So it's been a while since I last wrote a post. I did actually start writing one but saved it and just left it there... After what happened in, not just Paris, but all around the world last month, it felt strange and almost wrong to write about the joys and excitement of travel.
When a tragedy happens, it just feels right to go silent as a sign of respect for the people closely effected by the event... Is it because we feel that is the only thing we can do? Do we feel so insignificant to actually do something that will help change this world for the better, other than just going silent? Or perhaps we just cannot begin to grasp or understand the significance of what actually happened, and going silent is what we are "wired" to do in situations like these?
Against our friends' and loved ones' advice, my friends (Justine and Sarah) and I traveled to London to meet Michelle last week. As expected, my not-too-keen-on-travel grandma just could not get enough of calling my crazy... Do I really blame her? Well, truly? I don't. All she saw and heard on the news, radio and papers were theories and discussion about terrorism.
Was I scared of going? Not at all. I do not feel safe anywhere at the moment... (well Greenland actually seems pretty safe, if it's deranged human beings we are trying to get away from...hmm)
Having said that, after all these tragic events unfolded right in front of us, do we seriously believe it could happen to us? The Paris tragedy, that was so heavily broadcasted, shook everyone to the core.
However, people still go out, still go to work, still travel and still frequent considerably crowded areas. Mostly because we doubt it will ever happen to us. If you are sitting on a train or a bus, do you seriously believe that someone is randomly going to appear and terrorize or harm you?
Yes, it crosses our mind and the thought scares us. But do we really really believe it will happen to us?
Before we left for London, my friends and I promised ourselves not to use the underground/ tube or visit areas which are usually crowded.... We basically took this promise and flushed it!
We were so caught up with work before leaving, we did not have time to plan our journey from the airport to the hotel. We went from considering a taxi, to asking about bus routes, to sitting on a train East bound to Russell Square. Apparently our gut 'told us' that we were safe enough, as we ended up using the tube to travel all over London for the whole stay.
We stayed at Hotel Cavendish on Gower Street. It was the cheapest and closest to Russell Square we could find, and it was surprisingly very nice.
On this trip I have sinned! Was so close to Starbucks for 4 whole days and did not set foot inside a store! I missed out on their festive latte specials! O.O
HOWEVER, we did stumble upon a bakery/ store. Le Pain Quotidien This place is HEAVEN!
Check out The Thirst We heard them play on Brick Lane and they were great!
[Air Malta flight MLA - LHR]
[East bound to Russell Square]
[Oxford Street]
Jess x
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