The first thing I wanted to do when I got back to America was eat Taco Bell. This sounds rather ridiculous, but I missed the comfort foods that I had at home that you couldn't find in the UK.
I had been to three different countries in the past ten days; I had gotten lost but I had also been found; I had seen the ceremony of soldiers at Buckingham Palace; I had witnessed the blooming tulips in Holland; I had smoked a joint by the canals of Amsterdam; I had stood amongst the pools in the Roman Bath House; I had marveled at the architecture and landscape of Cambridge; I had stood in the exact same spot where Jane Austen has lived; I had sipped tea on the balcony of Dublin Castle; I had wandered in awe in the Long Library; I was a new person with so many new experiences that I would never forget.
If I learned one thing from that trip, it was to never pass up an opportunity to travel or experience something new, no matter how scary or uncomfortable it may be. No thing or materialistic item could ever measure up to the worth of experiences, and I knew this for certain now.
I stepped on the plane, ready for the 10 hour flight ahead of me. I was jet lagged, exhausted, but so alive. I was stuck with a middle seat on the plane, and therefore didn't sleep at all. We landed in Charlotte, North Carolina. I had a chicken sandwich in the airport, and I felt like I was already home. I realized that I wouldn't ever take the little comforts of America or home for granted ever again. I was truly blessed to grow up in the U.S. and I now could recognize this.
I had a three hour layover in Charlotte, and tried to figure out who would pick me up from DIA when I got back. This was the only part of the trip I didn't plan out, and it was a lot harder to find someone than I thought it would be. Everyone was still gone or coming back from spring break. I finally arranged for a friend to pick me up at the airport right before I boarded the plane.
I realized that I would be in Colorado in just three hours, and I was so happy. When I landed, I rushed off the plane to baggage claim, and was greeted by my friends, Stephen and Dylan. We went straight from DIA to Vudoo Donuts, and the terrible eating trend continued even back in America.
I was just relieved to be home and be surrounded by familiar faces and places. That trip made me cherish where I lived even more than I had before.
I finally got home that night around 10 p.m., and even though it was morning time back in London, I crashed. I was so sleep deprived that I couldn't keep my eyes open for even a second longer.
The next day, the Sunday before classes started back up again after spring break, I slept the entire day until 6 p.m., neglecting all of the homework that I hadn't done over break. I desperately needed to sleep, and when I woke up, I felt like I could possibly do it all again.
The weeks to come involved me plotting my next adventure, that is, when I had more money. I would be living off of cereal for the next few months, but it was worth it.
That trip will always be one of the most epic experiences of my lifetime, and I cannot wait to travel again. I feel like traveling opens up your eyes to other cultures in a way that reading about them cannot. I'm grateful for the ten days that I spent in London, the Netherlands, and Ireland. I will never forget these places, the people, or the experiences that I had.
Whenever you get the chance to travel, do it.
Thursday, May 16, 2019
Day 9: The last day in London
For our last day, we decided to stay in London and explore some more instead of trying to go somewhere else. We slept in again, exhausted from the previous days, and woke up in time to have brunch. Kayla wanted to take us to a place called "The Breakfast Club" in the central part of London by the marketplace.
This restaurant was like the European version of Snooze here in Colorado. I loved it so much, and I prepared myself to spend a lot of money to eat a large meal. I order Huevos Rancheros (London style) and a stack of three pancakes with berries. The coffee and the meal was amazing, and I was so stuffed that I had to unzip my skirt a bit to be able to even move around.
After our meal, we went to the marketplace and looked at all of the vendors, but soon decided that we wanted to make it to the Tower Bridge before the day was over. This bridge 'towered' over the entire city and was so massive. We got 99 ice cream cones, and planned where we would go to next while admiring the bridge and its surroundings.
We had high tea that afternoon at a place in Covent Garden, and I realized why Europeans did this. It was so relaxing. I drank Earl Grey tea, and ate the pastries and sandwiches that we were served until I was once again stuffed. We sat there talking and laughing, and I felt so blessed to have such great friends that I could explore the world with.
After high tea, we decided to go to Hyde Park and watch the sunset, since it wasn't that far away. As we sat in the grass surrounded by other people who had also come there to watch the sunset, I felt a pang of sadness. Our trip was coming to an end. Although I was ready to be back in America, see my family and be surrounded by familiarity, I didn't want to leave this place.
We went back to Holloway Road and I bought chocolate bars from Sansburry's and we got meat pies from Pieburry Corner. As you can imagine, I gained a few pounds from this trip, but the food was so good not to indulge myself. We went back to Arsenal station and our Airbnb and ate the meat pies in our room. We did not want to say goodbye to Kayla, but I felt so much better knowing where she was and seeing how happy she was.
All three of us stayed up for hours talking and laughing, and we decided that it was time for us to go to sleep if we wanted to catch our flight back home the next day and not be exhausted.
I went to sleep that night feeling full of experiences, and so content with this trip. I had seen all the sights I wanted to see, and I reminisced on the past nine days of my life. I knew that this wouldn't be the only time that I would visit Europe, and I decided in that moment that the next time I came back, I would stay for much longer.
I felt like an entirely new person.
This restaurant was like the European version of Snooze here in Colorado. I loved it so much, and I prepared myself to spend a lot of money to eat a large meal. I order Huevos Rancheros (London style) and a stack of three pancakes with berries. The coffee and the meal was amazing, and I was so stuffed that I had to unzip my skirt a bit to be able to even move around.
After our meal, we went to the marketplace and looked at all of the vendors, but soon decided that we wanted to make it to the Tower Bridge before the day was over. This bridge 'towered' over the entire city and was so massive. We got 99 ice cream cones, and planned where we would go to next while admiring the bridge and its surroundings.
We had high tea that afternoon at a place in Covent Garden, and I realized why Europeans did this. It was so relaxing. I drank Earl Grey tea, and ate the pastries and sandwiches that we were served until I was once again stuffed. We sat there talking and laughing, and I felt so blessed to have such great friends that I could explore the world with.
After high tea, we decided to go to Hyde Park and watch the sunset, since it wasn't that far away. As we sat in the grass surrounded by other people who had also come there to watch the sunset, I felt a pang of sadness. Our trip was coming to an end. Although I was ready to be back in America, see my family and be surrounded by familiarity, I didn't want to leave this place.
