Alrighty, so we last left our intrepid adventurers on the banks of Loch Ness...
We'd already paid for a cruise on loch ness and so, after consuming a few £1 specials at the bar, we wandered down and jumped onboard. The cruise was run by a 'marine biologist' and had I been more sober (or more drunk) I may have questioned that a little more. And it was also an occasion that a physics guru would have been handy.
It's a very pretty lake, but the highlight was the equipment downstairs - two screens, one mapping the layout of the lake (so effectively showing it as if there was no water in it) and the other showing objects directly below the boat. He says that the first was a live feed but I sorely disputed that point, particularly after I saw them select their route, feed it into the program and then let the program run... but I was a little preoccupied with my Scrumpy Jack.
Anyway, it was a bit crap. He tried to show us photos of Nessie, sonar screens proving there were more than one - they think there are 18 of them in the lake and they're just as intelligent as us which is why they haven't been caught - and they bury their dead, which is why they never wash up on the shore. Hmmm. And I suppose the reason no photos ever work clearly is because they transmit undectable radiation that interferes with the focusing element in both film and digital cameras. Makes perfect sense now.
The remainder of the night consisted of getting very pissed, dancing around a bit, swimming in Loch Ness and stealing a witches hat to put ontop of the tour bus.
The trip home to Edinburgh was, not surprisingly, pretty quiet. We visited a pretty cool garden that was basically planted using a cannon - the guy who owned the land just shot a selection of seeds into the area and so there is a huge variety of plants all living together.
Back to Edinburgh, a bus back to Glasgow and Michelle (my cousin) was on a bus down to London by 10:30pm. A pretty full on six days really, and I've forgotten bits and pieces I'm sure.
Sorry about the lack of photos, it's a bit hard because my wireless is no longer working and I can't seem to fix it (D'oh).
Thursday, September 13, 2007
Friday, September 07, 2007
Scottish Trip continued (or Part Three)
After washing our faces in the water of the wee people (that sounds really, really bad), we ended up at Fort Augustus, one of three major Forts the British built to keep law and order in the Highlands. It doesn't actually exist in any real sense now but there are a few pubs and a pretty good hostel (even if the staffing needs a bit of help).
Oh, and I almost forgot the distillery tour. Visited Glen Ord. It was very good.
The next day was spent doing Ness stuff, visiting Urquardt castle - well, not really visiting it because they charge exhorbinant amounts to look at the ruins and they've purposely planted trees along the roadside so in a few years time people won't even be able to see it from the road and will definatly have to pay for the privilege.. so of course we did the honorable thing and stole a tree. It's now living in the hostel's garden, rather than being used by a corporation to deprive people of their hard earned cash and much happier.
We drove down to Culloden battlefield - now this will take a little bit of historical background to appreciate so I'll try not to make it too painful...
There have been many periods in history where more than one person can lay claim to the royal throne. Bonnie Prince Charlie (who you may have heard of) and his father James were of the Stuart line and had a lot of support from the scottish highlands (I think partly because they were descended from Mary, Queen of Scots and her son James I/VI).
Their supporters, the Jacobites, consisted mainly of highland clans like the McDonalds, the Camerons and the Frasers.
Bonnie Prince Charlie (so called because he dressed like a fashionable frenchmen, ie. a girl) grew up in France and eventually decided to press his claim on the throne, with the help of a French army. He landed in Scotland and drummed up a lot of support while he waited for the French to arrive.
They got a bit sick of waiting and marched all the way from the central highlands to within striking distance of London - the English king was already in a boat on the Thames, ready to abandon his city if the army invaded. But because the French hadn't turned up (and Charlie didn't know the King was about to flee), the Scottish generals argued that they should fight the big battle on familiar ground so Charlie and his army marched all the way back up to Culloden.
They thought they'd made pretty good time so they thought they'd have time to recuperate, feed properly, rest and wait for the French.
The English army turned up two days later.
The French troops had tried multiple times to cross the Channel but the winds stopped them and eventually they'd given up.
It was a complete massacre - the English slaughtered Charlies army, who had been marching for months and were tired, hungry and unprepared.
But the worst was yet to come. At this period in history, it was normal for the women and children to watch and come onto the battlefield once the fight was over and tend to the wounded - but the English slaughtered those women and children watching. They killed anyone wounded and they chased anyone who ran for help.
As a result, many basic Scottish customs were banned : playing bagpipes, wearing kilts, speaking Gaelic. And much of the highlanders land was given to wealthy landowners who made more money from sheep and cattle than renting it back to the highlanders and so they were moved on - many ended up in Canada, Australia, New Zealand...
It's all pretty tragic. It was the last major land battle on British soil. And a pretty moving place to visit.
