Made it
"Hey, Kiddie-Fiddler!"
The first three words from a familiar face after hours in a compressed metal canister hurtling hundreds of miles an hour over the earth, and they were calling me a pedophile. Still, I couldn't suppress a grin at seeing Paul. We've known each other about seven years, and he's always been great about putting me up while I'm over here.
I've spent the last two days getting reacquainted with the city. Most of it is built in granite, which can lend a bleak and industrial feel to the place. This matches the Scottish pysche quite well. Walk around the streets and there is an evident hardness from many people: pinched features and purposeful strides underscore the pugnacious and obstinate character of the people who live here.
This isn't meant to paint the wrong picture, though - the city can be beautiful, the countryside is magnificent, and the people are fantastic and friendly - just don't get on their bad side. :)
Aberdeen has gotten a lot more diverse in the past two years. This isn't to say that it was monochromatic in the past. You had your choice of pasty and/or ruddy, and tanning bed enhanced levels of melanin for that slightly cooked look. It's a good thing, and it adds a more metropolitan feel to the place. There's even a sushi restaurant now. :)
It's great to see all of the familiar buildings and places to go. I think mothers walking with their prams (which I learned yesterday is short for "perambulator") is a national pastime. We had some great Italian food for lunch and I helped get some work done on some property that Paul owns and is turning into a small business hotel.
Tonight the plan is to meet some friends at the Queen Vic for a few pints, and then who knows what will happen? I will keep the camera with me and have some good stories to tell, I'm sure.
Speaking of, pics are here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/superflyc/sets/72157602171943844/detail/. I'll put new ones in a different set.
