perfect time to tell her a spooky ghost story, which I could finish just as we came out of the park. It was an exciting stroll through the park. When we got closer to the Thames we found a quaint little pub where we met a nice couple who bought us a round. The pubs in Westminster are very nice, quaint and seem to have all of London's most friendly people.
I also had a few outings with my Taiwanese friends there. We mostly went to some nice restaurants and in and out of downtown shops. One day we went to St. Catherine's Pier to pick out some yachts to rent for Chinese New Year. We toured two yachts, one of which was relatively recently rented by Justin Timberlake. Unfortunately I was already in Taiwan by the time my friends enjoyed them but it was really cool to go on the tour and check out these magnificent vessels. St. Catherine's Pier is a really nice place to visit too, lots of nice views, shops and restaurants around there. The Tower of London is right next door as well, which added to classical ambiance of the area . We also had a nice little trip to the Natural History Museum after that. It's hard to decide but I think that the Natural History Museum is my favorite in London. It's not far from Harrods and the area is pleasant even just for a leisurely stroll.
All in all, I love London. It's where I feel most at home in Europe. It inspires me every time I visit and I really love the culture and especially the people. From Camden Market to Piccadilly Circus, there's something for every kind of person. You can go down along the canal in Camden down and get a greasy burrito with Bang Bang Chicken for less than 5 quid or be posh on Oxford Street or at Harrods. In my experience, most people on the tube are friendly too. I might have had some bad experiences in London but, honestly, I can't really remember them because they are drowned out by all of the good ones.
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