one the way to stansted airport (july 14)

people observing silence for the bombings in london.


We are on the way to stansted airport from London. They have a convenient (if you look past the price, 14 pounds) train that goes straight there from one of the underground stations. Our plane leaves at 1830, but since we had to check out of our room at 1100, we just decided to go to the airport really early.

At 1200, there in the train station, and everywhere else around london (and even perhaps other places as well), there was a period of silence for two minutes in memorium for those who died in last thursday’s bombings. just about everyone in the train station stood still (there were a couple of people who apparently couldnt be delayed for those two minutes). because there is a sort of shopping mall throughout the station, a lot of people came out to the center of the station, and stood still. there were a lot of people. it reminded me of similar events that happened in new york city a few years earlier.

after that, everybody went about their business. and i had my own business to take care of, or so my body was telling me. so i told paola to stay with the bags for a few moments whilst i find a toilet and take care of such business. when i finally found one, i was astonished to learn that i had to pay 20 pence (about 40 cents) to use it! in any case, the feeling passed without my releaving myself. i didnt have 20p on my person anyway, so i would have been screwed had i really needed to use the facilities. imagine that, paying to use a public bathroom that is probably disgusting anyway!