Having been only to Paris before, when my friend Sara asked if I’d want to do a trip to Nice, an area dubbed the “French Riviera” (or Côte d’Azur), I agreed to go. Sara had spent a year learning French, and I still remembered enough to get by from my high school days, so we went ahead and booked our trip – half a week in Nice, and half a week in Paris. Continue reading “Belles Villes on the Côte d’Azur”
London is a huge city, so as a tourist, or a new resident of the city, it took me some time to figure out where the best areas to go for a night out are. Below I’ll share a few of the top areas I’ve been to, and some of the specific places in each area I recommend.
Kensington
If you want to hang out with a posh crowd, this is where to go. I kid you not, when I went out in Kensington a guy was telling me all about the ‘struggle’ of having to wait for his boat to be sailed across the Atlantic since he just used it in the Caribbean but now was going to use it in the Mediterranean… such a rough life (eye roll).
Where I recommend: Kensington Roof Gardens, The Churchill Arms, Piano Kensington, Eclipse
SoHo
SoHo in London reminds me of SoHo in NYC – there’s a ton of restaurants, pubs, bars, and clubs all around. This is a great area to go for a night out because there’s something for everyone. There’s also a good mix of tourists (SoHo is close to Picadilly Circus) and Londoners who go here.
Where I recommend: Coach & Horses, Dirty Martini, Kingly Court, Ain’t Nothing But Blues Bar
Camden
Amy Winehouse used to live in this area. It’s very hipster but has a lot of cool art and a good vibe. You’ll find a mix of Londoners and tourists here as well. There’s also a nightly bar crawl of Camden (mostly for tourists), but is a good way to go to a few bars with a group at night.
Where I recommend: The Hawley Arms, The Camden Head, Camden Comedy Club (£5 and £10 comedy nights!)
Dalston
Dalston is a rapidly gentrifying area, and hidden within there are some really cool places to go out. This is a bit off the tourist track (there aren’t really any tourist attractions in this area), but as its a fifteen minute walk from my flat I go out here quite often.
Where I recommend: Dalston Roof Park, Escudo de Cuba, Jolly Butcher, Tipsy Dalston
Shoreditch
Shoreditch is near Bank, so lots of bankers come to this area for happy hour after work, although it’s more of a hipster area overall. It has a lot of cool bars, and regular bar crawls.
Where I recommend: Zigfrid von Underbelly, Queen of Hoxton, Blueberry, Bavarian Beerhouse
Which of these areas do you think you’ll visit on your next trip to London? Hopefully all of them!
Till next time all!
Wow – I’ve been in London for six months! Even saying that feels unbelievable.
Before Moving…
Just over a year ago, moving abroad was just a dream for me. I talked about moving to England with family and friends, but it still felt so foreign, so distant, and in all honesty, I wasn’t sure if it was totally attainable.
But then I did it. After applying to dozens upon dozens of positions for several months, I was able to land a interview for a job in London. Even with a Swiss passport which lets me work in the U.K., it was still difficult to get an interview from abroad.
I was SO nervous for my interview! I loved London as a tourist, but would I also like living there? I debated this question the night before my interview. But then the interview happened and they offered me the job that day and something in me knew I had to do it.
I moved five weeks later, at the end of February.
Once I Moved…
Moving did feel hard at first; there were so many unknowns. Would I make friends? Would I be able to afford London? Should I have stayed in the U.S.? Would I like it? What if I hated it?
I also was sometimes overwhelmed with having to figure everything about how to move a new country out, by myself, while starting a very busy new job. Moving into my flat, getting utilities set up, opening a bank account, learning the lay of the land in a new city, and adapting to British culture – all were aspects I had to overcome.
It was also hard early on to sometimes deal with the perception of Americans that people tend to have. Trump, politics, and shootings as of late don’t help the already not-great image that many people have of the U.S. I sometimes felt very frustrated (and even upset) when I had to defend that I still love my country despite these things.
But then at one point, things started to change. After about a month, I finished getting the utilities set up in my flat and opened a bank account. I made friends and started having a social life. I met my now boyfriend, Mark. And, the main reason of why I moved in the first place, I started traveling around Europe. I also finished my Master’s, which was a huge personal accomplishment, and opened up a lot of free time.
Where I Am Now
I feel settled now in London. My flat and neighborhood feel like home. Not in the same nostalgic way I feel about my hometown, but as a ‘home for the moment’ sort of way. I have my local grocery store, restaurants, cafes, park, and pubs. I’ve figured out what neighborhoods I like to spend time in, and which I’d like to still explore.
I’ve had quite a few visitors, which has been a great way for me to see the tourist sites (and bring friends and family to my favorites!). I have been pleasantly surprised with how many people have made it to visit – Marianna and Aaron, Karen, Sara and Trey, my parents, Lauren, and Suzie have visited. My sister Angie is also coming in October.
I also adjusted to the work I was doing. The project with Vodafone I manage can be demanding, but at my six month review this past Monday I was given an ‘exceeding expectations’ review by my manager. My immediate team is amiable and I really try my best to make our project run as smoothly as possible.
I’m also fortunate to have a few good friends now, and have deepened those relationships. I also am very happy with Mark and glad that our relationship has progressed well.
The wander luster in me has been overjoyed since I’ve been able to travel quite a bit since moving. The majority of my trips are weekend jaunts, but from London it’s not very expensive, and I try to maximize my time in each location. Thus far I’ve made it to Norway, Northern Ireland, Wales, Scotland, Belgium, Italy (Milan for a day), Spain, and Switzerland.
I’ve also visited various towns and cities in England like Cheltenham, Eastbourne, Bracknell and Newbury (for work), Reading, Oxford, and Stratford-upon-Avon.
