(To continue my previous blog and answer why taking a night bus to another continent is not as peaceful as I previously assumed...) It was more like this... I have cramps. Why does this bus smell so bad?! There is pee all over this bathroom! Am I really going to have to go all Chinese style in here? Oh, no toilet paper either? I really wish this person next to me would turn their music down a little so I don't have to overhear their favorite screamo artist. Oh, is it really 2:30AM? That means it's time to go through customs to enter the UK! Do I have an occupation, officer?.... Well, I'm a high school graduate traveling the world with money I saved up? Oh, we're getting off the bus to sit on a ferry for two hours? Oh, my card isn't working so I can't buy water?
Sometimes traveling is really bittersweet. But finally, after what seemed like one of the longest nights of my life, I arrived in London where I was so so SO excited to meet up with my coworker from my summer job in Hawaii! She's from Scotland, and decided to meet up with me in London for the weekend! (Hi Jenny)
It being 7AM, and the two of us completely sleep deprived from our bus rides, we went to Starbucks for a few hours and then wandered to our hostel, dropped off our bags, and went to Camden Market.
Camden was adorable! (As are Jenny and I). From quaint shops, to artsy stores, to food from all over the world, this place was fantastic.
Wanting to find a piece of Hawaii together, Jenny found a shop that makes Açai bowls (these granola bowls from heaven that were Jenny and my weekly outings in Hawaii). The shop wasn't half bad, either! They also sold gluten-free Nutella and banana crepes... So, you know what happened next.
The rest of the day was spent exploring! (And a bit of eating, too).
(After this robot picture I tried to take a selfie video dancing with the electronic music and got kicked out of the store because of a strict no-photography policy. Psh. Do it for the selfies.
Later that evening Jenny and I went for a stroll to see the London Eye. Here, we came across a man, dressed like Shrek. No- I'm not kidding.
After we took our picture with him, he wanted money, and when we said no- tried following us... A little scary. (Or just a crazy man with a Shrek costume).
Anywho. After that, we headed back to the hostel where we met my roommates (Jenny's were antisocial). One of them was a girl from Germany, who was writing a blog and living in London for a month. She wanted to join Jenny and I on our crazy adventures (uh, who wouldn't?) and we obviously let her. So, the three of us gals got dressed up, looking fabulous, and headed to a pub.
While laughing over taking pictures with alcohol and fake dogs, and talking about "British dick" with our new German friend Inna, we found a pub to crash. Which, I believe was the most English pub we could have gone to. The music, the punk-looking artsy people, and even the way everyone was dancing. All of it. I absolutely loved it. It felt like a foreign, but similar, piece of home.
After dancing and chatting for a few hours, the three of us headed back to the hostel and headed to bed.
The next day was fairly similar, as Jenny and I explored London (Piccadilly Circus, Chinatown, and the surrounding areas) during the day.
Later on we went back to the hostel to prepare for some night clubbing with our new German friend, Inna, as well. We all got (very) attractive and headed to Club Koko, where we would spend the next 6 hours meeting British boys, dancing our booties off, and having my first experience (ever!!) clubbing!
It was SUCH a spectacular evening. From being compared to Britney Spears, (in her days of luscious blond hair and mental stability, I hope?) to showing the English my English accent impression, to trying to catch a taxi at 5AM when it's about 38 degrees F (about 2 or 3 degrees C) in a pencil dress. The night was magical.
Sunday was lovely as well. Jenny and I went to the walking tour, saw Buckingham Palace, took pictures with some guards, saw the Big Ben, even more beautiful British men, and concluded our afternoon by finding our way to the London Bridge (after stealing the restroom at a fabulous cafe while it was pouring down rain).
We then headed back to the hostel to grab our stuff and head to the buses, which were farther than we had remembered so, we were cutting it really close, and thought I would miss my bus. Stressed, we ran to the buses, said our last goodbyes (just for now) and off I went. I love and miss you already Jenny!!
London was spectacular.
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