Day 3: Green in the City

What a day! Today was voting day in London which was pretty cool to see. We logged 13.5 miles today walking around the city. We had class this morning and went to a cute little Camden farmers market and had the best hamburger and apple juice ever.

We hit the parks today because it was absolutely beautiful- sunny, mid 60's and just gorgeous walking weather. Getting there was a fun challenge, lots of Tube platform changes but we are really starting to get the hang of the Tube. The parks are amazing. We did St. James Park, Green Park, Hyde Park and started exploring Kensington Gardens (more time for that later). The parks are so nicely landscaped and there are so many amazing memorials and statues. I even saw a paint horse being ridden in Hyde Park and it made me very happy.

I did not realize how many World War 2 memorials there were in the parks. Every time I turned around there was a different one. My favorite was the Bombing of Britain Memorial in Green Park. The statue was so awe inspiring and just stunningly gorgeous from every angle. Since it is the 70th anniversary of the end of World War 2 in Europe tomorrow, there is a ton of memorials and wreaths all over the memorials which adds an extra element to the experience.

Other memorials in the parks included the Canadian Forces, Australian forces, Asian and Indian Forces and the Cavalry.

British Version the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier from my understanding

Memorial to the Royal Calvary 

My favorite element was this personal memorial placed on the base of the Battle of Britain Memorial for Sgt. Nobby Clark who lost his life in the skies of Austria in 1944. It was placed there by his crewmate and friend Mike McGrory. It's the things like that that bring the war to life for me and give me a feel for the amazing people who lived through it and allowed for the victory achieved on May 8, 1945, now know as Victory in Europe Day. 

RIP Sgt. Clark. Thank you

Tomorrow is the 70th Anniversary of VE Day and there are many events happening around the city tomorrow and this weekend. I will have more about that in tomorrow's blog as I am trying to attend as much of the VE Day celebration as possible.

For now, I am going to rest my aching feet and hit the sack. It was a big day and I am just ready for more tomorrow! What an experience of a lifetime this has been so far and it's just the beginning.

Day 2: Mind the Gap

Day 2 is in the books!!! I took my first tube today and I minded the gap! The oyster cards are amazing. The tube system is so nice and runs so smoothly.

Today we had Orientation with AIFS (our study abroad company) and a guided sightseeing coach tour to all the major sites! It was such a fun day and when we finally saw Big Ben, Tower Bridge, Buckingham Palace, etc. I actually felt like I was IN London!!! It was rather rainy off and on and I am getting lots of use out of my trench coat. We walked around 5 miles today according to our phones... it is a walking city! I played tourist today and carried my camera and took pictures and several times exclaimed over the sites... tomorrow I will start acting less like a tourist and more like a Londoner. Dinner tonight was Mac N Cheese and fresh bakery bread- living it up!

Here are some pictures!

St. Pauls Cathedral

St. Pauls Cathedral

Tower Bridge

Big Ben!

Buckingham Palace

Victoria Memorial

Buckingham Palace

The Eye

The things you see in Trafalgar Square

National Gallery

I found the TK Maxx!!!!!! 

Our tour guide pointed out this old church that was heavily bombed during the Blitz Bombing of WW2. The Blitz lasted between September 7, 1940 and May 21, 1941. The German Luftwaffe bombed London heavily for 57 nights. More than 1 million homes were destroyed, 40,000 civilians lost their lives and the Royal Airforce sustained heavy losses. The reason for the bombing was to demoralize Britain and break them down. This failed- Britain rose above the bombing stronger than ever and never lost hope and faith in their city. Untouched by the bombing was the iconic St. Pauls Cathedral. Bombs fell around the cathedral but never destroyed it. On December 29, 1941, Hitler specifically ordered the destruction of St. Pauls. Winston Churchill ordered the protection of St, Pauls in every way possible. Many firemen lost their lives fighting the incendiary bombs but when morning rose, St. Pauls still stood- strong and majestic above the German fires. This was symbolic also of the British people who never faltered and stayed strong amid the destruction.

St. Paul's Cathedral rising above the fires and destruction

Here are the pictures of this small church we passed today. Even today, the remnants of the Blitz Bombing show on this stone building.

It was unbelievable to see the actual bombing damage. Reading about it just doesn't make it as real as actually seeing it. I can't wait to delve deeper into the research available about the Blitz bombing and London in WW2. 

Well, that is all for now! We are going out for dinner soon, time to find a London pub to get some real London food! 

Day 1 in LONDON

We have arrived!!!!!

