urban love

Sometimes, a long walk is all you need to be reminded of why you are where you are at a certain time in your life.

When things are going badly, I learned that I just need some fresh air and beautiful scenery. While Winter Terms spent abroad used to be my outlet for beauty, I have to seek other means of adventure in the "real world." In Wilmington, Delaware, that means a walk around the city.

 The Grand, my favorite building in the city

My two-month "Sex and the City" marathon concluded Friday night in tears as I watched the final episode. I had never seen the show while it was live - mostly due to the fact that I didn't have HBO, but also, I was never that interested in my teenage years. After years of my Ya-Ya sisters' pleading, I finally decided it was time to watch the show. A co-worker lent me her DVD collection and I was hooked. New York City was its own character in the story. And, I suppose, Wilmington is an important character in my story here. The day after finishing the series, I took my longest walk yet - 12 miles - around the city with a friend.

Wilmington has charmed me. On more stressful days at work, a short three-hour walk through the city before it gets dark is just what I need to feel better. The lights along Market Street and the reflections in the Christina River during twilight make my heart smile.

 The riverfront

The Grand is lit up beautifully at night

The city was beautiful in its bare and cold state just a month ago, but it's even more therapeutic now.

Brandywine Creek in mid-April

Only a few weeks later, and the trees along the creek are in full bloom

Spring has arrived and the city is even more enchanting. 

Josephine Fountain in Brandywine Park this Saturday

One of the many highlights along Saturday's long walk was getting to enjoy the gardens in front of the many beautiful homes in the city. 

Atop Rockford Tower (a stone water tower), we had a beautiful view of the city and the Wilmington Flower Market going on below us. 

Even though it suddenly became freezing cold and rainy, God rays came through the clouds at the Russel W. Peterson Urban Wildlife Refuge.

And on the walk back home, I finally got to see the beautiful Kalmar Nyckel in the perfect lighting. The tall ship of Delaware is an icon I've been waiting to see since I moved here nine months ago.