It's been way too long since I have posted last, my apologies!
Last weekend, Mariesa and I met up in London for a getaway weekend :]
I arrived early afternoon on Friday, and Mariesa arrived later that evening. My friend, Analia, did YWAM in England. I met some of her friends in the program I went to visit her 2 years ago. One of them, Jonny, lives about 45 minutes away from London. He came and met me at the train station on Friday, and we got to hang out until Mariesa came in later that night. We stayed at a hostel near King's Cross Station (I love Harry Potter), and it was close to everything we wanted to do. Jonny and I decided to walk to Camden Town from our Hostel. The first night Mariesa and I just went to a Pub and ordered a drink and caught up on our lives in foreign countries. Sleeping in a hostel is always an exciting experience, even when the door squeaks like the most obnoxious dying bird when opened even the slightest.
We woke up early the next morning and got free breakfast, cereal and PB&J toast!! (and Mariesa's wonderful idea to make PB&J sandwiches and take them with us!) We went to the changing of the guards at Buckingham Palace and walked through Hyde Park to the Kensington Gardens, stopping by the memorial fountain for Princess Di. We hopped on the tube and made our way to Big Ben, the London Eye and Parliament. I felt so proud of myself for being able to get around the underground without any troubles.
I was able to drink coffee regularly for relatively cheap (cheaper and better than in Greece...), and it felt so nice to be walking around in fall weather holding a warm cup of coffee, it reminded me of home/Seattle! We saw street performers including, but not limited to: Michael Jackson, a police officer in a tu-tu, and some magic man swirling a crystal ball... Mariesa and I stopped in Leicester Square on our way back to the hostel to look at all the venues and theaters, and we decided, on a whim, to get tickets for "WICKED" that night! We rushed back to the hostel to change, ate the remainder of our PB&J sandwiches, and made it about 10 minutes before the show started. When I was in London 2 years ago, Analia and I saw "Les Miserables," and I was excited at the opportunity to see another show!!
After the show, we were pretty tired and headed back to the hostel so we could rest for our next day of London. Sunday morning I forced Mariesa to go back to Camden Town with me, selfishly :] Although I know she liked it. I had another Thai dish, I couldn't resist (really missing Thai toms right about now). Mariesa has a friend, John, who is playing basketball for the Coventry Crusaders in England right now, so he hopped on the train and met us at the Hillsong London church around noon. Church was held in a large theater, and was completely full of people, young and old, from all different backgrounds. It was AMAZING. It felt like I was at a Hillsong concert all over again. The paster was from a church in Singapore and spoke on the blessing of wisdom, and how it should become on of our top prayers.
John took us to a little Italian restaurant he happened upon a couple of months earlier, and then went with us to Portobello Market in west London, going straight through the heart of Notting Hill. We stood in line at the Hummingbird Bakery to get a cupcake for over 30 minutes, only to find out that they sold out about 13 people in front of us. So I opted for a Starbucks treat instead :] (I remember from the last time I was here that Starbucks had these amazing shortbread sweets with chocolate chunks in them, and I got as many as I could while I was there with Mariesa!)
After parting with John, Mariesa and I got on a train and headed out to Jonny's town Hazel-something which is in North or maybe West Wickham...? It was really neat to be able to see the country side of England, since we had seen so many touristy things earlier. We made it just in time for church to start, and then after, went to a country pub with Jonny and his friends. Jonny is a great person, and his hospitality was very appreciated by both Mariesa and I.
Sadly, when we got back, it was time for Mariesa and I to part ways. My flight left at 5:50 AM but the last shuttle taking me to the airport left at 12:30AM, so I had to spend some time sleeping in the airport (same goes for Mariesa). The flight back was comfortable, and I made it just in time to take a Greek quiz in my 1:00 PM class :]
side story: In Greece, peanut butter is SO insanely expensive. So when I went to London, I bought 4 jars to take back with me, for my habitual peanut butter and jelly toast in the mornings. BUT, as I passed through security, they informed me that peanut butter was considered a liquid, and threw all 4 of my jars away, right in front of me. I might, or might not have, shed a tear...
Looking back on it, I am so thankful that I have gotten a chance to visit London, not once, but TWICE. I never thought I would be able to say that (Thanks mom!).
A few of my favorite things about London:
1. I understood the Underground and never got us lost :]
2. They have cheap peanut butter.
3. The fashion - oh it was amazing.
4. The British accent... I enjoyed people watching (and listening) the most while on the tube.
I am sure there were more, but I can't think of any now that I started thinking men with accents :]
Anyways, if you are still reading this ridiculously long post, my time in London was amazing, and I am so glad I got a chance to be there with Mariesa. I'm not sure if it is going to help postpone my homesickness, or make it arrive prematurely, but I wouldn't trade that time for anything!
