Scotland
We climbed aboard the great metal snake, northward bound. Scotland bound. The Scotland I experienced was friendly, proud and culturally rich. But coming to terms with dental surgery and the aftermath of work, I was well tired, to use a favourite English euphemism, and thus did not do the place justice. In some ways, Scotland is very English - red buses, English speaking, same high street shops but it felt different. The Scots take their cultural independence within the UK seriously and there's a friendly but fierce rivalry. We stayed at a dodgy hostel, complete with drunken early morning revellers and loud snoring, but all keen as mustard to get out there and see the England's northern cousin. We sampled a wee dram (Scotch), neeps and taties (turnips and potatoes), wondered about the real story under the kilt but steered clear of the Scottish national 'delicacy', haggis (offal boiled in sheep intestine).
Back to the big smoke
As a parting present to ourselves, we visited Dans le Noir (literally 'In the dark') with a few friends on our return to London. Imagine this: you select your menu (vegetarian, meat, seafood or surprise) and then are led into a dark room, and I mean really, really pitch black room and served a three course meal by a blind waiter. Talk about blowing your mind, this is a sensory overload. I felt my cutlery and glass, and when my food came, I felt that too. Ended up eating mostly with my hands… Someone at another table started singing happy birthday and the room, shameless in the dark, erupted into song. Well worth the visit, a unique and powerful way to experience the loss of sight.
We climbed aboard the great metal snake, northward bound. Scotland bound. The Scotland I experienced was friendly, proud and culturally rich. But coming to terms with dental surgery and the aftermath of work, I was well tired, to use a favourite English euphemism, and thus did not do the place justice. In some ways, Scotland is very English - red buses, English speaking, same high street shops but it felt different. The Scots take their cultural independence within the UK seriously and there's a friendly but fierce rivalry. We stayed at a dodgy hostel, complete with drunken early morning revellers and loud snoring, but all keen as mustard to get out there and see the England's northern cousin. We sampled a wee dram (Scotch), neeps and taties (turnips and potatoes), wondered about the real story under the kilt but steered clear of the Scottish national 'delicacy', haggis (offal boiled in sheep intestine).
Back to the big smoke
As a parting present to ourselves, we visited Dans le Noir (literally 'In the dark') with a few friends on our return to London. Imagine this: you select your menu (vegetarian, meat, seafood or surprise) and then are led into a dark room, and I mean really, really pitch black room and served a three course meal by a blind waiter. Talk about blowing your mind, this is a sensory overload. I felt my cutlery and glass, and when my food came, I felt that too. Ended up eating mostly with my hands… Someone at another table started singing happy birthday and the room, shameless in the dark, erupted into song. Well worth the visit, a unique and powerful way to experience the loss of sight.
Hasta luego London
As always, the last minute is never long enough and the last few days were crazy. Nonetheless, I took a long stroll down Oxford Street, enjoyed a final Pret Soy latte and said my farewells to the many friends I met along the way. The universe smiled on me while I stayed on the shores of the British Isles - I learned so much, grew as a person immensely, met some amazing people and had a bloody great time. London rolled out the fog on the day we left, thick and souplike, but as the plane cleared the clouds we were greeted by an azure blue sky carrying my friend the sun - clearly a good omen of things to come. Next stop Budapest...
As always, the last minute is never long enough and the last few days were crazy. Nonetheless, I took a long stroll down Oxford Street, enjoyed a final Pret Soy latte and said my farewells to the many friends I met along the way. The universe smiled on me while I stayed on the shores of the British Isles - I learned so much, grew as a person immensely, met some amazing people and had a bloody great time. London rolled out the fog on the day we left, thick and souplike, but as the plane cleared the clouds we were greeted by an azure blue sky carrying my friend the sun - clearly a good omen of things to come. Next stop Budapest...
