“The World by Pictures” is a unique travel series that aims to be a visual treat – it combines my many loves – my love for sketching, my love for travelling, my love for writing, and my love for photography. Click here to read the other parts in the series.

#Part 1: London – Where I finally found myself

“A bad day in London is still better than a good day anywhere else” – Unknown

“The cobbled streets were slick with rain,
Tiny droplets on my face
Lost and cold, I hurried on,
In the need for some solace. 

Tucked in a nook, by a red phone booth
There stood a smoky cafe,
A snatch of light, I entered in,
No words I had to say.

‘Twas dark and hazy, I peered around,
And got myself a seat,
As a red-lipped girl came forth and poured,
A cup of warm cream tea.

Cupcakes and croissants then came by,
I felt warmth in my bones,
And although no one spoke to me,
The place- it felt like home.

A red jukebox sat spewing forth
By turns Lennon and Jagger,
Artists and writers bent down at work,
As if ’twas all that mattered.

The Queen’s picture looked down at all
From a wall across from me,
And somewhere far, a church bell rang,
And broke my reverie.

A man came forth, and said “Please,”
“May I sit by you?”
He looked like Bond, I thought to me
And said “Oh yes, you could.”

He ordered for some Fish & Chips,
And offered me a bite.
I said “Thank You”, but bit into
An apple crumble pie.

Like a warm blanket, the air around
Lulled me into ease,
It took me in when I was lost,
And made me feel at peace.

Though cold at first, it grows on you,
This place was like no other,
And if you do decide to stay
It’ll love you like no other.

What was this place, that I loved so?
 Was it just a dream?
I asked the man, he smiled at me,
And said it was, indeed.

“But I thought ’tis London”, I thought aloud,
How could I be so wrong?
But what he said made perfect sense
When I read this on the wall –

“Well, isn’t London but every man’s dream?”

~In my mind, each city has a color – and London? That’s definitely red – Me~

This is Part1 of the ‘World by pictures’ series. If you liked this, you must see this too – Venice – The city of dreams!