Epilogue, London 2024

No sleep last night as I worried about not getting up early enough – would there be a taxi, should I schedule an Uber…. At 4:30 I got out of bed and got dressed. Kirsten was the same. We had plenty of time, so we did what we do best – the Tube.

Heathrow Express is a gift. 15 minutes into the terminal proper.

I realized far too late that the only other time I had departed from Heathrow, was on Virgin Upper Class, where you are whisked into the Clubhouse, with personal security, and escorted on the plane without ever seeing another passenger. I strongly recommend this. Strongly.

Heathrow is a madhouse. Gatwick I civilized. If you’re not going Virgin Upper, fly thru Gatwick.

The lines for a simple coffee were extreme. The Priority Pass Lounges all full. The walk to the gate was 20 minutes. And, excruciatingly, I forgot to even check for the Centurion Lounge! That would have been bliss. Alas, we made it home.

So, how was London? London is amazing. A world class city filled with old and new, crazy and calm, lots of different people and experiences. Marleybone to Camden are two different worlds. Canary Wharf to Chelsea are two different countries, so many museums, so many gardens and parks, so much architecture, and so many different people. London accepts all and amalgamates all. It is a city, so it’s the best of everything, I realize, but wow. You can understand why this little island ruled the world.

I don’t know much about their current situation politically, but my meager knowledge suggests there is much to be desired. However, a month in London, blindly uninformed, would be heaven.

We stayed in adequate quarters in the best area. We tumbled out to beauty and inspiration every morning. The park across the street is calming and awe inspiring (no one does landscape like the British), the church we saw as we turned the corner was centering, the Marleybone High Street was luxurious and familiar (so Beacon Hill), and all the food was presented and delivered as beautifully as anywhere in Italy.

I’ve always thought you should travel to different places, but what is wrong to going to places that you love? I’m so very comfortable there. It makes me happy to see all shades and types of people speaking in different languages and interacting. There is very little British pomposity left – only good manners and a lilting accent that makes everything more posh.

I only experienced the affluent areas, but truth be told, I only experience the affluent areas here. I am privileged and lucky. Full stop.

I plan to go back. I want to see the lesser museums, John Sloan, Dennis Seaver, Aspley House….. I want to travel a bit further afield into Islington and Portobello Road and more of Camden. I want to eat more ethnic food, I want to buy the beautiful fish from the fishmonger and cook it in my lovely apartment in Marleybone. I want to talk to each and every vendor at the Farmer’s Market and buy cheese and veg and make a feast. I want to tumble onto the side streets and have a drink at the bar at Durrants and make friends with bar tender. I want to read a book that I bought at Daunt’s in Regent’s Park. I want to pretend I live there in rarified space.

I still want to go to Sicily in May and buy food at the gorgeous market in Siracusa and watch the Greek plays in the archeological Amphitheatre. Having my morning cappuccino at Cafe Sicilia in Noto, is a dream. I want to go back to L’Alberetta in Franciacorta and be pummeled and pampered. Hiking in the Val Gardena and coming home to the Benessere, before heading out for a spritz and patatine sounds marvy. I’d like to see Morroco. I want to go to Istanbul. Trieste looms large. The Côte d’Azur would be magical. A week in Copenhagen sounds divine. And then there is Venice and Verona. But I’d like to fly through London and stop there first.

So, fly thru Gatwick if you’re on the cheap, and take Virgin Upper through Heathrow if your budget allows. Stay in the nicest area – nothing like looking forward to walking home.

See you next time.