London Musings

Apart from a very long week of travel, I wanted to share what I've been up to in London.

As part of my goal of seeing more of London before I leave, I've been taking walks in new areas and exploring. I've also just been enjoying some of my favorite things that the City offers.

I took in three performances. 

I finally got to see Les Mis live. 

Miss Saigon returned to the West End for the first time in 15 years. This was an amazing performance and well worth opening prices. 

Handbagged is a parody play on the relationship between the Queen and Margaret Thatcher when Thatcher was Prime Minister. I was on the floor laughing the entire time. 

Last week, I went and had high tea with my friend, Chelsea, at Bond and Brook. 

The MPA had a picnic last week as a study break. Alyssa and I were fully enjoying the sunshine! 

And, my friend and sorority sister, Steph, was in town. She just graduated with her masters from Syracuse. I hadn't seen her since we graduated in 2012, so it was a fun evening!

Being a Tourist & Traveling

As I wrap up my last few months in London, I've got a lot of things to see and do...both in London and outside.

Over the next two weeks, I'm seeing three different plays/musicals. This week, I'm starting with Les Mis. Next week, I'm catching Miss Saigon which just opened back up on the West End as well as Handbagged.

For fun this weekend, I'm headed to Stockholm for a quick overnight trip.  The majority of my friends have their finals at the end of May/beginning of June whereas I don't. Mine besides the papers due this past week are in the middle of June, and I've already started studying. So, as a huge advocate of traveling by yourself, I'm excited to try out another country in Eastern Europe, take in the cultural sights, and just relax!

My friend, Alex, and I are taking a day trip to Burghley! It's heralded as England's Grandest Elizabethan House. Plus, it's been used in films such as Pride and Prejudice!

I'm headed to Bulgaria from May 18th-20th. It will be my last solo trip in Europe.

And, at the moment, my friend, Nicola, and I are researching a trip to either Slovenia or Croatia at the end of the month. Nicola and I interned at the Embassy together in the fall, and we traversed around Munich in November. There are a ton of day trips from either location, and Croatia stands to give us a chance to see three additional countries. Lots of planning as we narrow in on what we want to do!

If you have any tips regarding any of these places, leave a comment! 

Seeing Angela Lansbury!

Before I kicked it into overdrive and wrote a final essay this week, Monday was a day of fun.

I started out by spending my birthday discount at Anthropologie...picking up a few new essential pieces for spring! Sorry about that, bank account.

I, then, met my friend Ellie for dinner in Soho. Ellie and I met in our 'US Legislative Politics' class, but through Facebook friending, we learned that we have quite a lot of mutual friends in the States. It really is a small world. We went to Jackson and Rye which had a twist on some American classics. 

Our stomachs full, we went down the street to see 'Blithe Spirit.' 

I usually go and see musicals, so I was excited to change it up for a bit and see a play. Plus, Angela Lansbury is staring in this production of 'Blithe Spirit!'  She was returning to the West End after almost 40 years. The entire performance was great, and Angela nailed her part! For those Downton Abbey fans, the actor who plays Edith's missing boyfriend also starred in the play! 

After the show, Ellie and I attempted to get a selfie with her. We failed, but we had a few laughs trying to take one!

Angela Lansbury

It was a perfect way to start off spring break and a nice distraction from paper writing!