I Love This City!

Now that we are settled, and I am not wearing the same clothes over and over that made me feel oh, so schlumpy, I have been able to lift my head and truly start seeing London. And let me just tell you, it is a fabulous city!

Something about living here seems to have awakened my senses and has brought about a renewed sense of gratitude and appreciation.

I love our quiet little street, smack dab in the center of London. I love hearing people chatting and strolling along the street during the day. I love the peaceful nights in which the sounds of the city seem to disappear, and I love waking to birds chirping outside our window every morning.

I love that even in central London, our neighbors couldn't be more friendly and that I can ask to borrow a cup of sugar without hesitation!

I love that from our home, you can walk to just about anywhere that you want to go.

I love not having an automobile, which means not having to worry with car seats!

I love the lifestyle of city living, walking everywhere, going to the grocery just about every day, picking up just what you need, no more.

I love the history . . . need I say more?

I love the view from our bedroom. We overlook nearby rooftops, which look very Mary Poppinsish, and we can see several beautiful domed cathedrals and nearby museums with amazingly ornate architecture, all from our little upstairs window!

I love that each time we pass these same museums and cathedrals, we notice new details and architectural elements along the facades that we have not noticed while passing just the time before.

I love walking along the old, narrow, cobbled streets.

I love that football has now become the game of choice to watch in our home. It used to be golf that would lull me into a peaceful afternoon nap, football does it for me these days!

I love Hyde Park, our new backyard!

I love the nearby Royal Hospital (which dates back to the 17th century, mind you!) and walking along Kings Road passing Chelsea Pensioners dressed in their distinct military uniforms, which have been unchanged since the hospital was created.

I love that when you walk down the street, you hear a different accent or language with every passing conversation.

I love knowing that as I walk these neighborhood streets, I walk in the footsteps of kings and queens, writers and revolutionaries, politicians and painters, thinkers and thespians.

I love the quintessential English icons that have now become part of our everyday living . . . black cabs, afternoon tea, red phone booths, fish and chips, little G playing rugby and cricket in sport each day at school, the tube, the Routemaster double-decker bus . . . I could go on and on!

I love this city!