Bittersweet Endings

This last week I've been here in London has been so bittersweet I can't stand it! I've gotten to see and do somethings I'd never think I would do in my craziest dreams. This week I got to visit Westminster Abbey, Camden Market, London Eye, go back to the great Primrose Hill, see how exciting the London night life is, and meet some really amazing people. All n' all I'd say this week has been pretty amazing, actually I would say this TRIP has been pretty amazing! This being my first trip to Europe I was scared out of my mind to come, now add in there that I was traveling completely by myself and doing most of my sight seeing all by my lonesome and it makes for a pretty nerve wracking trip! Although saying that I wouldn't take back a single thing about this trip, it has truly helped me realize how big the world is and pushed me to do things I wouldn't normally do on my own! It has also opened my eyes and see that maybe I could do something different with my life or go somewhere different! If you guys haven't noticed yet I've completely fallen in love with London! This city has given me so much more then you could possibly dream or know! Coming here I was completely scared that it wouldn't somehow live up to my expectations I had built for it in my head, but now after just two short weeks I couldn't imagine never having this memory in my head! 

This time I'm just going to focus on last nights adventures because they truly are worth sharing about! So last night the interns (Morgan, Adrian, & Alice), Monica, Meg (Monica's friend from Birmingham) and I all went out to this pub called Bounce. It's this bar where you can rent ping pong tables for an hour at a time and play with one another while eating/drinking! The bar is a bunch of fun and totally laid back with a really awesome DJ. We get going playing and from the first 15 minutes we can tell who are star players and who defiantly need some help! (Obviously I'm one that needs help) So our hour passes rather quickly and we make our way back to the flat to decide where we should go next! We decided on The Roxy, hearing that it's a cool place to check out. We rally together and head out for the rest of our night, only half way there Monica and Alice realize they left their license back at the flat! So Monica and Alice decide to meet us at The Roxy instead of have all of us go back. Our plan seems pretty put together and organized till we almost get to The Roxy and decide that the Piccadilly Institute looks pretty cool as well. So we duck inside to see what kind of club it is first! Morgan, Adrian, Meg, and I head in to find a three level club that filled with dancing in every room! We couldn't help but think that this place has to be better then any of the other clubs we were looking at! We head out to the dance floor ready to have some fun only to look behind me and Meg is leaning against one of the walls of the club with her eyes shut! Needless to say Meg was already ahead of us in the drinking department! Deciding she would be okay where she was I headed out to the dance floor again with Adrian and Morgan. Earlier when we got there Morgan had informed Alice and Monica that we changed location of clubs and let them know where we were, so it was horrible when we found out that Monica and Alice couldn't find a bus to take them over to where we were! This night was certainly shaping up, wasn't it? So with three people down from the group we decided to go ahead and head back to the flat and cut our losses for the night! Which was a shame because I was dancing with a really cute boy named Caden, but our luck was just not on our side last night! I went over to grab Meg and let her know we were leaving when I realized she wasn't where we left her! We searched for what seemed like hours till we finally walked outside the club, and wouldn't you know! There she was propped up on the side of the wall of the club! I couldn't have been happier to see a Brit before in my entire life! We walked the long truck home and I was so happy when I saw my sofa in front of me ready for my sleepy body to lay on it! Last night was interesting to say the least... 

So here's some pictures from this weeks adventures, I hope you guys have enjoyed reading what I've gotten up to while here in London! I've really enjoyed writing about it and sharing with you guys everything I've gotten to experience while Chasing London. 

Brittany xxx

Photo Below: Outside Westminster Abbey

Photo Below: After our night on the London Eye we took a walk along the Thames River! 

Photo Below: Monica and I defiantly showing off our amazing ping pong talents! 

Photo Below: Before going on the London Eye! 

Photo Below: At Bounce, Monica, Meg, Me

Photo Below: On the London Eye! 

Photo Below: Monica, Me, Adrian, Meg

Photo Below: Our view from the London Eye

What a Lovely Life

Soooo yesterday was a pretty productive day to say the least! Waking up I knew that I wanted to go into Notting Hill and Oxford Circus to do some shopping, of course! Walking around Notting Hill was the most amazing experience, the area was the so picturesque with the colorful houses and small streets that zig zag around bends. It was someplace you could for sure relax and get some good shopping in! I ended up going to Portabelo Market that was filled with really amazing things to buy and eat. I got some super cool things to bring home with me as well as some tasty treats to eat while walking around. After Notting Hill I took a short tube ride over to Oxford Circus to do some more shopping, while Oxford Circus is a more intense shopping area it is still filled with amazing things to look at! Getting ready to head back home to the flat I was stopped by some loud music that echoed around the street, I looked around to see what it could be and saw about five people rush out into the intersection and start dancing! It wasn't but a minute later and more people stopped what they were doing and joined in, I was witnessing my first flash mob in the middle of London!! It was awesome to see with my actual eyes instead of see around the Internet and defiantly a highlight of the trip! With so many people crowding around it wasn't long before I couldn't see it anymore and decided to make my way down to the tube while everyone was being entertained it would me easier to get around! 

