Postcard from London
Westminister Abbey
“Do you think you learn more about culture by exploring the city or by interacting with locals?”
Before traveling abroad, I believed that to get the most out of travel, you need to visit tourist attractions and local hotspots. After traveling to London, I was pleasantly surprised to find out that tourist attractions are just the beginning.
Day 1
As college students, we booked the cheapest flight to London, not taking into account how difficult it may be to get transportation from the airport to our Airbnb. Upon arrival, while waiting for our train, we ran into friends-of-a-friend who let us know that John Summit tickets had dropped significantly in price. We were now able to buy them. We’re so thankful as the original ticket price was too steep and this concert was the reason we booked our trip to London.
When we arrived at our adorable Airbnb in Peckham, it reminded me of living in New York, where the area was a bit sketchy. The streets were crowded, and the local shop owners were beckoning customers to come in. At this point, my first impression of the city wasn’t great, but after arriving at our adorable Airbnb, we rallied, got ready, and were out the door.
Public transportation in London is a game-changer, as it was cheap and we got to experience our first double-decker bus. Fair warning to those traveling to London - our group had next to no cell reception in the city. A kind elderly gentleman wrote down directions for us to get to Burrow Market to meet a group of friends who traveled separately to London. We explored Burrow Market, taking in the delicious smells and food-filled booths, and all of a sudden, we were very hungry. Of course, we needed to stop for some authentic fish and chips and decided to sit down for a bite at Lord Clyde to have the most incredible fish and chips ever.
After lunch, we returned to our Airbnb to get ready for the concert with John Summit’s music playing in the background. The concert was truly a night to remember and one of my favorite parts of the trip. After the concert, getting home was nearly impossible without cell reception, so we walked to a nearby burger joint and met a lovely group of locals who helped us order an Uber to our Airbnb. After stopping at Wingstop, we hopped in the pre-ordered Uber for home.
Day 2
On day 2 we set our goal to see the main sights of London and this day is the reason I wish I could return to London. We started early, making sure we had time to fit everything into one day. First stop…Buckingham Palace. This site was beyond measure. As we walked through St. James Park we stopped at a pond filled with ducks. For the first time since being abroad, I was reminded of my home in Minnesota. The water and the ducks brought me comfort in ways I didn't know I needed.
“Thank you, Mom, for the suggestion.”
We stopped in a gift shop, and I picked up three postcards from London. Our next stop was a 1623 local pub called Lamb & Flag. When we arrived, we were the only Americans in the bar, and we were thrilled when a group of locals invited us to join them at their table. One of the locals told us about Peckham and that it is a young, fun, and upcoming neighborhood, which altered the way I viewed our Airbnb location. The locals we bumped into were so welcoming, kind, and open, and it helped that there was no language barrier. We ended up staying at the pub for hours that evening.
Going into our London trip, I thought the only way to experience a city's culture was through its landmark attractions. After our trip, however, I realized what made it so special: the connections with locals, which not only changed my perspective of the city but also changed my views of cross-cultural human interaction.
Stay tuned for a Postcard from Switzerland!
Julia
