I spent my weekend consumed in the world of London tourism; caught up in camera flashes, fold out maps, and the underground (minding the gaps...of course). And although I have lived here for two months previously, and now soon to be a month (WOW!), I can't help but wonder when you stop being a tourist. I walked around all weekend, showing this great city off to some equally great people, and I couldn't help but smile like a kid on Christmas morning the entire time. I would look up at the clock tower that holds Big Ben and just sigh, and it isn't the stressed out sigh, or the sad sigh, but the type of sign that you can't be bothered to hold in because if you didn't sigh, your breath would certainly be taken away all on its own.
I have seen all of these sights countless times, in the daylight and in the dark, with friends, with strangers, and at the right times, entirely on my own, and I still feel blessed to be a part of the world that created such things. I still want to pull out my camera, or to pull on my friends arm and say "seriously, do you realize what you are seeing!" I guess if becoming a local instead of a tourist means that I stop appreciating all of the amazing things that this city has to offer, then I will be a tourist for the rest of my days here, maybe even for the rest of my days in every city I find myself in. I may no longer need a tourist map, and I may not need to take pictures everywhere I go (except of Spencer), but I am pretty sure I will always see this city with both eyes wide-open, because even if I am not a tourist, I love to feel like one!
I also found myself, for a short time, in another place of in betweens. When my friends had to leave to go back to the states, even though I had only seen them for a short time (and only known most of them for that same short time!), I still found myself in between staying and going. After being so excited about the city, and so grateful to spend time with someone I had known for more than a few weeks, I found myself wanting to stay in London forever and wanting to board a plane at the same time. I don't want anyone to think that that statement means I am regretting my decision to be here. It is strictly the exact opposite of that. I am loving my time here so much that I can't even think about boarding a plane and flying back across the ocean, but at the same time I do long for the people at home that made my life so great while I was there, and that are helping to make my life so great from so far away. It is amazing the power that people and places have in our lives and I hated to let familiar people board a plane and leave me with only familiar surroundings to keep me company. The fact that I want to see people from home is a testament to how fantastic my friends and family are, the fact that I love this city so much just really means that you should all come visit me...so I don't have to be so stuck in between! :)
So that has been my world, or at least the last few days of it. Big thanks to Katie, Joe, and Josh (left to right in the picture) for sharing their fabulous attitudes for adventure with me!! And for helping to rejuvenate my love for this city (and for great off the path english pubs!) and my love for people at home!! They had so many great travel stories from just a few days of traveling and it leaves me more excited for the places I will see and the people I will travel with...if you are reading this then I hope you will be one of them, in person or through words! Share your stories and your love and I will do the same.
XOXO
Cheers
WC
1 comment:
My dear Whitney-
I love the passion you have this time in your blog. Even when I go on vacation for a week by day 5 I end up missing my kitchen, my porch and of course texting haha and jsut the simple things in life that make me happy. But like you said at the same time I know I could spent a year 5 years or even my life there. Costa Rica was one of those places for me. I loved their respect for the earth and even after spending a lifetime there still was in awe of all the life and creations. No doubt you will have times where you wish that you could come home just for one day ( a tuesday :p) But I'm so proud of you for following your heart and your dreams and doing what thrills and excites you. If you didn't what would be the point in life. You are extremely lucky to have such an opportunity so live out what is obviously a passion of yours. I love your passion and I hope you keep it for the rest of your life. I think I realize now why your aura is so sparkly and beautiful. I do miss you tons even though we didn't see each other that often. We would absolutely love to come to come visit you and we are totally up for it but in November we'll be on our third adventure for the year and that pretty much maxes us out! :) But pretty soon it'll be a new year and I'll be itching for another adventure and I will seriously get a plan together and see if it is do-able. Maybe you can give me some ideas to star with like how much would an average person spend on board and food. My cousin is a pilot so I got tickets covered just give me the air port we should fly into.:)
Ok so that's it for now!! Love and hugs and of course cheers because well that's just what we do :)
XOX - heather
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