title: Python 3.6 - Can't convert Unicode in a string
body: <p>I am doing some scraping work with Python 3.6 and retrieved some URLs in strings following this format:</p>
  
  <pre><code>someURL = 'http:\u002F\u002Fsomewebsite.com\u002Fsomefile.jpg'
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>I have been trying to convert the Unicode backslash (\u002F) in those strings in order to use the URLs (using regex methods, encode() on the strings, etc.), to no avail. The string still keeps the Unicode backslash and, if I pass it on to Requests' get(), for example, I am greeted by the following error message:</p>
  
  <pre><code>InvalidURL: Failed to parse: http:\u002F\u002Fsomewebsite.com\u002Fsomefile.jpg"
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>I searched for solutions in this forum and and others, but can't seem to put the finger on it. I am sure it is simple...</p>