An American in London

A suburb Texas gal gets lost across the pond. 

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Gondola with the Wind

Form Your Own Perspective

With every place you go, others will bombard you with their suggestions, warnings, and opinions. While well meaning advice can be harmful, it can also warp your view of your destination before you even step off the train.

Exploring a new city calls for confidence, including in your ability to form your own opinions. Everyone is different. Someone’s favorite place may be another’s least favorite. Neither point of view is the same, but each is worth the same.

Freedom of opinion and expression make the world a more interesting place. However, don’t let someone else’s distaste tarnish your love, and don’t feel guilty for not adoring a city someone else cherishes.

Live through your own experiences, not someone else’s. It’s the best way to add richness to your own life.

A Sharp Breath

That’s what happens when people first step off the train platform in Venice: a sharp inhalation as the sparkling city captivates its visitors with its stunning presence. The rippling blue-green water rocks gondola riders up and down the river beyond the shore and through the city.

In Venice, there are no cars in sight: the river is the road.

The gondola in Venice is the cadillac of the water: artfully crafted with velvet cushions, eager tourists can glide across the river in luxury as an Italian guide sings them the songs of the city...for 80 euros, that is.

For those who can’t afford to fork out two days worth of expenses for thirty minutes in a funny shaped boat, the water bus is the way to go. Although it may lack the elegant amenities of the gondolas, it still provides visitors with a gorgeous view.

For the full effect, it’s best to stand right at the edge. There’s something so exhilarating about gazing out into the city as the river runs through it.

It’s almost like stepping into a painting.

 A Mask of Your Own

 Masks are used for concealment and mystery, but Venetian masks create a complex paradox. While concealing its wearer’s face, the mask  also expresses their individuality.

Sort of ironic, isn’t it?

Although it may seem counterintuitive, the irony found in Venetian masks actually makes perfect sense. By hiding the outer physical characteristics, the mask makes way for what lies deep within to come to the surface. Insecurities are shed and confidence grows as glittering and colorful masks provide the path for personality to shine.

Finding the perfect mask requires winding through the tall and narrow streets of Venice. Each shop has its own style and character. Beware of tourist shops lurking between the stalls: the truly authentic shops will have the crisp smell of paper mâché in the air.

 A Palace Fit for a Doge

 Meme jokes aside, the Doge’s Palace in Venice is fit for the finest of royalty. Located in Saint Mark’s Square, the palace looks like something out of a child’s imagination: gorgeous and almost outlandishly elaborate.

The inside of the palace walls is a literal work of art. Every wall, corner, and ceiling is decked with color and complex stories of the past.

To get the full experience, it’s tempting to sprawl out on the floor to drink in every brush stroke. However, unless you enjoy being trampled by tourists and scolded by guards, it’s not recommended.

 Stop and Look

The best part of Venice isn’t the action: it’s the beauty in its serenity.

After a long day of trekking across rough cobblestone and carefully examining hand crafted masks, it’s nice to rest your aching feet and lounge by the river, especially with the one of the required tri-daily gelatos required for all travelers in Italy.

As always, there is beauty in pausing. It’s hard to take everything in rushing from place to place, which is why a simple stop to look around is so important.

The city may continue to bustle, the river will still follow its course, but time will seem to freeze.

Be sure to take it all in before it slips away.

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The Siren Call of Firenze

Marvel in the Unreal

It’s common to feel a sense of disbelief when traveling. After all the planning and dreaming, it hardly seems real you’re actually experiencing something you’ve been day dreaming about for so long.

Feeling this way isn’t a problem: it’s a solution. The more captivated you are, the more likely you are to savor every sight, sound, and smell.

In Florence, the intricate architectural designs proudly standing throughout the city further add to the city’s mystical sense of wonder, and the Duomo and the Cathedral are as rich in detail as their extensive histories.

Those who were savvy enough to train on the stairmaster back home can brave the 500 step trek up the Duomo to enjoy a captivating view of Florence from a bird's eye view. For those who prefer snacks to stairs, the Cathedral and the museum below is probably the better choice. No need to worry: the massive church decked in stain glass and crucifixes is also a magnificent sight to behold.

Be sure to light a candle before you head downstairs.

The basement below is almost unnoticeable and deceptively unremarkable, but there’s more than what’s visible at first glance. A testament to the Medici family, the basement contains precious artifacts from the cathedral’s earlier days.

Architecture fans will marvel at the elaborate building plans, and archaeologists will eagerly observe the remains of the church’s former glory.

The rest will think the rocks are cool.

Ancient Modern Figures

Women today are constantly bombarded with unrealistic expectations for their bodies. With so many women anxiously scrutinizing over every stretch mark and every pound, it seems like this struggle has been present since the dawn of time.