We went back to Holloway Road and I bought chocolate bars from Sansburry's and we got meat pies from Pieburry Corner. As you can imagine, I gained a few pounds from this trip, but the food was so good not to indulge myself. We went back to Arsenal station and our Airbnb and ate the meat pies in our room. We did not want to say goodbye to Kayla, but I felt so much better knowing where she was and seeing how happy she was.
All three of us stayed up for hours talking and laughing, and we decided that it was time for us to go to sleep if we wanted to catch our flight back home the next day and not be exhausted.
I went to sleep that night feeling full of experiences, and so content with this trip. I had seen all the sights I wanted to see, and I reminisced on the past nine days of my life. I knew that this wouldn't be the only time that I would visit Europe, and I decided in that moment that the next time I came back, I would stay for much longer.
I felt like an entirely new person.
Day 7: Dublin, Ireland
So, I know I said I would never go to another country with just one day to see everything, but we had already booked flights to Dublin, Ireland: a place I had always dreamt of going to. Since my entire family and all my ancestors had come from Ireland, I felt like I was truly getting to see a piece of where I had come from. My heritage was here in this wonderful place.
We took yet another long train ride to a different airport, since there were three in the London area, and we had now been to all three of them in a matter of days. Kayla was nowhere to be found that morning, since we were supposed to meet at the underground station, and she wasn't there. We left to get on the train hoping that she would be close behind, but we couldn't risk missing our flight.
When we got to the airport, Kayla was a good 30 minutes behind us, and it was unlikely that she would make the flight since she still had to go to security and get to the gate. When we boarded the plane, she was stuck in security. I knew that going to Ireland just wouldn't be the same without her, and hope that she would somehow make it before the gate closed.
I sat there looking out the airplane windows hoping that Kayla would be among some of the last stragglers and she was! I was so happy and relieved that she made it, and could finally relax. I had enough airport stress incidents to last the rest of my life. The flight was a little under an hour, and we were there before we knew it.
We climbed on a double-decker bus when we got there, immediately heading to the top. Dublin was a lot like places here in America, but it had more of a culturally-dense feel. There were so many old buildings, plenty of pubs, and even castles right in the middle of the city. It also didn't even feel like a city, because though there were lots of people, it was really clean and everyone seemed calm and relaxed.
The first stop we made was a small cafe, where I chowed down an English breakfast. After we took a short time to reconvene, we headed to Trinity College, where I had to see the long library and the Book of Kells.
The campus was so beautiful and green, and everyone was talking and laughing in their Irish accents. We bought our tickets to see the long library, and as soon as we stepped foot in it, my jaw dropped. I had never seen such a large building, with so many books, and such beautiful architecture, in my life. The building was filled floor to ceiling with ancient books that were so valuable. I felt so fortunate to get to be in a place like this, with so much history and so many stories.
I walked around for the longest time, admiring the library and scanning the books, until I realized that we should probably to see somewhere else.
Our next stop was Dublin Castle, which was equally breathtaking. I couldn't fathom how there was just this giant castle in the middle of this city. We toured the castle, and I couldn't even believe my eyes the entire time. It really was just how I imagined, and just how castles looked in the movies.
Once we finished the tour, we had tea on the ledge of the castle in the sunlight. This was a moment I will never forget, and I was overcome by the feeling that I had been in that exact place before.
After the castle, the day started to come to an end, so we decided the last stop had to be a famous Irish Pub. We had a glass of cider, and I had an Irish carrot soup with a Yorkshire pudding.
Once we had finished our drinks, we quickly walked to the bus stop, since we didn't want to risk missing our flight or even coming close. It took forever to get on a bus and to the airport, but we had made it. I didn't want to leave Dublin, and I felt like I could spend three more months in this place, but I was thankful for the day that I got to spend in this place where my ancestors had lived and immigrated from. I knew I would be back someday in the near future.
We took yet another long train ride to a different airport, since there were three in the London area, and we had now been to all three of them in a matter of days. Kayla was nowhere to be found that morning, since we were supposed to meet at the underground station, and she wasn't there. We left to get on the train hoping that she would be close behind, but we couldn't risk missing our flight.
When we got to the airport, Kayla was a good 30 minutes behind us, and it was unlikely that she would make the flight since she still had to go to security and get to the gate. When we boarded the plane, she was stuck in security. I knew that going to Ireland just wouldn't be the same without her, and hope that she would somehow make it before the gate closed.
I sat there looking out the airplane windows hoping that Kayla would be among some of the last stragglers and she was! I was so happy and relieved that she made it, and could finally relax. I had enough airport stress incidents to last the rest of my life. The flight was a little under an hour, and we were there before we knew it.
We climbed on a double-decker bus when we got there, immediately heading to the top. Dublin was a lot like places here in America, but it had more of a culturally-dense feel. There were so many old buildings, plenty of pubs, and even castles right in the middle of the city. It also didn't even feel like a city, because though there were lots of people, it was really clean and everyone seemed calm and relaxed.
The first stop we made was a small cafe, where I chowed down an English breakfast. After we took a short time to reconvene, we headed to Trinity College, where I had to see the long library and the Book of Kells.
The campus was so beautiful and green, and everyone was talking and laughing in their Irish accents. We bought our tickets to see the long library, and as soon as we stepped foot in it, my jaw dropped. I had never seen such a large building, with so many books, and such beautiful architecture, in my life. The building was filled floor to ceiling with ancient books that were so valuable. I felt so fortunate to get to be in a place like this, with so much history and so many stories.
I walked around for the longest time, admiring the library and scanning the books, until I realized that we should probably to see somewhere else.
Our next stop was Dublin Castle, which was equally breathtaking. I couldn't fathom how there was just this giant castle in the middle of this city. We toured the castle, and I couldn't even believe my eyes the entire time. It really was just how I imagined, and just how castles looked in the movies.
Once we finished the tour, we had tea on the ledge of the castle in the sunlight. This was a moment I will never forget, and I was overcome by the feeling that I had been in that exact place before.
After the castle, the day started to come to an end, so we decided the last stop had to be a famous Irish Pub. We had a glass of cider, and I had an Irish carrot soup with a Yorkshire pudding.
