Love letter to London

Is there love at first sight? A love that grabs you like a wave and doesn't let go? I don't know. But that's how I feel about London.

I didn't think that arriving here would be so easy for me. The English pub culture, the vibrant street life, the museums, the historical and modern buildings; all of it excites me. Barcelona was my favorite city in Europe until now, but London is coming in a close second. And the English people I have met have all been very polite and welcoming. So I can confirm this stereotype.

My favorite exhibition so far: the Wallace Collection, where I spontaneously ended up last week. The building houses fascinating paintings and suits of armor, and the rooms are preserved as the nobility would have lived there. In the conservatory, I first ordered scones and tea, typically English, and relaxed while finishing my book. I believe I have rarely enjoyed sitting somewhere as much as I did there. If you ever find yourselves in London, this is a little insider tip. Although I was there on the weekend, it was nowhere near as crowded as the British Museum or the National Gallery. The area is beautiful, and the conservatory truly invites you to linger.

A few days later, I was at South Bank with my roommate Ruvi. We had a Pornstar Martini and then ended up at Waterstones, where I bought a book about Moriarty, the arch-enemy of Sherlock Holmes; it doesn’t get much deeper into English life than that. Ruvi kindly put up with me for forty minutes among the shelves. Decisions are not my strong suit. By the way, I'm really enjoying the book so far.

On Monday, we went to the cinema together to see Spider-Man. The film was, to be honest, only okay. But I didn't really care. I am really lucky with my roommates. Both are so lovely that I already know how much I will miss them when I go back to Germany.

Not everything is perfect. The rent prices and the general cost of living here in London shocked me quite a bit at first. But that makes me appreciate my relatively cheap room in Berlin much more. I've also experienced brief bouts of homesickness when I couldn't be at my dad's birthday. Overall, though, I have settled in here much faster than I did back in Barcelona. Maybe it's because of my lovely roommates, my colleagues, or simply because I have become a bit older and wiser (very wise at 22), or maybe London has fallen a bit in love with me too. The heartbreak will be painful.

Before I think about saying goodbye, I will first enjoy my remaining time here. There are still many things I want to experience. Tonight, I'm going to the pub with a friend, and because it’s Theatre Week, I will buy a ticket for Mamma Mia. I've already checked off quite a bit from my London bucket list: pub, Wembley Stadium for a concert by The Weeknd, some museums, Notting Hill, pie, and tea time. And of course shopping on Oxford Street, even though, to be honest, that felt a bit too touristy for me.

Through my work, I am also getting around well; I have already been to Bristol and the Cotswolds. Brexit is still a hot topic for people here, while Megxit hardly matters; Harry and Meghan are back in England, and their new home is reportedly in the Cotswolds. In Woodstock, a few kilometers away, I asked people for their opinions on this. I am still allowed to do a lot of things myself: collect Vox Pops, conduct interviews, write articles. I'm currently working on two pieces, one of which I hope will also be narrated by me. So you might soon hear my voice on ZDF, feel free to tune in! I am also looking forward to you continuing to read along and giving me feedback. Until next time and Greetings from London xx