London, UK - the heart of England. And the home of much fun to the common tourist. Here's my glimpse into some of the most fun and memorable moments of the James Scholar spring trip. But remember: at the end of the day, we were a group of curious American students, most of us first-timers, in London - what wasn't going to be fun?
People Before I even begin to elaborate on the city of London and all its glories, I'd like to first direct the attention to the its inhabitants. Part of the reason the trip was so enjoyable was because the locals were incredibly pleasant. Even on the flight out of Chicago, I was graced with the presence of such affability when I sat next to and conversed with a member of a British punk-rock band, whose careless and independent disposition might have suggested unfriendliness. But he was extremely personable, animated, and informative as he happily shared stories of his experiences in London and offered suggestions of the best places to see. From that point on, I imagined most of the British population would conduct themselves similarly. And they certainly didn't disappoint. It seemed as though every local we ran into was kind, genuine, and, quite honestly, just as eager to learn about our culture as we were to learn about theirs.
Places There were just too many locations worth mentioning to list here, and I think some are better suited for the other pages of this blog. So I'll cover the rest. Aside from the historical sites (Tower of London, Westminster Abbey, Big Ben) and museums (National Gallery, National Portrait Gallery, British Museum), there was plenty more that the city had to offer. Buckingham Palace was as elegant as it was crowded, though the group understandably wasn't able to get too close because of the security gates. The stretch containing the London Eye, which many were surprised to learn opened in 2000, drew a striking resemblance to Navy Pier. A few of us were lucky enough to ride the giant Ferris wheel, taking in the beautiful sights from above the sunset. Pubs were a regular dining/meeting place for the group, and my personal favorite location to hang out. We even had a chance to make it to Museum Tavern, a pub that Karl Marx used to frequent after his long days in the library. What little time the group had for shopping in London was given primarily to souvenir shops and street markets, the most unique of which was located in the fashionable and hipster-like inner city known as Shoreditch. And finally, a group of us made it out to The Loop, a 3-floor bar and club that serves as a popular destination for international students looking to escape their studies for a night. And it was recently brought to my attention that The Loop is one of the more famous clubs in all of the United Kingdom. So, well done team.
Food/Beverage From fish and chips to London Glory Ale, it was quite the effort sampling as many cultural tastes as possible in just five short days. London has an extensive selection of pubs serving traditional cuisine, local chains offering healthy/organic alternatives, and upscale dining options for the mature palate. In my short-lived stay, I dined in several of those pubs, home to delicious pies and beers; a French-inspired bistro, which also included a lovely bakery; a fresh fish and seafood restaurant, where ordering the fish and chips was simply inevitable; and an authentic Indian grill, serving lamb, chicken, and curry with the perfect amount of spice. And I'd be remiss not to mention the andouille sausage, Gouda cheese, and caramelized onion toastie (slang for a toasted sandwich) that I enjoyed in downtown Oxford. Among other British fare that the group feasted upon were black pudding (blood sausage), bubble and squeak (roasted potato and cabbage), and bangers and mash (sausages and mashed potatoes). I'm confident that I speak on behalf of the group when I admit that black pudding wasn't the consensual dish of choice, but the others were as delicious as they were customary. As for the beverages, London was home to a variety of ales and ciders, nearly all of which were available on tap, though some were purchased in bottles. Cocktails seemed to be the secondary beverage of choice, but the group did make note of a beverage called the Strawberry Woo Woo several times.
All in all, the trip was a phenomenal experience, as well as the perfect opportunity to explore the culture of a bustling city abroad. And although reflecting upon our spring break will always bring back memories of British accents and riding the tube, none of us will ever be able to put the full experience into words.