Ah, you crazy, creative, bohemian urbanites!
As I paused to take a quick photo from the pavement, a rickshaw driver pedalled behind us on the road. In passing us, he shouted out - rather disdainfully, I felt - "TOURISTS!"
Look: I realise that rickshaws, often passed from father to son, have been part of the fabric of London's streets since their invention in Islington during the early Victorian period. I also know that these honest, hard-working guys get the vast majority of their trade from locals and barely get so much as a glance from visitors to the world's greatest capital city.... but really, there's no call for that, is there?
It would be a terrible shame if one bad apple robbed Londoners of their well-earned reputation as some of the warmest, friendliest folk in the world. Before you know where you are, you soon won't be able to make eye-contact with a stranger on the Tube, exchanging warm smiles and friendly greetings at the start of what could be a beautiful friendship.
Think how much less enjoyable rush hour would be once that little pleasure is gone....it really would be just you with your face in a stranger's armpit. A rude stranger.
O tempora! O mores!
When I was at Euston Station waiting for my train, I went to the local shop. Because i was taking too long to decide on something, I was laughed at by the woman behind the counter.
ReplyDeleteDifferent visit, I actually made the mistake of establishing eye contact with an attractive woman. She laughed at me with some amount of disdain.
The majority of people I deal with from London are impolite and plain rude. No need for it.
Would it be too much to ask for London to slow down and look what's around them??