Fish & Chips in a London Pub

On what began to feel like a tour of British stereotypes, our visit to London, England wouldn't have been complete without all of the pub visits, all of the beer, and all of the variations on fish & chips we enjoyed around the city. What more do you really need?

 

Heathrow Airport in London, United Kingdom

A few visuals from London Heathrow, the UK's busiest airport. 

Paris to London Train: Riding the Eurostar

The Eurostar is an exclusive high-speed train linking Paris and London (among other cities) and is widely known for its route that takes passengers under the English Channel. 

Leaving from Gare du Nord in Paris, you will go through customs in the train station, and a short two and half hours later you will arrive at St. Pancras International in London. This highly efficient route is comfortable, fast, and will leave you just steps from King's Cross, the iconic Platform 9 3/4 from Harry Potter, and with numerous options to head out and explore London. 

Here are my 4 main takeaways from riding the Eurostar from Paris to London:

1. Navigating train stations with a brand new suitcase in which two wheels have recently disintegrated is irritating for everyone in your vacinity - particularly in queues. I blame the cobbles. Given the frequency at which I'm documenting / taking pictures the type of irritation was different, but I imagine the general levels were unchanged. But did you see this train station? Lol.

2. Going underneath the English Channel is cool, and no question, the tunnel is an engineering marvel, but even if you capture the moment you go under there's still not much of a view. 

3. Arriving at St. Pancras International you'll find yourself just steps from King's Cross and Platform 9 3/4 ... however, even if you've edited hilarious Harry Potter outtake shots of your friends at the photo-op, it will be followed with "no one can ever see these". 

4. I really do like fast trains.

 

Bloemenmarkt Floating Flower Market in Amsterdam

Located along the Singel canal in Amsterdam, the floating flower market (known locally as the Bloemenmarkt) is a popular spot to purchase seeds, bulbs, and numerous other varieties of flowers. Holland is known for tulips, and you'll find plenty of real and fake varieties available for sale here along with countless, iconically Dutch souvenirs. 

 

Beligan Beer, Belgian Chocolate, and Belgian Waffles

If there's any reason to love Belgium, and as it turns out there are many, around each corner you'll find another excuse to sample new Belgian beers, Belgian chocolates, and Belgian waffles.

Stranger Things Pop-Up Shop in Paris, France

You don't necessarily expect to find an 80s inspired American shopping mall along the Champs-Élysées, but that's essentially what happened when we stumbled upon the Stranger Things pop-up shop in Paris, France. Complete with familiar set pieces, retro infused displays, and plenty of overpriced merch, this shop was everything any Stranger Things fan could possibly ask for.