London, London. What can I say? Not enough in praise of this funny little town.

A bit of a late start to the recording of my travels, as London is behind me, and all the thoughts I put to paper are no more than jumbled words, graffitied in exclamation marks and trailing unfinished sentences as I dumbly took in everything.

I ran aground on the 3rd of November, overwhelmed, tired and a little lonely, but managed to navigate the large network that is the Underground while battling jet-lag and a flight-induced hangover. I had the number of a lady, who, it was said may be able to show me around a little. So I rang, as contact with any Londoner was welcomed. Caroline was the relative of a friend, and despite the pretty distant connection she let me stay with her for those first few bewildered days. Her appartment was luxuriously nestled behind the Thames, and I only had to step outside and to the left to be at the Tower Bridge, with London Bridge only a walk down the river.

My first night staying with her we went to the opening of a cabaret bar. Burlesque dancers strutted across the floor, tassles swinging, while we were served oysters in the VIP area. The waitress was a constant presence over my champaigne glass, and it's fair to say I was more than a little drunk. I listened to fantastic singing, met some cocky English men and danced in the loveliest venue I've seen in a while. It was a very nice intro to London.
I rode in the quaint black cabs and managed not to look like too much of a tourist (except perhaps when taking pictures of telephone boxes), as every second person asked me for directions. I pretended to know what I was talking about, directing them like a local. I was a little bit in love with the airy state of mind I was in, and to wander in a foreign city, seemed the ultimate delight. I had a bit of tendancy to gaze wistfully at trees and declare them the most wonderful thing I'd ever seen, but I encouraged the feeling, as it was a pretty nice one. The next few days were a sightseeing blur of Big Ben, St Pauls Cathedral, the Tower of London, shopping in Oxford St and much more. You can walk forever and never grow tired or bored.
Bonfire night was pretty marvelous too, watching the fireworks over the Thames, boats cruising happily along, lights ablaze.
There was so much that I didnt get a chance to see, but I'll be back, so it can wait for me until then.