Fannish trip (including logistical arrrgh)!

[luzula]

I waited too long to buy my Interrail card, because I didn't realize that it would take so very long to get a physical one over mail. Now my only options are:
- Go to Copenhagen to buy one over the counter.
- Get a #/%#¤& smartphone, which I do not want, so that I can get a mobile Interrail card. I think my mom has an old one lying around which I could probably use, though I would have to get a new SIM card for it. I don't suppose one could emulate a smartphone on a laptop for this purpose...? Probably not in a way that ties it to a phone number. ETA: My roommate also has an extra phone, which he says I can borrow, so that's an option.
(- There is of course also the option to get train tickets separately, but this is two or three times the cost.)

Irritatingly, I could have easily gone to Copenhagen today to get one, since I've been in southern Sweden for my niece's birthday, except that I didn't have my passport with me, which I would need.

***

Er, and on a happier note, I guess this is my announcement that I am at last going on that fannish trip to Scotland which I've been wanting to do since the pandemic began! regshoe and I are going together, and there will be lots of hiking, birdwatching, and going to historically significant locations from Flight of the Heron. Yay! I am also going to visit feroxargentea in England, and spending some time in France with garonne, doing more 18th-century-relevant touristing. \o/

I am doing all traveling by train, since I don't fly for climate reasons, and it's really irritating how you have to go in a sort of U-shape from Sweden to Scotland. Ten or twenty years ago you could have gone by ferry, but this is no longer possible. : ( I guess cheap flights out-competed them. But at least the fannish network provides: I have places to stay overnight in Copenhagen and Paris.

I'll be in London on the 17th of June and the 1st of July, and having some spare time there. So if you have recommendations for things I should do there, or you live in London and would like to have lunch with me or something, do let me know.

Comments

[tgarnsl]

Oh, sounds like an exciting trip ahead of you! On the topic of London recommendations — off the top of my head, some less-known ones would be the London Wetland Centre in Barnes, if you like looking at birds (take the tube to Hammersmith and then walk across the poor crumbling Hammersmith Bridge, or else bus, plus if you go into Barnes Common there is a tree there that is one of the oldest in London); the Hogarth House in Chiswick (not far away from Hammersmith either), which is delightful if you like William Hogarth or are interested the 18th century; and the National Army Museum, which is one that not a lot of people have been to, but I found rather good when I went a few years back.

I've asked my partner (a Londoner), so hopefully there will be some additional recommendations :-)

[luzula]

Huh, the London wetland centre looks cool, but on the other hand I will get lots of bird watching in Scotland. The national army museum might be good for fic research - I was in contact with them to get an 18th century captain’s commission that I needed for a fic, and they were nice enough to photograph one for me. It's a bit difficult to see on their website what exhibitions you can actually look at?

I'm also considering the Victoria and Albert Museum for historical clothing, but on the other hand I'm definitely going to the corresponding museum in Paris, so perhaps too much overlap. So perhaps leaning towards the National Maritime museum!

Thanks for the tips!

[tgarnsl]

No worries — I hope you enjoy! I know you’re off tomorrow, but I asked my partner and they responded with this:

If they've got a few days I would recommend travelling out from the centre a bit e.g. to Greenwich (not lesser-known, but there's so much to see), to Hampstead (you've got the heath, the hill garden + pergola, and Kenwood has an excellent art collection and is free). In central London, Sir John Soane's museum is an absolute gem. Not sure how famous the Wallace Collection is, but always worth a visit, and apparently the Courtald's looking great after the recent makeover (still need to take a look for myself). It's many years since I went, but the Cabinet War Rooms (now unfortunately re-named the Churchill War Rooms) were good. As you know, for £5 it's worth seeing something at the Globe. Leadenhall market is getting known, but might yet be a bit off the tourist trail. Also, may not be to everyone's taste, but I do like the Barbican!

Hope that’s helpful :-)

[luzula]

Thanks! : ) I am definitely going to Greenwich tomorrow, anyway, though I haven't yet decided whether to pay extra to climb the rigging of the Cutty Sark...