London

TL;DR: The trip starts in London, where I spend five days. I can't fully believe that my studies are over and I'll be gone for the next few months.

With some delay, I finally start this blog. Forgive me that it took some time. I had to mix drinks, plan the trip, find a bike, find food, get hammered in New York, sort out photos... Somehow the blog didn't write itself during that time. Now I'm on the train from Colorado to California, able to catch up.

I've been waiting for this trip for a long time and now we're finally here. The master's thesis has been submitted, the goodbye party held and my Zurich room taken over by my successor. A strange feeling – it all really starts now? Abroad and on my own for 7-8 months? I don't feel prepared at all, even though I've already checked my luggage umpteen times.

After a wonderful serenade at KZO (the Balkan Express plays some of the same songs as eight years ago), I take the train to London on Wednesday, June 28th. The city mesmerizes me straight away, lots of people on the streets, lots of bars, glass and steel mixed with older building styles. The architecture seems quite chaotic and unregulated compared to Paris, for example, with completely different architectural styles juxtaposed side by side. 

The hostel itself is pretty trashy, 15 people in three-story beds in my room, 2 out of 4 showers on my floor broken and the others hygienically questionable. The shared space is far too small for everyone. But I love hostel life, that's exactly how it has to be!

I'm a little shy around people in the first few days, so I'm discovering London on my own. But that's okay. I mostly just stroll through the different neighborhoods, go to cafés and look at the architecture. In the City of London and Canary Wharf there are various high-rise buildings and a free viewing terrace.

I also visit the Barbican, a world-famous brutalist complex that combines lots of apartments, cinemas, theaters and a renowned concert hall. Looks pretty cool!

London definitely hits you with its pub culture. There is no outside seating. Instead, people are standing in front of the pub with beer in their hands. There is laughter, drinking and discussion. This creates a very lively atmosphere, especially in streets with several pubs. Plus, by coincidence, this weekend features Pride, so nightlife is on fire. In order to take part in the parade, you have to register as a group, unlike in Zurich, for example. But people dance on the edge or in the side streets.

On the last day before flying to New York I go to see the White Cliffs in Dover, also very impressive!

Overall, I'm not quite in travel mode yet. On the one hand, I'm just now realizing that the long, long course of study is now really over. On the other hand, I haven't yet found my rhythm when it comes to eating, sightseeing, strolling and exercising. Nevertheless, I enjoy the days very much.