Day 140: 20 weeks later...

Time flies. Today is exactly 20 weeks of London: 3360 hours, 201.600 minutes and 12.096.000 seconds. Now it really seems that I left Rome quite time ago. And I hardly realised it. Last time I wrote a post for this blog it was the end of January and now I've been thrown to the beginning of April. Lots of adventures, experiences, happy moments and even fearful instants.

February misadventure. Someone tried to mug me with a gun during one of my night walking around London. And he didn't except that I could react as I did, thanks to my Krav Maga skills learned in Italy. I sent him to the hospital: by now he should have learned that lesson.  All's well that ends well!

Second job. As I don't believe in God, I don't believe in coincidences, but sometimes opportunities are hidden where you least expect them. Thanks to English lessons through Meetup website, I got in touch with several people and I took the chance to start writing articles for a budding commercial website. Extra money is a good reason, brave new projects have always attracted me and last but not least in this way I won't lose my Italian writing skills. That's the way.

Rome break. At the end of February I went to Italy for a few days. It was great to see again my family and all my friends, but my impression was really negative. After more than three months away, Rome wasn't changed at all, in fact it was even worse. Same life, same shops, same people, same complaints: it was a distressing view. I was truly happy to leave again: that broad mood can drag everyone down and I was lucky to have the possibility to change. 

Cold spring. March went away very fast among long nights of work, great nights of fun and a really cold weather. It was sunny most of the days, but I didn't except this freezing cold in late March, so even during spring. Anyway, the weather is not a problem: after the first cocktail it's already gone! 

April is gonna be a tough month (and I even need to find a new room!)... 

Day 10: Room... Coffee... Job!

It's a lot of time I don't write here. I had plenty of things to do and time is very short. In these days, I visited at least ten different rooms, I applied for some jobs, I dropped plenty of my CVs in the streets and more other things. Very tiring days passed in a kind of fast motion: I usually run from a place to another one, so I have just a little spare time and I prefer to spend it with the friends I met in hostel and have a beer with them every evening.

I visited many kinds of rooms and I met many strange people. Two of them were truly dirty: the space outside the door was full of garbage and inside the situation was ever worst. Others were family house, so I would have my single room, but I had to share the house with a family with children: I felt uncomfortable since I got inside. Finally, in other cases, landlords wanted particular kind of tenant, like a vegetarian one or an early night sleeper. Mankind can be really surprising. Anyway, maybe I found a room that I really like and I even went out to have a beer with the current tenants. Next week I'll be able to say more on that. 

These days were almost sunny. Wednesday was a strong windy day and Thursday evening there was a heavy shower until the next morning. Anyway, it is very pleasant to be outside and walk: cold isn't yet so strong. 

I started drinking coffee even here. In London, there is a very famous chain called Caffe' Nero that serves one of the best espresso I've ever had abroad. It's a little expensive (1,45£, about 1,80€) but it's worth it. And this company has also a loyalty card: after nine paid coffees you get one for free! I tasted even some other espresso at Starbucks, Costa and Coffee Republic but Caffe' Nero is really the best one. 

Now I have to go... see you soon in the next post. :)

Day 1: Hostel & O2

I'm here. I arrived at Gatwick Airport around 9 am. The flight was pleasant with a save landing and luckily no one claps the hands to the pilot. It was a cold but sunny day. Thanks to my elettronic passport, I jumped all the long queue to allow you to get inside UK and London. I could decide the way to get to the city between train and bus, and I chose the last one. In fact, I decided to feel immediately the sensation of driving in the wrong way: it was pretty short because I felt asleep as I got in and woke up just ten minutes before arriving. Then I arrived at Victoria Station and I needed to carry up and down all the stairs my two luggage. Remember me next time not to bring them any more, but just bags I can load on my shoulders.

I arrived sweating at my hostel. It was pretty easy to find. The 28-bed-room was conformable and not so full of people. I looked my important stuff, left my two heavy luggage and then I went out. At the beginning, I felt some strange sensations: I thought I still was in Rome, but just people, buildings and streets were different. For few minutes, I kept asking myself what I was doing here, then I just enjoyed the day. 

Look right, look left. Before crossing the streets, here it is necessary to look before at the own right then at the own left. My first times were really risky, but I was lucky because were anyway far. Then I slowly learn to handle it, even because as I put a feet on the street cars would immediaely stop. I took a long walk avoiding to spend money for the undergound and I really enjoyed it, even if I got lost several times. The neighbourhood (West Hampstead) was sorrounded of beautiful shops, cheap grocieres stores and especially KFC fastfoods. They are at every corner and even if I don't like it, I know I'm gonna try it. But not now, because I'm trying not to spend so much money by eating in the restaurants.

New mobile number. At the end, I finally reach the reason of my walking: the O2 shop. And there I bought a prepaid sim card, like in the CSI films. You don't need to registrate, nor to leave your I.D. or signature. You just pay and get a new phone number. So, now I can be a serial killer. Then, I walked back to the hostel. My day is over, I can hard spell correclty out my words. Good night! :)