First Weekend In London - Anna Gardner

     Although the weekend of January 17th-19th was actually our second weekend here, I feel like it should actually count as our first because it was the first time that we could independently go out into the city without feeling jet-lagged, scared & confused, lost, you get the idea.
     On Friday Jan. 17th, we took a field trip to Lloyd's of London, the first insurance market in the world. Learning about this business was fascinating because it truly is unique in what it does. The building itself was also a highlight of this trip because of its different architectural design: all of the interior structures (pipes and elevators) are on the outside. Inside of the building, there is a ceremonial bell, only rung on very special occasions, and a giant book that holds the daily record of unsalvageable ships. Lloyd's definitely embraces it's long-standing history and traditions, which is another attribute that makes this company so special.

Inside Lloyd's of London

     The next day, Saturday Jan 18th, I went to Camden Market with the girls in my flat. Old horse stables were converted to make this market, so it is definitely an interesting experience to walk around the maze that is Camden Market. There are tons of stalls of typical touristy London things, but there are also stalls and shops that are one-of-a-kind. You can find practically anything here from antique Polaroid cameras to futuristic rave gear. Our favorite part, however, was the wide selection of cheap food from all over the world.

Camden Market

       My favorite part of the weekend was on Sunday when we went to the Harry Potter Studios outside of London. We boarded a train from London Euston to Watford Junction and got to enjoy the countryside a bit before boarding a bus to the studios from Watford. The studio tour was A-MAZING, I think that even if I was only slightly interested in the Harry Potter series, I would have still been thoroughly impressed and entertained. Luckily though, I am a pretty big fan, so the entire time we were walking through the exhibits, I was geeking out. It was the perfect end to our fantastic weekend, and I already wish that I could go back there again.

Hogwarts in the Snow

Cheers, 

Anna.