Into the Swirl

[Series: The Great Escape to Great Britain] Vol. 5 (Into the Swirl)

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(작가 블로그 가기)

Cleansing Waves: Pulteney Bridge

Leaving the commotion at Five Guys behind, our first destination was Pulteney Bridge—the very spot where Inspector Javert threw himself into the river in the film Les Misérables, his convictions shattered.

In person, the river was swirling and cascading down much more powerfully than I had imagined. Watching the white foam break over the tiered weir, I felt as though the unpleasant noise of the hatred we had just encountered was being washed away by that forceful current.

Paradoxically, this backdrop of a cinematic tragedy became a ‘sanctuary of purification’ for us, washing away the residue of hatred. Against the backdrop of those waves, sharing stories, we finally relaxed and began to laugh.

The Royal Crescent: The Boundary of Freedom

Next, we moved to the icon of Bath: the Royal Crescent. True to its name, a row of grand, antique mansions curved into a massive crescent, facing a vast expanse of green lawn. We plopped ourselves right in the middle of that grass. In one hand, holding a burger bag with only a faint warmth remaining; in the other, a camera.

We spent a long while there, capturing the “The perfect shot” and chatting away. People sitting at a distance seemed peaceful, as if the chaotic world outside didn’t exist. Lovers sharing sweet affections, children running wild, and parents smiling at them.

“Yeah, this is what life is supposed to be.”

Those words from my own lips must have spoken for all of us at that moment. Instead of the wallpaper of a cramped room in London, we were embraced by the lush green grass held by the crescent moon and the laughter of friends. The liberation of taking that first bite... In that moment, the relief of having reclaimed a sense of normalcy lingered on my tongue far longer than the taste of the food itself.

However, that peace was short-lived. Perhaps thinking that this freedom was an exclusive privilege reserved only for their kind, an elderly man passing by approached us, and only us, to snap in a sharp voice:

“Where are you from? Don’t gather here; go home at once.”

A brief silence followed, but the junior who was a student at the University of Bath handled it wisely without being flustered. She calmly explained that she was a resident living nearby. Taken aback by her composed response, the old man left, looking embarrassed. Having gracefully disarmed a stranger’s hostility with a sense of 'belonging’, she looked back at us with a proud face. Thanks to her, we soon found our laughter again.

A Nameless Hill

The highlight of the trip was a nameless hill my junior led us to. As a student at the University of Bath, this was her favorite spot—a secret place that offered a panoramic view of the entire city.

It was steeper than expected, leaving us breathless as we climbed, but the sight waiting for us at the summit made us gasp once more. The slowly setting sun was dyeing the historic sandstone buildings of Bath in shades of deep gold. The entire city sparkled like a giant jewelry box.

We looked down at Bath in silence against the sunset. The country I had feared so much in 2009 was offering me its most brilliant golden light in 2020. Over the scars that once throbbed with pain, the sunset of Bath was applying fresh layers of warmth, stroke by stroke, alongside the people standing with me.

Life Continues, Even if We Are Halted

Walking down the hill, I thought: These escape trips to avoid the virus were, in fact, journeys to confirm the tenacious vitality of our lives that continues even amidst this global crisis.

The happy couples and families on the lawn, the strangers who protected us with burgers in hand, and even those who spat hatred—everyone was enduring life in their own rhythm. I saw with my own eyes that while disaster may bind our feet, it could not stop the innate peace and vibrancy of being human.

I think to myself. We will still have to breathe through masks and converse from behind them, but if we remember that tenacious vitality of daily life we witnessed, we will find the courage to endure any crisis that comes our way.

(End of Vol. 5)

Notice of Hiatus

To the devoted readers of The Trail,

Hello, this is Editor Jonathan from Whitecrow.

Thank you so much for following this journey with such overwhelming warmth. Thanks to your kind attention despite my humble writing, I was able to find joy in every moment of writing these travelogues.

I will be taking a short break to recharge the team and to envision our next chapter. I will strive to return with even better stories that meet the expectations you have patiently held for us.

I hope you have a warm end to 2025. And, Happy New Year.

Thank you for loving The Trail.

- Team Whitecrow -

A World Traveler’s Small Stories & Insights Published every Monday and Friday.

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