London's Street Art

 Good morning! Yesterday we were all broken up into groups and each group was taken on a different walking tour in London. I went to a neighborhood in the eastern part of London (not too far from my dorm) that is known for it's vibrant street art. Many young artists are moving to the area giving the neighborhood a very unique vibe and adding to the vast diversity that already exists there. The staff on our trip keeps talking about how diverse London is, and there is no better place to observe London's diversity than this neighborhood near the Shoreditch High Street Station. Bold street art lines buildings of bagel shops reminiscent of New York's Lower East Side, Indian, Thai, and Middle Eastern restaurants and cafes, and several Muslim cultural centers. The streets are filled with all sorts of people from young adults with multicolored hair to Muslim women in burkas. If one wants to truly get a feel for the incredible variety of cultures and personalities that inhabit London, this neighborhood is definitely the place to go!

 

England spells bagel incorrectly... 

Alexandra and I with our yummy pastries from one of the bagel shops

Me, Sarah, and Raquel  

After the tour my friends and I went to the other dorm located in Bayswater, right near Notting Hill, to hang out with the other students on our trip. We took a brief walk through Hyde Park and had coffee at a cute coffee shop. This area of London was lot more residential and packed with cute shops and cafes; it reminded me a little of Harvard Square in Boston. The dorm was hosting a movie night, and naturally the feature presentation was "Notting Hill," a romantic comedy starring Hugh Grant and Julia Roberts that takes place, of course, in Notting Hill. I stayed at the dorm for the night with three very nice girls I met a few days ago who live in a triple room together. It was a really fun night and a great opportunity to get to know the kids on my trip who aren't in my building. This morning I took the tube back to my dorm and was able to find the station and know where to switch tube lines without once looking at a tube map! 

Next stop: Tate Modern Museum later today!

xoxo,

Sarah