The second route to campus is quite different, especially in terms of the built environment.
It goes through Islington, which is the second poorest borough of London. Towards the end of the route, the city starts to look more like a gentrified Williamsburg or Lower East Side, with hipster-like humans abound.
What do you think about the difference between these two routes?
Toynbee Hall, where the architects of the welfare state came to study and find solutions to poverty in London.
wow.
A more residential area. Will see children going to and from school, or just hanging out on the streets.
The International Flavour of Islington/Tower Hamlets.
The outside of a public housing "estate". The stigma associated with living in "council estates" is much less in the UK than in the United States. My tutor for my Management of Welfare class asked the students; "who here lives in a council estate or government subsidized housing?" Almost 3/4 of the class raised their hands. Imagine if that happened in the US; "How many of you live in the projects"? Who would raise their hand? The culture around welfare in the US is much more "shameful".
Neglected litter by the Old Street tube station.
City Road is home to many charitable (non-profit) organizations, perhaps due to the lower price of the properties.
even the second to poorest borough has beautiful and well-kept green spaces. note the resting pigeon.
the morning commute-though much quieter than the City of London route
brand new mixed-income housing building
locals eat breakfast and read the newspaper at the Sherpardess cafe, looking out onto passersby as they sip their morning cuppa
"The Shoreditch Social Centre"
the street art in this area is absolutely incredible. This is just the tip of the iceberg. The art brightens up the streets, and it also conveys a certain sense of passionate, unrestrained self-expression.
I guess they feel at home in this neighborhood...
The fever of the royal wedding still lingers upon a local bar.
socially-concious coffee stand.
post box not the shiny red as it would be in the tourist districts...
Upon entering Tower Hamlets, people begin to look very real, in many different shapes, colors, and sizes.
