Introducing Walkabout:London
My first taste of London was a cheese sandwich purchased from a street vendor not far from the cheap hotel where our college study group was staying.
But this was no ordinary sandwich like the kind I was used to at home. It was made with a sturdier kind of bread than I was used to, not the melt-in-your-mouth Wonder Bread of my childhood. And the cheese was different too: white cheddar, which I had never seen, much less tasted.
Everything about that simple sandwich tasted different, more flavorful, and absolutely wonderful.
That may have been the moment, just hours off the plane from the States, that I first fell in love with a place.
I quickly acclimated to the hustle and bustle of London. I learned to hop on and off of the Tube like a pro. I walked and walked and walked, enjoying free museums and concerts, and taking in the parks. I strolled through book stores and went to the theatre. I loved it all (except for the food, which, back in the early 1980s was still the horrible, bland English food of Dickens novels).
Since that first visit in 1984, much has changed about London (especially the food!) and much has changed about me. But my love for that place has not changed.
London has been my siren song ever since that first visit, and I’ve been back many times since. My husband and I visited with backpacks before we had kids. Later, I took each one of my daughters when they turned 16. I’ve brought my parents and sisters and brothers-in-law. I’ve lost count of my trips to London.
As I’ve posted about London over the years, many readers have asked, “When are you going to take ME? I’d love to go to London with you!”
At first, I just laughed off those questions, but after so many asks, I started to wonder, “Could I do that?” To which my family resolutely answered, “Yes! Do it!”
For the past couple of years, I’ve been turning this idea over and over in my head. What if? . . . How would it work? . . . What would a trip like that look like? I’ve followed others who have taken similar trips, taking notes and dreaming up ideas of my own, until last year I finally decided to give this dream a try.
And that’s how Walkabout:London was born.
What’s Walkabout? Traditionally a walkabout was a longer trip with an educational component or an intent to learn something new. Walkabouts are more traditional in Australia and Europe, not so much here in America, but I really liked the idea of not just travel, but travel with a purpose.
What will Walkabout:London entail? The first Walkabout trip will have room for six women (sorry, guys!) and will be, not just a sightseeing trip (although there will be plenty of that!), but also a spiritual retreat. Each day will begin with a thought about one aspect of God, so that we can look for Him throughout our day. Then we’ll set out to visit sights in London, Oxford, and the Cotswolds.
Do I have to be a woman of faith to attend? No. Of course not! But you should know that one of the purposes of this trip is spend time looking for God each day. You will be most welcome to join us.
When is the trip? Our first Walkabout:London trip will be September 5-13, 2020. I am taking names of people who would be interested in a trip in 2021 as well.
How can I learn more? Just click here to get the full, inspirational details.
Friends, I’m excited to show you around my favorite city in the world—the place that calls me back over and over again. Let’s discover not just the city, but the Creator of the history, the majesty, the beauty of London.
[Note: This post was written in 2019—long before anyone had ever heard about Covid. Walkabout:London filled up in a week (!), but unfortunately had to be postponed until 2021, when I will host two Walkabout trips. If you’d like to be added to my mailing list for 2021 trips, please contact me and I’ll be sure to add you.]
