Of course I remember being here, and I remember loving it. But details have faded, and when my mom brings up a snippet of a memory, I find myself saying, "I just don't remember." Six years was a while ago, but not too long to blatantly forget. I believe presence is a virtue, one I tend to lack. So, this time around, during my second trip to Europe, I wasn't going to let my lack of presence affect my experience.

London is by far the most beautiful city I've ever spent time in. The architecture, the bustling city where people dressed in this season's best cross the streets coffee cups in hand, the delicate desserts placed on plates and platters fit for royalty, the old fashioned taxis that come in classic colors like black, white, and yellow, the window displays that glitter along the sidewalks, each elegant and playful in it's own way.

The city has it's own beauty, one that even it's locals don't always recognize or admit to. There's something lovely about the gloom, the quiet, the still; yet there seems to always be a touch of excitement, elements of discovery. It prides itself on attention to detail, culture, art, preservation of tradition and history, an overall undeniable elegance and poise, a breath of fresh air.

It's true when they say travel is freeing. And this trip did just that. I felt alive and full of inspiration by the end. A sense of creativity came over me like it never had before. Every moment felt vibrant, and I held this close to me, in hope that I could make my life more colorful back in California.

Tea & stay at the Egerton House Hotel