 The flight for me was uneventful and surprisingly comfortable. I slept, watched "Wild", read my book, ate dinner and I had the whole row of three seats to myself! We got into London Heathrow around 11am and our host company met us and had us delivered to our home away from home via the funniest bus driver ever. Our apartment is gorgeous; it is 100 years old and was originally built as a stately family home for a large rich family with servants. Despite it's age, it is nicely updated and features a small outfitted kitchen, 3 bathrooms, a large living rooms and 4 bedrooms for us girls. It was a beautiful sunny (though windy) day in London. We settled into the flat before taking a short tour around our neighborhood. There is a Starbucks on the bottom floor of our building (bad news bears) and the grocery and pharmacy is just around the corner. We got some groceries, recovered from the flight and then set out on our first adventure: finding Primark on Oxford Street.

Home sweet home

Tiny but functional kitchen

Our room

Living Room

Due to our lack of cellular data, we screenshot the directions on my phone and set off into the city. We only got lost once or twice before arriving at the famed Primark. That store is dangerous- so many cute things and so cheap! I managed to only walk out with a new makeup brush (mine died when I used it on the flight here), heel liners for my one pair of shoes and tinted chapstick for a grant total of 5 British pounds. On our way home from Primark, we only got lost once and arrived back at Hampden House just in time for showers and a late snack.

Found this beauty while wandering in our neighborhood and just had to stop and take a picture. 

So far I absolutely LOVE London. Every time I turn around I see something that makes me smile and want to take a picture... and the accents still make me giggle. Tomorrow we have orientation and a bus tour of the city so I am excited to see more of London. The forecast is 57 degrees Fahrenheit and rain showers tomorrow so I have my trench coat and umbrella laid out. Back tomorrow with more stories!

Departure Day!

Today is the day I have been waiting for! We leave for LONDON today!!!!

I feel prepared and ready. My nerves aren't too bad. I am packed as completely as I can be; I think I have everything I need. I have double and triple checked everything, make copies of everything important, waterproofed my shoes, charged my camera.... I can't think of anything else but I still feel like I forgot something..... I don't think you can ever be completely prepared for a trip like this.

As I said goodbye to my parents and fiancé, I couldn't help but think back to the WW2 research I have been doing and imagining how hard it would be to say goodbye to a husband or son knowing they were going to war and may never come back. I am only going to be gone for 3 weeks and then I will be back home. As hard as the goodbye was for me, I know that much harder goodbyes have been said to children and spouses heading to Europe for very different reasons about 70 years ago. I am lucky that I can go visit Europe in a time of peace and for simple reasons such as travel and study. 

I am typing this from the van as we drive to the airport. Everyone is excited and ready to get to London. We have anticipated this for so long and it's hard to believe it's here! Next time I post, I will be across the world drinking some good English tea and taking it all in. For now, I am diving back into my research book "London At War-1945". 

Bye for now! 

6 days until Departure

Where has the semester gone???

It seems like yesterday I was signing up to take International Living/Study Abroad and the departure date for London was months and months away. Now I am 6 days exactly from departure and my packed bags are sitting in the living room, my wallet is full of British Pounds and my plane ticket and immigration letter sit on my desk. I am full of excitement, nerves and apprehension. I know it will be a once in a lifetime experience, but it is nerve wracking all the same. Going to another country for 3 weeks independently is a daunting experience. I have never been abroad and I will be gone for 3 weeks away from my family, my dogs, my fiance.... I know the experience will help me to grow as a person and I will learn to love London (I probably won't want to come home) but it is now hitting me just how nervous I am. All semester I have been so excited; planning and packing and researching. Now that I stand in the threshold of this trip, all my preparedness, research, lists and plans seems irrelevant and  so insignificant. Now it is actually hitting me that I will be living in another country for 3 weeks and traveling to Ireland and it is a bit scary. I know I will have a blast when I get there and thank goodness I am traveling with a teacher and 6 other awesome girls that I can lean on when in need. My OCD and type A personality has helped me to be very prepared and I know I am ready for the trip; 6 days full of finals, papers, a horse show, moving home and a few last minute details for the trip are all that stand between me and London now. Despite all my last minute nerves, in 6 days I will leave wide-eyed and full of excitement and ready to take on one of the greatest cities in the world. I know I can do it and it will be the experience of a lifetime.

Now that I have that off my chest, I am delving back into my studies. My day plans include a 7 page paper on Oliver Wendell Holmes... lucky me :(