I set out for my summer travels on 19 May from MCO headed to London Heathrow. The last time I was in the UK I was only 5 years old, so this is my first visit of what we might call real consequence. Memories of the first trip include the schoolgrounds during recess, the classrooms and bathrooms of said school, our narrow little flat/house/whateveritwas, posing for photos in London, a friend (Natasha? What was her name?) from down the street, drove on narrow snowy roads, visiting relatives, and seeing and making snowballs at Mt Snowden (sp?).
Despite the distance in time, this trip started out in much the same way as the previous: on a Delta flight. I never before understood why people so despised Delta, but (unless it'll save 300 bucks or more) I will not be flying Delta again. On my connection between Orlando and New York I had in flight entertainment (the back-of-the-seat-in-front-of-you kind) and felt pretty good about it--that sort of made up for my lovely, sweat-inducing vinyl seat. Moving on at JFK, not only did I only just make the final boarding call for my flight, but I also may have rediscovered our original plane from that trip 16 years ago. In the same condition it was then in: we had vinyl seats, blocky and inconvenient overhead storage containers, and screens throughout the cabin--an archaism I've not encountered since that early nineties' flight.
I think I must've slept a bit on the flight, though, because I could've been a bit more exhausted after my arrival in Oxford by bus. Oxford was wonderful. It was fantastic to see Ashley again and quite pleasant to see the rest of the familiar faces there assembled. More on Oxford another time, I think, though.
After Oxford, Ash and I travelled together for a few days in Scotland, parting ways in Glasgow after hitting Edinburgh (and its Whiskey Experience), Inverness (and the nearby Loch Ness), and seeing the Star Trek film at CineWorld. Perhaps more fodder for later posts in those journeys, but for now it's on to the action of the next day--hurrying off too Iona via Oban.
The train was pleasant enough, and the ferry to Mull easy to find. After snapping a few photos from the boat, I went inside and had a nice lunch of steak pie and chips, finishing just in time to return to the top deck for our arrival. Upon landing the majority of the passengers beat a line directly to the buses to cart us off to another port.
It was on the bus that I made my first (and last) acquaintance of Iona: Jane. A nice older woman, short and with blondish hair, just happened to be sitting next to me. We chatted about the scenery mostly, but the conversation was quite pleasant. Looking back at that his rode and the ferry rides, it is interesting to think of he first impressions I had of some of my fellow Iona Abbey residents. (It also occurs to me that these were my first trips on ferries and that the Oban-Mull ferry is the largest ship I've been on to date, excepting the Disney World ferry and parked battle ship memorials.)
Iona was an incredible experience in community and a story much better suited to the oral telling thereof than to the slow typing out on a blog via iPod. I was one of only two Catholics that I know of participating in this ecumenical experience and, I have to say, I expected the differences in the services and style of discussion to give me more pause than they did. It was also interesting to note how easily prayer and worship flowed from me, despite the fact that the issue of Christianity's strong personification of God is one of my topics for serious contemplation this summer.
Leaving Iona was hard, with the many new friendships formed abandoned so soon, but we move on trying rather to focus on the treasure of this new friendship. I spent but one night in Oban at the close of my visit and there stayed at the incredibly convenient and affordable Jeremy Inglis Hostel for a mere 14 pounds.
The train brought me then yesterday to Elgin, where I am at present hanging around the Granary (bar and club) writing this post while being entertained by karaoke. The bar also provides free wifi--perfect!
Just next door I'm staying at the Thunderton Backpackers Hostel, which I will recommend highly to anyone passing through Elgin.
I think that's it for tonight then.
Peace,
Dave
Sunday, June 7, 2009
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)