Throughout my time here in Spain I have been lucky enough to travel to many places throughout Europe. I knew I wanted to take advantage of the accessibility to other places while in Spain, but over the last two months I have been able to see places that I dreamed of visiting. So far my friends and I have visited Nice, Valencia, London, Rome, and Dublin; and although it’s hard to choose a favorite, I am partial to London.
London was never on my original list of MUST SEE places here in Europe, but I’ve learned a cheap flight can change those plans very quickly. The weeks leading up to London were very busy as we were still settling in and getting used to the structure of our courses, but before I knew it I found myself in Stanstead airport, hopping on a train to Liverpool Street. After we arrived at the station, we got into our Uber and started a scenic route to our hotel. The city took my breath away. It was everything I have wanted in a city, yet smaller and more intricate then Manhattan or Philadelphia. The buildings were rich in architecture and the citizens hurried along their way in a fashionable matter, dressed in trench coats and fur. Our hotel was tucked down a quaint street in Westminster and there was no lack of cafes within feet of the front door. I couldn’t believe that two hours into my London trip, I had fallen in love with a city I never gave a second though to visiting. After setting our bags down, it was time to be the biggest tourists we possibly could be. We set off on a lovely walk through the park with Buckingham Palace as our final destination. Upon arrival I was stunned at the size and luxury of the palace. I couldn’t believe this historic place that I have only seen on television, was right in front of my eyes. The crowds were as large as I expected, but everyone seemed to gaze in unison. Next stop on the tourist agenda was the London Eye. On our way we grabbed a bite to eat and explored a bit, as we were expecting to wait a while to get on the London Eye. After waiting an hour with full stomachs and much anticipation, we stepped onto the London Eye and saw London from a brand new angle. After our ride on the eye we stopped at Big Ben and went on our way to get ready for our dinner reservation.
The next day we spent our morning before our flight in Notting Hill. I was internally freaking out as a lover of rom coms and a fan of Hugh Grant’s famous film “Notting Hill.” The day was full of vintage shopping, trying local pastries, and exploring the streets lined with colorful row homes. We ended our afternoon watching soccer in a pub alongside some locals, and before we knew it, it was time to head back to Barcelona.
I couldn’t believe the love and adoration I had for London after 48 hours there, but all I know is one day I will be back.
