Tuesday, February 07, 2006
Alphabet Soup
It was the first subway in the world; it likely remains the most famous and it is the "u" here in Alphabet Soup -- it's the London Undergound.OK, maybe we are reaching a little here, but hey, U is not an easy letter.
I have travelled quite a bit in the this world and have found few cities easier to get around in than London, and this mass transit system is one of the major reasons. This is remarkable given that on the surface navigating London is just a mess. The map you see above is one of the reasons this system works so well, cities the world over imitate the map now, but this is the original.
As someone used to mass transit here in the US, aside form its convenience, the most notable things about the London Underground are its cleanliness and the fact that it seems to be used by almost everybody. When you contrast that with the graffitti infested, lower-class only ways of the US mass transit system, you end up with a really pleasant experience.In an otherwise very expensive city to visit, the Underground makes getting around very affordable. If you have a London visit in your future, get to know the Underground -- it can't be beat.
Related Tags: travel, London, Subway, Underground
