London - between 2 attacks

2005 - 16.march, just after the first attack on London subway and buses... i've been in Paris at my friends place since one week now, looking at the scenes from the other side of La Manche. Terrible! Every one is talking about this. So am i. Then so many are saiyng - "now there will be coming nobody to London" - nobody? Interesting - people are afraid, they cancel their flights and trains so there are cheap tickets:D - and... who would attack the same place twice? - i thought so - but i was wrong - the terrorist don't act logicaly!
I've found great tickets on Eurostar-train for the next day - made a call to London to a friend of a friend of mine, asking for 'place on the floor for one night' and ... i left Paris.
The journey on Eurostar is itself worth, but i should visit the oldest metro on earth! Hooorrraaaaayyyyyy!
Besides - i should meet Ally, who i haven't seen for over 2 years or so!
I saw so many pics on the net from London, i read a lot about the system, it's history and actual situation or problems - so i was prepared for kinda disappointment . .. and i was wrong! hahaha - i mean maybe not THAT wrong, cause there are so many strange things - but all in all i was surprised in a nice way - if i'm allowed to use such words.
The worst thing of the whole system are the 'twenty-kilometer-long-line-names' with thousends of branches which is absolutely foolish for that kind of transport. They should split the lines, and rename them all as it's in other cities - where the lines are recognised by numbers or letters.
The narrow trains seemed to be another 'funny' thing - first i was afraid i wouldn't like them - but they're sooo cute (unless there are no as many people on the train) - so: next surprise!
MIND THE GAP! - i was sure it's not THAT bad - but believe me -  the gap between the platform edge and the train floor is HUGE! u could fall inside on the tracks and nobody would notice this event! That's why there is such announsment every time at stations with gaps (look at the pic!). Similar announcements i have heard only in 'Metro de Madrid' and it was something like >>estacion en curvas<<, but it was not that bad as it is in London. They have too long trains for such sharp curves, so i don't get their point, they should build for London metro trains with shorter carriages and it would be o.k. Those actual running ones don't suit into the stations.


2008
Be aware that i will complain a bit;)
This second time i was traveling with London metro (or as they say here 'tube') i was traveling with RJ82 and xxaimsxx - they were fitting ok into the trains, but me with my 185cm had to look out with my head - cuz the trains are that small (more like for asians sizes than european - which means the average british man was smaller in the past when they were building the metro than now hahaha)
I never know - what are the reasons in London for making such strange and hm. .. silly things - i.e. the day pass is 5,30pound while a single ticket 4pound! wtf!!! can u see some  logic?
Besides they shut down lines or stations or some exits so that u never know if u will reach ur destination - and if - then when :///
Last monday (11.aug.2008) we were going to the hostel - and wanted as usual get off at 'Borough' station but then the voice announcment said us our station were closed so we had to walk from the previous one. Next day the station was open but then closed again!
The system is huge but it probably never works on its 100% :P