A Quick Trip or Two

Last month, I had the unusual experience of returning to the US for the second time this year. Usually, we go once and visit all four states where our family lives. This latest trip was for our niece's wedding in upstate New York. Such a delight to gather and celebrate in a beautiful area new to us.

We had to fly through London, so on our way back we stopped for a few days to visit a good friend.

Come join me on a whirlwind tour through these two unique places.

Our reward for leaving France at the crack of dawn was this gorgeous view

While I've been to New York City, the upper part of the state is something else altogether. Rural vistas with late summer sunflowers, early fall colors tinting the leaves a little more each day, and loads of Americana. We drove through one quintessential old-school American town after another.

Traditionally, French breakfasts consist of bread, butter, jam, and coffee with milk or hot chocolate. On Sundays, croissants replace the bread. And of course, today, people eat cereal, fruit, yogurt and other more "modern" products.

All this to say, our first morning in upstate New York, we headed to a local coffee shop and ate gigantic American breakfasts: eggs, bacon, sausage, pancakes, and toast. So so soooo good!

Love the brick buildings and the small town feel

I was too busy diving into the food once in arrived to remember a photo, but I did catch this one during the wait. The café's name is Fiddlestix, hence the hanging skeleton (maybe?) At only mid-September, it seemed a bit early for Halloween decorations.

After a leisurely drive through the stunning Hudson Valley, we arrived at the wedding venue. The charming rural setting, the perfect weather, and celebrating with family and friends all added up to an amazing weekend.

The outdoor ceremony, the brilliant fall-hued flowers, and FAMILY... so special.

And then the reception... more charm, beauty, and warmth

And now... on to London. Are you ready? As I wrote earlier, this was a whirlwind tour. However, a cancelled flight out slowed down the whirl of it all, and after a hop, skip, and a jump, and an overnight flight, we landed in London.

Our friend lives in the suburbs southwest of the city, an area completely new to us. We mostly came to see him and his friends, whom we've gotten to know when they all come to his vacation home here in St. Hippolyte. We did, however, go out and visit a few sites.

I'd never heard of the Royal Botanical Gardens at Kew, but it was close by and highly recommended, so off we went. The blessing of cerulean blue skies, puffy white clouds, and moderate temperatures provided the ideal ambiance for a stroll through this exceptional place.

The seemingly infinite variety and astounding beauty found in nature truly reflect the Creator of it all. Breathe deep and enjoy!

Glorious!

These gigantic lily pads were incredible! We'd never seen anything like them.

One of many ancient trees. I want it to tell me stories...

The fragrance of this plant stopped me in my tracks. Curry! The potent aroma of this bush is exactly as it smells in dried form.

The Tree Walk...so much fun! Take the elevator up and walk on paths between the trees. What's not to love?

View towards London from the Tree Walk

Our friend recommended we see a painting exhibit in one of the garden's outbuildings. I would have walked right by it. And I would have missed an extraordinary experience.

The Marianne North Gallery is chockful of exquisite botanical oil paintings of flowers and plants from multiple countries. Marianne North lived during the Victorian era, and in her long, multi-layered dresses, traveled to exotic locales, documenting her discoveries in paint.

Her travels included: Nepal, Brazil (where she lived for a year in a hut in the depths of the forest), Chile, Jamaica, the Canary Islands, Japan, Borneo, Java, Ceylon, Seychelles, South Africa, New Zealand, Canada, plus many locations in India. Oh, and don't forget California! All in the mid-19th century!

Besides the impressive achievement of visiting these far-flung places as a Victorian woman, painting in plein air—outdoors in all those clothes (which would protect her from insects but must have been cumbersome and hot)—she produced almost 900 artworks. In the era before the development of modern photography, her accurate images were highly appreciated. Near the end of her life, she bequeathed her work along with an endowment to establish the gallery in Kew Gardens.

My photos don't do them justice as the glass covering them picked up reflections from opposite windows. Even so, I think you can appreciate their beauty.

Our last stop on this whirlwind tour is the famous (infamous?) Tower of London. We journeyed from the suburbs into the heart of the city via an Uber Boat. We didn't know such things existed but, again, on the good advice of our friend, gave it a try. Well worth it! Quiet, hassle-free, and a great way to see the sights along the Thames.

Sunset on the Thames

A mighty fortress, a royal palace, an infamous prison... The Tower of London is a compound of many buildings, towers, and an enormous amount of history.

Here are just a few highlights:

One view of the Tower of London complex

White Tower, built by William the Conqueror More about those spectacular poppies below

Lanthorn Tower...one of many medieval structures

From watching yeoman guards resplendent in their traditional garb, to standing in the spot where Anne Boleyn lost her head, to the spectacular crown jewels...it was a lot to take in. The breadth of historical events and people in this place is stunning.

A few fun facts:

Yeoman guards, also known as Beefeaters and popularized on gin bottles, earned their name in the 16th century as the king allowed them generous portions of beef from his table. Many live on site, even more so in the past when the community included a school. Certain historical ceremonies at the Tower today include children.

Far more sinister than any of the modern-day Beefeaters are the gigantic ravens who fly and land freely. Legend has it that should the ravens leave the Tower, both it and the kingdom would fall.

Yikes!

How about those poppies? In honor of the sacrifices made by so many during World War II, this stunning installation contains 30,000 ceramic poppies. The blood-red flowers symbolize a wound, blood flowing from the Tower in the heart of London. They also refer to the red poppy worn on the lapels of many English people today on memorial days as a symbol of remembrance and hope for a more peaceful future.

View of London Bridge from inside the Tower of London

Whew! We just skimmed the surface. It would take many days to fully explore or understand this vast complex.

We returned to France the following day, and I promptly tripped going out the door and broke my leg. Badly. Off to the hospital, surgery and a six-week convalescence, plus many more of physical therapy after that. Wohoo!

Here's a shot of my hospital breakfast. (My tray does not have a pat of butter as I'm allergic.) So glad that one week earlier (practically to the day), I'd eaten that huge, delicious American breakfast. But honestly, this simple fare worked well for me after the tumult of the injury and all that ensued. And on Sunday morning, croissants were served! I should add that the hospital lunch and dinner were both generous and delicious.

Ambulance ride home

The ride home was a lot more pleasant than the one going there several days prior. In France, ambulances are mainly used for transporting convalescing people to and from the hospital. For emergencies, it's the firefighter/paramedics with their version of a medical transport vehicle. All the personnel I encountered were extremely kind. A healing blessing.

La vie est belle...