A couple weeks in to my time here in London, I find myself constantly amazed by this city. More than anything, I have found it in many ways to be a city both of contrast and convergence. It is a place where history exists adjacent contemporary, the greyness of a rainy day is speckled by colorful umbrellas, and cold and windy nights are interrupted by stops in warm pubs. The opulence of Kensington and Knightsbridge with their elegant flats and immaculate gardens exist only a few stops from the vibrancy and character of Brick Lane, where walls are adorned in a chaotic medley of color and art. It is a plate where a couple weeks can feel like like an eternity, and yet they seem gone in a moment.
London is also a city filled to the brim with possibility, adventure, and life. I love navigating the Underground tangles and webs its way through the city, carrying people through the veins of London and into the pulsing heart. I am captivated by the colors of London’s many cultures, thrilled by the drama and expression in the city’s art, and walk in awe down the very streets on which history was written.
Yet in the midst of all the excitement and happenings, some of my favorite moments have been aimless wanders through the streets of London, meandering down hidden alleyways, turning corner after corner until stumbling upon that hidden gem, perhaps not even knowing it existed in this world until that very moment. I am entranced by walks through the misty rain, iridescent as it dances in the lights of the city, coating the ground in a glistening layer and reflecting the liveliness of the city in a series of dazzling colors.
I am constantly reminded of Samuel Johnson’s famous quote, in which he states, “When a man is tired of London, he is tired of life.” I can see how such a statement would be true. I’ve already seen and done so much in this city, and yet, the list of things I want to experience seems to only grow longer. However, I have always found this to be true throughout my life, even before I came to London. Every time I experience something new, I discover multiple other avenues for adventures along the way. This world is filled to the brim with the unknown, just waiting to be discovered. So I will keep exploring, keep wandering, and keep adventuring until I tire of life.