Why Not?

I do not think there are enough positive words in the English vocabulary to describe the kind of day I had yesterday. It started out like any other morning with a cup of tea and Tigger sitting by me at the kitchen table. I then made my way to my Human Rights Movement class that started at 11:00. After I had decided that I wanted to go into Central London. My main reasoning to go was to go to a museum that a module leader had recommended for class (no one calls them professors here... they are called module leaders, or called by their first name). So far I am sure that this whole day doesn't seem like a big deal... but heres the catch; it was the first time I was traveling into London by myself. Also I knew I would have to figure out the tube (underground subway) to get to the museum and I had only been on it once before, with someone who knew exactly where they were going. So to say the least I was a little bit nervous.

The London Tube Map!

I made it on the train successfully and then got off a few stops after at Wimbledon station because by the looks of the Tube map, it looked like a straight shot to South Kensington, where the museum, (called the V & A museum) I wanted to go to was located. Turns out I was right! & before I knew it I was walking up the stairs from the Tube and right in front of my was the museum! Easy enough right? But that wasn't the exciting part. 

The costume of Scar in the Lion King

The museum was so much more than I had expected. It wasn't just filled with portraits and old paintings. It was filled with every kind of art work you could imagine! From costumes from major broadway films like The Lion King and outfits worn by older rockstars, ironwork and old electronics, to crazily designed furniture, to beautiful jewelry displayed in glass cases. Another thing that was different about this museum was the overall atmosphere of the place. It wasn't a quiet, strict, no photography kind of museum that I was expecting. People were chatting away, and taking pictures of the different pieces of artwork. Many people were scattered around either sketching or writing about what they were looking at. It was very interesting and even relaxing which made it much more fun. I wandered through out the place for a little over 2 hours and I know there was still much more to see. 

Yikes!

When I left the museum I realized that there was still plenty of day left, and I had not really planned anything but the museum... I could have either took the same tube to the same train station and  go back home, or just wander around London and figure out along the way a different way to get home, I asked myself why not? And picked a direction and started walking. I walked through an area with a ton of little shops and markets, I stopped at one of the coffee shops and decided to sit at a cute little table outside. I was wondering to myself why no one else had chose to sit outside especially since it was such a beautiful day, but I shortly found out why people had chosen to be safe and sit indoors... At first only one pigeon showed up, as he hopped around my feet my initial thought was 'oh he's kind of cute'... That soon changed when he hopped up onto the chair next to me, normally that would not have bothered me too much, but at that same time, 2 more pigeons came out of no where and flew to the other seat next to me and one decided to hop up onto the table right in front of me! I tried tapping the table, even moved the chair around, and they acted as if they were glued to the furniture which made me a little nervous and I decided to just walk and drink my coffee. They wanted food, and they were not happy that I didn't have any. 

Buckingham Palace!

As I kept walking, I found myself wandering down another street full of shops, but these shops were all name brand and most of them I did not even recognize. I also started to notice that the people window shopping were dressed incredibly nicely and even saw a couple people be dropped of in limos... I quickly realized that that was probably not the area I would be doing my shopping in, but I was tempted to go into one of them and just pretend and look... So I told myself why not? I headed into a little boutique and instantly found a super cute shirt. It was purple and pretty plain so I figured maybe it would be a reasonable price. After I flipped over that tag and saw the 3 digit price I decided I couldn't even pretend to look anymore. I headed out and kept walking by the beautiful shops. The last one I passed had a couple in front of it arguing, as I got closer I could tell they were arguing over a color. The man wanted black, but the women thought red would be best, as I got closer I realized that they were arguing over what color of Ferrari to purchase... sure enough they were just window shopping for a Ferrari in London. No big deal.

Feeding the squirrels in the Royal Park

I kept on walking and instantly wished I had a car, and any car for that matter, because out of all the days I could have worn cute heeled boots, I had decided to wear them that day and I swear my legs still have not forgiven me for that. I saw a park sign and decided to head that way and maybe find a bench. But before I knew it, I found myself in front of Buckingham Palace! (another home of the Royal Family) It was absolutely gorgeous! I couldn't imagine living in such a place. After walking around the fountains and weaving through tourists, I decided to keep walking, right beyond the palace was another park and I decided to venture through that as well. Again, it was absolutely gorgeous and filled with birds... many birds, which included pigeons. While walking through the park I had two different people stop and ask me directions for Big Ben and I felt like such a local when I was able to give them accurate directions and point them in the right way! Feeling so accomplished I decided to sit on a bench and take in the scenery which would have been really nice if the pigeons wouldn't have started to stalk me again. I am now positive that pigeons especially can sense when you are freaked out by them. Because as soon as I sat down, they were right under me and weaving in between my feet and squawking at me, probably yelling at me to give them food, but again I had none, and again I decided it was best to keep walking. I then walked by a group of people that were feeding the squirrels! The squirrels almost hopped in the tourists hands as they fed them from a bag of peanuts! It was quite funny, until pigeons starting swarming and wanted some too, I decided to keep walking again after that. 

Piccaddily Circus 

I made my way out of the park and by a few other monuments and then again I was found myself on another busy street of London. For the rest of the time I just found myself picking a direction and going with it, I stopped in a few little shops, and then realized it was starting to get dark. I walked down a few more streets and then found myself in front of the giant screen at Piccadilly Circus (much like New York's Times Square) and decided that was a perfect place to end my day. I found the nearest underground and headed for the tube. It took me a few minutes to scan the entire Tube map and figure out which one would lead me to where but I finally figured it out! As I arrived on the Train station and made it just in time to catch my train to Kingston I was so happy, and I had never felt more accomplished. To me, the best days you have are ones that are unplanned and spontaneous. The best walks you take are those where you have no planned routes. I had so much fun wandering through London and finding my way. It was an absolutely wonderful day and it truly made my love for London grow even more.