Farewell, adventure, and a new chapter

Wow, how crazy is this? More than a month has passed since my last entry, and so much has happened in that time that I can hardly wrap my head around how many little stories have unfolded. The last weeks in England felt like a living photo album: loud, colorful, warm, and sometimes a bit nostalgic, but above all, filled with moments that I will carry with me forever.
Experiencing London once more with my mom and brother was a gift. We stood on the 58th floor at Horizon 22 and watched the city spread out beneath us like a living mosaic of streets, parks, and buildings. We tried new flavors, stood in front of Buckingham Palace, and I got to see the musical Mamma Mia! one last time, which lit up my eyes and heart. On a friend's recommendation, we also took a Thames River Cruise: under brilliant sunshine and perfect weather, it was simply incredible to see the city from the water, with wind in our hair and the shimmering Thames—unforgettable.
Brighton was a different, lighter world: beach walks, sea air, and my first Mr. Whippy in six months, soft ice cream with a chocolate stick, a little English tradition that melted sweetly on the tongue. We also visited the oldest pub in London, enjoyed delicious food, and had a typically English evening (while I'm more of a cider fan, a good beer is essential).
Another highlight was our day trip to the Warner Bros. Studios. Being behind the scenes of the films I love was magical, with props, sets, and small details that seem almost invisible in the movie yet bear so much work and love. It was one of those experiences that makes you breathe a little slower because everything suddenly appears bigger and more precious.
Then, it was time to move on: farewell to my apartment, a few stray tears, and then off by car to Liverpool, tracing the footsteps of the Beatles, soaked in harbor atmosphere and lively streets. We drove up to Edinburgh via Gretna Green, this sweet little village where wedding dreams seem to float in the air. The city with its winding alleys, small pubs, and live music felt like a warm embrace.
Glasgow, the Isle of Arran, where the weather briefly slowed us down, but later rewarded us with sunshine and unbelievable ice cream, and then the Isle of Skye, which was the heart of this journey for me. Rainbows, a small castle in the middle of a lake, landscapes that look like they’re from an old painting. I felt as if the world was breathing a little slower for a moment. And of course, the drive over Loch Ness: Nessie remained hidden, but the tranquility of the water and the expansiveness around made up for it.
The last six months have been intense, full of deep encounters, new friendships, and thousands of little moments that have changed me. I am endlessly grateful for the people I met, for the places I got to see, and for every laugh and every quiet minute I experienced.
I’ve been back in Germany for a few days now. It feels strange yet familiar, and I know that this return is just the beginning of something new, perhaps a new chapter, or maybe just a pause. Whatever comes next: this journey has shown me how vast the world is and how much room I still have in me for the new.
Thank you to all of you who accompanied me on this journey, through messages, small gestures, and your empathy. Without you, so much would have been less colorful.

All my love,
Yours, Steffi