Once Upon a Time in London

From The Parent Trap to What a Girl Wants, it seems as if every movie taking place in London features a montage of the main character sitting in an automobile, staring at red buses and Big Ben as he or she passes by.

And so I found myself in the same position as I arrived in London one afternoon, longing to take in all that I could for the next 24 hours. From the red telephone booths lining the streets to the London Eye standing over the water, it looked like it did in all the movies and post cards.

Coming from Huntington Beach, California, the closest I usually get to an urban environment is a shopping mall with a Brandy Melville and Philz Coffee, and the biggest piece of history is probably the surfboard that once fit the largest number of people. London, on the other hand, serves as a bustling metropolitan area and a conglomerate of the past and the present, perpetuating a sort of nostalgia that extends into an ever advancing world.

Notably, this concept is demonstrated by the Houses of Parliament, which are located in Westminster alongside Big Ben and the Westminster Abbey. Displaying a gothic style, it is often described as a classical building with a gothic skin. Although it was built in the midst of the Industrial Revolution of the 1800s, it was meant to resemble buildings from that of the time of Queen Elizabeth I, who ruled during the Golden Age of England.

Undoubtedly, this romanticism of the past mixed with the advancement of the future extends to the rest of the city. In front of the Elizabeth Tower, I saw one man dressed like Darth Vader and another playing Despacito on the steel drum. In front of Buckingham Palace, I observed buses running on renewable energy as royal guards marched by. Along cobblestone streets, restaurants advertised traditional fish and chips while also highlighting their gluten free and vegan options.

Thus, I found myself at the intersection of the past and present, seeing both hope for the future and a sweet reminiscence of what once was. Even though there were a few setbacks, such as my sister leading us back to the wrong hotel and the occasional rain, I found myself fascinated by all that the city had to offer.

So . . . here are some of my highlights. Enjoy :)

AP Art History Moment

The Houses of Parliament AND the Burghers of Calais are both part of the AP Art History Curriculum . . . so I was a little excited.

Paper Straws and Vegan Coffee

I know Joe and the Juice is in the U.S., but I still was happy to enjoy my iced latte with oat milk while walking around London.

Westminster Abbey

JUST LOOK AT THAT GOTHIC ARCHITECTURE !!

Changing of the Guard

Royal guards just casually walking by.

And, Finally, the Views

The London Eye Along the Water.