Travels in October

I flew over Greenland on my way from London to New York. White peaks with snowbanks hundreds of feet deep stretched into an endless icy plateau. The only straight lines were from the fog that fell down the melting glaciers. It’s one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever seen, but I would hate to be down there.

Edinburgh

We flew from Helsinki to the United Kingdom in mid-October. We had the Repko cousins and some Stargardter family to visit. We spent our first days in Edinburgh in an old guesthouse with massive front windows overlooking a modest garden.

Jessica and I may have visited every bookstore in Edinburgh.

Hilary picked us up at the airport and brought us to dinner at Alexandra and Pete’s house on the outskirts of the city. We laughed about how much I’ve grown up in the years since we’ve seen each other. We reminisced about the days when our families used to get together more often. We’re all adults now. I consider myself lucky to spend any time with people I love.

We met Hilary’s husband, Hamish, climbed Arthur’s Seat, and explored the bookstores of Edinburgh. It was a nice visit if not a bit rushed. I would love to go back with more time on my hands to explore some of the old city’s quiet corners.

London

The four-hour train through the countryside from Edinburgh to London was a highlight. Green hills plunged into the North Sea in the East. Sheep dotted the fields in the West. I would ride the train again just for the views. It doesn’t hurt knowing that London awaits when the ride is over.

We got into the city in the early evening. Public transit brought us to Camilo’s flat in Hackney. He greeted us as we arrived and made us feel at home. Unfortunately, we didn’t see much of him because worked the night shift in a pediatric unit while we were there.

In five days, we spent some time in every region of the city. We saw Catherine and Dom, Hannah and Jonny, and Aunt Susie. Seeing the Repkos gave Jessica and me life. They made us feel like locals in a land far from our own.

We walked in Hampstead Heath, drank local coffee, and ate in countless outdoor markets. Every day was as good as the last, but one night in North East London stands out.

The Castle Cinema

The Castle Cinema is situated unassumingly above a small grocery store on a dimly lit road. A staircase, scarcely marked, leads to a low-lit bar with arched ceilings that feel within reach. We cozied up into a corner booth with a beer and a cider and chatted until we were called into the theatre.

The moment we walked into the screening room, it was clear this would be a “moment.” A busy man fiddled beneath an enormous projector and greeted us. He spoke in an English accent with a touch of Greek and had a face that looked right with a thick white mustache. You could almost imagine he’d been born with it.

With the projector set up to his liking, he greeted the room. More than one hundred of us had settled into our red armchairs by now. I started my tape recorder as he began, “Welcome, everyone. I’d like to tell you about how I ended up here.”

I grew up in Cypress. My grandfather owned a cinema there, and I loved it. I just loved it. He showed the most amazing films, and I spent every moment I could in that place. But I must say, I was more interested in the mechanics of the film itself than the actors on the screen. I would sit for hours and watch the reels — this was when the film was actually film — and I was fascinated. It was my first love, and I still love it.

Whatever movie he was about to show us, it didn’t matter. He was the show, and I think he knew it. The movie started twenty minutes late after he’d finished telling us about the virtues of real film… and cursing the name of George Lucas. He believes that Lucas is to blame for “bullying [movie theaters] into only showing digital movies.” It was an experience I won’t forget. If I lived in London, I’d visit this man and ask him questions for hours.

Oxford

Another train transported us from London to Oxford. We disembarked and bumped our luggage down the sidewalks. I’ll be honest, the charm didn’t hit me right away. I was overcaffeinated, and our bags were heavy. My grumpiness wore off quickly once Fransisco and Sarah picked us up.

They drove us around the city and gave us the ultimate local tour. Every square inch of Oxford seems to be brimming with historical significance. Fransisco and Sarah did an excellent job of illuminating the most interesting areas of the city without overwhelming us with information.

The next morning, Fransisco brewed some coffee and walked Jessica and me outside to show us his pride and joy. Hundreds of plants from around the world form a jungle in the back garden. As he walked us through the yard, he pointed to the most special plants. One of which was a banana tree grown from an offshoot of a tree that’s been in the Stargardter family for generations.

The jungle atmosphere at Fransisco and Sarah’s carries over inside. Sarah, an architect, designed a beautiful sunroom that houses their plants.

An Unforgettable Experience

So much more happened during our ten days than what I put in this blog. There were meals and moments I wanted to write about, but, honestly, I ran out of steam. For now, I don’t mind those memories remaining between Jessica, me, and those who lived them with us.