Around England in 80... I mean 12 days

My trip to England was really one to visit old friends. I had twelve days and was attempting a Jules Verne esque around the world in 80 days type venture (seeing as many friends as humanly possible in the country while on a very short budget).  By the way all the Jules Verne thoughts come from the fact the latest book I picked up was "Around the World in 80 days", which works as it's so damn English, and is a lovely classic if you can get over the inherent racism of the late 18, early 1900's in it.  I proceeded to Travel across England, from Weymouth on the Southern Coast, to Stoke on Trent in the Mid-West, To Birmingham to Liverpool and back to London.  For anyone who has traveled to England recently, the country has not really gotten much cheaper, with train tickets being exorbitant unless you manage to snag a quick deal.

Regardless, the price was well worth the incredible human beings I was attempting to see. I started by seeing my dear English sister Emily down on the southern coast, (we had not seen each other for about 7 years sense we toured together in Theatrino in Italy). She still remains a most incredible, lovely spazio of a human, who delights as she does what she is meant to do, teaching grade school children. We hiked and giggled, laughed and made faces and reminded each other that we would not go so long without spending time together.

I then trained up and across to Stoke upon Trent, to see my delightful highschool theater friend and gem of a human Erin, with a very pregnant belly and an equally delightful English hubby Steve.  We hiked what is called The Roches, a stunning rock formation with 360 views in traditional sunny, rainy English weather, ate incredible Chinese food (Erin and Steve know, sense they both lived in China), and they broke me down and convinced me to watch the latest season of Game Of Thrones.  These true heart buddy dorks, near and dear to my heart were so good to see, even though our time was so short.  I look forward to whatever delightful demon spawn they bring upon the world, and to see what that awesome child will grow up to be. From here my trip diverged as I went to meet my buddy Chris, another Theatrino friend from Italy.  He had come to visit me a few times during his American adventures, but now was such a cool time for me to come visit him, as it was to help him with his newest Charity he started with friends not to long ago, FORWRD.

What they do is collect tents, sleeping bags, chairs and clothes left at music festivals and send them the refugee camps.  I spent the next few days working all day in the few stupidly hot English days that exhist in a year. I raced bulldozers to collect tents along side some of the most incredible volunteers from all wakes of life.  I was brought to tears and felt distraught with the human experience, as I watched such blatant mindless waste left by mindless unconnected young folks get bulldozed by money greedy mindless older folks.  At the same time I marveled and was lifted by the incredible work of my friend Chris, and the other coordinators and volunteers that worked relentlessly to gather survival materials for those without the most basic accommodations.  My funds low, I followed this humanitarian salvage mission by joining Chris to work a clothing stand at a Trance Music festival called Creamfield's, were we partied hearty with a lovely group of blokes, body painters, soccer players and trippie sun glass wearers.  Exhausted, dirty and full hearted yes empty drained I hugged my buddy Chris, who is a beautiful person of a human through and through goodbye, grabbed a selfie at the train station with my theater camp buddy Dave and ventured on to London to say goodbye to dear old England.