Chapter 824: London Trip
Of course, I took a flight from Yanjing.
There is no direct flight from Yanjing to Edinburgh, so you need to go to London first.
Fang Minghua flew Cathay Pacific. It took off at 4:30 in the afternoon and transferred to Xiangjiang. He stopped for more than an hour and then continued flying. After a long journey of 20 hours, he arrived in London Heathrow at 5:00 in the morning. Airport.
Fang Minghua was not in a hurry, but took the airport bus to London and checked into the Mandarin Oriental Hotel that he had booked.
This is a five star hotel located in Hyde Park. Surrounded by famous buildings such as Trafalgar Square, the British Museum, the London Eye, the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben, the hotel garden is just across the street from the Royal Horse Patrol. During breakfast every day, British knights line up. Walk by.
Fang Minghua washed up briefly, then went to the Amber restaurant on the first floor of the hotel, where he ordered an English breakfast, including bacon, fried eggs, sausages, and an English black tea, and slowly tasted it.
Sure enough, I saw a group of soldiers wearing classical British costumes and riding tall horses coming slowly outside the window. There were people on both sides of the street holding cameras to take pictures.
It’s actually just a guard of honor, made so mysterious.
After eating, Fang Minghua went shopping alone with his luggage bag. I have to say that the location of this hotel is quite good. Many of Lunda’s famous attractions are concentrated nearby. I've basically watched it all.
In the afternoon, Fang Minghua stayed at the British Museum for a while. The museum was very big, and I probably couldn’t see it all in one afternoon. The China Exhibition Room (China Pavilion) alone took up several halls. Looking at these familiar things, Fang Minghua couldn’t help but feel Make complaints.
This guy is so shameless that the cultural relics he stole and robbed from China are displayed here openly.
Fang Minghua suddenly remembered the tens of thousands of paintings and calligraphy in his private collection. Although the artistic value cannot be compared with these cultural relics, according to the latest price at the Christie's auction house in Hong Kong, it is estimated to be worth more than a billion, right?
Since the 1990s, artworks such as celebrity calligraphy and painting have been on the rise in Hong Kong. I heard that a four-panel "Lotus" by Zhang Daqian auctioned by Christie's last year was sold for HKD 8.29 million!
Historically, these tens of thousands of calligraphy and paintings seemed to have been bought by an overseas Chinese and taken to auction abroad and scattered around the world.
Fortunately, I cut off my hair.
Actually, these paintings and calligraphy are not for sale. No matter how much their market value is, it is not a waste of money. After two years, why not set up a private museum like Ma Weidu, but there is no admission fee and it is free for everyone to visit.
Fang Minghua spent a day in London and headed to Edinburgh the next morning, naturally by train.
As long as there is no emergency, Fang Minghua likes to take the train.
Unlike Americans, British people like to take trains. From London to Edinburgh is known as the most beautiful east coastline.
The east coast starts from King's Cross Station in London and ends at Waverly Station in Edinburgh. This route connects London with Yorkshire, northeast England and Scotland, and is the main transportation artery in the eastern part of the island of Great Britain.
Fang Minghua got on the train and found his seat. Unexpectedly, he was occupied by a British girl. She looked like a middle school student. There were also girls of the same age around her chattering.
After communicating, I found out that they were all in the same place. They were going to Edinburgh to attend the Book Art Festival. They wanted to sit together and hoped that Fang Minghua could change seats. The girl who occupied her seat pointed to the other side. There was a seat in the row, a little shy.
This is possible.
Fang Minghua readily agreed.
To him, it doesn't matter where he sits.
"Thank you." The girl thanked her quickly.
"You're welcome." Fang Minghua glanced at the girl. She was not very beautiful, with two braids and a few small freckles on the bridge of her nose.
But it still looks quite pleasing to the eye.
Girls of this age, as long as they are not too ugly, look more comfortable. Youth is inherently a kind of beauty.
Fang Minghua came to his seat, put down his travel bag and began to look at the scenery outside.
After leaving the city of London, I looked around and saw golden rapeseed flowers in the fields. They looked similar to those in the Tianhan area, which was pleasing to the eye.
It’s just that there are more villages in Tianhan than here.
It took nearly five hours and it was almost noon before we arrived in Edinburgh, and finally checked into the Royal Mile Hotel.
In fact, whether in London or Edinburgh, the hotels where Fang Minghua stayed were all contacted by Li Libang. Now that the domestic Internet has just started, specific information about these hotels cannot be found online.
Li Li has been to these places, not to mention that it is much more convenient to learn about British hotels in the United States than in mainland China.
After Fang Minghua checked in, he felt that the hotel was really good. It is located on the historic Royal Mile.
The room feels cozy with its vibrant colorful furniture, fluffy rugs and velvet curtains.
Standing by the window, you can see all the castles in Edinburgh.
During lunch, a young woman in her thirties named Lucy came and introduced herself as a staff member of the marketing operations department of Heinemann Publishing House, who was responsible for Fang Minghua's trip to Edinburgh.
Different from the fiery passion of American women, Lucy also has flaming red lips, wears a black suit, and has a hint of dignity in her shallow smile.
After briefly introducing herself, she took out a piece of information from her bag and handed it to Fang Minghua. It contained the arrangements for her participation in the Edinburgh Book Festival.
Actually, Fang Minghua has read these things in the email, but this time it is specific to a certain time.
However, there was one more item on the schedule than the email: a dinner with the famous British writer James Coleman.
Seeing Fang Minghua's slightly surprised look, Lucy explained: "James Kou is a famous writer in my country. He heard that you were coming to Edinburgh and wanted to see you. He said that you are good friends."
"Yes, We are friends." Fang Minghua said with a smile.
I met James Coe in 1994 when he participated in the Trega Literary Award in Nevento, Italy. At that time, James Coe presented his work "It's Too Late" which had just won the British Booker Prize. Shortlisted, but ultimately lost to Fang Minghua's "Skywalker".
The two got to know each other from then on. In 1995, "It's Too Late" was shortlisted for the second World Chinese Literature Award. James Kou went to Xijing, and Fang Minghua specially received him.
So the two are friends.
In this case, please do as you wish.
Lunch was served in the hotel. Lucy accompanied Fang Minghua to taste typical Scottish dishes: Cullen's haddock soup, and haggis, known as Scotland's national dish, made of sheep offal, oats, Cooked with onions and spices, served with mashed potatoes and radish, full of flavor.
No matter how Fang Minghua eats it, it feels like Northeastern stew.
After dinner, Lucy wanted to accompany Fang Minghua around Edinburgh, but he declined.
All he needs to do is speak English and bring a local map. He likes to be able to carry his bag alone and feel free.
(End of this chapter)