After non-stop fun in Aix the past two weeks, it was time for my first European trip. There are way too many places to go, and not enough time to do it. Prioritizing has been key, but even still I’m realizing that the idea of going “everywhere” this semester was not going to happen. But my list is piled high with different countries, so no complaints here. I started to feel a bit homesick the beginning of last week, and it felt like a good time to see a familiar face, and be immersed in a familiar language. As much as I love the French, it’s work to try and communicate.

So naturally, London was the perfect choice. There are direct flights from Marseille (airport nearest to Aix) to London for great prices, and Airbnbs are popping up everywhere, making it an easy decision. Getting to the airport from Aix was a bit of an adventure, as I had no memory of the bus station in town. Thankfully, with the help of some kind locals, I found my way with just minutes to spare. Public transportation is so much easier and more accessible than in the U.S., and I almost enjoy paying the fare when I imagine what the price of a cab would’ve been.

I flew my first “cheap” airline, EasyJet, and it was exactly that, easy. I lucked out and got switched to a window seat in the exit row because a child was placed there, so I was able to stretch out and sleep the whole hour and a half long ride there. Landing in the Gatwick airport was slightly concerning due to the massive fog clouds lining the ground, but the airport was empty and going through customs was a breeze. I took the Gatwick express straight into town, and got to see all of the English homes lining the streets, acting as a welcome into this new land. We were nearly to the station when I saw Big Ben and the London Eye out a small crevice in the window. My whole face lit up with excitement.

I made it to the King’s Cross station next where our Airbnb was located, got settled and waited for my friend Rebecca to show up, who is spending this semester in Copenhagen. I love how simple it was for us to meet up in London, the Euro thing to do. We went to dinner and caught up with all of the abroad madness we have been experiencing, and made our way out for the night. We went to a club called Project London where she had a promoter to get us in for free. All of the Londonites were dressed to perfection, wearing Kardashian like dresses that didn’t show too much skin but they paired with the perfect set of heels. Nothing like the standard Miami club outfits, consisting of tight, short dresses. I was nervous to go inside as I had no idea what to expect, but walking in and saying “we’re on the list” was definitely a highlight. We weren’t too keen on staying past 1 am, when all the sudden the music totally changed, and we found ourselves by the DJ booth. We danced the night away, looking out over the sea of people moving to the beats.
After a great nights sleep in the Airbnb, we got up to be tourists. Our first stop off the tube was Buckingham Palace. It was smaller than what I had expected, but still magnificent nonetheless. One thing I noticed though was how shiny and radiant all of the gold detailing was, giving off a truly royal vibe. We walked through the park along the river and strolled right into the building of the Royal Horseguards. We were able to watch their version of the changing of the guard, which was pretty spectacular with all of the horses. We kept walking down the street and went to visit our friend Big Ben. After seeing pictures of it for years and years, it was breathtaking to see it up close. My first thought was of Peter Pan taking Wendy and the gang to the clock portion of the tower and saying, “Second star to the right, and straight on till morning!” Childhood dreams fulfilled.

We stopped for lunch at a place called Mews of Mayfair. It was in a hidden alley with a ton of cute restaurants, all owned by the same guy. The décor was elegant and sleek, and the prices definitely reflected that as well. It was worth it though as the food was fantastic. I got a pulled pork sandwich, random thing to get in London, but it was an “upscale” version on ciabatta bread and spiced with their secret concoction. We enjoyed very expensive water while admiring the atmosphere. I have to say the food in London was pretty good despite its reputation.

The London Eye was our next destination, and I was surprisingly not afraid of the height. It was an incredible view over the city, and we got to see Parliament from a different angle. Now that I’ve done it though, I don’t know if I will have the need to do it again. We grabbed some post cards for our collection, then made our way to the famous Harrods. I knew it was a department store, but I had no idea to what caliber. We obviously went right for the food halls, and what a sight. Literally anything you could have imagined was piled high in there, and then some. We both got cupcakes, and explored the different levels via the majestic Egyptian escalator. We found a cozy lounge to rest and eat our cupcakes and admire the views. It was a scene set for royalty with the extreme detail in the architecture. I’ve now added into my “Must Do in London” list to have High Tea in their main restaurant next time I find myself in London. After realizing how exhausted we were, we made our final tourist stop at the Harry Potter Platform 9 ¾ in King’s Cross. The line was too long so I took a picture of the wall, and we headed back for a much needed nap.

We went to dinner at a local pasta restaurant called La Regina that didn’t break the bank for once, and then got ready for the night to head to a bar called O’Neills. It was a much more casual scene but perfect for our second night. We sat at a booth and enjoyed the music for a bit before walking back through Leicester Square and taking a cab. It was cool to see a new part of London before we left, and taking a cab was even more fun/scary as we forgot they drive on the other side of the road.

Our last day in London was spent exploring the Tower Bridge. That was truly one of the most remarkable aspects of the trip. Walking up to it we saw the bright blue railings, but once we got even closer it was jaw dropping to see the detail in every piece making up the bridge. You can go to the top of the bridge, but we enjoyed the view from down below. It was also finally sunny for the first time all weekend, so it was the perfect way to end our stay. We went back to Harrods for lunch, and walked around the store once again before heading to the train station. I luckily was flying out of Heathrow this time around so I stayed on the Picadilly line all the way until Terminal 3. Security was a no problem, and the airport felt like a mall. It was so high tech and organized that I would gladly travel through Heathrow again.

I am so thankful for this abroad experience of course, but I am even more thankful for this first weekend trip to London. I was incredibly nervous about traveling alone since I didn’t know where I was going most of the time, but I am so happy I figured it out mostly on my own, with the help of a few kind Brits. It was such a fun weekend to spend with a familiar face, and in a familiar language, but it also made me so excited for all of the adventures to come. This is only the beginning, and I can’t wait to see what else the semester brings.

Next stop, Nice!