october-2009

Alan Cumming
COMMENT
Scottish stage and screen actor Alan Cumming talks travel
“I DON’T REALLY DO HOLIDAYS, WEEKENDS,
mini breaks or indulgent fortnights. I snatch
days here and there, shut down and veg out. If
I do manage to escape, I love getting away to a
hotel where absolutely nobody can fi nd me. But
after a week, I tend to get a bit twitchy.
“How would a holiday that involves skiing,
abseiling and yoga make me feel? Ha! I would
love a holiday that encompasses all three. I’m
not a big abseiler, but it’s one of those things
I’ve always wanted to do. I’ve done quite a bit
of fl ying for my job in the last few years, for
plays and fi lms, so I’ve come to really enjoy
a harness! Skiing and yoga are two of my
favourite pastimes, so no horror for me there.
“Adrenalin opportunities aside, I have three
absolute holiday musts: 1) dog friendliness
I’m much happier when I have my pooches
with me; 2) good veggie food, as I’ve been in
too many fabulous hotels where I’ve ended up
eating chips the whole time because they don’t
cater for non carnivores; 3) a huge bath. The
US, where I live now, has never really caught
on to the importance of a nice soak, so when
I go on holiday I like to compensate for their
shortcomings in this area. I take my iPod with
me, too. I’m really obsessed with The Wet Spots
at the moment they’re really dirty, yet melodic.
“My favourite trip ever was taking a train to
a little hotel on Loch Awe in Scotland a couple
of years ago with my man and our dogs. Once
there, it rained the whole time but it was just so
magical to be in such a beautiful place, eating
delicious food, away from it all. Plus, Honey,
“The US, where I live now,
has never caught on to the
importance of a nice soak”
my collie shepherd mix, had a little holiday
romance with the gardener’s sheepdog!
“I’ve always wanted to ride on the Trans
Siberian Express. I just love trains mostly the
idea of people not being able to get to me for
long periods of time. I’d go with my partner,
Grant, and my friends Sue and Andrew, because
we would laugh from dawn ’til dusk.
“As for hotels, Chateau Marmont in LA is my
favourite anywhere. The Hotel du Vin in Glasgow
is my second choice because it’s so comfy,
grand and welcoming, and they used to have a
sommelier called Johnnie Walker. Perfect!”
INTERVIEW: CHARLIE DAWSON
ALAN CUMMING’S DEBUT SOLO ALBUM I BOUGHT A
BLUE CAR TODAY IS OUT NOW ON ITUNES.
FLY TO GLASGOW (PRESTWICK) FROM 30 DESTINATIONS,
INCLUDING ALICANTE AND DERRY. VISIT WWW.RYANAIR.COM
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