The ways in which I have spent my first few days are indicative of the benefits of spending an entire year in the same city. Were I to be here for only a semester, I would feel rushed to hit up all of London's tourist traps and to make plans for weekend excursions. Because I know I will be here for nine months instead of three, I feel little pressure to fill my days with multiple museums, walks, shopping and other attractions.
So far, in the way of touristy things, I have been to the Tower of London (to which I will definitely return) and the London Eye (likewise), as well as on a few boat rides down the Thames. Over the duration of the year, I will, of course, explore as many museums, parks, and other attractions that the city has to offer. Having more time to do it just means that I will have a chance to see and appreciate each place more in-depth. I will also have a greater chance to see lesser-known attractions and find the nooks and crannies that have stood the test of time.
I am a creature of habit, and whether I am at school in DC or here in London, I will continue to be myself. One thing I always liked to do in DC was go for walks to clear my head. My friends and I call them "crisis walks." There need not be a crisis in my life to merit a crisis walk, nor has a walk ever turned into a crisis in and of itself. In fact, something good usually comes of it. Today, I went on my first crisis walk as I meandered my way from my dorm down to Covent Garden. One thing I have noticed about London in broad daylight is that it is always bustling, whether you are walking on a busy street or a side alley. It is easy to tell where it is safe to walk.
On my walk down, I found a sort of side plaza that may end up being one of my favorite places in the city. Called Neal's Yard, it is nestled between the buildings that line Neal Street, Shorts Gardens, Endell Street and Shaftesbury Avenue. Shops include a hair salon, a pizzeria, a walk-in back rub establishment, a skate shop, and a few restaurants. Most importantly, it can provide a much-needed splash of color on an otherwise dreary London day (99% of days) and a leafy green oasis in the middle of the urban jungle. Benches surround plantings of tiny trees, and locals and tourists alike continuously pass through it to get from one main street to another. It will be places like these that I hope to find over the next several months.
