I'm back again, and this time with a summary of London.
Both my sister and I concur. We would want to visit Paris and live in London. I don't exactly know why London seemed so much more livable...but it did. Part of it was probably the language. It's nice to live somewhere where they actually speak English. Part of it was probably that for all of the hype, London isn't exactly touristy. Paris is full of landmark destinations and it is practically dripping with romance and tourist attractions, yet London seems to care less.
Before you get all huffy and try to explain that London is just as touristy (because that's something London wants to claim?), I will concede a few points. Westminster Abbey. Buckingham Palace. Tower of London. Big Ben. London Eye.
But all in all, London seems more like home. A place where you visit Primark (the most amazing clothing store ever) on the weekends and then go to your apartment with fish and chips takeaway.
But London....sigh. It was a dream come true.
They actually exist! It was crazy just seeing these things on the street, like they weren't symbols of one of the best cities ever!
St. Paul's Cathedral. We decided not to go in since it was expensive (London does seem to charge an arm and a leg for everything) and how many cathedrals can you go to?
Strange feeling to see the Union Jack places. It is a gorgeous flag isn't it?
The Parliament building. Isn't it breathtaking? I wish I could just take picture after picture of this building, it was gorgeous!
Big Ben!!! Talk about visiting famous landmarks.
And the girls! Kudos to my cousin. She didn't feel well the whole day we were in London, yet she never complained! It was also fun for me to get to know her friend Valon (on the right). I had never met her before the trip, but she was so great to become friends with!
Story about Westminster Abbey: First, no cameras allowed in there. It is, after all, a place of worship and they wanted that to be respected. In some ways this was nice because if taking pictures had been allowed, I don't think I would have enjoyed it quite as much. Sometimes it's nice to just put your camera down and see what is in front of you.
Downside? I know my memories will fade fast. But, imagine this: it's essentially a cemetery in there. Elaborate graves and memorials everywhere! I felt bad because it seemed I was constantly stepping on someone's grave or memorial. My eyes couldn't open large enough to see every name and date and gilded surface. If anything, the British know how to do elaborate. It was crazy to walk down the aisle where Kate and William walked to get married. (Congrats on the baby by the way! :) To see the chair that had been there since the 13th century that has been used for every coronation since. To see the graves of Mary Queen of Scots and King Edward was mind-blowing.
They also had a corner dedicated simply to writers. I took a moment to stand in front of Jane Austen's and think about my time spent in A.P. English researching, reading, annotating (last annotation ever in that book!) about her book Pride and Prejudice. It feels like I was raised on the six-hour, Colin Firth version of P&P (in Camille's home actually) so it felt like a full circle to stand in front of her grave and think about what she accomplished. It felt all very sentimental (the thing my sister and I love) and warm fuzzy and just so perfect.
Jokes on me, Jane Austen's grave is actually in Winchester Cathedral. Wherever that is. I had a nice moment with a stone, not her grave.
xoxo. Elise
