Exiting London was confusing. Should we have lamented leaving the city we had just warmed up to or anticipated all else that was left to see?
We stocked up on groceries first. Completing the distance from our hotel in rain to the rental car was excruciating in a taxi, unwillingly witnessing the morning rush hour of London. We tasted what it felt like to be stuck in the influx of work into the financial capital. People held umbrellas, and walked fast. Green lights turned red, and we simply gawked, imprisoned in a timeless limbo.
Our first stop was near London, Windsor, UK, and although, we enjoyed the castle, our favorite part was the town center itself; Beautiful and charming. The only place that had a living and functioning monarch was unbeatable. Children kept asking if they would get to see the Queen or Prince Harry who lives in the Windsor Castle. I had to level set their expectations. We were commoners from America.
Our second attraction (but only from the freeway) was Stonehenge – the old, giant stones, standing tall that attract millions every year. And my favorite stop of all was the last one, a town called Bath along the English hillside with yellow buildings, numerous churches, stone streets, narrow alleys, gardens, a quaint little river cutting through it all, and enriched by live music. Walking around the Roman Baths that brought us here, surrounded by souvenir shops, all five of us sat down on the stone floor and simply listened to the violin and the singer’s tapping of shoes to the Scottish music with his eyes shut in bliss. This moment, this one moment, it was the highlight of my UK trip; the joy of free music.
Yes, we enjoyed Roman Baths, learnt a lot, but it was the music that brought this city to life. Here are the photos from our day that erased our sorrow of leaving London with more rewarding memories.
Adios England for about a day. Wales was the next sought out destination.