This place is incredibly beautiful and I feel really, really lucky to be here. To give you some frame of reference if you’ve never visited, what I’ve seen so far reminds me of Vancouver and New York City mixed.
Right now I’m in Coffee Republic in London in Bayswater (near Westminster) sipping on an iced Americano and I can’t stop grinning—I’m living here for four months. EDIT: I’m now in the basement of my hostel watching some movie starring Bruce Willis, Liv Tyler, and Billy Bob Thorton(?!) (Apollo 13, maybe?) and eating a dinner I scrapped together at a pharmacy during a massive down pour. Weather permitting, I’ll walk a little further down the street tomorrow since the neighborhood is full of interesting restaurants and shops. If you come, I’d love to show it off.
Considering I don’t have a permanent address or a towel or any friends or a working phone, I don’t feel out of place or overwhelmed. For example, “Get Low” by Flo Rida came on the MTV UK Top 40 station in the coffee shop just as I was leaving and earlier, the same program featured a new single by Kid Rock. At the number two spot. Oh jeez. This world is so, so small.
I am feeling very adventurous at the moment so I may take the Tube somewhere interesting tomorrow. Actually, I’m probably going to pretend to be asleep until both my roommates take off for the day. Although, breakfast is free downstairs from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m.—I’m so torn.
I’m not nearly as exhausted as I thought I would be since I slept almost the entire way from SeaTac (by the grace of god, I woke up just in time to get the first meal, penne with marinara, and then the second, egg biscuit with fruit cup) so I’ve been able to walk around the neighborhood and stretch my legs a little. I took two Sominex sleep aids just before boarding the plane and they worked! FYI the time difference is eight hours in Bellingham and six in Grinnell.
After clearing customs, I took the Heathrow Express from the airport right to Paddington Station (a 15 minute ride with plenty to look at on both sides of the train) and then walked from Paddington to my hostel which was several thousand blocks from the station. The walk went quickly, though, since all the houses were white and beautiful and the sidewalks were relatively clear. I’m sure my whole ensemble (which included an oversized suitcase, a huge hiking pack back, two messenger bags, and American made Chacco sandals that I’m told Europeans find really hideous) screamed “TAKE ADVANTAGE OF ME, I HAVE NO SENSE OF DIRECTION AND A VISA CREDIT CARD WITH A HUGE LIMIT.”
Before getting on the express train, I sat at a Starbucks for half an hour getting my shit in order and sighing a lot. It was nice not to rush since I was rushing for the better part of my visit home.
My room in the hostel is smaller than my room at home and has three double bunk beds that are painted blue, eight lockers, and a tidy bathroom. It’s best if only one person stands at a time. I learned this when I met my first roommate, Mike (from Michigan). Mike just finished studying at Cambridge (through the University of Michigan) and is heading to Scotland before returning home.
Take home message of this post: I’m pretty proud of myself for finding my hostel (The Smart Hyde Park View, for those interested). I’m also proud of myself for not getting pick-pocketed between here and Heathrow. To celebrate, I just bought a can of Strongbow cider that I plan to enjoy over a 600 page (!) issue of ELLE that I picked up in Seattle.
When Jon and Ryan arrive in a few days, we’ll start flat hunting (probably in this neighborhood since it’s convenient and picturesque). Until then, I’m on my own.
This is completely nuts.
Right now I’m in Coffee Republic in London in Bayswater (near Westminster) sipping on an iced Americano and I can’t stop grinning—I’m living here for four months. EDIT: I’m now in the basement of my hostel watching some movie starring Bruce Willis, Liv Tyler, and Billy Bob Thorton(?!) (Apollo 13, maybe?) and eating a dinner I scrapped together at a pharmacy during a massive down pour. Weather permitting, I’ll walk a little further down the street tomorrow since the neighborhood is full of interesting restaurants and shops. If you come, I’d love to show it off.
Considering I don’t have a permanent address or a towel or any friends or a working phone, I don’t feel out of place or overwhelmed. For example, “Get Low” by Flo Rida came on the MTV UK Top 40 station in the coffee shop just as I was leaving and earlier, the same program featured a new single by Kid Rock. At the number two spot. Oh jeez. This world is so, so small.
I am feeling very adventurous at the moment so I may take the Tube somewhere interesting tomorrow. Actually, I’m probably going to pretend to be asleep until both my roommates take off for the day. Although, breakfast is free downstairs from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m.—I’m so torn.
I’m not nearly as exhausted as I thought I would be since I slept almost the entire way from SeaTac (by the grace of god, I woke up just in time to get the first meal, penne with marinara, and then the second, egg biscuit with fruit cup) so I’ve been able to walk around the neighborhood and stretch my legs a little. I took two Sominex sleep aids just before boarding the plane and they worked! FYI the time difference is eight hours in Bellingham and six in Grinnell.
After clearing customs, I took the Heathrow Express from the airport right to Paddington Station (a 15 minute ride with plenty to look at on both sides of the train) and then walked from Paddington to my hostel which was several thousand blocks from the station. The walk went quickly, though, since all the houses were white and beautiful and the sidewalks were relatively clear. I’m sure my whole ensemble (which included an oversized suitcase, a huge hiking pack back, two messenger bags, and American made Chacco sandals that I’m told Europeans find really hideous) screamed “TAKE ADVANTAGE OF ME, I HAVE NO SENSE OF DIRECTION AND A VISA CREDIT CARD WITH A HUGE LIMIT.”
Before getting on the express train, I sat at a Starbucks for half an hour getting my shit in order and sighing a lot. It was nice not to rush since I was rushing for the better part of my visit home.
My room in the hostel is smaller than my room at home and has three double bunk beds that are painted blue, eight lockers, and a tidy bathroom. It’s best if only one person stands at a time. I learned this when I met my first roommate, Mike (from Michigan). Mike just finished studying at Cambridge (through the University of Michigan) and is heading to Scotland before returning home.
Take home message of this post: I’m pretty proud of myself for finding my hostel (The Smart Hyde Park View, for those interested). I’m also proud of myself for not getting pick-pocketed between here and Heathrow. To celebrate, I just bought a can of Strongbow cider that I plan to enjoy over a 600 page (!) issue of ELLE that I picked up in Seattle.
When Jon and Ryan arrive in a few days, we’ll start flat hunting (probably in this neighborhood since it’s convenient and picturesque). Until then, I’m on my own.
This is completely nuts.
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