Sunday, May 5, 2019 – Monday, May 6, 2019
A lot of firsts are coming for me on this trip. First time in the UK, first time traveling abroad without my family, and first time flying in an airplane by myself. In order to get back to Pittsburgh from good ‘ol York, so I flew from the Lancaster airport to Pittsburgh.
Now when I say Lancaster airport, I feel like that is an overstatement. It is just one big room, kind of like a banquet hall, connected to a restaurant. There were about three people working there and about 15 in the whole airport. After walking straight up to the checkin counter and getting my ticket, I just sat at a table until I saw the plane arrived. Then me and six people had our bags checked and out to the runway we go.
The plane looked like it flew right in from the 1930s. It had three propellers one the front and was the size of a small school bus. The smell of old, vinyl bus seats transported me back to elementary school. I felt like my bus safety would yell at a kid for carving words into the back of the seat any second.
There were eight seats, and six of us. The pilot climbed in the back with us and just said. “hey guys the fire extinguisher is up there and if you need me just give me a tap on my shoulder.” It was really cool getting to see all of the controls at the front of the plane.
I didn’t expect my first flight by myself would be on a little plane like that. It was tight and a little uncomfortable, so I’m thankful the flight was only an hour and a half. Everyone was talking to each other telling about their travels. One was seeing his grandparents, one going home to Georgia. There was a wide verity on that plane. I’m just glad nobody clapped when we landed.
The next five hours was me just sitting in the Pittsburgh airport waiting for the rest of my class to arrive. Getting to our gate was pretty easy and soon we had started our 7 hour flight to London.
After just an hour of airplane nap, we landed in London and began our adventures. It was five a.m. back in the states, so I had almost been awake 24 hours, so I was happy that our first tour was on a bus. We saw sights like the Australia House which was used for the set of Gringotts Wizarding Bank, the Lambeth Bridge where the Knight bus squeezes between two regular London buses whilst crossing in the Prisoner of Azkaban, the London Bridge and Buckingham Palace.
Wow. We saw a lot of bridges
Our first time walking around London was at the Tower of London. My roommate, Anna, and I grabbed some lunch at a little Italian place then headed straight for the royal jewels. While we were walking, big news broke. The royal baby had been born! Every time I see pictures of that kid now I’m going to say, “You know, I was in London when he was born.” I can see myself now – sitting on the couch watching the news with my future kids and having them roll their eyes at me while I tell them for the millionth time, “You know, I was in London when he was born.”
Anyway, so Tower of London. The medieval architecture is beautiful and I think I want my house to l be built the same way. I couldn’t get enough of it.
We had a long day, but my friends and I still wanted to celebrate our first night in London. We found a cool bar called Flight Club. It was decorated like a circus and had places to play darts that was kind of like bowling alleys.
