Confusing London

London is the most confusing city I have ever seen! It is an old city, and therefore not a grid city. Also, it is a Sunday, so I most non-tourist stores are closed. Well, I can't afford anything anyways.

Canadian money isn't getting me very far. Everything is the same price in pounds here, as in dollars in Canada. This means that I am paying 2.5 times the price here. As a result, I have started budgeting everything and buying in the supermarket (The one decently priced place. Still more expensive, but cheap compared to the overpriced restaurants).

The subway system (known as the tube) is in fact a very good system. 3.80 pounds buys a day pass (which really isn't a day I think, because it swallowed my pass after 3 trips). Considering the size of the city, I think i'll be using the tube often. The lack of a grid makes it nearly impossible for me to navigate in the city though. A compass is useless when streets aren't perpendicular to each other, or at least in some form of simple intersection. It's just too time consuming to actually do the math unless it's a grid.

Things I like about London:

The people are friendly.
The tube is very useful.
Nice architecture. Beautiful historic shops and uniquely modern buildings line the streets.
At each intersection, it tells you which way to look (since there are many one way streets).
My hostel is very clean. Had to buy a pin for the internet, but now I can use it all I want.
I saw an ad for my favourite TV Show, Drawn Together, on the tube wall.

Things I don't like about London:

It's a labyrinth
Everything costs a huge amount.
Food costs even more if you sit down to eat it.
Less washrooms than I am accustomed to. Had to search for a while before I found one.
Less signs telling you where to go and where washrooms are.
Little family here.

All in all, I'm enjoying myself. Hope you all don't miss me too much. Sarah and Stacie will get one hug for each day I am gone.