[Note: this is a bit delayed, but better late than never.]
I’m writing this in the Gatwick airport, although there
isn’t any Wi-Fi so it’ll be a few hours before I can post it. It’s 7:45am and
I’m wide-awake, despite a fitful night of sleep, anticipation of the next leg
of my journey causing me to count hours rather than sheep.
London was a whirlwind. We definitely took it quite easy,
all things considered, having woken up at noon yesterday (oops). Lilli and her
dad were so flexible and accommodating, it’s not as if I felt harried trying to
see the sights. I put a lot more emphasis on spending time with them and familiarizing
myself with London than I did trying to cram in every tourist hotspot. It just
wouldn’t have been feasible during my short time here. Still, it’s exhausting
to be in a new city, constantly exposed to new stimuli.
On Tuesday Lilli and I left in the early afternoon to go to
the Tate Modern. We walked through the drizzle from her house in the Southwestern
part of town to the Eastern bit, feeling like true natives as we wielded our
umbrella against the rain. The Tate Modern was lovely –- as to be expected –-
and naturally very different from the National Gallery, the Victoria and Albert
Museum or the National Portrait Gallery. There I added an incredible Dalí to
the collection of Van Goghs, Matisses, Toulouse-Lautrecs and Freuds I’ve seen
thus far. Especially after Paris, I’m going to come back quite spoiled,
art-wise…
View from the Tate Modern
I mean, I’ve been spoiled in many ways. Especially in terms
of food… Goodness, I’ve eaten so well here. Lots of crumpets, lots of tea, but
also things like, ‘mushy peas and chips’ for dinner last night (you know you’re
English if you can understand what that means). I swear I’m going to eat my way
through Europe (and out of my wardrobe).
Anyways, Tuesday night we went clubbing in Central London,
which felt oh-so-cosmopolitan. Lilli’s friend is a club promoter, so we got in
for free. They almost didn’t let me in because I didn’t meet their dress code
of high heels, but luckily I think I was tall enough to pass for a pump wearing
bitty. We got in late after a very fun night -- one of the reasons why we
didn’t wake up until late yesterday.
Yesterday afternoon we met up with Adam, a friend from
Harvard who now lives in London. The three of us had tea at this crazy tearoom
called, “Sketch,” a place so kitsch it’s considered haute. In addition to light fixtures made of
toy construction vehicles, portraits of nude women with the heads of birds and
sequin-studded “loos,” they offered us some delicious pastries and tea. We then
walked through town and a hung out a bit in Hyde Park before visiting one of
Lilli’s friends from high school. It was really great to see Adam, even if only
for a short while. It did feel a little surreal, however… all three of us
hanging out like usual, except this time in a city thousands of miles away from
Cambridge.
Hyde Park
So last night we had mushy peas and chips, and today I’ll be
having lunch with my Swedish grandmother. Crazy as it may be, not bad for a
span of 24 hours.
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