Translator: Sarah McNally
From Canada, Sarah has been in Japan for almost 5 years. If you are interested in a Japanese to English translation, please feel free to contact her at sa.honyaku@gmail.com

Sarah. 来日五年目のカナダ人。日本の高校では英語の教師して教壇に立つ一 方、日本語検定一級の資格も活かし翻訳も行う。問い合わせは上記アドレスへ。


After Word: Day 7
If you are staying in or around central London, a Zone 1-2 ticket will do. I wanted to stretch my legs a little, so I got a Zone 1-4 ticket.

When riding the bus at night, caution is necessary. In particular, woman riding alone should definitely stay on the first floor. One can never be too careful.

Here you'll find some personal notes I took during my trip.
I didn't really write this to be read by others, but you can take a look if you like. This is about what happened in London during the week or so I was there.
*Diary written between September and October of 2000

    London Diary: Day 7 - Today I Couldn't Find Anything

    Yesterday I returned from Manchester. I'm suddenly exhausted, perhaps because my stay in Manchester and Liverpool held so much significant for me. I feel as though I've travelled all the way back to Japan.


    Abbey Road and Baker Street…I've wanted to visit these two places for a long time, so I headed straight to Baker Street. I got off the tube at Baker Street station, and took a walk around. I looked for 221b where Sherlock Holmes had lived (of course only in the world of novels). However I couldn't find it (or perhaps I saw it but passed by without noticing), so I headed for Abbey Road.

    This time I really messed up the streets, in the end arriving at some ungodly place where I found a Tesco Superstore. I did some shopping there and returned to the hotel. Actually, in the morning I also went to the Hard Rock Cafe. I guess that's about all, I didn't really do much else. My spending money was at rock bottom. I wasn't intending to waste money, but one must eat…

    One can travel all around London on just a little cash. Using a one day ticket good for both the bus and the tube, and I rode quite enough to more than make up the original cost. Actually, I believe I used many times the cost.

    I've just noticed now, but cigarettes here are outrageously expensive, nearly 4 times as much as in Japan. Those who smoke must always be broke.

    After being here for a little more than a week, even if it's disagreeable at first, you will soon get used to the transportation system and be able to go almost anywhere quite easily. The most important things to master are the bus and the Underground. In particular, if you like walking about sightseeing, I think taking the bus will help you learn to distinguish where you are in London, where everything tends to look just the same. Also once you get accustomed to it the Underground is actually more convenient that the Tokyo Metro, and so far safe.

    In the evening, rather than hailing a taxi it's much easier to get where you're going by tube. Actually, to tell the truth, I haven't even used a taxi yet.

    Sometimes you can get on a bus at a place other than a regular stop, although it depends on the type of bus. Technically, this is forbidden, but no one seems to mind.