Weekend Outing (Part Three: Sunday)

Some signs along the way back to the car-rental place that made me think of home :)

Melrose "Rosie"

                YMCA                                     Lloyd's. Miss you Kenz and Aubs!

After dropping off the car, we headed to the ritzy hotel next door to see if we could find a taxi. 

This really friendly man welcomed us in, carried our bags into the lobby, and told us we "must check out the grand staircase" while we waited for a taxi to come (he sent someone to book one). So we did:

It was a breathtaking hotel...and it was right on the water!

Back at Brighton train station:

Once we made it back to Victoria Tube Station, I instantly felt at ease...I know my way around London! 

I <3 my grandpa

It took us awhile to find the hotel...we went retraced our steps twice (I guess I should take my above statement back...I know my way around some parts of London...haha). After we dropped our bags off, I showed them around Camden Town/ Market and then we went to Wagamama for dinner. Our waitress, Erika, was so sweet. She is a student living in Archway! We exchanged emails and are planning to hang out next week :) I love meeting new people so spontaneously :)

 The view from their room. Can't get enough of this city!

Camden Lock. Grandpa explained how they work. I've been here several times and I've never noticed it!

Grandma at Wagamama's (left) and them on the escalator at Archway station...almost home!

After showing them around my place, I headed back to the hotel with them, the three of us Skyped with Mom, and then it was time to say goodbye. Mom told me to text her to make sure I got back okay by myself; I tried to explain that I travel by myself to my house from Holborn every day at night and she never knows or worries....but I guess that's what moms do. 

[put apartment pic here]

I had the best weekend. I didn't realize just how much I was looking forward to seeing them until I no longer had it to look forward to! But I'm enjoying it so much here too...I wish I could live in two places at once ;) Sigh. 

Cheers, an Afty, and A Bit of a Do

I'm already falling behind...we've been here for four days! Today, however, was my all time favorite day so far. We met the other students we will be studying with, spent the afternoon exploring, and then took the most romantic bus tour ever created. But before I share that, here are some pictures of my home sweet home (and the first couple days).

We live on top of a hill that's on top of another hill that is on top of another hill (perhaps the reason why the borough is called Highgate). This is us all piling in with our luggage:

Here's a look into my apartment:

At night the city looks like its a mile away. We can see the lights from our kitchen window... It's pretty wild to think I'm living barely forty-five minutes from the center of the city. I don't think it has quite hit me yet, how lucky I am to be here. We were reminded today how rare it is to be able to live only a zone over from Central London. And I'm here? As an eighteen-year-old college student? It's truly amazing to have the opportunity.

 The inside of our flat looks brand new (because it is: we are its first residents since renovation!), but the building is extremely old. I'm glad they kept these vintage-y windows because each morning when the sun comes in, I feel like I could be a Bennet or a Bingley. Then, I wake up, get ready, and walk to the tube, hoping to arrive approximately 45 minutes after stepping out of the house. (So far it hasn't quite worked out that way, but it will...I think). Here's some pictures of the Arcadia center:

On Sunday, the day we flew in, Arcadia staff treated us to dinner at WagaMama, a delicious Thai restaurant in Central London. This was probably to prevent us from taking a nap so we could adjust to the local time, which was definitely a smart idea because otherwise I probably would have fallen asleep. 

The next day (Monday), we went on a self-navigated tour of the city as part of an orientation activity. Here's some typical touristy pictures:

And here's us back in Highgate: our first official grocery trip!

Next month we probably won't be as ecstatic to be taking on this part of #adulting. Here's a fun fact.  Grocery bags cost 2 pence. Each. So this girl is thankful her mother packed her a reusable grocery bag (that is also insulated!) It made the culture shock of food-shopping a little more bearable :)

And with that, I've completely run out of time. Its almost two in the morning here, so I guess I'll save the "a bit of a do" portion of this blog for a later post. Here's a sneak peek:

Can we say, ADORABLE? (The bus, that is, not me). 

Anyway, more on that later!

Cheers,

LKM