Mid-October, amid busy and brief trips to New York and London, respectively, I had the incredible opportunity to attend special art exhibits:

• Vasily Kandinsky, the Guggenheim

A great museum to visit, for Frank Lloyd Wright’s architecture as well as the artwork on display. Kandinsky’s images, en masse, help set it off to best advantage—and not surprisingly so. Being a significant part of the the permanent collection, they actually helped inspire the building’s design.

October 21st (soon after my visit) marked the Guggenheim’s 50th anniversary!

• Georgia O’Keefe, The Whitney

O’Keefe’s abstractions are less well known than her paintings of flowers and landscapes. That said, the 130 plus paintings, drawings, watercolors, and sculptures, on exhibit here, herald O’Keefe as one of America’s first and boldest abstract artists.

I went from the O’Keefe to the Kandinsky, the Whitney and Guggenheim not being far from each other. What a double-header, and great day!

• JMW Turner and The Masters, the Tate Britain

Some of Turner’s most dramatic paintings are juxtaposed with masterpieces created by artists whom he revered and was obsessed with becoming “just as good as”:  Canaletto, Rubens, Rembrandt, and Titian.  

Over-crowded and somewhat predictable, this exhibit didn’t excite me as much as Kandinsky or O’Keefe had.

• Anish Kapoor, The Royal Academy

Kapoor was the winner of the 1991 Turner Prize, and this exhibit overviews his sculpture to date.  

From the gasps and sighs made by others passing through at the same time, I realized I wasn’t alone in not loving most of what I saw!  It felt almost sacriligious to see the fine walls, ceilings, and floors of five of the Royal Academy’s galleries smeared with crimson wax and stain…  

In another section of the Academy, only a few of us seemed to chance upon the John Madejski Fine Rooms and the Council and Reynolds Rooms. A real treat!  Wonder what the Academy’s original esteemed artist-members might of thought of the Kapoor exhibit?  Gazing at W.P. Frith’s work, “Private View at the Royal Academy (1881), I don’t think it would be hard to guess.

The most magnificent piece from Kapoor’s exhibit is outside in the courtyard, with a close-up included at the beginning of this post.

• Beatles to Bowie, The National Portrait Gallery

The sub-title of this exhibit is “the 60s exposed.”  Over 150 photos, together with a variety of memorabilia show “swinging London’s” icons, while giving historical overviews of pop music and culture.

Even if you don’t recognize all the personalities displayed, there’s a sense of wow over the attention to detail and passage of time. A popular exhibit with others who’d grown up in the 60s too—last Sunday, at least! Afterwards, as bonus, there’s the National Portrait Gallery’s café: a unique setting and delicious food.

• The Age of the Marvellous, One Marylebone (former Holy Trinity Church)

This exhibit is an exquisite “experiment” in the art world. All Visual Arts (AVA ) brings two master-minds together:  Joe La Placa (art world insider) and Mike Platt (multi-millionaire CEO of Blue Crest). Their alliance leads to the unique creation of a major collection of contemporary art produced in collaboration with a select stable of hand-picked artists. Ambitious shows, like The Age of the Marvellous, are scheduled to be viewed over the next five years. These will introduce AVA artwork to a wider public.

Naturally, my favorite piece was a painting:  Jonathan Wateridge’s splendid depiction, The Architect’s House (2009).

• Frieze Art Fair, Regents Park

After stepping out of The Age of the Marvellous, in awe, it was hard not to adjust to some of what we saw when visiting Frieze…

Why did Gagosian Gallery’s Notebook Page by Tom Friedman have a $35,000 price tag?

Why did Kukje Gallery’s $50,000 black dog sculpture by Gimhongsok, Canine Construction (2009), in cast resin, raise my spirits?  There I am, right behind it:-)

Let’s not forget that art means different things to different people at different times, often with shock appeal challenging personal taste and questions pertaining to technique and talent…  

As a student in London, I lived at International Students’ House, York Terrace East. Ironically, the room that I had there then overlooks where the Frieze Art Fair is held now! This was, indeed, a sentimental journey. Though I hate to admit it, 29 years have passed since that time! As dusk fell, I noticed a single light left on in the students’ residence.  Could it have been mine?!

These You Tube Videos give interesting feedback:  Cher’s classic "if I Could Turn Back Time," and this stumbled upon piece, If You Could Turn Back Time posted by WingzOFaDove.