Once we had finished our drinks, we quickly walked to the bus stop, since we didn't want to risk missing our flight or even coming close. It took forever to get on a bus and to the airport, but we had made it. I didn't want to leave Dublin, and I felt like I could spend three more months in this place, but I was thankful for the day that I got to spend in this place where my ancestors had lived and immigrated from. I knew I would be back someday in the near future.
Day 6: Bath
I woke up the next day feeling like I had been hit by a train. My whole body hurt from walking so much and running through the hard floors of an airport. I knew that this couldn't deter me from continuing the adventure, so I sucked it up, burning shin splints wouldn't stop the exploring.
Since Kayla didn't have class that day, we decided to go to Bath, England. This place was a two hour train ride from where we were, but Kayla said it was so worth it. I had really wanted to go, because Jane Austen had lived and written novels in this place.
I was relieved to be on a train, where I could sleep for a substantial amount of time and rest my legs. I ended up only sleeping for a short time, because the view from the train was breathtaking. The countryside was so green and lush, with little, old houses that I would die to escape to and live in. Life seemed so much simpler out here.
We arrived in Bath, and the train ride didn't even seem that long. Right when we stepped off the train, I fell in love. This place was magical. All of the buildings were old and made of limestone or dark grey stone. The aesthetic was breathtaking, and I couldn't stop averting my eyes every which way.
Even in the shopping centers, the buildings were still old and the architecture was so lovely. We went an got 99 ice cream cones, and ate them in a cobble stone park square where a lady played the piano right in the center. The sun was warm on our backs, and I felt like I could stay in that spot forever.
We decided to go see the Jane Austen house, and as we walked there, we saw numerous people filming television shows and movies, which is apparently normal in Bath, since it is so visually appealing.
We walked into the Jane Austen house with a French tour group on accident, and ended up getting to see it for free. It was so interesting to see the very house where she had lived in while writing Sense and Sensibility and other novels that I adored. I read all about her life, and even wrote with a quill pen in her writing room. This was one of my favorite parts of the trip by far.
After the tour, we went back into the town square, and arrived at the Roman Bath House. I was so eager to see inside this ornate building, and when we walked inside, there was pools upon pools of blue-green water among the stone architecture. There were sculptures like on the castle in Beauty and the Beast, and I was in complete awe of this place. During the tour, I learned so much about the history of Bath. I decided this was my favorite destination we had been too yet, because though we were in England, I also felt as if we were in Rome.
We ate meat pies at a restaurant in the middle of Bath and drank as much cider as our bellies could hold. I said goodbye to this place, but I knew that I would return one day. It was too perfect to not revisit.
Since Kayla didn't have class that day, we decided to go to Bath, England. This place was a two hour train ride from where we were, but Kayla said it was so worth it. I had really wanted to go, because Jane Austen had lived and written novels in this place.
I was relieved to be on a train, where I could sleep for a substantial amount of time and rest my legs. I ended up only sleeping for a short time, because the view from the train was breathtaking. The countryside was so green and lush, with little, old houses that I would die to escape to and live in. Life seemed so much simpler out here.
We arrived in Bath, and the train ride didn't even seem that long. Right when we stepped off the train, I fell in love. This place was magical. All of the buildings were old and made of limestone or dark grey stone. The aesthetic was breathtaking, and I couldn't stop averting my eyes every which way.
Even in the shopping centers, the buildings were still old and the architecture was so lovely. We went an got 99 ice cream cones, and ate them in a cobble stone park square where a lady played the piano right in the center. The sun was warm on our backs, and I felt like I could stay in that spot forever.
We decided to go see the Jane Austen house, and as we walked there, we saw numerous people filming television shows and movies, which is apparently normal in Bath, since it is so visually appealing.
We walked into the Jane Austen house with a French tour group on accident, and ended up getting to see it for free. It was so interesting to see the very house where she had lived in while writing Sense and Sensibility and other novels that I adored. I read all about her life, and even wrote with a quill pen in her writing room. This was one of my favorite parts of the trip by far.
After the tour, we went back into the town square, and arrived at the Roman Bath House. I was so eager to see inside this ornate building, and when we walked inside, there was pools upon pools of blue-green water among the stone architecture. There were sculptures like on the castle in Beauty and the Beast, and I was in complete awe of this place. During the tour, I learned so much about the history of Bath. I decided this was my favorite destination we had been too yet, because though we were in England, I also felt as if we were in Rome.
We ate meat pies at a restaurant in the middle of Bath and drank as much cider as our bellies could hold. I said goodbye to this place, but I knew that I would return one day. It was too perfect to not revisit.
Part 2: Amsterdam
We took a bus from the tulips back into Amsterdam, so that we could see the city. We had less than five hours to see everything we could, but since my phone had ran out of cellular data, we literally were left to wander around a new city in a new country. It was a bit of a culture shock, but I decided to embrace it.
We went into a place immediately that was called a 'coffee shop' and soon realized that there wasn't coffee in there. It was a weed shop. We laughed and bought a pre-roll, which was probably a terrible idea since we had a flight to catch in 4 hours. We smoked the joint inside the coffee shop, and wandered back on the street, and that's when I realized that Amsterdam looked a lot better when you're high.
The canal looked magically and all of the quirky buildings looked like odd doll houses. We found a small, modern-looking cafe, and ate lunch there. We had a Dutch stamppot, which was basically mashed potatoes and some other items thrown into a bowl and mixed together. It was so good. We started to have a conversation with a women who was originally from Amsterdam, her accent was thick, but she still spoke fluent English.
She said that she had never been to America and had only seen it on television. She said it scared her. I realized how strange the place I called 'home' was in that moment. It truly was the overruling place on Earth, and I felt odd knowing that it was all I had ever known.
After we had eaten, we went to a small flee market that was next to the canals. There was so much art and interesting artifacts. We also saw the House of Remembrance, and I realized that many of the museums and such in Amsterdam were sad reminders of the Holocaust. Even though Amsterdam was an interesting place, it wasn't my favorite for that reason.
We quickly realized that we need to ride the underground train to the airport, because our flight would be departing in just two hours.
When we got to the airport, we were super relaxed and relieved that we had finally gotten to the airport with ample time before our flight left. However, when we tried to scan our boarding passes, they continued to not work. One of the workers told us that our flight was for the following week, not that evening. My heart sunk, and I began to get extremely worried. I thought we were going to have to stay in a hostile in the red light district that night.
