Bristol: Rain, Rumors, and Really Weird Vibes
okay, so i’m pretty sure i’m running on caffeine and regret. 2643567 and 1826194258… honestly, those numbers just keep swirling around in my head like a bad dream. i landed in Bristol yesterday, and let me tell you, it’s… something. the air feels thick, like wet wool, and the pressure’s sitting at 1025 - feels like being underwater, you know? humidity’s a solid 94, so you’re basically breathing soup. the temp’s hovering around 5.48, but the feels-like is 5.43, maxing out at 6.61. it’s… there right now, hope you like that kind of thing.
I checked out the Harbourside - it’s a proper mess of boats and scaffolding, all looking vaguely haunted. Found a decent pub, The Grain Barge, which is basically a floating pub. The beer was alright, though the bartender, a guy named Silas, kept muttering about ‘the echoes.’ Seriously. He said someone told him that the building used to be a Victorian tannery and the ghosts of leather workers still haunt the cellar. I’m not saying it’s true, but… yeah.
Spent the afternoon wandering around Stokes Croft. It’s a proper creative hub, all street art and independent shops. Found a vintage clothing stall - scored a killer 80s denim jacket for £20. Worth it. Seriously. It’s got this weird, faded smell, like old cigarettes and rain. I’m thinking of distressing it even more. I need to find a good tailor, though. My stitching is… questionable.
I overheard gossip at a cafe about a secret underground network of tunnels beneath the city. Apparently, they were used during the Second World War. Someone said that the local historical society is trying to map them out, but they’ve hit a dead end. It’s all a bit wild, innit? I’m half tempted to start digging.
Speaking of digging, if you get bored, Cardiff is just a short drive away. They’ve got a pretty decent castle, and a surprisingly good vegan burger place. I heard that the castle is built on an ancient burial ground, which is… unsettling. Don’t tell anyone I said that.
My gear list for this trip? Let’s see… waterproof jacket (obviously), sketchbook, a ridiculously oversized backpack, a portable charger (essential), and a notebook full of half-formed ideas. Oh, and a bottle of hand sanitizer. Always.
I’m staying in a tiny Airbnb in Clifton - it’s basically a glorified cupboard, but it’s cheap and it’s got a window overlooking a ridiculously posh house. The neighbors are… intense. They seem to spend all their time meticulously pruning their roses and glaring at anyone who dares to walk past. Seriously, they give me the creeps. I saw one of them yesterday giving a very pointed look at my slightly muddy boots.
I’m trying to capture the feeling of this place in my sketchbook - the dampness, the shadows, the weirdness. It’s hard to describe. It’s like… a half-remembered dream. I’m thinking of doing a series of drawings based on the rumors I’ve heard. Maybe a comic book? Or a series of unsettling portraits of the neighbors. Don’t judge.
Seriously, check out TripAdvisor for Bristol: https://www.tripadvisor.com/Tourism-g1-469117-Bristol_England.html And Yelp for some decent eats: https://www.yelp.com/directory/Bristol-England. Also, the Bristol Graffiti Database is pretty cool: https://www.bristolstreetart.co.uk/.
Right, gotta go. My battery’s dying, and I think I just heard Silas muttering about ‘the echoes’ again. Wish me luck.
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