From the time of my first business trip until last year's covid restrictions, I had been to London very often, both for work and as a tourist. I am a sincere and devoted fan of this city. I became one from day one. Or rather, from the second day. I remember very well when we arrived late February evening of 2010, and all I could see before going to sleep were the lights and outlines of buildings on the way from the airport. But the next morning we had an event scheduled at the firm's office, which was then located in Adelaide House on London Bridge. Crossing the bridge in a crowd of employees, I looked over the railing and suddenly stopped in a natural stupor. In front of me was the shimmering green-and-yellow bubbling Thames and the magnificent Tower Bridge in the morning haze. It was akin to a scene from a good dramatic movie: the crowd was circling me, and I stood with my mouth open and simply contemplated, unable to move from my seat. It's a powerful visual experience. It was as if a set from the novels of Dickens, Conan Doyle, and Agatha Christie had come to life right in front of me. I ended up being twenty minutes late for a meeting that day-so late that the picture took me out of my work rhythm.