I'm cold.
read more ↓It’s nearing 11 and I just finished dinner – another winner, by the way. I had duck, and it was quite possibly the best duck I have ever eaten. And I’ve eaten a lot of duck in my time. But now I’m sitting at my little desk with classical music playing on the radio, and it’s nearly being drowned out by the wind.
I’m not a weather snob. Well, not entirely. I love me a good tropical paradise just like the next guy, but when I go on vacation someplace that doesn’t have palm trees, I don’t spend my entire time complaining about the weather. I understand that it doesn’t reach balmy temperatures in Iceland, so I prepare accordingly. I checked Intellicast before I left and knew it was going to rain, but I didn’t realize it was going to rain rain. The kind of rain that goes sideways because the wind is blowing so hard. But in a way it’s fitting. There’s something kind of perfect about being all cozy in a castle while the wind howls and beats at the windows.
That said, I did have a humorous discussion with the woman who brought me my tea last night. I’m really getting into wearing the complimentary robe and slippers, but it’s still a bit drafty with my windows. I have three small heaters in my room – two are under windows, while the third is next to the desk in the corner. So, I’m not exactly feeling the heat.
“Is there a way to turn up the heaters in here?” I asked her as she set my tea on the table.
“I think they’re all on,” she said. “Shame is, the drafts from the window.”
I nodded in agreement. She checked all the settings.
“Well, they’re all on full, and it should get hot in here soon,” she explained. “And you don’t want to get too hot, do you?”
I nodded my head vigorously. “I’m from California. So yes. Yes I do.”
She laughed and wished me a good night.
It may sound like I’m complaining. I’m not. Sure, I’m a little chilled, but that’s what I get for trading my Canadian blood for a warmer climate.
Today we ventured out into the world, first by visiting a cruise ship – the Heberdean Princess – that the Queen chartered for her 80th birthday. It was formerly a ferry boat that was converted into luxury accommodations with a total capacity for 49 people. Following that we dropped by the Oban Distillery, where I finally learned about the finer attributes of whiskey. I’ve never been a big fan – it tends to taste like gasoline to me – but once I tried one of theirs, I was able to pick out the smoky, sea salt and honey flavors over and above the orange. And I didn’t make a face… much. When we were granted the privilege of trying some directly from a cask, I was pretty sure I would be able to fuel a rocket ship with the sample until we cut it with some water. Then I knew I could fuel a rocket ship. But it was definitely an education, and now I know which kind of whiskey to look for when I’m ready to drink it on a less experimental basis.
Tomorrow it’s off to St. Andrews, which is pretty much the birthplace of golf. Weather permitting, I might just get on the course.
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