One Month Countdown: My Top Five Moments in the UK

Now that I'm one month from the end of my semester in London, I wanted to look back on some of my favorite moments here in the UK. They range from sightseeing adventures to plain old fun moments. Mind you, these are the events I'm willing to share with the general public. Enjoy! Oh, and I want to wish everyone in the States a very happy Thanksgiving holiday!

5. Bowling in Northeast London (mid-Sept). (May or not be the actual bowling alley. I got this pic off the interwebs). When in London, do as Londoners do. My roommates and close friends took this to heart when we got bored in wealthy South Kensington and decided to rough it...in a dark shady part of the city. The moment was marked when we got searched by security at the front door of the bowling alley. No problems happened but we almost were stranded afterwards when we realized the Tube was closing. A good adventure all around.

4. Manchester United get heckled (Sept. 21)
(Chelsea fans head towards the riot). Two of the UK's greatest football teams, Chelsea and Manchester United, met in late September for a friendly in the former's hometown in central London. British football fans are notorious for their hometown pride which is why Manchester players ran into trouble when the police stopped their bus right in front of the stadium. Fan frenzy soon turned to hometown pride when drinks and foodstuffs were projected at the team bus. Luckily they had the windows closed.

3. Driving to Wales (Oct. 19)

My fall break visit to Shropshire in West England led to this fun excursion. My friend Bryan was kind enough to take me on a tour of Clun Castle but the highlight came when we crossed into Wales. Where do you go when you have 30 minutes in Wales? You go to a pub of course. Needless to say, the drive back was fun.

2. Greenwich Mean Time (Oct. 10)
What began as a cheap boat tour along the Thames River resulted in a memorable day trip to the town of Greenwich. A must-see for tourists and Londoners alike, this cheerful neighborhood features fun outdoor markets, great restaurants...and the Prime Meridian line. Yes, the line dividing the eastern and western hemispheres can be found at the Greenwich Observatory. I'm on the eastern hemisphere, I'm on the western hemisphere! Of course, the trip was made more fun when tequila shots were added.

1. Auld Reekie (Oct. 22-24)
No trip to the UK is complete without an excursion into the land of haggis, kilts and Mel Gibson... uhh I mean William Wallace. My short visit to Edinburgh (previously nicknamed Auld Reekie for its smell) at the tail end of my fall break was worth a lifetime of memories and photos. Going at it alone allowed for contemplation as I took in the history and culture of this rich city. Edinburgh is excellent for tourists in boasting top of the line hostels and hotels, a variety of food options and best of all, free and inexpensive tours and attractions. Go if you have the chance.