October was a great month filled with lots of time with friends and family. Early in the month Markie and I celebrated his 10th birthday stateside, and I got to catch up with all my friends from home that I hadn’t seen in several months. Later in the month my sister and her friend came to visit London for a week, so I played tour guide to them and showed them the best of the city. I also was able to squeeze in a weekend to the Lake District mid-month, a stunningly scenic area in northwestern England. Continue reading “Noelle’s Monthly Recap: October 2016”
London and Beyond with Sister and Friends
I was a bit pleasantly surprised at myself this past week as my sister and her friend Colleen visited from Wisconsin because I really know my way around London now!
When I first had visitors back in March and April, I felt a bit lost. I led my mom and Markie onto the wrong bus one day, and I wasn’t sure where to go to for good dinners or fun nightlife. What a difference the months have made! So with my sisters nine days in the city, I really wanted her to have the best time possible.
We started her visit with one of my favorite English past times, afternoon tea. We headed to the Hilton Islington for an afternoon of mini sandwiches, scones, and nice pastries – I was so full after!
Sunday after a late wake up, we headed over to a popular pub in my neighborhood, The Jolly Butchers, for Sunday Roast. Sunday Roast is a delicious English tradition which consists of vegetables, potatoes, Yorkshire pudding, gravy, and a meat – normally beef.
After that, we headed to Big Ben and Parliament. Since it was Sunday, Westminster Abbey was actually free to enter provided you went to a church service. So, I participated in my first Evensong which is basically a church service that is mostly singing with a sermon included.
Big Ben
Inside Westminster Abbey
The next day, my sister had booked a day trip for us all, so we spent the day at Windsor Castle, followed by Stonehenge and Oxford. While we were at Windsor Castle, the Queen was actually home, but sadly we did not see her (next time!). After was Stonehenge which seemed bigger to me than the first time I visited, and our last stop was Oxford. I’ve been to Oxford twice now as well, but always on bus tours, so my time there has been really rushed. The city is quite beautiful though.
Windsor Castle
Windsor Castle
Stonehenge
Stonehenge
Oxford
The next evening, in the Kensington area, my friend Miriam had reserved a Groupon wine and cheese tasting for us. The wine tasting was great, and only cost us £12 each! (For the deal we used, click here).
Saturday, my last full day with my sister was jam packed as well. We did an escape room in an old tube station, followed by a bit of shopping in Camden Market, and then walked up to Primrose Hill for a great view of the city.
Camden Lock Market
Camden High Street
The evening was concluded with a visit to Madison rooftop bar, and dinner at another great Italian restaurant in Kensington.
Friends on the rooftop
Mark and I at Madison
Last but not least my week ended with a game I have been waiting for since I bought tickets in February – my hometown team, the Washington Redskins, played against the Cincinnati Bengals at Wembley Stadium in London. Mark and I went and had a great time despite the end result of a tie. Apparently the stadium was sold out that day – an 87,000 attendance!
All in all the week was amazing – it was great to have friends and family in town, spend proper time with my London friends, and have Mark here.
What’s Next?
Next weekend Mark and I are heading to Luxembourg, a small country nestled between Germany, France, and Belgium. We are staying in Luxembourg City to explore the city briefly, and also heading to the Moselle Valley, a wine region in the country.
Till next time all!
Tips for Staying Safe Abroad
As a female often traveling alone (or alone with Markie), making sure we are safe is of my utmost importance. I’d like to think I’m street saavy, but really anyone can be a vulnerable while abroad. Below are nine things I do to try to make sure I stay safe:
Tips for Staying Safe Abroad
Do your research before you go – Wikitravel.org is my go-to source for finding out what kind of crime happens in the destination I am going to. Just type in your destination, and scroll down to the “Stay Safe” (or “Crime”) section. Advice from the website has helped me avoid areas of Panama City that are considered seedy, and learn which taxis are legitimate when traveling in Bulgaria.
Carry pepper spray – When I travel, and even in London, I carry pepper spray. As a female who is often walking alone, I want to feel that I have some sort of protection. Pepper spray is fairly small, and can be easily opened within seconds to spray someone should you need to.
Try to blend in with clothing – When possible, try to wear clothes that are less conspicuous. Don’t wear a shirt with your university on it, or something that gives off immediately that you aren’t a local.
Be weary of strangers who come up to you on the street – I’m not saying all strangers are bad – some may be genuinely asking for directions, but if someone seems too friendly or a bit off, it’s best to keep walking.
Use a cross body purse – A cross body bag keeps your purse valuables close and in front of you, which makes it harder for someone to get to. In crowded situations, I even hold my hand onto my purse to make sure someone isn’t able to sneak their hand into opening my zipper and getting in.
Have your bearings on the city – Before I travel anywhere, I spend time looking at Google Maps and figuring out where my hotel, train stations, points of attraction, etc are in relation to the city. This helps you a lot when you are on the ground, and also prevents you from constantly having to hold up a map to figure out where you are going (ie. making it obvious that you are a tourist).
Separate your money – If you take out a large amount of cash, don’t leave it all in one place. What I will tend to do is put some money hidden in a sock in my suitcase, and keep some on me. I don’t personally trust room safes.
Don’t make valuables obvious – Traveling is not the time to display your fancy accessories or electronics. I often carry two cell phones (one personal, one for work), but I make sure even when traveling to only take one out at a time, or avoid taking them out at all if I’m in a busy location.
Keep people informed of your whereabouts – No matter where I go, I always check in with my parents, a friend, or Mark to let them know my general plans and how things are going.
Do you have any helpful tips to stay safe? Which of the above tips is most useful?
Photo Essay of the Lake District, England
“The loveliest spot that man hath ever known” – William Wordsworth, poet and Lake District resident
I’ve been to some places with amazing scenery in my life, and I’d have to say that the Lake District, a national park in north west England, could easily be near the top of that list. The beauty of the area has inspired writers like Beatrix Potter and poets like William Wordsworth alike. Continue reading “Photo Essay of the Lake District, England”
My Top 10 Favorite London Restaurants
London is a huge city with thousands of restaurants, but I quickly learned when moving here that not all of them are created equal (thanks to a few rough tummy aches early on). After being here now over seven months, I’ve narrowed down what my favorite restaurants are of the ones I’ve visited. What really sets an average restaurant apart from a favorite for me is delicious food, reasonable prices, and a good atmosphere. I hope you find this list useful when deciding on your next meal in London! Continue reading “My Top 10 Favorite London Restaurants”
Noelle Across The Pond 