the doors of Westminster Abbey

Visitors to London usually flock to Westminster Abbey first. Its massive double doors are a favourite subject with tourists, photographers, and lovers of history and architecture.

Westminster Abbey's Great North Door
Photo courtesy of The Enchanted Manor

But wonder | wander | women recently walked through with some friends, and since doors are our obsession, we noticed some much smaller but intriguing doorways and wanted to share them here.

International Day of Peace 2016

No more is this annual celebration of greater significance than today, when so many are beaten down and discouraged by such divisive world events playing out in our home turfs and affecting us personally.

wonder | wander | women were caught between such an excruciating rock and a hard place on a visit back to the Philippines last May that we vowed never to return on an election year. Normally known for their warmth and hospitality, our families, friends and fellow Filipinos were unrecognizable. 

Then upon her return to the UK in June, Mahala was greeted with the chaotic turmoil and shocking outcome of the Brexit vote.

Back home in the US, the nation and its citizens are sick to the core over this whole electoral circus. Speculation about the 2016 campaign began almost immediately following the 2012 vote. We are all dreading yet hopeful over what is to unfold come November. 

So today is a reprieve we are aching and ready for. We are eager to celebrate such a longed for peace and start the healing in whatever way possible. 

Barbican Conservatory: hothouse flowers

Two weeks ago we posted about the overflowing life in the Barbican Conservatory. We touched on the cacti in the desert room, and some of the plants along the tropical paths. But there are so many species in the Conservatory that one post wasn't enough to count all our favourites!

The gumamela, Hibiscus rosa-sinensis, from our Conservatory post.

#ReadABookDay

September 6 is National Read A Book Day and on the 16th it's Read An eBook Day.

Following National Book Lover's Day last August 9th, wonder | wander | women rejoice and cheer readers on.

Collage Art by Mahala Urra

We LOVE books! We LOVE to read! We LOVE our bookwormness! Readers of the world rule! 

National Read a Book Day invites us ALL to grab a book we might enjoy and spend the day reading.

Art by Mahala Urra