When Monica got home from work we quickly made our way out again to Primrose Hill! Not gonna lie guys out of everything I've done on this trip so far this has to be my favorite! And I know you guys are thinking... Really? And YES! REALLY! We packed a dinner we got from Whole Foods and quickly made our way to the enchanting town. Primrose is such an adorable area and so quite that it makes you forget you're so close to central London. Before coming on this trip I told myself that Primrose was must see for me because of this hill they have in the park. You see, if you climb this hill and get to the very top you can see all of London in front of you. And to be perfectly honest it's a moment that makes you take a breath in, I could literally feel how big the world is in that moment and that not everything is just in Oklahoma. It made me realize that no matter what, where ever I go, when I come back to this spot at the top of the hill in Primrose everything will still be how it was. Being with Monica only made it that much more special for me, she truly is an amazing person and a best friend any person could be blessed with! The whole night was perfect and I went to sleep that night with the biggest smile on my face and the biggest dream in my head! 

I don't want it to be almost time to come home, I'm still busy Chasing London. 

Brittany xxx

Notting Hill

Primrose Hill

Paris Is Always A Good Idea

With still so much left in London to do.... why not go to Paris? Right? With an offer I can't refuse I'm on a bus to Paris quicker then you can say Bonjour!!! That's right you read right I said bus... Its a long story for another time guys, let's just say it was a little bit of a rough ride. My travel companions included Monica, Alice (the wonderful official unofficial tour guide) and Adrian! With the bad bus ride aside it was most mind blowing trip that I could ever put into words! The food, the sights, and the culture were enough to make me pack my bags and stay right there in France! But with so much to look at and such a small time frame we were working with it was a tad bit overwhelming! I was constantly scared I was missing out on something because everything looked like it held some kind of importance, and with stub legs like me sometimes it hard to keep up! Although it was a struggle to fit everything in, by some kind of good grace we pretty much did it! (all the touristy things anyways :)) We started our tour of Paris at the Sacre Coeur Basilica and it was breathtaking, climbing to the top of the hill it was positioned on was totally worth it the view from the church was out of this world! From there we moved on to the Arc de Triomphe, with it being positioned in the center of the busiest intersection in Paris it's not hard to get an adrenaline high from all the hussle and bussle! You literally could feel the energy from the whole city in that one circle drive, it made me feel so privilege to be a part of such an amazing city for those minutes you were positioned right in the center! Moving on from the Arc we quickly took a gorgeous stroll down a street that was lined in beautiful homes you would only find in magazines or in movies, that lead us to my glory moment... The Eiffel Tower!! Walking down that street you could just barely see the top of the tower behind the trees and as you got closer the glorious monument finally came in view and I kid you not my eyes come out of my head and my jaw dropped to the ground. It was one of the most life altering moments ever, I mean you know when you've seen pictures of things your whole life and then suddenly by chance you get to see it in person?! Things like that don't happen everyday to people and I just kept pinching myself to make sure that it was even real! After walking around it for a while we decided to go and have a sit on the front lawn of the tower and soaked up the gorgeous Paris sun! The weather was perfect and we really couldn't have asked for anything more! After we reluctantly said our goodbyes the Eiffel Tower we started walking down the river that lead us to The Louver, that was absolutely stunning from the outside and all the monuments around it were larger then life! Writing down all these places makes me wonder how we even did all this in the time we had! When we were finished at The Louver we came to Notre Dame that was yet another place you just looked up at and never thought you would see it in person! The time of day we got there was perfect because the sun was just beginning to set and the light reflected off of it to make it the most gorgeous shade of gold! Words can not describe how incredible this has been for me so far, seeing all these things with my own two eyes has meant the world to me! Now that we were finished with the places to visit we still had a dinner to eat! And what better place to dine in Paris then the cutest little restaurant down a back street that was just big enough for about 20 people to sit in! The food was out of this world and the bread was perfection. After dinner we decided to indulge in some ice cream that could make any end of the day better! We set out for the lighting of The Eiffel Tower after that, and we came across the most perfect bridge! The Lock Bridge, basically if you are in love with a person and you are in Paris you need to put your lock on the bridge and throw the key into the river! It's good luck for your future with that person and who doesn't want to be able to have and excuse to go back to Paris to find your lock one day!? With the bridge behind we came up on the Eiffel Tower
and it was like all the stars in the sky decided to twinkle in a spot around the tower and everything seemed to just have a glow to it as you watched on at the sparkling lights! It was the perfect way to end such a perfect day and I will never forget it for the rest of my life!

