Basic Joy

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British Bliss

My first full day in London this past week, Greg had meetings all day so my trusty camera and I hit the streets. I love this place. It might have something to do with the fact that my ancestors came from here, don't you think? Maybe my genes just perk right up in the land of their origin?

It's a magnetic pull for me. I've managed to wrangle several trips here, including six months of study abroad during my sophomore year of college, a summer with Greg while he did an international law study abroad (I even quit a great job so I could accompany him...now you know my priorities), and in the last few years a couple of trips with Greg (he works for a British company and has meetings here now and then). This is the first time I've seen a London autumn...

^
chairs-for-hire in Green Park (also in Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens)
I remember being really surprised the first time I sat in one
and the guy came up and asked for money

^
the view from hotel room
looking across to the Ritz Hotel and Green Park
let's hear it for Holiday Inn Mayfair

^
I used to run in this park every morning before class
Part meditation, part exercise, part can't-get-enough-of-this-place
Running hasn't been as fun since, I have to admit

To be continued...