Michelangelo’s women don’t even come close to the figures seen on the catwalk, but their elegance and beauty are absolutely indisputable. Somehow, in rough stone, Michelangelo sculpted soft curves that capture the essence of womanhood better than any magazine cover ever has.

Standing tall and firm, these strong  ladies cloaked in stone would make any woman feel proud to share their figure.

Maybe it’s time for Kendall Jenner to step aside.  

Bliss in Peace

Travel is loud in every sense of the way. Famous monuments are visually cluttered with hundreds of people clamoring for the perfect photo for their Facebook albums and Instagram page. People are chattering at an earsplitting volume in different languages as they wait in line, ask for directions, and call for their lost companions.

It’s exciting, but it’s also incredibly overwhelming, not to mention annoying.

Those searching for some peace and quiet should look no further than Basilica Santo Spirito. Just across the river from the hectic scene of the Duomo, Santo Spirito offers visitors solace in its silence.

Simply stepping into the garden will silence all internal and external noise. Viewing the attractions of the basilica takes little time: many might overlook the crucifix carved by a teenage Michelangelo if they approach Santo Spirito with haste. They’re the ones who miss the beauty in simplicity.

It may not seem like much, but Santo Spirito is not boastful. It’s simplicity and peace are much more memorable than any noisy tourist trap.

Relations to the River

Those who want to be by a body of water have their pick of vacation spots in Italy. However, each city has a different relationship with its water.

Much like the glorious empire, Rome commands the Tiber by standing so tall above it, many might not even think to glance at the water below.

Florence has a slightly different approach. Although it isn’t without its bridges (practically speaking, it’d be kind of hard to not have them), Florence makes no attempts to conceal the coursing current. Rather, it fully embraces it. Visitors shouldn’t be surprised to see daring young Florentines lounging lazily at the bridge’s edge, high above the water without a care in the world.

No matter the city, the waters in Italy definitely reflect the cities and their different character.

Perhaps it’s something in the water.

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Bella Roma

The Future of the Past

The history of Rome is intricately woven into its cobblestone streets. The stories of the ancient Roman gladiator and the Italian Renaissance man are open on the pages of the pavement.

Discovering the stories of Rome requires an eager eye and a little bit of curiosity. It’s easy to contemplate the atmosphere of the Colosseum during it’s heyday, but it’s worthwhile to ponder its presence in other contexts: the Italian Renaissance, World War II, and more.

Standing through the test of time is an achievement worth considering. The Colosseum may be long past its youth, but its notable presence today still makes a poignant remark about human history.

Who knows: in a thousand years, tourists from across different galaxies may travel to gawk at our once action packed football stadiums.

Lets just hope the lines aren’t too long.

Sweeter Than a Taste

In Italy, it’s completely acceptable to eat gelato multiple times a day. In fact, if it’s fruit flavored, it counts as health food, not dessert. Also, if you walk while you’re eating your decadent treat, then you’re burning all the calories you’re consuming while you’re in motion.

Disclaimer: I’m a journalist, not a nutritionist. Don’t blame me if you end up gaining the five pounds you were planning on losing from all the walking.

The streets of Rome have a Gelateria every few steps, but there’s more to what you eat than what’s in your cup. At Sweet Life, the gelato is hand made with, well, maybe not love, but something that tastes pretty magical.

Being able to wax poetic about bursting flavors is one thing, but the soul put into the flavor is in a completely separate league. Service with a smile under the stern force of a managerial hand lacks the heart found in sincere generosity. When someone cares about your experience, it touches you in an inexplicable way.

Can kindness really be a secret ingredient, or is that just the ramblings of fairy tales?

Regardless, Sweet Life is definitely worth a visit.

Leave Time to Lose

The simplest travel method involves packing so much action into one day, even James Bond would grimace. However, simple doesn’t always mean better.

Sometimes, you need to plan ahead to make mistakes. After all, a wrong turn could actually lead to the most memorable part of your trip. It could lead to a leisurely stroll in the park with daisy chains and carrousels, or it could lead to you stepping in a large, smelly pile of something suspicious.

Either way, you’ll definitely have an interesting story to tell.

A Chance for a Glance

Rome has countless testaments to human strength and will scattered about the city, but some are more well known than others. In a city as old as Rome, stumbling upon an ancient ruin is as common as those pesky pigeons that peck about the piazzas.

The best monuments in Rome aren’t necessarily the ones with the strongest claims to fame: it’s the ones that have anonymity that have the most understated allure. Every blister footed tourist in Rome will depart with memories of the Colosseum, the Trevi Fountain, and any other site found in any Italy guide book published since the 1950s.

