London, You Made Me Cry (In the Best Way)

Today, I fell in love.

Not with a man (though I’d very much like to), but with a moment. A real, full-body, heart-squeezing moment that came when I finally laid eyes on Big Ben and Westminster Abbey—and the tears just started falling. I’d seen pictures. I had seen Big Ben from a distance. I’d read the history. But nothing prepares you for standing there, beneath that soaring clock tower and beside the ancient, sacred stone of Westminster. It was awe in its purest form, and I will never forget how it felt.

This morning began a little more quietly—breakfast, and then a stroll through the National Gallery, where I feasted on brushstrokes and color and imagination. There’s something powerful about starting a day with art… it softens you, stretches your perspective just enough to let in a little more wonder.

Then came Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, and that emotional pause that caught me completely off guard. And then a gorgeous walk across the bridge, my heart still wide open.

From there, I wandered into St. James’s Park, where I had the loveliest fish and chips at the café by the lake. I could’ve stayed there for hours, just soaking up the breeze, the flowers, and the effortless beauty of it all.

But this city has a way of pulling you along. So off I went—to see the Horse Guards, stroll The Mall, wave at Buckingham Palace (twice!), and eventually find myself weaving through Hyde Park and into the magic of Kensington Gardens. I lingered there a while, then wandered through Knightsbridge and eventually made my way back to Piccadilly and, finally, to my hotel.

🚶‍♀️ Somewhere Along the Way… I Started Thinking

Something about this kind of day, this kind of city, makes you reflect.

And what I realized is this:

I want to be part of a couple again.

I want love.

But not just any love.

I want someone who wants to hold hands and never tire of it. Who takes selfies with me just because we look so darn adorable and he knows it, too. Someone who likes being right next to me—on the street, in life, all of it.

But I also know this: I need someone whose joy looks like mine.

Not in hobbies or interests (those can be learned and shared), but in how he lives. I want a man who loves being outside, who wants to explore and get a little sweaty doing it. Who doesn’t need to sip cocktails in a bar every night, because he’d rather stretch the day until it spills into dusk with one more adventure, one more moment.

That kind of life isn’t for everyone. But it’s the one I love. And I won’t shrink it down.

💫 Tomorrow: My Last Day in London

I’ll return to Westminster Abbey—this time with a ticket and a front-row seat to history. I’ll visit the Queen’s Jewels gallery and let myself be dazzled all over again. And then, it’s time to board the Eurostar to Paris on Sunday. Ooh la la indeed.

But tonight, I’m tucking myself in with a full heart and feet tired from miles of joy. I’ve averaged about 30k steps daily, so I must find a man who can keep up. 😉

And I know this for sure: I will return to London. A Tuesday-to-Saturday trip sounds just about perfect.

Because something about this place—this city of charm, history, and formality wrapped in friendliness—feels like home.

And maybe, just maybe, the next time I come back, I’ll have someone beside me who loves it all just as much as I do.

Until then, I’ll keep walking, dreaming, and living this life of mine—full of wonder, sweat, laughter, and love.

Honey Note:

Heritage runs deep, and I’m 70% UK by blood. But today, I felt 100% connected by heart. 🇬🇧✨

Oh, and “lovely” really is the perfect word.

Especially when said with a British accent by a child calling for their “Dat-T.” 😊

With wanderlust in my heart and just the right amount of tired in my toes,

xo, MaryNell (aka - Honey 🍯)

Forever chasing joy,

forever falling in love with the world.