Saturday May 17th- Fun day of sightseeing

 Saturday, May 17

Today was a full Saturday of sightseeing around one of the most iconic cities in the world—London! After a busy first few days filled with lectures and orientation activities, it was such a treat to have a day purely dedicated to exploring the city’s most historic and picturesque landmarks.

We started the morning bright and early with a walking tour, and our first major stop was Buckingham Palace. The black-and-gold gates gleamed in the morning light, and there was such a strong sense of royal tradition in the air. Although we didn’t catch the Changing of the Guard, it was still such a cool moment to stand outside the home of the British monarchy. Definitely one of those classic “you’re really in London” moments.

After that, we made our way to Big Ben, which was equally impressive in a completely different way. Even though I’ve seen it in a million photos, standing beneath it in person felt completely different. The clock tower’s detail and sheer presence made it feel surreal. You always know it’s iconic, but being there in real life made me realize just how grand it really is.

But my favorite stop of the day—by far—was the Tower of London. I’ve read about it in textbooks, but actually getting to walk through its grounds and hear the stories in person was another level. We went on a guided tour that dove into its dramatic, eerie, and fascinating history. From royal executions to stolen jewels and betrayals, every corner seemed to hold a secret. Our tour guide was hilarious—he had the perfect mix of humor and spooky energy to make the stories come alive. I couldn’t stop imagining what it must have been like centuries ago to be locked inside those ancient walls. It was one of the most memorable experiences I’ve had on this trip so far.

After the Tower, my friends and I took the Tube over to Borough Market for lunch. The market was packed with locals and tourists, and the smell of different cuisines filled the air. There were so many great options, but we all ended up getting mushroom risotto from a vendor that someone in our group had read about—and it was incredible. Creamy, warm, and full of flavor—definitely one of the best meals I’ve had since arriving. We found a bench nearby and ate while soaking up some rare London sunshine, just taking in the vibe of the day.

From royal palaces to historic towers and delicious food, today had a little bit of everything. It was such a fun and full day, and I feel like I got to know the heart of London a bit better. So grateful for every moment here!

5/17 - Sightseeing on the Olympic Trail

Yesterday was one of the most interesting days of the trip because we learned a lot of about the city of London and some of its most historic sights. As a group we went around the city and visited Big-Ben, The London Eye, Westminster Abbey, The London Tower, and Buckingham Palace. 

During our time at each of these sights we were able to learn something new and interesting about them that deepened our understanding of the diverse culture that London has to offer. My personal favorite place to visit was the Tower of London. At which we were given a tour by a Yeomen Warder who is one of the famed protesters of the Tower of London. Which have vast knowledge on how the Tower of London came to be the way it is today. One of the biggest points of conversation on the tour was about the famous executions to take place on the grounds of the Tower of London which included Queens such as Cathrine Howard, Anne Boleyn, and Lady Jane Gray each with their own intriguing story. 

On a happier note, the Yeomen Warder who gave us our tour, Gary told us an interesting story about how Sir Issac Newton helped the coin makers who lived in the caste during the Middle Ages stop people living outside the castle from cutting the edges of the coins to create their own currency. By putting grooves in on the edged of the coins the British government was able to instantly recognize if someone had cut the coins which owed make it instantly worthless. 

The tour itself touched on every aspect of the Tower of London but because of the strict time restraints we were not able to see everything that the tower had to offer. So my friends and I stayed back and expired even more of what the tower had to offer which included the Crown Jewels which were stored their, which were sadly not able to take pictures of, and the tower prison which was famed for its inability to hold prisoners as the keys to the doors were located on the inside of the doors. Which served the purpose of keeping people out of the Tower Fortress but was lacking in the ability to keep people in. Some of the most famous people to be held in the tower of London Prison were Sir Walter Raleigh, Guy Fawkes, and the Kray Twins. We were not able to hear the stories of each of these individuals but after doing some online research after the tour they all had an interesting story to how they ended up in the Tower of London Prison.  

After that the group split up and went on their separate ways to the esteemed Borough Market where we indulged ourselves in different cuisines from around the world.