United Kingdom

The first time I visited the UK, I was seven years old and had gone to visit my grandparents in the east of England. To me, the towns had funny names (like Cringleford, Didlington, and Emneth Hungate); the people had strange accents (which all sounded different – each one hard to understand); and everything seemed much smaller (happily, more my size). I distinctly remember the drive (in a tiny Renault) from the airport to my grandparent's house. About half way there, my grandmother pulled the car over at a rest stop and asked if I wanted to "spend a penny." "Sure," I said, looking around for a store in which I could spend my money (I could just about afford a penny). When my grandmother led me to the ladies' washroom, I was extremely perplexed. Seems they used to have to pay a penny to use public washrooms, hence the phrase. We laughed about that misunderstanding – and the confused look on my face – for many years afterward.

Britain still has a very warm place in my heart. For such a small island, it's just crammed with people (population 59,157,400) and so many interesting things to do and see. There's a fabulous mix of old and new: history leaps out at every corner (think of Stonehenge or Windsor Castle – buildings are babies when they turn 100 here), and, yet, the people are utterly modern, creating some of the latest trends in music, art, theater, fashion, and (contrary to the stereotype) even food.

The small towns and little villages are what I think of first when I think of Britain. Rustic and quaint, some have remained unchanged for centuries. My grandmother lived in one of these little villages. We'd walk down a narrow country lane, which was overgrown with bramble and blackberry bushes, to the local farm to buy fresh, still-warm eggs. We'd visit the old private country estates with their grand houses, which have been preserved for tourists and local visitors to wander through. I'd go horse riding and wear Wellington boots and a wax jacket to keep out the rain.

The cities are, however, vastly different. They are vibrant, cosmopolitan, ethnically diverse, and throbbing urban centers, each with their own flare. London (which for many North Americans is synonymous with England), is fast, loud, and fun. The nightclubs are unparalleled. The architecture is beautiful. The subway system is labyrinthine. The fashions are wild.

And if you want culture, it's in no shortage here. Traditional and contemporary art, music, theater, dance, and history abound. Access to many of the galleries and museums is free. But there's another, less refined, side to the culture. Brits love their sports: football (not the American kind), rugby, cricket, horseracing, field hockey, tennis, and golf. Brits love their Royal Family (which has shed much of its stiff upper lip in recent years). Brits love their pubs (and their beer and their pub grub like steak and kidney pie, Yorkshire pudding, and fish and chips). Brits love their scandal and gossip, especially about the aforementioned Royals, any politicians, and high society (as proven by the large number of tabloid newspapers). Brits love their gardens (and, therefore, don't mind the rain too much). Brits love partying (clubs, raves, pub-crawls, you name it). Brits love travel (as part of the European Union, access to European countries is unfettered. You can take the Eurostar from London through the Channel Tunnel, or Chunnel, and be in Paris in less than three hours!).

Really, I could go on and on about each part of the UK: England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland, but why not just discover this great nation for yourself?

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