My adventures in all the four countries of the United Kingdom started as early as I was seven. To this day, I have no idea where it came from, but my seven year old self was so sure that this was where I would go one day, and I would have the time of my life.
It eventually led to this moment I built up since I was seven. I would be traveling alone for the most part of ten days, live city to city, armed with a backpack, a camera, a map and a passport.
My general itinerary consisted of day one in London, day two and three in different cities in Wales then back to London, day four, five and six in different cities in Northern Ireland and back to London, day seven in Bath, Amesbury and London, day eight and nine in different cities in Scotland and back to London and day ten in London. So yes, I was unpacking and packing each of those days, and literally living the definition of a vagabond.
It eventually led to this moment I built up since I was seven. I would be traveling alone for the most part of ten days, live city to city, armed with a backpack, a camera, a map and a passport.
My general itinerary consisted of day one in London, day two and three in different cities in Wales then back to London, day four, five and six in different cities in Northern Ireland and back to London, day seven in Bath, Amesbury and London, day eight and nine in different cities in Scotland and back to London and day ten in London. So yes, I was unpacking and packing each of those days, and literally living the definition of a vagabond.
England Adventures:
I landed in London mid-afternoon on a Friday, and headed towards Oxford Street. This was the only concrete thing I had planned for my day: buy a sim card and at least establish some form of communication with the world.
One of the things I really loved about London was it was definitely a tourist friendly city. Not only were there signs everywhere but it was home to the nicest people I have ever met. I hardly touched my map as I made my way around the city, following crowds and arrows, zipping through one attraction to the next. This feeling of complete independence was exhilarating, even intoxicating. I reveled in this new found freedom, me facing this beautiful unknown.
I landed in London mid-afternoon on a Friday, and headed towards Oxford Street. This was the only concrete thing I had planned for my day: buy a sim card and at least establish some form of communication with the world.
One of the things I really loved about London was it was definitely a tourist friendly city. Not only were there signs everywhere but it was home to the nicest people I have ever met. I hardly touched my map as I made my way around the city, following crowds and arrows, zipping through one attraction to the next. This feeling of complete independence was exhilarating, even intoxicating. I reveled in this new found freedom, me facing this beautiful unknown.
One of the many highlights of this trip were the people I met along the way. As I fall under the group of atypical lone travelers, most people found it interesting. This opened my world to interacting with strangers and trusting intuition that broadened my world. I would ride the tube and take a stop. Explore the area and ask around. I would enter a restaurant and ask for the most ordered thing. I learned to sit and take the time to enjoy the company of myself and my food.
A few days later, I was able to see Stonehenge in Amesbury. I took an audio guide tour with it which I would recommend. I think if you enter the area and see this rock formation without context, you lose so much appreciation of how this structure came to be. The work and effort to make such an accurate structure patterned to the sun's movements around 3000 BC is astounding to me.
I was also able to visit the nearby city of Bath. During the Roman occupation of Britain, they built this Roman bath which has been beautifully preserved to this day. The whole city itself still has the Roman architecture which draws hundreds of visitors day to day.
As for my favorite places, it would be where the locals were, which were the markets.
My favorite market would be Camden Market in London. It was one of the most vibrant places I have ever visited.
There's simply so many things to love about England, especially London.
My seven year old self would say, "I told you so!"
My seven year old self would say, "I told you so!"
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