Kew Gardens

Hi Family!

So this Saturday is my last day solo before my mom comes into town and guess what? The sun finally came out over here! Today was literally 95 degrees all day long and I don't think I could have been more excited for blistering weather. Seriously, a month of rain and cold weather was more than enough for this Socal girl. I decided to celebrate my freedom by taking a trip to Kew Gardens, and was definitely not disappointed. I started with a gentle 3 mile walk to Waterloo and then caught the train to Richmond. Am I starting to sound like a local now? But in all honesty, thank god for google maps. 

I was determined to spend my day out in the sun, but may or may not have gotten too much sun. I found this observatory and was like "retreeeeaaaattttt." Except I went inside, and you would not believe it, it was a tropical observatory -.- Which meant it was hotter on the inside than it was on the outside. Oops. Needless to say I did a lap and then hightailed it out of there for some shade. 

Look at the inside! It's just so gorgeous, I forgot how clean the air can be and how fresh (even if it was humid in the glass house). My lungs were so happy, looks like London has been smoggier than I realized.

Anyone know what this vine is? There was no sign but I absolutely love these purple flowers! I kinda want to grow them on a trellis on the balcony of my new apartment.

This is a very English landscaping set up...or so all the signs told me. But I have seen that it's popular to put beds of flowers in various shapes on the grass. I kind of like it. Also it's so nice to see grass that isn't brown and dying! (Can you tell I'm from the desert?) I wonder what their water bill is like in these gardens, and if it's way less because of all the rain?

These flowers were so cute! I felt silly taking so many pictures. But honestly, around this point I was at 7 miles so I need to sit on a bench and take a little break. I'm not sure what possessed me to walk half the way to Kew Gardens when I'd only be doing more walking here, but too late to take it back now! I was determined to make the most of my student discounted 9 pound ticket.

Would I even be a Cali girl if I didn't stop and take a picture at the mini redwood forest? These trees took me back to a year ago, when I road tripped to Oregon with my cousins and best friend Kelly! Funny how I can be taken back to SF when I'm in the middle of England. But dang am I lucky to have seen so much of the world. It's funny, no matter how far I travel, I always seem to find bits and pieces of home. 

And with that, I rounded out my trip to an even 10 miles. Apparently I was gunning to break the personal record Tanja and I set without knowing it. My feet might have been super sore, and I may or may not have gotten a bit too much sun. But if you can't tell by the smile on my face, I was one happy happy girl.

Mom comes in tomorrow, so I need to tidy the whole place up and pretend like I've been living in the peak of cleanliness this whole time and hide the fact that the 8 dishes I used never left their drying racks hahaha. So excited for all the toursity stuff again. I'll take pictures of different things so it won't feel repetitive...I hope.

Love you all!

Carolyn