London: A SoulCycle Interlude

I know this probably sounds crazy, but SoulCycle is a huge part of my social, emotional, and physical health in the US. And, although I briefly flirted riding at Amsterdam’s knock-off, RoCycle, I really didn’t enjoy it.

 SoulCycle has been the one important piece of my US routine that I haven’t been able to cultivate or create in Amsterdam. So…to ride (even just once) in a real class next to one of my most favorite partners-in-crime was a real treat.

Samantha was a spin-class friend who gradually became a real-life friend. So, when she accepted my open invitation to visit Amsterdam, I was thrilled – and when she doubled down by making a stopover in London on her way, I jumped on that bandwagon to meet her.

In one afternoon, we logged nearly 30,000 steps walking through Hyde Park, past Buckingham Palace, to Westminster, along the river, and through Trafalgar Square. She found a delicious Indian restaurant in Soho where I had a vegetable biryani that was wrapped in puff pastry (and delicious).

The next morning, we headed to SoulCycle (which kicked my butt and simultaneously reminded me to be grateful for life) and hopped a plane back to Amsterdam. Short but so, so sweet.

Sweaty selfies = Best selifes