This time the story goes to some length, so take your time.

It starts in Zagreb at the airport. I just spent my last Croatian currency (kuna) and went through a bag of bruschettes filling up my empty stomach (or rather: the emotional hole that kept growing in the navel region).  I got final calls and final messages saying goodbye, god’s speed etc. And a phone call with a kiss and a where are you? I replied as to where I am and sent the kiss back. Sometimes I can be too naïve. A second call revealed that my YES! We Can fellow mates are there at the airport – and I was already at the gate, boarding started. They thought my flight was later, so they were late, and we could not see each other anymore.  BUT! They insisted on seeing me, and giving me a present. So I just went for it. Back to security: “Hello dear sir, my friends….say goodbye….present….please!” I got escorted from passport control to security (small airport!) and 5 smiling faces were waving and sending kisses and hugging the air, as I did not have time to go back and then through security again. The present got sent through security and ended up in my hands. With tears of gratitude I felt this as a most beautiful gesture ever made for me, I ran back to the boarding gate sobbing and smiling at the same time. I felt happy to have these people as a part of my life, my small extended family.  Aaaaaand London. The guy at the border check asked whether I am employed and who is paying for the trip, so I said my mom is and continued how I am going to Iceland in a week. So the guy (geezer) said “Iceland is expensive” and I answered “Well, my mom’s got a job” 😀 Bless you mom!

London Luton to Kew took me some 2 and half hours, a bus, tube, another tube and a lot of walking in between. It all seems very simple on the tube map, but it doesn’t say about all the stairs and escalators and walkways.

I finally made it to Tom’s house. Such a beautiful place, London. Especially Kew Gardens. Tom was waiting with an elaborate Indian meal (channa and something something – all very very tasty). We sat and talked for hours and went to sleep.

The next day we chilled, walked, talked and in the evening went to a pub. The next day we walked around Kew in the sun. I wanted to see a different side to London, so he took me to Southall (West London) – a mostly Indian quarter. The high street is like a big market place – open shops, food in the street, lost of people walking, shopping.  We got tired and hungry in the crowd so we looked for a place to eat and found a perfect restaurant, more like a diner. Not very fancy nor shabby, just right. We ate tandoori rotis and sauce (indian cheese and curry was my choice and Tom’s was something meaty and spicy).  Night slowly falling, it was time to go to the other part of town – Hackney (East London). Hackney is a perfect blend of the two opposites – Kew Gardens and Southall. We had a drink at a local pub and walked around. This evening there was a Yoga Jam going on, so we were looking for a venue called “Passing Clouds”, we walked down the street and stopped at a traffic light; I looked up and saw someone who reminded me of another YES! We Can friend from Lithuania. But I ignored it and continued on. After a while we realised that we’ve gone too far and needed to go back. We returned and came to the spot where I imagined seeing Tomas – BUT! I did not imagine – it really was him! After leaving Bulgaria I thought I would not see these people for some time now, but we seem to bump into each other all the time. The Yoga Jam party was in this small sweet venue. They were selling naturally prepared juices on the spot. And we came just in time for some yoga. And partner yoga. Smiles were floating around the room…a simple breathing technique was taught and after we all did it together, the room changed, there was a sharpness, a clear air sensation, and everyone looked very alert and aware. Then meditation (relaxation) and the band started slowly playing, everyone kind of waved their way out from the subtlety of the meditation and slowly started getting up and dancing. It built up in a matter of minutes into a jumping, singing party with people playing with balloons! Yoga Jam events rule!!!

Back to the house, we took the tube and it was a bit late, so we were confused as in what to do, where to go. After some fussing about everything turned out perfectly, we were on the right tube on time. On the train a boy was sleeping (more like an intoxicated passing out thing), so I asked Tom to take a picture, as polite as he is, he asked people around the sleeping boy if they were his mates. An American girl answered with a no and encouraged Tom to come closer, as she had already taken his picture just a moment ago. Everyone started fussing about the boy and we finally woke him up and found out he was going in the wrong direction, so we sent him out. The American girl called after him: “Follow these nice people in green” and the confused boy got out of site. (He was not really a boy, but I enjoy calling him one). The rescue mission was done! We came home and chatted late into the night (or can one say morning if it was till 4.30?).

These days I spent with my dear friend Tom, talking about Croatia and England, and laws and opinions and our personal lives, there was not a second of boredom. And it felt like being home. The last day we walked out again, the day was sunny and nice. A bit cold, but I realised that for me it is cold because of the dampness in the air, something I am not used to in dry and cold Zagreb weather.

I started to be anxious this last night: about entering Iceland, will it all be alright, will Lilja pick me up, what kind of person is she, will we get along well, how will it be? The same questions for over a month now, and finally I will get at least part of the answers, tomorrow.

Now it is tomorrow. I am in the plane, using my new/old laptop with a new battery (e-bay!) and writing. Listening to Lali Puna, and riding on top of the clouds in a big tin bird. It is all blue, so I suspect we are above the sea. I just see the white fluffiness and the bright blue underneath. Planes are fascinating, even though I am familiar with them as I fly (or rather used to fly) at least twice a year since I was a kid. It was cheap to fly, so my sister and me would go to Zagreb from Split as under aged. The stewardesses would take care of us; give us a cake and a special ticket bag that goes around the neck. I am not sure one can do this nowadays. Anyway, even though it is not good for the environment, and it takes ages to go ‘to and through’ the airports, it is still fascinating. To see the Earth from a distance, looking like a small playground for your toy animals and people.

It is noon now, another hour or so of the sun above the clouds. I will rest, relax into sleep.

I’ll be back soon with new adventures, this time of the far north.

The boy.