like greta garbo

I just want to be let alone.

This is not, by any means, a dig at my traveling companion. If not for her, my stupid German-accented driving commentary wouldn’t make a ripple. I love laughing ourselves to sleep and sharing desserts and playing the synonym game we play when trying to find new words for ‘pretty.’ Because, of course, Scotland is pretty. And gorgeous and exquisite. And… well, it’s Angie’s turn now.

I’m just not used to this. Eating, sleeping, teeth-brushing – I’m accustomed to doing it all alone, on my time, and to no soundtrack other than the thoughts in my own head. And Angie isn’t really one for companionable silence. And that’s totally alright – not everyone prefers to sit in absolute quiet. But boy, I sure do. I love quiet in the car, and quiet while I’m wandering, and I don’t necessarily want to have the street signs read to me. But saying this kindly and diplomatically can be hard — if not impossible — because it’s usually at wit’s end that it occurs to me to mention it.

Speaking of the car and wit’s end: Driving on the left side of the road is, incidentally, totally nerve-wracking. The streets here are incredibly narrow. And if it looks like a turning lane, it probably isn’t. And if your GPS tells you to go right, she probably means left – so that’s no help at all. And by the end of the day, I’ve very nearly had three strokes and a total emotional melt down, and then, I still have to buy gas at EIGHT DOLLARS a gallon. Man, am I glad I’m done with that whole thing and back on the train, letting someone else do the driving.

And even in all this missing my alone time, I know that when Angie leaves on Sunday, I will wish her back again to read me road signs.

As a side note: I have to say I’m amused by the comments that express displeasure that I’m blogging about traveling (and, god, the nerve, linking to where I’ve posted the photos I’ve been taking). I’m not sure what I’m expected to write about… when this is a personal blog, and personally I’m traveling right now. For the next several weeks. I’ll be staying put in Barcelona next week, so I hope to be able to get out, meet the locals and have some fresh, funny stories. In the meantime, jump ship if you must, or stay and have a look at some photos I took in the shire and on the moor.

Country Lane Castle LeavesStraw into GoldRoad to Kildrummy

Angie of the MoorHeather in BloomThatch and Angry SkyLuminous

49 comments to like greta garbo

  • Adri

    I love that you’re blogging while traveling!

  • Personally, I’ve really enjoyed reading about your travels. Barcelona is one of my favorite cities, so I most certainly do look forward to reading about your time there! Enjoy!!

  • am SO in love with the travel blogging and the PICTURES! yay! I’m living vicariously through you. (i can totally relate to the silence thing)

  • Screw the haters, your travel blogging/photography is amazing!

  • Kate

    I enjoy the travel blogging and have popped over to the other blog a few times as well. Maybe they’re jealous? I’m going to Barcelona in two weeks so I look forward to a little heads up on the city. :)

  • courtney

    I totally relate to the needing the “me-time”. Sometimes you just need the anti-social moments.

  • MeganNJ

    I always wondered if putting a sign “Caution: American Driver” in the window would help. Or would that just encourage the Up Yours signal.

    bon voyag-geee

  • People have been complaining about you posting travel posts?? I don’t always click over to the comments here. That’s absurd.

    As for solo time, I totally relate to that. When I traveled in Europe, I always scheduled one day in every city apart from my travel partner. Those were some of my favorite days of the trip.

  • adri

    I forget how expensive gas is overseas. Thanks, Fish, I won’t complain when I fill up today =)

  • I like it better when you blog about making and eating cake.

    Miss you!

  • red

    i would be disappointed if you weren’t blogging at all… i love the stories and the pictures are so “pretty” to look at. :)

  • Sar

    nope, i like the travel blogs, i’m just a bit jealous about all the cool places you get to go!

    besides, blogging on the road seems to equal more posts, which is quite awesome. keep it up!

  • fluffyclay

    god bless me-time. and I love that you’re blogging while traveling– makes me jealous, but I still love it!

    to all the haters– better to have travel blogging than no blogging at all!

    HAPPY TRAVELS!

  • I’ve been enjoying reading your blog and now your adventures abroad. I understand about the silence. My best friend and I took a trip to Rome and omg she wanted every single day planned out to the T. We got over that after having it out (loudly) in middle of the street with Italian boys in tow. Enjoy your trip!

