I'm Back, Back, Back Again... London, England!

London wasn't ready for me to be 'Back, Back, Back Again!' I had a lot on my itinerary during my one and only full day in the city! OK, I discounted the first morning and afternoon because I had official visa ish to deal with. I hung around 'Soho Square' before I took things over to 'Fitzrovia' for a croissant and coffee in a former Victorian toilet! 'Gay's The Word' finally had my attention! 

Returning to the scene of the crime was a no-brainer, well in a manner of speaking because London's West End had dragged me back for more! Hitting up 'Soho Square' had to be done, for me anything to do with Soho is a must see and do! I loved that original looking 16th century park, formerly named after 'King Charles II' because it was called 'King's Square'. Opened back in 1680, the timber building that can be found in the middle of the park-like square dates back to a long past time. I wanted to swing by this oasis of calm for just a few minutes at the start of my only full day in London because I had missed out on it during previous visits. Nowadays, Soho Square keeps things business only with a host of big names calling the surrounding buildings their workplaces. Word on the street suggested that Soho Square was a rather fancy area for someone to call their home? Really? I don't think! Sure, 21 Soho Square was allegedly home to a rather well-known brothel! Oh, Soho still keeps it going! Make that money, babyyy!!!

Soho Square kept things professional during that January 2023 morning, but really what does professional even look like? Like, for real? Exactly! One man was looking for an argument, not with me but with a delivery driver and to be honest his noise made him look like a fool! The weather was blessed, hey London had me fooled during that moment because Soho was about to serve the last bit of sunshine for the whole day! Rude! Clocking some French from the corner of my eye, I noticed that Soho's own square boasted its own 'French Protestant Church'. Sure, London continues to be a safe haven for those who are seeking refuge from the world beyond our UK shores, that church echoed that notion! There was just something special about that pocket of calm, literally the madness of 'Tottenham Court Road' lay a couple of footsteps away from that quiet setting. Being back in London, well it felt amazing to tell the truth! I did wonder if that brothel still existed? London will always work for that coin! Ey, get your mind out of the gutter! 

Now, I knew a few things about those Victorian Public Toilets of yesterday for their double purpose. Those Gay men of yesteryear needed a place to get their kicks, without safe spaces and what we know nowadays as 'Saunas' or Bathhouses', they took their business to such toilets. For that reference, I wanted to find a former 'Victorian Public Toilet' because I wanted to see how they've evolved. Heading across Tottenham Court Road led me on my way to 'Fitzrovia'. No word of a life, Fitzrovia served fancy in every single direction! Looking for 'The Attendant' had to be done, taking my eyes off my Apple Maps for just one moment allowed me to find my intended location. Stepping down those steep steps had me entering that former 'Victorian Public Toilet', modernised with enough porcelain in-view, I was very impressed with that setting! Taking a seat at one of the former urinals felt correct if not very bizarre, embracing London's Fitzrovia had to be done! Sure, no cruising of that kind took place, it was all about coffee! Get it right! Get it, W1! 

Did feel out of place? No, I know who I am and in that moment I didn't lose that outlook, remaining unwavering I served my own truth! Ordering a posh coffee wasn't to be, the coffee machine had broken down not long after I had taken my seat. I wasn't mad! I embraced my filter coffee alongside my cheese and tomato croissant because it was all about the experience, I was after-all having brunch in a former 'Victorian Public Toilet!' Those conversations weren't in my hearing range, 'The Attendant' kept me on my toes because I couldn't believe how a place that had lived such a spicy former life, most recently stood as a coffee-shop! London saw me paying attention, I was able to make this trip count because time was of the essence. Costing me a very different price, I didn't begrudge those figures because it was all about the experience as mentioned before. Sure, a working coffee machine would've been preferred but it didn't turn things sour. Next, I walked away from 'The Attendant' with a famous bookshop in mind! LGSM! 

Before that mid-morning period, I had done London a dis-service on several occasions where 'Gay's The Word' was concerned! Real talk, I remember the time I had come down to London for my 24th birthday and had planned to visit that bookshop, I was a whole damn mess! Drinking more than I could deal with, the following day saw me hungover like nobody's business without any fight to reach that bookshop! 2023 had me keeping things on the move, arriving at Gay's The Word felt correct! I was standing before a LGBT London heavyweight, standing as the UK's oldest LGBT bookshop! Founded in 1979 by a group of Gay Socialists, Gay's The Word started a revolution, a queer revolution with 'LGSM - Lesbians and Gays Support the Miners' using Gay's The Word as their meeting place during 1984/85 during their campaigns during the 'Miners Strikes'. The 2014 film, 'PRIDE' featured this timeless and iconic bookshop for all to see! With my China flights sorted, I needed to make time for this legendary LGBT bookshop before I left!  

Upon walking into Gay's The Word, I was fronted by an 'Aladdin's' Cave' of books from all spectrum's within the LGBT community, like everything imaginable was present in print! I gravitated towards the 'Gay' section because I truly wanted to read a book that I could connect with, there was no question about it, I needed to buy at least two books! That I did! I bought 'Deep Sniff: A History of Poppers and Queer Futures' by 'Adam Zmith' and 'Gay Bar: Why We Went Out' by 'Jeremy Atherton Lin'. Feeling seen, I loved that LGBT bookshop moment in London because it truly felt like those books knew me, Waterstones could never! I honestly could've stayed gazing at those many titles, even some in the Trans and Lesbian section caught my eye because 'Gentleman Jack' is a figure that I really want to know more about! I pledge to actually read those two books, I actually will because I bought them with my own coins! LGBT London was popping and pretty, serving everything and more! Books and brothels, I do think!!! 

Bookshop... She Better Did! 

Desperately Seeking Adventure