Stamps in My Passport

The Unexpected End to Our Mediterranean Anniversary Trip

Some trips give you more than you expect.

And sometimes, they give you exactly what your heart has longed for.

As we made our way home from the most incredible anniversary cruise, we had one more stop before reality: a 21-hour layover in London. A city I hadn’t seen in over 20 years. A city that inspired the travel bug in me when I was just a wide-eyed 17-year-old girl.

Coming Back to Where It All Began…

London wasn’t part of the original plan. But somehow, it became the perfect end cap to our journey. As soon as we landed, a wave of emotion hit me — this was the first time I had returned since my first trip, the one that ignited my love for history, castles, tea shops, and trains.

It was also the place where my travel memories were erased. My first husband destroyed every photo from that trip. For years, I carried that loss in my heart. And now, with Brad by my side, I finally had the chance to rewrite that story.

Racing Time, Reclaiming Memories…

We had just under a day, so we set out to see a few of my favorite landmarks — the ones that held tight grips on my heart.

Tower Bridge rising proudly across the Thames

The historic Tower of London, echoing with centuries of secrets

The iconic Big Ben and the elegant Parliament buildings

The awe-inspiring Westminster Abbey, as majestic as I remembered

Every turn brought back a memory. Every view stirred something in me. And seeing it all through Brad’s eyes — his first time in London — made it feel brand new and wonderfully shared.

A City Still Calling…

We didn’t have enough time. Not even close. There are hundreds of places we still want to explore — tucked-away bookshops, quaint countryside villages, long museum afternoons, cozy pub dinners.

But even in that short window, London reminded me why I fell in love with travel in the first place.

It reminded me how resilient our hearts are — how they remember, heal, and grow.

And how beautiful it is when we get to reclaim what was once lost, share the joy of returning to a place we hold dear and the opportunity to create new memories you’ll cherish for a lifetime. It was exactly what I needed, a beautiful and healing way to end our journey.

One resource we relied on a lot for this trip was Get Your Guide. We were able to save a lot while participating in several unique tours, hop on hop off bus tours, skip the line tickets for sights like the Acropolis, Temple of Zeus, London city tour, city passes and more that helped us save a ton. Just recently Get Your Guide created an app the makes choosing & accessing tickets and passes to enhance your trip a breeze. With the app it’s simple to find what you’re interested in and reserve a spot for all the top sights, tours and adventures to create a memorable trip! It’s so easy to save all your tickets and timed entry passes through the app, just tap, open the ticket, scan and you’re on your way! Use my code STAMPSINYOURPASSPORT15 to save 5% off your first purchase today. Use link below to download the app and start saving today!

✨ Don’t Forget! If you’re planning your own dream trip or revisiting places that hold deep meaning, my free printable travel journal prompts can help you reflect and preserve those moments.

[Download yours here ➝]

With full hearts and carry-on bags,

Krista

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