So, the plan to wake up at 3:00am for three days before our flight to avoid jet lag completely failed. We got on the plane and couldn’t sleep at all—it was too uncomfortable, the lights stayed on almost the entire time, and we were way too tall for the seats!
But once we got to England, the excitement of being in a new country kept us awake. Our friend, Surj, picked us up from the airport and we headed to his and Nicky’s place in Brighton. After a couple of hours of catching up, we took a much-needed nap.
In the afternoon, we explored Brighton with Surj. We strolled around the lanes filled with shops, pubs, and restaurants. After a short walk, Surj suggested we stop for a pint, and we happily agreed. We met up with Nicky during her lunch break and had another pint. Then, we went to the pier and had some incredible fish and chips—so different from back home. It was a whole fillet of cod with thick-cut chips and tasty tartar sauce.
Nicky had put us on a VIP list for a new pub/bar opening that offered free drinks. Since we’re backpacking, we couldn’t pass up on freebies. We got there and found out the drinks were free until 8:00pm, which was amazing since it was only 6:00! Nicky joined us, and the real party began. Once it hit 8:00, the place surprisingly cleared out. We headed back to Nicky and Surj’s for more drinks, a dance party, and late-night pizza. It was a fantastic first day in England.
The next morning, we had a slight hangover but took an hour-long train to London. We were so excited to see all the famous sights we’ve watched on TV. Our first stop was Big Ben and the Parliament Buildings, where we even got to see a live debate. After about 10 minutes, we moved on to the Tower of London and the Tower Bridge. We stopped at a pub for a pint and some lunch, then visited Buckingham Palace, the Ritz hotel, St. Paul’s Cathedral, Chinatown for a late-night dinner buffet, saw some street performers, and of course, had another pint. After a long and exhausting day, we headed back to Brighton.
The following day, we met up with our friend Michelle for lunch, drinks, a walk around Brighton, and some cake and coffee. Although I hadn’t seen her in about six years, it felt like just last week.
The next day, Surj, Nicky, and the two of us drove for two hours to see Stonehenge, which our English friends jokingly called “a pile of rocks.” They weren’t as impressed, but we thought it was pretty interesting. From there, we went to Nicky’s hometown, Portsmouth, visited the naval base to see some huge ships from the war, and even toured a castle. We watched a “footie” game at a pub and had some pints. After the game, we went to a friend’s house for a Sunday roast dinner. It’s like a mini Thanksgiving each Sunday, and the food was incredible.
Back in Brighton, we packed our backpacks and went to bed, ready to head to York in the morning to see our friends Rachael and Richard.
