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Published: February 7th 2008
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Jason left on Wednesday, January 31, after we got back from our trip to Scotland. It was a tearful parting, but when I got back to Reading I knew I would have to move house. Little by little, I took my belongings to Guildford, which is just a 7 minute train ride from my job in Woking. After all of our adventures, I hoped I wouldn't be too bored. (I was not going to use the car because there has been a lot of road construction and bad weather).
Guildford is known for many things--the University of Surrey, Guildford Castle, and Lewis Carroll. Lewis Carroll authored many books here, and even owned a house here named The Chestnuts, where he took his last breath. I was pleasantly surpised to find that there is plenty of places to hike.
But first, my new place. I am renting a room from 3 Pakistani men. The house is located between a head shop and a hair salon. Seriously. Once again, I am learning about a new culture, as my roommates moved here in 2006. My co-worker, who is from California, but is Pakistani herself, fills me in on any other things I
Chalk base
Chalk is the base for the castle wall; also, when I took my 6 mile walk it was the first layer below the dirt. forget to ask the guys!
I did not realise that there was a castle in this town until I was wandering around looking for a restaurant to have a bite. A sign pointing up a hill read "Castle". Plans were already forming in my head.
Forget unpacking! I was exploring. The next day, I headed up the hill to discover Guildford Castle. Guildford Castle wall has chalk for its base. I found that chalk is the base for many things in Guildford. William the Conqueror built Guildford following his conquest of England in 1066. The castle actually extended quite far out, and was, according to Wikipedia, used mainly for living. Around the 14th century, it was no longer needed, so it eventually fell into disrepair. It was finally restored, along with pleasure gardens in the laste 1800s. I did not get to see inside the castle, because the Great Tower is closed for the winter. I did get to enjoy a walk surrounded by beautiful gardens and chalk.
After touring the grounds and seeing where Lewis Carroll resided, I decided to get a little more information from, you guessed it, the Information Centre. I procured a book
about walks around Guildford (earlier I had noticed people walking along Quarry Street outfitted in hiking gear, so I was curious), as well as information from a helpful woman there about various walks and places to buy a small french press and good coffee.
I headed back out into the cobblestone street, which was bustling now. People were coming at me from all directions. I finally ducked into the library and was quickly issued a library card. Libraries have been like a second home for me since I was a little girl, and this library felt like home. I became absorbed in browsing though the books, and before I knew it, an hour and a half had passed. I still had some more bits and pieces that I needed to finish. I peeked into several shops along the High Street as I made my way to the local Sainsbury's for some food supplies (even this was charming, outfitted with wood floors, and a more welcoming atmosphere than most Sainsbury's).
I finally arrived home loaded down with bags. My housemates were cooking dhal, one of the few things they had learned how to cook during their 2 years in
the UK. My housemate Syed explained: "In Pakistan, my sisters did all of the cooking for me--anything I wanted, they cooked, whenever I wanted." Hmm. But now they were cooking for me. The delicious smell of onions frying filled the air, as my other house mate, Chery (I probably spelled it wrong), rinsed the lentils. I watched intently as they added tablespoonfuls of ginger, minced garlic, chili powder, and garam masala. My mouth was watering and they chose to make this meal vegetarian in honour of my first evening. "Normally," Syed explained, "we would eat meat--like lamb with this." My first bite of dhal was both flavourful and spicy. I even tried to replicate the recipe a couple of days later with my quick-cooking lentils, but I think I used too much turmeric! Chery sampled one of my strawberries after dinner--he didn't seem too impressed!
Fulfilled, I went up to my room to sort out my clothes and plan a hike for the next day.
The hike I chose for Sunday was supposed to go to Newlands Corner and St Martha's Hill via Pewsey Downs. But I took a wrong turn and ended up going over the North
Way Downs past the Chantries to this destination and back down Pewsey Downs. I passed horses grazing in the fields, trees of all sorts of shapes with beautiful bare twisted limbs piercing the winter air, great big tree trunks of varying textures, as well as people of all ages enjoying a walk on a sunny day. It was good to stretch my legs.
Upon arriving home, I realised that I only had a few weekends left to explore Surrey on foot.
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