I've thought the same thing about cities! They'd be so much more pleasant if they didn't have so many people. And traffic. And cement and pavement. And buildings. Take away all those things and cities would be a lot better! Your trip sounds like it was an interesting time in Hell. I am not a city person!
And I liked the story about crossing the bridge and not knowing the name of the river. How embarrassing! But your sister's nonjudgmental response was quite nice. I guess it was the best of Thames and it was the worst of Thames.
Always there with a dad joke. ;) I admit, I am notoriously bad with names and not much better with geography. While walking a river path in Geneva with a friend in 2018, I called it the "Rhine River" and she corrected me ... the Rhone. I'd been under the wrong impression that Geneva was on the second-largest river in Europe for eight years.
I agree with Lucy. Regent's Park and Hampstead Heath for running, also Primrose Hill. Herself lived in Camden Town for ~40 years, 28 years of which we dated so I wandered around North and Central London quite a bit.
Next time! I want to return to London someday to explore a bit more and launch a bike tour in England and Wales. If you have any route suggestions, let me know.
A couple months ago handful of women and myself were planning a trip to Paris. They started talking about spending 4-5 days in Paris then taking a tunnel to London and hanging there for a few days. After mulling over the conversations for a couple of days I let them know that I was not interested in going. I can’t do cities or crowds of people either. I can’t even handle the Iowa State Fair. My son is moving to northern Spain and wants me to come visit. I get anxiety just thinking about the airports and having to sit in a plane full of people for 6-8 hours over the sea.
I’m glad you survived your family’s city adventure.
I look forward to reading your thoughts and feeling once you’re off the antidepressant.
Thanks Linda. I can understand your reservations about the London/Paris trip. That does sound like a lot. I also have anxiety about crowded airports and enclosed airplanes, but that's a known challenge that I've largely been able to overcome. There is something to be said about exposure therapy! I hope you'll visit your son in northern Spain. It looks beautiful and Beat and I hope to explore the region as well.
I'm working on a post about my experience tapering off of Lexapro. Honestly, it's not as intense as I'd hoped. My emotions still feel a little bit muted. Perhaps I need more time, or perhaps, as usual, the answers are not so simple. But we keep moving forward, trying new experiences, and hoping. It's the only way to live.
Wow! I can’t believe you did so much in London in a week! And fitted all your running in to! Welcome to my world 🤦🏻♀️🤣 I have to get that tube to work daily ! It’s so crowded! You can usually pop into any business, cafe or pub to use the loo, look for the community toilet sign. (Next time) thanks for sharing, great post.
Thanks for the tip! I hope your daughter and her friend were okay! Come to think of it, I'm surprised they don't post a warning sign at the bottom of the staircase.
St. Paul's sent me into a panic attack as well! I got all the way to the top, then gazed down the glass block in the center of the topmost floor, 365' above the rotunda floor - stepped outside to that little single rusty rail & said, Nope! I ran back down the "up" stairs - a little embarrassed, but anxious to get back down. I love the idea of early morning runs in strange cities!
Your anxiety and sensitivity seem to be back which is perhaps a good thing after the months of numbness?
Next time, maybe think about running up through Regents Park and onwards to Hampstead Heath instead of south of the river. Much more scenic and less crowded.
Thanks! I am fully (but only recently) tapered off of antidepressants. I will probably write a post about this soon. I do feel closer to normal, I think. Although when my worst triggers are involved (heights and crowds), I had issues with panic attacks even on Lexapro and also well before the worst years of my anxiety disorder. It's one of the deeper issues I am trying to address with EMDR, but that is going unsurprisingly slowly (I have most recently been working on my paralyzing fear of water.)
And I agree on your preferences on seeing and feeling places. I just don't fit in with the must see everything mindset and would have a tough time with a go, go, go itinerary.
I've thought the same thing about cities! They'd be so much more pleasant if they didn't have so many people. And traffic. And cement and pavement. And buildings. Take away all those things and cities would be a lot better! Your trip sounds like it was an interesting time in Hell. I am not a city person!
And I liked the story about crossing the bridge and not knowing the name of the river. How embarrassing! But your sister's nonjudgmental response was quite nice. I guess it was the best of Thames and it was the worst of Thames.
