London Musings

June 13, 2013: Leaving London and it's Lessons

Leaving London was hard. We loved our time here so much, and frankly, I wasn't ready to leave. I could have stayed another week just in this city, not to mention all the outlying places like Bath, Stratford-upon-avon, Stonehenge, the list goes on. But as we leave England, here are some of my thoughts, and lessons learned.




Oyster Cards are so convenient
Best accent award!
English food may not be the best, but the people who work there are warm and wonderful!
Need more time here than expected
Most expensive city, so plan and budget accordingly
Buy the London Pass!
The Tube is amazing. Efficient and clean.

 Lessons Learned:
-I put off London for far too long, because every time I came to Europe as a young person, everyone on the trains always told me it was too expensive, so I didn't come. Big Mistake. England is wonderful! If I EVER get the chance to come back, I will do whatever it takes!! There is so much more I want to see and experience here. It is MY history as an American, and I love it.
-Good shoes are important, and we need to walk more. We walked everywhere. Joseph and I have decided that we want to walk more at home. Don't just hop in the car and go to Harmon's, or a friend's house. WALK there, and enjoy the journey.  
-Plan more time at places than you think you will need. Although we wanted to see everything and get a little taste of as much site seeing as possible, we always seemed to be running against the clock and behind. We also missed out on so much. Partly because our schedule got thrown off, but also because maybe we tried to pack too much in. Make sure you prioritize what you want to do, and get those done first each day. Then pad the rest of your day with the extras.
-It is cold here. (Not that I am complaining...I loved it) But it IS cool. Even in the middle of June. Make sure you have comfy, warmish clothes. No wonder they drink warm tea here. It can get chilly!
-Keep your eyes open, and don't be afraid to get a little lost. There is so much to see in the corners and, as we learned, the middle of the streets with monuments, and gardens tucked about. There is SO much history here, and if you are focused on the big stuff, you can miss out on so much of the little stuff. 
-I love London.