Study Abroad Part 5: A Walk Through London

One day on a free weekend, I decided to take advantage of the free time that I had and take a walk through central London.  I wanted to hit up many of the places that I’d been dying to see but hadn’t gotten to yet.  So that’s exactly what I did.  I took a few hours, grabbed my phone, purse, and keys, and it the streets.  And most importantly, I took my camera- the most important accessory of my time abroad.

First up was Shaftsbury Avenue.  Known for it’s Theatre and it’s brief mention in the second to last Harry Potter film, I was determined to walk down this street.  I didn’t have a particular reason for wanting to do it, other than to say I’ve done it.  So that’s exactly what I did.  And boy did I find some great things along the way.

Next up was Piccadilly Circus.   Located at the end of Shaftsbury Avenue, it was convenient for my walk.  I spent some time checking out the Eros statue in the center of the square, and sat on the steps of the statue, just taking in the general splendor of the area.  It was moments like these when I stopped to sit and think about where I was when I was reminded how truly lucky I was to be in London and traveling around Western Europe.

 A quick ride on the Tube took me to Camden Market- a place I’d visited on my first full day in London with my entire group on our tour, but a place I’d wanted to explore further.  I returned to the area, made a few purchases (a few prints of London that now hang in my room), and then proceeded to look in the nearby shops.

After exiting the market, I headed home to my flat near the British Museum.  On the walk back, I played ‘tourist’ in my own neighborhood and took photographs, never wanting to forget the sights that I saw each and every day.  After all, those were some of the most important memories to take back with me.

All in all, that day, that walk through London, was one of the most enjoyable days I spent during my time abroad.  Not only was it time to myself, but it was also time that I let myself breathe, and think about why I was there and what I wanted to do in the short amount of time that I had left in the city.