Last month, I wrote a piece about how I pushed myself to do too much on a trip, and I paid the price with my mental health. I sometimes struggle with being a harsh critic of myself; of noticing when I fall down, and forgetting when I get back up. But I was looking through photos of that trip recently, and I found one that … Continue reading Sometimes, Improving As a Slow Traveller Means Holding All the Purses
Sometimes, humanity’s greatest achievements are pretty gross. My partner and I were looking for a fun way to spend a rainy afternoon, and landed on the Brunel Museum—a small, out-of-the-way museum that’s south of the river in Rotherhithe. It’s focus is engineering/architecture, which I will admit isn’t my forte; it’s much easier for me to get excited about a piece of art then a piece … Continue reading Ego Death at the Brunel Museum: A reflective visit to London’s Thames Tunnel museum
This weekend something pretty special is happening to me—I’m getting ready to get married this week! I wrote a while back about how I wanted to visit Thornbury Castle—and a few weeks later, I did! My partner and I decided it would be the perfect spot to elope in. We’re having a private ceremony on the castle grounds for our elopement weekend, but because we … Continue reading What I Packed for My Castle Elopement in England
This bank holiday weekend, I wanted to take a break from the hustle and bustle of London for a day trip. After considering a few places, I decided to head to Richmond for a day trip that was equal parts boutique shops and cheery pubs, and nature-filled walks with views of parks and rivers. I wanted to share my itinerary—although I feel like I did … Continue reading The Perfect Nature-Filled Slow Day in Richmond, London
Next week is the Easter Bank Holiday, and the longest bank weekend of the year. I love this time of year for travel—Spring is already in full swing in most places in Europe, bank holidays lend themselves to special flight deals, and Christian-majority countries sometimes have fun themed events for the Easter holidays. This bank holiday, my partner and I have different ideas for what … Continue reading 3 Day Trips to Take This Bank Holiday Weekend
Lately I’ve been thinking about how cities dictate the direction our lives take. The places we live and work don’t just shelter us—they present options for us to live our optimal (or less-than-optimal) lives. An elevator ensures that I’m not panting by the time I get to my fifth-floor office. Having a gym I can get to in under 10 minutes makes working out infinitely … Continue reading The Architecture That Trains Londoners to Live Differently
This week marks over 13 years of living in London. It was an adjustment, certainly—although I’ve written about how hard it was for me emotionally, some of the hardest culture shock moments actually happened gradually, as I was living in London as a Canadian. Culture shock in London can sneak up on you; there many things I never thought were unusual in my hometown of … Continue reading Culture Shock in London: 23 Things That Surprised Me After 13 Years
This week, I’m celebrating 13 years of living in London—what started as a post-university trip to get an internship became a full-time job, and although I’ve travelled a lot, London is the place I’ve called home for over a decade. I’m not a big history buff; it was never my favourite subject in school, and I can’t say that it’s something I go out-of-my-way to … Continue reading 3 Ways London’s History Shapes How the City Feels Today
I’ve been sick this week, coming back from my cousin’s engagement party in Leeds. Before I got this cursed cold, I spent a weekend with my partner in Leeds, England. It’s more north than I’m used to venturing—about 2.5 hours on a train from London—and it was my first time in this city that wasn’t a stopover to somewhere else. Over the weekend I learned … Continue reading Three Meals I Loved In Leeds, England
Last weekend I travelled to Bristol, England, for a day trip with my partner. We checked out a Tudor-era castle that’s been transformed into a hotel, and I ended up learning a lot about the property. England is full of historic buildings, and many of them have been turned into businesses that can be explored, but unlike a National Trust building (which can be toured … Continue reading Three English Castle Hotels for Your Next Weekend Away
No Small Wander 