Anyone who has lived with me knows that I am not a morning person. I am not one of those extremely grumpy people; I just don’t enjoy holding conversations as soon as I wake up because I may become grumpy. Well, the taxi driver decided to hold an entire conversation with me. So not only did I have to talk to him, but I had to think in Spanish at 5:30 in the morning. Not exactly an easy thing to do, by the way!
Once at the airport, I realized that I got there much earlier than necessary! I made it to the airport, got my boarding pass stamped, made it through security, passport control, and to the gate by 6:20! I wrote about my morning in my journal and then began studying for a midterm that I had later in the week for Operations Management.
All of a sudden, I hear someone calling my name! I look around confused to see this guy Andrew who is in my Marketing Management class. It turns out, we were on the same flight to London. As he was meeting a friend in London, we were both traveling there alone so we kept each other company on the flight. When we landed in England, because it isn’t part of the Schengen countries, we had to go through border control. It took forever, but I was excited to get another stamp in my passport! Then, Andrew and I went our separate ways. I went to exchange money into pounds because England also isn’t part of the euro countries!
Then, I went in search of the train station. I had already bought my tickets online – thanks to the help of Gemma, a friend I met at school from England. I found it easy enough and got my tickets from the machine. When I looked at my tickets, I noticed that there was no specific time I had to be on the train. I could use it any time that day, so I turned to find the train times. Instead, I saw the Subway! I was so excited! (I was surprised to realize how much I miss pickles here. Of all the great foods to miss!) I decided to have a sandwich before finding my train.
When I left Subway, I found the monitors. I quickly found my stop (London Bridge!) and saw Platform 6. I walked down to Platform 6 and waited for the train. When it arrived, I found a seat and began planning my afternoon. A guy came around asking for my ticket about ten minutes later; I gave it to him, and he punched a hole in it. However, about five minutes later, there is a police officer standing at my seat asking for my ticket. He informs me that I am on the wrong train because on the bottom of my ticket in very little words is the abbreviation “FCC” which stands for First Capital Connect. I was on a Southern train, not FCC. He asked me if I was from London. I replied no. He then asked me if I was there on “holiday.” I replied yes. Anyway, I offered to buy another ticket, but he let me go with a warning. It was only later, after talking to Gemma, that I realized how lucky I was. She told me that the train system is very confusing in England, and that she had done that before as well. (This made me feel a lot better about myself!) However, she also told me that usually they charge you 70 pounds for doing that! I was lucky!
When I was finally able to get off the train about 45 minutes later, I was relieved. I went to the metro station to buy a day pass for the Tube. I went to a machine first, but I realized that it didn’t accept paper money so I went to the person at the desk. I told him that I needed two individual day passes. He asked me where I wanted them for, and I told him London. He acted like I insulted him. We went back and forth trying to figure out what I needed before he finally printed my tickets and I paid him. He was one of the rudest people I have met so far on my trip…far worse than the Parisians I met! When I looked at my tickets, I realized that he gave me two tickets for that day! I realized then that what I asked for could me misinterpreted even though I was clearly alone, but I was still upset, especially after the train incident!
I made it onto the metro and went immediately to Westminister. This is where most of the things I wanted to see are located. On my way out, I notice a bathroom. I go in to find out that you have to pay 50 pence (or cents) in order to use public bathrooms. This concept is strange to me, but the bathrooms I found out later on are clean at least! Once at street level, I quickly walked around and saw the Houses of Parliament, Big Ben, and the London Eye. Then, I decided to head over to Leicester (pronounced like “Lester”) Square to see about buying a ticket to see Phantom of the Opera in theatre. However, when I get there, the ticket is in a limited view spot and double the price I found online the day before. I decided not to buy a ticket.
Houses of Parliament
Big Ben
London Eye
I walked around, though, and I saw a few of the theatres and the general area. Then, as I turned around to head back to the metro, I manage to get lost. I spent twenty minutes walking through the heart of London’s Chinatown looking for my way back!
With most of my plans for the day in question and clearly with luck NOT on my side, I decided to head over to my hostel to check in and regroup. I, luckily, found it with relative ease. However, the person helping me was new. His English was not great, and when he checked my passport, he saw that I was from Spain, so we talked in Spanish. I thought it was amusing! He gave me the information, and I found my room. In this particular room, the bunk beds were three high, and I of course happened to be on the top bunk!
