The past few days have been so jam packed that I haven't had time to write a blog post.
Friday was one of the best days of my life. I don't have time now to write a post that would fully capture how wonderful and special the tour of Warner Brothers Studios was for me so I will write a solo blog post in a few days about it. Most likely Thursday but we'll see.
Saturday morning Anavi and I took the tube to The Tower of London. We didn't go in but I remember going inside when I was with my grandparents. Even from the outside, it is magnificent. We then walked across the Tower Bridge. The sun was starting to peak out from behind the clouds. We were so glad because after our walk across the bridge we went on a River Cruise of the Thames.
Our River Cruise started at the Tower of London and ended at Big Ben. I didn't realize till we got on the boat that we'd bought our tickets from the same company that my grandparents had almost 9 years ago. This time, instead of going on the river cruise with my grandparents, I was going on it with Anavi. Not only was the tour fun, but it was interesting to see how my perspective has changed from my ten year old self to now.
After getting off the boat, we walked around Big Ben. It's not as big as I remember it to be but I've also grown about a foot since I was last here. Wanting to see St. Christopher's up close, we walked back down along the Thames. It was now a beautiful sunny day with not a cloud in the sky. While on this trip we've had wonderful weather.
We arrived at St Christopher's and decided not to go inside as it on the more expensive side and we didn't have enough time to explore it and go to the Borough Market.
If you go to London, you must go to the Borough Market. The food is to die for and the atmosphere is so cheerful. The Borough Market is basically a Flea Market but just for food. People rent stand and sell their delicious foods and drinks year round. It was so hard to decide which stands I wanted to get food at but I somehow decided.
The first thing I got was a pork and salad sandwich with a horseradish dressing. If everything else didn't look and smell just as good, I would have gone back for another one of these. The pork was perfectly cooked and the horseradish dressing was a good contrast to the flavor of the pork.
Next I got a Kafta Wrap. This was a pick outside my normal food comfort zone. I am willing to try almost any food but this had a chili dressing and a yogurt based dressing. I'm not the biggest fan of spicy food. Sometimes mild salsa is too much for me. When I read that the wrap had a chili dressing I almost got something else but the amazing smell wafting from the stand kept me there. I'm so glad it did because that wrap was even better than the pork and salad sandwich. Yes the chili dressing had a kick to it but the yogurt based dressing cooled it down. I loved it!
To wrap up my meal, I got a Sweetheart Smoothie and a White Chocolate Chip Cookie. The smoothie had pineapples, oranges, blueberries, apple juice, and orange juice. It was refreshing and all the flavors worked really well together. The cookie was the size of my face! Photo evidence displayed to the left. I shared it with Anavi.
Anavi got a cheese toastie (a grilled cheese) and a dish that was a combination of pinto beans, rice, a few spices, some veggies, and lots more that I don't remember. She also got a Sweetheart smoothie. At this point we were both stuffed but content.
We made our way, with the help of 3 different bus attendances, to catch a bus that would take us to the Novello Theater to see Mama Mia!! We both love Abba and the movie version of this musical. This was both of our first times watching it on stage and not on a screen. The cast did a wonderful job in this production. I was very impressed. The songs are still running through my head and I don't mind one bit! One thing I did notice about the theater is that everyone has snacks and drinks. It's like our movie theaters. They sell drinks and snacks and you can bring your own.
This was the first Halloween that I did not get fully dressed up. Last year I was Napoleon Dynamite and it was awesome. This year I didn't have many options. When we were in Bath we walked past a shop selling colored contacts. We each got a pair and they are so cool! I got a pair that makes my eye black with a thin red ring around the edge. This and dressing in all black was the extent of my Halloween costume this year. I would have tried to do something better but we were also not going anywhere special. We went to a cool pub and had a few drinks to celebrate.
This morning I woke up early and checked out of my hostel. Anavi did the same but a little before me. We split up today as she wanted to go into the Tower of London and I had a few more places I wanted to visit on my own. After storing my bags in the hostels luggage room, I took the tube to Baker Street. For you Sherlock fans out there, you know what's coming.
I walked down Baker Street and stopped in front on 221b. 221b Baker Street is Sherlock Holmes and John Watson's home. Sherlock BBC is another one of my favorite things. Anything Sherlock Holmes related is great but the BBC version is my favorite. This was my first stop of the day because I wanted a picture of the door with no one in front of it. I got my picture :)
I then got back on the tube and went to Kings Cross Station. There I got to see where Platform 9 3/4 is supposed to be. I had to get but Harry Potter fix for the day!
Getting back on the tube, I went to Big Ben. There is a souvenir shop there that I had to buy something in. I didn't buy it yesterday when we got off the boat because I didn't want to carry it into the theater. I had to buy an I ❤️ London sweatshirt. Abbe and Ellie both have these kinds of sweatshirts from their ten year old trips but I didn't get one when I was here. Now I have one and I can't wait to wear it. Yes it may be a super touristy souvenir but it means a lot more to me than just remembering London. It reminds me of what a wonderful trip I had and how blessed I was to have that opportunity and gain those experiences at such a young age.
From Big Ben I walked to Buckingham Place. There weren't many people in front of Buckingham Palace. Maybe because it's Sunday. I got back on the tube and got off a block away from Kensington Palace. I walked past Kensington Palace on the way back to my hostel to get my luggage. I loved visiting Kensington Palace when I was in London last.
After grabbing my luggage I got back on the tube to go to the London Victoria Couch Station to catch my bus to the airport. I arrived at the airport at the exact time I wanted to. I got through security really quickly. To get through the gates you have to walk through a literal maze of shops. You had to walk through all the shops and there was no way around it. I was slightly annoyed by this. Also they didn't announce my gate until 30 minutes before my plane was supposed to leave and that was also annoying.
