Ever found yourself in the amazing city of London with just a couple of days to explore? That happened to us in 2011, and again at the end of our journey through Mongolia, Central Asia, and Iran. It was our last stop after traveling for 5.5 months.
We flew from Tehran to Istanbul and then to London, crossing time zones and losing track of time and days. Despite the lack of sleep making us feel nauseous, we got a burst of energy as soon as our plane landed at Stansted Airport.
Our friend Jason, who we met during a two-week trip through the Pamir Mountains, kindly hosted us for our two-day stay. Having traveled through Iran himself, he knew just what we needed—beer and wine. He had plenty of both, and we spent the evening catching up over drinks and delicious homemade food.
It was quite a shock being back in the Western world after 32 days in Iran. Women weren’t wearing headscarves and showed the shape of their bodies in public, liquor was available everywhere, and we could use our ATM and credit cards again. It felt like a treat!
We aimed to spend our days in London immersing ourselves in English culture. First on our list was enjoying a Full English Fry-Up, humorously known as a heart-attack on a plate! Nick and Jason indulged in fried eggs, bacon, sausage, bubble and squeak, beans, fried mushrooms, toast, and black pudding. Quite the breakfast!
A visit to London wouldn’t be complete without stopping by a few local pubs. In our 48 hours there, we visited four different pubs, each with its unique charm and the familiar pub smell of stale beer and pine.
We revisited the Parliament Building and Big Ben, wandered through the Christmas Market along the River Thames, and admired the beautiful Tower Bridge lit up at night. We ended the day by watching the sunset over St. Paul’s Cathedral from a nearby rooftop.
Spending a couple of days in London was the perfect midpoint between Iran and Canada. It helped us adjust back to Western ways and readied us for our long journey home.
When our plane touched down in Vancouver, it felt strange. Though we were excited to be home after over a year and a half abroad, it was odd realizing our Central Asia trip had ended. It felt like it went by so quickly, and we couldn’t believe that our days of sleeping in yurts, riding horses, and trekking high-altitude passes were behind us. That chapter had closed.
Now, we had Christmas, visiting friends and family, and planning our trips for 2014 to look forward to!
Have you been to London? What would you recommend seeing and doing there? Share your thoughts with us below!