Find a random spot tucked away with a stunning view of the Tiber River, or a obelisk standing physically tall but completely short metaphorically because of your lack of knowledge of its history. Take a breather, and transform this foreign place into your own. All you have to invest is a little bit of your time.

How many visitors can tell the tale of their own special place in a city they never called home?

Throw Away Perfection

Seriously. If you want an explanation for why striving for perfection is unhealthy and unrealistic, then go read a psychology article or an encouraging mommy blog. They’ll all tell you the same thing: perfect is boring.

There’s something inexplicably beautiful in the complexity of imperfection. Something about it’s authenticity creates a sense of genuine humanity within life experiences.

If you miss a site on your list, it’s definitely a disappointment, but it doesn’t have to be the end all be all. Rather, it’s an example of how a mistake can carve a path towards a unique experience.

Throwing away expectations can lead to anything, but most importantly, it leads to an experience that’s unique to only you.

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News Story

Littering: it’s a pervasive issue every Londoner sees during their morning commute. Whether it’s cigarette butts, candy wrappers, or coffee cups, trash on the ground is not uncommon on the London underground.

The Evening Standard says the government will be dishing out 150 pound fines to anyone who drops rubbish on the ground in London. This fine will double the past littering fine (Evening Standard).

Tourists notice the lack of garbage cans placed throughout the streets of London. Environment minister Andrea Leadsom says the littering problem in London is making a bad impression with tourists (Evening Standard).

The reason for the lack of garbage cans in largely populated areas, including Tube stations, has an unexpected political context. The Irish Republican Army used rubbish bins to drop bombs in because metals bins “could create deadly shrapnel when the bombs went off” (Jacobs). This led to the UK government removing garbage cans from the streets.

Littering in the streets of London has also increased. The Mirror UK says littering clean up costs UK taxpayers 800 million pounds a year (Glaze).

The Evening Standard says local parks in London “ were left strewn with rubbish” after the temperature increased this past weekend (Mitchell). They also quote Cllr Feryal Demirci, a Hackney Council parks representative, who says the high volume of litter made cleaning-up the park at Hackney “really difficult”(Mitchell).

Littering has been an issue in the UK for quite a while now. The UK government will continue to attempt to resolve this issue for both the sake of the tourists and local Londoners. Hopefully, the people of London can one day take pride in living in a city with streets that are clean and litter free.

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I interviewed theatre artist Helen Eastman about her opinions on the London theatre community and Brexit. 

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The Story of Iweta

Poland. The South of France. London. What do all these places have in common?

They’ve all been graced with the presence of Iweta Baran.

Baran was born in Gorzów Wielkopolski, a town in North West Poland. While many anxiously worry about choosing between the picturesque hometown life with childhood best friends staying close,dear, and near forever and the exciting and cosmopolitan life in the big city filled with lots of adventure, Baran has expertly achieved the perfect balance between the two. Her best friend today is the same best friend she had in primary school- even though Baran is currently living in London and her bosom buddy is living in Taiwan. Continuing with the local connection theme, Baran met her now husband at prom night. However, don’t mistake Baran for a fish out of water in the hustle and bustle of London. Baran has called many place home, including Montpellier in the South of France. Baran spent a year living there when she was a study abroad student at the at Université Paul-Valéry, where she studied French language and literature for a year. Baran’s love and fondness for the city is apparent: she describes it as a thriving centre for arts and culture. Baran  “could never get bored of the town and was devastated to leave” at the end of her term.

Baran has a deep love for the art of words: she has a degree in Polish Language and Literature from Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń. She also has another BA from the University of Westminster, where she now works with student interns. Baran ended up working in her current job “totally by accident.” She was “working as an administrator at an estate agency” when she “somehow landed an internship as an Employability Assistant at a Greenwich School of Management.” During her internship, it was suggested to Baran to apply for a job in the careers department at the University of Westminster. After that, as many say, the rest was history.

Baran says she feels like she hit the jackpot with her current job. She enjoys working in the careers department “mainly because of the diversity of tasks and responsibilities,” and the amazing students she gets to work with. Her favorite aspect of her job is working with “a particular student body over an extended period of time” and the fact that she has “the freedom to redesign the programme the way I think it works best” for her students. Baran also says she finds the growth and development she sees in her students incredibly rewarding, which makes the often high pressure tasks she balances worth her time and effort.

