Some of my favorite London is gone

The first time I visited London I was 16 years old. With not much money I took the boat from Hook Van Holland and I swore I never would do it again. I was seasick and I didn't like it one bit. I like to feel ground under my feet, and am not comfortable on boats. But London itself was one great adventure. Over the years I have visted the city many times and I found out that I have some favorite things to do or see when I was in town. Funny thing is that I had a vision when I got out of the Piccadilly Circus Underground station. The vision was a thing I have seen when I first visited London. And it was still as I thought it was. The stores were there, funny that I remember where the Boots and the McDonalds were (with not much money as 16 year old, you have to eat somewhere, now I never visit the MD, where ever I am). Some sites have disappeard and that makes me a bit sad.

Somewhere in 2008 I visited London again and knew there was a huge Waterstones store at Oxford Street. But I looked all over Oxford Street, but it was nowhere to be found. I remembered from the Christmas times that there always was a steelband across the street. I visited that spot again and I noticed that my favorite Waterstones had gone. I was shocked. I had to find another Waterstones to get my books. I now go to the Trafalger Square store, but it doesn't feel as compfy as the one on Oxford Street.

More things of the past have gone. Ofcourse they can't save it all, but it makes me feel a bit sad. They give Leicester Square a total make over at the moment. The Swiss Clock is gone and a huge building took its place. Leicester Sqare changed a lot and not for the good I must say. The plans for the little parc looks good, but for the rest I miss a few things. It was always fun to watch the Swiss Clock and some other things there.

The Cheers bar is another thing that is gone. I like the American comedy very much and I loved to visit this bar, where the restaurant was a good replica of the bar itself. The only things I missed were the people. Coach, Sam, Diane and ofcourse Carla. And I can't forget Norm and Cliff, who were the usual customers. That bar has gone now. But there are lots of things that are still there. I once visited the Gloucester Pub at Sloane Street, and it was a nice contradiction to all the fashion houses in the street. In 2009 I was in the area again, and I was wondering if the pub was still there, and it was. Now, when I visit London, I try to go at least once during my stay. The staff is nice and the food is good and not expencive.

Ofcourse time doesn't stand still. But sometimes it is hard to keep up with things. When ever I pass the old Waterstones area in Oxford Street I feel a bit sad that the store is no longer there. It doesn't help to dwell on the past, I have to look to the future. London will host the 2012 Olympics and they are busy creating lots of new things in London. I can't wait to visit those area's once the Olympics are over. There are still area's of London I want to visit, but they have to wait. I won't be able to visit London this year, but next year I make sure that I visit the city. At least I will be there in March to walk the Royal Marsden March to raise money for the Royal Marsden Hospitals, who do a fantastic job on cancer research. I am really looking forward to this trip and to walk the Marsden March. And I hope to have some time left to visit some new area's in London. I won't have much time this time, as the Cheltenham Festival starts a few days later. And as horserace fan, it is a great opportunity to combine the city of London with a stay in Cheltenham. But in the meanwhile there is lots to tell about London, but I leave that for some other time.