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Introduction
Well, off to the next big adventure. I'm afraid that the biggest challenge on this one was to keep my wallet firmly in my back pocket. With the pound stirling currently equal to about 1.8 US dollars, my wallet kept trying to lift itself from my pants and fly into the hands of surrounding merchants. Not to worry, I managed to escape with my shirt still on my back despite a missed flight and a detour through a country I wasn't planning on visiting this weekend...but I think it's best if I leave that story for a later blog.
The Flight
Left Gent bright and early and headed to the "Brussels" airport. I'll just go ahead and say something about a little airline that, in order to avoid a lawsuit, I will refer to as RA. If you book your flight a few weeks in advance RA provides very cheap airfare to a range of destinations. But, as with most things in life, there's a catch. Or in this case, several catches. First, the "Brussels" airport is nowhere near Brussels. The Brussels Charleroi Airport is waaaay outside of Brussels. Brussels Luchtaven International Airport (the real Brussels airport) is a
Phone Booth
I've always wanted to do this. swift 40 minute journey from Gent on the express airport train. Brussels Charleroi (the airport RA flies out of) is 90 minutes from Gent, and the trip requires a change of trains at Brussels Zuid, and a bus ride from the train station to the airport. So don't be fooled if you think you're getting a great deal into and out of Brussels. Plan on adding an extra 10-15 euros to your journey (one way) to actually get to and from the city of Brussels. The second catch is that what the airline makes up for in cheap tickets, is loses in the area of airport organization. Thank goodness we arrived at the airport early because the check-in area was a madhouse. Three check-in counters, a swarm of people, and lines that morphed into intricate swirling patterns towards the rear. I'm still not sure how we eventually got to the front of the line, but I know that one point I had to use my massive backpack to run a screen play against some people who were attempting the "confused traveler accidentally shoves his way to the front of the line" maneuver. Once on board the plane we encountered the
third catch of the day, which was exactly how we were treated...as the catch of the day. They pack people on those planes like sardines. But this really wasn't a big deal because our flight time was only 90 minutes. Finally we landed in "Glasgow" which really wasn't Glasgow at all. It was, in fact, Prestwick and was a 45 minute train ride from Glasgow.
But I knew about most of these little catches in advance, especially the locations of the airports, so I was prepared. I just wanted to share them with the rest of the world...so now you know, and knowing is half the battle.
Glasgow
First stop was Glasgow. We didn't spend much time in Glasgow because we were en route to St. Andrews, but we had time to take a walk around, see the Glasgow Cathedral and the Necropolis behind it, then get back on the train and head for Edinburgh.
Fried Mystery Meat
While in Glasgow I got my first introduction to Scottish snack food. I was a little bit hungry as we were returning to the train station. I didn't need a meal, just a snack to get me through the
train ride to Edinburgh. As we were walking we passed a little snack shop with all kinds of fried delicious goodness lurking under a heat lamp...perfect. I rapidly perused the menu and knew that I had found my soul mate when my eyes came to rest on "Mince Pie". Not knowing exactly what a "Mince Pie" was I ordered blind and received a fried, pastry-like like disk that was about 2 inches tall and 4 inches in diameter. Just before handing me my prize the nice Scottish lady asked me if I would like salt and vinegar on my pie. I was slightly surprised because I was not expecting such a delightful option, so I only paused for a moment before enthusiastically replying "Yes!". The pie was delicious. The mystery meat encased in the pastry shell has yet to be identified, but it tasted good and I'm probably better off not knowing. So, if you're ever in Glasgow and order a "Mince Pïe" be sure to ask for salt and vinegar.
On Not Feeling Guilty for Speaking
Scotland is a beautiful country, with friendly people and great food (if you like a lot of pastries, fried stuff, and meat...which
Glasgow
Seriously. I can't get away from Micky D's. I do), but there was one other small factor that contributed to the wonderful time I had there. Not feeling guilty for speaking English. I've been in Belgium since January. I don't speak Dutch, and most Belgians speak English very well. It makes things convenient and eased the transition from the U.S. to Europe substantially, but after a while I started feeling bad because everyone around me speaks English for my benefit. I am very appreciative of all of my friends and colleagues and I wish I that I could speak to them in their native tongue, but I'm afraid that due to the brevity of my stay here it is doubtful that I will learn enough Dutch to communicate on any kind of significant level. Needless to say it was nice to go someplace where they speak English because that's just what they speak, not because I don't speak the local language. Although, I must say that some of the folks in Scotland were a little difficult to understand, and I'm sure the feeling was mutual because I only know how to speak plain Arkansas.
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ScottyB
non-member comment
I hear ya on the guilt of not speaking the language. When I realize how all my bi-lingual European friends are speaking English just because I'm around, I feel a bit guilty. Oh well, it's good practice for them, right?