I know that moving here has changed me for life. Probably in many ways that I won’t don’t really realize yet, and won’t really realize till I’m gone. It’s one thing to talk about moving to to another a country, but another to do it. Even when I do move back to the U.S., I doubt this will be my last time living abroad.
Till next time all!
English Wine Industry
As a avid winery visitor when I was living in Virginia, I had been hoping for a English vineyard visit since my early days in the country. Although, I didn’t realize till about a year ago that England even had a wine producing industry. Apparently what has really made a difference in the growth of wine production in recent years is climate change – thanks to global warming, England’s south now has a climate similar to France’s north, which is more conducive to grape growing.
Also because of the climate, England produces mostly white wines, with a large increase in the production of sparking white wine in recent years. Some wineries do produce red wines, but they tend to be weaker since there isn’t enough sunshine in the country for the grapes to mature to the level they need to.
Our Visit to Three Choirs Vineyard
As I was in Cheltenham with Mark Saturday, we decided to go visit Three Choirs Vineyard in Newent, Gloucestershire (about 30 minutes by car from Cheltenham). Mark had been to the winery before and enjoyed it, so I was keen to see it for myself.
Rather than having tastings throughout the day like most Virginia wineries do, at Three Choirs Vineyard they have two tastings with a tour each weekend day, at 11am or 2:30pm. We arrived just before the 11am one.
On the tour we learned that the vineyard was originally opened in the 1970s and started on HALF an acre (cue my thoughts that I could too someday opening a winery)! It is now much bigger of course, at seventy acres, and includes a wine shop, restaurant, and small inn.
The vineyard is located in a valley that has a micro climate that actually makes it 4-6 F degrees (2-3 C degrees) warmer than the surrounding area. I could definitely feel the sun shining strongly that day and enjoyed getting some vitamin D in!
We also learned that the owner had done some research before buying the property and found out that the Romans had grown grapes in the same area. I swear there’s nothing the Romans didn’t do!
During the tour we tried two white wines, one sparkling white wine, and one red wine. I actually liked all the wines – even the red, but the first two whites were my favorite. We also got to see the machines that are used for bottling, labeling, and removing sediment in wine bottles.
After the tour Mark and I headed to the wine shop. I was pleasantly surprised that a few of the bottles available were only £8.50 (approx $11) so we bought one to enjoy there and a few to take home. We set out our picnic of wine, cheese, and crackers and proceeded to have a lovely afternoon.
My Thoughts on English Wine
I was skeptical that English wine might be sub-par because of the whole climate factor, but I was pleasantly surprised that the wines I tried were quite good. While there still aren’t a ton of wineries in general in the country, there are a few that are day-trip doable from London, so it’s piqued my interest to check them out.
Would you want to visit an English winery?
If you haven’t noticed, I travel a fair amount. While I do have a decent job, I’m certainly no millionaire; I’ve just learned how to make my travel money go farther. So how do I afford it all? Read below for some of the top things I do to save money while traveling.
Use public transportation – In most destinations, taxis are expensive. Try to use public transportation as much as possible instead. In London, getting an Oyster Card to pay for the tube and buses will save you almost 50% on transportation, and you won’t have to buy a ticket for every journey for added convenience. If public transportation isn’t an option, try Lyft or Uber which also tend to be cheaper than taxis.
Stay in hostels or AirBnB – Hostels and AirBnB are usually the most affordable way to find lodging. Hostels are basically dormitories so instead of renting the room, you rent a bed. Prices are dramatically lower, usually only being $30 a night. For those who don’t want to share a room, I have been able to find entire apartments or private rooms that are considerably less than the cost of a hotel – and more space – on AirBnB. I do stay in hotels too but only when I see that the price is low or convenience makes it necessary.
Be wise with drinking – Anyone who knows me knows I like a good glass of wine. And while I will have a few drinks while traveling, I try not to go crazy. Oftentimes I’ll go to the grocery store and buy some wine rather than buying all my drinks while out, or in some cases I’ve stayed in hostels with bars and just spent my evening there (drinks in hostels are usually quite cheap). Also look for drink specials and consider staying away from touristy bars.
Look for free activities – While traveling, its never a bad idea to seek out some free activities to do. Museums, parks, cathedrals, or just going on your own walking tour are good ideas for this. For example in London, you could fill a day with free activities easily – watch the changing of the guards at Buckingham Palace, walk by Big Ben and Parliament, go to a museum in the afternoon, and take a stroll in Hyde Park in the evening.
Be smart with meals – Obviously part of traveling is enjoying different cuisine, so what I tend to do to save money but still enjoy myself is only eat out for some of my meals. I always carry snacks from home with me while traveling, and I typically will also either stop by a grocery/convenience store, look for a farmers market, and/or cook some of my own food to save money.
Travel in the shoulder or off season – I personally think summer is the worst time to travel to Europe. Flights are the most expensive, as is lodging, and attractions have the longest lines at this time of year. I tend to recommend spring or fall to visit instead. Obviously the off season depends on your destination, but if you are willing to travel when the majority of people aren’t you can save quite a bit.
Take advantage of student and youth discounts – Particularly in Europe, many places offer youth and student discounts. Youth discounts are typically available if you are under 25. Student discounts are also usually available if you have a student ID. I’ve been able to get free entry into museums and discounts on various tourist attractions with my student ID.
Pick destinations based on price – If you don’t have a set destination in mind, use Google Flights or SkyScanner to see which destinations are cheapest to travel to for the dates you are looking to travel. For example, I knew that after I finished my winter semester last year that I wanted to go somewhere for a long weekend. While on Google Flights, I found a flight deal for a direct round trip flight from DC to Denver for $60 per person! Markie and I both flew out there for only $120 and had a great time.
Do you have any ways you save money while traveling? Let me know in the comments below!
Noelle Across The Pond 