Towards The Midlands - Nottingham, United Kingdom, 11th Nov 2006

The Nottingham University Park, where the Road Race was held. It was supposed to be five kilometres, although a few people questioned that and said it was really seven. It made little difference to me, whether it was five or seven - I nearly ran my lungs out, and finished twelfth, which I thought wasn't a bad achievement, until of course when one discovers there are only thirteen participants.

The Nottingham University Campus is really large, and situated a good distance away from the main town. I felt it was a tad inconvenient, but on further thought it is probably the case for most other universities in the United Kingdom. Places like Cambridge and Oxford are special because they're a town unto themselves, and convenience is not much of an issue because the university is strewn all across the city.

But I like the university at Nottingham, it has a nice rustic charm to it, helped no doubt by the mellow crimson of high autumn.

All right... Not quite crimson, but about there.

Robin Hood Castle in downtown Nottingham, and I wonder how it got its name. Never got down to reading the description on the plaques on display and all, because I got the impression that all these were but mere gimmicks to draw the tourist crowds.

Ye Olde Trip To Jerusalem, 1189 AD, the oldest inn in England, it says on the wall. This place was indefinitely more significant than Robin Hood Castle was for me, despite us stopping by only to enquire if we could use the lavatory.