Then we wandered back to Fort Augustus and went on a cruise of Loch Ness... that's a differently paced story so I'll leave it for the next post....
Oh, and I almost forgot the distillery tour. Visited Glen Ord. It was very good.
The next day was spent doing Ness stuff, visiting Urquardt castle - well, not really visiting it because they charge exhorbinant amounts to look at the ruins and they've purposely planted trees along the roadside so in a few years time people won't even be able to see it from the road and will definatly have to pay for the privilege.. so of course we did the honorable thing and stole a tree. It's now living in the hostel's garden, rather than being used by a corporation to deprive people of their hard earned cash and much happier.
We drove down to Culloden battlefield - now this will take a little bit of historical background to appreciate so I'll try not to make it too painful...
There have been many periods in history where more than one person can lay claim to the royal throne. Bonnie Prince Charlie (who you may have heard of) and his father James were of the Stuart line and had a lot of support from the scottish highlands (I think partly because they were descended from Mary, Queen of Scots and her son James I/VI).
Their supporters, the Jacobites, consisted mainly of highland clans like the McDonalds, the Camerons and the Frasers.
Bonnie Prince Charlie (so called because he dressed like a fashionable frenchmen, ie. a girl) grew up in France and eventually decided to press his claim on the throne, with the help of a French army. He landed in Scotland and drummed up a lot of support while he waited for the French to arrive.
They got a bit sick of waiting and marched all the way from the central highlands to within striking distance of London - the English king was already in a boat on the Thames, ready to abandon his city if the army invaded. But because the French hadn't turned up (and Charlie didn't know the King was about to flee), the Scottish generals argued that they should fight the big battle on familiar ground so Charlie and his army marched all the way back up to Culloden.
They thought they'd made pretty good time so they thought they'd have time to recuperate, feed properly, rest and wait for the French.
The English army turned up two days later.
The French troops had tried multiple times to cross the Channel but the winds stopped them and eventually they'd given up.
It was a complete massacre - the English slaughtered Charlies army, who had been marching for months and were tired, hungry and unprepared.
But the worst was yet to come. At this period in history, it was normal for the women and children to watch and come onto the battlefield once the fight was over and tend to the wounded - but the English slaughtered those women and children watching. They killed anyone wounded and they chased anyone who ran for help.
As a result, many basic Scottish customs were banned : playing bagpipes, wearing kilts, speaking Gaelic. And much of the highlanders land was given to wealthy landowners who made more money from sheep and cattle than renting it back to the highlanders and so they were moved on - many ended up in Canada, Australia, New Zealand...
It's all pretty tragic. It was the last major land battle on British soil. And a pretty moving place to visit.
Then we wandered back to Fort Augustus and went on a cruise of Loch Ness... that's a differently paced story so I'll leave it for the next post....
Wednesday, September 05, 2007
Part Two
Ok, I'm doing this of memory now since I've forgotten my notebook...
So, Day Two. Started in Oban, we began our trek up the Great Glen, which is a huge valley with four substantial lochs in it (the most famous being the northernmost Loch Ness). We stopped in a small town to get lunch and then had a picnic at my favorite loch, Loch Garry (ok, it's not spelt that way but thats how it sounds :o)
I kissed a dirty old bagpiper on the cheek.
Then we wandered over to Skye, crossing the road bridge that caused soooo much angst. I can't quite remember how much it was to cross but it was an outrageous amount for people who had to work and live on either side of the bridge - but the Scots had a cunning plan.
- You could cross the bridge for free if you were transporting livestock. So people used to chase down sheep (the sheep wander pretty freely around here, they mark them with paint to keep track of whose is whose), chuck one in the back of the car and then point to it as they sped across the bridge, depositing said sheep on the otherside for someone else to pick up and take back home.
Anyway, Skye was gorgeous. Lots of munroes and bens and general star-like quality. We saw a few blackhouses (the traditional house of the Highlanders, basically a thatched roof cottage) and the grave of Fiona McDonald, who saved Bonnie Prince Charlie after one of the most disasterous and horrific fights between England and Scotland which basicallly led to the ethnic cleansing of the Scottish highlands (more on that later, it's actually pretty sad and we visited Culloden battlefield towards the end of the trip).
Slept in a gorgeous hostel on the edge of the ocean but no sunsets/sunrises (would it surprise anyone to know that Skye is Gaelic for misty/cloudy?)
The next day we wandered through Skye for a while and washed our faces in a river supposed to have been magicked by the 'wee people' (if you've never heard of the wee people, they are basically just like us, same likes/dislikes/prejudices/weaknesses/strengths except about three feet tall. And with magic powers. Some are good, some are bad, some I guess are just indifferent as long as they get what they want.)
