I believe I have “Travelers lust.” Since exploring France last November, Ontario Canada in June, and Montana and Banff Canada in July, I recently returned from a trip to London and Scotland. Now that I’m retired, I enjoy exploring new places and experiencing different cultures. I didn’t have the opportunity to travel when I was growing up in poverty. Then, my traveling consisted of reading books and making imaginative connections to the narratives. It was an opportunity for me to exit my life in poverty and imagine what life was really like.
I joined my two regular travel groups to share amazing adventures. Our group of 41 experienced travelers was scheduled to spend three days in London and eight days in Scotland. Many had been to both countries but were excited to go again. Compared to them, I realized how little of the world I had actually witnessed. I had a sense of onism.
We had an overnight flight from our home city to Heathrow International Airport in London. After we landed and disembarked, I was surprised there was no jet way. We walked down a mobile staircase and boarded an airport bus to reach the busy terminal.
Our local expert tour manager met us at the terminal and we traveled by motor coach to our lovely home away from home (otherwise known as a hotel). We had to get accustomed to driving on the left hand side of the street. The streets were narrow and congested. Pedestrians, cyclists, and other drivers were prevalent. Traffic circles were very common. Reminders encouraged pedestrians to look right and left before crossing the street. It was a welcome reminder for Americans and other travelers that are used to vehicles driven on the right hand side of the street.
As our driver expertly navigated the crowded streets, I was in awe by the energy of the busy city. Bustling shops, cafes, markets, and coffee shops were opening and created a lively atmosphere. We arrived at our beautiful and modern hotel about 45 minutes later. We were a short walk away from “The Tube,” the world’s first underground railway system. It opened in 1863 to alleviate congestion in the city. Our tour manager gave us our preloaded “Oyster” cards to pay for the subway. We were scheduled for a walking tour with a local guide the next day.
After getting acclimated to our hotel and location, we were free to explore the walkable city until dinner. We enjoyed a delicious dinner at one of London’s finest restaurants and experienced a delicious cuisine that was characteristic to London.
The next day, our expert guide walked with us to the infamous “Tube.” This rapid rail system travels approximately 250 miles through round and tubular tunnels. After reaching our stop, we met our knowledgeable local tour guide. She took us on a walking tour around the famous Westminster area where we saw Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey, No. 10 Downing Street, and Buckingham Palace. We walked through iconic St. James’s Park and enjoyed the beautiful views, pelicans, birds, and swans. Afterwards we strolled along Trafalgar Square and admired the many monuments. Later, we had free time so some of us decided to continue our journey by using one of the many Hop -On and Hop -Off buses. We enjoyed another tour of the city from a double decker view.
The next day, we saw London our way! Some members of the group went to the Tower of London to peek into the city’s storied past. Our group chose to go Buckingham Palace to see the infamous “The Changing of the Guard.” The ceremony involves the Old Guard exchanging duties with the New Guard. We purchased tickets for a self-guided tour of Buckingham Palace in advance. After going through the strict security checkpoint, we were on our way. No photographs were allowed inside the palace. The palace is a massive U-shaped structure with 775 elaborate ornate rooms. We were limited to the state rooms.
One of my fellow travelers knew I love to dance. When we got to the ballroom, he asked me to dance. I happily accepted his invitation. As we prepared for our waltz, one of our fellow travelers attempted to take our picture. She forgot the no picture rule. Out of nowhere, a security guard approached her and asked her to put her camera away.
We were caught in the act but can say we danced in the ballroom of Buckingham Palace! What an adventure!
Francie Mae. September 13, 2025.