London, episode 1. In which I get my British on.

This is one of my absolute favorite travel photos.  For obvious reasons.  Maybe not quite so obvious to everyone, so allow me to explain because there is a story (or two) behind this photo.

First and foremost, I love Mari's smile.  She is categorically glowing in this photograph (my proximity and rebellious skull cap may have something to do with that).  It is a favorite primarily for her smile.

Second, that is not a fake background.  We are standing on the perimeter walk surrounding Stonehenge on a very Pooh-like blustery day (that scarf and cap ain't just for show).  In fact, we saw snow flurries later that afternoon while enjoying a hearty dinner at a pub in the nearby village of Amesbury.  The cold temperatures kept visitors away and it almost felt like we had the place to ourselves.  We didn't, of course, and I am thankful yet again to fellow travelers (from Japan this time) for exchanging cameras with us to capture a most treasured memory.

I am also interminably thankful for cosmic circumstances large and small that coalesced to create this seemingly straightforward snapshot.  Nothing is ever that simple and I know it and am grateful every day.
Part of the adventure is also what you don't see in the photograph.  The thoughtful hotel clerk who recommended we take advantage of local travel instead of a large group tour.  The patient gate agent at the station who sold us the correct train and bus tickets.  The lovely locals we met during our 90-mile road trip to and from London.  The driver of our first double-decker bus ride (of course we sat up top and up front). After our bracing yet enlightening circumambulation about the prehistoric (4,000 plus years old!) monument, there was a brief wait for a return bus during which we enjoyed an incredibly invigorating cup of carrot ginger soup whose styrofoam cup presentation and modest food cart origins belied its gourmand grandeur.

Visit Stonehenge for the spiritual experience but stay for the soup.

Loyal readers know that this trip to Stonehenge was part of our 2007 Spring Break and my 40th birthday present travel adventure.  It was also our first international travel experience together and quickly gave both Mari and me the travel bug.  You know the travel bug... no sooner do you unpack your luggage and give your cat some lovin' than you are itching to pack up and get on the road again?  In the first episode of my Paris series I recounted my early attraction to all things British, inspired primarily by the royal wedding of all royal weddings in 1981.  Stonehenge inspired that first trip to London 26 years following Charles and Diana's nuptials, but there would be other London visits with their own inspirations (including fleamarketing, of course) in our travel future.

There would be a return trip to London along with a grand UK-Paris-Ireland adventure for London2012.

The following summer there would also be an extended layover (you know how much we love to extend a layover) on the way home from a Mediterranean cruise.

And stay tuned because you never know when there just might be another addition to our London travels. Another extended layover perhaps with further foreign fleamarket travels?

All in due time.  The list madness for our upcoming summer travels is finally winding down with tickets, reservations, and renewed (in the nick of time) passports finally in hand.

Note.  Don't ever try taking your own passport pictures.

If you do, don't smile or wear earrings (that would be Mari in our case).

I keep meaning to share with you my list making process for travel planning, but that would involve preparing another list, of course.  I also have a very detailed (would I have it any other way?) packing checklist which keeps getting longer upon every return home.  Mari and I have vowed to travel light this summer.  The lightest ever!  (I will let you know how that goes.)

In the meantime, I leave you with another favorite London photo and the promise of more snapshots and stories to come.