I fell in love with London the first time when we visited as a family in the summer of 1989. I didn’t know then the role it would play in my life as adult, but I was already smitten with the city.
My next trip to Britain wouldn’t be until the winter of 2001, with friends from business school during our break between semesters. We had just lived through the horrific events of September 11, witnessing the tragedy and horror in real-time. Committed to not letting the fear of flying win, we looked for an exciting but not too distant destination. So we booked tickets to London – in our own way, we felt defiant in the face of terrorism while having a great time and creating lifelong memories.
Fast-forward another decade, and I’m working for my now-former employer. I started traveling to London to work with my counterparts in our offices there, and I fell in love all over again. The energy, the people, the maze of streets – it regenerated in me what I had discovered as a young girl, the passion for exploration and discovery. I was fortunate to be able to travel to the UK as often I did for my job, and it never got old.
My favorite view of London is from the Tate Modern. On the 6th floor, there’s a small cafe, which is always full – which is just as well since I much prefer sitting at the counter along the window facing the Thames. On my arrival day, I’d walk from my hotel over the Millennium Bridge to the Tate for a cup of tea at the window, and I’d sit and watch. It allowed me time to decompress after my flight and to prepare for the week ahead. And who wouldn’t adore this view of St Paul’s?
I miss London. The city will always hold a special place in my heart, and not just for the time I spent working there. London factors prominently into the reasons why I’m moving my American life overseas, and for that I will forever be grateful for the time I spent there. ♥