exploring london

July 1, 2016 | Travel

Our first stop on our European vacation was London! From Big Ben to Harrods, I was excited to embrace the English lifestyle. Much to my surprise, it was pretty different from the states. Obviously the most apparent thing is getting used to walking and driving on the opposite side of the road, but everything from the lemonade to the power outlets were a little odd.

Cars, cars, cars! The amount of luxury cars in London was outrageous. I am no stranger to luxury cars as I see them driving down the street everyday but the concentration of exotic vehicles was mind blowing. You couldn't walk five feet without running into a Bentley, Rolls Royce, Jaguar, Maserati, you name it, it was there.

One thing I loved about London was the quaint streets and all the town homes. Everyone has perfectly manicured bushes and topiaries with beautiful heathy flowers. Its so interesting in such a big (dirty) city, how serene and lush the city is. (Pro Tip) Visit the homes near Hyde Park for the best pictures and most beautiful homes.

Harrods, was, well to say the least.... a let down. I mean if your not around brands like that on a day to day it would be cool, but being that I have some of the best shopping at Scottsdale Fashion Square down the street, it wasn't as cool for me. If you don't know Harrods is like Neiman's or Nordstrom's x 10000. It's as large as an Ikea store, filled with anything you can imagine. It's insanely crowded and you could truly spend days inside, but it's totally worth the experience!

Big Ben, has been on my bucket list since I can remember. Some of my favorite movies include Peter Pan and Marry Poppins that both feature the iconic clock tower. I got my first view of the landmark from the Thames on a river cruise, and then we got out and saw it up close. It's so London and an absolute must if you are visiting our friends across the pond.