Spontaneity is Fun!: an annotated dialogue

Thursday, 4:30 p.m. Kyle: "What should we do this weekend?"
Me: "Let's go to Nottingham... that sounds like fun"
Kyle: "Ok, let's take the train there. Here's the timetable."
Thursday, 4:37 p.m. Kyle: "Let's go right now!"
Me: "Well, ok, I mean, it's kind of short notice, but..."
Kyle: "Ok! Get packed!"
Thursday, 5:45 p.m. Me: "We'd better go, we're going to miss the train..."

And so it begins – what started as a casual conversation turned into a run to the train station and the start of an excellent weekend. We arrive in Nottingham, UK, at 10 p.m., after a two-hour train ride. We took a taxi to the hostel that we had booked three hours before we got there. We're pretty tired, but we decide to walk around the city a little to get our bearings. We learned later that there are about 20,000 students living in the city, and I think they were all on the streets that night. Drunk. This is the first time I've really seen what happens when it's legal for 16-year-olds to drink, and, to tell you the truth, I'm kind of glad kids in the United States have to do it in secret. These kids were screaming (actually screaming) and jumping and generally embarrassing themselves. I'm not sure it was all the alcohol's fault – wikipedia says Nottingham has one of the worst education systems in the country. So these kids aren't really the brightest crayons in the box anyway. We got back to the hostel around midnight and fell asleep.

Friday, 10 a.m. We check out of the hotel and head towards Nottingham Castle, where we saw an exhibit about a Robin Hood TV show on BBC. There was a beautiful view of the city, too; we realize what a large place Nottingham is; when we walked around the night before, we were able to get across what seemed like the entire city in about 15 minutes.
Friday, 1 p.m. We walk around the downtown area of the city and discover Nottingham is having a huge celebration tonight.
Me: "Wow! This looks so cool! There's even a ferris wheel!"
Kyle: "Maybe we should stay another night."
Me: "That's crazy talk."
Kyle: "No way! Let's do it."
Me: "Well, i guess so..."

And so we went back to the hostel and booked another night. After we dropped our stuff off, we walked around the area again. By this time, it's starting to get more crowded, and light displays are lighting up. I still can't believe how many people are in this town; when I picture Nottingham, I see a sleepy little town, not this thriving city. As it gets dark, more and more people appear in the Market Square, where there is a ferris wheel and a bandstand where local kids are singing and playing instruments. We decided to take a tour sponsored by the visitor's center about Nottingham's "forgotten nooks and crannies," thinking we would see some cool places around the city, but instead we went down some dark alleys as the tour guide told us some boring stuff. We decided to be rebels and leave the tour early. I'm glad we did, since the festivities were in full swing when we got back to the square. There were people on stilts, and drummers, and a Corona party bus with people dressed in inflatable beer bottles. The festival was called "Light Night," so there were lights everywhere. I felt like a kid again; it was absolutely beautiful.

Saturday, 10 a.m. Checked out of the hostel, took a bus to Sherwood Forest. The bus ride was an hour long, but definitely worth it. It was about 60º and sunny when we got to the forest, and it stayed that way until we got on the train for London. I can't stop wondering what I've done to be so lucky. At the forest, we walked to the largest tree I've ever seen. It's called the Great Oak, and it must have been at least 8 feet across.
Saturday, 5 p.m. Made it back to the Nottingham train station just in time to catch the 5:30 to London St. Pancras. Reflected on a fantastic weekend.

So that's what happened to me this weekend.
Cheers!