Brody's View of Vienna

Welcome to Brody's View of Vienna! Now, I know what you're thinking: Isn't that Big Ben? And the answer is yes. Yes it is.

My whole family is English and everyone except me and my parents live in London. Rather than starting my European adventure for the summer in Wien with the rest of the Davis students, I decided to go to London to visit everyone.

I've been here a few days already and have already seen a number of wonderful things so I figured it was time to start the blog and let all of you in on what's been going on.

I started the day in South Kensington and went to Chuc's Cafe for my first real full English Breakfast in 5 years. I have greatly missed Black Pudding so it was good to have one this delicious again. And the poached eggs? Incredible.

Once I finished breakfast I headed to the Natural History Museum, one of my favorite places in London. I wasn't able to be there for an exceptionally long time because I had a packed day planned but I was able to experience several highlights including the massive Blue Whale skeleton and the historic building. The High Victorian architecture makes the museum really stand out and to walk in a building that looks almost the same as it did nearly 150 years ago was a wonderful experience.

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After that I passed through Harrods before heading to Trafalgar Square, one of the best views of Big Ben in all of London. Since my family has been going for so many years to London to visit my grandparents, we have a tradition of taking the same selfie on the same spot every time we go. This was my very first time going anywhere on my own but I knew I had to get that photo. Here it is!

I was then able to pass by the Houses of Parliament on my way towards the tube station that would bring me back to my grandparents. Last time I was here in 2019, Big Ben had scaffolding all around it to ensure it looked its best for the Queen's Platinum Jubilee (and, if we're being honest, King Charles's Coronation because they knew that was coming soon). Getting to see it again in its proper state was wonderful. It's funny how sometimes, when you return to a place you've been before you have a newfound appreciation for something that maybe didn't catch your eye before. On this trip, for me, that was Big Ben. Obviously I enjoyed seeing it in years past but, every time I got a chance to see it rearing its beautiful head above the streets of London, I stopped to take it in. How lucky am I that I get to be, even for a moment, in a place like this?

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