I have wanted to visit London since I was in 8th grade. There was something about this being in a foreign culture, that is totally unique on its own, but still having the common ground of English language. The history, museums, shows are all something that I thought would make a great trip. I suggested it for family vacations during the summer a few different occasions. And now, I am writing this after seeing London for the very first time. In fact, I spent my whole day taking in as many different parts of London as I could.
The first thing many of us were looking forward to was church services in English again. Some of the girls found directions online to the London Hillsong church, which was only a few blocks from our hotel. We packed into the auditorium (basically a Broadway-esque theater rented out on Sundays for church) and it was like nothing I’d experienced. There was a guest speaker that day and although charismatically had a few good points, I personally failed to connect with his message. He seemed to overemphasize money and how God can give us that kind of success if we ask Him for it. Aside from that though, the worship and music was spectacular. It was like Vespers on steroids. 7 Singers, full band, lights, fog, video screens, light beams—it was set up like a rock concert. Very cool.
After church, I realized how small of a world we live in. All of a sudden, I see Megan H. and Casey K. from Bethel, who are studying abroad in Spain for the fall and traveled to London for their fall break. We caught up for a bit and headed off as a big group to Camden Town—home of a large street market. It was uber-crowded there, almost to the point of uncomfortable. After browsing for a bit, we found a great food market and had chicken fajitas by Regents Canal.
Pretty soon, I realized what I really wanted. I really wanted to go explore London by myself. For a day, I didn’t want to be with 20 other Americans. I just wanted to be me and blend in. It was the most relaxing and rewarding time I’ve spent recently. I said goodbye to my friends until 7 PM that night, and began my London adventure.
I headed back to the Underground (subway) tube station and took it south, heading back toward the river Thames and Westminster Abbey. I chose to get off at Charing Cross station, and start walking around a bit. I stopped at the fountains and statues in Trafalgar Square and people watched for a while. My sense of direction—usually pretty spot on—seemed to throw me and I ended up walking east when I thought I was walking north. Life is not as simple when you don’t have your iPhone with Google GPS. But, getting lost was half the fun. If I didn’t head in the wrong direction, I wouldn’t have stumbled upon this movie shoot. I literally was asked to wait a moment as they were shooting a scene crossing the street (in front of the House of Justice on the Strand, I Think…) I didn’t recognize any stars, but I’ll have to get on IMDB to see if I can pinpoint which one it might be. And just as the scene finished, it started to mist. I looked at a map and realized I had been walking east at this point and that a different line of the Tube was just 2 blocks away. I walked and found myself right on the banks of the Thames.
I’d heard that Kensington was a cool neighborhood and I knew Harrod’s (the giant department store) was close, in Knightsbridge. But my eyes drifted up to Notting Hill (I have seen the movie) and I’d remembered reading about a bakery there that was supposed to have the best desserts in London. So, off I went.
Notting Hill area (specifically Portobello Road) is a completely different place than downtown London. Each house is a pastel color with a bold door (blues, grays, reds) to match. Shops adorn the left side of the street with antiques, specialty boutiques and eateries. I got to the bakery (Hummingbird, 133 Portobello Road) and the line literally stretched down the street. No dessert is good for waiting that long, and my time was limited. I walked briskly back to the station and worked my way to Knightsbridge.
I recognized several name brand stores, but you know they only set up shop on the street because of Harrod’s. This is a behemoth. They sell EVERYTHING: appliances, TV’s, clothes, perfume, FOOD (like groceries even) and I wandered around for an hour or two before realizing that the only thing I could likely afford was some specialty tea.
One of the great things about being in London is to hear English on the street again. Walking down the street in Freiburg, or even Austria, you could only understand bits and pieces of conversations, so my brain just naturally tuned it all out. Now though, it’s great to just hear how people talk on the street. I had an interesting observation on the Tube on the way home. I was standing right by the door and on my left were a group of 4 college guys from Britain and a group of 3 younger teenaged Britains got on. They were dressed in a lot of name brands (Quiksilver, New Era caps, bright colors) and looked like typical gangster or snowboarder type guys. The interesting thing was a comment made quietly by one of the college guys: “Why do so many Europeans want to look like Americans?”
I think that comment is especially interesting because a few of us Americans actually strive to look “European” be it clothes, hats, whatever. It’s like both cultures are striving to have what the other has. Maybe it’s because it rocks the traditional norms, but it is fascinating to watch how others behave.
It’s been a full day and I’m absolutely dead tired. The one thing about being in a new city is there is always so much to see and do. But, you do a lot of walking, and that has worn me right out. That’s all for now, the rest of the week I am off to see shows and explore more of this city.
