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Lose oneself

I got lost in Hamburg once, wandering the streets and looking. I tried the same in Jerusalem but there were so many people trying to help that it was impossible! Glasgow was like that as well - I ended up in a woman's house talking about football and the history of Burma - strange people in Glasgow! Washington DC was strange - every second person seemed to be a policeman with a gun. Moscow was OK - the people were friendly.
Best way to discover the soul of a city is to walk, get lost and see what happens.

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JoyfulSilence · 46-50, M

I have worked in DC near Capitol Hill for 22 years. I started my career before 9-11. There always were guards about government buildings, guarding building grounds, and screening people as they entered. I used to eat lunch in the parks near the Capitol building, even walk on the lawn around it. In some spots I was only like 20 yards from the walls.

Then 9-11 happened and the whole lawn got fenced off. I stayed away for a few months. No more lunch in the park. Then I slowly returned. Yet I had to get used to the guards with assault rifles on patrol. It was a mixed feeling. On the one hand having an armed guard nearby to protect me felt safe, on the other hand it reminded me of the threat. I fear guns, in general, too, and cops a little. Somehow I managed to get used to, and enjoy the park like before. Then they put in all these barriers to stop vehicles, and slowly over time the armed presence lessened. Yet no more walking on the lawn only yards from Capitol, though. No more walking on its "porch" for the view.

OnlyRhonda · 36-40, F

@JoyfulSilence I don't like police carrying guns at all. They are getting more prevalent even in civilised nations. We are gradually sliding backward.

JoyfulSilence · 46-50, M

@OnlyRhonda Well, in the US citizens are allowed to have guns so the police must be able to counter them.

OnlyRhonda · 36-40, F

@JoyfulSilence I noticed. But it's not only in the US. I have even seen police carrying guns in the UK - against all our principles. We are sliding back into something really unpleasant.

JoyfulSilence · 46-50, M

@OnlyRhonda Oh, sorry about that. Whenever I am around police with guns I tense up.

OnlyRhonda · 36-40, F

@JoyfulSilence I don't blame you. The only people who should carry guns are soldiers and if the world ever gets civilised, we might do away with armies as well.

JoyfulSilence · 46-50, M

@OnlyRhonda I hope so. But there will always be bad and crazy people, I think. We will still need armed police at times to protect us.

OnlyRhonda · 36-40, F

@JoyfulSilence It's a new thing here. Our police don't habitually carry firearms. To me, that's a step backwards. Hopefully the current trend for armed criminals ends and we return to a more civilised way of life. In my youth, people who had to resort to a weapon were regarded as cowards.