London Baby

August 19th

Hi! I'm so sorry for the delay, the day that I wrote the Finland post I had a guest over and the day after that I went to Prague. I wanted to bring my laptop to the Czech Republic because I was on a roll with the whole blogging thing, however it had to wait. A few hours ago, actually 3 in the morning I came home from Prague. My travel buddy just went home and after a really good feast meal (watch insta for pictures or in a coming post) I am now ready to update you about my travels. 

London is a great story! In general I would say that London is never a bad idea, but in some aspects it might be just the case. I guess you could say that I learnt a whole lot about myself, people in general and a few valuable lessons about friendship. But let's take it from the top!

As you already know my dad drove me to Vantaa. I had some breakfast at a café on the airport and the next thing I knew, I had gone all the way to London. 

So the reason that I went to London is that a friend of mine from school studies in Switzerland and has her practice in one of the 5 star hotels in the center of London. I simply went to visit her, because I imagine that's what I would have wanted if I moved abroad (and DO want now). I planned this trip for a very long time, turns out later she had to work and visit her family on one of the days she's off. But I wouldn't let that ruin my trip. She was going to let one of her friends babysit me and some time alone couldn't be dangerous, but at the same time, it could, of course. Fact is, even when she told me she didn't get me a babysitter I didn't let that ruin my trip. I was going to have a lot of fun!

When I arrived to Victoria Station she came to pick me up and took me to Elephant & Castle, where she lives. After settling in we went to lunch at Zizzi's and then Tate Modern before she got to work. I had the Pasta Pomodoro, which I highly recomend.

I haven't really documented what happened during this trip since I didn't have a powerbank and everything I owned pretty much died constantly. I have after this trip learnt that I need to make notes, such as a diary to remember what I actually did. Luckily I have automatic save on snapchat stories, so I am not completely dead in the water. After leaving my friend at work I went to buy a city map (as the tourist I am), since I knew I was going to run out of batteries. I searched on google and the closest one I could find was actually 3 km away (kinda far??). When I got my map I needed a pen (tourist shop obviously had pens, but to buy one for 6 pounds =70 sek???), so I google supermarket and tried to keep an eye on the map as it turned out my phone was about to die. But I went far, because all of a sudden I had walked from The Shard, to St. Paul's Cathedral and all the way to St. James's Park. I realized then, 9 km later, that maybe I should get home to rest and find a pencil in the apartment. I took the subway from St. James's to Victoria, to Embankment to Elephant & Castle. From thereon I started to look for the apartment. As my phone had died I couldn't look anything up so I used the map. I used the map for 2 hours. I guess I looked really confused because two hours with that map in my hand later some guys walked by. I heard something behind. Thought it was another catcall since those aren't uncommon, but when they repeated themselves I heard what they said. "Miss, are you lost?" 

"Kinda." I answered looking up from the map I held with a steady grip resisting the wind to grab it. 

"Can I help you?" said the tall one. He called himself Ace. Shortly after offering to help me I got to know all about him. He was chatty, nice and really, really good looking. After six hours trying to find the place I stayed at, we found my home. I hung out there for a while, then I went to ask him out to dinner. I went to his place, because he wanted to change from his workout clothes to regular ones. Then we went to Vapiano, a restaurant I desperatly wanted to go to (although he decided). I'm a little disappointed because I've heard so many good things about their pasta, yet I've had pasta waaaay better in many other restaurants. For example, Zizzi where I went for lunch the same day. Later he just showed me around town. It was really nice and suuuper cozy. 

I said goodbye to him an hour before my friend got off work. After that we went to her favourite bar where we just hung out for a couple of hours and then we went home. 

On Sunday we went to China Town for lunch. We found a little resturant that we both could agree to and then we had some bubbly tea on Candy Café (Leicester Square WC2). When I got home I made myself ready for a night on the town and then I stayed in for a couple of hours before going out to drinks and dinner with a fellow tourist from Chile nearby Victoria Station. When done I had promised to go out with another guy after getting home first, problem was I couldn't find my way home (due to taking the wrong turn when I got out from the station). I walked around with the map, not understanding. As the day before someone asked me if I was lost. They tried to help me, but it was a lot of trouble and they offered me to hang out with them until my friend finished work. So I did. We bought some vodka and lemonade and then I stayed with them for a couple of hours until my friend texted me. When I met her at home I asked if she wanted to join us outside but she just wanted to sleep. I wanted to socialize with my new friends, and so I did. For a couple of more hours - until I got home. 

On monday, 30th of July, I  woke up super late, did my makeup, put on a really beautiful dress and got myself out on the town. I went to Over Under Coffee to get some brunch, later a souvenir shop to buy a shotglas (in every country I've been in without my parents since it's been legal for me to drink) and last, but not least - Victoria Secret by Picadilly. Bought my sister and myself a couple of panties as well as a body mist and lotion from Tease. Been loving that smell for what feels like forever. Their offer made me do it. Then I went to see the friends I met a day earlier to hang out with them until late evening when I got home. Sadly, my friend that had been out visiting her family was now at the club and had locked me out of her room (which she never actually locks, so why now?). I talked to her and she told me to get to the club to hang out, but all I ever wanted was to sleep. So I took into a hotel and hung out with my new found friends until later that night.

I woke up on Tuesday feeling like a queen. Turns out the universe is against us and don't really want us feeling like queens, because when I get to my friends' apartment ready to finally spend her free time off WITH ME(!!!) she tells me, no, "you have to move out". I made a huge deal about this on my snapchat, and although I don't need to dwell on about it anymore, I will say that I am severely disappointed and upset with how someone can treat anyone they call their friend like this. It was a very uneasy experience in my life, and the fact that someone could make such a dick move is to me out of this world. I was alone. Didn't know anyone but her and she just kicked me out on the street. I got the feeling she wanted to smooth things over with some light hearted conversation while I was packing my things (and wanted to leave her place as fast as quickly), but really, she just made it worse. So, all of a sudden, my trip changed. I booked a hotel, a flight and wanted to leave right away. Didn't matter how much time the trip took. I just wanted to leave. When I got to the hotel I had a huge rant on Snapchat and a few conversations with my dearest friends and family about the dick move. They were so supportive and I'm so thankful for it. Then I decided that I couldn't feel sorry for myself anymore and I planned a trip to The House of Minalima and Neals Yard, a few of the places I wished to visit before going home. And let me just say, these places won't let you down!

On my last day in London I brought myself to Camden Town and Camden market. I had a few hours of free time before I had to go to the airport. I decided to spend those hours on Cyberdog, my all time favourite rave (??) shop. I bought this dope jacket I later wore on vacation with my family when I got home. I'll show you! Here are the last pictures from my last day in London. Have a good one, y'all!