So, where I left off.. Tuesday night we went to a pub around the corner for a cider and reflected on the summer. Actually, there was a lot of reflection this week. It brings tears to my eyes every time we talk about what we are going to miss and I have to keep telling myself that I will survive and be okay because at least I will get to see everyone. It will be quite a culture shock to see more than 5 people, that I know and like, in one day. We are all just so used to being with each other.
Wednesday was a super fabulous day. Danna, Ally and I ventured to Brighton Beach. We hopped on a train and traveled for about 45 minutes to the pier. The weather was beautiful and there was talk about stopping and getting a piercing or something to commemorate the summer but that never happened. We went on an intense swing ride on the pier and sat on the pebble beach for a while. The three of us probably looked pretty cute falling asleep to the sound of the waves crashing in the background. We had a sushi lunch and decided that someone should open up a conveyor belt sushi place in Columbia. It is the best thing ever, and smart on the owners because sushi is more tempting when you look at it rather than when you read the words on the menu. We walked around the town and enjoyed the beauty of it before heading back to London.
During the evening Jen, Danna, Ally and I went to Brick Lane. It was suggested by one of Danna's co-workers. The street is known for their authentic Indian food. I had never tried Indian cuisine before, except for on the airplane over here (reminder: we fly AirIndia....sketch), and I was pleasantly surprised. After Indian, we went to O'Neils for some live music, danced the rest of the night away, and batted away some creepsters while enjoying the loud American music being sung by British rockstars.
The next day was a nice romantic day for me and Ally. We slept in, which was well needed and then reserved tickets for Buckingham Palace for Friday. We had a nice lunch on the steps in Trafalgar square, did a little bit of shopping, and then spent a long time debating on whether or not to go out. We ended up at a pub that we had been at in the beginning of the summer after the Chelsea game.. and took a long walk home.
Friday was London's way of saying that she is sad to see we are leaving. She started to cry by raining all day and continuing randomly throughout the weekend. A tour of the State Rooms at Buckingham Palace cheered us up a little bit, followed by our final traditional English meal of fish and chips and mushy peas at a pub. We then got on a ferry to Greenwich, saw the prime meridian and I walked around the town with Ally. One of my goals was accomplished: being in two places at once. This goal, of course came from 'A Walk To Remember'...and I think that being in both the Eastern and Western hemisphere at the same time is something to brag about.
Being one of our final nights in the city, we had to go out of course! We gathered up the crew and began at Carnaby street. It was busy and fun and we then attempted to walk to a club, while following some guys we had meet out last week. Everyone got lost and split up and we never made it farther than the bus stop. There were some bathroom issues on the way back but all was dealt with fairly tastefully.
This morning it hit me. We had one more day. It was depressing and I could hardly even talk about it. Emily, Danna and I went to Portobello Road for one last time. It was just as wonderful as ever and I was terribly sad to leave. We met up with Ally and then did one final touristy thing: Abbey Road.
Danna and I then fit in one more show, Spamalot. It was funny and weird.
Tonight the roomies all went out for dinner together at an Italian place around the corner from our flat. And I was almost in tears the entire time. Man, this blog post is kind of depressing I just realized. Dinner was special, followed by packing and now bed. Must wake up super early to make myself tired for the plane ride that is to come.
I love London. I will miss everything about it. There are a few movies that i must see now after being here... all relating to the summer in some way:
1. notting hill
2. the lizzy mcguire movie
3. mona lisa smile
4. love actually
5. ps i love you
6. braveheart
7. a christmas carol
8. bridget jones's diary
9. about a boy
10. wimbledon
11. my fair lady
12. under the tuscan sun
13. the da vinci code
14. ratatouille
15. the hunchback of notre dame
16. an american in paris
Things I will miss the most
-markets
-my roommates
-pub culture
-work
-cider
-movie premiers
-the people here from mizzou
-seeing the same people every day
-emily's travel alarm
-my bunkbed
-our screwy shower
-flat 5
-earl's court
-covent garden
-pistachio gelato
-not having a 'real' phone
-blogging
-public transportation
-our flat's intercom
-the different languages you encounter
-weekend traveling
-walking everywhere
-never driving
-fish and chips
-cool weather
-umbrellas
-london fashion
-shopping
-crepes
-digestives
-the movie theaters
-the accents
-'cheers'
-ethnic cuisine
-trying new things
-meeting new people
-the parks
-the streets
-the general day to day life
-walking home from picadilly by myself
-window shopping
-the pound
-the queen
-william and harry
-the red carpets
-lunch breaks
-tea every hour
-last minute musicals and shows
-the history
-the free london paper
-the woman's voice on the tube
-the museums (esp the v&a)
-the a to zed booklet
-the freedom
-feeling like an adult
and so much more. The list could continue for miles...
I will return to London in the near future, I have no doubts about that.
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