Amongst the hullabaloo of traveling from country to country, at times I almost forget that there's quite a lot to see in my home base country, England - and not just in London.
As the year unraveled, I discovered the breadth of travel available in the crown jewel of the Empire, be it for a day or a few nights. Here are some thoughts that apply not only to the United Kingdom, but any country in which you may find yourself based.
1. Touristy does not always mean bad: Yes, there are tourist traps. Yes, there are places that have far too much hoopla. But some things are tourist destinations for a reason. One of the best examples of this is Canterbury Cathedral. Even without Chaucer and his pilgrims, this cathedral was among the most visually mind-blowing buildings I've ever seen (in fact, I'd put it above St. Peter's and Notre Dame).
Sure, you can be edgy and "above it all," but sometimes that attitude will deny you a good experience. Granted, you'll still want to stay away from some spots - only go to Stratford-Upon-Avon if you're looking to lose some quid and waste a few hours. And this is coming from someone who's seen over 10 Shakespeare plays this year.
2. You may only live here once: Everyone goes to London, and possibly enjoys a daytrip to Bath or Windsor, but why stop there? Go to a place that you never would hit on a ten-day trip around the country. In March, my friend and I went to Dover just to see the cliffs, have a picnic and fulfill an obsession with the Decemberists' "We Both Go Down Together." If you're a Beatles fan, how about a weekend in Liverpool? And, of course, I'll be heading to Devon soon for obvious reasons (though they butchered the spelling of the word).
3. Visit a friend: If you're lucky enough to be in a program where you can easily make friends with the natives (and I highly recommend taking that option if at all possible), why not pay them a visit over break or go home with one for a weekend?
After I had traveled 23 days straight over Easter holiday, my most relaxing time finally came when I hung out in Manchester at the home of a true Manc. Nothing can beat seeing a city with a friend who's a local. It's like having your own personal tour guide, but better.
I learned the history of Manchester but geared to my own personal tastes. Seriously, folks, look up the history of Angel Meadow. It's messed up beyond belief. Weird facts were not just thrown upon me, but instead mixed in with normal conversation and tidbits like, "Oh, that's the goth pub where my friend ticked off everyone by putting 'Summer of '69' on five times in a row." What tour guide is going say that?
On top of that, being with a local means he knows where the best kebab is, which pubs brew their own ale and even what's going on around the city while you're there. I got to see a production of "The Glass Menagerie" with great acting but absolutely god-awful American accents. And that's something not to be missed, I suppose.
And did I mention that you may be able to crash at his place, save some dinero on lodging and - who knows - maybe even get a home-cooked meal?
While country hopping has many appeals, don't forget to explore your mother country. You'll see it with a pair of eyes that no one could ever get just from a visit.
Devin Toohey is a junior majoring in classics. He can be reached at Devin.Toohey@tufts.edu.
