England, Illness, Old Friend.

This post is Bristol only, travels will be later. There are far too many photographs.

My measly two hours in Paris still haunt me- I literally walked past the door of Notre Dame wihtout going inside. But- I am in Bristol! It is wonderful. I was struck by its ridiculous Melbourne-ness as I walked to meet Tild that first afternoon. I kept noting the little bars, terrace houses, coffee shops, brisk air, trees, the little alleyways and the style of its inhabitants. It seems almost as if Tild has moved halfway around the world to end up in the same place.
Except that it is in England.

She goes to a university that is basically a castle. I discovered this when trying to find the spot where I was to meet her- coincidentally, not in the castle bit, but on a street of conjoined houses (there is a glass hallway that runs behind, connecting them). From the street they look like separate grand old buildings. Amazing. She seems to fit here, with the cold and the scarves. As much as she hates the rain and  the dark (twilight is about 4.30), it all works for her. A million people will come to visit- but I am the first.


First person I spoke to knew I was Australian right away:
"Hi-"
"Australian? That's so cool. Where are you from? Are you travelling? What are doing in Bristol?"
"Yes. But can I get a burger?"

I was hungry. And tired. And rude.
And then proceeded to spill my beer all over the table because I was so tired.

Tild and I had many many hugs, classic reunion. Lots of chatting (helped by the aforementioned beer; hadn't drunk beer in five weeks). Felt completely normal to be with her one minute, then we would remember that we were in Bristol, in England, across the other side of the world. Which is mental. I talked ad nauseum about my students- she waited till I wore down enough to tell me of her travels and uni and her house and Bristol.

The house is great- has a blue door. She lives here with four girls, all friends and all lovely. We've been cooking dinner and I made scones and we are living on roasted vegetables and it is all perfect.

The first three days we wandered in Bristol. Tild didn't have school and we had no idea what we wanted to accomplish. Saw the Clifton suspension bridge (the first of its kind), beautiful old suburbs, the harbourside, cute art galleries, drinking loads of coffee and walking around and around. On Monday night we went to the art show that two of the girls in the house were involved in. We got lost on the way there- walking along the docks and the river side. The exhibit was beautiful, Tild's room-mates are all artsy and incredible. It was in a hallway at their campus, all lit up and perfect.

Suspension Bridge. Ahhhmazing.

Pretty pastel houses + Tild

Tild's door + Tild

From our walk along the harbour

View + Tild

Super awesome photo of train.

Halloween is bigger here. I mean, I imagine in America it is colossal, but here, it's pretty epic. Some of Tild's friends from school threw a party the night before Halloween. Tild and I went as 'Tasmanian Devils'- literally in normal clothes with devil horns. Then spent the entire party feeling under-dressed. There was drowned little mermaid, a skeleton, Cleopatra, a zombie diva, dead Sandy from Grease ("If Danny won't have me, no one will"). Really good fun. It's odd though, being at a house party where you don't know anyone. Being so used to the same crowd at home has not prepared me for this. I feel like I pounced on anyone who would talk to me and spent a lot of time adjusting my devil horns. But on the whole, people are friendly and it's obvious that Tild will have a great time here.

Went later to a club with the entire party basically. This club is the Bristol version of Obar. Or Isobar. Except that, when you're from another country, you don't always know the crazy stuff they play. Some of the chart music or old favourites went completely over our heads. It's such an odd experience when people start laughing at an intro, or sing along to a song you've never heard before.
212 played- no one knew it.
Tild and I got bought this drink that is basically a mix of tequila and beer, got chastised for drinking water in a dance break, watched a guy fail to be inconspicuous while buying weed and arrived home at 3am. I feel we were successful in our first Bristol night out.
The water was useless- worst hangover of recent times. Whoever thought to put beer and tequila in one drink is an idiot.

Had spent the entire day in Bath; walking constantly. This, combined with the drinking, the dancing and the cold weather saw me spend the next day in bed with a godawful cold. Read and slept and made pumpkin  soup.

Post-Oxford, London and Wales:
Have been exhausted, You'll see why, when the travel posts come. It is Thursday and I have been in Bristol for almost two weeks. I'm tucked up in bed watching Tild try to write essays. Made scones this morning (feeling very British). They were even nice. I'd lost hope of this after adding far too much milk. It was touch and go for a time..

Days in Bristol have been lazy and slow and wonderful. Watching movies with Tild, making dinner, drinking coffee. My break has been wonderful- I'll probably have to spend the next few days planning classes before the return to teaching. It will be sad to say goodbye to Tilda, but Christmas is just around the corner!