Those who visit London for the first time are usually mystified when they follow the signs labeled “Subway”, and find that it takes them only to a pedestrian passageway beneath the street. Even the tourists who know that the “subway” trains in The UK are labeled as “Underground” are frequently taken by surprise by the use of the term “subway”.
And, then we have The UK’s “public schools” which are–in fact–exclusive private schools that charge high tuition fees. What we call public schools are referred to (I think…) as “grammar schools”.
Also surprising is that of the approximately 8.7 million people who live in the greater London area, only about 9000 actually live in the City of London, which hasn’t expanded its boundaries since medieval times.
Is that all that rare? The only city I’ve lived in that I am aware expanded its boundaries was Jacksonville, FL. Dallas might have also, but every other city I’ve lived in was relatively small and was surrounded by suburbs.
The CITY of London cannot expand its boundaries because it is surrounded by the metropolis of Greater London. The City of London is essentially the oldest part of London, and it is where the big financial and newspaper firms all used to be located. If you go to “The City” after… let’s say… 7:00 PM, you will see few cars and almost no pedestrians because it is not very residential, and is essentially a place where office buildings predominate. Even finding an open pub in The City is very difficult after office hours.
Interesting bit of trivia:
The City of London is the only place in The UK where the reigning monarch is not allowed to enter.
If QE II needs to attend some type of function in The City, she must first get the permission of The Lord Mayor of The City of London before her massive Bentley limo can cross the boundary into The City.
My first taste of London was driving a rental from the airport to our hotel, on the wrong side of the road and in multi-lane roundabouts. When I finally got safely in the parking lot of the hotel, I never wanted to get in a car again.
I’ve been to London 4 times, and even on the last visit, I still didn’t want to drive.
Taxis aren’t cheap, but… the drivers know where they are going, and they are used to the UK’s road rules.
Hispanics=people who speak Spanish. Immigrants to the United States of America are of course post 04 Jul 1776. Since the Spanish had been settling in the Americas since the early 1500s there was no doubt at least one residing in the 13 former colonies who of course did not have to immigrate as they were already there, My ex-wife is a Fifth generation natural born Chicana (Mexican American). Sixth generation if you cheat a bit and include the Republic of Texas. Her Great X 3 Grandmother was born there in 1838. Her Great X 2 Grandmother was born in the State of Texas (annexed in 1845) in 1856.
Aren’t you the one that talked about the “white” guy from South Africa that checked the box for “African American”? How confusing it gets when we have to identify everyone in little boxes. My great grand parents were born in Germany and the other great grand parents were born in Norway. So what am I? A citizen I guess. Identity politics. Black white, left right, rich poor, and on and on throw up.
Yes. It was a blonde, blue eyed young lady. A South African of Dutch descent. Like you I know where the majority of my ancestors are from French/English/German. I am also a natural born U.S. citizen. Good enough for me.
I happen to work with a white South African who can’t call himself an African-American. He’s simply an African, needs a work visa to work in the U.S. He lived in Australia before he came to U.S. I learned a lot about South Africa that isn’t reported in the news because of him.
He couldn’t stand the hit song “The Lion Sleeps Tonight” because lions don’t live in the jungle, they live on the African savanna. Hollywood depicts Africa as deep dark jungle, the actual Africa is semi desert grassland.
Ski resorts is not generally what some think of when Africa is mentioned but there is one in South Africa. http://www.tiffindell.co.za/
Geez we gotta get back to cars but I read a book a few months ago on young Churchill and the Boer war in South Africa. I never knew much about it before that but it was interesting. I think it would have maybe been better for all if England would have just let them alone like us, but they had resources down there that the English wanted. Oh I read it after driving back from Ohio.
The lion does not sleep in the jungle, great point! Never thought of it before. Always can tell a brit once they mention bonnet, ie I lifted the bonnet to check the oil.
We pop the hood to check the awl.
The Pedernalles river runs through central TX. A Spanish word that means flintrock. Nearly everybody in Austin calls it the “perd-NALL-ess” the a like the a in bad. Most of the Germans in Fredericksburg call it the “pay-der-NALL-ess”, a like in father.
I asked why everybody, even the TV news anchors mispronounce that word and the best I can tell is because LBJ said it that way.