We quickly tried to connect to the airport's Wifi, but the connection was so spotty, and wouldn't load the pages we need to change our flights. Annika was able to change hers, but my phone wouldn't work to change it. We went up to the flight desk to ask for help, and the man said that the flight might be closed. I was absolutely terrified at this point, and I think the man could see the worry on my face. It was going to be 120 euros to change it, but I had no choice.
The vueling worker finally said that he was able to change it, and looked right into my eyes and said, "I changed it for you, free of charge." I could've kissed that man in that moment, because I was so relieved. I thanked him so many times, and we sprinted to get my boarding pass printed.
We soon found out that the airport was really large, and we couldn't find the gate that we needed to board at. We were at the other end of the airport when a flight attendant told us that our gate was on the opposite side of the airport. We had ten minutes until our gate closed.
We sprinted as fast as we could through the airport, people starring at us as we ran past and through them. The gate was nearly closing, as we barely made it in time to walk through and board the plane. The relief was unreal. I decided that on future trips I HAD to plan ahead and not travel to another country in only one day.
We stepped off of the plane back in London, and I felt like I was home away from home.
We went into a place immediately that was called a 'coffee shop' and soon realized that there wasn't coffee in there. It was a weed shop. We laughed and bought a pre-roll, which was probably a terrible idea since we had a flight to catch in 4 hours. We smoked the joint inside the coffee shop, and wandered back on the street, and that's when I realized that Amsterdam looked a lot better when you're high.
The canal looked magically and all of the quirky buildings looked like odd doll houses. We found a small, modern-looking cafe, and ate lunch there. We had a Dutch stamppot, which was basically mashed potatoes and some other items thrown into a bowl and mixed together. It was so good. We started to have a conversation with a women who was originally from Amsterdam, her accent was thick, but she still spoke fluent English.
She said that she had never been to America and had only seen it on television. She said it scared her. I realized how strange the place I called 'home' was in that moment. It truly was the overruling place on Earth, and I felt odd knowing that it was all I had ever known.
After we had eaten, we went to a small flee market that was next to the canals. There was so much art and interesting artifacts. We also saw the House of Remembrance, and I realized that many of the museums and such in Amsterdam were sad reminders of the Holocaust. Even though Amsterdam was an interesting place, it wasn't my favorite for that reason.
We quickly realized that we need to ride the underground train to the airport, because our flight would be departing in just two hours.
When we got to the airport, we were super relaxed and relieved that we had finally gotten to the airport with ample time before our flight left. However, when we tried to scan our boarding passes, they continued to not work. One of the workers told us that our flight was for the following week, not that evening. My heart sunk, and I began to get extremely worried. I thought we were going to have to stay in a hostile in the red light district that night.
We quickly tried to connect to the airport's Wifi, but the connection was so spotty, and wouldn't load the pages we need to change our flights. Annika was able to change hers, but my phone wouldn't work to change it. We went up to the flight desk to ask for help, and the man said that the flight might be closed. I was absolutely terrified at this point, and I think the man could see the worry on my face. It was going to be 120 euros to change it, but I had no choice.
The vueling worker finally said that he was able to change it, and looked right into my eyes and said, "I changed it for you, free of charge." I could've kissed that man in that moment, because I was so relieved. I thanked him so many times, and we sprinted to get my boarding pass printed.
We soon found out that the airport was really large, and we couldn't find the gate that we needed to board at. We were at the other end of the airport when a flight attendant told us that our gate was on the opposite side of the airport. We had ten minutes until our gate closed.
We sprinted as fast as we could through the airport, people starring at us as we ran past and through them. The gate was nearly closing, as we barely made it in time to walk through and board the plane. The relief was unreal. I decided that on future trips I HAD to plan ahead and not travel to another country in only one day.
We stepped off of the plane back in London, and I felt like I was home away from home.
Day 5: Amsterdam and Holland
Every time I try to tell people that we went to Amsterdam for one day they don't believe. However, we really did. We booked a flight that was only 100 euros round-trip to fly to Amsterdam around 7 a.m. that morning, and return around 9 p.m. I had truly no clue how we were going to see everything in one day, but since we were already in Europe, and it was so cheap to fly around this area, we felt like we had to.
We rode the tube to a nearby overground train station, then we got on a train that we rode for two hours to Luton airport, got on the plane that we were on for only an hour and 45 minutes, and ta-da! We were in Amsterdam.
It was overcast and cloudy, which was apparently normal for Amsterdam weather. When we got off the plane, I was starving, so I bought a weird croissant thing that had a piece of ham and melted cheese on it, and a strange bread thing that had spicy sausage in it, and the most wonderful coffee drink I had ever had: a cappuccino latte. I did not even know these food and beverage items existed, but they were delicious and so Dutch. There were people having beers and ciders at the same cafe that morning around 9 a.m., and that's when I decided I would definitely like this place. When I used the bathroom at the airport, I heard around four different languages. There was so much culture and diversity here.
When we walked out of the airport, there was a bus with an obnoxious amount of tulip stickers on it, and that's how I knew it was our bus. We were going to see the Kükenof tulip fields in Holland, which was only a 40 minute bus ride from the airport. The tulips had just started to bloom, and I knew that this was one stop we had to make before going into Centräll Amsterdam.
All of the signs were in Dutch, and I was glad we were not trying to drive on these roads. When we arrived at the tulip fields, I could see the flowers just past the entrance. There was an unbelievable amount of tulips and other types of flowers. Some were in acres of fields, other were in outdoor garden patches, and the rest were inside a giant greenhouse.
I didn't know where to start, so we just wandered around for hours looking at all of the beautiful flowers. I felt a sensation of sadness, as I wished more than anything that my grandmother would've been there with me to see this. She loved flowers, and would've loved being in this place. I promised myself I would take her there someday.
There was a flower inside the greenhouse called "Spryng Break" and I decided that this was my favorite, since we were on spring break.
We climbed up stairs to stand atop a windmill and look out at fields of tulips as far as I could see. It was entirely different world.
We rode the tube to a nearby overground train station, then we got on a train that we rode for two hours to Luton airport, got on the plane that we were on for only an hour and 45 minutes, and ta-da! We were in Amsterdam.
