Today we have an interview with Vasco Rodrigues, Spotter for our London cityblog.
We met Vasco a few months ago, on our re-visit to London. It was nice to see he talked with so much enthusiasm about London, the city that has been the city of his personal dreams for a long time. It felt like he had only just moved there. In fact, he’s been living in London for more than 5 years already!
Vasco has been blogging for quite a while already on his personal blog. We are very happy to have him on our team!
Can you tell us a bit about yourself?
I am a 38 year old Portuguese who 5 years ago decided to leave sunny Lisbon and start a new chapter in London. Since then I have been working in the modeling/acting industry as a booker first and manager latest.
Recently I started being asked to act as Casting Director for several productions. I am sure you have seen commercials on TV which I selected the people to be on them… I hope you liked them! 🙂
Why London?
I feel in love with London ever since I first visited in 1991. Since then it was always on my plans to live here. There are so many differences when compared to any other European city! It’s a melting pot of different cultures, traditions, nationalities.
If you are visiting London you need to walk! That is THE must do! You also need to experience things as a local, for instance, getting the bus instead of the tube if you need to travel long distances.
I was going to say “avoid the main tourist attractions”, but if you are a Spotted by Locals website user, you know we don’t do that kind of trivial things. The 5 hours you spend queuing at Madame Tussauds could have been used for so many wonderful things!
What is the most popular neighborhood to live in London at this moment?
The area between Angel and Highbury & Islington tube stations is so great even I am trying to move in!! The two stations are linked together by Upper Street and it features cinemas, great pubs, exquisite restaurants and small theatre venues that guarantee a great night out.
It has also so many buses going through that you can virtually go to every single part of London and get back 24 hours a day. It is such a great area that fashion house Prada decided to open their nightclub there!!!
Which time of the year you like most in your city and why?
You have got to love the summer in London. The city slows down and feels so much more relaxed! Lunchtime is spent in the grass having a picnic, before heading back to the office. There are sun-loungers everywhere and it feels great to promenade by the river Thames in the late hours. But a snowy London is also amazing!
What would you do if you only had two days in London?
Get your walking boots on and discover the hills of London. There are magnificent views of the city to be seen from the top of Parliament Hill, Greenwich Observatory, Muswell Hill or Primrose Hill. On a clear sunny day, nothing beats the feeling of walking up these hills and discovering London in all its splendor.
Have lunch in a traditional pub and then lose yourself in the back streets.
Read all of Vasco’s articles here.
Check out the other interviews with our Spotters.