THANK YOU, LONDON.

The end has come! Because I had so much free time during my days in London, I had the chance to check off some of the locations that I still had on my bucketlist. This included restaurants, museums, and much more! Here are some of my favorites:

Science Experiment at the Drawing Rooms

I would recommend setting aside some money for this, for it is a more pricey activity, but I promise, it is worth it.

If you’re asking what Science Experiment stands for, then let me enlighten you: it is the name of Afternoon Tea at The Ampersand Hotel. The set of topping and pastries was designed with tubes and flasks, it was like playing pretend to be a scientist! My favorite was the “make your own” lemonade, which you mixed all together in a beaker and added the flavors with a pipette.

Neal’s Yard

I had heard about this hidden gem before. However, on the first day back, I went to see it myself. After tea on a rainy day, I walked up the colorful street of the coziest spot on London. Hidden in the heart of Covent Garden, I had a hot chocolate to warm myself up. The spot is filled with the cutest restaurants coffee shops and businesses, away from the busy streets of the bustling city.

Frida Kahlo: Making Herself Up at the V&A

This once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to have such insight on the life of one of the most iconic women in history is probably at the top of the list of everything I did while abroad. Unfortunately, this is a temporary exhibition, so it won’t be open for much longer. Everything was brought from her own home “La Casa Azul”, so it was much more than just her art. It had photographs, objects such as her back braces and shoes, some of her toiletries and, of course, her iconic outfits. Seeing all of this made me understand in a deeper manner the conditions from which she suffered, and even more how she developed her love for self, despite of her suffering, and how this was reflected in her image.

Pop-up outdoor cinema

On my last night, I decided to go see “Beauty and the Beast” at one of the many parks of London. I figured it was one of the best ways to end it: to enjoy from one of the many green spaces in the city, watching one of my favorite movies. I have to admit, I got a little emotional: the fact that this was my last night combined with the feels from the movie made me shed some tears!

I had spend my last three days exploring the city one last time and, here I am already, sitting in an airplane, two hours away from landing in Philly. I can’t believe it! In the blink of an eye, what has been the best two months of my life are over. It was a life changing experience, learning to adapt to such a complex city, and learning to live so far away from “mi querida familia”. However, I don’t think I’ve loved a city more than I love this one now. I hope to come back someday, and maybe even pursue my career as a fashion designer after I graduate.

Thank you, London.