I got another spell of business travel tomorrow - to London again; I'm usually up there every fortnight or so now at industry meetings / various working groups etc.
Like so many people, I abhor public transport in general but at times, it just can't be avoided. The tube, though, provides a fascinating insight into the weird and wacky characters out there. And they seem be flock to London in spades.
There's something very comforting about the smell of a tube station - that oily, dry, stale warm air rushing up your nostrils. It seems to be a smell common to underground train stations across the world in my experience - having been on few in the US and across Europe. I don't know what it is about this smell, but I'd buy an Ambi-Pur refill of it! ;-)
The aromas given off by many of the commuters, though, tend to be far less pleasurable to one’s olfactory sense - particularly after a long day at work. I frequently clothes-peg my nose when travelling after 4.30PM on the tube.... maybe you've seen me? I cut quite a distinctive figure in the carriage! :p
Let’s hope tomorrow passes without major mishap.
There's a word for the underground smell in German, you know!
ReplyDeleteOh really? & what is it?
ReplyDeleteI can't remember! I've been googling for hours and still nothing. I'll get back to you on that one... ;D
ReplyDeleteYou don't really wear a nose peg, do you?!
ReplyDeleteIs it U-Bahn-Geruch, Andro?
ReplyDeleteOh, and people seem to have written songs and poems about the special German underground smell!
ReplyDeleteThat sounds about right (according to google.translate)!
ReplyDeleteI looked that up on Monday night but it seemed too much of a literal translation.... I thought from what you said, Andro, that there was a discrete quirky word for it!
ReplyDeleteAnd AW, no, don't worry - I don't really resort to the clothes peg. Well, not usually! :p
Too funny! :) And thanks for leaving a comment on my blog, I appreciate the advice and vote of confidence!
ReplyDeleteGerman is a very literal language!
ReplyDeleteIndeed - and very gutteral! :p
ReplyDelete