Always there with a dad joke. ;) I admit, I am notoriously bad with names and not much better with geography. While walking a river path in Geneva with a friend in 2018, I called it the "Rhine River" and she corrected me ... the Rhone. I'd been under the wrong impression that Geneva was on the second-largest river in Europe for eight years.
I agree with Lucy. Regent's Park and Hampstead Heath for running, also Primrose Hill. Herself lived in Camden Town for ~40 years, 28 years of which we dated so I wandered around North and Central London quite a bit.
Next time! I want to return to London someday to explore a bit more and launch a bike tour in England and Wales. If you have any route suggestions, let me know.
Gosh, so many options. Just out of London you could ride National Cycle Network (NCN) 6 to the NW of England via Derby where we live.
Or NCN 4 to Bristol, hop onto Wales and ride the Lon Los Cymru to NW Wales and turn East and ride back to England along the coast.
Cycling UK has published a handful of routes in the last few years that I have ridden or on my list. Most are ~250 miles.
Also a number of coast to coasts routes.
Have a look at the cycle.travel website, it has info and gpx tracks for loads of routes, and mapping to.
If you want any more help feel free to ask - and pop in for a cup of tea if passing Derby!
Thanks for the suggestions and link. So much to explore, so little time.
A couple months ago handful of women and myself were planning a trip to Paris. They started talking about spending 4-5 days in Paris then taking a tunnel to London and hanging there for a few days. After mulling over the conversations for a couple of days I let them know that I was not interested in going. I can’t do cities or crowds of people either. I can’t even handle the Iowa State Fair. My son is moving to northern Spain and wants me to come visit. I get anxiety just thinking about the airports and having to sit in a plane full of people for 6-8 hours over the sea.
I’m glad you survived your family’s city adventure.
I look forward to reading your thoughts and feeling once you’re off the antidepressant.
My best to you, Jill.
Linda
Thanks Linda. I can understand your reservations about the London/Paris trip. That does sound like a lot. I also have anxiety about crowded airports and enclosed airplanes, but that's a known challenge that I've largely been able to overcome. There is something to be said about exposure therapy! I hope you'll visit your son in northern Spain. It looks beautiful and Beat and I hope to explore the region as well.
I'm working on a post about my experience tapering off of Lexapro. Honestly, it's not as intense as I'd hoped. My emotions still feel a little bit muted. Perhaps I need more time, or perhaps, as usual, the answers are not so simple. But we keep moving forward, trying new experiences, and hoping. It's the only way to live.
Wow! I can’t believe you did so much in London in a week! And fitted all your running in to! Welcome to my world 🤦🏻♀️🤣 I have to get that tube to work daily ! It’s so crowded! You can usually pop into any business, cafe or pub to use the loo, look for the community toilet sign. (Next time) thanks for sharing, great post.
Ps, my daughter had the same problem at the top of St Paul’s and one of her mates actually fainted !
Thanks for the tip! I hope your daughter and her friend were okay! Come to think of it, I'm surprised they don't post a warning sign at the bottom of the staircase.
They are fine thank you. I’ve yet to do it myself, but yes that would make sense.
St. Paul's sent me into a panic attack as well! I got all the way to the top, then gazed down the glass block in the center of the topmost floor, 365' above the rotunda floor - stepped outside to that little single rusty rail & said, Nope! I ran back down the "up" stairs - a little embarrassed, but anxious to get back down. I love the idea of early morning runs in strange cities!
It's nice to hear that I am not the only person to freak out up there. I wonder how many people do? Thanks for sharing!
Your anxiety and sensitivity seem to be back which is perhaps a good thing after the months of numbness?
Next time, maybe think about running up through Regents Park and onwards to Hampstead Heath instead of south of the river. Much more scenic and less crowded.
Thanks! I am fully (but only recently) tapered off of antidepressants. I will probably write a post about this soon. I do feel closer to normal, I think. Although when my worst triggers are involved (heights and crowds), I had issues with panic attacks even on Lexapro and also well before the worst years of my anxiety disorder. It's one of the deeper issues I am trying to address with EMDR, but that is going unsurprisingly slowly (I have most recently been working on my paralyzing fear of water.)
Just lovely. Thanks for sharing.
The Battersea Park photo is just stunning!
And I agree on your preferences on seeing and feeling places. I just don't fit in with the must see everything mindset and would have a tough time with a go, go, go itinerary.