I can’t believe it, but today was my last day in London (except for one day at the very end). It feels like it should go on forever. I am so grateful for my green and graceful neighborhood and the easy proximity to the Thames, where I have continued to walk almost daily. With time passing so quickly, it’s time to write again, or I will surely forget everything I have done. Wednesday, guess where I went again! Kew Gardens of course. I can’t quite seem to get enough of the place. It really was a perfect and perfectly beautiful day. I discovered more paths through their varied woodlands, more truly magical trees and groves of trees, and spent time in at last some of them, to soak in their specialness. Came home feeling totally fulfilled. Next day, I finally went back in to central London to meet another dear friend, Frances Knight. I will include her photo for those of you who know her. What a divinely sweet and beautiful being. We started at the Royal Academy (of art), visited a gallery and wandered through Green Park. Green Park holds Buckingham Palace, but you know me. I was more deeply impressed by an effulgence of huge and happy trees. A cool and rainy day today, I headed out to the National Gallery and remembered that I really do enjoy looking at art. Constable is my favorite for English landscapes and Turner my favorite for skies and the sea, especially stormy skies and seas. And then an array of Impressionists, whom I always love. Spent a bit of time at the love-filled church called St. Martin in the Fields, famous for its concerts. And finished the day by having tea with another wonderful friend Eleanor. This morning as I walked to the tube station, I could feel that a lot of transformation has taken place, tho I don’t have words for it yet. Stay tuned. Off to Cambridge tomorrow.

 Continuing with a fantastically fortunate run of perfect autumn walking weather. I’m continuing to ignore all indoor options such as museums and historical spots, as I only long to walk and walk in the gorgeousness that is here. Yesterday a lovely time catching up with an old friend, including her input on many old English friends whom I have not seen for 30 or 40 years. Great fun! Today, decided to sample the London city parks, especially Hyde Park and Green Park. I know I am being a boring person, but I was once again caught up in the huge and ancient trees and flower gardens. I seem to have lost all interest in the human history part, which is interesting because I used to find it fascinating. Now—it’s trees—and the Thames. Well, so be it. The good weather may run out at the end of the week when I go to Cambridge. Oh well. I will celebrate the rain as best I can. Got to watch the late afternoon rowers on the Thames. What a nice way to live!

 This is definitely becoming a pilgrimage to trees, gardens and water—the Thames in particular. Blessed with perfect autumn weather, I cannot even consider doing anything indoors—no museums, not even Westminster Abbey. I am soooo loving wandering among the trees, found most everywhere. Yesterday, I went to Hampstead Heath. Acres and acres of trails and thick forest. Huge, ancient trees. Sometimes a grouping that calls me to sit among them. So beautiful and nourishing and magical. Hampstead has no trail markers whatsoever, so getting lost was inevitable. This opened the door to conversations with at least a dozen people, about three-quarters of whom were also lost. So many good-natured, funny and helpful people. The fabulous British sense of humour is always waiting for a chance to show itself!                               Then today, a long walk along the Thames—what a great river—to a place called Chiswick Park. Again, acres of woods, with the occasional sculpture appearing out of nowhere. A huge conservatory and large and complex kitchen gardens that were first planted in 1742. Imagine if you had started your garden 300 years ago. These days it is care for and enjoyed by the local community. Saw gorgeous flowers and very happy looking vegetables. Then a delicious walk home along the Thames.

 A few more photos. . .more tree magic for those of you who are fans

 Day 2. Kew Gardens today. One of my favorite places on Earth! So endlessly lush and beautiful. (Wish I could add photos). Hundreds and hundreds of huge and ancient trees—oaks and chestnuts and maples and cedars and evergreens. Walked down a path to the river lined with enormous trees with blue sky at the end of the path. I fell in love with each and every one. I felt like I was falling in love a thousand times an hour. It was almost too much. And circles of trees, creating their own magic within them. And then the ponds and the flower gardens. I stopped and gazed and filled myself with all the beauty many times. It was such a perfect day to be outside and just wander. My favorite thing to do. OK Got the photo part to work.

 My first day in the UK/London was preceded by maybe 45 minutes of sleep. Nevertheless, despite major brain fog, I wandered around the South Kensington area, sampling the tube (I actually like the tube) and generally letting my body and mind know that we are now in London! And enjoying walking in the rain, really and truly. The UK may get a lot of rain, but that enables a massively green landscape, fabulous gardens and the best cloud scenarios I have ever seen. No wonder Turner was obsessed by clouds! Best part of the semi-sleepy day was a walk along the Thames as the sky changed. My Airbnb is just 5 minutes from a river walk and I decided to end each day along the river. I love the Thames and I am soooo happy to be here. Wanted to add images, but the system is not working. May have to do that at a later time. 

 Testing the system