Holiday day 2

Yesterday started with nice morning coffee in the garden with Isabelle and David where I wrote my yesterday post. I am sitting in the very same spot today, the only difference is that i am alone. Well, it is 7:15 am after all and they all still in bed. I am awaiting the sun to come up any minute now from above the roof of the house across the car park, to start drying the the cars covered in the morning dew.

My friend John was right when I talked to him last week, there is really nothing to see in Southampton (no offense to anyone who was born or lives in this nice town) ! Nevertheless we had  great day yesterday. After a really good breakfast at a Greek/British restaurant and a short photo session in the park nearby we walked down the 'high street'  and of course we couldn’t  resist to visit some of the shops. We simply can’t pass a TK MAXX on the street without getting in and have look. It’s our favorite shop in Glasgow (gosh....until now i haven’t realized how sad that actually sounds) and when ever we see one we are getting in. Two designer t-shirts later we arrived in a PRIMARK (or how my friend Nathalie calls it: PRIMANI) browsing through the stands and stands of cheap clothing wondering, how the hell it is possible that these are sooo cheap (Yes, we do know the answer, but we like to be dramatic sometimes).

Mike was sitting outside, waiting for us, starting loosing the will to live.... thanks God the Primani is kind of at the end of the shopping street. After that it was pure touristy stuff, as much as it can be in Southampton. We walked the ruins of the very first city walls with nice view over the Southampton water and the cruiser port. On the way we have past a very old building, now made into nice traditional pub where Jane Austen has lived for the whole two years (1807 - 1809). It was actually very nice and old part of the town, with many nice cute little houses (David wanted to buy them all) with lots of coffee shops and the pubs (yes, we have stopped in few of them for a shandy). The final destination of that walk was a pub cold ‘GRAPES’ where Leonardo di Caprio won his ‘Titanic’ ticket in the game of poker, however before we have arrived there we were crossing a one of many, the town of Southampton has, parks and we felt like a little break. We have lied at the grass and simply relaxed, listing to the birds singing and the wind penetrating the newly born leaves on the trees. I have to say it was a very, very fine moment. Overall we really have walked some distance. We were enjoying the shandy in the ‘Grapes’ when Mike stated that the walk back will take at least 45 min ( and he is toll and has long legs) we unanimously have decided that we need a cab.

The whole day i was a little itchy all over as i have rash, however i don’t really think this rash is related to the medication. It has been very hot day and i believe this is heat/sweat related reaction. Earlier in the day I have finally spoken to Michael, a very good friend who till now did’t know about my HIV. We had a very long chat while walking and i am very glad I have told him.

We have finished the day in a very and i mean very nice Italian restaurant owned by Nathalie’s and Mike’s friends. The restaurant is called Buon Gusto and it is located on the 1 Commercial Road in Southampton. It is really worth recommending, so if you're ever in this neck of the woods I suggest you have a lunch or dinner here....

Today, we are taking a ferry to Isle of Wight and spend a day there... really looking forward to it.