Its been about two weeks since I last blogged. Ive read how you should at least blog 2-3 times a week to keep the flow going, and id agree, but there are times where so much is happening and I’m on too short of time to make decisions that I put this on the backburner.

Things are certainly going interesting. Pretty sure ive decided I don’t like London as much as I would have thought, but I will layout the pros/cons of what Ive come across.

Pros:

- the women are extremely hot. London I believe took over the top spot for being #1 in the world for fashion, and it shows. Thing is though from my experience a lot of these girls are not from around here and likely to be visiting.

- lots of diversity. Kinda goes in hand with people not being from around here.

- lots of things to do/see. Ive held off on certain tourist traps for when my friend comes next week to travel with me, but ive been to many strips of bars/clubs and the like. Personally I’m not a big clubber and like to get to know people, so I think its sad bars pubs close early. I was told it has to do with their license, but I don’t understand why clubs are allowed to be open later.

Cons:

- the weather. Florida has spoiled me rotten. I used to tell myself I could live in an area where its always cloudy, but now I’m not so sure (Scotland has made me teeter totter on my decision though). The days when the sun does come out have almost felt like a miracle answered Lol.

- the cost. I’m extremely lucky to be staying at a friends house in London or otherwise the trip probably would have ended here. Basically everything is twice as much than the US. It may look like he same number, but I have to remind myself that in reality that item is $2 more on average. On top of this I will include food portions are slightly smaller than what we get, which ive been poked fun at numerous times about.

- toilets and dumpsters. This will tie in with the cost, but ive had to pay to go to the bathroom on a few occasions now. This is primarily at train stations and other metro areas with a lot of flow-through traffic. On top of this most restaurants require you to buy something to use the toilet. I was told Mcdonalds use to allow free use, but recently changed that rule and is now for paying customers. So basically I have to plan my trips around discovered a bathroom that is actually free or trying to time it with when I plan on buying something somewhere. Along with toilets, dumpsters are few and far between. This is because of recent bombings thrown into garbage bins. So like how everyone suffers in plane security nowadays, same scenario with trash.

Overall I think ive realized London isn’t a place id want to live forever. I could certainly see doing it a year though. Personally the deciding factor is the weather. Pretty glad I got to visit before just willing to try and move out here with any job.

Currently in Scotland right now which ill write about later, likely when I head back to London for another week in which I’m seeing my friend Juli.

Finally I’ve arrived in London for the first time! The flight surprisingly went very well, primarily because they provided us with a blanket, which allowed me to get somewhat of a decent sleep.

When I had landed the security check didn’t go over so smoothly. I had read a blog prior about how this backpacker got detained, which later he discovered because he didn’t have affirmative gameplan on where/when he would be going elsewhere, so I was to be sure I let it be known. Come time to speak with customs I had realized I didn’t know my friends address, his phone number, or how to properly spell his last name off the top of my head… Oh, that and I didn’t have tangible proof that I was leaving the country and informed the man that I recently quit my job. Needless to say I was digging myself a grave… I believe the reason he let me go–although remaining cautiously suspicious–was due to my detailed description of where I would be going and the fact that he saw I had a Japan visa in the past.

Once I got past there I had to take a train in order to meet up with my friend. This is when I first began to notice the differences. First and foremost I was dying to take a piss; for some reason on the flight I felt no need to go at all through 2 meals drinks along with my sleep. But to no avail was I able to find a bathroom in the airport. After the 30min train ride I managed to find one, which makes you pay to piss!!! I began to try and contemplate financially for the trip as my bladder could become a monetary issue. I decided to go anyway to experience if the experience would be any different in the bathroom as well, which it didn’t turn out to be. I guess young children get in for free though, as a woman was frantic to have her daughter use the restroom, but she didn’t have the change on her to allow herself in to aid the child, which is a great example why I was baffled by all this! I’m not sure what happened after as they had stepped away soon after. I also realized I don’t understand the currency titles, as I told my friend Seb I had to piss for 30 pounds and he was asking if they were gold crescent urinals that had my name on them (sarcasm obviously). I guess pounds are in coin form for 1 and 2 pounds, but any other number–in my case 20 10 were pents. Still not sure if that’s right but I figure ill learn as I go.

Soon after we had gone back to his place, which is certainly a college-style setup to say the least. It’s not much different than an American pad, aside from there being a switch above the bathroom doors to active the heat for the showers. Nati being a short in stature told me she uses anything in her grasp to knock the switch to on. Seb had assured me though that this was out of the ordinary even for them. I guess it’s an older style house?

I had a great time going out to a local pub with Seb and Nati. The difference in setup was the first thing I had noticed. The seating areas are more closed off with crevices for personal sitting/drinking, while also having a main open area, but a bit smaller in size. There was also an upstairs area that was a little more lively as a large group with a TV in the background playing the Kardashians… Along with the layout the pub has an old fashioned, yet classy look. And the toned down lighting is what I generally crave for when looking for a bar. On top of all this it was a great setting to catch up with old friends. I wish we had stayed longer, but I’ll be sure to go back a few more times in the following weeks.

A couple nights back I had a friend ask me, “what are you most excited about for this trip?” Surprisingly I didn’t know the answer right away. Looking back the answer might have been easy, but I had so many answers/options in my head I didn’t know which to pick. Thinking about it more though I guess I’d say because everything is new and different…

I’ve thought at times that my life would be diverse throughout the different stages I go through whether that was simply getting older or abstract goals I may have. For example, Ive worked the cubicle/desk job. Now what if I was to say.. be a firefighter? Probably won’t happen as I’m aiming for work that involves me being independent, but either attempting to be a musician, app developer, website starter, or full time investor seems highly plausible for my means. That should say something about me, but yea, I like life to have change–even if drastic–and I feel mine has been stagnant for far too long.