Week 1 - London, UK

 A week passed, and I packed my bags a second time, slightly heavier than before. My journey has finally set in; London blew me away. People's Instagram accounts were not a proper way to explain them. Everyone has a fresh slate, and traveling with 50+ new faces is both a dream and intimidating. There are people from all over the U.S. and Canada, each with their own take on life and reasons for being on a Gap Year. I was told before leaving that people grow closer faster while traveling, and I agree with that 100%

While I'd give it another few weeks before I lay down my life for another individual, the group as a whole is a lot of fun to be a part of. 

The itinerary is well-balanced, which allows us to focus more on the city we're in. I was also given ample time to mark off my bucket list items! 

Our first day was spent figuring out our goals for the trip, and while I have deeper goals, like figuring out the man I want to be or growing closer to Christ, I also have an immediate focus: finding where I want to go to school. I'm still determining if London fits into that, but no one can deny it's a beautiful city. An excellent blend of old and new, well-organized and well-kept. Westminster was the most intriguing, given all the landmarks, but anywhere in London has its own charm. While I saw all the mandatory places, my favorite times were when I wandered the city with no real intent. Every day was better than the last; as the jetlag wore off and everyone got closer, the walks became more engaging. I've taken up photography as one would, and a friend is planning on helping me pick out a point-and-shoot while in Paris. My mind was made up after I got the chance to use his camera while at an arcade bar and then edit some of the photos later on this computer. Like him, I love capturing moments of raw emotion, and when I saw that in a few of my photos, I was hooked. 
( I still need to edit most of them)

(For closer looks at photos I'm sending out check out my Instagram maddox_nunn)

The itinerary also took us to various museums, and even though I struggled to keep my eyes open during our early morning visits, every single one was worth it. My favorite museum was the Churchill War Rooms I visited over the weekend. The tour was audio-guided, making it straightforward and easy to process. I also went on various walking tours, the most rewarding being a generalized London tour; we had an engaging guide and opportunities for photos; those tied together were all I needed to make it a worthwhile few hours. 

The food overall was enjoyable. However, I'm betting it won't be on the top of the list. There is one place I'd recommend in a heartbeat: Potter and Reid. It was recommended to me after a couple hours of thrifting, and man was it the perfect break. I ordered what my friend called the 'Breakfast Bap' the perfect breakfast sandwich. This, tied with a flat white and friendly staff, made it a worthwhile visit. While I only made it there once, I hope to find a similar spot in Paris for journaling and reading. Although sitting along the Seine River also sounds like a great place to get me time. 

Of course, like any college student, I can't ignore the late nights, and to be honest, they've been tons of fun. My favorite one is when I got the chance to take a friend's camera with me. It was the perfect way to be involved. It was also the perfect conversation starter with various locals...as long as you actually took solid photos with it.

Overall, London was a blast, and while there's so much I can't fit in, I hope this was enough to keep you up to date with what I'm doing!