It was overcast and cloudy, which was apparently normal for Amsterdam weather. When we got off the plane, I was starving, so I bought a weird croissant thing that had a piece of ham and melted cheese on it, and a strange bread thing that had spicy sausage in it, and the most wonderful coffee drink I had ever had: a cappuccino latte. I did not even know these food and beverage items existed, but they were delicious and so Dutch. There were people having beers and ciders at the same cafe that morning around 9 a.m., and that's when I decided I would definitely like this place. When I used the bathroom at the airport, I heard around four different languages. There was so much culture and diversity here.
When we walked out of the airport, there was a bus with an obnoxious amount of tulip stickers on it, and that's how I knew it was our bus. We were going to see the Kükenof tulip fields in Holland, which was only a 40 minute bus ride from the airport. The tulips had just started to bloom, and I knew that this was one stop we had to make before going into Centräll Amsterdam.
All of the signs were in Dutch, and I was glad we were not trying to drive on these roads. When we arrived at the tulip fields, I could see the flowers just past the entrance. There was an unbelievable amount of tulips and other types of flowers. Some were in acres of fields, other were in outdoor garden patches, and the rest were inside a giant greenhouse.
I didn't know where to start, so we just wandered around for hours looking at all of the beautiful flowers. I felt a sensation of sadness, as I wished more than anything that my grandmother would've been there with me to see this. She loved flowers, and would've loved being in this place. I promised myself I would take her there someday.
There was a flower inside the greenhouse called "Spryng Break" and I decided that this was my favorite, since we were on spring break.
We climbed up stairs to stand atop a windmill and look out at fields of tulips as far as I could see. It was entirely different world.
Day 4: Central London
I was most excited to see the central part of London that included Birmingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, the London Eye, China Town and so much more. We decided to sleep in until at least 10 a.m., exhausted from the day before. Once we were up and ready, I was ready to see it all.
We rode the tube to the Picadilly Circus Station, and got off in a swarm of people. Not only was there an obscene amount of tourists in this part of London, but there were also locals who were just trying to commute to work. This was when I realized I could never live here, let alone a big city.
The first place we wanted to see was Buckingham Palace. I used Google Maps to guide us there, when I could've just followed the crowd of people. There was a ceremony happening at the palace, and everyone was lined up in front of the gates, that I could barely see the soldiers in the marching band. There were lined up like little dolls, with their poofy hats on, marching and playing their trumpets. It couldn't have gotten more London than that.
There were officers on horses, riding through the bodies of people, making sure the area was clear. I was just amazed at how different the culture was in this place in that moment, and felt more like a tourist than I had the entire time. The soldiers marched right past us, in uniform, completing the ceremony. We got extremely lucky by stumbling upon that event, and I was glad I got to experience it.
After this, we were walking right into the main streets of London. It was a strange mix of modern and old buildings. There were huge shopping centers right next to old cathedrals. We went into a cathedral, and it was dead silent. Everyone was praying or admiring the features. It was a holy experience, but I felt unusually uncomfortable being in a church as a tourist.
We finally walked into the part of London where Westminster Abbey was, and this cathedral was insane. I towered over all of the other buildings, and I imagined how difficult it would've been to create such an ornate structure. After we saw that building, we went in the gift shop, and I bought some souvenirs for my grandma, because I knew she loved Westminster Abbey.
Right by Westminster Abbey was the London Eye. Instead of riding it, which would've taken a long time and would've been super expensive, we just admired it across the waterway. It was such a beautiful part of the city, and I could've just sat in that spot all day, but we had to keep moving if we wanted to see everything.
We started to get hungry, so we began walking to an Chinese food restaurant, because we had heard that the oriental food in England was delicious. We stumbled upon China Town, and it was such an interesting nook of the city. There was so much culture and I admired all of the little stores and street decor.
We ate udon noodles at a tiny, authentic restaurant. I sprinkled chili powder into the bowl to make it spicy, since it was hard to find spicy food in Europe.
When we finally got back to the Airbnb that day, my feet were aching and covered in blisters. However, there was plenty more miles to walk.
We rode the tube to the Picadilly Circus Station, and got off in a swarm of people. Not only was there an obscene amount of tourists in this part of London, but there were also locals who were just trying to commute to work. This was when I realized I could never live here, let alone a big city.
The first place we wanted to see was Buckingham Palace. I used Google Maps to guide us there, when I could've just followed the crowd of people. There was a ceremony happening at the palace, and everyone was lined up in front of the gates, that I could barely see the soldiers in the marching band. There were lined up like little dolls, with their poofy hats on, marching and playing their trumpets. It couldn't have gotten more London than that.
There were officers on horses, riding through the bodies of people, making sure the area was clear. I was just amazed at how different the culture was in this place in that moment, and felt more like a tourist than I had the entire time. The soldiers marched right past us, in uniform, completing the ceremony. We got extremely lucky by stumbling upon that event, and I was glad I got to experience it.
After this, we were walking right into the main streets of London. It was a strange mix of modern and old buildings. There were huge shopping centers right next to old cathedrals. We went into a cathedral, and it was dead silent. Everyone was praying or admiring the features. It was a holy experience, but I felt unusually uncomfortable being in a church as a tourist.
We finally walked into the part of London where Westminster Abbey was, and this cathedral was insane. I towered over all of the other buildings, and I imagined how difficult it would've been to create such an ornate structure. After we saw that building, we went in the gift shop, and I bought some souvenirs for my grandma, because I knew she loved Westminster Abbey.
Right by Westminster Abbey was the London Eye. Instead of riding it, which would've taken a long time and would've been super expensive, we just admired it across the waterway. It was such a beautiful part of the city, and I could've just sat in that spot all day, but we had to keep moving if we wanted to see everything.
We started to get hungry, so we began walking to an Chinese food restaurant, because we had heard that the oriental food in England was delicious. We stumbled upon China Town, and it was such an interesting nook of the city. There was so much culture and I admired all of the little stores and street decor.
We ate udon noodles at a tiny, authentic restaurant. I sprinkled chili powder into the bowl to make it spicy, since it was hard to find spicy food in Europe.
When we finally got back to the Airbnb that day, my feet were aching and covered in blisters. However, there was plenty more miles to walk.
Day 3: Cambridge
When I opened my eyes, I blinked continuously to be sure that I wasn't dreaming. I was still in London, and I had entire day in front of me to explore. That morning, my friends and I decided that we were going to take a train into the country and see Cambridge.
