dotinthesky: (Default)
Dot in the Sky ([personal profile] dotinthesky) wrote2005-07-18 10:48 am

Long Walk to Work

I woke up at 5.30 in the morning. I tried Reiki and meditation to go back to sleep, but nada. So I got up, ate some soda bread with butter, accompanied by black tea, orange juice, a blueberry muffin and a banana, listened to classical music, wrote on my journal and read the second part of To the Lighthouse.

At 7:50 I took a shower. I then got dressed and left the apartment. I walked to work; it took me two hours.

I went past Paddington station; a few people sat outside Starbucks, drinking coffee and smoking (Kevin and I went to Starbucks yesterday, near Queen's Park; we both drank the Mint Chocolate Frappucino while something excrutiating by Alanis Morrissete pumped out of the speakers); men in suits and women in crisp skirts walked past me, heading for the office buildings that have risen beside the canal. I cut my way through side streets until I reached Hyde park.

The grass in the park has recently been cut; it felt brittle under my feet, dried up from a week of heavy sun with no rain. A few people were cutting across the park for work; others lingered about with their dogs or sat on benches doing nothing, waiting for something.

I walked past Buckingham Palace, the Big Ben and the House of Parliament. I crossed Westminster Bridge, where a group of excitable German teenagers were taking photos of the Big Ben. Meanwhile, there were hardly any tourists waiting to get on the London Eye. I reached the National Theatre and sat on a bench facing the Thames to give my feet a rest. My right ankle was feeling sore. I read a little bit more of To the Lighthouse.

I wish I didn't have to work today.

[identity profile] gorecky22.livejournal.com 2005-07-21 10:36 pm (UTC)(link)
I love Starbucks!! Maybe because it always reminds me of my first journeys to London… snif snif…

[identity profile] commonpeople.livejournal.com 2005-07-22 10:57 am (UTC)(link)
I try to avoid Starbucks if I can go to a more unique cafe (support the individual rather than the chain, etc.) But I have to confess that their coffee is delicious.