Month: June 2023

Home. Finally. Well, that’s not entirely true as I type this from a pub inside the Detroit airport. No, I’m not getting fish and chips again. Yes, I did order another cider. (I conquered most all the ciders in England, maybe I need to start with domestics now?) Let’s talk about transportation. I think what… Continue reading DAY 16

Windsor. I’ve been keeping a lid on this one for a while (frankly, I didn’t want to jinx anything). Back in March, I threw a Hail Mary and emailed a representative of the Royal Trust Collection. In my family research, I discovered there was once a portrait drawn of my direct ancestor (my grandmother if… Continue reading DAY 15

2 Weeks. I’ve been in England for 2 whole weeks now. Unbelievable. I made list upon list upon list on what to pack, what to see, what to spend. In true overplanning + ADHD fashion, these lists were kept in separate places: Notes app, notebook, Google docs, Canva, back of church bulletins, sticky notes. In… Continue reading DAY 14

Paying respect. There was a lot of reflection throughout today and plenty of opportunities for me to pay my respect to folks from history to the contemporary in some sacred and near sacred places. Westminster Abbey - “Benedictine monks founded Westminster Abbey in 960AD. To this day, we retain a tradition of Christian worship and… Continue reading DAY 13

The West End. If you’re paying attention to the meta clues in this journey, there are two distinct patterns: Tudor history and theatre. Today, the two came together with a matinee of Six the Musical. But first, tea. Fancy tea. Prime London Hotel - Bless their hearts. I’m estimating that this hotel probably has 16… Continue reading DAY 12

Traveler. I feel every bit a traveler at this stage of the journey. Since May 31st, I’ve taken 6 trains, 5 coaches, 1 Uber, 1 taxi, and countless rides on the tube. I’ve covered over 53 miles on foot. I’ve eaten healthy amounts of Jaffa Cakes, Victoria sponges, drank liters of tea, coffee and water… Continue reading DAY 11

“It is not in the stars to hold our destiny but in ourselves.” - Julius Caesar, William Shakespeare Today was the pinnacle of teenage Alyssa’s pipe dream: pilgrimage to Stratford-Upon-Avon to pay respect to the Bard. Walking the streets, I kept hearing Cole Porter’s “Brush Up Your Shakespeare” on repeat. (Kiss Me Kate is one… Continue reading DAY 10

Respite and recharge. I slept nearly 10 hours last night. Yikes! But, did it feel great. I probably would’ve even slept a bit longer had it not been for activity in the cottage. I’m staying in a guest suite attached to the main house. My host’s husband is ill (I didn’t press for more info)… Continue reading DAY 9

“I've always depended on the kindness of strangers.” - Blanche DuBois, A Streetcar Named Desire (Williams) This was the absolute toughest day of my journey thus far. My travels took me from Norwich in the Norfolk County (east) to Blockley in Gloucestershire (west). By car, it would take 3 1/2 hours. By rail, it took… Continue reading DAY 8

Exploring Norwich. Today had no real agenda at all, well..there were some things I wanted to do: mainly shopping, exploring and getting a pedicure. My BnB is located in central Norwich which has been a great location since I can walk everywhere here. It’s far enough away from businesses so as to feel private and… Continue reading DAY 7