‘Ello from London!
The past 48 hours have been a complete whirlwind of planes, trains, and automobiles, periodically interspersed by approximately 5 hours of sleep in the past two days. To say I am jet-lagged is an understatement, but thankfully my thirst for adventure is alive and well.
A jet-setter’s life is the life for me.
I began my journey at Newark International Airport (EWR) on United Flight 77, direct to London Heathrow (LHR). We departed at approximately 10:00pm local time aboard a Boeing 767-300 (facts that actually matter to any aviation geek such as myself) and landed around 9:50am local time in London. From there, Natalie and I navigated our way through the Tube network, miraculously avoiding any mishaps or the much-anticipated Tube Strike. We arrived at the Lancaster Gate Hotel and from there met up with the rest of the HIST3670 group.
After a quick crash course on Tube Orientation, the rest of the day was ours to do as we wanted. We saw Big Ben, explored Westminster Abbey, and Trafalgar Square, stopping for the ever necessary touristy pictures along the way. Eventually we found ourselves in a classic London pub called the Silver Cross, where we had a delicious lunch, a few beers and lots of laughs. Afterwards, we met up with the rest of the group at the pub outside of the hotel for one more drink before bedtime.
Embracing the tourist lifestyle!
Unfortunately, sleep did not come easy for this jet-lagged traveler, making today’s excursion feel exceptionally lengthy. However, the intrigue and history of the Churchill War Rooms perked me right up. Here, it was interesting to see how the Brits interpreted their past Prime Minister and his contributions to the Allied victory in WWII. It is easy to see that he is an extremely prominent figurehead in England, and gave many Brits a person to rally behind during the extremely trying times in WWII. One of the things that struck me most about the war rooms was that Churchill himself was extremely against the idea of being forced to move his wartime operations underground because he viewed it as a sign of weakness and giving in to the enemy. Churchill truly was a larger-than-life person, and is immortalized as such in the war rooms. Although he was not supported by everybody, his presence and persistence in the war gave the Brits a general sense of unity and made it easier for them to believe that someone who truly cared and was extremely qualified was in charge of handling a very volatile situation. Past workers themselves even explained that although working in the war rooms was not an easy job, they felt it was extremely fulfilling and considered it to be an honor. It’s truly a special feeling to know that you are standing in the same spot where world-changing history was made, not even a century ago.
Couldn’t get more picturesque than this.
After the tour, a group of us traveled to Tower Bridge to catch a glimpse of both London Bridge and the Tower of London. We then enjoyed a wonderful lunch on the patio of Coppa Club, which might just be the most picturesque restaurant I have ever visited. Situated on the Thames with views of both the Tower of London and London Bridge, it finally sunk in that I was really here, in Europe, enjoying a fantastic meal with people who had become fast friends. This is it, the European Adventure I had dreamed about for so long, and now I’m living it. Additionally, I also learned that European dining is significantly different than American dining – nobody is ever in a hurry, EVER. It took us over two hours from the point we sat down to the point we walked out. Although it was extremely frustrating for me, a scheduling enthusiast and someone who can be “too Type-A to function”, it also taught me the important lesson that sometimes, there is a simple beauty in being forced to slow down. It allows you to truly take things in – the scenery, the food, the friendship, the fact that I’m IN EUROPE – and appreciate them on a level that may not always be apparent when you’re constantly in a rush. So thank you, London, for (gently) forcing me to do what my friends have been telling me to do for ages – slow down, relax, and enjoy the now, because there’s only one now, and I might as well enjoy it.
Blue Skies and Tailwinds,
Katie