My trip to Wimbledon was amazing. First, I enjoy tennis, so
it was a no-brainer that I was going to visit, but also I really enjoy getting
out of the metropolitan part of the city. I took the Tube there because I was
on a semi-short time frame. I made it there around 9:45. The first thing that I
noticed was how bustling the area around the train station was. It wasn’t a
bustling like found near the corner of Russell Square, but the bustle of people
running errands and working.
I noticed that all of the stores on the high street were
smaller. Of course, there were tons of coffee shops, but the clothes stores
were more boutiques than labels. I really appreciate seeing that. I headed
towards the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club. The walk there was
beautiful. First, you walk up a great hill, which really disappointed me
because I got sweaty. The anticipation of this my destination was killing me,
and I thought when I reached the top that I would be at my destination.
I was wrong. At the top of a hill was a more commercial area
again. I stopped in a coffee shot to grab a cup of tea, which I drank a little
too quickly. I don’t like rushing when I go to places because it seems that the
Europeans don’t, so I want to fit in, also I am usually never in a hurry. It
was about a 15 minute walk to the tennis club, and most of that walk was in
residential areas. Two things I noticed were that 1) it was quite a posh area
and 2) people really are nicer outside of central London. I passed probably ten
people on the street and I got about 5 half-smiles and even a hello from one of
them.
The atmosphere at the club was everything I hoped for. There
was an electricity in the air when I walked in (I may have made that up myself)
and the security guard at the door was quite friendly. After visiting the
museum, I went to the café at the club and had another cuppa and some scones.
They actually had a good deal, 2 scones, jam and clotted cream for 3.30. I was
easily the youngest person in the café, which I will attribute to the fact that
it was early and a club. I also felt inadequately dressed. I looked fine, but
there was something more about the people there. Upon leaving, the guard and I
chatted a bit and he asked where I what I was doing the rest of the day (going
to Kew Gardens). What really took my breath away was the fact that he seemed interested
in talking to me.
I walked back to the train station but stopped at a pub for
a proper lunch (around 1.30) and a pint. Again, everyone was surprisingly
friendly there. Even though I ate alone, I didn’t feel awkward or anything. I
would have liked to spend more time in Wimbledon. Hopefully I will be back one
day to actually visit the championship, because I could easily see that
semi-sleepy village turning into something special over that fortnight.
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