Rome: But in London

 A Weekend as a Study Abroad student visiting London. 

Friday:

– The Making of Harry Potter Studio Tour: This was NOT planned at all. I was on the phone with my mom when she mentioned the tour as something one of her coworkers did and absolutely loved it. The mini second she said that, I bought myself a ticket with a “Eh, life’s too short” attitude, and boy was I right? How it works, or at least for me, was that I met up with different people who bought a ticket on some tour-like bus that’s specifically for the studio tour. Why you may ask? Because the actual building is 60-90 minutes away. Yes, you read it correctly. Up to an hour and a half on a bus driven just outside of London, and yes, I sure did sleep 90% of it. Anyways, got there and got my ticket and waited in a really, REALLY cold and long, but also quick line and went inside. HUGE is all I could think of. Huge building, huge gift shop, huge everything. Needless to say, the actual tour was extremely immersive and informative. To learn the making of ALL the Harry Potter movies and the books was everything to me, and to just see how everything came together. My cinema professor said to understand film is to understand how it was made, and I agree. To appreciate the art, you need to learn how the art became to be so that you understand the creative process behind it. After the tour, I was satisfied plenty and grateful that I allowed myself the freedom to be spontaneous and do the tour because it fed my soul.

– The Lightning Thief: A Percy Jackson Musical: I love the Percy Jackson book series. Thanks to my friend Dallas Broughton, I was introduced to the book series and loved it ever since; hence when the Disney+ show came out weekly, I was always glued to my TV screen watching it. Even introduced my little cousin to it and now he’s obsessed. The musical was alright, loved the creativity and the way they executed the action sequences on the stage. The clothes were good as well. I give it a 7 out of 10, some of the songs weren’t clicking in my opinion and there’s parts that I would’ve rewrote, but overall I wasn’t disappointed. For it being equivalent to an Off-Broadway show, it utilized its resources all the way.

Saturday:

– London Tour: I decided to roam the city myself and do some sightseeing. First, obviously I had to listen to Fergie and make myself be on the London Bridge. I didn’t know what I was expecting, but it wasn’t the same feeling I usually get whenever I’m on the Brooklyn Bridge. Wasn’t bad at all, but wasn’t great either. I would say mid, but that’s too Gen Z and I’m beyond that. After the bridge, I just explored without a destination and stumbled upon the Shakespeare’s Globe Theater and the National Theater. As a theater kid, it was amazing seeing very known theater companies and how it was constructed. LOVED it.

– Harry Potter and the Cursed Child: LOVE LOVE LOVE THE PLAY! I saw it on Broadway when I was a freshman, but I always knew that the West End had a Part 1 (2:30pm-5pm) and a Part 2 (7pm-9:30pm), so when I was figuring out what to do with myself today, I thought “Let me check it out”. It worked because I bought my ticket today and didn’t regret one second of it. Tuned in all the time, great special and visual effects, and the overall story made sense. 10/10, spectacular. 

Last thing before I continue to be enjoying a hotel bed, SOLO TRIPS are so needed. I loved the fact that I was by myself in London, do everything at my own pace and just be completely at peace. Solo trips shouldn’t be shamed or frowned upon, sometimes I just want to be away from people doing things I want to do. It takes time and comfort, but once you’re in a place where you don’t need other people to have a good time, solo tripping needs to happen.