Twenty Four Hours in London
We started off the day by taking the Tube to a small café for breakfast. After we fueled up, we were ready to hit our first stop; Abbey Road. I had no idea that Abbey Road was an actual road where cars went speeding by every five seconds. That made it very difficult to recreate the iconic Beatles album cover. Not only were the cars speeding over the crosswalk, but there were about thirty people trying to take the exact same photo at the exact same time. Anytime traffic would slow down, tourists would mob into the street. Everyone was trying to recreate the picture. After about an hour of attempting, we finally got the shot.
We hoped back on the Tube and went straight into the heart of London to visit some of the more well-known tourist attractions. We saw Big Ben and the London Eye. Seeing the picturesque clock tower from the movie Peter Pan was on my bucket list ever since I was a little girl. Just recently, on 21 August 2017, the tower began a four-year period of renovation. Luckily we were able to visit a month before that happened. The bells are now silent until the renovations are complete. Although I didn’t get to ride on the London Eye this time, I can tell you from previous experience it showcases breathtaking 360-degree views of the city.
We also stopped at the V&A museum for the Pink Floyd Exhibition. The exhibition was called “Their Mortal Remains” and contained 50 year’s worth of history. It was an audio-visual experience through the bands journey. It incorporated some of their greatest hits with motion sensor technology. The museum gave us headphones to put on. We went into a room and a soon as we went through the door, the music began playing. We walked through many doors and past different mementos of the bands existence. Around every corner, the headphones would change the song or the interview being played so that the experience was always moving. The exhibition ended with realistic concert experience. We went to a cubic room with all black walls. Music videos and live concerts were projected onto all four walls and the ceiling creating an intangible simulation. It felt like I was in the music videos or in the audience at a concert. It felt like I was in the band.
We finished off the day with a little bit of shopping. London is known for having some of the best shopping in the entire world. Its reputation was no let down. We had walked through so many shops by the end of the night, that my legs were killing me. It was worth it though because I discovered some new stores. I stopped in a store called New Look and encountered the greatest brand of jeans to ever fit my body. Jeans are a type of clothing that is very specific to one’s body shape. They are not a one-size-fits-all clothing item. For me, jeans are probably the most difficult item to find for my body type. I am only five feet tall, so my legs are short. Jeans are usually too wide in the waist and too long in length, but fit perfectly throughout the mid-section of my leg. New Look’s jeans were made me! Everything was in UK sizing as well, so it was a bit confusing, however, once I figured out the sizing system everything was in my favor.
Even thought our trip was short, we still made the most of every moment. London is a very special city. I think everyone should travel there if they are lucky enough to have the opportunity, especially if you stay more than one day. The adventures and explorations could be even greater. My trip just touched the surface of what London had to offer. This city was filled with rich history and industrial beauty. I guess you could say that London is my cup of tea.