As summer turns to fall—the so-called “quiet season”—there’s usually a gap period between major exhibitions. In Britain, many seem to close mid-September, new ones opening later in the month. Last week, on a two-day trip to London, I made the most of what was available, and there was still an abundance. When I lived in this city, as a student (late 70‘s - early 80‘s), many of these venues, exhibits, and activities didn’t exist (or weren’t open to the public)!  Wow! Nor, did the traffic…

Here are some of the high- (and low-) lights—and recommendations—from my whistle stop tour:

DAY ONE

• Tate Modern
No feature exhibit, but great to experience the building, ambiance, and other collections.  Would have liked to have taken the bridge connecting to the other side of the Thames, or the boat to the Tate Britain.  Maybe next time!

• Garden Museum, Lambeth
Quaint, but not as remarkable as anticipated from write-ups. Likely, nicer to coincide a visit with their events and lectures. Pleasant surprise: vegetarian restaurant’s pineapple and banana cake is yummy! Also, from here, I made a little detour towards and along the Thames, noticing newer attractions like the London Eye Ferris Wheel.

• Churchill Museum and Cabinet War Rooms
An absolute must-see!  Even for those not interested in war, the history, memorabilia and presentation are excellent. Lots to think about, marvel over, and learn from! Also, note the "green" lunch delivery service at an adjacent government building:-)

• Thames Circular Cruise
Disappointing. Supposed to be an hour, but little more than 40 minutes. And, with no commentary, it was hard to know what all the sites and details were. Would have been nice to hear some local tales and history. Too bad the driver was busy texting…and not always looking!  Maybe during off-season efforts wain?

• Big Ben
Always there. Ever powerful, from every angle.  Wonderfully restored and in its 150th anniversary year (1859 - 2009)!

• Trafalgar Square Exhibits
Anthony Gormely’s One and Other was unimpressive.  Participants are not as high off the ground as imagined, if you walk the perimeter of the square.  I arrived at a “changing of the guard.”  Travel to the North of England (Mersey River’s Crosby Beach) to see a much more remarkable work by Gormley, the Another Place Figures.

The London Design Festival’s Centrepiece Chess Board was drawing a healthy crowd.

• Noel Coward Theatre, Calendar Girls
Lovely theater and easy to buy a last-minute upper balcony ticket at the door, prior to performance, then have a seat upgrade to the stalls!  Poor attendance for what, to me, seemed to work better as a movie then a play. Jerry Hall being in the cast was a plus, but not enough to keep me from dozing off. Long day!

DAY TWO

• Natural History Museum and Darwin Centre
The new Darwin Centre is incredible. Next time, hope to make it into the Cocoon!  Just caught the end of the Butterfly Jungle exhibit. Love the architecture and design of the original historic buildings. Just seeing and being in them is a great experience in itself.  Same goes for the V and A (next paragraph, below).

• Victoria and Albert Museum, London Design Festival, Sackler Centre
A great collaboration. Two (or three) for the price of one—in fact, no price. Each were free (and easy)!  Please check the heart artifact I had the opportunity to make during a London Design Festival activity, the Shape of My Heart (close up image at the start of this post can be found on the official Heart site as well). The Sackler Centre is a wonderful addition and resource—helps bring the museum (and beyond) to life!  As an undergrad, I spent many hours in the V and A library. No Sackler Centre then!  Also managed to catch the Telling Tales exhibit!

• Saatchi Gallery
Being a Saatchi on-line Gallery artist, I was very curious to see this new beyond cyber space venue. What an accomplishment!  It’s also interesting to note the setting, close to Sloane Square:  a luxe and lovely part of town!  Then there’s the school playing field and track just in front of it, full of little people enjoying gym classes.

• Kensington Palace and Gardens… and The Last Debutantes
1958, the year focused on by the palace’s feature exhibit was a significant time for me. I was about to come into being, but not as a debutante:-)  An interesting era with a lot of attention to detail, etiquette, couture, and culture.  Precious and lacking today!  Lucky with the weather. A glorious season to be outside there:  the swans and geese were plump and abundant, preening in the glow of an autumn dusk.

• Hyde Park and Princess Diana Fountain
You can get lost here.  But on a beautiful autumn evening, and if you’ve got the time, that’s okay…  The signage isn’t evident everywhere.  To find the Diana Fountain, down by the Serpentine, far from the Diana Playground, wasn’t easy (at least for me). The Fountain, itself, I thought, was disappointing—looked to me like a series of drain outlets: some flowing well, others not.  No adornment and nothing remarkable. I could, of course, have been missing something?

