Why I love big cities
Friday, February 22, 2008
The day before yesterday, in Frankfurt airport, I knocked my heavy suitcase onto my briefcase and damaged the screen of my trusty laptop, a MacBook Pro. Struggling with the one corner of the screen which worked, I emailed my secretary to find an Apple dealer in Moscow who could fix it. She came up with quotes ranging from 18,000 to 20,000 roubles ($800 or thereabouts) and with time estimates varying from 4 weeks to 1 working day. Obviously Mr One Working-Day got the job. The machine was delivered to him at 1100 today. It's 1830 now and I am blogging again from the repaired machine. I am not sure I could have achieved that in London, still less in the small Northern town which is home when I am in England. But in cities of 10 million+ people, anything is (or should be) possible. I can't imagine living anywhere smaller now. No retirement to the countryside for me.
I would praise the efficient Apple dealer by name, but I am not sure any of my readers are in Moscow. Should you want his name and number, click the email link in the sidebar. He's my hero at present and I will be happy to send business his way.
I'm afraid I'm a big city person too. Sydney, then London and then Vancouver which I found terribly small and dull by comparison. I have to go elsewhere for great museums etc but you can get most everything here and the rest online anyway.
Paris is my city from the test but I think it's a wonderful place to visit but would not want to live there.
Posted by: jmb | Saturday, February 23, 2008 at 08:29 AM
I am appreciating the benefits of the suburbs. Having grown up in rural environments, I am with you about access to goods and services. Cities have many benefits.
Posted by: Colin Campbell | Saturday, February 23, 2008 at 02:37 AM
I am appreciating the benefits of the suburbs. Having grown up in rural environments, I am with you about access to goods and services. Cities have many benefits.
Posted by: Colin Campbell | Saturday, February 23, 2008 at 02:36 AM