When I look back on my time in London last month,
the single thing that made the biggest impression on
me was NOT this iconic red phone booth.
While the cupcake at Peggy Porschen Cakes
was the best I have ever eaten,
and the store was deliciously PINK and beautiful,
it was NOT what I liked the best.
The London Eye was pretty cool.
It gave us beautiful views of London.
We liked it a lot.
Still, something else was more remarkable.
Harry Potter tour was a day we will never forget. Learning how
scenes were filmed, seeing original sets and props, and being filmed flying
on a broomstick over London and Hogwarts was a big WOW!
It is right up there as one of our best days.
Our apartment was a nice place to crash at the end
of a long day of walking. Nice, but not a top memory.
Harrods was an expensive, impressive department store,
but too pricey for me.
Londoner street signs were unique, and the Underground
was clean and easy to use. It was easy to get around the city.
Memorable for its practicality, but not my favorite thing.
One day, we tracked down the house
whose exterior was used in the filming
of The Parent Trap movie.
Though it was fun for a few pictures.,
it was not on top of my list.
This cat was one of the best things in Notting Hill,
but not the most notable memory.
We happened upon this special exhibit in Kensington Palace -
"Diana - Her Fashion Story ".
It was all about Princess Diana and how her sense of fashion evolved.
There were many dresses that I remember seeing her wear,
along with photos of the occasions when she wore them.
I found this extremely interesting, and it opened up discussion with
Annie, who to my surprise didn't even know Diana was William
and Harry's mother! We enjoyed the exhibit a lot!
The Princess Diana Memorial Garden at Kensington Palace is
a garden designed to be appreciated from the walkway around
the perimeter - creating a simple, reflective place.
Too structured for my taste, but beautiful nonetheless.
It's the fairy-tale food that almost got Goldilocks killed.
Porridge with honey and bananas was on almost every
breakfast menu. For some reason, it tasted better than
oatmeal, even though it was oatmeal.
Tasty, but too filling to eat an entire bowl.
Biking anytime is fun, but when it saves your
feet from walking more miles than necessary,
it's even better! It brought big smiles to our faces.
Again, it did NOT take the #1 spot.
Again, it did NOT take the #1 spot.
Seeing this musical was Annie's favorite thing of the entire trip!
I loved it too! It was a perfect way to end our trip after just
getting back from Paris!
My favorite thing was not a place.
It was not a tourist sight.
I couldn't take a photo of it.
Yet, I remember it fondly, more than anything else.
What impressed me very deeply,
was the nature of the British people.
When I visit a foreign country and interact with the people
in many situations over the course of my stay,
I form a general impression of the
people based on my experiences.
I found the Brits to be
calm,
friendly,
polite,
helpful,
warm,
courteous,
and
compassionate.
Although the British accents make anything sound nicer,
the words they choose and the tone they use made me
put me at ease and made me feel like I was talking to a friend.
For instance, when I went to the snack bar at the theater to
purchase some ice cream, the older gentleman greeted me,
smiling, like this: "Hello there, Love! What can I get for you?"
He made my day a little brighter.
Add to their warmth
their strong sense of orderliness and decorum
and you have won me over completely.
Everything made sense.
The Underground signs were clear and we had no
doubt whether or not we were on the right train.
When you crossed the street, it was written in
large letters on the road in front of you which direction
you should look to check for oncoming cars.
Feet were painted on escalator steps to demonstrate
that you are supposed to stand on the right to let
people pass on the left.
In parks, you didn't hear parents yelling at their children.
No cars were blaring their horns in traffic.
Even dogs, who were let off-leash in the Royal Parks
seemed to know their manners and how to act.
So while I enjoyed the places we went and the things we saw,
my experiences were made even better by the people.
So THAT was my favorite thing about London!
It was not a tourist sight.
I couldn't take a photo of it.
Yet, I remember it fondly, more than anything else.
What impressed me very deeply,
was the nature of the British people.
When I visit a foreign country and interact with the people
in many situations over the course of my stay,
I form a general impression of the
people based on my experiences.
I found the Brits to be
calm,
friendly,
polite,
helpful,
warm,
courteous,
and
compassionate.
Although the British accents make anything sound nicer,
the words they choose and the tone they use made me
put me at ease and made me feel like I was talking to a friend.
For instance, when I went to the snack bar at the theater to
purchase some ice cream, the older gentleman greeted me,
smiling, like this: "Hello there, Love! What can I get for you?"
He made my day a little brighter.
Add to their warmth
their strong sense of orderliness and decorum
and you have won me over completely.
Everything made sense.
The Underground signs were clear and we had no
doubt whether or not we were on the right train.
When you crossed the street, it was written in
large letters on the road in front of you which direction
you should look to check for oncoming cars.
Feet were painted on escalator steps to demonstrate
that you are supposed to stand on the right to let
people pass on the left.
In parks, you didn't hear parents yelling at their children.
No cars were blaring their horns in traffic.
Even dogs, who were let off-leash in the Royal Parks
seemed to know their manners and how to act.
So while I enjoyed the places we went and the things we saw,
my experiences were made even better by the people.
So THAT was my favorite thing about London!
