A 74-Year-Old Woman with a Yen to See the World, a Supportive Husband, and a Couple of Backpacks…

All my life, I’ve loved to travel. My dream has been to visit all the countries that interest me on every continent. Until July 2021, however, I’d never left North America.

In Spring of 2021, we could see the world beginning to reopen. Dempsey said, “This year is yours. It’s time to make your travel dream come true.” And so we did!

We’re spending fifteen weeks exploring the world, and you’re invited along.

My Blog

Goodbye to the Continent, Hello Again to London and Home

by Jillian Coleman Wheeler | Nov 5, 2021 | Portugal | 0 Comments

After our very long day in the Lisbon Airport (story a few posts back), we finally flew into London Heathrow close to midnight. We found our hotel and went to sleep excited about having our last week – Week 15 – back in London. We stayed in the Kings Cross area (here’s the Kings Cross tube station), because it’s central to everything.

This is St. Pancras Station, across the street from Kings Cross (they’re often both referred to as Kings Cross), connected by the underground, and the international train depot from which we took the Eurostar to Paris, all those weeks ago!

We went exploring in Notting Hill, a lovely neighborhood in west London.

A posh street in Notting Hill.

We found this house, for many years the residence of George Orwell.

We walked through this area to reach the famous Portobello Market.

The market extends a mile down Portobello Road.

It’s famous for antiques and pretty much anything one can buy and sell (legally).

We feasted on some street food.

This is Johnny, a young man who moved to London from Romania with his wife before Brexit. They now live with their two children in what they decided at first glance was “the most wonderful city in the world.” He was a desk clerk in our small hotel.

Homes in Islington.

I liked this building.

Another day we decided to take the bus to Camden Market. We had to walk the last half mile, and we’d forgotten our umbrellas – and the likelihood of rain in the fall. We’re Amy Winehouse fans, however, so we stopped to say hello.

This is Camden Market, located on the site of the historic former Pickford Stables. The market extends through the old stables and a new building erected to match the old, over to the Camden Lock on the Regent’s Canal.

Another pathway through the market.

More shops.

On our way to the canal.

These little glass pods provide shelter for diners.

The locks at Regent’s Canal.

A boat navigating the canal.

The last day Dempsey rested and I caught the double-decker bus to the Thames.

Approaching the magnificent St. Paul’s Cathedral.

Going through the City of London, the financial district.

A branch of the Bank of Beirut.

I got off the bus and walked across London Bridge, which is reserved for pedestrians, buses and taxis.

Ahead of me was The Shard, a skyscraper that boasts one of the best views of the city.

As I looked left, I could see the Thames Walkway, steps down from the bridge and along the river. The Tower Bridge was lighted up.

The marker for the bridge.

This building was close to our hotel. I noticed it walking back from the bus. Unfortunately, that’s as close as we got to Wales this trip.

We boarded our flight home at noon, but the windows were heavily tinted, we supposed to facilitate sleep for passengers. We landed at 5:45 p.m. Austin time, but our bodies thought it was almost midnight. Fortunately, we had slept and with lots of nighttime sleep the next few days, we didn’t suffer too much jet lag.

Center of the City

by Jillian Coleman Wheeler | Aug 29, 2021 | Austria | 0 Comments

Our first foray to the center of the city was a walking tour with our guide, Charles. Vienna is about two things: the Hapsburg dynasty and the culture they fostered - especially the music.

Wein

by Jillian Coleman Wheeler | Aug 28, 2021 | Austria | 0 Comments

We decided to travel overnight from Berlin to keep our Airbnb reservation. The only booking available was on a “milk train” that stopped at every town all the way to Vienna, “Wein,” as it is known in Europe. We found comfy seats and cuddled in. The Vienna train...

Berlin

by Jillian Coleman Wheeler | Aug 26, 2021 | Germany | 0 Comments

On our way to spend a week in Vienna, we spent a day in Berlin. Because it suffered intense bombing at the end of WWII, many of its ancient buildings were destroyed. Some remain, and like the other European capitals we have seen, it mixes the old with beautiful...