Hey, dear readers! How are you? If you regularly visit my website, you will know I have lived in London for the past few years. Having said that, I must accept that I have never gone to see the attractions here before sunrise, though I have done it in other cities and countries. In India, we use a proverb for such scenarios: ” The homemade chicken is equivalent to lentil soup.” I hope I am translating it correctly. Please feel free to correct me.

Moving forward in my story, a few weeks before, I came in contact with another travel blogger through one of her viral videos, which she shot in Westminster early in the morning. Since she also lives in London, we chatted and decided to meet on Sunday before sunrise over coffee to discuss our shared passions for travelling and creating content.

This was a significant moment for me, the first Sunday in my life when I woke up at 4:00 a.m. to catch a train at 5:30 a.m. so that I could reach the Westminster station before sunrise. It was a personal triumph, and I’m proud to say that I made it possible.

As soon as I left Westminster station and began moving towards the bridge, I saw a gorgeous sunrise at the London Eye and had tears in my eyes. The beauty of this view was overwhelming.

Within ten minutes, Cristine also reached there, and we began strolling on the bridge. When we reached the end, near the stairs, Christine suggested I have a look at Big Ben. Big Ben was covered in golden sunshine, and I felt like I was looking at a postcard picture. I was elated that I made this effort.

Further, we went downstairs and used the subway to reach the Westminster Arch, one of the most Instagrammable photo spots in Central London.

Then I noticed the wall hand-painted with many red hearts and read the plaque in curiosity, thinking that it was dedicated to Valentine’s Day. To my surprise, I found that it was the National COVID Memorial Wall.

It doesn’t matter if you have lived in a city for many years because there will still be many things to astonish you.

As we began moving towards the Lambeth Bridge, Cristine told me about a cafe with open seating and Big Ben in the background. I had a Beetroot Latte there, and she ordered a Cappuccino. We both chatted about our interests while enjoying our surroundings.

After finishing our coffees and photoshoots, we walked over Lambeth Bridge.

Then, we planned to go back to Westminster Station, passing a lovely garden, Victoria Tower Garden, nestled between the Thames and the Houses of Parliament. It is a hidden gem and the best place to be during autumn.

Before entering the station, we came across the popular red telephone booths, which had a long queue for photoshoots. Then we noticed that it was 9 a.m., and the area was already thronged with crowds.

I had a lovely time with Cristine. I realised that a new friendship is always possible if you have a passion for sharing and an empathetic heart for supporting each other, even if you are from different countries.
I am already looking forward to meeting her again.