Royal park dog poop bins were neat and official looking. Could do with similar around Toronto:-)

 

CITY TRANSPORTATION

Wondering how I got around?  Via the Oyster travel card.  Worth the investment, but please be advised to take the tube for speed, buses if you’ve got all the time in the world… The Number 10 bus (from Hyde Park to Euston) took 1 hour and 15 mins! Oxford Street is particularly slow and congested (especially at rush hour) and there are easier ways to cross it…  Missed my train!  Nice that Euston Station now has such an amazing selection of take-out eateries!  Prête à Manger won out for me. Delicious advocado wrap!

A beautiful visit, like a beautiful butterfly (from the Natural History Exhibit):  too short-lived but very memorable.

 

Earlier posts about London on this blog include:

• LONDON Landmarks Change (March 2, 2008)
• Green LONDON: from Pink Cabs to Green Attitude (February 27, 2008)
• Taxi, Taxi! LONDON’S Colorful Cabbies (February 25, 2008)
• Sentimental and Historical London—A Quick Guide (October 7, 2007)

This e-mail was received in response to my recent blog entry on solo travel.  Its author is Maxwell Kates, and I am posting it with his permission:

I’m writing to respond to your blog entry about single travelers. I thought it was well written as it describes a number of thoughts and concerns single travelers face or may not realize.  Although my research in this area is not scientific, I am aware that there has never been a community so large, widespread, and disparate as the singles of our times.  Of the 6.6 billion people on the planet, at least two billion are considered single.  There might have been other communities to which members might not have wished to admit association in the past, but these were, generally, more cohesive, due to common practices, lifestyles, or beliefs. What seems to unite singles today is an absence from their lives.  I feel it is difficult for any business to target a product to a market such as "singles" if it is defined by what members are not, rather than what they are.  I’ve discovered this after attending events where participants have come together due to their (non)marital status, but may have nothing in common with respect to anything else.  Also, I’ve also traveled a lot in the past five years.  Apart from a trip to New York with my dad in 2005, it’s been independent of friends and family.  I’ve taken package excursions, attended conventions, joined with organizations and to volunteer, all en groupe.  Each trip has had advantages and disadvantages.  Your level of connection with co-travelers is the luck of the draw.  Then there’s the alternative: traveling completely on your own. Last month I went to Vancouver for a week.  Why Vancouver?  Part of the reason is that I know about a dozen people there.  I was unemployed at the time and wanted to be around people I knew.  Of the twelve, I arranged to meet six of them, averaging nearly one visit a day over eight days.  With one of the six, I traveled to Seattle where I saw three more people I know - two intentionally, one by accident.   Another factor for picking Vancouver was on a recommendation by another member of "the singles jungle," who deemed the city a welcoming destination for solo travelers.  When traveling alone, I try to find a hotel that has a community atmosphere.  As was the case with prior vacations to San Francisco and to London, I succeeded in Vancouver.  You never know who you’ll meet in such circumstances. These are all topics you discussed in your recent entry. Others, including self-sufficiency and personal entertainment, are concepts which did not cross my mind.  Yes, traveling (and living, for that matter) on your own can be more expensive than with friends or a significant other, but it beats the alternative of uncongenial companionship, just for the sake of it. Thanks for writing about such matters and providing readers the opportunity to think about them.

Maxwell, thank you for your feedback, sharings and suggestions!

As I walked through Leicester Square last September (07), the bells on top of the landmark Swiss Centre chimed, an array of tourists and super sized Beefeater impersonator standing by.

With a redevelopment of this site, I was happy to have witnessed its last days.  I remember, during the late 70’s- early 80’s, when I was a student in London, the Swiss Center was a "hot spot."

 

What happened in the interim, to this and so many other familiar places?  Everything changes… When we’re around all the time, we might not notice.  When we’re away for long periods, differences can be striking!

On my overnight visit to London last September (07), I noticed that London’s signage has definitely improved.  It tells tourists (and locals) exactly how long it might take to walk from one place to another.

 

It also advises where CCTV cameras are watching!  (There’s 10,000 of them!)

 

What’s not improved are the one-way streets.

 

Then there’s the traffic congestion.  Public transport is encouraged.  But, sometimes, that too can be quiet overwhelming, with red buses appearing to be coming at you from every direction, especially at Picadilly Circus.

 

You don’t have to look very far to see Londoners are going "green."  Their awareness and habits are revealed in a few quick snaps from my overnnight visit there last September.  