Anyway, this river apparently makes you beautiful. Since I can't post photos, you'll just have to take my word that it worked and I am now a ravishing beauty with Scottish men falling at my feet :o) It's next to a pub and a steep-ish hill - story goes that one evening two guys were having a pint and one dared the other to run up the hill and back in under an hour. He did it in 59 minutes. Now it's a big charity event - the record is 48 minutes! Pretty damn impressive really.
Stay tuned for the next thrilling installment (i'm writing this for my fathers benefit more than anything else so he'd better be reading this!!!!)
So, Day Two. Started in Oban, we began our trek up the Great Glen, which is a huge valley with four substantial lochs in it (the most famous being the northernmost Loch Ness). We stopped in a small town to get lunch and then had a picnic at my favorite loch, Loch Garry (ok, it's not spelt that way but thats how it sounds :o)
I kissed a dirty old bagpiper on the cheek.
Then we wandered over to Skye, crossing the road bridge that caused soooo much angst. I can't quite remember how much it was to cross but it was an outrageous amount for people who had to work and live on either side of the bridge - but the Scots had a cunning plan.
- You could cross the bridge for free if you were transporting livestock. So people used to chase down sheep (the sheep wander pretty freely around here, they mark them with paint to keep track of whose is whose), chuck one in the back of the car and then point to it as they sped across the bridge, depositing said sheep on the otherside for someone else to pick up and take back home.
Anyway, Skye was gorgeous. Lots of munroes and bens and general star-like quality. We saw a few blackhouses (the traditional house of the Highlanders, basically a thatched roof cottage) and the grave of Fiona McDonald, who saved Bonnie Prince Charlie after one of the most disasterous and horrific fights between England and Scotland which basicallly led to the ethnic cleansing of the Scottish highlands (more on that later, it's actually pretty sad and we visited Culloden battlefield towards the end of the trip).
Slept in a gorgeous hostel on the edge of the ocean but no sunsets/sunrises (would it surprise anyone to know that Skye is Gaelic for misty/cloudy?)
The next day we wandered through Skye for a while and washed our faces in a river supposed to have been magicked by the 'wee people' (if you've never heard of the wee people, they are basically just like us, same likes/dislikes/prejudices/weaknesses/strengths except about three feet tall. And with magic powers. Some are good, some are bad, some I guess are just indifferent as long as they get what they want.)
Anyway, this river apparently makes you beautiful. Since I can't post photos, you'll just have to take my word that it worked and I am now a ravishing beauty with Scottish men falling at my feet :o) It's next to a pub and a steep-ish hill - story goes that one evening two guys were having a pint and one dared the other to run up the hill and back in under an hour. He did it in 59 minutes. Now it's a big charity event - the record is 48 minutes! Pretty damn impressive really.
Stay tuned for the next thrilling installment (i'm writing this for my fathers benefit more than anything else so he'd better be reading this!!!!)
Friday, August 31, 2007
Haggis Tour (part one)
Ok, only have fifteen minutes to descibe six days of Scotland... hmmm... will see how we go...
First of, for those who don't know, Glasgow and Edinburgh are in the central belt of Scotland (the lowlands) while everything north of the mountain range is called the Highlands (the majority of Scotland's land area but minority of population). Don't know why I think that's an important fact to know but meh. Now you've learnt something.
We left Glasgow and caught the train to Edinburgh (which leaves from Queen St, not Central as I assumed, resulting in an impromptu tour of Glasgows pubic transport system for my cousin Michelle) and wandered up to the line of big yellow buses denoting our touring company.
Jumping on the bus, we got a quick intro to Edinburgh (basically it's all world heritage listed, like most of Europe, and they use to drown and burn witches. A lot.) and then we went to the William Wallace memorial.
Now here is my dilemma. Do I drown this whole post with a pile of historical intrigue, drama and fact or just do dot points? Lets go for the compromise...
1. William Wallace memorial - has a god-awful statue of Mel Gibson as Wallace. Commemorates the Battle of Stirling Bridge where the Scots used the brilliant tactic of enticing the heavily armoured, horse-riding English across the old wooden Stirling bridge and then hacked the bridge apart, sending said English scum to their deaths. Wallace was made Defender of Scotland, a big deal for a commoner. Oh, and he was from the area around Glasgow (which means he never wore a kilt) and the blue paint from Braveheart was used about 600 years before the Wars of Independance. And the French queen he gets it on with in the movie was actually about 6 years old at the time. And Braveheart doesn't actually refer to Wallace, it's a reference to Robert D'Bruce (he'll pop up later).
2. Doune Castle. "Your mother was a hamster and your father smells like elderberries". I couldn't find the Grail, bloody lying French bastards.
