That's right, we climbed off the train at EDI (Edinburgh) and bundled into a cab. "Where to, sir?" Good question, "Royal Scots Club, cabbie," and off we went to the RSC. What a great little club. Back in the day it was very much regimental, and it holds that ethos today, which I like. And here's the thing, the RSC's relaxing, civilized, congenial, and altogether worth joining unless you're a Lib, in which case you'd hate it.
After several hearty meet-ups with the President of the Ghost Club, an old friend, we reluctantly left the RSC to Waverly and thence to the halcyon market town idyl that is Ludlow. Watch out, kids, navigate that change at Crewe, and ride the rails into town. And what a town.
Beautiful, medieval, half-timbered gorgeousness. And oh, let's not forget the bakeries, butchers and market, where you can buy all this real food. Real food, far out, right? Back in the day Ludlow had a wall, with gates, portcullis style. Maybe it will again, let the reader understand.
Caveat in mind, we boarded the train to London several days later. It was easy and involved sandwiches, many sandwiches, which you can order from the buffet car. Tasty as you like and then some, but stop. Do you remember dining cars? You know, with white table cloths, waiters and all of that. All gone, apparently, in our progressively awful new world order.
Devolution of Western Civ aside, we rolled into Euston with the North's great unwashed, no bad thing, mind your wallet. From there? "Reform Club, please, cabbie." Quick as a flash, "Yes, sir," and off we went. And thus began the third evolution of this remarkable adventure. Stay tuned for part three of this foray into the beating heart of the Rainbow Caliphate.
Best,
LSP
6 comments:
It all sounds like great fun!
Neither the high road nor the low road but the rail road. Nice.
I well remember dining cars and view their demise as just another harbinger of the impending Apocalypse. Meanwhile, perhaps a description of the sammiches on offer would be appropriate to whet the appetite of your humble yet hungry following.
I recall riding the train with my mother and grandmother overnight from San Antonio to Sanderson, and being served "griddle cakes" for breakfast in the dining car. Always loved this commercial--
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AXTsqYCMwmU
It really was, Marcus. Edinburgh, Ludlow? Beautiful.
Ah, Wild, just simple sandwiches. Egg salad, Cheese AND Tomato, Ham and Cheese. And here's the thing. These were basic food car fare, nothing special, they came in hard to open cardboard packs, but guess what? They were delicious. Better, fresher ingredients than the US equivalent, and I fell to.
Mrs LSP mocks me for this and thought I was somehow "greedy." No, just seizing an opportunity.
Speaking of the real deal, I remember a train ride to EDI in the '90s just after rail privatization. They'd brought back white tablecloth dining cars and we feasted on a friend's expense account. So civilized, and fun, and no longer with us, alas.
RHT! What a great commercial. Just look at what they took from us.
There's still passenger rail from San Antonio, remarkably, might have to check it out myself.
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