The Underground London Tube: "Mind the Gap"

If you're British or have traversed the London Underground, also known as the Tube, recently, you're no doubt familiar with the phrase "Mind the Gap." When I was in London in January, I was charmed by the polite, female British voice that cautioned commuters to watch the gap between the train and platform as they boarded or disembarked.

In the U.S. you might hear "watch your step" or "watch yourself," but "Mind the Gap" is definitely a British thing. At the Inn on the Green at Ockley, a pub dating back to the 15th Century, the ceilings are low and there's a "Mind Your Head!" sign painted on the overhang.

But back to the Tube. I never got an Oyster card, which many regular commuters use to get around because it's cheaper than buying daily tickets, but I did have quite a few rides on the tube. Depending on the time of day and where we were headed, the tube was either standing room only or sparsely populated.

No matter what time of day, though, there was never a shortage of reading material on the Tube. Passengers read "The Sun" or "Telegraph," which were often left behind for other passengers. As the tube whizzed along, complete strangers read over other people's shoulders.

That didn't go over too well for me, though, when I had an overwhelming desire to see the title of a book a man standing across the aisle was reading. I must have tried a little too hard because the man gave me a pointed look, and I turned away. When I told my British friend about it, he said the man should have turned the book so I could see what he was reading, but by then my chance was gone.

I spent some time studying the Tube map on the wall and listening to the "Mind the Gap" voice announcing destinations such as Tottenham Court Road, Charing Cross, Piccadilly Circus, Knightsbridge, Gloucester Road, and Kensington, to name a few.

If I'd been alone, I would have gotten thoroughly lost, but I just followed my friend as we disembarked from the tube, went through some turnstiles, climbed the stairs and stepped out of the station and stood in front of Harrods department store. We also used the Tube to get to Buckingham Palace, The British Museum, Westminster Abbey and other places.

I thought I was handling the London Tube pretty well until I tried to go through a turnstile and it wouldn't accept my ticket. I tried over and over to insert my ticket to no avail. Finally, the man behind me asked me in a frustrated voice to let him through.

I was as frustrated as he and moved out of the way with a smart retort--I don't even remember what it was. Then, "Thank you for your assistance," he said in a most dignified manner as he passed through the turnstile.