Silent City.

 I am really quite passionate about travel; I can safely say I will always be going places and money spent on travel is never money wasted in my opinion, regardless of how I feel about the place. I do enjoy the sun, sea, sand scenario but on a more personal and emotional level though, I am definitely a city girl. I discovered this first of all during my gap year when I spent a couple of months in Australia. I love the irony of a sense of total isolation in the busiest possible place. I was walking around London a few weeks ago with an old Uni friend who grew up there. "If you take the bus don't speak to the driver, people will think you're weird," she advised. This is totally different to where I grew up; a place where everyone knows everyone, and everyone is pretty much related to everyone too. I didn't find it rude in London though, like some could. I liked it. On the tube for example, I was surrounded by people yet still felt hidden (apart from the time I forgot to stand on the right on the escalator, but that's another story!). People never speak to each other and rarely make eye contact with each other. Not even to apologise for accidentally standing on your toe, or to say thank you for picking up the suitcase that rocked off its unsteady wheels and fell against the person standing opposite. It's not impolite, rather a way of life. I quite like the idea of not feeling obligated to make small-talk. I 'people-watch' often on the tube and imagine most commuters to be using the time to do their thinking. Actually, they're probably 'people-watching' also! Cities are crowded, expensive, time-consuming, impossible to park in and there's a distinct lack of fresh air. But the hustle and bustle really is beautiful.

  My favourite city (so far!) by a million miles is Rome. In fact, it deserves its own post...do read on.