I arrived early afternoon on Friday, and Mariesa arrived later that evening. My friend, Analia, did YWAM in England. I met some of her friends in the program I went to visit her 2 years ago. One of them, Jonny, lives about 45 minutes away from London. He came and met me at the train station on Friday, and we got to hang out until Mariesa came in later that night. We stayed at a hostel near King's Cross Station (I love Harry Potter), and it was close to everything we wanted to do. Jonny and I decided to walk to Camden Town from our Hostel. The first night Mariesa and I just went to a Pub and ordered a drink and caught up on our lives in foreign countries. Sleeping in a hostel is always an exciting experience, even when the door squeaks like the most obnoxious dying bird when opened even the slightest.
We woke up early the next morning and got free breakfast, cereal and PB&J toast!! (and Mariesa's wonderful idea to make PB&J sandwiches and take them with us!) We went to the changing of the guards at Buckingham Palace and walked through Hyde Park to the Kensington Gardens, stopping by the memorial fountain for Princess Di. We hopped on the tube and made our way to Big Ben, the London Eye and Parliament. I felt so proud of myself for being able to get around the underground without any troubles.
I was able to drink coffee regularly for relatively cheap (cheaper and better than in Greece...), and it felt so nice to be walking around in fall weather holding a warm cup of coffee, it reminded me of home/Seattle! We saw street performers including, but not limited to: Michael Jackson, a police officer in a tu-tu, and some magic man swirling a crystal ball... Mariesa and I stopped in Leicester Square on our way back to the hostel to look at all the venues and theaters, and we decided, on a whim, to get tickets for "WICKED" that night! We rushed back to the hostel to change, ate the remainder of our PB&J sandwiches, and made it about 10 minutes before the show started. When I was in London 2 years ago, Analia and I saw "Les Miserables," and I was excited at the opportunity to see another show!!
After the show, we were pretty tired and headed back to the hostel so we could rest for our next day of London. Sunday morning I forced Mariesa to go back to Camden Town with me, selfishly :] Although I know she liked it. I had another Thai dish, I couldn't resist (really missing Thai toms right about now). Mariesa has a friend, John, who is playing basketball for the Coventry Crusaders in England right now, so he hopped on the train and met us at the Hillsong London church around noon. Church was held in a large theater, and was completely full of people, young and old, from all different backgrounds. It was AMAZING. It felt like I was at a Hillsong concert all over again. The paster was from a church in Singapore and spoke on the blessing of wisdom, and how it should become on of our top prayers.
John took us to a little Italian restaurant he happened upon a couple of months earlier, and then went with us to Portobello Market in west London, going straight through the heart of Notting Hill. We stood in line at the Hummingbird Bakery to get a cupcake for over 30 minutes, only to find out that they sold out about 13 people in front of us. So I opted for a Starbucks treat instead :] (I remember from the last time I was here that Starbucks had these amazing shortbread sweets with chocolate chunks in them, and I got as many as I could while I was there with Mariesa!)
After parting with John, Mariesa and I got on a train and headed out to Jonny's town Hazel-something which is in North or maybe West Wickham...? It was really neat to be able to see the country side of England, since we had seen so many touristy things earlier. We made it just in time for church to start, and then after, went to a country pub with Jonny and his friends. Jonny is a great person, and his hospitality was very appreciated by both Mariesa and I.
Sadly, when we got back, it was time for Mariesa and I to part ways. My flight left at 5:50 AM but the last shuttle taking me to the airport left at 12:30AM, so I had to spend some time sleeping in the airport (same goes for Mariesa). The flight back was comfortable, and I made it just in time to take a Greek quiz in my 1:00 PM class :]
side story: In Greece, peanut butter is SO insanely expensive. So when I went to London, I bought 4 jars to take back with me, for my habitual peanut butter and jelly toast in the mornings. BUT, as I passed through security, they informed me that peanut butter was considered a liquid, and threw all 4 of my jars away, right in front of me. I might, or might not have, shed a tear...
Looking back on it, I am so thankful that I have gotten a chance to visit London, not once, but TWICE. I never thought I would be able to say that (Thanks mom!).
A few of my favorite things about London:
1. I understood the Underground and never got us lost :]
2. They have cheap peanut butter.
3. The fashion - oh it was amazing.
4. The British accent... I enjoyed people watching (and listening) the most while on the tube.
I am sure there were more, but I can't think of any now that I started thinking men with accents :]
Anyways, if you are still reading this ridiculously long post, my time in London was amazing, and I am so glad I got a chance to be there with Mariesa. I'm not sure if it is going to help postpone my homesickness, or make it arrive prematurely, but I wouldn't trade that time for anything!
Some pictures documenting our trip:
The London Eye and Thames River.
Red Phonebooth!!
Mariesa and I in front of Big Ben.
On our way to WICKED!
One of the best shows on earth.
My friend Jonny.
Mariesa and I on Tower Bridge.
Paigers, I am so glad that you got to see London again and also see Mariesa. These are memories that you will have forever! You have been so adventurous, what fun! I love you and can't wait till Christmas when you come home and can share it all with us.
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