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| Last
uploaded : Tuesday 29th Jun 2004 at 13:06 |
| Contributed
by : Jennifer Miller |
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A 'Voices' Awards for All essay
A MODERN TALE OF TWO CITIES
....with apologies to the original Author
I enjoy travelling by train. I always feel exhilarated and have a great sense of freedom speeding from city to city; London to Brighton, in my case.
I love both places equally. Raised in London and now in my 50?s, I have seen many changes in our congested, noisy, wonderful capital city. Gone forever are the ?1.00 sandwich, 40p Underground fare, ?2.00 cinema front stalls and 25p daily Luncheon Vouchers. On the Underground, while the Bakerloo Line still runs nearly original trains, the other lines have been modernised and although hot and crowded, are still the quickest way to travel across London.
I?m delighted that in line with mainland Europe, London has become more cosmopolitan. I love the street cafes and international coffee houses, smart shops and restaurants, exciting tourist attractions, trendy markets, jazz in the parks, river boat rides offering additional transportation and numerous theatres, concert halls, galleries and museums.
London has a multicultural society. Our schools have adapted to accommodate the many Faiths, cultures and languages.. There are new Places of Worship and we enjoy a mix of lifestyles, foods and music, which enrich our lives. London is a very exciting place to visit. The modern sits comfortably alongside the traditional..
I frequently travel to the South Coast. We hear a lot about "leaves on the line" causing train delays, but in my opinion, running the railways is a complex business and I think the services really have improved, with newer, quieter trains, better public address systems and a good service generally.
If only some of the passengers were as quiet and clean as the rolling stock! And when will mobile telephones and hamburgers be banned from trains?
Please!
We roll into Brighton Station after one hour. The air is lovely as the sea is only half a mile away. My friend Cliff lives in trendy Marina Village, 2 miles to the east of town centre, so I board one of the frequent buses outside the station.
Brighton is a vibrant city, 55 miles from London, attracting young people who like its Bohemian character. New beachside walkways have recently been built, with modern cafes and restaurants stretching as far as sedate Hove to the west and there?s music wherever you go, but not for the faint-hearted!
My bus journey takes me through the town centre with its new shopping precinct into Kemp Town, probably the most ?swinging area?, home to many artists and musicians and a centre of the Gay Community. Still in Kemp Town but on the sea front, the houses are quaint and in keeping with a seaside resort, but the nudist beaches are not far away!
Marina Village is charming, newly built and up-market with luxurious apartments, shops and waterside restaurants and, of course, many gorgeous yachts and cabin cruisers.
I think a great job has been done in both London and Brighton (and many stations between). They are attractive, modern cities which are much loved and visited by all nationalities. They truly reflect life in England in the 21st Century. If we could only take the pollution out of London and the gales out of Brighton, life would be nearly perfect!
JENNIFER MILLER
Current Viewpoint Awards for All project
June 2004
 
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