I had a few days between the last day of my internship and when I picked my parents up at Heathrow. I met them at the Heathrow tube station and we dragged all their stuff to their hotel as I navigated. It was really good to see them again after 4 months away – and its always fun when they both have to rely on me to get around. haha.

Gotta love how my parents get to the UK and I go from hostels to Hilton gold member executive lounges. That executive lounge sure came in handy with the free breakfast and dinner-time snacks. (I was particularly fond of the scrambled eggs & toast.)

My schedule of touristy things to do kept us occupied as I took them to see the V&A museum, the poppies at the Tower of London, St. Dunstan-in-the-East, and signed us up for Sandeman’s free walking tour of London (Westminster). It was the most walking I had done since my Italy adventure, and my chance to say goodbye to my temporary home.

We also got to meet up with Amie for a Westminster Abbey service. What a priceless last evening with a precious friend! Between the breathtaking Westminster choir and the incense that was breathtaking in an entirely different way (my scarf smelled of incense until I got back to the States), I don’t think I’ll ever be able to forget that service.

It was a fun final few days, and I’m pretty sure I exhausted my parents. Oops? We didn’t get through everything I had planned, but I count it a success that mom and dad had the public transportation mostly figured out by the time we left.