  • Damn. Now I’m gonna have to go back and read all the comments to see why anyone would make a snarky comment about your traveling. I usually just lurk, but had to come out of the woodwork now to say I’m really enjoying the travelogues. Looking forward to the next post.

  • CaliGal

    Ya know, Fish, I saw that entry and it took everything in me NOT to comment to her/them/him! You’re right. This is a personal blog and you are traveling and I, selfishly enough, can’t wait each day to see where you’ve been and what you have to say about it (on BOTH blogs)! Ignore them. Forgive them. And always do what you must…even if it’s just to take some “me” time. Do it! I’m sure it’s well deserved. :) Stay safe…keep writing…your tried and true fans are here for you!

  • sceince_chick

    I’m quite enjoying ur travel blog! and the other one as well.. nice stories.. gr8 pictures! al i hav to say is keep it up!

  • danelley

    I think they’re jealous because you’re living every European-adventure-starved girl’s dream.

  • I like my solitude, also. Sometimes when my husband’s home all day, I’m longing for a little peace and quiet.

    I am DYING to hear about your visit to Barcelona. That’s the next stop on my Dream Travel map.

  • Leigh Anne

    When you’re in Barcelona, you MUST find a little pub called Re:Publichouse. It’s run by a couple of British blokes – Chris and Kieran. They are FABULOUS and they love Depeche Mode.

    I’ll find the address and send to you. Please please please tell them that Leigh Anne from Miami says hi and that I miss them terribly!!

  • Meg

    I LOVE the photos!!

  • Barbara E.

    My ex father in law used to do the street sign reading. Drove me straight up the f’ing wall. Just one more good thing about the divorce. Safe & fun travels. Loving the photos.

  • Sarah

    I’ve been reading your blog for about a year and I love it!

    I must say that I’m really surprised that people feel compelled to tell you what you should be writing about in your own blog. It doesn’t make any sense to me at all. I think so far you’ve struck a perfect balance between doing your travel stuff in your travel blog and your regular entries here!

    Plus, if they really don’t like it, why do they really need to tell you? I guess I’ve never really understood how passionate some people get about these things

    I hope you continue to have an awesome time on your trip!

    Oh and I totally get the needing to be alone thing. I always reach a point where I can’t stand to be around roommates or just a friend that I’ve seen a lot recently. It’s never anything personal, just a need for space. :)

  • Yesterday I thought of commenting that I absolutely love the travel stuff, but didn’t. So I guess I should have, and here it is–love it! I’m sure that has a lot to do with the fact that I also love to travel and it’s fun to be “back” in Europe through your stories. But even for people who aren’t into travelling, it’s so bizarre to me that people would complain about you writing about ANYTHING. It’s not like mandatory reading, right? Or a newspaper suddenly exclusively covering Hollywood antics. It’s your online journal, so why would anyone complain?

  • Jen

    I totally love your pictures, they are truly beautiful. Thanks for sharing!

  • just adding my .02 in…I like the blog, travel, dating, silly family stories, whatever. The pictures are lovely by the way, what camera are you using?

  • me

    I so understand. Traveled with a dear friend for a week and by the end I swore I would only ever travel alone. Or at least with someone I wanted to sleep with.

    Love your blogS … happy to join the commenters. :)

  • sylvia

    hah! i can totally relate to silence.. i love it. while i was in ireland with three of my best pals, i had to fight the urge to gag them with my socks….

    can’t wait to hear about barcelona!~

  • Lauren

    Don’t you know it’s your civic duty to go in search of scandalous adventures to blog about in order to sate the world’s salacious appetities? Because, apparently, we’re too busy living lives of quiet desperation to do anything remotely interesting ourselves.

    People are morons. Keep up the awesome blogs and the breathtaking pics!

  • devon

    totally my favorite van morrison song. well played.

  • When a friend and I travelled to France together, we decided before we left that each morning in Paris we would spend alone. We knew we would need a few hours of space from each other so we planned it out. Those mornings spent wandering the streets of Paris, observing my surroundings and writing in my journal in silence are among my favorite memories of the trip. So I can completely relate to needing your alone time – don’t be afraid to take it!

  • lawyerchik1

    I totally understand the need for “alone time.” That’s what I tell people, too. It’s time for my alone time. See you soon.