Anyone who meets Iweta Baran is instantly charmed by her bright smile and kind heart. In fact, her energy is something of a soft, yet warm glow: it lights up the whole room and warms you within. Baran’s character is demonstrated by her positive outlook towards life. She cycles everyday in order to truly enjoy her time in London, and “as long as [she progresses] in a certain aspect every year, life is good.” Humble as they come, when asked about her favorite childhood memory, Baran describes a family trip that involved getting her whole family together, which is something so many people forget to value and prioritize today.

Iweta Baran is well travelled, highly educated, and yet incredibly down to earth. The shape of her character has already touched so many of her students, and will continue to shape those who meet her.

All you have to do is introduce yourself, shake her hand, and wait for the magic to start.

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The Rumbling Routine

Lose yourself to love yourself

Sounds a bit counterintuitive, doesn’t it? Sometimes, we get so trapped in our heads and lost in our thoughts that the world around us disappears. It’s the death of an outer perspective and the narrowing of perceptions. The more we focus on our inner monologue, the less we focus on the outside world.

It usually takes a bump in the road to make us stop and change course.

When you do, you’ll be glad you changed directions.

 Weekday Waiting

 Weekdays are notorious for creating tunnel vision. Once the Monday alarm rings, work starts and pondering exploration ends. How many more hours? What’s going into the oven after work? When is it acceptable to count down to Friday?

The days are spent from pillow to pillow, waiting aggressively and impatiently for the next.

 Altering the Tempo

 A week is like a song: if you fall too comfortably into routine, your rhythm becomes dull and predictable. Switching pace requires conscious effort, but not strenuous action.

It’s as simple as taking off your headphones. Opening your eyes. Taking the longer route.

Treat the world like a street you’re about to cross and stop, look, and listen.

You’ll be amazed by the things you notice.

 Get off the Train

 Convenience is deceptive: while it makes our lives easier, easier doesn’t always mean better. People use public transportation to use where they want to go, but not necessarily where they need to go.

Laziness is hard to escape, but it’s possible if you just take the leap and hop off the train somewhere new and unfamiliar.

Just be sure to mind the gap.

 Don’t Lead; Follow

 Being a leader is so desirable nowadays, but sometimes a leader can be so entranced by their independence they forget to listen to the world around them. Leave the need to lead behind and pause and observe your surroundings. There are leaders everywhere: people who already know the area who glide through their surroundings in a trance like haste.

Watch where people turn the corner, and follow their impulse. Once they’ve led you somewhere fascinating and new, lose your leader and follow your heart.

Once your heart is open, the rest will simply follow.  

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Steph Bell, a local Londoner, is quite the person. Get to know Steph and what her job at Accent is like as she tells you her life story while you follow her as she leads an Accent event for TCU students studying in London. 

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Visit Original Link

London is always abuzz, especially at night. The sounds outside my window took some getting used to, but now the sounds of the city are almost melodic to me now. It’s almost like a lullabye.

Close your eyes and listen. 

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Detours in Dublin

The Tourist and the Traveler

Exploring a new country is incredible, but it’s easy to lose sight of what’s important: the experience. People often go on a trip with certain expectations, which leads to disappointment.

Tourists insist on having the so called “ideal” experience that involves visiting all the major sights and every tacky gift shop. Although their vacation may be sweet, something about it seems artificial.

Travelers lose themselves in the moment and understand the value of spontaneous detours. Sometimes, the detour ends up leading where the travelers wanted to go.

They just didn’t know it yet.

The Heart of the City

There is so much more to Dublin than the historic buildings and frothy pints. Without its people, Dublin’s culture wouldn’t exist. Plus, no one knows the city better than the locals. They know the best place for an Irish breakfast and where to go to enjoy Dublin away from those pesky tourists.

When you’re willing to ask for help, locals make guidebooks obsolete.

Art is Everywhere

The walls of Dublin express the city’s personality. Diversity, eccentricity, and authenticity are all represented on Dublin’s bricks.

Those seeking a private viewing should search for Love Lane near Temple Bar. Tucked away in an alley, this street is filled from the ground up with vibrant artistic expression.

Photographers will rejoice at the opportunity to capture its eclectic beauty uninterrupted, and millennials will be delight at the opportunity for cute Instagram photos.

However, Love Lane isn’t the only place to find street art. Simply turning onto the wrong street corner can lead to another of the city’s brilliant tattoos.

Read More Into It

Books are the best connection to other worlds, even our own. The Old Library at Trinity College provides a link to the past through the knowledge stacked on its shelves.

The dimly lit rooms tell the tales of Irish past through the library’s collection of ancient texts.

Make sure to listen closely.

Searching for Moher

The bus ride is four hours long, the hike is steep, the ground is sopping wet with mud, but the astounding beauty of the Cliffs of Moher is absolutely worth it.

