Month: June 2024

Today is my last day in the beautiful city of London, yet for some reason, it doesn’t feel like it’s the end. I’ve enjoyed everything about this city, from its busy streets and beautiful parks to its amazing museums and theaters. London has been so amazing to me, and I can’t wait to return, but I am also very excited and eager to return home. I miss my friends and family and, most importantly, the comfort of my bed, and the main thing I miss so much is having A/C. But even though I’m leaving London, the memories and experiences I’ve made here will stay with me forever, making it feel like a second home.

Last bus ride with the class!! Going somewhere… Yummy!!

We went to this Indian style place called Dishooms, and they served us their lunch feast of amazing indian food . The flavors were amazing, the starters had got me hooked and I couldn’t wait for the next courses to come out. One meal after another and each better than the last. As much as I wanted to stay and continue feasting I couldn’t stay too long because I had an exciting plan to go explore Westminster Abbey. Even though it was tough to leave the incredible food behind I could not miss going to iconic Westminster abbey.

I went ahead and went to my tour of Westminster Abbey, and for me it had felt so surreal being in such a historic building Walking through the halls and seeing the amazing architecture it felt like I was was stepping back in time. The place is definitely overwhelming, with knowing the importance and significance of the building and seeing the tombs of kings and queens, from before and looking up to see the beautiful stained glass windows that tell stories of the past. It was truly incredible to be in a place that has witnessed many important moments in history.

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I ended up spending my last night in London stressing over my canceled flight; I was so worried about how I’d get home, frustrated, hot, and tired. I so desperately wanted to be home already; I thought to my self that everything happens for a reason. Maybe this was my sign that I needed to stay in London for just one more day. So instead of being upset, I decided take in the extra time I was given, seeing it as a gift.

My friends and I had been counting down the days for our visit to Westminster Abbey tour . However, our excitement had turned into disappointment when we arrived to the historic landmark just to find that it had closed unexpectedly early. We were upset and tired since we had spent an hour train ride to get there, especially since we had already purchased our tickets and weren’t sure if we could get a refund. Fortunately, our spirits were lifted when the staff told us that our tickets would still be valid for the following day as long as we showed up within the times posted: 9:30am -3:30am. With our plans adjusted, we now have our sights set on visiting Westminster Abbey tomorrow.

After leaving Westminster Abbey, my friends and I wanted to take a visit to the famous Camden Market. But yet again our day took another turn when we had realized we were sitting in the wrong train station. So instead of getting frustrated, we decided to take the time to enjoy our new walking adventure. As we strolled through the streets, we discovered an all of the cute shops One in particular had stood out to us and that was a Harry Potter-themed shop, where we felt like kids in a candy shop looking at all the cute harry potter themed collections and even seeing the section where you can buy your own wand! Even though our evening took a toll we made the most out of it!

We had finally made it to Camden Market, The only way I think I could describe camden market was it being a maze of vendors that I loved exploring. Throughout the vendors I had spotted a whole bunch of Taylor Swift shirts that I wanted to take home. But unfortunately, my luggage was too full which had meant , leaving no room for even one more item.I had came across this little jewelry shop. There, I found this super cute ring that instantly caught my eye. It was so cute and perfect that I knew I just had to have it what made it even better was that it was adjustable to my liking so that was an extra bonus ,and so now it has become souvenir from my trip to camden market.

At Camden Market, I had got some amazing noodles and chicken from CamdenNoodle. The flavors were so yummy and blended together so well. I think this place perfectly captures the meaning of street food. But to end my adventures out on the town on a sweet note, I treated myself to some ice cream from Creams. The creamy dessert was the perfect way to end my day. It left me satisfied and fulfilled and ready to start my homework for the night

The weekend started out with our adventure to Cambridge, which began at 6 am, bright and early; I was rushing to make my way to the train station. I arrived just in time, No, literally. As I got down the stairs, the train pulled up. Tired and out of breath, we finally got to our station, so I grabbed a quick drink to start the day and was surprised to find the best matcha latte I’ve had yet. The smooth, creamy texture with a mix of rose was the perfect balance of flavors. Knowing I had found a good matcha latte told me I would have a good day in Cambridge.

On Saturday, my class spent a day in Cambridge. Together, we explored the historic University of Cambridge. A highlight for me was seeing the stunning architecture. As we walked through the streets in front of the university, there was a peaceful protest in support of Palestine. It was unique and interesting to see such passionate activism. The beauty and social awareness made my visit to Cambridge something truly special.

On Sunday, I was super excited as my roommate and I went out to find the location of “The Black Dog” pub. As a huge Taylor Swift fan, visiting this pub was special to us since it’s the title of one of her songs. The pub’s was so cute it even had lyrics from her song posted on the outside.. It was so surreal to connect a real-life location with the music I love.

