tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15231380.post5011251405531706144..comments2023-10-19T07:54:32.841-04:00Comments on Quod She: I think I may be a secret geography geekDr. Viragohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03960384082670286328noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15231380.post-26315722832599004752010-12-15T09:15:31.041-05:002010-12-15T09:15:31.041-05:00*crowds at Euston Road, that is.*crowds at Euston <b>Road</b>, that is.Dr. Viragohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03960384082670286328noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15231380.post-17132633759949763542010-12-15T08:59:27.468-05:002010-12-15T08:59:27.468-05:00Also the fact that the Northern line has two branc...Also the fact that the Northern line has two branches that cross over each other is a little confusing, too, especially since the map isn't clear on that point. I know where I'll be staying this summer is on the "Edgeware Line," but that only tells me what line to get from Euston going north. I had to look up which line becomes which (Bank or Charing Cross) below Euston so I'd know whether coming from Belsize Park would get me to King's Cross or if I'd have to change at Euston. So confusing!<br /><br />As for King's Cross to Russell Square, I would've never taken the tube for that. But then I was going the opposite direction -- Russell Square to the BL, which is just this side of King's Cross, and I *hate* overshooting things. It's an OCD-like obsession of mine. Plus King's Cross's interminable crowds and endless ways out (which I still haven't quite figured out) freak me out. Much more pleasant to walk from my Malet street dorm to the BL (that's only a 15 minute walk). Add to that fact that I would have had to walk to Russell Square anyway, and I might as well walk the whole way. But you're right that it can be a 20-25 minute walk once the crowds at Euston and getting out of King's Cross are figured in, and for many people that's the threshholdDr. Viragohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03960384082670286328noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15231380.post-68987630274168167992010-12-14T23:50:07.787-05:002010-12-14T23:50:07.787-05:00The Northern Line through Euston is especially bad...The Northern Line through Euston is especially bad because it runs 'north' opposite Victoria Line trains running 'south' which go in the same physical direction (roughly west...). The only way to cope with that is just to follow signs blindly or to learn it. But the Tube, at least, has a coherent system of signage.<br /><br />There was a particular point where I got all this, during my London-based Ph. D. to which I commuted from Cambridge. Shortly after Heathrow Terminal 4 station opened the powers-that-were put adverts in the Piccadilly Line trains that serve it showing all the London attractions reachable by the line, using an aerial perspective from roughly west-south-west. Basically everything in the West End is next door to its neighbour in that perspective and that was when I suddenly realised that I could likely walk from King's Cross to the river in half an hour or so and that I was a fool to keep getting the Tube to Russell Square. That said, whereas to go that one stop on the Tube and walk to Senate House from there took me fifteen minutes, walking it direct usually took me twenty-five, so I only did the latter when I wasn't running late. I think the real time gains from walking only accrue in the very centre, and then only if you can somehow dodge the crowds. But it's better for you and cheaper!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15231380.post-28265748346166495792010-12-12T17:31:47.545-05:002010-12-12T17:31:47.545-05:00Er, *even.Er, *even.Dr. Viragohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03960384082670286328noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15231380.post-87017159764729927622010-12-12T17:31:22.448-05:002010-12-12T17:31:22.448-05:00Nope, it's not just you!
I felt the same way ...Nope, it's not just you!<br /><br />I felt the same way when I got on the wrong branch of the Northern Line and my Londoner friends told me ever Londoners do that! :) Nice to know it's not because we're tourists, eh?Dr. Viragohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03960384082670286328noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15231380.post-75094284906954876982010-12-12T17:18:56.877-05:002010-12-12T17:18:56.877-05:00I thought that was just me! I mean, I have a *wret...I thought that was just me! I mean, I have a *wretched* sense of direction anyway, but I can never figure out where I'm going in London except by Tube and then hoping that the walk from the Tube station to the destination won't be too complicated.<br /><br />The first time I was ever in London, a friend in my study abroad program and I were trying to get to the Houses of Parliament, and we just could. not. do it. We wandered around for ages, and finally gave up and took the Tube. Since we had to buy tickets then, the workers in the station laughed at us--albeit kindly--because we were only one or two stops away, but we could not figure out any other way to get there. It was ridiculous. <br /><br />But I feel a little less dumb knowing that actual Londoners have that problem sometimes, too. :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15231380.post-8946383073090928952010-12-09T07:03:28.383-05:002010-12-09T07:03:28.383-05:00great post--I love maps of London, and love figuri...great post--I love maps of London, and love figuring out how to get around! I'll check this out!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com