London and Paris- May 2000

The first time I traveled across the Atlantic, I was six years old. My father, then the Vice President of Marketing at Prentice Hall, had two all-expenses-paid business trips to the capital of the UK for both him and my mother. They decided to bring me along, and in May of my kindergarten year, I boarded a Delta Airlines jet for Heathrow.
I remember being fascinated by the television screens on the back of each plane seat. I didn't even watch T.V.; I was more interested in watching our progress as we crossed the ocean. Somewhere over Greenland I drifted off to sleep, and the next thing I knew, I was in England.
We got off of the plane right on the runway. Despite the chilly London morning, I was giddy with excitement over walking down a staircase right next to the huge jet.
My first experience with customs was not as pleasant. The lines were long, but luckily inside. I took turns sitting on my parents feet and petting the dog next to me as we waited for permission to enter the UK. I surveyed the crowd around me and kept a tally in my mind of how many nations were represented by passports. Ten years later, I don't recall the exact numbers, but I do remember that the US, Canada, and UK had the most travelers in line with me.
Finally we passed through customs with no trouble. After picking up our luggage, we rode in a cab to our hotel in Piccadilly circus. I felt the five hour time difference weighing down my eyelids. We waited with the rest of my dad's coworkers in the hotel lounge until we could check in. Once we were allowed into our room, my whole family went right to sleep. It took three hours of a deep sleep for the jet lag to wear off. I was the first to wake up; I then proceeded to create a fort behind the armchairs with the toys I had brought with me. It still had not hit me that I was in a foreign country enriched with historical facts that would boggle my mind.
That night we went to dinner at the Rainforest Cafe. Our table had to be moved twice because I was frightened by the sights and sounds of the artificial jungle.

Over the years, I have forgotten how I spent each and every moment in London. The rest of my recap will be a culmination of different details I remember from each site or landmark.
Trafalgar Square was an interesting site. The beauty of the statues and fountains almost makes up for the seemingly endless swarms of pigeons. I remember seeing a woman standing still with her arms out, pigeons perched on her body. Despite their annoyance, the pigeons of Trafalgar Square are certainly one of the many trademark features of London.
Observing the Changing of the Guards ceremony at Buckhingam Palace was an experience I will never forget. The well-known fact that the guards do not laugh takes on a whole new meaning when they are standing in front of you. I did not see a single person approach them and try to provoke a chuckle. The crowd unanimously understood the importance of the guards and how honorable their duties were. Before the ceremony, the royal gates in front me opened and a garbage truck pulled out of the palace grounds. Everyone immediately pulled out their cameras to take a snapshot of the "royal garbage." All I remember of the actual ceremony is a large amount of guards walking in a strict, orderly fashion. At the time, I was a bit preoccupied playing with a girl I had met there, Lauren.
Touring Windsor Castle was another highlight of my trip. We arrived eight years after the 1992 fire, so renovations and repairs were fairly recent. To our excitement, the flag signaling that the Queen was present was flying high in the air. It was an amazing feeling- being in the same castle as a famous monarch. Windsor was quaint and beautiful. Within the castle gardens lies the old moat, however it is now kept dry. My favorite part was seeing Queen Elizabeth II's old dollhouses. We were unable to tour the Queen's apartments, but nevertheless the trip to Winsdor was extremely worth it.
One day we visited the Tower of London. Beef Eaters still wear their traditional clothing while guarding the Crown Jewels. Seeing the riches of the English Monarchs blew my mind. The size and extravagance was so mind boggling. Big Ben was among other fun stops; as a six year old I was displeased to learn that London Bridge was not falling down.
Westminster Abbey is one of the most beautiful sanctuaries I have ever seen. The intricate architecure of the exterior is surrounded by a carpet of shining greenery. The interior is far from sunny and delightful. The lights are dim, but in a way that makes those walking through the corridors understand the significance of those buried there. Most graves are in the ground; visitors walk directly on them. The more important clients lie in roped off chambers. I remember walking by an old queen's tomb. There was a bedroom carved out of stone, and a woman carved onto the bed.
As for the cultural aspect of London, I was fascinated by the differences between American English and the English spoken in the UK. Reading through a picture book titled "I don't want to go to hospital," I discovered that sometimes the word 'the' was omitted in England.
Among other things, I found the food to be slightly different. Almost everything was to my liking, except for the milk. To me, the milk tasted sugary. Ever since, I cannot drink milk, even here in the US.
The children's shows on the BBC were very entertaining. I would lie in the king-sized bed and watch cartoons that I thought had more depth to them than American cartoons. Some shows even had adults with puppets that I found to be extremely interesting.
Somewhere in the week we were there, my family and I took a day trip to Paris. We rode the luxurious chunnel train underneath the English Channel before arriving in Calais, France. The first sight we visited was the famous Eiffel Tower. It had a light display of 2000, in honor of the millenium. Underneath the tower was a mini carousel, in addition to dainty cafes. My parents bought a piece of artwork, and then we went on a boat tour of the Seine. On the tour we passed famous bridges and buildings, including Notre Dame. Wrapping up our day in Paris, we went to the Louvre museum.
Travelling abroad as a six year old was an experience I am so glad I had. It opened my eyes to the world and left me wanting more. One thing I vow to do the next time I go back to London- eat fish and chips!