The main thing that you notice about the United Kingdom is just
how much is squeezed into it this small place. You will find various landscapes
from rough moorland, rich agricultural land, to flat low lying fenland. Each
county has its own traditions and accents. You only need to drive an hour away
from most major cities to discover quaint little villages that look like time
has totally stood still.
The United Kingdom is also full of history which is alive and kicking
even to this day. In most of the UK cities you can find buildings dating way
back into the past, in some back to Roman and Medieval times. These places
bring all the old legends back to life. You can actually visit some of the
castles where King Arthur used to stay, search Sherwood forest for Robin Hood
and stand guard on Hadrians wall to feel how the Romans felt protecting England
from the Celts. In some places, like York (claimed to be the most haunted City
in the UK) history can be too real for comfort. Quite recently an electrician
got a real surprise when he witnessed a legion of Roman Soldiers marching
through the cellar where he was working. When this was archeologists
investigated they dug down and discovered an old roman road underneath the
exact spot where the electrician said they were marching. The Church of England
takes it seriously enough to employ a full time exorcist for the York area. The
more you read up about a place the more you will discover, every little area is
boiling over with history.
The UK will also delight anybody interested in food. During the 1950s
and 60s large amounts of immigrants were allowed to settle in the country.
Mainly from India, Pakistan and Africa bring with them their own culture and
cuisine. which have been merged with the UKs own ideas on good food. Where else
in the world could you sit down to a plate of curry and chips. Following recent
scares over food safety the UK has tightened up its procedures and now boasts
the safest meat in Europe. Under public pressure more and more foods are now
produced without the use of chemicals, steroids and genetic modification
techniques that are quietly being used in most of the other developed countries
around the world. Whilst being part of Europe the UK has continued to maintain
its friendship and trading with the USA, Australia and New Zealand. The British
Commonwealth continues to grow and flourish to this day.
In general the UK is a nation of people who care about the environment
they live. It is one of the few countries that have met the targets of the
Kyoto agreement on air pollution and has spent lots of money cleaning up its
rivers and beaches. Some of the major towns and cities do suffer from large
amounts of litter dropped on the street but this is also now being tackled with
various schemes and advertising campaigns taking place to help clean the areas
up.
The UK is also infamous for its weather. Bright sunshine, one minute
then heavy rain the next. You can have snow in summer and a heat wave in
winter. The main advice we can give is be prepared for this changeable weather.
Keep a jumper and a waterproof jacket close at hand and the weather will not
spoil your enjoyment of this fine country.
Exmoor - By Bob Pearce