The rolling green hills seem to come alive - and no, not with the sound of music- against the steely blue water. The bolder visitors will clamor over the weathered stone fence to snap a photo so picturesque it could almost be a postcard.

Everyone leaves with dozens of photos, but it’s those who pause to lose themselves in the beauty of the view that create the most lasting memories.

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Solo in Soho

Making the City Your Own

When exploring a new city, it’s so much fun sharing the adventure with someone else. That being said, it’s a lot easier getting lost somewhere on your own, and getting lost is what really forms a lasting connection between people and places.

You can’t call it home until you’ve wandered around bewilderedly searching for familiarity.

It’s the best way to get to know where you are and make it your own.

Soho Sans Squad

Squad refusing to rally and embrace the bitter cold is not an acceptable reason to stay inside moping and alone: it’s an excuse to do a solo trek.

After all, John Muir didn’t need a squad when he was hiking in Yosemite.

Otherwise, the John Muir trail might have a very different name.

Breakfast With (a view of) The Breakfast Club

Hipsters all across London gather like a flock of totally-not-mainstream sheep in a massive line to enter The Breakfast Club café. Based on the iconic John Hughes movie, the restaurant boasts an almost cult like following, similar to the movie itself.

The hipsters who pride themselves on being out of the mainstream have yet to see the irony of their breakfast plans.

Those who want a meal that doesn’t require waiting out in the cold should head up the street to Toi and Moi Café. It offers delicious meals and piping hot drinks with a much calmer and less pretentious atmosphere.

Plus, there’s something oddly satisfying about watching the people of London traipse by while enjoying your meal in peace.

Beyond Retro: Heaven for Vintage Lovers

Beyond Retro is a must see in Soho for those who are on the hunt for that perfect vintage find. No two pieces are exactly alike, giving each customer a unique purchase with lots of flair.

You never know what might be there next time, so it’s the kind of place you have to visit more than once.

Choco….something something

At Choccywoccydoodah, the chocolate shop’s name isn’t the only thing that’s a mouthful.

Customers who stop by the store are treated to enchanting and intricately designed cakes, cookies, and, of course, chocolate confections. However, the tasty treats aren’t the only thing that are eye catching: the chocolate shop’s psychedelic decor is also hard to miss.

The small shop is crammed with everything, including hungry customers who are all contemplating the same thing: which tasty treat are they going to take home?

Lesson Learned

Creating memories with friends is undoubtedly valuable, but the memories you make on your own are the ones that will stay with you.

And only you.

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A Man’s Castle is His Home

When people think of castles, they think of weathered stone walls, muddy hued moats, gallant knights, and dusty old libraries.

Typically, they don’t see castles as someone’s home.

Cardiff Castle changes that perspective.

Getting There

For London natives, Cardiff Castle is a four hour jostling bus ride from Victoria coach station to Cardiff, Wales. Upon arrival,visitors to the castle can choose to wander the grounds independently or join the house tour.

It’s recommended to do both.

The Home

The house tour takes the grand, musty old castle and personalizes it for visitors through stories about the family that lived there, including the reasoning behind their decor choices. In a way, it’s like a historic-castle-version of HGTV, but with a lot less talk about granite counter tops and open concept rooms.

The castle rooms are adorned with elegant stain glass windows and complex Arabic designs. While absorbing the visual tastes of the family, visitors can listen to a tour guide recount the castle owners’ family history. By the time people leave, they know every little detail about the people who once lived in Cardiff Castle.

The View

Although many choose to leave the castle grounds after the house tour, those who do so miss half of the adventure. The most enthralling place in the castle isn’t inside the household portion: it’s above it.

After climbing a large, almost never-ending portion of stairs, visitors who are brave enough to make this trek are treated to an enchanting view of the city of Cardiff. The best time to go is when the sun starts setting. As the sun sets, it creates an exquisite backdrop for the city’s tall, aging buildings.

No one leaves without taking hundreds of pictures.

The Secret Bunker

After enjoying the view, visitors with a keen eye will notice on their way out a small door sitting ajar. Easily missed by many, the door leads visitors to the bunkers built into the castle during the second World War.

Visitors walk down the bunker’s narrow halls as an old 1940s record plays, which sounds eerie in the dim lighting. Posters line the walls instructing people to wear their gas masks at all times. The atmosphere of the bunker is uncertain, as if people are still there waiting for an air raid to be over, anxiously waiting for the siren to sound.

The After Part

Visiting Cardiff Castle is definitely a unique experience, especially for those who take the time to wander lost on its grounds. In fact, it’s those who get lost who have the fullest experience.

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I Left My Feet in Notting Hill and Hyde Park