London

We spent three days in London on our way from Portugal to Montenegro.

When booking a flight from Lisbon to Montenegro, the options were not that great. Some of the cheapest options routed through London (via EasyJet), and since I had never been to London, I proposed that we make it a long layover, spending a few days in the city before flying to Montenegro.

We were unlucky with weather; London was 60s and sunny before and after our three-day visit, but we were stuck with 40s and rain. I guess there was no avoiding “classic” London weather for my first visit!

We ate our way through the city, binging on great food and cravings we couldn’t satisfy in Japan or Portugal (and would be unlikely to find in Montenegro) like Indian and Italian. Our indulgence also included cocktails; good ones are hard to find!

On the one day which was less rainy (though still cold), Jeff took us sightseeing at Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, and more. Unfortunately, we discovered that Big Ben was buried under scaffolding! We rode the tube, walked across the Tower Bridge, and enjoyed a pint in cozy pubs.

Big Ben, hidden under scaffolding

We also had the opportunity to meet another one of Jeff’s “long lost cousins” from Sicily who lives in London. Alice Castellana and her fiancé, Aldo, live in central London, and they generously took us to dinner along the river on our last night in town, which was such a special experience!

London felt a lot like New York. I loved the balance and juxtaposition of old vs new that it offered.