An Athens Graduation
Our youngest, my darling little Franny, graduated from college this past May. Someone please explain time to me...I just can't seem to understand how it is possible for her to be that old. I could easily go off on an entire tirade about this, but I shall spare you that and just refer you to a blog post from 10 years ago if you happen to be in the mood for a rant about that trickster, time. I have all the exact same emotions just magnified by 10, at the very least.
Anyhoo, we had an extra pleasant long weekend in the ever adorable Athens, Ga., celebrating her accomplishment and visiting with her ridiculously lovely and lively friend group and families.
And Off We Went
The following weekend, as a graduation treat, Franny and I jollied off on an excursion. We started in the big city. The Chattanooga airport now has a daily direct flight to LGA. A very big deal for those of us who reside in Chitlen Switch, don't you know. (Thank you, Delta!)
We stayed at the High Line Hotel, as Franny wanted to be close to the West Village. The weather was ideal, and we spent the weekend stomping around downtown, popping into galleries and museums, shopping, and eating more than we should. Pretty much all the things.
I was especially enchanted by the High Line, as I had, shockingly enough, not been on it since before it was completed. What a brilliant use of that space.
On our last night, we made it up to Broadway to see Giant. I thought John Lithgow was terrific and enjoyed the play overall, though it is a tad dark and eerily timely.
To Europe We Go!
The next morning, we hopped on a plane and crossed the pond. Stella, our eldest daughter, is finishing up her master's at King's College in London and met us at the Heathrow airport to drive us out to the Cotswolds. I thought that was exceptionally brave of her. My friend, Annette, met us there as well.
So off we went, with Stella at the helm, barreling down the M40 in an overstuffed rental car, in the dark, on the "wrong" side of the road. Terrifying. But we made it safely to our guest house a bit after midnight, where we stumbled around in the shockingly damp and cool pitch-black garden trying to identify the correct lodging for a good 30 minutes or so. It felt as if we were starring in our very own ridiculous sitcom (a la I Love Lucy), and it was entirely my fault, as I had missed a key email that came in late.
We stayed at Kiftsgate Court Gardens in one of their guest accommodations. Waking up to this view from my window was well worth the 12-hour travel odyssey.
We only got to see a sliver of the Cotswolds, as we only had two days there, but what we did see was breathtaking, and I would go back in a heartbeat.
Right next to Kiftsgate Gardens, which were my very favorite, is Hidcote Manor Garden. Slightly larger and more formal than their neighbor's, and also delicious beyond belief.
We also toured Snowshill Manor and Garden, which is well worth a visit if a slightly kooky collector's paradise in a wildly gorgeous setting is your kind of thing. It is definitely mine...I happen to adore gawking at a good-looking hoarding situation.
We hopped in and out of the pretty town of Broadway and, on our return trip to London, stopped at The Bull Charlbury for a delicious early dinner.
London with my Darlings!
In London, we stayed in a particularly charming flat in Fulham, as that is the neighborhood where Stella lives. I have used One Fine Stay for rentals on our last couple of visits and recommend them. The experience feels much more personable than the typical Airbnb/VRBO fare.
London was quite packed, as we happened to be there the week of the Chelsea Flower Show. Sadly, we were not able to procure tickets, but walking down the King's Road was a parade in itself. All the shopfronts were festively festooned in flowers. It was all really very impressive, but it was no place to be if you were in a hurry...quite congested down there.
I did duck into the Physic Garden, which made for a lovely and peaceful retreat from the crowds.
We hit the Schiaparelli exhibit at the V&A one morning, and it was extraordinary. Her designs were delightful, the cut, craftsmanship, and detail just amazing, and what a fantastic sense of humor she had. I loved every minute of that exhibit.
Another highlight was the Hockney exhibition at the Serpentine Gallery. It is, basically, daily iPad drawings of his view over the span of a year's lockdown in Normandy during COVID. I found it captivating.
Bon Voyage!
The last leg of our journey was Paris. We took the Eurostar over, which I had never done, and found it much more pleasant than flying.
We stayed in a nice little hotel in the Latin Quarter called the Pilgrim. Sadly, we did not pack our suits, as we sure would have enjoyed using the hotel's pool.
Paris was HOT. Not as hot as it was in June, thank heavens, but it did get quite steamy the last couple of days there.
We did not let the heat stop us, however, from taking in a smattering of the major sights. I visited Notre Dame for the very first time, we toured the Panthéon, we enjoyed a nice Matisse show at the Grand Palais, we visited Versailles and biked around the Estate of Trianon, and we had an especially delicious dinner in Montmartre at Le Matre before heading up the hill to view the sunset from the steps of the Sacré-Cœur. We also did a good amount of damage shopping in the City of Lights.
Fin
All in all, it was a glorious girls' trip. It was great to spend time with Stella and see her enjoying her new setting, and a great way to celebrate Franny's graduation.
There is really nothing like travel to open your eyes to the wonders of our great big, beautiful, and diverse world. Aren't we lucky to be here, and lucky to have the opportunity to explore it all? Heaven knows, we need to make the most of the time we have...every once in a while you need to go astray and play.
