British Cities vs The Countyside

Two completely different spectrum's, one particularly the emerging financial epic centre of the world before the recession and now after my most recent stay in London- I believe there is this hyperbole of expense and glamour when placidly falling into a divisional mood whilst the other is traditional and less unforgiving. I noted the only smile was registered by a bemused Japanese tourist who was presumably in search of the typical British humour filled with colloquial mostly Cockney slang instead met a wall of silence. Secondly in York where I lived last year in the similar delusional self derivation and rush to get to office jobs that they would rather lose then continue for another 20 years of the same anal paperwork.

However whilst London has been flattened by its own expectations, York similarly with other cities I've visited recently; Liverpool, Manchester and Leeds also the regenerated parts of Birmingham seem to have quietly improved in it's contemporary surroundings also standards of transportation, employment and living. Essentially its also more friendly with the vibe around the streets away from the City centre thus more pleasing to be involved in. Less knife carrying Yardie types disembowelling their rivals or suited smug City types hovering around yet the likes of St James’s Square where the apartments cost more then an African yearly budget and just equidistant from Buckingham Palace looked pleasing on the eye but there is no sense of community or consideration for others and of course too expensive to lead to the belief you could one day live there so there is growing detachment perhaps.

Nevertheless, York has it's beautiful artistry too with many buildings not to mention York Minister which I still find one the most stunning architecture in the UK if not Europe (I'm against the Euro, if you ask) but its the surroundings of York that I love dearly. Within the calm, natural countryside that I was brought up there is little of this City bravado and mystifying isolation you feel en route to the bleedin' shops. I'd much rather visit t'shop rather than 'Tesco Direct'.

With the economy woes, summer holidays aboard will be sparse so instead of alternative trips to the English cities on a weekend spending spree in Oxford St/Trafford Centre and the like I'd suggest families and friends visit the Yorkshire Dales or perhaps Cumbria maybe even Kent.