Just Like Another Tourist in London

Just Like Another Tourist in London    by  Eugenia Yglesias
 
 
To the right, the tube, to the left, a taxi.  There’s a mass of people rushing into different directions, both men and women;  however, they know exactly where they are going. Gosh!  This is a crowded place and I’m here in the middle of everything wandering which one to take.  My hands are already sweating and I don’t even have a Kleenex. 
 
This over night bag is getting really heavy. Why did I bring a hair dryer if I’m only going to stay in London for two days! My right hand is aching red and I can already feel some blisters coming out.  I’ll stop at this tiny shop for a second.  Hum! There are so many different scarves hanging from the walls!  Those ones right next to the counter look Indian with exotic designs and earthy colors.  I like them, but I would never use one.  That would be tacky!  Talking about tacky things, I just noticed my coat, it looks awful! I hadn’t realized how horrible it was until   now that I see myself reflected on this shopwindow.  It’s too short and the lapel is too wide.  I told my mother that I didn’t want to buy this coat back  home;  but as usual she said:  “Everything is expensive in London.”  So, here I am,  looking like a Martian. 
 
Outside looks rather dull as the fog rolls in, and I bet that it’s cold.  When I turn my head to my left, I can feel  the cold wind hitting my face and it certainly comes from outside.   It’s so warm in here, so why would I walk out if everyone knows that cold wind is so  bad for your skin.  I don’t want to be all wrinkled when I’m thirty.  Besides, it’s probably raining,  my hair would get wet  and I hate when I look like Shirley Temple.  Let’s move  to the stairs like everybody else.  The lady at the loud speaker is saying that the train to Paddington leaves from platform eight in two minutes.  At least, that’s what I understand.  If she didn’t get so close to the microphone, I would understand her better!
 
I took all the language courses at the Institute; though,  I still have trouble understanding these Brits who insist on speaking with a hot potato in the mouth.
 
Puff !!  What disgusting smells around here!  This pale face in front of me had a pizza with anchovies and garlic for breakfast.  That’s for sure!  And the jet-black mane over there comes from a moment of passion with her lover.  What a mess!  Don’t they ever take a shower!  No way… I’m getting out of here and  taking a taxi this time and promise to take the underground  the next. 
 
Nonsense,  absolutely nonsense.  There are even kids taking the stairs to catch the tube.  Besides, Felipe gave me his colored map before I left,  and he explained to me a thousand times, how to use the underground. 
 
-“The British really know how to make clear and precise maps.”  Felipe  said:  -“Just follow a specific line and get to the station where you need to go.  Look, it’s marked with a little circle.  You can’t get lost.”
 
However, I’m still standing here,  just being an obstacle for those who need to get soon to their places.  But…where are these people going?   Those  who get on  the stairs seem  to be  swallowed by something  down in the  center of the  earth.   On the other side, 
there are  persons who are  sprouting  from  the other  stairs.  They all have the same appearance.  They are silent, immersed in their own thoughts, taking a quick look at their watches, continuing their way on a fast walk.  I do not dare to bother any of them with my problem.
 
But maybe I should.  It’s already twenty  to eleven and I told Victoria that I would get to the station and meet her at 11 o’clock.  I better be there on time because she doesn’t like when people arrive late.  So, don’t be a chicken and go for it.  Take the tube!  It’ll be an exciting experience,  but… just in case,  I’ll ask  if Circle Line is the one I  should take.  I always like to double check;  besides, I don’t want to be lost only God knows where,  and then, it’ll be worse because I´ll have spend a fortune on a taxi.
 
 
   -“Excuse me, sir.  Would you be so kind…”
   -“I don’t have time!  Don’t bother me”-  he said in a husky voice.
   -“All right,  all right,  but don’t  push me!   Hey,  you hear me !” 
 
What an awful man!  Stupid!  Maybe I should say  “poor man”,  probably he comes from a broken family and his mother  never taught him how to be polite to others.  Anyway,  I´ll try with this woman. We women understand each other. 
 
   -“Excuse me. Could you tell me if Circle Line is …”
   -“ I don’t know.  Look for someone else!” - the old witch barked without  even looking at me.  Just because she’s wearing that ugly  Chanel  jacket!
 
Whoops!  In this case, I think I should ask one of the people who are looking at the big map on that board.  They seem to know what to look for.  But first I´ll give them a sweet smile and  then, I will decide which one to ask.
 
What a gorgeous fellow!  I can see his muscles through his T-shirt and I can imagine those long olive oil legs!   When he turned and smiled at me I was bewitched by those big hazel eyes, crowned with extra-long lashes. There were a few fine lines under his eyes, but they are the perfect match to the dimples on his cheeks.  He’s definitely my guardian angel!!
 
-“Excuse me. I’m not sure if I should take Circle Line to get to High Street Kensington.”
   -“ Mi scusi, non capisco. Ho non parlo inglese.”
 
I can’t believe this!   The only person who seems to be friendly  in this whole city and we can’t communicate.  Maybe I should try to talk to him and see what his problem is;  if he’s looking at the map, it is because he doesn’t have a clue of where he is.  Obvious!  So… I could to help him and at the same time learn a couple of words of Italian and …   Who’s that girl?  What’s she doing!!  Insolent!  Don’t get so close to him.  Hey, hey!   Well… He’s already got a girl!  Oh dear!  Forget about him. There must be plenty of handsome guys in this town.  No more foolishness!  I’m going to try to take the tube some other time when I’m not in a hurry.
   
Eugenia Yglesias
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