The train ride would be around an hour and a half, and it was expensive to ride the train. I knew that it would be worth it to see the countryside of England, which I heard was exceptionally beautiful.
We got ready as quickly as possible, and went and rode the Underground to meet Kayla at the overground train station. It was sunny and nice out, and we knew that we could just wander around this little town all day.
The best thing about England is the architecture. It's obvious that all of the buildings were built for beauty just as much as functionality. This was big one difference from America, where we build things as quickly as possible and do not care so much what they look like, especially in large cities.
Cambridge had such a nostalgic feel to it. All of the buildings on the main street looked like quaint, little cottages, and it was such an inviting place. People were riding bikes on all of the streets, and I could feel how life here was a much slower pace. Everyone was not in a hurry to get somewhere, and some people weren't going anywhere at all.
As we wandered around Cambridge without using any directions, we passed by ginormous cathedrals, and finally made it to the universities. I wondered what it would be like to attend a college that's campus literally looked like something of a dream.
I couldn't believe the old architecture, with buildings that had stone pillars in front of it, towering above all of the lush trees in the green parks. There was a canal right on campus that had boat tours, and I questioned if these students realized how remarkable it was that they got to see such beauty everyday, or if they were just used to it.
We happened upon a little famers market that was happening in a closed-off square in the midst of all of the roads and buildings that surrounded it. I could feel hunger creeping up on me, and could smell all of the food, so I decided to get something to eat. There was a booth where two women were cooking hotdogs and hamburgers, and it smelled so good, so decided to get a hotdog. I covered the hotdog in dijon mustard and ketchup, and ate it in a matter of seconds. It was insanely good, and did not taste like the hotdogs here in America, which the meat is questionable at best.
Kayla and Annika came over to me with their hotdogs, and Kayla said "Those ostrich farmer ladies were so nice." I frowned for a moment, confused at what she meant. It finally clicked that I had just eaten an ostrich meat hotdog, and I burst out laughing. Even though it was delicious, I couldn't get the idea that I had just eaten one of those weird, gigantic birds out of my head.
After we were finished exploring the market, we went to the cutest ice cream shop, and had large cones of ice cream. For some reason, the ice cream in England tastes so much better than back home. I ate it so quickly that I had a brain freeze.
We were walking around a campus, when we realized the last train into London was leaving in only 20 minutes. We all three started sprinting, and made it just in time as the train pulled up. It was a theme on this trip to have moments of utter calmness turn into moments of utter chaos.
I wouldn't have had it any other way.
The train ride would be around an hour and a half, and it was expensive to ride the train. I knew that it would be worth it to see the countryside of England, which I heard was exceptionally beautiful.
We got ready as quickly as possible, and went and rode the Underground to meet Kayla at the overground train station. It was sunny and nice out, and we knew that we could just wander around this little town all day.
The best thing about England is the architecture. It's obvious that all of the buildings were built for beauty just as much as functionality. This was big one difference from America, where we build things as quickly as possible and do not care so much what they look like, especially in large cities.
Cambridge had such a nostalgic feel to it. All of the buildings on the main street looked like quaint, little cottages, and it was such an inviting place. People were riding bikes on all of the streets, and I could feel how life here was a much slower pace. Everyone was not in a hurry to get somewhere, and some people weren't going anywhere at all.
As we wandered around Cambridge without using any directions, we passed by ginormous cathedrals, and finally made it to the universities. I wondered what it would be like to attend a college that's campus literally looked like something of a dream.
I couldn't believe the old architecture, with buildings that had stone pillars in front of it, towering above all of the lush trees in the green parks. There was a canal right on campus that had boat tours, and I questioned if these students realized how remarkable it was that they got to see such beauty everyday, or if they were just used to it.
We happened upon a little famers market that was happening in a closed-off square in the midst of all of the roads and buildings that surrounded it. I could feel hunger creeping up on me, and could smell all of the food, so I decided to get something to eat. There was a booth where two women were cooking hotdogs and hamburgers, and it smelled so good, so decided to get a hotdog. I covered the hotdog in dijon mustard and ketchup, and ate it in a matter of seconds. It was insanely good, and did not taste like the hotdogs here in America, which the meat is questionable at best.
Kayla and Annika came over to me with their hotdogs, and Kayla said "Those ostrich farmer ladies were so nice." I frowned for a moment, confused at what she meant. It finally clicked that I had just eaten an ostrich meat hotdog, and I burst out laughing. Even though it was delicious, I couldn't get the idea that I had just eaten one of those weird, gigantic birds out of my head.
After we were finished exploring the market, we went to the cutest ice cream shop, and had large cones of ice cream. For some reason, the ice cream in England tastes so much better than back home. I ate it so quickly that I had a brain freeze.
We were walking around a campus, when we realized the last train into London was leaving in only 20 minutes. We all three started sprinting, and made it just in time as the train pulled up. It was a theme on this trip to have moments of utter calmness turn into moments of utter chaos.
I wouldn't have had it any other way.
Day 2: Exploring the city
When we left the airport, which was about an hour tube ride from our Airbnb and Central London, we were like three blind mice aimlessly wandering around a city. It was still daytime, mid-afternoon to be exact, and every clock I looked at had military time on it. My phone didn't have any cellular service, and I hadn't been able to tell my mom I'd arrived safely yet.
Even though I was 20-years-old and fully capable of traveling on my own, my mom and I never went a day without talking. We always said "good morning, I love you," and "goodnight, I love you," at the very least. This felt odd to me. I was eager to find Wifi, which I would soon find out was not an easy task.
Once we were out of the terminal, we walked down flights of stairs to the "Underground." An underground, smelly tram that would take us to whatever destination we would like to go. I would soon find out that I would be well-acquainted with this strange but convenient public transportation. It was around 80 pounds for a week Oyster Card to ride the tube around London, and this seemed expensive, but I had no other choice but to spend this money. It was around $120 American dollars, and I winced at this price for a crammed, rather disgusting underground tube.
We felt like real Londoners, riding the tube into the city. No one spoke to one another on this tram, and it reminded me of the subway in Los Angeles or New York: everyone was trying to get somewhere, and there was no time for small talk. I refrained from speaking on the tube, because once everyone heard my American accent, I received some unwarranted stares from strangers. They were mostly curious, but I looked enough like a European that if I didn't speak, I fit right in.
