It's funny. I never thought I'd visit London or anywhere in the UK anytime soon. Because of my family's cultural heritage, I had mostly been drawn to the Caribbean or to the romance-speaking countries of Europe. But I was in Paris for nearly a month, and London was literally a two-hour train ride away. On top of that, I had a very good friend living in London who so graciously offered to host me, so it was like, how could I not visit? In any case, I'm so glad I did. So glad I did. I found that London was the perfect mix of being able to speak English while also being in Europe! I speak French, Spanish, and Haitian Creole. But after not having been in France for a while, my French was kind of rusty when I returned to Paris after about 11 years since my last visit. The reintegration into French (or I should say, Parisian) society was *initially* a little less welcoming than I had hoped for, and searching for vocabulary in a second language on a daily basis does take some getting used to (it's, in fact, exhausting). So, it was a great reprieve to be able to spend a few days in London during my trip to France. And I learned that London is such a great mix of a modern, bustling city juxtaposed with one that is steeped in centuries of history.
And the subway system is a monster. It's huge. I did the touristy thing while trying not to do the touristy thing. I got lost several times on the way to my friend's house. I bought my Oyster card, which is the subway pass card, and did the smart thing, I felt, by getting instructions from the subway workers in addition to the instructions I already had from my friend. I got on the train in the wrong direction. And then when I got off to board in the reverse direction (which would have been the right direction), I got on the wrong train. And then I think I even boarded at the wrong station, because the station I was looking for had practically the same name as another one, and I don't think I registered that the short-hand reference to the station I was being told to board at was different from the station that I was actually looking for.
In any case, all that aside, I made it, weary and excited to begin my travels in London! See below!
And the subway system is a monster. It's huge. I did the touristy thing while trying not to do the touristy thing. I got lost several times on the way to my friend's house. I bought my Oyster card, which is the subway pass card, and did the smart thing, I felt, by getting instructions from the subway workers in addition to the instructions I already had from my friend. I got on the train in the wrong direction. And then when I got off to board in the reverse direction (which would have been the right direction), I got on the wrong train. And then I think I even boarded at the wrong station, because the station I was looking for had practically the same name as another one, and I don't think I registered that the short-hand reference to the station I was being told to board at was different from the station that I was actually looking for.
In any case, all that aside, I made it, weary and excited to begin my travels in London! See below!
Me with my Capoeira sister! It's so awesome to have a friend welcome you when you arrive after traveling internationally. We were all hugs and smiles upon seeing each other!
Westminster Abbey
I was at Westminster Abbey! The inscription reads: "May God grant to the living, grace. To the departed, rest. To the church and the world, peace and concord, and to us sinners, eternal life."
Westminster Chapel to the left
Buckingham Palace
Monument to Queen Victoria
Oh the skies. I love that my camera caught this.
Oh the skies. I love that my camera caught this.
This street reminds me of a night in a Sherlock Holmes novel.
Cabs!
Waving to the spectators to get good luck!
Boat Cruise on the Thames River
Boat Cruise on the Thames River