Weekend in London
I was super excited to have an entire, proper weekend in London after my trip to Munich. A few of my friends were out of town, so I had some alone time to explore my area. For the most part, I tried to get comfortable in my dorm. I was having a lot of trouble feeling relaxed and at home in my room all by myself. It was exposure therapy. And now I have lovely little lamps that make it feel homey. And I have cute prints I got from the Victoria & Albert Museum on my fabric bulletin board. I went with my photography class, but after class was dismissed, I had a walk around by myself. I was so content and in awe that I took no photos of the art.
Another thing that I’ve been thinking about is my spending habits here. This city is so incredibly expensive, especially the area that I’m in. The only place you can get a pint of beer for less than 9 pounds within walking distance of my dorm is the Metropolitan Bar, a JD Wetherspoons pub. This chain of pubs gets a bad rap in the UK, but I love that place with all my heart. The drinks are half the price of the bar across the street, and the food menu is absolutely massive. I would compare it to something like a Sharis. It’s cosy. There are strange old people there all the time. You sink into the worn booths. But I’m obsessed with the vibe they have curated consistently throughout their many locations.
Another way we have been spending less money is by cooking at home in our shared dorm kitchens. We’re terrible cooks. But we are determined to get better.
Last Sunday, we walked around Marylebone and got a little Sunday brunch out. It was perfect and relaxing and exactly what I needed before the week started.
I’ve also mastered the art of walking in London. The thing that I didn’t understand about London is that there is no designated side of the sidewalk you’re supposed to walk on. People just walk wherever they want, all the time. Once I finally accepted this fact, my life became much easier. Now I walk whatever side of the sidewalk I want to, I look straight ahead at where I want to go, and people (for the most part) will get out of my way!
Weekend in Canterbury
This past weekend, we went on a girl’s trip to a small town called Canterbury, a few hours outside of London. It was the perfect calm, walkable small town where we could catch our breath and not always have to be on edge.
The five of us took a 30-minute train ride to the White Cliffs of Dover on Saturday morning. We got a quick French breakfast and then took a taxi up to the viewpoints. The pictures do not do this place justice. We lounged around in the grass, soaking up the sunshine and staring at the cliffs like it was a riveting film. We didn’t want to leave so bad that we didn’t call our taxi until the last second.
Back in town after our morning in Dover, we explored the beautiful gardens and canals. The cathedral that Canterbury is famous for did not disappoint either. But the weekend’s main event was our punting tour on Saturday evening. We had so much fun gossiping with our punting guide, Marcus, while he tried to tell us about the rich history of Canterbury. It was so entertaining we seriously considered going back in the morning before we had to catch our bus.
I woke up at 8:00 am on Sunday so stressed out. I had received an email that said our bus had been straight-up cancelled. Without a refund. Instead, they put us on a different bus that left two hours later than the bus we scheduled and didn’t even take us all the way to Central London, where we departed from. Luckily, I found a train for only £15 more than we paid for the bus. I was worried that a last minute ticket would be ridiculously expensive. I called the bus service, and they kindly gave us a refund.
I am excited to spend another weekend in London before heading to Paris. I’m extremely proud of myself for finally getting into a groove here. I look forward to sharing all the touristy things Max and I do this weekend when he visits, as well as more about my internship in my next update!
DU Abroad 