The second day we decided to board a train and make our way to The Palace of Versailles, the lines were incredibly long and the place was packed to the brim with people visiting from around the world so we decided to just hang out in the gardens behind the palace that was kept so nicely with all the flowers and lush, pretty grass! We had ourselves some more ice cream and made our way to sit on the lawn in front of the pound, the water was so nice I even ducked my feet in for a second to enjoy the gorgeous day! With not much time left in our day before we had to meet the bus for our trip home we went and had a fun goodbye dinner at a great place Adrian suggested! We even tried our fist Escargot, and it turns out I actually really enjoyed it! Wrapping up dinner we still had one place left to go... the one place that with out visiting would turn this trip to Paris into the Debbie downer of trips! Laduree, the worlds most heavenly place in Paris! What's a trip to Paris without a proper macaroon and Laduree is the place to go when you want it down right! My experience was quite emotional because just like the Eiffel Tower I didn't feel as if it was real. When in the world have I ever deserved to have this kind of life I lead! I am extremely blessed to have the family and friends around me that make all this possible and without them in my life I would be nothing or have nothing! So all in all I would say Paris was a top ranking experience for me and I would die to go back and visit one day, but as for now, Au Revoir Paris!!!

Now where was I? Oh yeah, Chasing London.

Brittany xxx

You're So London, Your Own Style

No way am I even going to be able to describe what these last couple of days have been like, but here we go!

First off yesterday I went to The Tower of London, it was so amazing to see everything with my own eyes. Things that I've only ever seen in pictures were in my sight and it was so beautiful! Walking to the Tower was a great adventure because it let me see things I wouldn't have had I tried to ride the tube! Going over the Tower Bridge was probably the most breathtaking experiences being on something so monumental could not have been more exciting! Waiting in queues has become one of my many past times here in London! Lines are everywhere and if you don't have to wait in line for something it's a miracle! Anyways, so when I head in I go straight for the Crown Jewels (I don't mess around!) Next up is the Bloody Tower and then just walk around the whole place for good measure! I didn't wait in line for everything or I would have been there for ages and day but the whole place was gorgeous!

My next stop was to the London Dungeons! It was a theatrical rendition of some of the things that went on during the period, although very interesting not my favorite thing so far! So walking home from those two things I stopped at the Borough Market and tried some really great Lebanese food! Although with all the walking I've been doing lately I walked like a mad women to finally get home!

Walking into the flat I was pleasantly surprised by a lovely gift from Monica's sweet boyfriend, Matt.

Probably the sweetest thing in the world and the coincidence that he picked the one bakery I'm obsessed with is beyond amazing! They were perfect, with the most moist chocolate cake my taste buds have ever come in contact with beautiful creamy cheesecake topping and the most perfect buttercream frosting that has graced my lips!

Today though has been one for the books and I mean literally the baby book! I got to stand in line for three hours while the loves of my life waited inside for me to see them! That's right folks! I got to meet Wax One Direction today!!!!!! Yeeepppppppp! It was love at first sight and christmas morning all at once!!! They were absolutely perfect in every way and I met the coolest girls waiting in line with me as well! The fact that they are British just made it that much more perfect! Lauren and Elizabeth were die hard 1d fans just like me and had the most amazing British humor my ears have ever heard! They were there to see the boys as well and I was elated to finally meet someone with the same love for the boys that I share!

These past few days have been completely amazing and I know I have so much more to see and do, so for now I guess I'll just keep Chasing London. 

Brittany xxx

Mind the Gap!

I'm in London.... Finally!

So I've been here for two days now and I still can't wrap my head around it! But last night it became so real I literally almost cried... I met Big Ben. Not to mention had my first pub experience with Fish and Chips and cider to go along with it! 

But let's not get ahead of ourselves now! Yesterday morning when I woke up after three hours of sleep :o I walked with Monica to work, just so she could show me around the area a little better. We stopped by a morning time cafe to grab a pastry and some coffee (which was pretty amazing). 

Further down our path she showed me how to enter the tube....  I have a love/hate relationship with the tube. We carried on our way towards Monica's office where we dropped her off and she sent me on my way! I was now alone in London. To do anything I pleased, and what do you suppose I did with this time? I got lost! I took a wrong turn somewhere on my way back to the flat and ended up getting turned around! Luckly the nice french boy working at Starbucks was able to point me back in the right direction!

When Monica arrived home from work we swiftly left the flat and scurried down to the tube to make our way over to The Albert Pub! And it was absolutely gorgeous! Not normally what you would think when talking about a pub, but the whole front of it was lined with flowers and the inside was furnished with dark wood and had gold around the ceilings! The cider was delicious and the food was even better! Needless to say I didn't think the night could get any better until we took a little stroll down the street and what would come around the corner but non other then Big Ben, The London Eye, and Westminster Abbey! The perfect sight to a tourist! My eyes almost got watery thinking that I was actually there and seeing it with my own two eyes! I can't believe how extremely blessed I am to be able to come over here and experience this in my life!

Well that's all for now loves! I've got a bunch more Chasing London to do!!!