Mark Pentleton

Some thoughts on Canada

After leaving Iceland - travelling in the lap of luxury with Icelandair first class! - I arrived in Toronto, Canada, where I was met by relatives. We spent a couple of days in Toronto, saw Niagara Falls in the pouring rain, and then made our way to Windsor in south-west Ontario. I very much enjoyed spending time with my family in Canada, and it was particularly nice to meet a new generation of relatives. Thanks to everyone for their hospitality! Favourite moments included bacon butties at the St Lawrence Market in Toronto, dinner at Frank and Johanna's favourite restaurant, Jacques' Bistrot, getting soaked on the Maid of the Mist at Niagara, and of course the BBQ at Maureen and Marcel's.

I took the opportunity to record a French Canadian version of One Minute Languages with family-member Gisēle, so we'll launch this at some point in the next few months, probably along with Japanese and Mandarin which are both currently in preparation.

Detroit: baptism of fire

My first night on US soil was spent at a baseball game between the Toronto Blue-Jays and the Detroit Tigers. I had been warned about what to expect, and I wasn't disappointed!

It seems to be about much more than the game. I don't think I quite managed to understand the rules until the seventh inning, but this didn't stop me from enjoying the experience.

We had managed to get three tickets, but two were in the outfield, and one was much nearer the action. Johanna took this seat and then I swapped with her when I felt comfortable with Frank's explanations of the gameplay. The seat was four rows from the front, just to the left of the base. Having taken my seat, and prepared my EOS 450d with the zoom lens (which handily fits neatly in cup-holders!) for some close-up shots of the action, I got talking to a man sitting next to me who had the same camera. This talk of cameras seemed to arouse the interest of the people sitting behind me and so began an unforgettable conversation. Names have been invented as I didn't feel brave enough to ask them!

American lady: "My that's a big one."
Husband: "Watch it, Darleen!"
Darleen: "Shut your mouth, Dwayne!"
Dwayne (to me): "Sorry. Just ignore her!"
Me: "No worries"
Darleen: "So where are you from?" Me: "I'm from Scotland." Darleen: "Scaaaaatland?! Oh my Gaaad, did you hear what he said?! He's from Scaaaaaatland!"
Dwayne: "Z'this your first game?"
Me: "Yes. It's actually my first night on American soil!"
Darleen: "You're kidding me! Oh my Gaaaad! Listen up everybody. It's his first night on US soil! Well I'm gonna buy you a beer. What kind of beer are you wanting? (to the person selling beer) We're getting him a beer cos it's his first night in the US!" Me: "That's very kind of you. Anything at all." Dwayne: "What's the beer like in Ireland?" Me: "I'm actually from Scotland." Dwayne: "Oh same difference. Bet you the beer is better over there than this s***!"

I thank Darleen for the beer and start to drink it, trying to focus my attention once more on the game.

Darleen (to couple next to her, minding their own business): "You gonna buy him a drink? It's his first night in the US and he's come all the way from Scaaaaatland!"

Couple smile and try to avoid entering the conversation.

Darleen: "Hey c'mon, tight ass! Buy him a beer. We need to show him we're a welcoming nation!" Me: "I'm fine, honestly. Thanks. Darleen: "So, c'mon. What do you like about the States?" Me: [think for a minute about my vast experience of this country, having arrived approximately 2 hours previously] "The beer?" Darleen: "All right! Doin' good!" Dwayne: "So which part of Ireland do you live in?" Me: "Um... I live in Scotland... I live in the south-west - south of Glasgow." Dwayne: "Z'that anywhere near St Andrews? We're going to St Andrew's to play golf. Will you pick us up and drive us to St Andrew's?" Me: "St Andrew's is about two and a half hours from where I live." Dwayne: "That's nothin'! And we bought you a beer!"

And so it continued.

In the end the Jays won after some fairly disastrous play by the Tigers. We ended up leaving after the seventh innings in an attempt to beat the traffic given my early start the following morning. A memorable first night in the US!

Icelandic adventures

I started my 'big trip' a week past on Thursday when I flew from Glasgow to Keflavík in Iceland. Arriving late at night it was great to be picked up by a member of staff from the Northern Lights Inn at the airport. Joining me in the minibus were two elderly gentlemen who were planning a week of fishing in Iceland, recreating a trip of 50 years ago. I chose to decline their kind offer of a vodka nightcap, but wished them well on their holiday.

The Northern Lights Inn was a great discovery. I'd read a few reviews on Trip Advisor and it sounded my kind of place, near enough to Keflavík, and just next to the famous Bláa Lónið (Blue Lagoon) which Ewan had recommended. The staff couldn't have been more helpful and ran a great taxi service back and forward to the airport and to the Blue Lagoon.

I spent the morning at the Blue Lagoon which was quite a unique experience. I was told that I'd chosen the best time to go because the lagoon becomes very busy late morning and in the afternoon because some of the buses which travel to the airport from Reykjavík stop off at the Blue Lagoon to allow people to visit on the way to the airport for a later flight. Soaking in the mineral-rich waters under a clear blue sky was heavenly!

I spent a few hours in Reykjavík before returning to the airport. I always enjoy a Scandinavian capital, and Reykjavík proved to be a very walkable city. Although I didn't see a huge amount of Reykjavík in the short time I was there, I enjoyed walking along Laugavegur (as the photo shows, the "main shopping street", just in case there is any doubt) and soon headed back to the bus station and headed towards the airport.

My favourite thing about Iceland? Without a doubt the language! No surprises there... I've always liked the sound of Icelandic and I admire the fact that it protects the integrity of the language by avoiding anglicisms and neologisms. There's more information on Wikipedia, but as an example, the word for "telephone" is sími, which actually means "wire", but is now used as the standard Icelandic word for telephone - including the wireless variety! I wonder if you buy a "sim" for your "sími", or is there another word for sim?!

I'd love to go back to Iceland. I may try to follow up the link with the hotel with a view to doing One Minute Icelandic at some point. It would be great if I could combine that with seeing the Northern Lights, but that's perhaps not the most financially sound reasoning!