Yes, our trip is finally winding down. Today was our last day in Brighton and our last official day of vacation in Europe. Tomorrow we take the train to London's Gatwick Hilton. This will give us one day of R & R before our flight back to Atlanta on Friday morning.

We had a rather quiet day today, perhaps a little melancholy because it's our last, or maybe because the sun only peeked out occasionally or maybe even because the sky was gray and we were misted with rain a few times. Still, it was a good day. We did a fast walk against strong head winds down the beach to Hove once again and then just stayed out. We didn't go back to the apartment until after 5 pm. We had a proper English breakfast with tea, and then explored The Lanes which is a network of small streets lined with cool shopping boutiques, bakeries, pubs and restaurants. Some quite exclusive. Finally, we had heard that visiting the Royal Pavilion is the number one thing people suggest as a must-do in Brighton, so we decided to go back for a tour. It was amazing, grand beyond all expectations, but then it was the extravagant King George IV who built it!! We both were glad we took the time to see the magnificent building and its reflection of grand excess. I'm sorry that no photography was allowed inside the building because it is otherwise indescribable.

I'm sad to end this journey. I keep thinking . . . what ideas, concepts, habits, preferences, etc., will we take back with us? How will our lives change because of this? I know we have absorbed things and are taking new knowledge and ideas with us. I know we have changed because of all the places and things we've seen and people we have met. I also keep wondering . . . how did we become so lucky or so forthright as to simply decide to take this trip and to just do it? While I am sad to see an end to this glorious vacation, I am thrilled about going home to loved family, to see our wonderful, wonderful daughters and our friends; and I am happy beyond belief to have been here, to have seen so much of God's great world, to have seen a glimpse of civilization's colorful history, and to have met all the wonderful people we encountered across this great land. Best of all, I am happy to have experienced it all with my life's mate and love, Stan.

Slan go foill.