a berlin blog
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a berlin blog |
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Monday, August 15, 2005 This is the Gherkin ... in the middle of London. It's a Norman Foster creation, meaning it's related to the Reichstag dome. London is unrecognizable to me now. When I was there sometime last century I remember the city feeling less intense than Manhattan. But now people are pushy and rude, just like New Yorkers. I suppose that's because the economy's booming. The mainstream nightlife feels like L.A.'s -- meaning silly, vain, expensive, and coke-fueled -- which depresses me, because I thought London would have something to teach California, not the other way around. But when I brought this up to a Pennsylvanian in a sushi restaurant, she said, "Oh -- no. It's not. I don't like LA." I think I'd stained her idea of London, or herself in London. "I'm an easterner at heart." But she was the pushy MBA student who affected a British accent and said, "Thanks, you're such a dear," to a waiter after cajoling him into adding some avocado to a tuna roll. I felt right at home. posted by Michael Scott Moore | 8:49 PM
Comments:
Mmm, London was pretty hectic when I was there in '99, and felt a lot like New York. Didn't care for it, honestly, but that might have been jet lag.
I hate L.A., too. Just can't stand it. I was going into a lon explanation, but I hate L.A. I haven't liked London the last couple of times for the same reasons.
I'd better be clear: I liked London, but parts of it were disappointing. And I grew up in LA, so I'm in the odd position of loving it but not liking it very much.
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