Travel

Dem Double D's.....as in Double Deckers

So today I went on one of those infamous double-decker, red buses throughout London. Though they are corny, I definitely would recommend taking one around because they give you a great overview of most of the city. Everything was beautiful and the weather was surprisingly gorgeous once again. Here are some of the highlights:

The infamous Tower of London where many have gotten executed. The Brits seemed to be wary of glorifying of such a place.

This is a photo of the Tower Bridge, which many mistake to be the London Bridge due to its grandeur appearance. Unfortunately, the London Bridge is quite bland and not exactly aesthetically pleasing. 

Me and my lovely mother at the St. Paul Cathedral.

An evening shot of Big Ben.

And finally, a favorite of mine, a shot of the River Thames and The Eye at dusk.

Cheers,

First Day: London Town 

So today I arrived to London at 6:30 AM (UK time)! Other than the fact that I've only slept about 3 hours in the past 35 or so, I am having a blast and am so excited to spend the next four months here. I'm temporarily residing at a hotel in the heart of London, so today I was able to do a lot of walking and exploring the territory. 

For starters, the architecture is just stunning. I've been to London once before about 7 years ago, but I had not truly appreciated everything as much as I donow.

Fun fact: I actually caught this lovely photo of Big Ben by sticking my phone out the taxi window while passing by....probably not the most advisable move but it turned out to be a great shot.

Here I am with my friend, River Thames and good ol' Ben. Just so everyone knows, Ben is a fan of selfies.

I don't know if anyone will agree with me, but I feel like this photo of the Victoria Memorial in front of the Buckingham Palace is almost magical with how the lighting and clouds turned out. 

I took this gem when walking through St. James Park. I was enjoying the lovely weather and unexpected sun when I realized the entire park was literally FULL of couples. They were everywhere. And then there was me. So what, I'm bitter, deal with it.

Here's a lovely shot of just a small part of St. James Park. 

And my first celebrity sighting! I was lucky enough to see Natalie Portman portraying BOTH the white and black swan!!!! Nailed it!

And finally, a panorama of the view from the bridge over the River Thames. I'm really mad that I cut off the tip of Big Ben and didn't realize, but I'm sure I'll have another chance to retake this photo. 

Let's not forget the other side, featuring the lovely London Eye.

I am so beyond excited to be spending the semester in such a BEAUTIFUL city with such an amazing history. I will definitely be posting about any adventures I embark on.

Carpe Diem,

Travel Getup 

One of my most valued philosophies when it comes to traveling is DRESS COMFORTABLY. Not only will it make for a better traveling experience, but you will be thanking yourself later for not wearing those tight pants and 4 inch heels. 

My tips would be:

1. For bottoms, wear something stretchy. Whether it be leggings, yoga pants, or a very comfortable pair of jeans, just make sure your pants aren't cutting into your skin when sitting. An alternative for ladies would be a jersey maxi skirt/dress.

2. I suggest layers because you never know how hot or cold the plane will be, as well as your destination. In my experience, planes are usually freezing, so if you're wearing short sleeves or a tank, be sure to bring a sweater, scarf, or both.

3. Don't be pretentious. Nobody needs to wear their favorite Versace dress with the shoes to match on a plane. If you're concerned about what others are thinking about you, chances are they will judge you more with your fancy, uncomfortable looking outfit, than without it. Also, there is a way to be fashion forward without being grandiose. 





Now don't forget to stay comfy,