"I realized it's really tiring for you,"
Eida admits to Ahmed when asked about his superhuman effort. The bonds
forged on the roads clear in their easy interactions. Eida has become a
de facto member of the family.
However,
she soberly adds: "But I can't walk -- and if you didn't do it nobody
would do it, so you've been with me the whole journey carrying me and
look (sic) after me."
The
treacherous journey from Kobani to Turkey took them three months, Ahmed
says, followed by another month trying various routes from Turkey into
Greece.
He describes how they
initially tried to cross through the northern land border, but Greek
authorities refused to allow them through and sent them back. Eventually
Ahmed says he paid smugglers and risked the short but dangerous sea
crossing.
Left:
Evening drinks on the roof of a canalboat and new waterside seating off
Granary Square; Right: The mirrored panels of Gasholder No. 8, a
disused Victorian gas tank now converted into a public art piece.
King's
Cross Central is taking form around a series of 10 public spaces,
including three new squares. The fine views of St. Paul's Cathedral and
central London from the north side of the site are to be protected, and
while some buildings will be as high as 27 stories, there's also a lot
of low-to-medium-rise.
The area is
bounded to the east by York Way, a grim runnel of an arterial route; to
the west by the train line out of St. Pancras; and to the northwest by
the curving line of the high-speedrail connection to the Continent.
Yet
the most important transport the developers have at their disposal is
none of these. Rather, it's the canal towpath linking the new "place"
(which is how contemporary developers bizarrely style their creations,
as if all that came before was void and without form) with Camden Lock, a
mile or so to the east.
Long the
epicenter of face-metaland-henna-tattooing-by-appointment for European
teenagers, this complex of street markets and eateries will, I predict,
eventually merge with King's Cross Central, so that visitors will be
able to complete a great east-west passeggiata, with retail and snacking
opportunities every inch of the way.
"I realized it's really tiring for you,"
Eida admits to Ahmed when asked about his superhuman effort. The bonds
forged on the roads clear in their easy interactions. Eida has become a
de facto member of the family.
However,
she soberly adds: "But I can't walk -- and if you didn't do it nobody
would do it, so you've been with me the whole journey carrying me and
look (sic) after me."
The
treacherous journey from Kobani to Turkey took them three months, Ahmed
says, followed by another month trying various routes from Turkey into
Greece.
He describes how they
initially tried to cross through the northern land border, but Greek
authorities refused to allow them through and sent them back. Eventually
Ahmed says he paid smugglers and risked the short but dangerous sea
crossing.
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