The new
St. Pancras, London Eurostar station just opened a few weeks ago so I was thrilled to have the opportunity to check it out first hand. I always loved the old station, from the outside at least, so it was a real pleasure to arrive in the brand new, modern facility. Thy did a nice job of
renovating the station that now looks very modern when you look up though it still sits in the charming Victorian structure. It's a look that we simply do not have over here in Paris. The whole Eurostar experience is well organized (as it has been for some time) and so much more relaxing than the hassles related to getting to and from airports. (If only they can keep the Eurostar prices low. Then it's a no-brainer.)
As much as the old aristocracy can still be relevant in the UK (and lord knows why) it's a country that is much more of a meritocracy than elsewhere in Europe. Whether you are in a small bakery or a City banking office, everyone is from everywhere with every possible background. There's a job to be done, money to be made and the best person wins. While not perfect, what a breath of fresh air to see. And still, with all of that, the UK still has a
large number of citizens leaving the country every year. Must be the weather, which was of course, lousy as usual.
Just as people over here (wrongly) trash American food, British cuisine takes its fair share of abuse. To a degree I understand but really, there's plenty of great food in London ranging from high end restaurants right down to simple eateries. I finally managed to make it to Borough Market thanks to a nearby meeting and though the prices are high, top quality produce, wild game, cheese, bread, you name it. Even with all of the great cheese in France, Neal's Yard Montgomery's Cheddar was worth bringing home. Wow, what an incredible cheddar!
The only downside, besides walking through the rain on my way to Clapton station, was the St. Pancras departure area. Hopefully they have plans to make it as impressive as the arrival area because as it stands today, it's cramped with even less space than the old Waterloo station. Fellow travelers were all grumbling about the lack of space and cramped conditions. At least it looks nice. Maybe it will improve soon. It's sunny and pleasant out here in Paris, so time to take advantage of the sunshine, while it's still present.
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