Country Hopping

It's been about 6 years since I was last in London. Still as bustling as ever, but I love it here all the same. 

The traveling has been nice. I got to London at 6:20AM local time, running on 1 hour of sleep with a full day of plans ahead. Got picked up by my wonderful aunt who drove us to Oxfordshire for the next day and a bit. Our first big tourist location was Blenheim palace, where Winston Churchill lived. Beautiful place. The area of Oxfordshire is quaint, peaceful and just all around an eye full of gorgeous greenery.

I'd rather not type out all the details of the trip, but this past weekend we have been in London, and are now finishing up in Greece. I've only now started to head into "vacation" mode. It's harder for me than most to just relax, leave my worries and stresses at home and enjoy myself. My mind works somewhat obsessive compulsively, in a very intense manner, so surrendering thoughts is hard. 

Suffice it to say, I did get a bit homesick. I know, what a baby. It's not that I haven't done trips like this, I've been away longer, I've been further away too. I've felt more at home in Hong Kong than I have in London. I was blessed to hang out with my friend Michelle, living in Dublin, visiting London for the weekend. Seeing a familiar face in s foreign country feels so comforting. Very similar to finding an oasis in the desert, to be sure. We chased pigeons, touched squirrels, took a trip over to Trafalgar square, St. James park, and around Piccadilly. All around a very lovely afternoon.

Being reunited with my older cousins was so good. A very sweet reunion indeed. They look as if they haven't aged since we last saw them, but us kids certainly shot up. 

I've taken around 800 photos since Friday and cannot wait to sort through them, edit them and then upload them all when I'm home. Working only with a 18-55mm lens is challenging, I don't get the shots I want all the time. But all's well. 

Greece has been pleasant. Well, more than pleasant. It's been beautiful, the sights have been more than amazing. Pictures are boring in comparison and can only serve as reminders of the feelings I felt when I saw the places depicted in each image. I find photos are extremely personal things. 

I can't wait to be home. Not to say that I haven't enjoyed my time away and my time seeing different worlds..but there is no place like home.