Top of the morning!
Before the sun could even peek over the top of the York minster, we were on our way to our last meal at York St. John’s dining hall. After another tragic breakfast of granola (bird seeds and sawdust) and toast from a toaster that did not work, we embarked to the York railway station for our train down to London King’s Cross.
The two hours we spent on the London-Edinburgh line flew by as we sped through picturesque countryside. After touring the rest of the train, we concluded that many British people do not shower on a regular basis. The train bathrooms were also in a disastrous state. Minor inconveniences aside, the train was very nice and we soon arrived at London King’s Cross (where Harry Potter’s platform 9 ¾ is located).
We emerged from the station and saw sunlight for the first time since arriving in Britain. The view of King’s cross square and St. Pancras station was incredible. After a short bus ride, we arrived at Imperial College London. While waiting for the dorms to open, several of us looked at some nearby embassies (including the Taliban/Afghanistan embassy on our street). We also indulged in the quintessential British pastime of football (not soccer) in a nearby park.
In the evening, we went on a walking tour of Imperial College. We explored the Kensington subway, or, “the tube,” station and received our metro cards. We also stopped at The French Institute, an embassy of French Culture from the World War I era. Brownstones and elegant white townhouses lined the streets, costing upwards of £15,000,000. These buildings were commonplace in the posh west side of London.
London is a perfect blend of Europe and America. While we speak the same language, the urban environment could not be more different. Across the equally motorist and pedestrian-shared street from our dorms lie the Museum of Natural History, Science Museum, and Victoria & Albert Museum with the Royal Albert Hall, Kensington Gardens, and Hyde Park down the street.
As the #6 University in the world from the QS World University Rankings, Imperial lives up to its top-tier name. The campus boasts modern architecture while maintaining a natural vibe in London’s cityscape. The dinner had a variety of international flavors, with Asian, Indian, and American food available tonight (with some unexpected special guests). Even for a travel day, we’re all working to maximize our time here and still are constantly making plans to go out and see all that London has to offer.