LONDON

As a volunteer with ILP, we get weekends off and specific days off for vacations. We decided to take our first-weekend trip to London! Flights are surprisingly really cheap too and from London. 

London exceeded my expectations in every way! We stayed in a charming little hostel in the heart of Piccadilly Square, surrounded by the city's vibrant energy. Our cozy room was all to ourselves, and the location was perfect – we could walk to many of London's famous landmarks and attractions. We took advantage of our Oyster card metro pass, which granted us unlimited rides on the Tube and access to Hop On Hop Off red double-decker buses. Navigating the metro and exploring the city was a thrilling experience, and we felt like we were on a treasure hunt, discovering hidden gems around every corner. One of the highlights of our trip was visiting Buckingham Palace, which was even more breathtakingly beautiful than I had imagined. The palace itself was majestic and dazzling, and the stunning gardens were a haven of tranquility, filled with vibrant flowers and lush greenery. It was a truly unforgettable experience.

We saw Westminster and Big Ben. Sadly Big Ben wasn’t doing so hot. He was under construction.. but it was still cool to see him.

One of the highlights of our London adventure was the London Eye, a majestic Ferris wheel that offers breathtaking views of the city and the River Thames. While it was a bit overwhelming with the sheer number of tourists, we still enjoyed the experience and took in the stunning vistas.

However, our visit wasn't so fortunate when one of my friends had her wallet stolen while we were there. I could feel her distress and anxiety as we searched for it, but unfortunately, it was nowhere to be found. Thankfully, she still had her passport safe and sound.

Despite this setback, we pushed on and explored some of London's iconic landmarks. We marveled at the grandeur of London Bridge, Tower Bridge, and the Tower of London. Seeing these famous sites in person was truly awe-inspiring, as I had grown up watching them on TV for years. It was surreal to finally be standing in front of them, taking in their grandeur and history.

A highlight for me was for sure Kings Cross train station and Platform 9&3/4. I am a huge Harry Potter fan and about jumped out of my shoes when I saw the platform. I got my picture taken running into the wall with a trolly while wearing my house scarf! (which by the way is Ravenclaw) I made friends with a girl named Alyssa. She is living in London for a study abroad. She was a hoot and I loved being a nerd with her while we waited in line. She was quite hilarious to talk with actually. She had a big personality and was not afraid to speak her mind. I had a camelback full of water in my bag and was drinking my water in the line. She thought it was hilarious and clever of me to put beer on my back. Haha. I had to clarify to her that it was just water. She was shocked and surprised that I didn't put beer there. 

We also walked across the Millennium Bridge in London. This is the bridge a bunch of Death Eaters destroyed at the beginning of Harry Potter 6. And no joke the weather and sky looked exactly how it did in the movie. I was in awe the whole time. 

I was able to experience the typical London weather! It was overcast and gloomy but the atmosphere was warm and cheerful. Everyone was so friendly and kind. I loved hearing everyone speak with an English accent. It was crazy though because some people there really loved MY accent. This is weird because I don’t really think the American accent is that cool. But it was fun to have people commenting on it! 

I ate the most delicious falafel sandwich and rich chocolate chip cookies at a pastry shop. 

London felt like walking into a clean house. It felt so fresh coming from Ukraine. The streets and buildings were up-to-date and very fancy. The roads were smooth and I loved riding on the other side of the road. We heard different variations of live music on the streets. Bagpipes, drums, violins, pianos, and guitars all echoed off the surrounding buildings as we strolled down the streets. I also made friends with this cat at a souvenir shop.