First Week in London! May 24-May 30

May 24: This day was wonderful but sort of a blur, as jet lag is a very real thing. Landed in London after a very pleasant flight sitting next to two kind British ladies who had just visited New York for a week. Their absolute fascination with the M&M factory in Times Square definitely outweighed the screaming and kicking of the three year-old sitting behind me. These ladies were in fact astounded to find that I don’t go to the M&M factory every time I’m in the city. My favorite was when one of them was perusing a fashion & beauty magazine and said (in her wonderful accent, of course), “Anti-aging? Anti-aging? Well for God’s sake, what if you’ve already aged?” 

Once I landed I was eventually escorted to my new home, Ambassador House. We are very spoiled to be living in Kensington, the nicest area of London. Of course, everything around is more expensive than any of us can afford, but it is a really interesting area; I have so far thoroughly enjoyed exploring the narrow streets that are mixed with fully modern as well as completely ancient buildings.

Arrival in Ambassador House

                                      

View from our window

May 25: Orientation Day

This was definitely much better than any U.S. orientation I had ever been to, as all the information was actually useful. We had a hilarious safety talk by a local police officer, Sergeant Paul (“we always know when Americans are out at a bar. You talk too loud, and then there is that moment sometime throughout the night when that Journey song comes on and all of the girls frantically scream and immediately begin to dance”). 

After this we had a 3-hour sightseeing tour of London via bus. We stopped at the Tower of London and Westminster Abbey and saw the cathedral, and learned about many new places to come back and visit!

Tower Bridge


Near Tower Bridge

Buckingham Palace: This particular flag means the Queen is not in.

Near Westminster Abbey

May 26: Had a Royal Village Walk around Kensington and then went back to take some more photos of St. Mary Abbotts Church on High Street.

                                     

Inside St. Mary Abbotts

The old house of T.S. Eliot, who was called to come back to America but thought he was far too good to return. Ezra Pound, who was also close with Hemingway, allowed Eliot to stay in England by setting up a marriage with an English woman solely for this purpose (needless to say, it did not last long).

The area where Ezra Pound lived

Fire markers like this one used to mark the houses insured for fire. Firefighters wouldn't bother to go to ones not insured because it meant they would not get money for it (ruthless, I'll say).

Had lunch overlooking High Street Kensington.

May 27-May 28: First day of classes. Explored Piccadilly Circus for dinner and saw a free showing of 39 Steps

May 29: Went to Westminster in the pouring rain and attended a service at Westminster Abbey, the official church of England.

Westminster Area

Westminster Abbey Church

Trafalgar Square

Trafalgar Square Statue that changes every six months.

Afterward we explored China Town and experienced the simultaneous awful service and amazing authentic food. 

May 30: Went to Camden Market for class--definitely my favorite place in London so far! Our professor showed us around the market and Primrose Hill. The market has many artsy shops, food from all around the country, and many unique shoe stores.

The only place where you can have lunch via free samples:

The Stables Market:

Prime Rose Hill, one of the wealthiest areas in London.

 Where Sylvia Plath used to live

At the top of the hill

Rome Weekend Coming Soon :)