Privacy And Details

Tricky, tricky, tricky…this post will be.

I have to strike a balance between, well… privacy and details.

Can you guess what I’m crossing off my list next?

Let’s just say, between you and me, this should not really be a cause for concern. Really. Perhaps though, what is needed is to refine it.

Modify No. 48 Get busy to read No. 48 Get busy with the right person.

Or people.

Or whatever. 

Can’t really say much more than that.

A Science To The Perfect Sunset Experience

I think most of you who read my blog/s know by now of my love for sunsets.

There is a science to the perfect sunset experience you know A certain recipe if you will, a number of ingredients that when combined is guaranteed to give you one of the most breathtaking experiences of your life.

I may not have the complete recipe just yet, but so far, this has worked for me. Might work for you too…

-       An ounce of research on where you want to see your sun to set (it helps to know your perfect or favorite spot);

That's it. That's the place.

-       A pinch of determination to get there no matter what (that includes climbing up a hill, in the winter, with only scotch to fuel your determination);

Not even a third of the way...

-       A dash of an open mindset to things you see and people you meet along the way (don’t think of them as distractions, they add flavor);

Wish I had four legs by this time. He seems to be enjoying the fresh air up here though.

-       A sprinkling of luck that you get there on time  (sometimes it sets faster than you think you have time to linger admiring other sights);

I'm just mid-way up and it's already setting. Got to make a run for it.

-       A dollop of stillness when you get there (A certain quiet of the soul is needed after all to pay homage to and wonder at one of the most wonderful sights we sometimes fail to appreciate as we go about in our everyday lives).

My lungs were on fire but I made it.

At the very least, you’ll get some pretty pictures out of it.

At the most, you’ll find yourself smiling and laughing at the sheer beauty of it and feeling that single most important thing we forget to feel when we fill our lives with so many things to do – you’ll start to feel connected to yourself.

And you’ll find out that this feeling actually leads to another feeling that eludes us in some of our pursuits – simple happiness.  Even if you’re watching your sunset alone.  Even more so then I’d say.

No. 21. Take a walk somewhere unfamiliar and watch the sunrise or sunset… although I’m crossing you off my list, I just know I’ll keep wanting to watch the sunset in many other places.

Truly my favorite time of the day.

Another post-script… this one was suggested by Jim of notyethere… thanks for the beautiful suggestion.

A Great Big Warm Long Hug

Part 3

The sunset at Arthur’s Seat was definitely worth it. Featured in my photo blog. Every sunset is beautiful and different and the fact that I made it all the way up  – in my estimation – a mountain, made it all the more special for me. But since it was getting dark, I had to content myself with admiring the fading light for only a couple of minutes before I had to go back down.

It was quite a walk back to my hotel and when I got there all I could do was plop down on the bed and wish they had room service (which they did not). It was a charming hotel, almost right smack in the city centre….but no kitchen service. I was this close to just calling it a night but I was definitely hungry and wanted to see what the local scene was like at night. So, after an hour or so of lying in bed, with my legs propped up on the headboard, I headed out once again.

Had my recommended list of restos and pubs with me and a map (which I never quite really use). Took a look at it and figured I could maybe go thru here and cut thru there and I was on my way. The city was beautiful at night. It wasn’t bustling with activity as it would have been back home, but it had a quiet stillness about it that I found so enchanting. Of course there were the occasional rowdy crowd I passed by as I trekked my way up another hill (it is a hilly city after all), cursing under my breath actually because I was simply too hungry to be walking uphill yet again.

Got a little lost but finally found the street where the local bartender at the other pub said she’d go to if she was going out. Hey, if she’d go there, it must have something to offer. I had several on my list but settled for this Irish pub first for my first order of business – dinner!  Since I wouldn’t have time to go to Ireland, I thought this was as close I could get.  Ordered some traditional irish lamb stew with homemade bread and…wow! It was absolutely delicious and just what I needed on a cold night like that night.  My mouth is watering right now just thinking about it again (doesn’t help that it’s lunchtime as I write this).  So, just a preview then, here’s a pic for you.

At this time I wasn’t really interested in no. 18. I just wanted my dinner. Some locals did talk to me but I guess they could see I was too engrossed in what I was eating so they left me pretty much alone. After I finished, I headed off to the other pub on my list.

As I opened the door and went inside, my first thought was “well, ok, I don’t think I’ll be checking off no. 18 anytime tonight.”

The place was deserted. No exaggeration there. I was the only person there aside from the bartender. But I figured, what the hell, I might as well stay. Maybe not many people go out on a tuesday but the place looked cozy, was warm enough for my taste, had some of the local beers I still hadn’t tried, and I felt I could use some alone time.

So I sat down by the bar and ordered a half pint of something. (Can’t quite keep up with the names of the beers I tried on that trip.)  The bartender was a bit stand-offish… which well, frankly, “challenged” me.  I was a stranger and a “tourist” at that (although I always think of myself as a “visitor” instead. There’s a world of difference there). Anyway, since we were the only 2 people there, I started chatting him up. It quickly looked like no. 18 wouldn’t be a lost cause after all.

Several people came and went. Some were rowdy, some extra friendly. Some started hitting on me. One was this 20 year old (really handsome) young man that could have very well been my son (NO, I am NOT that old, but if I started really early, he could have been) who just got out of the army. I knew most of his life story in the whole 10 minutes he stayed until I said tempting as it was, I wasn’t going with him since he already looked like he had too much to drink.  One asked me to smell his breath, just to double check if he’d had enough. I didn’t. And when it all came down to it,  all I had to do was give my new friend a look that says, “please make them go away” and he’d shoo them away. All of it was quite interesting to watch and experience actually. In between, we talked about anything and everything. Got to know about his family, friends, life. And he got to know some of mine.

I didn’t realize it was already late until he said he’d have to close in an hour.  I started to get up and leave, but I wasn’t ready to leave the conversation behind. I took one look outside, contemplating walking back to my hotel alone at that time of the night, and did the unthinkable (well, maybe not quite if you know me)… I asked him if he would mind terribly walking me home.

He said, “yes of course I’ll walk you back”…said he could go that way anyway. I thought perfect, and heaved a sigh of relief. I may like travelling alone but I do know well enough not to invite unnecessary danger by walking thru dark alleys and overly friendly locals and foreigners alike.

And so walk me home he did. There was a full moon out that night and the city looked even more beautiful with it. I got a history lesson too on the way back.

He said he wasn’t much of a hugger, but and at the end of it, he gave me a great big warm long hug.  And I hugged back. Turns out, he wasn’t really going my way.

What happened after, I’m keeping to myself. No, wait a minute, dial back down that imagination of yours a bit.  It’s not exactly what you might think.  I just like to keep some things off the radar.

I’d have to say though, after that evening,  No. 18, you’re definitely off my list. 

18.    “Invite a person sitting alone to come and sit with you at a restaurant/bar and have a conversation”.

Just a post-script here…No. 18 was suggested by Kaitlin of the Athele Series.  And I feel I just have to pay tribute to her for suggesting it. So, dedicating this post to Kaitlin then. Thanks. It was definitely worth putting on my list