July 26th- We flew into London and jumped on the tube to the train station to try to catch the train to Amsterdam, but we were too late!  Our hearts weren't too heartbroken since we enjoy London so much!  The next day we happened upon the site of part of the original London Wall (Bastion 14) which had gone through at least nine construction phases from Roman fort 150AD through medieval times and post WWII repairs.   We then walked to St. Paul's Cathedral and marveled at the sculptures, mosaics and paintings within.  After checking out the Crypt, where some of the most famous British war heroes, painters, sculptors, writers and musicians are buried, we headed up the long series of stairs to the top of the dome!  Next we made our way to a pub and to the Gagosian Gallery before heading back to the hotel.  The next morning we took a trip to the O2 Bubble.  It is a huge music venue (actually has one large and another smaller venue) with many restaurants and the British Music Experience.  The BME was a fun, interactive approach to music history.  We spent hours reading, listening, and watching but could've spent days!  

The next day we headed to Heathrow for our 11 hour flight back to Los Angeles.  As we sat there I had time to start processing all that we had done and seen in the last 29 days.  We saw a wide spectrum of the way others in our species live, from the age-old yet modern, art infused London to the third world slums, villages and developing cities of Uganda.  My inner questions of place and purpose has been broadened to a global level and made both more complicated and simplified.  

This was our first trip outside of the United States and I am addicted, exploring what is new to me and being able to share it with you has been a great joy, thank you.

So if you see me staring off into space, know that although my body is here in Fresno, California, my mind might be thousands of miles away wandering the streets of London or strolling through the markets of Kampala.   xoxo, emily