This trip has been especially fun because I'm already familiar with the city and fancy myself to be more of a resident than a tourist, crossing streets confidently (but still having to dodge the occasional cab) and navigating the tubes like a pro (though, honestly they're very well designed so that's not a hard thing to do).
Our first night was quite rainy and cold, but I loved it all the more because of it. After a long but fairly comfortable, nap-filled flight, we arrived at our flats at about 3pm two Wednesdays ago. In an attempt to keep all the students awake, our valiant professors led us on a cold and windy walk to the British Film Institute (hence referred to as the BFI) on Southbank, and even though there was much grumbling from the students, they all got their first glimpse of the London Eye, Big Ben, and Parliament, so though we got rained on in the freezing cold -- I think everyone liked it in the end.
Here is the first (crappy) picture I took of the view from the Jubilee Bridge:
*Note: So, I'm not a photographer. I mean, I know the principles and theory behind picture composition, etc. . . but I'm not a practitioner. But! This blog is mostly for me, so I'm going to include any picture I like -- despite quality.
I still can't believe I'm here! Look! The building with the red light is the National Theater, and just under that bridge is the BFI. These are the two places we visit the most, so there will be much walking across this bridge.
Anywho, I'm going to try and do these posts in chronological order, so back to the flight. Everything was straight forward as far as security and customs, and I was lucky and had a center aisle seat with no one next to me. I watched Iron Man 3 (in prep for Civil War, of course), Kung Fu Panda 3 (cute!), and Brooklyn (gorgeous!), and tried to sleep for the rest of it. I was pretty successful, but mostly slept in 20 minute intervals. The flight fed us very well with a large dinner, regular soda runs, and a great little breakfast.
Only one anxiety stomach ache later and we had our group through customs, security, bought tube passes, and all climbed on the Piccadilly train to the flats!
Oh, the flats. They're actually pretty nice, modern, and clean. Just small. It's kind of amazing how well they use the space that there is, though!
They're only a bus ride away from South Kensington station, so that's convenient.
So there's my first day back in this beautiful city! I'll try and catch up to the present as quickly as possible!
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