It's just a 10 min walk up...

Let's sight see! As the new few days unfolded, Sarah and I spent our days in a mixture of hunting for more essential items, and sightseeing at the same time. We did all the touristy things. For example, we went down to Buckingham Palace and watch the guards stomp around. which by the way I am in no way intimidated by those dudes wearing fuzzy hats stomping around inside their gates. (I could SO take them) BUT those officers with the automatic rifles, now THEM I'm afraid of. (I mean, shit)

So true to form, we decided to just wander around. There are so many things to see in a somewhat compacted space, so walking between monuments seemed to be the best course of action. And after all, whenever we asked someone for directions the response was always "oh, yes, it's just another 10 min walk up the road...."

Ok, I don't know what these people are using as they "walk" (allegedly) BUT each of those 10 min distances was sure to take Sarah and I AT LEAST 20-35 minutes. Sarah affectionately guesstimated that we walked 10 miles in one day. While I realized that I was straight up laughing at her, I found myself thinking that she might actually be right. So now you know, if a European says its a 10 min walk, just double or triple that right away, Americans are not accustomed to speed walking their way around.

So as the days passed on, we began to find the beauty in the city and the more calm areas. Again, as T (and Angela) can attest to, I am a non stress type of person, I like to be surrounded by a calm environment. My favorite phrase being "now worries, no stress". And that attitude is how we approached our exploration of the city. None of this speed walking nonsense.

We focused on getting a healthy dose of monuments mixed in with an equally healthy dose of essential accumulation. We were directed to a store called Argos, as an "Ikea" type store. Turns out that Ikea actually does exist in the city...so we could easily have saved ourselves some confusing hunting.

As we wandered we found ourselves stumbling along some really cool places. Several being Hyde Park, Oxford Street (hello shopping!), Diagon Ally (yes, from Harry Potter. Don't judge me.) Soho, Westminster, and of course Leicester Sq and Piccadilly Circus. I simply adore Leicester Square/Covent Garden. More to come on those places soon!

While we were at Diagon Ally (pictured to the left), we decided to stop at a pub called "New Moon" for an afternoon drink and snack! In the states my favorite beer is actually something called a black velvet (sounds gay, I know)...which is a delicious mixture of half Guinness and half Pear Cider. (mmm so tasty) Well, I decided that it would be a good idea to order one of these yummy concoctions at New Moon. In the States, we use delicate care to keep these two very opposite beers separate while in the glass. In London this same delicacy is not respected. So while yes, there was Cider and Guinness in the same cup, they were all kinds of intermixed like a Catholic Party gone awry. It was an adventure, and I drank it all, but it was not the same. I'm either going to need to A) teach one of these bar tenders the cool touch of separations, or B) just become a bartender myself and have access to these delicious liquids on tap all the time...it's a toss up. I will say we learned another valuable lesson while in this process. Apparently a traditional "Snake Bite" (a mixture, equal parts, of Lager and Cider) is illegal here. Go figure! Apparently mixing these two alcohols ups the proof percentage of the drink and thereby making it illegal in England. (What kind of ass backwards place did I move to?!)

I will say I have EVERY intention of continuing to order black velvets in search of that amazing bar tender who is savvy enough to keep the two entities separate and able to float the Guinness atop the Cider just like magic.

Following our drink at New Moon (which is simply too ironic) we continued our exploration of the city. Eventually, we had all the necessities that we simply could not go one more day without. Items such as, towels, an air mattress, sheets, an air mattress, pillows, an air mattress...I think you get the idea. As much as I love to share a twin with my sister, it was high time we got her her own sleeping area. (seriously)

Soon enough it was time for our mini excursion to Paris!