“Freedom is the right to tell people what they do not want to hear.”
Today I literally traced the great George Orwell’s steps, which led me to one of my favorite days in London this far. George Orwell was a great British novelist and (drinker) from the mid 1900’s. He wrote amazing politically driven novels such as nineteen eighty four. My walk in his footsteps today was not a planned day though, but a amazing coincidence.
My day began by taking the underground out to the famous Notting Hill. My plan was to check out this amazing market I had heard of called Portebello St, and once I arrived I was not let down. Upon turning the corner of the tube I was greeted with wonderfully colorful vintage homes lining a brick street and thousands of people. Moving into the market was like a whimsical dream, hundreds of shops and vendors and antiques lined this beautiful street out of a movie. The very first colorful house I came to happened to be George Owells home. I had no idea that he had lived at the entrance of Portebello St next to the famous Alice’s tea shop. I spent hours in the market shopping my day away thinking the whole time how George probably did the same daily. After I had exhausted my feet and bank account I decided to head back to Bloomsbury.
Upon my return I walked to the hotel to drop off all of my prizes and rest my feet for a bit. This is when fate lead me back to George, I began to get hungry again and decided I should ask the concierge for a good place to eat. He pointed me in the direction of a street full of restaurants near the at Giles hotel. Little did I know I was right back on George’s path. I turned a corner to find an adorable mideval looking building with a pub inside. I read over the menu quickly then decided a British pie sounded like a great idea. Much to my surprise as soon as I walked inside there was a small blue plaque saying “George Orwell spent much time drinking ale here”. At this very moment I realized I had been following this man all day long. The pub had the most incredible pie and bangers I had the entire trip and the atmosphere made me feel like I was back in time. I felt as if I could look over to the bar and see George sitting with a pint talking politics with a stranger. I filled my stomach as much as I could and left with great joy knowing fate and let me see the city through the eyes and feel through my feet the story of an incredible man.
As I sit here now reflecting I think I will take a hint from fate and maybe read some George Orwell when I return home. Today was simply amazing, but still a real animal farm.
