Since I've never been to England before, and I had 2 mates studying in London, I figured I'd take a trip over to the City for a few days and check it out. Oh what a weekend!
Ive heard it before, but London is the most expensive place I've been for sure. Paris comes in at a close 2nd. In lamens terms, a beer costs about 5-10 dollars depending on if you buy it in the grocery store or at a pub. Theres the background, here the full story:
Going to London was going to be my first time flying Ryanair...and the last. As "cheap" as you can get tickets, taxes, inconvenience, and transportation to and from the neverlands makes up for the cost. The company conveniently flies out of airports 1-2 hours away from the actual city, causing a bit of a fee and a hell of a long time to get to where you want to go. After an hour train ride into Frankfurt, a 2 hour bus ride to the airport, 3 hour layover, 1 hour flight, 1 hour bus ride, and 30 minute walk later, I finally met with my friends in The City in London. Enough of transportation...for now.
Arriving at 3 am left me tired, but didnt stop me from conversing and culturing myself to London until 6. Saturday was an early (mind the bedtime) start to the day at 1, sight seeing, lunching, and sometimes riding the Underground. Apparently construction closes the underground down every weekend and you may be forced to walk a great distance to your destination. We made it to Big Red (as my friend Shannon would call it), the clock tower as the sun was getting lower for some nice shots. Hitting up all the main sites such as Big Ben, Tower of London, Tower Bridge, The Queens Palace, except for London Bridge was probably a good way to spend the day, although actually visiting each place for an extensive amount of time would require a full vacation. Saturday night was absolutely fun, meeting friends, and testing out the London cider drink.
Sunday afternoon and lots of stories later, we found our way to Trafalgar Square, one of the most beautiful views of the city. Lucky enough for us, there was a beautiful sunset over the skyline and plenty of the city could be viewed from the steps of the Museum from high ground. At night, we found a sports bar and watched some american football, met some bar buddies, and had a good last night on the town. Waking up at 6:30 am monday was a drag, but pretty certain when we had 4 alarms set to wake us up. Another underground ride, hour bus ride, 1 hr plane ride, 2 hour bus ride, 1 hour train ride, and 15 minute busride later, I finally made it close to my dorm. Sadly, my class started at 6:00 p.m. and it was 5:45 so I didnt even make it to my bedroom before the 2 hour class. Exhausted yet content, the weekend was finally complete by 8:30 when I fell into my bed, and thought back on all the events that happened over the previous 4 days.
If theres one thing I learned is absolutely true from all the events of the last week, it is that there is no way to plan your life, no way to even guess what will happen in the coming week. Just trust that it will work out, and it will somehow work out in the end.
Tuesday, I had a German Speaking Test, which I nailed, and a Terrorism Class, not so much how to be a terrorist, but to discuss the ethics, strategy, and philosophical meaning of terrorism. The discussion I am in with one other American met in a cafe. We spoke for 2 hours over the meaning and definition of Terrorism. Who would of thought it would be so interesting.
Today; Wednesday consisted of conversation class in German, playing a board game to learn vocab, and cooking the biggest omelette I've ever eaten. Today was a good day.
This weekend: Hamburg, Germany
Possibilities for the following (Halloween) weekend: Poland, France, only life will tell.
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