Welcome to the Motherland!

London. The birthplace of my crazy Easter break adventure. Buckle you’re seatbelts, people.

Also, yeah. It genuinely took me a month to start posting from this trip. Don’t say I didn’t warn you!... darn exams… I’m not supposed to be studying while I’m studying abroad!



Yeah, I'm aware of the suckiness of that video. I tried to salvage it several times then eventually gave up... (: moving on!

9 April

Having packed and over-prepared like crazy the night before, the morning of the 9^th found me excitedly - though rather groggily - abandoning my bed at 4:25 am. Although I awoke plenty early enough for my coach at 6:45, my over-ease and determination to have a full morning meant that I nonetheless ran out of time sooner than expected. Consequently, though I kissed my room goodbye and was out the door on time, I ended up forgetting to bring my bathing suit and shorts… because what resident of England readily remembers those things anyways, right? Either way, I was on my 6:45 coach and London bound in no time!

After uneventful coach and tube rides, and a brief detour to buy National Express tickets for the way home, I was at Heathrow Airport and ready to pick up my cousins from international arrivals. It took me about 5 minutes among sign-wielding limo drivers to check my phone and realise that the people for whom I was waiting had already moved on to the Underground. Cursing delayed phone signals in the airport, I saluted those still waiting for their wary travellers and skipped off back to the tube.

After administering a quick crash course on basic tube etiquette and utilization, I happily lead the way to our hotel. Aside from the inevitable newcomers’ suppressed giggles in reaction to ‘Cockfosters’, the ride was uneventful and soon had us being spit out onto the pavement conveniently located right next to our hotel.

While they checked in, I formulated my plan of attack for my first go at London tour-guiding. Following a quick and seemingly silent battle within my head, our first stop was decided to be the Westminster tube station, where – if I could remember the correct exit – we would be met directly with the sight of Big Ben itself (or Victoria Tower, if you want to get technical); the perfect setting for anybody’s first glimpse of the truly amazing city that is London.

We took the obligatory pictures with the tower and inside phone booths then were on our way to Westminster Abbey, Downing Street, and Trafalgar Square. Though all these locations are easily within walking distance of each other, we had to give out at this point and resign ourselves to some food.

We found a promising looking pub – that at least had dairy, meat, and gluten free options (… yeah, a difficult collection of dietary restrictions to be travelling with) – and sat ourselves down for some lunch. We ate, we laughed, I made the first of many language slip-ups to come and used the word ‘loo’, only to be met with blank stares and confirmations that I was officially British. 

I was red in the face but proud inside.

When we had finished lunch, we made a quick pit-stop next door so Gillian could get her first Pret coffee, then departed for St Paul’s Cathedral. Unfortunately, we got there too late to go inside but we still got a good view of the façade, took full advantage of the photo-op, then headed over to Millennium Bridge where – though I had already seen it several times previously - all my Harry Potter dreams came true yet again (:

Upon reaching the other side of the Thames, we embarked on a daring walk across to Tower Bridge. Not only did we get to see Globe Theatre on the way, but I shocked the pair again with crazy British customs that already seemed natural to me. When we reached a toilet stop, I immediately turned to my purse to get out some change for them. Yupp, you've gotta pay to use the loo in London. I loved reminiscently watching their faces and hearing their proclamations as they came to the same realisation I had all those months ago... 'barren of justice’, ‘refusal of basic human rights’… yeah, it brought me back… I sniggered to myself as I thought of how they would react when they found out you have to pay for water at meals. That is, after the waiter stares at you in confusion for ordering water, then asks if you want gas (sparkling water).

Anyways, we did eventually make it to Tower Bridge (after stumbling across the Leaky Cauldron!!! I was honestly happy to find this as it saved me a return trip and at least an hour of searching.)

When we reached the other side of Tower Bridge, I showed them the outside of the Tower of London and the Roman remains of the London wall, then it was off to Piccadilly Circus!

We later returned to the hotel where I finally got my tea of the day and we watched some good old BBC. Because our room was only equipped with one double bed and despite countless objections, I spent that night on the floor; uncomfortable maybe, but happy to be in my favourite city in the world.

10 April

The next day began with an energy bar, some more tea, and a hop back on the tube, this time bound for Buckingham Palace to see the changing of the guard!

After that got checked off the list, we were off have our second go at getting inside St Paul’s Cathedral. I chose a route to the Underground via St James so we got that amazing view of not only the palace, but the London Eye over the water. Unfortunately, we were unsuccessful in our attempts to enter the cathedral. Darn overpriced admission fees…

Nonetheless, we got another relaxing walk over the Thames on the Millennium Bridge then stopped by the Borough Market for some lunch. I got a tasty cheese & onion pie and happily obliged to providing a quick money lesson.

Once we were fully fed and watered, we headed off – or… they calmly started walking… while I seriously restrained from skipping and running – to King’s Cross! (I told you I’d come back for you!!)*

I would now like to take this opportunity to thank both Ashley and Gillian for admirably putting up with crazy, old, fan-girling me (: You made her day!

By the time I had my hyperventilation under control, we were at the British Library where we got to see the Magna Carta! Unfortunately, this was a strictly picture-free zone, so you’ll just have to take my word for it! Amazing and historically legal documentation aside, we also stumbled across the research of the discoverer of penicillin, works of Mozart, biblical illustrations and… the Beatles (:

It was actually rather fitting that we ran into the artifacts of said famous British musicians because – after I took Ashley and Gillian to their first-ever Primark – the next stop on our tour was Abbey Road.

When we had finished our Abbey Road experience – which included everything from random encounters with fellow-Americans/picture-seekers to swearing bicyclists_­ – there was nothing left to do but grab some home-comfort food at a burger joint near Tottenham Court road creatively christened ‘Burgers & Cocktails’ then retire to our hotel room.

*refer to first ever blog post (:

... to be continued... (once my darn exams are finished :P )