Leicester (les-tah): Rich in culture and diversity, making Leicester feel like the world is on your doorstep. ~Unknown

As our unforgettable journey through Italy came to an end, we couldn't help but feel a little bittersweet about leaving a place we had grown to love so much. Italy has truly found a special place in our hearts and has quickly become a top contender for a long-term stay or maybe even a place to call home one day.

Instead of rushing back to London, we decided to slow things down and enjoy the journey by train, making a few stops along the way. We spent a cozy night in Lyon before heading to Paris for the day. There's just something so fun about being able to say, "Oh, we're spending the day in Paris."

Being back in Paris brought back so many memories from our first visit over a year ago. We loved wandering through familiar streets, revisiting a few of our favorite spots, and soaking in the magic of the city all over again. It was the perfect way to wrap up this chapter of our travels before making our way back to London.

Of course, Holy Belly was at the top of our list, and even though there had been a few staff changes since our last visit, the food was still next-level delicious. It was so great to see Valentine and Andy again, and such a pleasure to meet Alice.

After our meal at Holy Belly, we decided to walk to the Seine, and even in the middle of the heatwave, it was such a magical stroll. We stopped by Notre-Dame and were lucky enough to step inside while a mass was in progress, which made the visit feel even more special. Our final stop was Shakespeare and Company, where we once again found ourselves tucked away in the upstairs attic loft, soaking in the atmosphere and taking in the incredible energy of the place. It's one of those spots that never gets old.

One thing worth mentioning is that we were in Paris during a major heatwave. So yes, while they say Paris is always a good idea, that might come with an asterisk in the middle of summer. 😉 Even so, we wouldn't have traded the experience for anything.

One of the biggest highlights of this leg of the trip was finally riding the Eurostar from Paris to London. It had been on our bucket list for a long time, and it definitely lived up to the hype. The ride was smooth, comfortable, and, much to my relief, traveling through the tunnel beneath the English Channel wasn't scary at all. As someone who's claustrophobic, I was definitely a little apprehensive, but I never once felt uncomfortable. I did stay awake for the entire ride, more than I can say for Charles, he was asleep before the train even pulled out of the station. 😂

Arriving back in London brought a wave of nostalgia, along with the excitement of kicking off our next adventure in Leicester Square. We hopped on the Tube at St. Pancras and made it to Leicester Square without a hitch. Everything was going exactly according to plan...until we plugged our destination address into Google Maps and realized it was nearly a day's walk from where we were standing. Read more about that here Off Track

One thing about our adventures, there is never a dull moment, and we always land exactly where we are meant to be. (Unless we try to force situations that don’t align) In the span of a millisecond we had to divert from our original plans and go from Leicester Square to the town of Leicester, England.

“In the moment of crisis, the wise build bridges and the foolish build dams.” ~African Proverb

Fast forward nearly four weeks, and our time in Leicester has been nothing short of amazing. Charles and I have had so many wonderful adventures and have truly enjoyed our explorations of the city.

Some of the highlights have included a beautiful candlelit concert, the National Space Centre, and visiting the Leicester Museum & Art Gallery, which is just a stone's throw from our apartment. The park directly across the street has become part of a daily routine, where Charles starts each morning with Tai Chi and meditation.

One of the things we've loved most about staying here is how walkable everything is. Since we rely on public transportation, having our apartment just off Leicester's New Walk has been absolutely priceless. Everything we need is only a few steps away, making it the perfect home base for our time in Leicester.

While Leicester has been our home base, we've also taken a few memorable day trips along the way. We spent time in Liverpool, the hometown of The Beatles, and explored Nottingham, better known as Robin Hood's old stomping grounds. We also made a couple of trips back to London to catch some live theatre and squeezed in a visit to our friends' restaurant, Toranj, in Shepherd's Bush.

One of the highlights was seeing Hadestown, thanks to my cousin-sister for the recommendation! It was absolutely fantastic. With Charles's birthday just around the corner on August 14, we decided to start celebrating a little early by seeing Witness for the Prosecution. Based on one of Agatha Christie's classic mysteries, it kept us captivated from beginning to end, and we both loved every minute of it.

As our time in Leicester, England, comes to an end, one thing I know for sure is that this reroute was divinely orchestrated. "Trust the journey" is a phrase we hear often, but for the path Charles and I are currently walking, trust isn't just a nice saying, it’s a priority. Our journey continues to be fueled by love, and we're grateful for every opportunity to share that love with the people we meet along the way.

Our time in Leicester was made even more special with an early birthday celebration for Charles, whose birthday would be just after our departure. Tim and Soph treated us to a proper Sunday roast, followed by a beautiful nature walk and scenic drive that gave us the chance to see even more of Leicester before it was time to say our goodbyes.

Saving the best for last, Tim and Soph surprised us with a special outing to Foxton Top Lock for High Tea. It was the perfect ending to our stay. The tea was amazing, and the backdrop of the historic canal made the whole experience feel truly enchanting. It was a wonderful way to celebrate Charles with Tim and Soph and a memorable finale to our time in Leicester.

We are so grateful to Tim and Soph for making sure our accommodations and entire stay were nothing short of amazing. Your kindness, generosity, and friendship truly elevated our experience, and we sincerely thank you both for making Leicester feel like home.

And a special shout-out to Alex, Tim's brother, who is not only a really cool guy but someone I firmly believe is going to be an incredible chef one day. We can't wait to see where his culinary journey takes him.

Our time here in Leicester would have never happened if we hadn't embraced the detour as part of the journey. Looking back, what first seemed like an unexpected change turned out to be one of the greatest blessings of our travels.

So, the next time life takes you on a detour, don't be so quick to resist it. Instead, consider that you may be getting redirected to an experience, a place, or even people you never knew you needed. Sometimes the most meaningful moments aren't found on the path we planned but they’re discovered on the one we never saw coming.

Be sure to check out Love Drops YouTube Channel.

Thank you for reading! ~One Love Charles and Diane