Week 1 of London: SP&B&BP

Sunday-Saturday

22-28 September

The first couple of days in London were filled with taking-care-of-business stuff. I settled into my apartment (I live on the 4th floor; I'm just now adjusting to the climb), got my Tube pass (a monthly Tube pass costs A LOT of money), went to church, went grocery shopping (where I met a Jamaican man who told me how much he hates London- that was a good welcome to the city), went to class for the first time, and had my first shopping spree.

On Wednesday we went to St. Paul's Cathedral. Our group got split into several smaller groups and I was lucky enough to be with the most hilarious tour guide in the world. She was a cute old British woman with such a witty sense of humor. I loved her. And I loved St. Paul's. Besides being beautiful and historic, it is the place where some Harry Potter scenes were filmed which was cool to see! I appreciated learning about what a beacon of hope St. Paul's became for people during the WWII bombings. I decided to hike the some 500+ steps to the top of the dome. The first hike of the climb was fine, and took us to this area that had a wall where you could whisper to people from across the room and the sound travelled across the walls. It's kind of hard to explain but it was cool. The second climb was a little bit more difficult (actually a lot more difficult), and it provided a limited view of London. The last hike of the climb was horrible. The steps were narrow, basically completely vertical, and winding. The worst part was that once you started there was no turning back. It was hard, but the views were worth it. London is foggy, but so beautiful!

The outside of St. Paul's. It's located in the financial district and apparently they had an occupy movement here and people slept in tents on the steps of the cathedral. There are tons of restaurants and business people walking all around. 

Does anyone recognize these steps? They've been in lots of movies, Harry Potter being the only one I know them from.

The view from halfway up the dome.

The view from the top. London was feeling particularly foggy that day.

Our whole group by the staircase in St. Paul's. I'm standing to the right of the only boy in the very back row.

On Friday we took yet another bus to Brighton. Brighton is a seaside town and is home to King George IV's funhouse (it's not really called a funhouse but its real name grosses me out). George was obsessed with oriental style and the outside of the palace looks like the Taj Mahal. I honestly felt like I was in India. The tour of the palace was actually really fun, and there was some cool architecture in there.

This isn't the most Taj Mahal-y looking part of the palace, but you can kind of see the oriental design influence.

After the palace we walked around the pier. I got my very first British fish and chips and then a milkshake just for fun. I really loved Brighton. Maybe it was because it was a more relaxed visit, maybe it was because part of Chariots of Fire was filmed there, or maybe it was because Brighton is where characters in Jane Austen novels go to find husbands. I just really loved it there!

The Pier!

Fish and Chips!

My new boyfriend.

The seaside. There isn't any sand on this beach. Instead, there's rocks and walking on the rocks is tough stuff.

I found the one patch of sand and took advantage.

The ferris wheel. I wanted to ride it, but there wasn't enough time.

Then we went to Lewes to visit Virginia Woolf's house. The house wasn't anything spectacular, but the gardens were so pretty. The guides even let us pick apples of the trees to eat (they weren't ripe, but it's the thought that counts). A man was performing dramatic interpretations of some of Woolf's short stories. It was a party. After we got back home a couple of us went to the pub right on our corner. It's so weird to me that I have a local pub. How British!

Woolf's house.

This picture makes me laugh. We all got a little silly and were taking staged pictures in the gardens. I was trying to be super dramatic and ended up laughing the whole time. Someone caught this picture and it totally looks like it's from a Senior picture photo shoot. So funny.

Love in the pub.

Saturday was the last day they were doing tours of Buckingham Palace for the season. I ended up going by myself because no one else wanted to go with me. I bought my ticket and had a lot of time to kill until my tour started. I had a scone and walked around down to Chelsea. Apparently one of the stars from Made in Chelsea (a reality show kind of like Jersey Shore) walked past me. Some tweenies got really excited and tried to chase him. I didn't know who he was but I'm counting it as a celebrity sighting. The tour of Buckingham Palace was worth every pound. When you walk in they play classical music and everything is so classy looking. I got to see the Queen's coronation gown which was so pretty. You can't pictures inside but it was pretty great.

The back of the Palace.

I wonder in Prince George will play in this field.

Rainy London.

Fall in the gardens of Buckingham Palace.

The Queen sometimes lives here. CRAZY!

My walk to Buckingham Palace.

And that was my first week in London! What an adventure. The weeks to come have been just as amazing and I can't wait for the weeks I still have to go!