Olivia's London Bucket List

Let’s talk about goals today. You know that feeling of accomplishment you get after you’ve finally done something you’ve wanted to do for a long time? That feeling of some looming stress over you lifting or the “That’s right, I just did that!” feeling? That is where I am at this week. Before my trip started, I made a list of things I wanted to do/see while in every city. With only one week left in London, I am able to cross three more things off my “London Bucket List”...

- Go to the Theatre

- Travel outside of London

- Attend a Symphony Orchestra Concert

I really did have a great time this week. On Tuesday, a group of us went to see Wicked at the Apollo Victoria Theatre. The show was absolutely amazing (as always) and being a lover of the theatre, it was very exciting to get to attend a production in London. I even did some prep work before Tuesday by listening to the soundtrack nonstop… and let me tell ya... it was #worthit.

I have not done too much traveling on the weekends so far, partly because I wanted to see as much of London as possible. However, I finally got out of the city on Saturday and visited Brighton, England (a coastal town directly south of London on the English Channel). We started off our day with an 8am train/bus ride and arrived to the busy streets of Brighton at 10am. We got to see the town, eat fish and chips on the famous Brighton Palace Pier, walked on the cold beach, strolled through “The Lanes” (a puzzle of small streets and local shops), and took in a rugby match at a local pub.

And today, I attended the London Symphony Orchestra concert at Barbican Hall. It was kind of a last minute decision, but definitely a good one. I even braved the tube Hans style...solo! The performance itself was amazing… as I’m told all LSO concerts are. They performed Schumann’s Overture: Manfred and Symphony No. 1, ‘Spring’ and Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 1. It really turned out to be a nice night. And bonus: I feel super confident in using public transit… that was one of my big worries before leaving and look at me now!

Speaking of orchestras, the Gustavus Symphony Orchestra just finished touring around Colorado for our national tour this year. Going into this trip, I did not think I would miss playing my violin and with the orchestra very much… I thought it would be a “nice break” from playing. Tonight has shown my that I have been sadly mistaken. As it goes with most cliches, you don’t realize what you have until it’s gone. It sounds kinda silly, but I did not realize how much music, and the ability to play music, affects my life. It has only been two months since I played last, but I do miss it. I miss seeing and playing with my friends. I miss being apart of something bigger than myself. I guess what I want to say is that I am super proud of my orchestra and cannot wait to play with them again in the fall.

Well, with only seven days left in London, I will be wrapping up my classes, seeing the last bits of this incredible city, and saying (a hopefully temporary) goodbye to some pretty amazing people I’ve met along the way.

So currently where we stand, my London Bucket List has three items left.

1. Visit Buckingham Palace

2. Pose for a tourist-y picture with a phone booth

3. Take the London Eye for a spin

Talk to you next week before I leave for Denmark!

Olivia

Pictures: a Wicked good time, our day in Brighton, and the London Symphony Orchestra.