We exited the tube, coming out from underground like the three blind mice that we were, but when we surfaced, I was right in the heart of London. I felt a ridiculous smile spread across my face. Cars were on the wrong sides of the rode, and they were exceptionally tiny. People sat opposite of the driver's side to drive, and honked their horns at people who jaywalked nonchalantly.
We got off at the Holloway Road stop, so we could see where Kayla lived and where she went to class. Her apartment was tiny, cramped and smelled strongly of cigarette smoke. The hallways were filled with the smell of trash, and though I was happy to see where she lived, I was ready to leave immediately. I could not believe the price she was paying to live in this student housing. This was London for you: expensive and small compared to back home.
We grabbed some coffee at a nearby cafe, and it was quirky and cute. I envied Kayla for getting to spend so much time in this strange but wonderful place.
We walked to the Arsenal stop, even though we could just taken the Underground. I rolled my suitcase across the cobblestone road (I kid you not), making a ridiculous amount of noise. We walked past the Arsenal stadium, as the sun was setting, and it all still felt so surreal. Once we arrived at our Airbnb, a magical place to say the least, I was ready to get some sleep.
The place where we were staying was an old walk-up house with old brick and so much character. It was three stories, and looked even more beautiful in person. We went into our room and explored the house that we shared with the owners. I couldn't imagine having to stay with strangers on a regular basis, but our hosts did it all the time.
I was so glad that we had chosen to stay here instead of a hostile. The house was decorated contemporary-modern, with beautiful art. The garden off the kitchen was a magical place, and I knew we had to eat breakfast out there the next morning if the weather permitted it.
The guest bathroom was huge, with plants growing in the showering and along the walls. There was no shower door, which I still think was so peculiar, but I loved it. There was constant music playing off of an old stereo, and a female's voice would interrupt the music every so often to say "just chill." I thought this was so hilarious, but I took the advice.
On day 2, we explored the same parts of the city for the most part, except we went to Covent Garden, where we had the most delicious fish-n-chips I had ever eaten and a beer that tasted hoppy and delicious. I noticed how small the portion sizes were and how scarce the filtered water was, and I knew I had to adjust. I bought sparkling water at a place called Sansburry's, which is similar to our Safeway, and had to deal with drinking out of plastic bottles for a week.
There was an overwhelming amount of market booths down by Covent Garden, so I bought a backpack that was a knock-off of a brand I loved, and I bought my little sister a fake Gucci belt, which I knew she would love. I clutched my purse tightly to my chest, as pit pocketing was common in Europe, and I wasn't taking any chances, especially since it was beginning to get dark.
My currency that I had brought from back home was depleting quicker than I had expected, so I prepared myself for the unruly amount of funds I would need to spend to simply eat and get to places in this city.
That night I went to sleep feeling like I had seen all that my eyes could possibly see in one day. I was exhausted, but it was just the beginning.
Even though I was 20-years-old and fully capable of traveling on my own, my mom and I never went a day without talking. We always said "good morning, I love you," and "goodnight, I love you," at the very least. This felt odd to me. I was eager to find Wifi, which I would soon find out was not an easy task.
Once we were out of the terminal, we walked down flights of stairs to the "Underground." An underground, smelly tram that would take us to whatever destination we would like to go. I would soon find out that I would be well-acquainted with this strange but convenient public transportation. It was around 80 pounds for a week Oyster Card to ride the tube around London, and this seemed expensive, but I had no other choice but to spend this money. It was around $120 American dollars, and I winced at this price for a crammed, rather disgusting underground tube.
We felt like real Londoners, riding the tube into the city. No one spoke to one another on this tram, and it reminded me of the subway in Los Angeles or New York: everyone was trying to get somewhere, and there was no time for small talk. I refrained from speaking on the tube, because once everyone heard my American accent, I received some unwarranted stares from strangers. They were mostly curious, but I looked enough like a European that if I didn't speak, I fit right in.
We exited the tube, coming out from underground like the three blind mice that we were, but when we surfaced, I was right in the heart of London. I felt a ridiculous smile spread across my face. Cars were on the wrong sides of the rode, and they were exceptionally tiny. People sat opposite of the driver's side to drive, and honked their horns at people who jaywalked nonchalantly.
We got off at the Holloway Road stop, so we could see where Kayla lived and where she went to class. Her apartment was tiny, cramped and smelled strongly of cigarette smoke. The hallways were filled with the smell of trash, and though I was happy to see where she lived, I was ready to leave immediately. I could not believe the price she was paying to live in this student housing. This was London for you: expensive and small compared to back home.
We grabbed some coffee at a nearby cafe, and it was quirky and cute. I envied Kayla for getting to spend so much time in this strange but wonderful place.
We walked to the Arsenal stop, even though we could just taken the Underground. I rolled my suitcase across the cobblestone road (I kid you not), making a ridiculous amount of noise. We walked past the Arsenal stadium, as the sun was setting, and it all still felt so surreal. Once we arrived at our Airbnb, a magical place to say the least, I was ready to get some sleep.
The place where we were staying was an old walk-up house with old brick and so much character. It was three stories, and looked even more beautiful in person. We went into our room and explored the house that we shared with the owners. I couldn't imagine having to stay with strangers on a regular basis, but our hosts did it all the time.
I was so glad that we had chosen to stay here instead of a hostile. The house was decorated contemporary-modern, with beautiful art. The garden off the kitchen was a magical place, and I knew we had to eat breakfast out there the next morning if the weather permitted it.
The guest bathroom was huge, with plants growing in the showering and along the walls. There was no shower door, which I still think was so peculiar, but I loved it. There was constant music playing off of an old stereo, and a female's voice would interrupt the music every so often to say "just chill." I thought this was so hilarious, but I took the advice.
On day 2, we explored the same parts of the city for the most part, except we went to Covent Garden, where we had the most delicious fish-n-chips I had ever eaten and a beer that tasted hoppy and delicious. I noticed how small the portion sizes were and how scarce the filtered water was, and I knew I had to adjust. I bought sparkling water at a place called Sansburry's, which is similar to our Safeway, and had to deal with drinking out of plastic bottles for a week.
