Water Issues

On the first day of the seminar I was asked by  a student whether it was safe to drink everywhere we were traveling in Europe. It struck me what poor information many Americans had about Europe. Stories about the Black Death or unsanitary conditions in the Middle Ages, which we are taught in history classes as students, must permeate into our understanding of European countries. It is similar to our misperception of safety and violence in Europe. Film and popular culture portray Europe as a place where young Americans are kidnapped and held for ransom, creating a sense that it is very risky to travel in Western Europe. This fear has been exacerbated by recent terrorist attacks in Paris and Brussels. Yet, it is the case, that people are far more likely to be the victim of a violent crime in the United States than in Western Europe.  

My reply to the student who was concerned about the safety of drinking water was short and succinct, perhaps too much so for the first day of travel. I simply replied that given the situation in Flint and other American cities, the drinking water in Europe is probably safer than in the United States. 

Breakfast in Edinburgh

I was having breakfast, in the hotel, on a Sunday morning. Sitting next to me were two young women from Northern England. They were attending a Hen Party and recounting and analyzing the events of the previous evening. Over the course of their conversation a couple of older women came by the table and inquired about the evening. The younger women noted that everyone else turned in early and they were left to their own devices.

We had acknowledged each other with good mornings when they sat at the table next to mine. The young woman to my immediate left, a blonde wearing white jean and a black top, was in her mid to late 20s. She looked ready to hit the pubs again, rather than having a morning after. Her breakfast companion, sitting across the table, a brunette with a pink top and black yoga pants, was of a similar age. I am pretty sure neither woman was wearing their natural hair color. (too blonde, too dark)

I was engrossed in the morning’s news, note really paying attention, until I heard the brunette opine, “I really like that boy…”

The blonde quickly finished her thought: “The one who sucked your face?” and chuckled. There was a momentary lull in their conversation. I glanced over and smiled, and the blonde caught my eye and gave me a knowing look.

After a few minutes, the brunette got up to get another croissant. The blond looked me in the eye, smiled broadly, and shook her head ever so slightly. When her companion returned, she was situating herself in the chair and said, longingly, “I really like that Irish boy from last night…”

Measuring a Mile

Mile post in Athlone, Ireland

I keep track of the miles I walk as a way to motivate myself. Arbitrarily, I do not tabulate any walk that measures less than a mile. A mile, which is a Roman term derived from 1,000 times the left foot touched the ground (a pace) –  mille passus – seems like a sufficient minimum exercise. Although, again, this is completely arbitrary.

In the United States, the measurement of a mile is commonplace and widely understood. Yet, the Royal Mile in Edinburgh, the combination of streets that runs from Edinburgh Castle to Holyrood Palace, is one Scots mile. A Scots mile is 1.12 English miles. Because the measure of a mile varies depending upon the stride of the individuals, measurements in different places also varied. The differences between Scots, English, Welsh and Irish miles led to great confusion. We never stop to think about what an arbitrary nature of the English mile and how it reflects the history of English dominance over the British Isles, and later the subsequent British Empire. It is little wonder that much of the world opted for the more rational metric system.

Scones and Coffee

Food and drink are important aspects of any travel experience. For me, a must when travelling in Scotland or Ireland is an afternoon coffee and scone, which often substitutes for lunch. The scone is even better when it is served with clotted cream and black currant jam. Having it in a coffee shop, where you can slow down a hectic day of travel, people watch and savor the treat is the preferred way to enjoy it.