la via ricomincia

//The Trail Picks Up Again

London for me is like that hilarious good-time friend we all have. The one who comes to your house, entertains you with crazy antics, gets you ridiculously drunk, drinks all your gin, steals all your money, pukes in the bathroom and then leaves without saying goodbye. You wake up with a hangover and smile ruefully as you clean up their mess, again.

I last saw London in early 09 when I rang in the new year somewhere around Maida Vale.

Late April, 2011. I'm sitting on the train in Perth and a song comes on my iPod that reminds me of that night. With a self deprecating smirk I realise I kind of miss the place. I shrug my shoulders against it - I know I won't be going back there for a long time.

Late May, I sign into my gmail account. In the bottom corner a chat window pops up and I know it's Paul, because he's the only friend I have who is tech savvy enough to operate it.

"What are you doing in August?"
"No plans. Why?"
"Want to come to London?"
"Paul - are you getting married?"
"Yep!"
"Excellent. I'm there."

Yep. Just like that. A rendezvous with London.

But it can't just be London. I've regretted the part of Romania that I missed out on due to the combination of winter snow and 5L plastic bottles of wine. I've always wanted to see Russia. I have a friend living in Italy near my favourite part of the country....

So I pull together a few plans.

August.

London - England
Gressoney St John - Italy
Maramures - Romania
St Petersburg - Russia
Helsinki - Finland
Perth - Australia

And so The Kara Trail picks up again.