London, United Kingdom-The Walking City

Touchdown in London 

Bustling.

It is the best way to describe the city of London.

Everyone, everything is constantly bustling, moving, almost humming with movement. The city never stops and rarely even pauses.

London is addicting, in a way that you don't notice at first. What was originally going to be a one day whirlwind look at the city quickly became a four-day walking exploration.

The city is fast paced but calm and everyone is friendly and helpful.

The locals go where they need to go, sliding their way like molasses through the river of tourists crowding so many street corners and bridges. Much like the River Thames which also slides leisurely through the city, the city that is constantly moving.

The feel of movement is so strong in London that sometimes, when standing still or sitting beside the great, dark river, one can almost feel the heartbeat of the city beneath their feet.

Tower Bridge

Not surprisingly, the trick to getting to know London is to walk her streets, preferably at night.
But beware the river that meanders though like a walker with a generous amount of time, for it is often hard to know which side of it you are on! 

South Kensington Station

Although the subway, or ‘Tube’, may appear daunting, do not avoid it. The hardest part about using the Tube is that you often can only find separate maps to guide you through the city. One for streets, one for the Tube, a separate one for the buses and yet another for famous landmarks. Instead simply circle where you are staying on the map or memorize the nearest Tube station and simply begin walking.

A Train at Waterloo Station with the London Eye, the
Worlds Largest Ferris Wheel in the Background.

London has a wonderful public transportation system. There is the opportunity to buy what is called the Oyster Pass which works as a metro card or, more simply, a glorified and multiple-use ticket. You may add money to them as you go and when swiped at most stations the amount remaining appears as you walk through.

The Oyster Card can conveniently work on the cities local double-decker buses as well.

A 20 to 30 Foot Chalk Board Beside a Busy Road. The
Board has so Many Wishes They are Often Unreadable.

Everywhere you go in London you will find something beautiful or exciting, monuments or statues, parks or squares, beautiful buildings or hidden cafes and bars such as Church Street Hotel, Tiger Pub and Camel and Artichoke.

If a day of leisure is what you are looking for, take a stroll though Hyde Park. Open and several hundred acres, the gardens, playgrounds, water, and numerous activities has the ability to keep you entertained for hours.

If tourism is what you seek I can give no advice but this: ride the London Eye at night. Even those who are avid about avoiding tourist activities will not regret this half hour excursion to the top of the night world. Then, go for a walk along the Thames and enjoy the feel of the night.

Looking Down On A London Eye
Capsule And The City Bellow.

When arriving in London on a weekend expect available hostels to be hard to find and if you can book at least a few hours in advance. Two good international hostel-finding websites are hostelworld.com and hostelbookers.com.
Our first hostel, Safe Stay, was very comfortable and clean. Although still within the city, it was south of the center (a few minutes ride on the Tube) near a shopping center called Elephant and Castle, which was of course decorated with a large orange statue of an elephant with a small tower balancing upon its back. The neighborhoods surrounding it were more of the common London then the tourist spots with a little bit of a gritty feel.
Our next hostel, the London Eye hostel, was much closer to the city center being only a few blocks from the well-known Waterloo Station. This hostel was not so spacious as the first but it was rather cheap and was even more so when booked online. 
From Waterloo Station or Kings Cross there are trains traveling nearly everywhere across England and if you have a spare day-hop one of them. The hour long train ride to Dorking passes some amazing English countryside, just enough to give you a taste.
Although four days was not enough to experience the perfect walking city, we decided we should move on to Paris via a company called MegaBus for only 54,50 Euros for two people. 
After eight hours, yet another time zone and an hour and a half long ferry ride on a boat that had nine levels and four separate elevators, we arrived bright and early to the lovely Paris, France.

London, UK, I will miss you till we meet again!

Big Ben From Between The Spokes of The London Eye. 

"Come Along Life, take my hand, lets have an adventure together."

~KrystleLyric