An electric car

Organic food businesses, as advertised on this van

City of Westminster recycling at Covent Garden

A carbon neutral taxi

 

A wooden playground

 

There’s also a free magazine for pick-up in the doorway of many stores, called New Consumer.  I chanced on its fifth birthday edition last September (07).

In North America, we’ve just started to hear about "pink cabs." The Pink Ladies cab company was started in Warrington (Northern England), in 2005, and has been so successful it’s now looking for franchisees. Pink cabs are driven by women for women, saftey and comfort being paramount.  In the days when all British cabs were black, "Pink Ladies" might have stood out.  Now they are part of an already colorful streetscape.

I hadn’t been in London for quite a while till Fall 07. (I still haven’t managed to finish writing about that trip on this blog, with so many other life/travel interruptions.)  When there, I couldn’t help but think how much brighter a place this city has become because of its colorful cabbies. Traditional "stiff upper lip" black vehicles are transformed into mobile advertising machines.  When I noticed the first colourful cab, I thought it was a one-off vehicle.  Then, each way I turned, I saw another and yet another.  Time to pull out the camera and start snapping.  Cab after cab, I collaged their images into a poster (inserted above) on returning home.  Funny what strikes us on our travel adventures.  I’d never have thought that cabs would capture my attention like this.  I suspect their ads are working! You certainly can’t help but notice them.

Other ads, I was aware, were displayed by humans.  I chanced on a bunch of placard supporters close to Covent Garden station.  I didn’t envy their job, sitting there holding arrow signs to local businesses. Fortunately, it was a balmy September morning.  I don’t know how widespread or seasonal this form of (in)human(e) advertising might be…

 

What’s sentimental for one person, might not be for another.  My recent overnight visit to London had me surprising myself by the photos I took—what I might not have given any special attention to, on a daily basis, when living there.  I was a student in London from 1979 - 1981, and my recollections go back to then.

Unfortunately, the shots in this blog entry (taken in less than 24 hours) could only cover a fraction of the city, from Picadilly to Bloomsbury.

Nothing seems to change with Fortnum and Mason, at least externally.  Its neighbor Simpsons was turned into Waterstones a while back (making it the biggest bookstore in Europe), giving Picadilly a slightly different feel.

 

Something that will never move from directly across the street is the Royal Academy.

My timing was lucky!  I got to catch the exhibit, Impressionists by the Sea. I also got to dash through the National Portrait Gallery.  However, a display in the lobby from the book cover of Zerbanoo Gifford’s new book, Confessions to a Serial Womaniser made me slow down for a moment.  Her wall-like display of womens’ faces made me think of my wall-like display of food options (my upcoming Florence Biennale exhibit, Buon Appetito!)

And talking of food, Food for Thought, an old vegetarian haunt of mine (close to Covent Garden)  looked exactly the same (from the outside).  Too early to go in, they were stocking up…

Neal’s Yard, a well-known health food establishment is also still there.  But, it has evolved—looks (and tastes) a little less "natural" (according to my memories).

Covent Garden seems to be changing all over, but not Floral Street, where The Sanctuary (a pioneering spa) looks like it’s still going strong—with Agnes B, Campers, Radley, and more, all at close proximity.

The Covent Garden Market area, itself, has been spruced up.  Arriving before opening hours, I got to see the merchants setting out their wares.  It’s quite a job unpacking and repacking every day!

Wandering from the main area, I felt the cobblestones beneath my feet.  What history they hold!  Who has walked over them before?  Who is walking over them now?  How long can they stay as they are?

In London, history and modernity dance before our eyes, as do traditions, habits, and brand development.  Other coffee shops, chains and one-of-a-kind (Café Nero, The Brew Café, Cafe Life, Espresso Capucino) give Starbucks a lot of competition.

Long "tea breaks" still seem to be popular with workmen, throughout the day.

And, after work, it’s the pub. Beer drinkers spill out onto the street to enjoy a balmy September evening (after a rotten-weather summer):

Then there’s all the theaters, large and small.  What fun to be able to go and see something light! Boeing Boeing was at the Comedy Theater on Panton Street—a charming setting for an evening’s entertainment.    

By the way, though Bloomsbury and its adjacent neighborhoods may be a little off the well-beaten tourist path (except for the landmark British Museum), it’s worth a meander.  Check out all the eating options on and around Charlotte Street…as well as the picturesque side-lanes. Then there’s Dr. Marie Stopes’ first birth control clinic.

You never realize the contrasts you’ll notice when you keep your eyes open—things that have always been there, but might not have attracted attention or mention, previously (like this "lady of the night").

