Jackie and I had both already been to London before, and both remembered it fondly. We loved seeing the classic Peter Pan sites by day, and sopping up the pub life by night. This time around was not as enchanting a visit for me, but perhaps this had to do with the fact that the expenses were on my dime and not my dear ole dad’s. Jackie and I learned about the Eurostar the hard way, so prospective travelers be advised! The train into and out of London, the Eurostar, is not covered by the Eurail pass if you purchase last minute and it is highly necessary to book your Eurostar ticket in advance as the seats fill up rapidly. Additionally, purchasing tickets for these trains seems to be much like purchasing plane tickets, the further out you book, the less expensive they may be. You can use your Eurail pass if you book at least a few days in advance. I, however, had chosen to not pre-book any of my train travel for my journey, seeking flexibility. If you’re planning to include London on your itinerary, don’t make my same mistake- book your Eurostar ticket in advance. I ended up paying $500 to get into and out of London… takes the cheery right out of cheerio, doesn’t it? I don’t want to sound negative here, but for the sake of travel reflection, in hindsight, I would have removed London from the itinerary entirely. London is a fabulous destination, but I don’t think it belonged on my whirlwind, budget-conscious itinerary. Alternatively, if I kept London on the itinerary, again in hindsight, I would have had us arrive on a weekend. Visiting London during the week did not allow us to truly experience the nightlife to the fullest, and I felt as if the city work-week hustle-bustle created a less amicable vibe. Okay, somewhat negative reflection aside, Jackie and I had a wonderful two full days in London. We stayed at a lovely inn called the Balham Lodge, which was incredibly affordable and included a well-stocked breakfast. Balham is on Bedford Hill which is a bit of a hike from the main attractions in the city, but the Tube is so easy and accessible that nothing seemed all too distant. We revisited the sites that inspired us the last time we visited, but we also made sure to incorporate some new activities and exploration as well.

  
Highlights and moments:

-Afternoon tea at Sketch. Though we struggled to find it on foot, we decided to pretend we were rich for the day and got afternoon tea at a place I had read about online called Sketch. Sketch is a whimsical blend of art, sophistication, a bit of the avant-garde, as well as classic English dining. We were greeted by incredibly good looking staff members who whisked us away to a baby pink domed dining room with blush pink velvet booths dressed in dainty pink table cloths, all topped with tiers of pastries and tea sandwiches. We dined like queens, and sipped tea as best we knew how, which we discovered was an affair that felt rather foreign. The bathroom was also quite an experience. It was completely white, making you feel like you were suspended in air, as you couldn’t make out the floor from the ceiling. A recording of frogs croaking, cicadas buzzing, and a 1960’s astronaut counting down random numbers haunts you as you enter an egg shaped pod enclosure to urinate. It made me feel hot and dizzy, but it was unique!

  
-Reuniting with our good friend from JMU at Las Iguanas. About four years ago, our close friend from James Madison University met herself a lovely British bloke in D.C. The two fell madly in love, got married, and rode off into the sunset to begin their life together as husband and wife in London. Though their happily ever after was a sad loss for Virginia, we now have our own lady of London to call up when we make our way across the pond. Lauren, who we still call by her last name, “Mawn”, regardless of her new married name, met us at St. Pancras Station and took us out to Las Iguanas, a lively Latin flavor bar and grill. We caught up, laughed, and reminisced about the glory days, as well as the humiliating days of the past. We missed our girl and hope to see her back in VA soon.

  
-Strolling through St. James Park. Jackie and I enjoyed a leisurely stroll through beautiful St. James park where we found countless gaggles of men and business women, fully decked out in pencil skirts and suits, sprawled out on the grass picnicking (quite different from the states where we all too often shovel it in desk side). Jackie and I walked all day long: past Big Ben and Parliament, Westminster Abbey, over the Thames and into Southwark, past The Globe, and into the Burough Market. I remembered loving this market when I visited last summer, but this time around it seemed a little bit dinky. Maybe it was a bit lackluster after experiencing Mercato Central in Valencia, La Boqueria market in Barcelona, and the St. Remy of Provence market, or it also could have been because we came on a weekday. Regardless, Jackie and I savored a very budget friendly street food lunch, and picked up some final needed souvenirs.

   
    
    
   
-Dinner with my mom and step dad at Santini’s, and a jazz bar night cap. My mom had parted ways with us on the 18th to meet her husband, Joe, in London for a week-long English holiday. We met them at their majestic hotel, The St. Ermin’s, and had a drink before heading to Santini’s, a fine dining Italian restaurant recommended by their concierge. Santini’s was top notch. We relished a merry reunion with mom, caught up with Joe, befriended our neighboring table mates, and devoured rich and elegant Italian cuisine on Santini’s romantically lit back patio.