I have become very used to the concept of space, mostly because I have taken for granted the amount that I have at home in the states. Sure, a little discomfort is to be expected when you aren’t used to living in an area far less massive than the U.S. However, it is the resident’s way of living in cramped conditions that I find most intriguing.
From what I’ve encountered, it seems Londoners like to fit as much as possible into the smallest spaces. I mistake roads for sidewalks constantly here. Scooters and bikes clog the streets. The lifts (elevators) allow for plenty of invasion to my personal space, even by elevator standards. The kitchen door in my flat only closes all the way if I open the fridge door next to it first. It’s all quite a lifestyle adjustment.
The tube is an entirely different story. In fact, it’s a whole new blog entry in itself, but let me give you the Reader's Digest version. For some reason, Londoners like to pile onto the tube right near the doors, particularly during rush hour, and somehow neglect to use all the space available on the carriage (train). Although I find this odd, perhaps they don’t. Londoners are very used to close quarters, as I have discussed. Still, I think there is a bit of tension in the tube these days, especially with the current RMT strike. We’ll only have to wait and see how Londoners adjust in the coming days.
As a final fine example of spatial constraints, I have a video from a cabaret show I saw this weekend because surely you were curious about nightlife in London as well! This was held in an underground venue that is probably the size of an SUV back in the states. Note the table of people sitting directly in front of the “stage” and the others who pass through the tiny hallway just next to it. Enjoy!
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