In 2018 I had a vacation trip planned like no other. My mother told me that we were going to London, England for eight days with our close family friends. This would be the first time I left the country, and one of the coolest journeys I’ve experienced yet. 

Our friend’s daughter attends school in London, so we agreed to go visit her while getting to explore the famous sights of London. The flight took about 8 hours from Pittsburgh, and when we arrived, the first place we visited was the London Eye. This is one of the largest ferris wheels in the world, and takes around 30 minutes to fully elapse. Day two and three were just as exciting; we got to ride a double decker bus, visit the famous London Bridge, and take multiple tours on different areas of the city. 

Late nights exploring the city also became part of our routine. On a particular day, we took a train to Windsor Castle, the home of famous Queen Elizabeth. We got to tour the majestic rooms of her castle, and learn more about the culture and history of London royalty. While we were at Windsor Castle, there were small restaurants and tea shops that were too tempting not to visit. A native London food I really enjoyed there was scones and croissants.  Later in the week, multiple days consisted of frequent shopping trips, local food restaurants, and sightseeing, before our last day arrived. On our last day we all took part in a Harry Potter tour, viewing the famous scenery in which the movie was filmed. Later that night, we ended our journey by watching the play Wicked in one of the biggest theaters in the world, the Apollo Victoria Theater. Watching this amazing play from high above was something I will never forget and always admire from our trip. 

Time flew by, and this crazy week came to an end. The London attractions kept us extremely busy, and we still have yet to visit other local areas.  I was so excited and thankful to be able to experience this trip, and plan to re-visit the London area again soon.