Week Two

James Kenvin checks in weekly from his study abroad semester in London; catch up with him every Wednesday on Trazee Travel.

Big Ben © Jake Kenvin

Now that I’ve been living in London for a week, I’m starting to get the hang of things.  Although, I may never get over the fact peanut butter is considered a “foreign food.” I’ve spent the last few days exploring other parts of the city, such as Piccadilly Circus and Parliament Square.

Piccadilly Circus is London’s answer to New York City’s Times Square. The area is completely lit up at night with huge screens and colored lights. Filled with restaurants, bars, and theaters, Piccadilly Circus is one of the liveliest parts of the city I’ve visited so far. While there, I saw The 39 Steps at the Criterion Theatre. The play takes the title of the longest-running comedy show in the West End — and after seeing it, I understand why. The cast consisted of only four brilliant actors whose comedic timing was outstanding. The play gave me a taste of the dry sarcastic comedy iconic in British humor.

Parliament Square was the next stop we made while exploring the city. A soon as we got off the bus, we saw the iconic Big Ben and the London Eye. We made our way over to the Houses of Parliament to take a guided tour. The beautiful architecture of the interior and exterior of the building was absolutely breathtaking. Each room within the Houses came with their own historical stories, many of which contain practices and traditions still done today in Parliament. Overall, these sights gave me a good start in understanding British life. With its aesthetic beauty and historically rich places, I can see that traveling London, on its own, is another class that’ll help me fully assimilate into English culture.