The Journey Begins

So this past Wednesday I finally moved into my residence hall, which happens to be a flat in South Kensington (right around the corner from Will and Kate) with 12 other lovely ladies. The past few days we have all been running around like crazy with orientations, tours, and just exploring our new home. 

I won't bore you with all the details of my orientations, but we can just leave it at how they threw a hell of a lot of information at us in a short period of time.

Here's a glimpse of our flat; I'm residing in a quad that is currently a bit dull in appearance, but that will likely change soon. It also happens to be the coolest (temperature wise) room in the whole flat, which I am certainly happy about, especially during the ends of the heat wave in England.

Our kitchen is rather nice and fully equipped, but it can get a tad cramped when being in a home with 12 other girls.

On Saturday, we were lucky enough to receive a Parliament tour, which was absolutely spectacular. Sadly, photographs could not be taken inside, but the architecture and decor was breathtaking. 

For one of our first evenings out, we paid a visit to a traditional pub for dinner called the Silver Cross nearby Trafalgar Square, which was a really nice change of environment to what I'm used to in the States.

On another night out, we happened to find Daniel Radcliffe exiting a show he was just in. 1000 points to Gryffindor.

To make that same night even better, we ended up getting gelato from a local shop called Scoops. It was to die for.

One last highlight would be visiting Kensington Gardens, which was really grand and relaxing. Here we are casually hanging out in front of Kensington Palace - the soon to be home of Prince William, Princess Catherine, and baby George.

I am truly having the time of my life here. This city is so beautiful and so rich in history and culture, and I am extremely proud to call it my home for these next four months. I'll be starting class tomorrow morning, so it's about time I headed to bed.

Cheers,

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,

Clean Packing - Tape Is Your Friend

Packing is a treacherous, horrifying task that is sadly necessary for those who want to travel and explore all of the world's wonders. I'm not sure about anyone else, but I know that I always like to pack ALL my important belongings, like 43 nail polishes and about 15 different hair sprays (for different hair styles and weather conditions, of course). Now every time I pack these liquid items in my luggage, I have a slight panic attack about the products spilling in my suitcase, ruining all my clothing and belongings that I need for my trip. Fear not fellow travelers, for I have a simple solution to ease your mind during your flight - tape.

What I suggest to anyone worried about any bottles or liquid items spilling in their suitcase would be to tape the openings shut for some extra security. I know this may seem extremely basic, but many people do not take the precaution of taping their belongings before packing them. 

For even MORE reassurance, I suggest putting these products in a ziploc bag before finally packing it away in your suitcase. I also put these products in the middle of my suitcase secured between my other belongings because they are less likely to move around during transport.

With that being said, I hope your next flight is relaxing and carefree; happy travels!

Hey!

Hello everyone! My name is Hulya and I am a junior at Marist College studying Fashion Merchandising and Business. I created this blog because I will be studying abroad in London for my fall semester and plan on sharing all of my adventures, fashion finds, and experiences here, so follow if you are interested!