I took out my journal and again wrote about all of the adventures I had that morning. I unpacked a little. I called mom on Skype and vented about my morning. And then eventually, I made it back on the Tube and on my way to Westminster again. There, I decided to take a cruise down the Thames River to London Bridge. That did the trick! Being in a boat on the water with a suddenly sunny sky was all I needed to feel excited again! As we cruised down the river, I saw London’s magnificent aquarium, the London Eye up close, a Shell building (which I took a photo of for dad!), Cleopatra’s needle, Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, and more until we reached the Tower of London! I walked around the tower sipping hot chocolate and enjoying myself. I watched various school groups come and go, couples walking hand in hand, and tourists snapping every possible photo!
Aquarium
Shell Building
Cleopatra's Needle
Globe
Tower of London
When I left there, I went to St. Paul’s Cathedral, which is absolutely charming! Then, I headed to see Buckingham Palace. In order to get there, I had to walk through Green Park. It is such a beautiful park with planted flowers and antique light fixtures. I got to Buckingham just as the sun was setting. I snapped a few photos, but they don’t so justice to just how pretty the sight was. And, then I headed back to the hostel to get ready for another long day.
St. Paul's Cathedral
Buckingham at Dusk
Back at the hostel, I was the only one in the room. I changed clothes and got my computer out to charge my camera. I organized myself and made plans for the next day. Then, I tried to get some sleep. However, people started coming and going. They were turning the lights on and off. One girl was blow-drying her hair. About two hours after I laid down, I think I finally fell asleep. I woke up the next morning before my alarm and got ready. I went downstairs to check out and have breakfast. Then, I headed back to Buckingham Palace to stake out a spot for the Changing of the Guards Ceremony. I got there a little early though – 9am. The ceremony didn’t start until 11. Needless to say, I was the first person there for the ceremony!
I chose the spot that my guidebook recommended after taking all the pictures I wanted. I sat there and waited. I wrote in my journal and listened to my iPod. Again, I watched and listened to the people that came and went. Until, finally, I barely had any room to move and the ceremony began. It was exactly how you would imagine it. I stood there watching it with my camera in my right hand and my flip cam in the left trying to video it and take pictures at the same time! But after it was done and I left, I felt like I had been to London!
The Guards
From here, I returned to Leicester Square to eat lunch because I had seen so many wonderful places to eat lunch while walking around lost the day before! Then, I went to the Tube to make my way to Camden Market. Everyone that knew I was going to London told me to go there, but when I made it to the Tube, the line there was closed! Unfortunately, I didn’t go because it would have been difficult to get there via the Tube and expensive via a taxi. Instead, I headed back to Westminster to see Westminster Abbey. I made it there about 2, and the inside closed to visitors at 1:30! However, the outside of the Abbey is beautiful! I stopped there to have a look at my guidebook and went to the Churchill War Museum.
Westminster Abbey
I had a little trouble finding the small, hidden doorway, but I eventually found it (after walking by it three times)! All visitors received free audio guides which explained the rooms we were seeing and even played actual recordings from WWII. It was interesting to see the very rooms that Winston Churchill and many others occupied for much of the war. They worked, slept, and ate below ground to be protected in case of bombings.
When I left the museum, I went in search of souvenirs. I didn’t find anything though, so I headed to the Tube to make my last trip. At London Bridge, I spoke with several individuals to make sure that I found the correct platform and train to take me back to the airport! Once at the airport, I exchanged the pounds I had left for euros, got my boarding pass stamped, and made it through security. I had plenty of time so I went in the bookstore to see if they had any of Malcolm Gladwell’s books. They did, so I bought two. I read until they put the number of my gate up. Then, I walked to my gate to wait to board the plane.
When we finally boarded the plane, it was like a stampede to the door. Once outside the door, it was another stampede across the tarmac to reach either the front door or the back door to try to find a seat! People were pushing and shoving. I just walked calmly and laughed…at the situation, not them. On the plane, I took out my iPod which was blinking low battery after listening to it all morning waiting on the ceremony to begin. However, the strangest thing happened! It worked the entire plane ride, metro ride back to my house, and the final walk home! Now, I call that a miracle!
All in all, London was a crazy trip! I fumbled, but I got back up. I enjoyed London after the initial wave of bad luck! I leave next weekend to go to Lisbon, Portugal with four friends from school – Geanna (U.S.), Maggie (U.S.), Dani (Canada), and Emilie (France). I can’t wait!
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