It’s been a lovely week in England. We finished up our road trip in the south and returned to London for a few days to rest and regroup.
We had so much fun staying on the coast, first in Hastings and then in Walmer. We loved the temperate weather and having a seagull alarm clock. The famous chalk cliffs are shrinking and the pebbled beaches are nice. We really liked hiking around the cliff tops.
I got to travel to this part of the country more than two decades ago with my sister. It was one of my first big overseas adventures and it was so memorable. It was fun to share some of the places that Jana and I visited with Nathan this week. We spent a day at Dover Castle, which is a 900-year old castle built atop the cliffs that has lasted through many dramatic events in history. The castle is cool, but one of the most interesting parts of the site is the tunnels that were originally cut into the cliffs during the Napoleonic wars, then used in WWII as a hospital and logistical center, then well into the Cold War as well.
We also got to spend a day in Canterbury. We took a punting tour on the River Stour, traveling under the very low bridges and beneath the historic buildings. We went to Canterbury Cathedral, seat of the Archbishop of Canterbury and martyrdom site of Thomas Beckett. We took an amazing tour there and learned so much about the stained glass. We then spent a couple more hours strolling around the church and the town.
Now we are in a seventh-floor apartment to the north of London. It feels crazy that this has become our “home base” this summer. We return here to do a bit of “normal”: laundry, shopping, church, piano. It gives us a moment to rest and recuperate, but also a chance to enjoy our favorite big city. I was excited to take Nathan to see Hadestown, which I got to see with Alex and Hanna a few years ago. We saw this crazy one-woman retelling of Shakespeare’s The Tempest, which was surprisingly good and a lot of fun. Then we got to see Sean Hayes’ amazing performance as Oscar Levant in Good Night, Oscar.
It is truly wild that this is our third summer of traveling. If you have been here for all of it, thanks for coming along for the ride. I write the blog to have a journal of this strange phase of life, but having people reading it keeps me from quitting, so thank you! We are gearing up for our last two weeks of being abroad. Enjoy your week!
Paradise
Happy October! We hope you are enjoying this beautiful time of year! Some people dream of paradise on a quiet tropical beach, listening to the surf with a drink in hand. Not this girl! Give me mountains, especially drenched in autumn color, bursting with new spring leaves, or covered in snow. We are spending October in one of our favorite places–Big Cottonwood Canyon just east of the Salt Lake Valley. We are loving the gorgeous golden aspen with the deep pine greens. Hiking is great and so is the smell of fresh forest! Nathan’s sister, Liz, and her husband, Christian, joined us one morning for a lovely hike through the woods. We got to experience a powerful thunderstorm and then a full day of snowfall. Our condo for the month is just right for us and we love having access to a pool, hot tubs, sauna, and workout facilities. We especially like that we can pop back to the valley to do some shopping or see family and friends. So far, so good!
Fun Family Time
We have had a lovely couple of weeks in Utah. We’ve been able to rest and recover from five months of travel, help Nathan’s mom at her house, and spend time with family.
Full Circle
Five months ago we flew to Rome from Utah. We had a summer of trying new places and experiences and revisiting old favorites and now we’re back where we started. Since we get the question a lot, I thought I would share some of our favorites from our travels in Europe this year.
Dover!! The cliffs. The castle. The tunnels. Do they still pump the smell of Sunday dinner (toast beef and potatoes) in the kitchen area? So many memories! And our adventures in driving! You were so good that day. Can’t wait to hear about seeing Sean Hayes! That is cool.
They do still have the dinner smells in the mess and then some not so nice smells in the OR! I didn’t remember that from last time–you have a good memory! That trip was pivotal for me.
Wow! 3rd summer of traveling? That’s incredible! I love your blog. Don’t quit! 😊