As the Old English saying goes, all good things must come to an end: But at the laste, as every thing hath ende (English poet Geoffrey Chaucer, in a poem from the 130os). Today concluded our year living in London.
It has been a truly wonderful ten months, allowing us time to explore London. We’ve attended 13 theatrical productions; dined on cuisine from Asia, Africa, and the Middle East; enjoyed Michelin-starred restaurants; toured Buckingham Palace, Parliament, Big Ben, Greenwich Observatory, and more; explored the National Gallery, Tate Modern, Natural History Museum, Victoria & Albert Museum, and more; strolled the extensive parks and wandered the neighborhoods of the West End.
Beyond London, we spent two weeks in Scotland and a week in Wales. I’ve hiked dozens of walks throughout southern England, from Dartmouth to Dover. We’ve visited my birthplace near Manchester. I collaborated with computer scientists at Imperial and am nurturing new collaborations with other UK universities. I’ve lectured at universities across the UK, in Cambridge, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Imperial, Oxford, Southhampton, St Andrews, and UC London. Finally, London has been a fantastic base for travel around the world: Amsterdam, Australia, France, Germany, Kuwait, New Zealand, Svalbard, and the USA. Most is documented in this blog!
See tags England, Scotland, and Wales for links to my other posts from the United Kingdom (recent and past). As a photographer, this year has been a wonderful opportunity to refine my craft. See the photo gallery for one last collection of recent London sights and scenes, including this curious pair of sculptures near Paddington Station.
We are grateful for the many people who helped make this year pleasant: Hamed, Mirco, Tim & Lucy, and Ahmed; to Dartmouth College, for allowing me the time; to Imperial College, for hosting me; and to the Royal Society and the Wolfson Foundation, for funding my fellowship. Thank you all!
Postscript: I highly recommend the following book, which I used for two or three dozen lovely hikes and walks in and around the greater London area:
The Rough Guide to Walks in & Around London, 2023, from Rough Guides.
David Kotz 