Wow.
I think that about sums it up.
Right now I’m experiencing total sensory overload. It’s 9:00 London time, and I’m trying to force myself to stay up until 10… my little anti-jet-lag trick. I probably had 3 hours of sleep in the last 30 hours? And surprisingly, I’m not hungry.
This whole backpacking thing is unbelievable. I think I’ll need to settle in to it a bit more before I can articulate my experiences, as I am having trouble finding words to describe the experience. It’s simply overwhelming, but in a very good way. The steep learning curve is actually a lot of fun.
Today I realized many things.
1) When you first arrive in London, don’t cheap out and assume you will be able to walk to your hostel. It’s not as easy as you think, and you’ll end up buying a ticket anyway. After you walk 2 hours in the wrong direction. Ha ha.
2) Find out how to get to your hostel before you leave. I assumed that the address was enough. I was wrong. Obviously I made it, but if I was in a non-english speaking country I would still be on the streets.
3) Meeting people is easy. Super easy, and backpackers are really nice.
4) When you get lost, make a video. It’ll probably be funny, and you’ll regret not having the footage if you don’t.
Oh yes, what should I do tomorrow?
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8 comments ↓
Welcome to London! If you plan to wander around on foot I would invest in a London A-Z (about £5 max for a little one) or try to borrow one from your hostel. The city centre is very walkable and you’d be surprised how close things are to each other. I think it’s supposed to rain tomorrow though and be a generally crappy day so that might kill the joy of wandering. You can always take refuge in a pub though, it’s the English way.
Good to see you’re liking the backpacking thing. It’s addictive. You have been warned.
My recommendation: buy a daily travelcard, but use the public buses to get around, rather than the tube.
The tube is great, but you’ll get very tired walking up and down the escalators and stairs, and then, after you’ve spent hours on it, you’ll realise that you haven’t actually seen anything of London.
On the public buses, on the other hand, you’ll get a great view of the city, and it won’t cost you an arm and a leg, like the specialised tourist buses do.
Good luck! I’m incredibly jealous.
Definitely get some fish and chips in a pub. They tend to have amusing names for their pubs. The English Premier League’s season just started, so it might be cool to catch a soccer match at the same time.
Jeremy!
I really think you should go to the Tate! And - make a video while you are there.
Have fun!!
Go on the Jack the Ripper tour!
Hey Kirsty! Ha ha actually when I was lost yesterday I went to a book store and the woman at the let me borrow one. That’s when I realized I had been walking away from my hostel instead of towards it. And I agree, it would have been a good investment. When she asked me “Do you need an A-Z”, the blank stare on my face probably indicated that she needed to describe it as a map
Fish and Chips ‘eh? Dave, that’s an adventure I can deal with.
Jack the Ripper tour? Ha ha sounds pretty intense. I’ll get more info about it today.
i love london! and you will too, i am sure.
you must spend some time on the tube to have the genuine london experience. so fast and efficient. so crowded and underground.
take a walk along the thames and check out all the famous sites before popping into a pub for a pint.
The underground is good once you’re orientated, but until then take the bus. The bus a great way to understand the layout of the city, then you can take the metro.
The Brit Museum is a must see and it’s free if you’re a history buff at all. Military history = Imperial war museum, they have an Enigma machine from WW2 if you’re at all interested, tho it’s a pay museum.
This web link advice thing such a great idea! Have a blast ! I’ll be checking in once you get to Italy you’ll be on my turf (stayed 1.5 yrs Rome) so any questions ask eh?? Cheers
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