 

For me, British newspapers can’t be beaten.  It’s a greater delight to read them when you don’t get the opportunity every day—and can hold the paper variety in your hands (clip and highlight interesting articles).  On my train journey from London to Liverpool (September 21, 07), I had a chance to catch up on a few favorite publications.  By coincidence, articles in them resonated with what I’d just become aware of during my 24 hour visit to London.  

In The Times, there was an article by Ben Hoyle, the Arts Reporter, "Record visitors to Tate as appetite increases for art."  Hoyle noted:  "Attendance at the four galleries in London, St Ives and Liverpool was 20 percent up on the previous financial year."  However, Sir Nicholas Serot, Tate director did advise of financial issues, with a reliance on revenue generated from shop sales, catering, and sponsorship. (Remember, in Britain, museum admission is free!)

The Times also focused on Arabian investments in Britain.  A headline read, "Middle East investors bring oil-enriched wallets to City."  Sub-headers were, "Arab rivals gear up for struggle over London Stock Exchange" and "Sainsbury’s sale enters final stages as Qataris see the books."  In addition, there was a complete section devoted to Saudi Arabia, where I a sub-heading caught my attention, "Mushtak Parker learns that Saudi Arabia is also looking for a bigger role in Canada."  According to the article, right now, bilateral trade is a mere $1.2 billion.  And, Dr. Abdulaziz al -Sowayegh, the Saudi Ambassador to Canada is quoted as saying, "Canada is looking to diversify its trade partners in various regions.  The kingdom is well placed to become one of the main trade and investment partners in Canada, not only in the region but far beyond." Apparently, the Saudis would like to discuss a free trade agreement to boost bilateral ties.

Another Times header, "Ride a bike?  You must be rich," also captured my attention, especially after I’d seen a proliferation of warning signs for bikers posted in the streets (like the one included at the start of this blog entry).

Ben Webster, The Times Transport Correspondent, comments, "Brands have helped to turn the bicycle into a lust worthy object," and there’s a large photo of Zoe Ball to accompany the article—glamming her way along, no helmet evident.  According to Webster, the richest fifth of the population cycle, on average, two and a half times as far in a year as the poorest fifth. Webster states, "The Department for Transport national survey indicates that the poorest fifth, despite being five times less likely to have access to a car, are very unlikely to consider cycling as a solution to their transport needs."  And, referencing the London Cycling Campaign, Webster remarks, "People on higher incomes may be more concerned about the health benefits of cycling."  A spokesman for the campaign was quoted as saying, "’People on lower incomes may be more concerned with the need to earn money than worrying about what constitutes healthy living or about the issue of climate change and how cycling is the greenest option.’"

The News Section of The Daily Telegraph (page 12) had a large photo of a sculpture by 26 year-old Canadian artist, Camille Allen. Apparently, she’s become known internationally for her clay polymer new born baby works.  I was struck by the placement of the photo.  The bottom half of the page had ads and surrounding it there were briefer news articles.

Also, among The Telegraph’s other photos was one titled, "Make way for the treadmill toddlers."  Obesity among youngsters in Britain (and worldwide) is clearly becoming a real problem!

Again, in The Telegraph, there was a farewell to the QE2. It made a last stop in Liverpool, September 21, on its 40th birthday tour, and was docked for the opening of a new cruise liner terminal there.  Final destination Dubai, where it’ll become a floating hotel.

Finally, also, in The Telegraph, was Con Coughlin’s headline revelation, "The Israelis have unearthed a new and deadlier axis of evil"  Coughlin’s writes about Syria, explaining that reports from Israel suggest a secret nuclear compound at Dayr az-Zawr, which US satellites now show as a pile of rubble after eight Israeli F-15 bombers destroyed the site, the night of September 6, 07.  Summing things up, Coughlin stresses the extent to which Syria, North Korea and Iran are acting as a "new axis of evil"—"cooperating to make the world a far more dangerous place than it was on September 11."

Saturday afternoon, it was a pleasure to have been invited to "paint for a cause"—U Quest’s Urban Angels.  Sadly, billed "celebrity artists," like Vivian Reiss weren’t able to stick around.  But, alongside David Arathoon, I put brush to canvas for a good few hours—as did some official sponsors and a group of OCAD students.  Monte Kwinter opened the festivities, talking about his personal art education (coincidentally including a stint in Boston at the Art Institute) and contributed a series of red brush strokes.  