After our visit to “The Black Dog” pub, we spent the rest of our Sunday at Borough Market, trying some of their delicious food and the famous strawberries that I just had to try before leaving. From there, we headed to Notting Hill, exploring all the shops and viewing the famous streets. I think this was a great way to wrap up our last weekend in London.

 

Today, we decided to grab a drink before heading to our travel writing class in Hyde Park. This drink marked my fourth try at finding a good matcha latte in London, but I was disappointed. Despite the anticipation, each little coffee shop had failed to deliver the smooth, rich matcha flavor I craved. With my hopes up we started to go on and explore the beautiful Hyde Park, leaving my matcha quest for another day. But trust me, I will not stop searching for the perfect Matcha Latte here in London.

Our visit to Hyde Park was for the class to see Princess Diana’s Memorial Fountain, but we were disappointed when we found out it was closed. The closure of the fountain left us feeling let down, especially because we just wanted to dip our toes in the water to cool off on this hot and sunny day and we couldn’t, Althoug we did decide to make the best of our day by going to this huge place called Harolds. Harolds holds a high-class candy shop, where there is a huge variety of sweets. But, the prices were quite a shock,I mean two pounds for a chip of chocolate? No, thanks ill pass.

After we were done at Harolds the only thing you could hear was our stomachs rumbling, so we found ourselves at Tattersalls Tavern, which turned out to be the best spot we had ate at this entire trip in my opinion. I ordered the house-seasoned fries and sticky chicken, and the meal was absolutely amazing. This meal had left me satisfied and re-energized. Once we left the tavern and we headed towards the Victoria and Albert Museum excited for all the art and sculptures we were about to see.

when we entered the Victoria and Albert Museum, I was immediately impressed by the different variety of exhibits and the when you walk up to the building itself buildings architecture will for sure just be jaw dropping. Then once you get inside you’ll have the look of amazement, but each room was filled with art from different parts of the world, but for me it was the medieval artifacts that truly got my attention The craftsmanship and historical significance that these pieces come with moved me and almost kind of transported me back in time. Among all the greats , the Michelangelo sculptures stood out to me heavily, Their lifelike detail had me amazed. My visit to the V&A Museum was an amazing journey through history and art that I will never forget.

To end my time out I had treated myself to a donut at Donutella,It was so good,sweet, creamy, and powdery it was the perfect dessert to top off my day. My time in the evening was spent in one of the classrooms in the basement of our dorm, where my friends and I gathered to do our homework. As we worked, we talked and made jokes, making our long study session just a little more enjoyable. We also found some time to make plans for our trip to Cambridge tomorrow since its going to be an all day thing. But I think that this was a great way to end the day, Dessert, friends, and homework completed!

Today, for our travel writing class assignment, our teacher took us to the busy streets of Covent Garden Market; this is where we were given the role of being food critics for the day. So, as we wandered through the market trying to find something to eat, we were in a place where the air was filled with smells that ranged from freshly baked pastries to street food and spices. Each stall offered a different food experience, from cheeses to gourmet chocolates. Our task for today was to pick a place to eat and take detailed notes on the flavors, the presentation, and our overall impressions of the food and place we picked.

As she strolled through the park, you could hear her shoes crunching the leaves of the path beneath her when an old couple sitting on a bench caught her attention. The couple sat quietly and enjoyed the view of the flowers and the dogs playing in the grass. Now and then, the couple would share a cute little nose kiss. As she watched the couple sit and look around, she’d pay close attention to them. She observed the women and how she saw when she would glaze her eyes across the park in awe of all the sights she had seen, how he would stare at her and give her the same look, in awe of the beautiful woman looking at the most gorgeous views.

After the girl was done observing the couple and others at the park, she soon met her friends for lunch at The Crazy Salad, a cute little spot just north of the park. As she and her friends arrived and sat in the squishy, uncomfortable booths, she was hit with the smell of fresh eggs and pancakes. With all these ingredients filling the air, her stomach started to rumble with anticipation. The waiter finally arrived to take their order and went through to check if she had got everyone’s order right, making small jokes along the way and filling the room with laughter. The waiter soon brought everyone their food, filling the table with various colors and smells. The room smelled delicious, from fresh eggs, crispy bacon, or burnt toast. She and her friends quickly dived into their meals, drank their freshly squeezed, overpriced orange juice, and soon cleared their plates, leaving the girls full and energized for their trip ahead.

The girl was then seen wandering through the halls of the grand British Museum. Walking into each room that revealed treasures from different kinds of ancient civilizations, she admired all the treasures and artifacts she was seeing right before her eyes. Walking through the African exhibit, she was seen admiring the different kinds of art in the masks and sculptures. Each of the artifacts told different stories about their heritage. Looking at her facial expressions, you could tell how in awe she was at the Greek section of the museum. From the statues and all the pieces of the temples, she was just amazed at the history right in front of her. The thing that excited her the most was the European galleries; she was so eager to explore the medieval and renaissance treasures; each treasure she came by broadened her appreciation for the different cultures that have shaped the world today.

