Saturday, June 7- Tower of London and More!

Today started off very slow. Like “do I really have to get out of the bed?” kind of slow. We didn't meet as a group until 11:45am, which honestly felt like a small blessing because we could sleep in. But the real adventure began when a few people didn’t make the train and had to figure out their own way to the Tower of London. 

Once we all eventually made it, the Tower of London did not disappoint. The place looks like it came straight out of a movie with massive stone walls, old towers, and tiny doors that make you wonder how short people were back then. We walked through courtyards, climbed stone stairs, and imagined what it must’ve felt like to be locked up in one of those ancient cells. Kinda cool, kinda spooky.

The highlight? The Crown Jewels. Yes the actual crowns, scepters, and other shiny things the royal family uses for big ceremonies. We weren’t allowed to take photos (security was tight), but trust me, those jewels sparkled like they were trying to blind us on purpose. Oh, and we saw the famous ravens! They’re huge, kind of intimidating, and apparently if they ever leave the Tower, the whole kingdom will fall or something , no pressure, birds.

After that, we made our way to Borough Market (food heaven). Some of us hit up a steakhouse, but me and my friends made the best decision of the day. We got famous fried chicken with fries and macaroni and cheese, and yes of course, strawberries dipped in chocolate. Zero regrets. 10/10 would eat again.

Next up: a mini cruise on the River Thames. The views were unreal- everything from beautiful historic buildings like the Tower Bridge and St. Paul’s Cathedral, to what our guide kindly referred to as “some of London’s less attractive architecture.” (We all know exactly which ones he meant.) The jokes were flowing, the breeze was perfect, and the group energy was high.

And to finish the day at the South Part of London? The London Eye. Some of us were living our best life at 443 feet in the air, while others were… let’s just say gripping the rail a little tighter. Either way, the views were stunning, the laughs were constant, and even though we tried for the perfect photo, we ended up with mostly silly ones. Honestly, those are probably the best kind.

After we got back from our beautiful and fun day exploring the South Bank of London, the group split up for the evening. Some of us grabbed a late dinner, others power-napped (yes, at 9 p.m., don’t judge), and a few of us rallied for one last night out. We hit up a local club and danced like there was no tomorrow, soaking up every bit of joy and energy from one of our final nights not just in London, but in Europe.

Looking back, it’s wild how fast time flew. We’re already feeling a little sentimental knowing this adventure is almost over. Europe, you’ve been amazing. And none of it would’ve been the same without Dr. Kropp and Dr. Veraldo. They’ve put in so much behind-the-scenes work to make this trip unforgettable, making sure we were always safe, learning, and having fun.

We’re definitely going to miss it here so, so much. But we’re leaving with full hearts, great memories, and maybe a few silly pictures we’ll laugh at forever.

Emilia Luce