LONDON: cheers mate
Every trip is a dream trip, and I feel like I am always starting off every blog post saying that, but going to London was my trip of the semester. Growing up my dad has always recruited players from England and of course, I was fascinated with Harry Potter at a young age….not that those two things validate a British obsession but somewhat of an explanation.
I have always loved cities, and traveling to New York and Los Angeles has always been something I deeply enjoy. I love the idea of the noise and all of the people surrounding you when you step outside. My family has always joked about living on acres of land for no one for miles. I would always respond that it was my worst nightmare. I didn’t even like living in the suburbs that much let alone not being around anyone for miles. I love cities because of how much there is to do and you never get bored. Hence, the deep love and connection I feel to Rome.
When we touched down in London that was exactly what I expected but even more. I was lucky to have some guidance from my English friends but regardless I knew that I would enjoy the city. All of the noise and buildings were so regal and it was so exciting. I knew there was absolutely no way that we would be able to see everything in less than 48 hours. We tried our hardest to see all of the tourist attractions, but I do know I need to go back to really take it all in.
One thing we did not account for was the pounds to dollars conversion, and I will not lie, that was definitely the only downfall of the trip. Strictly because I was not prepared. London is a little expensive. Another thing that I did not account for was the location of our hostel. London is a big city! So it was a tad bit far. But again a me problem just due to geographical awareness. Aside from those two things, it did not hold us back, and we had a grand time.
We were definitely tourists who gasped every time we saw a red telephone booth and did not stop until we got the perfect picture inside of one and that is okay. We were told that Pret coffee was the go-to, and if I had to rate it, I would give it about a 7. It was not bad at all, and there was quite literally one on every corner, but it was not the best coffee I have ever had. We had pancakes at Apple Butter and made our way to see Big Ben, the London Eye, and Buckingham Palace. I think we maybe had about 15,000 steps this day and I am not kidding. After a long day we of course ended up finding an Italian restaurant but not just any Italian restaurant. Jacuzzi was a sight to see and an experience that was filled with excitement. The ambiance was beautiful and the food was amazing. Was definitely on the pricier side but was worth it to me. There was an England game on that night, so we headed to a local pub and grabbed a brownie sundae while watching the game. After a long day of attempting to soak up every minute we could, we headed back to the hostel to grab some rest.
The next day we all got ready and went and grabbed some breakfast at Pret and then Faith and I decided to go visit the British Museum. We all have a tendency to visit museums every time we travel, which is something I don’t mind. I find them fascinating, and I really do enjoy seeing the art and history. It was a bit cold and rainy in London, and it seemed like the perfect time to visit the museum. We waited in line and finally made it in, and got to see all of the most beautiful art and exhibits. Museums are fascinating to me because it interests me the way different countries and artists perceived what was going on in the world.
After the museum, one of the things I had really wanted to do was, of course, have high tea. I am actually a big tea fan. Of course, I drink about 3 cups of coffee a day, but I do not shy away from having English breakfast tea. When I would go to my nanas house, we would have tea together, and she always made me poached eggs and toast. These traditions are with me forever. We found the most beautiful place to have high tea. We all got tea, and the girls got some soup, whereas I got an assortment of goods and sandwiches to share with everyone. It was delicious and fun to try all the different kinds of English classics and things I had never had back in the States. After high tea we walked around some more heading over to Picadilly Circus and Faith had a request to visit Lily Whites which is a massive sports store.
For dinner we had spotted a Chipotle and it really does speak for itself that it was necessary since we were deprived of one in Italy. We then headed back to the hostel after being truly exhausted from the last nonstop 48 hours. Besides Italy, London was definitely a place I could see myself working in or potentially calling home. 48 hours was not long enough by any means and there was so much more of the city that I would love to see. We underestimated how truly big it was and that just gives me more of an excuse to head back. And for the British boys, of course.