 

 

 

 

 

The 80 foot canvas in front of UrbanQuest’s town house development site will be cut up and auctioned to help raise money for arts and literacy programs for disenfranchised youth.  Vivienne Ziner is the mastermind behind the Uquest Vision, and she is gathering a growing list of corporate/institutional supporters, including Ecomedia, Whippersnapper Gallery, and Toronto Public Library.  Then there’s a list of individual donors, topped by Linda Frum.  This private initiative was definitely an "art in action" experience, and warmed my art-spirit.

 

 

 

 

 
Unfortunately, Saturday evening, afterwards, cooled my art-spirit.  Scotia Bank’s Nuit Blanche event ran from 7:03pm to sunrise, throughout downtown Toronto.  Mayor Miller, in the cover page of its substantial program-book announced, "In my first term as Mayor, I championed Toronto’s cultural renaissance by launching Nuit Blanche."  He then added, "Scotiabank Nuit Blanche allows our artists to showcase the cultural energy that sets our city apart from any other place in the world, and bolsters Toronto’s status as a city that honors its artists and creative communities."  

Well, everyone is entitled to their own opinion.  A policeman directing pedestrian traffic at Avenue and Bloor quipped, "If this was in London, or anywhere else in Europe, there’d actually be something to see."  It was easy to concur (having just returned from there).  The streets were full of crowds but art projects were scant (a few video installations jumped out here-and-there).  Where were the street performers and visual art monuments?  Instead, a mobile tap water van was parked outside the ROM advertising a City of Toronto’s positives.  However, the whole grand boulevard leading up to and through Queen’s Park was bereft of any real attractions.  U of T had something that looked like a fake fire happening—or maybe it was real (fire trucks and an ambulance arrived).  People lined up around the block on Cumberland, I was told for a "TTC sound installation," but where was the street music—the ambiance/the energy?  Regular street-level galleries were jammed, for a change.  Too bad they don’t get similar attention, year round.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Live With Culture" banners have been hung throughout the city if you look up on street posts.  In "Zone A" (Yorkville through to Queens Park), fresh designs make pretty decorations. In Zone B, along Spadina (into China Town/Kensington Market) remnants from 2005/6 have been left (as they were).  From the numbers of participants out on the street, it’s clear they were seeking something—hopefully culture.  Or, was it just a chance to enjoy a balmy autumn evening with friends en plein air?  As someone who walks the walk (is impassioned to paint and write, day-in-day-out), I really wonder.  I think some were just there for the free Ritter Sport Chocolate being hurled into the crowd on Hazelton (across from the new Hazelton Hotel)—and related marketing photo-ops.

Mayor Miller’s Nuit Blanche program message concludes by thanking Scotia Bank and all other sponsors and partners for making this "’free all-night contemporary art thing" happen.  As I think about my own "free all-year contemporary art privilege" to represent Canada at the Florence Biennale without any support (financial, or otherwise—not even a returned e-mail), from Mayor Miller’s band of funders and associates, I can paint a completely different picture of culture/art in Toronto and hands-on support and respect for its emerging artists—a feeling of being better appreciated abroad than at home.

p.s.  Please check out Sarah Milory’s October 1, 07 Globe and Mail article, "A fun night at the art circus," for a more detailed account of Nuit Blanche—and suggestions for improvement.

 

Virgin trains are infamous among Brits for their delays and diversions.  I can now confirm this from personal experience.  My Liverpool - London train, last week, got diverted to Coventry, clipping the time I got to spend in London.  That’s the bad news!  Then, though I’d booked a regular ticket for the return to Liverpool, I somehow ended up in a First Class carriage (not that there was anything wrong with Second Class—every seat has its own electrical outlet).  That’s the good news!

What a treat first class was—or would have been, had I known in advance, and not slipped into Marks and Spencer to buy refreshments. (M and S has become so user-friendly, with mini-stores at train and gas stations, throughout Britain, you know you can pick up a decent snack from them almost anywhere anytime.) 

First Class Virgin passengers are served unlimited meals and drinks (including wine and alcohol), and are offered an array of complimentary reading materials and other resources.  The tableware and accessories aren’t paper or plastic, the seats comfortable, and crew very friendly.  The journey back passed so fast, I wasn’t ready to get off the train!  There’s also First Class Lounges at key stations.  Had I known…! 

In the little red book placed on every table on the train, there’s a note on the front page, with an e-mail address. If you’ve been "particularly impressed" with the service received by staff on the train, they want to know at feelgood@virgintrains.co.uk.  

I think about my Amtrak experiences on the Boston - New York route, when living in Boston.  Performance, or lack of it (as well as train station food and other compensations) don’t compare!