...is the most overwhelming
place that I’ve ever been, but in the best way possible.
I flew off to London with the goal
of understanding it, getting some sort of grasp on what life is like in another
country. Now that I’ve been here for thirty days, I’ve realized that maybe I
won’t ever quite understand London, and that’s the reason I love it so much. There
are beautiful alleys full of pastel-coloured houses and matching flowerpots on
every doorstep that I’ll only come across by taking a wrong turn. There are
people my age from all over the world that I’ll only meet by crazy coincidence.
There’s so much mystery. I have no idea what to expect out of this weekend, or
even tomorrow, and I love that. I’ve realized that researching and planning can
only take you so far. I’ve discovered some of my favourite spots in London by
just being out and seeing a place that catches my eye and deciding to take a
chance on it. I never would have discovered my new favourite coffee shop if I
hadn’t decided to walk across this bridge just for the fun of it, and I
wouldn’t have found my favourite club if I hadn’t made a wrong turn on my way
back to the tube.
London is crazy, weird, and
wonderful. The energy that floods the streets and seeps into every club, bar,
theatre, and restaurant is unlike anything I’ve ever experienced before.
Everyone seems to have goals and a purpose, no matter where they’re headed at
the moment.
I don’t think I could ever get
bored of London. I walked out of the theatre after seeing The Ferryman on a
Tuesday night, only to see a man sitting in the middle of Leicester Square
singing (very badly) into a huge traffic cone. I’ve watched a tourist pose for
pictures while holding her hand out to a pigeon on the street. I’ll also never
run out of things to do. The city has pretty much anything you could possibly
want. While there are busy, brightly lit streets full of people, there are also
massive parks and plenty of fresh air.
One of my favourite (and free)
things to do is to choose a destination that’s more of an area, rather than a
specific place. Then, when you get there, just start walking. Walk down
whatever street you think looks interesting and see where it takes you. Doing
this has lead me to many unexpected gems. I’ve wandered through Brick Lane and
come across some really beautiful street murals. I’ve walked past Camden Market
along the river, and discovered beautiful houseboats covered in flower pots and
bright paint.
The popular destinations, of
course, are amazing as well. I loved walking through Trafalgar Square and
seeing massive chalk drawings on the sidewalks. I love Carnaby Street in Soho,
with all the colourful lights hanging overhead and the never-ending sounds of
people talking and laughing. I’ve
visited five museums since I’ve arrived, and each one is beautiful in its own
way.
I’m already so in awe of this city,
and I can’t wait to see what adventures the next three months bring!
No comments:
Post a Comment