Spring Break in LONDON!

Wow. Wow, wow, wow.  London was SO cool!  SO COOL!  I absolutely fell in love with it--wish I could have been there for longer.  I don't know what it was about that city, but the whole time I had this great energy pumping through my veins and was totally recharged by the city's life! Maybe it's just because I was on vacation, or maybe because the Royal Wedding is coming up and the whole city is excited (haha), or maybe it was because they had some of the best weather that they've had in months, but something about London just drew me in.  I didn't even care that it was expensive--it was absolutely worth it. 

I loved the people there, they were so friendly and helpful, and the atmosphere that I felt the whole time was just cheery and upbeat.  I saw so much culture in London's markets, people and goods from all over the world.  I saw beautiful historic buildings like Big Ben, the houses or Parliament, Westminster Abbey, St. Paul's Cathedral, etc., etc.  I ate the best fish & chips I've ever had.  I saw the beautiful Tower Bridge at night.  I rode the London Eye and saw the city from up high.  I even got to please the Harry Potter geek in me and dragged my friends to Platform 9 3/4 at King's Cross Station (thanks guys :D).  All in all, amazing trip.  It really re-energized me, and it left me with the desire to live in London someday (sorry mom!)! I hope that I get to. 

London has been floating on the top of my list or European cities to go to, and I'm psyched that I have it checked off. 

So, Saturday night, I arrived and went straight to where I would be staying for the week.  My friend Tara knows someone who lives in London currently, and she so graciously let us stay with her for the week!  A big thanks to Marisa if you're reading this!  My friends had a later flight, so Marisa and I chatted while we waited for Tara, Jose, Ana Rosa, and Mamen to arrive.  That night we just went to sleep with plans to wake up early in the morning.  

The next day, after being on the tube for 2 hours due to constructions because of the upcoming olympics, we finally started our day at Camden Market.  It is a huge outdoor and indoor market (there are many of these in London!) with food from all over the world, clothes, jewelry, and the coolest vintage and antique stores.  They really have just about everything there.  

That day we also went on the London Eye--an enormous ferris wheel type of ride that takes you up in the air to see all of London, it was awesome!  They put you in a glass bubble and you get to rise and see the entire London skyline.  So cool :)

Cool view from up there!

Tara and me in the London Eye

We later walked around a little big more and admired Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament and the general London skyline before heading over to Liecester Square to have dinner.

Me in London at night with my friend, Big Ben in the background!

After a good night's sleep, the next morning we woke up, met up in Hyde Park with coffee, and then went straight to Buckingham Palace to see the changing of the guard.  We didn't get there early enough to get a good spot to see anything, but I did get to see some stuff, and best of all, I got to see my good friend, Helen, who is from England and has been living in Cuenca, Spain this year!  

After seeing the changing of the guard at the palace, Helen and I went to go have Indian food at a restaurant in the Covent Garden area.  It was delicious!! I had a great tasting curry, I really enjoyed it.

Helen with her curry

Me with my curry!

After lunch, we did some shopping around Covent Garden, headed to St. Paul's Cathedral, Tower Bridge, Trafalgar Square, and back over to the Big Ben, Westminster Abbey area where Helen and I parted ways.  There happened to be a service going on at Westminster Abbey so I went to that (that's how you get in for free!), it was a beautiful choral service and the inside of the church is beautiful too!  

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Classic tourist picture, hehe!

Westminster Abbey!

After Westminster Abbey, I met up with my friends again and we walked around and saw some other sites at night again.  Beautiful!

The next morning, I was so excited because it was FINALLY time to go see Platform 9 3/4!! Woo hooo! And I got to meet up with Natira, another one of my friends who lives in Cuenca right now.  She loves Harry Potter too, so we were super excited to get there :). 

Off to Hogwarts!

We made it!

After that, my friends and I went back to the covent garden area and relaxed, had some food and dessert as well.  We had a great time over all in London, I can't wait to go back (whenever that is!).  

Well, that was a long one.  Thanks for sticking through with me if you did, it was an amazing trip and I am so glad that I went.  Viva LONDON!

Here are some sweet misc. pictures:

Hyde Park

Soho Park!

Well, hope you all enjoyed this!  I'll be resting the next few days, that's for sure!  The next big thing is JACKIE'S VISIT! WOO HOOO!!  

-Mary