London felt so oddly and unexplainably familiar. Maybe it was genetic memory because it’s where some of my ancestors originated from.
Why not? We carry around so much trauma our ancestors bestowed upon us that it would be nice if they also left us something nice, like the memory of the places where they lived and raised their families.
Speaking of London it's hard not to feel it in your soul. I don't know if I have any English blood, but London feels like home. On the other hand, I do know that part of my ancestors came from the Czech Republic, yet when we visited Prague I didn't feel a thing. Beautiful city, but it didn't speak to me. There's also the question of my Croatian ancestry, but I haven't been there yet... which is why Hivefest in Split sounds tempting, although it might not allow me time to search for my roots. Still, worth considering.
I believe we get the good and the bad from our ancestors. There was something about even London's gloomy weather that brought me a strange sort of comfort, maybe more like familiarity. We don't have anywhere near as many cloudy days in our part of the US but there was something about the gray and the mist there that drew me in and made me more introspective. It makes you want to find a nice cozy pub or have a cup of warm tea. I see why so many good writers came from that country. I've only been to a handful of other cities that resonated with me as much as London.
HiveFest does sound intriguing this year! I'm going to try my best to make it this time. If I am able to attend I'll probably make it part of a longer trip. I've been hearing a lot about Istanbul and may drop in and see what all the fuss is about. : )