POSTCARDS FROM ENGLAND

I don’t know if this is true for everyone, but for me, planning a trip is basically a vacation in its own right. Psychologists agree, apparently. They say trip planning is one of the most pleasurable parts of travel, and research shows that simply  anticipating  a trip can boost happiness and lower stress long before you even unzip your suitcase. Science says it’s good for me, so who am I to argue? We booked our flights back in November 2025, locked in some fantastic accommodations in December, and now—somehow—we’re only three months away! Which means it’s officially time for the really fun stuff: day tours, theater tickets, and deep-dive research that may or may not involve Gary's iPad, my laptop, and both our phones working all at once.  (Oh, and I'm also listening to Edward Rutherfurd's enormous book, London , to get a bunch of historical background...Vikings, Romans, and more!). I have loved every second of our trip research. Honestly, it feels like our vacation has a...

After numerous trips to France (really too many to count!), Gary and I decided it was time to prove we are capable of loving a country without croissants—or surviving another rental car incident like  last year . So off to England we go—where medieval YORK will let us pretend we’re in a period drama, LIVERPOOL promises a steady Beatles soundtrack (and I'm afraid we will be singing along!), and the COTSWOLDS offer cozy villages, ideal for slowing down and briefly fantasizing about never leaving. Somewhere in the middle of all this, we’ll be renting a car and bravely attempting to drive on the “wrong” side of the road, armed with memories of our French car disaster and a renewed sense of optimism. We’ll wrap things up in vibrant LONDON, tackling busy streets, historic landmarks, London theatre, and the Tube (where we’re confident we’ll get on the wrong train  at least  once!). For the next month, expect lots of tea, excessive apologizing, questionable navigation choices (an...