Avalon

Corbridge Roman Site

Acreditei que no dia seguinte a Scotland Yard já teria entrado em cena, localizado o passaporte e alguém me ligaria para ir buscá-lo, então agendei mais uma noite no Close House e pedi às recepcionistas que ficassem ligadas caso alguém me procurasse. O hotel era caro mas o esforço para achar outro lugar e me transferir estava além das minhas forças. Meu passaporte continha um visto americano novinho, o sonho de consumo de qualquer terrorista ou imigrante ilegal. Cancelar os cartões de crédito me preocupou imensamente, pois teria que contar apenas com o dinheiro que trouxera em espécie para o resto da viagem.

I believed that the next day Scotland Yard would have burst upon the scene and retrieved my passport. Someone would call me to pick it up. So, I booked one more night at the Close House and asked the receptionists to be attentive in case someone called me. The hotel was expensive but search another place to stay and move was beyond my strenght. My passport had a brand new American visa, the dream of any terrorist or illegal immigrant. Block the credit cards worried me deeply, because I would have only the money in cash to rely upon the rest of my journey.

Market Place in Corbridge

Antes de iniciar a caminhada queria garantir os pernoites seguintes, pois parecia que todos os B&Bs estavam lotados. Era segunda feira, 29 de abril, os centros de informação turística estariam abertos e havia um ali perto, em Corbridge. Precisei chamar um taxi para me levar, mas foi a decisão acertada. Expliquei que estava fazendo a trilha da Muralha de Adriano e pedi ajuda para reservar acomodações. As pessoas que trabalham nesses centros conhecem os hotéis, os donos, sabem os que são bons e tem bom preço.

Before start walking I wanted to make sure I’d have places to sleep, because it seemed that all B&Bs were full. It was 29th April, Monday, and the Tourist Information Offices would be open. There was one nearby, in Corbridge. I had to call a taxi to take me there, but it was the right decision. People who work in these offices know the places, the owners, which are suitable and charge properly.

Corbridge, Praça do Mercado no centro da cidade / Market Place, Corbridge town centre

Allison era o nome da atendente, uma fofa, super atenciosa. Perguntou quanto eu pretendia andar por dia, pensou, rabiscou umas coisas no mapa e solucionou minha vida em dois minutos: fez as reservas e meu cronograma de caminhada para os próximos dias, além de contratar o serviço de transporte de bagagem. Saí dali super agradecida, até porque os B&Bs que ela reservou estavam na faixa de 35 libras.

The attendant’s name was Allison, she was so cute and helpful. Asked me how far I intended to walk each day, scribbled something in the map and, in a couple of minutes, decided my life for the next days. She called the B&Bs, booked the nights and wrote down for me all the walking schedule I was supposed to follow. She also hired the luggage transfer. My gratitude was beyond words, in particular because the B&Bs she booked for me costed around 35 pounds.

St. Andrew’s Church

O motorista do táxi que me levou a Corbridge se chamava William. Ficou esperando para me deixar no sítio arqueológico  – as primeiras ruínas romanas de verdade que eu ia ver. Dali voltaria a Heddon pela trilha, iniciando por fim a caminhada.

The driver who took me to Hexham was called William. He waited for me in the Tourist Office, to take me to Corbridge, the first real roman ruins I was about to see. From there I would walk back to Heddon, and that’s how I started walking at last.

Corbridge