Saturday 30 January 2016

Ramblings Of A Returned Traveller, II

Before getting back to the regular pattern of drivel alternating with reviews and stories, it might be nice to think about those travels once again. Standing outside the personal experience of it all, isn't it amazing that we can cross a distance that would take a ship a week in just the span of ten hours? It's true that you have to strap yourself into a flying metal death tube, be pressurised to an atmosphere near that experienced near the summit of Mount Everest, lose all sense of reality due to enforced dimming of the windows (thank you very much, Norwegian Air), and have all your allergies triggered by the air conditioning simultaneously, but... No, I can't do it. It's horrible to fly. Take the boat, you crazies, take the boat!

It's fun to travel, and see the world. America is one of the more strange places, though, with its curiosities such as firearms in large supermarkets, the absences of public conveniences, and the apparent inability to provide public transport systems that people will depend on. Yes, those car-developed cities are not the easiest to get around without some significant driving assistance. Oh, and sugar is in absolutely everything. Everything! Is that enough moaning? Yes? Finally!

It was good to experience Miami, especially when unleashed to wander myself, stumbling over marathons and toddling over the immense 'Venetian Causeway' that links the Miami Beach island to the rest of the city, and enjoying the great lifeguard huts on South Beach. In less well trodden fun things, it was also good to espy all three of the Dice Tower top ten videocast hosts at a board game shop in the Hollywood area, taking part in a monthly local gaming event. Yes, these things do happen and they can be very impressive. I must be a nerd to have gone out of my way to see those guys...

The Quirky Muffin will now return to its normal service. In the next few weeks, expect some chatter about 'Honey, I Shrunk The Kids', some stories, and perhaps a thoughtful piece about Mark Twain's 'A Connecticut Yankee In King Arthur's Court'. I'm also building my LibraryThing book catalogue up a bit. It's something to do...

O.

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