The Joy of Family

Last week during my (Julia's) fall break, my mom came all the way from Knoxville, Tennessee, and stayed for nine glorious days. We did a lot of talking and resting. And, yes, we did squeeze in a little sightseeing. The time included a trip to Westminster abbey, an awe-inspiring burial place for kings and queens, and literary giants like Charles Dickens and Geoffrey Chaucer:



A trip to the London eye, a glorified ferris wheel that overlooks the cityscape (ignore the pasty, white girl in the way):



And an exploration of the city of Bath, home, fittingly enough, of Roman baths dating from the time of the destruction of the Second Temple in the first century:



But also something of a modern shopping mecca (including being sometime home to Jane Austen!)



All told, it was a wonderful, refreshing visit. I only wish it had lastest a few more days. Thank you, mom. Having you here was an unspeakable gift.

Anyone else for a trip to the UK?