Our final full day on this amazing trip started with delicious breakfast at the Inhabit Queens Garden Hotel. I ordered hot British tea with scrambled eggs, sourdough toast, spinach, and overnight oats. The presentation as well as the taste was lovely. It was the perfect start to our last day together sitting around sipping on our tea and munching on our yummy breakfast while reminiscing about all of the memories we have made together.

After our breakfast, we left to go to Paddington Station where we would take the their subway-like trains, called tubes, to see Big Ben and the Florence Nightingale Museum. We walked the picturesque streets of London and then landed in Paddington Station where we would catch our tube. The inside of the station was clean and tidy for the most part to my surprise. Inside the tubes were also clean and comfortable. Citizens of the UK fully utilize and take advantage of the affordable, safe, efficient, and comfortable public transportation located almost everywhere. Once we left the tube station, we came face to face with Big Ben, himself. It was absolutely remarkable. I could not stop taking pictures. The architecture and skilled work that went into building one of the most sought out after buildings is indescribable. I will never forget this special moment.

We then walked to the Florence Nightingale Museum that was not too far from Big Ben. Walking through and reading the impacts the mother of nursing has had on medicine and my future career was fascinating. I was sending pictures and readings to both my sister and grandma who also share the passion of nursing with me. I thoroughly enjoyed reading how she started evidence-based practice and anti-septic technic to prevent infections. She also turned down marriage to dedicate her life to nursing and went into the career when it had the most stigma surrounding it. She was perseverant and independent. I look up to all the qualities she displays and hope to have a fraction of the impact she had on nursing and helping people. Reading her quotes and seeing her work throughout the museum reminded me why I chose the profession I did.

Once all the nursing students posed with Florence’s memorial for the Pitt Nursing Dean, we left to explore London for the day. We all navigated the large city by effective teamwork. We headed back on the tube to go shopping in Soho. Soho was marvelous. The smells of fresh food, sidewalks bustling with people walking to work and massive stores, and taking in the wondrous streets of London filled all my senses. As we walked we felt rain drops, but the sites, smells, and people living and visiting a world renowned city were too grand to even be bothered by the rain. We shopped at Zara and then got coffee and famous chocolate-covered strawberries from local shop where we all sat down and took more pictures together while planning out the rest of our day. The strawberries were so fresh and tasted so good with dark chocolate drizzle. After we left the shop we went and explored London Bridge. The view of the city was outstanding,

All of a sudden it was time for our dinner reservation at a pizza place right across from the Novella theater where we saw Mamma Mia. The pizza was delicious with soft flat bread and the show afterwards was incredible. All of the singers and dancers were so talented. I enjoyed watching every minute of it and I’m glad I decided to watch the movie on my way here, so I knew the story. When it was the finale, the whole audience got up and sang along.

I cannot believe how fast this trip has gone, but I am so grateful to have gotten this once-in-a-lifetime experience. I learned so much from our visits and professional expert lectures. I also got to meet new nursing and education friends that I will now have a connection with forever. We all bonded from this experience and we are sad to leave each other so soon. I’m so grateful to everyone that contributed to this incredible trip. 😊

I’ll see the changing of the guards at Buckingham Palace tomorrow before I take the flight back home to Pittsburgh. I can’t wait!

Peace out Plus3!!