Hello from London... Chapter 1

A week ago, when I was asked about my upcoming move from Amsterdam to London, all I could say was “I just want the whole over and done with”… Yes I was looking forward to moving to London and discovering new places and things to do and yes I was sad leaving Amsterdam and the friends I met there…
The past couple of weeks have been so busy they went by like a summer day’s storm… quick to come and quick to be over… My grand plan in updating this blog prior to the move fell on the side lines as enjoying my last days in Amsterdam and getting things done were my priority.

We said Good Bye to city of winding canals, crockets and flowing beer with a big bang of a party that lasted till the sun was up again… who needs to sleep when you can keep drinking and dancing (pole dancing non the less)? Not us at any rate… And the party continued for the rest of the week… every night was filled with saying good bye to friends and familiar places…
Last Friday was the day, we picked our suitcases and headed to the airport… we had a mad drive to Schipol (there was definitely something wrong with the cab driver) a run to the gate after we paid for the extra weight on our language… being greeted and send off by a friend who works at the airport, a quick snooze on the flight over, catching the Gatwick express to Victoria Station, on to a cab, picking up the keys to our new flat and finally getting to our new home... (taking big breath)… dropping off our suitcases, heading out to find where the stores are located so we can stock up on the basic necessities such us water and Champaign… after all these we were finally ready to enjoy a nice and relaxing first evening in our new neighborhood.

Our first evening in London was filled with Greek music, retsina and the most authentic souvlaki I have tasted outside Athens. Simply Fantastic! Can you believe it, we have a great Greek restaurant just around the corner, which also makes Frappe (Greek ice coffee)… what else can I ask for?

The whole weekend felt like I have been in the eye of the storm, well they do say that there is no rest for the wicked… Without a moment to spare playing house and tourist at the same time… unpacking one moment and taking pictures of the London attractions the next… or was it the other way around?
Caught up in a tornado of choices, new ways of doing the same things, a language that I understand filled with conversations that I don’t. It’s the popular culture that gets me… someone should write a book, referencing quotes, famous and popular sayings that a new arrivals might come across but would have no point of reference since they were brought up in a different country (maybe there is such a book… note to self, google it).
People love to say “it’s all Greek to me” when they don’t understand something, but boy, I had moments that’s been “all English to me” this weekend… It’s fascinating how lost one can feel even speaking the same language sometimes… I personally found it a worse feeling than not understanding the language. In Amsterdam I didn’t speak Dutch, so automatically I would block out all conversations in Dutch. In London I don’t have that luxury, at least without coming out being rude. Ok, I could ask questions and people would be happy to explain, once or twice, but it kills the conversation if there is someone deciphering what is going on… it destroys the laughs… So once again an outsider that can smile in hope that one day all these would make sense.

Thinks that I already love in London:
My new flat
The convenience of the location
My neighborhood Greek restaurant
Starbucks in every corner… make it skinny caramel mochiato for me please
Dinner at the local pub… steak and ale pie is really yummy
Nado’s, chicken with an attitude
Soho
Odeon movie theaters… you can get hot dogs, alcohol, and caramel popcorn to name a couple treats
The shopping… I like something in every other window… this could be dangerous
My oyster tube card… get’s me through faster
My A-Z, can’t live here without one…
The fast service in the restaurants
The variety of restaurants and cafes
People being friendly when you ask for directions

What might become annoying to me:
How congested the tube can get

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