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June 15, 2004
Paddington
Been a while since I last travelled through Paddington Station. Hundreds of people. Just schlepping about - or waiting for trains. Tasty-looking morsels of clinically-prepared fish and sticky-rice going round and round and round. There are two sides to Paddington - the overground train side which is bright and cheery - and then there's the dash down to the underground - unearthing a grittier, less glamourous side.
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Posted by jag at June 15, 2004 07:34 AM
Comments
Oh yeah. The top side does look a bit more "glamorous".
I dont find anything wrong with the underground either?.
And is it true? London is the second costliest city to live in?
Posted by: sat at June 15, 2004 06:24 PM
Hi Sat - yes - London has been ranked 2nd most expensive city in the world for a foriegner to live in by an independent study:
Posted by: Jag at June 15, 2004 09:06 PM
I love Paddington. Not just because of the bear. Paddington is the gateway to the West Country which was always synonymous with holidays for me. There were times when we didn't have a car and would take the train to South Devon for our annual break. When I think of what we take these days, I wonder how we managed. Now my parents live in Cornwall so taking the express to Penzance has special memories too.
Posted by: David at June 16, 2004 08:34 AM
Great pics Jag. Nice to see you putting your camera to good use!
Posted by: Stu at June 16, 2004 01:45 PM
Hi David: I can understand exactly the sentimental side of it - for me it's St.Pancras - as that's the gateway to the East Midlands - which is where my parents live! I must admit though - I've never travelled further West of Bristol in UK ...
Stu: Cheers! Yes - I love my camera - it just does it all by itself. Honestly - I'm still learning.
Posted by: Jag at June 16, 2004 09:41 PM
I actually use that sushi conveyor whenever I'm in town and waiting for a train back to the West Country. Not only do you get the fun of the conveyor but they'll freshly fry up vegetarian dumplings etc.
The station concourse used to just be an empty hall with a pub called something like the Brunel, a WHSmiths and a load of hard bright orange plastic benches (very 70s). Oh, and prostitutes. So it's a bit more swish than it was...
Posted by: Mags at June 16, 2004 11:09 PM
Hi Mags - many thanks for commenting here! I have to admit I haven't tried the Yo-Sushi at Paddington yet - and I never thought for one minute that they'd prepare veggie dumplings either! Thanks for the tip!
Yes - I have vague memory of Paddington being a dreary, "seedy" sort of place several years ago. But I'm sure the WHSmith is still there! :-)
Posted by: Jag at June 16, 2004 11:47 PM
hmmm, yes the topside does look decidedly more glamorous. but seedy or not, i've always prefered the underground side... maybe that's because most of my "travels" through the city (used to?) start there.
Posted by: simone at June 18, 2004 05:07 AM