The plane ride itself was also annoying. I parodied the 12 days of Christmas song and made it about how my flight was but it's somewhat rude. I took my annoyance and anger from the plane boarding and leaving late, sitting next to rude people, and 3 crying children and put it into this parody. It helped though because I'm in a great mood and happily sitting in my pajamas on my couch.
Traveling around England was great and so much fun but I am glad to be home.
Friday was one of the best days of my life. I don't have time now to write a post that would fully capture how wonderful and special the tour of Warner Brothers Studios was for me so I will write a solo blog post in a few days about it. Most likely Thursday but we'll see.
Saturday morning Anavi and I took the tube to The Tower of London. We didn't go in but I remember going inside when I was with my grandparents. Even from the outside, it is magnificent. We then walked across the Tower Bridge. The sun was starting to peak out from behind the clouds. We were so glad because after our walk across the bridge we went on a River Cruise of the Thames. |
After getting off the boat, we walked around Big Ben. It's not as big as I remember it to be but I've also grown about a foot since I was last here. Wanting to see St. Christopher's up close, we walked back down along the Thames. It was now a beautiful sunny day with not a cloud in the sky. While on this trip we've had wonderful weather.
We arrived at St Christopher's and decided not to go inside as it on the more expensive side and we didn't have enough time to explore it and go to the Borough Market.
If you go to London, you must go to the Borough Market. The food is to die for and the atmosphere is so cheerful. The Borough Market is basically a Flea Market but just for food. People rent stand and sell their delicious foods and drinks year round. It was so hard to decide which stands I wanted to get food at but I somehow decided.
Next I got a Kafta Wrap. This was a pick outside my normal food comfort zone. I am willing to try almost any food but this had a chili dressing and a yogurt based dressing. I'm not the biggest fan of spicy food. Sometimes mild salsa is too much for me. When I read that the wrap had a chili dressing I almost got something else but the amazing smell wafting from the stand kept me there. I'm so glad it did because that wrap was even better than the pork and salad sandwich. Yes the chili dressing had a kick to it but the yogurt based dressing cooled it down. I loved it!
Anavi got a cheese toastie (a grilled cheese) and a dish that was a combination of pinto beans, rice, a few spices, some veggies, and lots more that I don't remember. She also got a Sweetheart smoothie. At this point we were both stuffed but content.
We made our way, with the help of 3 different bus attendances, to catch a bus that would take us to the Novello Theater to see Mama Mia!! We both love Abba and the movie version of this musical. This was both of our first times watching it on stage and not on a screen. The cast did a wonderful job in this production. I was very impressed. The songs are still running through my head and I don't mind one bit! One thing I did notice about the theater is that everyone has snacks and drinks. It's like our movie theaters. They sell drinks and snacks and you can bring your own.
This was the first Halloween that I did not get fully dressed up. Last year I was Napoleon Dynamite and it was awesome. This year I didn't have many options. When we were in Bath we walked past a shop selling colored contacts. We each got a pair and they are so cool! I got a pair that makes my eye black with a thin red ring around the edge. This and dressing in all black was the extent of my Halloween costume this year. I would have tried to do something better but we were also not going anywhere special. We went to a cool pub and had a few drinks to celebrate.This morning I woke up early and checked out of my hostel. Anavi did the same but a little before me. We split up today as she wanted to go into the Tower of London and I had a few more places I wanted to visit on my own. After storing my bags in the hostels luggage room, I took the tube to Baker Street. For you Sherlock fans out there, you know what's coming.
I walked down Baker Street and stopped in front on 221b. 221b Baker Street is Sherlock Holmes and John Watson's home. Sherlock BBC is another one of my favorite things. Anything Sherlock Holmes related is great but the BBC version is my favorite. This was my first stop of the day because I wanted a picture of the door with no one in front of it. I got my picture :)I then got back on the tube and went to Kings Cross Station. There I got to see where Platform 9 3/4 is supposed to be. I had to get but Harry Potter fix for the day!
Getting back on the tube, I went to Big Ben. There is a souvenir shop there that I had to buy something in. I didn't buy it yesterday when we got off the boat because I didn't want to carry it into the theater. I had to buy an I ❤️ London sweatshirt. Abbe and Ellie both have these kinds of sweatshirts from their ten year old trips but I didn't get one when I was here. Now I have one and I can't wait to wear it. Yes it may be a super touristy souvenir but it means a lot more to me than just remembering London. It reminds me of what a wonderful trip I had and how blessed I was to have that opportunity and gain those experiences at such a young age.
From Big Ben I walked to Buckingham Place. There weren't many people in front of Buckingham Palace. Maybe because it's Sunday. I got back on the tube and got off a block away from Kensington Palace. I walked past Kensington Palace on the way back to my hostel to get my luggage. I loved visiting Kensington Palace when I was in London last.After grabbing my luggage I got back on the tube to go to the London Victoria Couch Station to catch my bus to the airport. I arrived at the airport at the exact time I wanted to. I got through security really quickly. To get through the gates you have to walk through a literal maze of shops. You had to walk through all the shops and there was no way around it. I was slightly annoyed by this. Also they didn't announce my gate until 30 minutes before my plane was supposed to leave and that was also annoying.
The plane ride itself was also annoying. I parodied the 12 days of Christmas song and made it about how my flight was but it's somewhat rude. I took my annoyance and anger from the plane boarding and leaving late, sitting next to rude people, and 3 crying children and put it into this parody. It helped though because I'm in a great mood and happily sitting in my pajamas on my couch.
Traveling around England was great and so much fun but I am glad to be home.
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