At the end of her tour at the British Museum, she remembered the artifact that she had come across labeled ” bronze discus weighing 4kg” It was not in the best shape due to it being centuries old, but she was very interested in it because it had made her think of her brother back home, she had felt a sense of sadness knowing her brother was across the globe not able to see how interesting these ancient artifacts are. Alongside with those artifacts she had also seen wrestling artifacts dating back from 100 BC -AD 100, she immediately found her self thinking about her brother who had competed in wrestling and track and field. She had made the connection between past and present, noticing that she imagined ancient athletes competing in competitions and training just like her brother. This personal link that she wasn’t expecting to have to the treasures and artifacts made her experience and the British Museum so much more meaningful; she had left the museum ready to go home and share the stories of the connection she made and all the interesting stories she had learned.

On our third day in London, we had the opportunity to meet Lucinda Hawksley, who is the great-great-great-granddaughter of Charles Dickens. On this warm and sunny day, she guided us on a historical walk through the neighborhoods of London. As we walked and passed by historical buildings, Lucinda shared some amazing insights not only about her famous ancestor, Charles Dickens, but also about other travel writers from London. He knowledge of them made the experience truly memorable, she painted a picture of the city’s literary heritage.

As we walked through the streets of London towards the neighborhoods, you could smell the different scents from nearby restaurants that filled the air. The weather was so nice I could feel the breeze flowing through my hair. When we reached Gordon Square Garden, I could hear the sounds of laughter from nearby couples and the sound of pages turning in books this created a peaceful scene of the garden here in London

So, as we continued our walk, Lucinda had led us to the area where Virginia Woolf once lived We were able to pass by her home and see the very steps that she would walk on. When I was there at the steps I remember feeling a sense of admiration that i was in the same space where a literary giant once lived. As our walk continued she then took us to Tavistock Square, where we were able to see and admire the statue of Virginia Woolf. It was really nice to see that even til this day people still stop by her statue and leave her flowers.

As our tour with Lucinda ended, we had made our way to the bus stop where you could hear the busy street and just taking in the last moments of our literature walk. While my friends and I were standing and waiting for our bus, we noticed the remains of where the original World War II fences used to be.My friend Berklee explained to us how the fences had been removed during the war because they needed steel for the war. Soon after, they put the fence back once the conflict had ended, but not in its original spot, so you could still see the original steel from that time period. Seeing this felt like a perfect end to our historic walk around the neighborhood, blending wartime in London with its literary heritage.

London is a beautiful city that is captivating to me with its blend of historic and modern architecture. When I’m walking through its streets, I am constantly in awe of the all the buildings that tell stories of  the past, from the Buckingham Palace to the iconic Tower Bridge. London’s architecture creates a vibrant tapestry that reflects its history and spirit, making it a truly mesmerizing place to explore.

I deeply appreciate the rivers that flow through London. The Thames, in particular, holds a special place in my heart with its beauty. Walking along its banks, I am mesmerized by the sight of iconic landmarks such as the Tower of London and the tower bridge reflecting in its waters. The rivers of London truly enhance the city’s natural beauty.

Our day in London began with a visit to one of its most iconic landmarks, Buckingham Palace. Standing in front of Buckingham Palace was a memorable moment. I could take in the history and significance of the British monarchy. After visiting Buckingham Palace, we took a peaceful walk through St. James’s Park, a cute and quiet oasis away from the busy city. Buckingham Palace’s gorgeous architecture and the king’s Guard standing watch impressed us. The palace grounds were beautifully landscaped with gardens and statues, making for a scenic backdrop. In St. James’s Park, we enjoyed the serene lake where ducks and swans swam gracefully, surrounded by beautiful greenery and colorful flowers. It was a refreshing break in nature.

 

Our visit to Kensington Palace included a moment at the Memorial Garden of Princess Diana. I experienced mixed emotions intertwined with the surroundings, such as sadness and happiness. The garden, a tribute to Princess Diana’s life and legacy, gave a peaceful yet bittersweet atmosphere. Surrounded by greenery and such thoughtful landscaping, the garden seemed to showcase both the joy of her memory and the sorrow of her passing. It was a place of quiet reflection and admiration for a beloved Princess of Wales.

After we visited the Memorial Garden of Princess Diana at Kensington Palace, we continued to explore London’s historical landmarks with a visit to the Tower of London and Tower Bridge. Stepping into the Tower of London, we were able to dive into centuries of royal history, navigate through its ancient walls discover stories of the guards and prisoners, and even see the spot where Anne Boelyn was executed.  We were able to see The Crown Jewels, which amazed us with their beauty and historical significance, offering a glimpse into the British monarchy. Not too far from the Tower, Tower Bridge stood across the River Thames, and its iconic towers and Victorian architecture made a difference against the modern cityscape. Crossing the bridge gave us a nice panoramic view of London.