Today marks the third anniversary of a very special day in my life – the day I arrived in London to live.
My first week in London… back when I loved dramatic tone filters!
I remember the mix of excitement and sheer terror on the flights over, as I wondered whether I was crazy to move somewhere I’d visited for a grand total of four days. I remember standing at the entrance to a tube platform with a huge backpack, trying to figure out which end to go – yes, I was that tourist. I remember the huge amount of life admin – bank accounts, national insurance number, trying to work out where I was going to live.
From the top of St Paul’s Cathedral
I remember the joy of walking past St Paul’s Cathedral for the first time. I remember my happy discovery of how green central London is, with its many beautiful parks. I remember the first time I ran through the city at sunrise, pinching myself as the golden light kissed the iconic buildings beside me.
A beautiful day in Victoria Park
As I mentioned in my post My Greatest Adventure, London has taught me so much, from independence to confidence to how far I’m prepared to go for the perfect brunch. I’ve hunted down a great job (even if it did take me nearly three years), live with some crazy amazing flatmates, and can navigate my way across the city with ease (it’s called Citymapper). I’ve used the city as a base for some awesome travel adventures, from Turkey to Iceland to Portugal.
An amazing sunset view from SkyGarden
So do I feel like I’m “done” with London? SO far from it. I’m still fascinated by its history, excited by a new pop-up market, and still have many many miles of the Thames Path to walk. There’s new activities galore on my London Summer list, more music gigs than I have free evenings, and more restaurants on my to-try list than I could ever hope to gorge myself at in a decent amount of time. While it’s hard being so far from my family, my sister and her boyfriend are moving to Europe in August, giving me new reasons to visit cities and another huge connection over here. Plus I have incredible friends, many of whom I didn’t know before I moved here, who still love to explore… even if it’s only to the nearest pub.
Picnicking in St James Park a couple of weeks ago – roll on summer!
London, I love you. You inspire me, challenge me, and make me happy. Cheers to an amazing three years, and to many more!