There was an overwhelming amount of market booths down by Covent Garden, so I bought a backpack that was a knock-off of a brand I loved, and I bought my little sister a fake Gucci belt, which I knew she would love. I clutched my purse tightly to my chest, as pit pocketing was common in Europe, and I wasn't taking any chances, especially since it was beginning to get dark.
My currency that I had brought from back home was depleting quicker than I had expected, so I prepared myself for the unruly amount of funds I would need to spend to simply eat and get to places in this city.
That night I went to sleep feeling like I had seen all that my eyes could possibly see in one day. I was exhausted, but it was just the beginning.
London, England
I had always been somewhat of a wavering soul that craved the adrenaline of adventure and wandering, but I would've never thought that I would travel to three countries in a span of 10 days with barely any money and get lost a lot along the way. This was the best decision I had ever made.
My friend, Kayla Mulkin, an absolute dream of a person, was going to study abroad in London, England for the spring semester, and I had joked around that I was going to come visit her during her time abroad.
I was sitting at home over winter break, on handfuls of Percocet and writhing in pain from my tonsillectomy, when I decided that I might not ever get an opportunity like this one again, and I bought a cheap flight that would take me to London over spring break. Maybe it was the drugs or just me being notorious for making hasty decisions, but I could feel the excitement flooding my veins as I clicked 'confirm purchase.'
Those three short months flew by, and before I knew it, I was packing my carry-on overhead item (a small suitcase) and a backpack so full that I could barely carry either of them. I woke up early that morning of March 22, and prepared myself for the long day and night of travel ahead.
I had only flown alone a couple of times before, but I was not scared of the airports or the connecting flights, I was scared of being in an entirely new world that I had always dreamt of, and being disappointed.
After my first four-hour flight, I sat in an airport in Philadelphia, scrambling to get articles edited for work, as I heard the call of the inner-com announce, "the flight to London, Heathrow will depart in one hour." I somewhat enjoyed sitting in airports alone, watching the other people and guessing where they might be going to in the world, watching how they acted in a place that was so uncomfortable, just to get on a plane and be even more uncomfortable. Being uncomfortable meant being alive.
Traveling alone, even if it was just getting to my destination and back home, is such an enlightening experience. It leaves time for self-reflection, and thinking without interruptions. Every time I travel alone, I grow as a person. I become more open to new experiences, and I become braver than I was before. This trip was going to tell me so much about myself; I could feel it.
My stomach dropped from the pure excitement when I stood up with my passport and boarding pass to get onto the largest airplane I had ever seen in my life. I would be in London in just 10 not-so-short hours.
I listened to the boys next to me talk about how their parents had bought them this trip for graduating high school, and I felt a sense of pride rush over me knowing that I had paid for this trip entirely for myself from saving money. Some months I lived off of ramen noodles and Mac-n-Cheese, but it was all going to be worth it.
That flight felt like an eternity of sitting in a small cramped seat, and I only got maybe two hours of sleep the entire night, but I didn't care. We had landed in London. I knew I did not have time to be tired, because the exploring started right then. I was ready to see all of Europe that I could in those 10 short days.
I stepped off the plane, the smoggy sunlight glaring my eyes, after 12 hours of traveling, my body was sweaty and smelling like an airport, and I was in complete shock that I was in a country I had never been to before. I stood in the line for customs for nearly an hour until I finally was greeted by Kayla, who I hadn't seen in nearly 4 months. I was overcome by joy and excitement to see a place that I had only seen in movies and my dreams. I was exhausted, jet lagged, but full of adrenaline for the week to come.
All I had to do now was explore.
My friend, Kayla Mulkin, an absolute dream of a person, was going to study abroad in London, England for the spring semester, and I had joked around that I was going to come visit her during her time abroad.
I was sitting at home over winter break, on handfuls of Percocet and writhing in pain from my tonsillectomy, when I decided that I might not ever get an opportunity like this one again, and I bought a cheap flight that would take me to London over spring break. Maybe it was the drugs or just me being notorious for making hasty decisions, but I could feel the excitement flooding my veins as I clicked 'confirm purchase.'
Those three short months flew by, and before I knew it, I was packing my carry-on overhead item (a small suitcase) and a backpack so full that I could barely carry either of them. I woke up early that morning of March 22, and prepared myself for the long day and night of travel ahead.
I had only flown alone a couple of times before, but I was not scared of the airports or the connecting flights, I was scared of being in an entirely new world that I had always dreamt of, and being disappointed.
After my first four-hour flight, I sat in an airport in Philadelphia, scrambling to get articles edited for work, as I heard the call of the inner-com announce, "the flight to London, Heathrow will depart in one hour." I somewhat enjoyed sitting in airports alone, watching the other people and guessing where they might be going to in the world, watching how they acted in a place that was so uncomfortable, just to get on a plane and be even more uncomfortable. Being uncomfortable meant being alive.
Traveling alone, even if it was just getting to my destination and back home, is such an enlightening experience. It leaves time for self-reflection, and thinking without interruptions. Every time I travel alone, I grow as a person. I become more open to new experiences, and I become braver than I was before. This trip was going to tell me so much about myself; I could feel it.
My stomach dropped from the pure excitement when I stood up with my passport and boarding pass to get onto the largest airplane I had ever seen in my life. I would be in London in just 10 not-so-short hours.
I listened to the boys next to me talk about how their parents had bought them this trip for graduating high school, and I felt a sense of pride rush over me knowing that I had paid for this trip entirely for myself from saving money. Some months I lived off of ramen noodles and Mac-n-Cheese, but it was all going to be worth it.
That flight felt like an eternity of sitting in a small cramped seat, and I only got maybe two hours of sleep the entire night, but I didn't care. We had landed in London. I knew I did not have time to be tired, because the exploring started right then. I was ready to see all of Europe that I could in those 10 short days.
I stepped off the plane, the smoggy sunlight glaring my eyes, after 12 hours of traveling, my body was sweaty and smelling like an airport, and I was in complete shock that I was in a country I had never been to before. I stood in the line for customs for nearly an hour until I finally was greeted by Kayla, who I hadn't seen in nearly 4 months. I was overcome by joy and excitement to see a place that I had only seen in movies and my dreams. I was exhausted, jet lagged, but full of adrenaline for the week to come.
All I had to do now was explore.
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