    When my sister & I drove from Alaska to Virginia one year, she used to read (to herself) while I was driving – worked just fine, except when she would laugh at something she was reading and then not tell me about it. I made her read her entire book out loud (front to back) for the rest of the day. :)

  • Lindsey

    I love your blog fish, and I love hearing about your travels, but I think I expected your new travel blog to be more of what you are writing on here and not just pictures, but I LOVE the pictures. I don’t know if that makes sense, but I think you should keep doing what you are doing but it seems silly to have the second blog when you could post everything on one. Kind of repetitive. I don’t feel the need to go to both since you are writing about travel here too with pictures. Which, is probably not a good thing for your freelance employer so I go anyway so you get the hits.

  • ha, I know exactly how you feel…I had a roommate/fellow employee for the entire summer that never understood the concept of companionable silences. She talked and sang incessantly when I was reading…sleeping…driving…and it nearly drove me up the wall. Still, when the summer ended and I got some peace and quiet back, things did indeed seem a little empty without her. Great blog! :)

  • Cristy

    Lurker here. Frankly, Fish, you could probably write about trimming your lawn w/ scissors and I’d read it. I’m just that hooked. I’m enjoying the travel blogs myself.

  • Lisa

    I think it’s great that you’re blogging whilst traveling. It’s awesome, in fact.

    What’s not awesome? Complaining about your poor travel companion who probably read the post! Holy complete bitch!

  • Hey Fish, I was hoping I could ask a favor. My bestest friend EVER is moving to Dallas from Charlotte for a job in the Addison area. He has no idea where to look for apartments (and no time or money to go there) and I was hoping you would have a suggestion or two. I don’t know how to give you my email without posting it on here, so can you possibly message me on myspace? I know you are busy and I really appreciate any help you or any of my fellow readers can give me. Thanks so much!

  • Mish

    P.s. Thanks for sharing the travels! Poor college student here and I love I can live vicariously through someone!

  • This Fish

    Whoa, now. Wait a minute. I did not complain about my travel companion. I simply said it’s hard for me to share my time and space with someone — anyone — on a 24-hour basis. I also said it had nothing to do with her. So, before you start calling names, why don’t you read the entire post?

  • I can’t wait to read about Barcelona. I have a chance to go there in ’09 for a conference. It sounds like the chance of a lifetime.

    Also, I love the fact you’re blogging while on travel…meh-blah to those who are dissatisfied. Last time I checked this was your blog not their’s.

  • I’m loving your travel blogging, too!

    btw, I know people have strong feelings about Oprah, so I’m a little scared to admit this, but you’ve totally reminded me of when she travelled across the country with her best friend, Gayle. I just think it’s funny how even your best friend can drive you CRAZY when stuck in a car with her for miles. I definitely need some silence… and some alone time. :)

  • Mel

    Don’t you know that you should just write nothing rather than interesting posts WITH photo’s of the beautiful places you’ve been? One would at least expect you to lie and write posts about your life at home with your cat…even though you’re not there, er.

    I second Lauren….people are morons. Think of this as a way to weed out the ornery readers.

    P.S. The more pictures the better. Some of us are living vicariously through your adventures *cough* me *cough cough*

  • Deanna

    Screw the people who dont like to hear about you traveling. Its still your life right??

  • wow 8 bucks a gallon…I thought I had it bad over here in Japan…about 5 dollars a gallon

  • Jenny

    LOVE the photos and the travel stories. Also, I completely understand your need for non-social time. Three years with seven roommates taught me to appreciate (even more than I already did) the quiet. And there is nothing like traveling/thinking/being without interruption, no matter how wonderful that other person is.

  • People who give you sh*t for blogging about traveling should keep their traps shut. After all, the last time I checked, this was your blog, and you can do whatever you damn well please with it :)

  • Love your pics! I lived in Scotland for two years in Aberdeenshire and loved the countryside. Aberdeen itself was more handy for practical purposes, but it was Edinburgh that made me fall in love with Scotland the first time. If you ever get a chance to hit the West Coast, such as Oban, I highly recommend it.

  • Lisa

    Well, let’s not grasp at straws. Granted – you did not explicitly nor officially complain about your travel companion, but the negative appraisal of her company is rather clearly insinuated. It’s your right. Still, she probably felt like **** about it.

  • This Fish

    I can’t, for the life of me, understand why you’d want to find venom where there is none. I meant no cruelty, nor did I insinuate anything. I explicitly said I loved many things about spending time with her.

    I don’t get you.