Can a new place become something else? When does a new place become a place on its own?
The journey to Nottingham began on a sunny day. The bus departed at 10:20 am. We passed a few towns along the way. But mostly it was the flat plains, with some low hills having gentle green slopes that extended long distance. Sheep dotted like cotton clouds in these plains. Sometimes the sun was caressing the window with much needed yellow shiny warmth.
We were almost reaching Nottingham as some windmills could be seen. Nottingham is a city of students. But it also reminded me of Chandini Chowk on a 11 am winter morning of Saturday when many kinds of Delhi come to visit it as tourists into several of its lanes. As we deboarded from the bus and began walking downhill towards the market square, we saw many eateries. We speculated their inner world and the prices. We tried to watch out for traffic lights. We tried to ask each other if we would be able to remember the way back to the bus when its time to return. We carried on moving forward, keeping one foot after the other, hoping that one of us will. My other solution was (which I repeated to my anxious inner child): we will call the bus lead in case we get lost.
We reached the Winter Wonderland - a carnival for everyone. The air was filled with smell of chocolates, noodles, more syrupy liquids, and different accents mingling with each other.
We walked towards the Nottingham Castle as we wanted to watch the city as much as possible before the 4 pm darkness descended.
This plaque was near the Robin Hood Statue. We took some funky pictures with the Statue :)
I came across this interesting building while walking towards the Nottingham Public Library. A small plant was cracking through the upper storey of the building. I felt it was communicating to my memories of home and my home would have like to meet this place too.
The library had an exhibition on the works and life of the poet George Gordon Byron.
Daylight had gone. We marked our way to the City Centre where the carnival was in full swing. Amusement rides and Ice Skating Rinks were full with people. Crowds in thick warm winter jackets were thronging the lanes. Seen here in the picture is the giant Christmas tree and the Ferris wheel in the background. On the way we stopped to listen two groups singing carols - one on the streets and the other inside the mall. They were singing for various charities.
Ice Skating Rink: People fell and then got up again. Some maneuvered it with so elegance and poise. Some held on to the sides. Some dropped the sides in the second attempt and instead took arms of other people. Some let go in the fifth attempt. Whenever anyone fell (& there were many), someone was always there to pick them up or they themselves picked up and continued after taking a break. Cotton buds were also seen in the noses in other attempts.
People toasting marshmallows. In the left (cut from this picture), people ordering Cadbury hot chocolates. Temperature had dropped to 4 degrees celsius and a cold wind was freezing us. In the middle a person singing Adele's Set Fire to the Rain. We hummed it along as exited from the carnival to find a warm place (Costa Cafe) and a took a loo break. While walking across the streets we came across many expensive restaurants and it was these names that helped us retrace our journey back to the bus where it dropped us. 30 minutes later we had boarded the bus and were on our back. Someone snored. Someone solved crossword puzzles. The atmosphere was one of dozing though.
What did Nottingham teach me:
1. Places can carry elements of other places.
2. Music make you feel warm. But still dress up really warmly.
3. It is important to find washrooms and loos even when you are planning a day trip.
4. Keep an eye for the places you pass by.
5. Talk to the places as it can help you retrace the journey as all these lanes and roads look a bit different a bit when the daylight eases and you are left to find a path back. In such times, the talking and the short memory you made there can help you picture the turns and twists of the alleys, reds and greens of the lights, halt you on your straight walk and prompt you to instead take a left, only because you felt like you took a left somewhere here once, and this scene does look like a scene just this morning, and not just the one in Chandini Chowk.