So an update is definitely in order as I have not written in about three weeks now I think.
On the 6th I picked up Liv and Ange at Heathrow for their 8 days London. John joined me on the tube ride since it took about an hour and a half to get there (the airport is in the boonies!!). I pretty much ran into Liv's arms the minute I saw here since I have been anticipating their arrival since I got to London. After the girls got their Oyster cards and picked up their luggage we headed back on the tube to Highgate so they could get situated in my impossibly long room. We vowed to spend as less time as possible in their since it is incredibly cramped (I'm pretty sure my room started swallowing our stuff midweek due to all of our stuff being in such a small space).
We headed back on the tube after some chill time in the dorm and we went to Green Park and then I escorted them to Buckingham Palace where we had some serious photo ops (it was gorgeous that day!).
Afterwards we walked around and went to a bar called 'Bag O Nails' for their first legal UK drink! Of course we documented this as well and enjoyed the bar scene until we headed back on the tube to grab dinner. They were starting to feel the jet lag by this time and I was exausted from the day so we went to a small but amazing Thai place near the dorm and pretty much ate in silence...too tired to speak haha.
After druging back to my room we passed out immidietly...at 9:30 pm.
Saturday we slept in a litte and by noon we were up and heading out to Portobello Road Market in Notting Hill, easily my favorite outdoor marketplace in all of London. Saturdays are the best time to go here because not only do street vendors sell antiques and food but also beautiful jewelry and clothing and yes, football jerseys. We basically spent all day here trying on shoes and Ange and Liv both bought Manchester United jerseys which I was happy about since that is my favourite football team. We tried on impossibly expensive shoes and passed by every type of store imaginabe ranging from vintage stores to rock and roll t-shirts and after all the walking, famished we went to Subway to grab sandwiches and get back on the tube to head back home.
That night me, Liv, and Ange, along with the rest of my housemates went to Camden Town to World's End. This was my friends first real night out in London and I was really exited to introduce them to the nightlife scene since the night before we had passed out so early. We got all dressed up and after a few drinking games in the common room with everyone else we were ready to go. It was a really good night despite a few drunken stupors but we rolled in around 3:30 am!
Sunday the girls slept in again (they took my bed and I slept on the floor...something we alternated throughout the week) and I got some classwork done since I had two papers due that week which I had already started but I was still strapped for time since our days were spent being touristy and the nights spent being adventurous. it was a relaxing day and that night we went to Oxford Circus to see the shopping scene.
The rest of the week was easily the most fun and the most hectic of my time in London so far. Along with getting work done I was having a blast with Ange and Liv, and I was incredibly happy they were finally here since I had been missing Pittsburgh for some time now. Since Tuesdays I have no class we went to South London to see Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament, The London Eye, and Westminster Abbey which was absolutely beautiful. The best part about the day was easily the Tower of London! We went on a tour led by one of the beefeaters and it was definitely a highlight to the trip. Seeing pictures of the historical jail where so many prominent people had been held was nothing to actually being there and seeing it in person. We went inside the church where Anne Boleyn was buried and the house where Sir Walter Raliegh was held for some time. We also saw some of the torture chambers and went inside the White Tower which, once held prisoners now is a museum for artillary, armour, and other weaponry. Across from the White Tower is the building where the Crown Jewels and the largest diamond in the world are kept and it was the most breathtaking display I have ever seen (especially Queen Elizabeth I's crown and scepter). The museum also featured a video of Queen Elizabeth II's coronation.
Wednesday, Thursday and Friday was spent going to bars, exploring more of London and of course, Thursday night we all went to O'Neills for some quality live music. Friday we woke up late and went shopping again at Oxford Circus before meeting up with Daisy and Jackie at a bar near campus so we could grab drinks and celebrate Ange and Liv's last night in London. We first went to a bar called Shakespeare's Head for dinner and the another place called The Cock for some cheap drinks and a fun scene. By 11 we caught the tube home so the girls could start packing and we were in bed by 1 am since we had to get up at 7; their flight was at 12:30 and we definitely didn't want to risk being late!
Saturday morning we woke up on time (yay!) and we got on the tube for the long ride back to Heathrow. The week went by so fast and I wished they could have stayed longer but I was also thankful I got to see them at all. After they checked in and dropped off their luggage we had a few minutes before they needed to go through security and I got really nostalgic. We said our final goodbyes and we hugged and they left. I headed back on the tube for what seemed forever, got back to the dorm, and truthfully, my room had never looked bigger with only my things in it then, and subsequently, it looked very lonely. I ended up passing out for a six hour nap!
That night I just hung out in the dorm with my mates. Sunday my friend Charlie who was visiting his boyfriend who is also studying abroad in Israel had a layover in Heathrow and extended his visit to the UK so we could meet up for brunch and then we decided to go to Harrods; one of the best places to shop in all of London. Even though we definitely couldn't afford anything we had a great time looking at all the designer clothing and after discovering the champagne bar Charlie offered to pay for two flutes of very sweet champagne. I was absolutely lovely watching shoppers go by and sipping champagne.
Last week nothing too exciting happened...mostly just doing more classwork and celebrating St. Patrick's Day on Tuesday for which we all went to Sports Bar. John invited hs friend Margeret who lives in a different dorm but who goes to Carnegie Mellon which was an awsome suprise since CMU is less than a mile away from Chatham. We had a great time seeing who we knew and reminiscing about greek sing and carnival and just Pittsburgh in general. It was a total highlight to the night since we were at sports bar and there was the usual array of creepy guys haha. I also went to Hampstead Heath one of the largest parks in London with a friend from class. It's all on a hill and the view of the city from the top is breathtaking. It wasn't bad that the weather has been amazing! i actually wore sandals the other day!
This is the last week of lectures so everyone has checked out mentally but I think I can make it through the week. I have two more papers to write and then three exams to study for by the end of April. My dad and sister are coming to visit in a few weeks as well so I cannot wait to see them! I defintely plan on taking them on the Tower of London tour and most of the museums. Sadly my sister is 16 so she's not old enough to drink but the pubs also serve food so she'll still be allowed inside at least.
Finally, a week from today, Daisy, Jackie and I are going to Paris for spring break!!! Woo I am so excited! haha.
I'll write again soon!
love,
al
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