The underground Tube trains will always remain a lasting memory of London and the reason why this is my most preferred travel destination in the world. Travel in and around London is so easy due to the Trains. We have a similar system in Paris but not knowing French and the accent was do different that I could not really get to know this or feel completely at ease during my travel in Paris. Even in the US the public transport is very bad and one has to depend on children to take you around especially in the outskirts. In London, one has total independence to travel and I am amazed at this network of trains. Like many other firsts, this is the first railway network laid down in the world. The first proposal for this was laid in 1830 but it did not have many takers and the proposal to have a central rail was soon rejected. As the population of London was increasing and many people commuting and coming into London, Charles Pearson again put up this proposal in 1853 and the first New Metropolitan line was set up from Farrington to King Cross. Slowly many were added and today there is a network of so many lines, Picadelli line, Circle line, Jubilee line, Victoria line and we have traveled extensively on it. There are maps in the station and on trains with routes and an announcement tells you which station is coming next and which side the door would open and the most famous one liners, Please mind the gap. It is slightly expensive but very convenient. We get an Oyster card which we paid some thing like 112 pounds for two for a week and once the money is over you refill it with 20 to 25 pound each, which for us lasted a week and you can keep refilling it and we did this five times during our stay. Each station is spick and span and even from my memory of 2005, I don't think not find any wear and tear in the seats or stations. My hats off to the upkeep and maintenance and also to the population that respects these and owns these as their own. I saw a gentleman eating from a box in one of the trains and felt little bad that he was keeping the boxes below his seat. However, when he got up to leave the train, he picked up the boxes and carried them in his hand to be thrown in the Trash bins outside. I picked up a News paper few weeks back and unfortunately did not see the name of the paper and thought I kept looking at many papers after this, I could not find this column.This column was titled, Tube Crushes or some such thing and many people had sent in their write up and it brings a smile. Sample this, she was the most gorgeous blond that I ever laid eyes on and as she spoke on her phone, I fell in love with that husky voice. Another wrote, she wore the most striking skirt and when I sneezed, your bless you, rings in my ears. Another wrote, I can keep travelling up and down this route just hoping you will again get into this train. The most charming personality that I have come across. Indeed travel in London with in the city is so easy and there are different trains for travelers going out of London and we have been in a large number of these traveling a lot with in London and outside it.