3. Glencoe. Sight of the infamous slaughter of the McDonalds - the Campbells signed a treaty with the English so the king got them to kill all the McDonalds because they were late in following the kings orders... The Campbells pretended to be their friends, took advantage of their hospitality and then killed every man, woman and child in the village. To this day, the Glencoe pub doesn't allow anyone named Campbell to stay there. An American guy tried to sue them because they refused to let him stay... the pub won.
4. Oban - a seaside town on the East coast, saw Dunollie Castle. Not much else.
Ok - that took a wee bit longer than expected. Will write another post soon... with photos!!!
First of, for those who don't know, Glasgow and Edinburgh are in the central belt of Scotland (the lowlands) while everything north of the mountain range is called the Highlands (the majority of Scotland's land area but minority of population). Don't know why I think that's an important fact to know but meh. Now you've learnt something.
We left Glasgow and caught the train to Edinburgh (which leaves from Queen St, not Central as I assumed, resulting in an impromptu tour of Glasgows pubic transport system for my cousin Michelle) and wandered up to the line of big yellow buses denoting our touring company.
Jumping on the bus, we got a quick intro to Edinburgh (basically it's all world heritage listed, like most of Europe, and they use to drown and burn witches. A lot.) and then we went to the William Wallace memorial.
Now here is my dilemma. Do I drown this whole post with a pile of historical intrigue, drama and fact or just do dot points? Lets go for the compromise...
1. William Wallace memorial - has a god-awful statue of Mel Gibson as Wallace. Commemorates the Battle of Stirling Bridge where the Scots used the brilliant tactic of enticing the heavily armoured, horse-riding English across the old wooden Stirling bridge and then hacked the bridge apart, sending said English scum to their deaths. Wallace was made Defender of Scotland, a big deal for a commoner. Oh, and he was from the area around Glasgow (which means he never wore a kilt) and the blue paint from Braveheart was used about 600 years before the Wars of Independance. And the French queen he gets it on with in the movie was actually about 6 years old at the time. And Braveheart doesn't actually refer to Wallace, it's a reference to Robert D'Bruce (he'll pop up later).
2. Doune Castle. "Your mother was a hamster and your father smells like elderberries". I couldn't find the Grail, bloody lying French bastards.
3. Glencoe. Sight of the infamous slaughter of the McDonalds - the Campbells signed a treaty with the English so the king got them to kill all the McDonalds because they were late in following the kings orders... The Campbells pretended to be their friends, took advantage of their hospitality and then killed every man, woman and child in the village. To this day, the Glencoe pub doesn't allow anyone named Campbell to stay there. An American guy tried to sue them because they refused to let him stay... the pub won.
4. Oban - a seaside town on the East coast, saw Dunollie Castle. Not much else.
Ok - that took a wee bit longer than expected. Will write another post soon... with photos!!!
Thursday, July 05, 2007
Mitchell Library Blues
I've joined the library, I'm known by face at the pub across the river from work and I have a bank card - I guess I'm now an official alien.
My birthday was pretty uneventful, except for calls from Saurabh n Mum, but the weeked should be great - am heading to London to have a BBQ with a few randoms and then we're going to see 'Wicked --the musical' at the theatre. Exciting! I'm looking forward to it anyway... and it's only costing me 35 punds return which is pretty damn good.
Apart from that, life has settled down although nowhere near what I'd call 'normal'. Then again, I don't seem to do 'normal' anyway so not sure why I'd expect anything different. Missing people, hope veryone is well.
Oh, and as you can tell, I was nowhere near Glasgow airport but a cool story - the guy who crash tackled the terrorist has become a bit of a national hero and a campaign was set up to donate money towards 1000 free pints at his local. It's already hit that and people are still donating, I don't think he'll ever have to pay for a drink again.
Love this country.
My birthday was pretty uneventful, except for calls from Saurabh n Mum, but the weeked should be great - am heading to London to have a BBQ with a few randoms and then we're going to see 'Wicked --the musical' at the theatre. Exciting! I'm looking forward to it anyway... and it's only costing me 35 punds return which is pretty damn good.
Apart from that, life has settled down although nowhere near what I'd call 'normal'. Then again, I don't seem to do 'normal' anyway so not sure why I'd expect anything different. Missing people, hope veryone is well.
Oh, and as you can tell, I was nowhere near Glasgow airport but a cool story - the guy who crash tackled the terrorist has become a bit of a national hero and a campaign was set up to donate money towards 1000 free pints at his local. It's already hit that and people are still donating, I don't think he'll ever have to pay for a drink again.
Love this country.
Friday, June 29, 2007
Life at the GSC
Ok, well I have found a place to live and it may be old and smell of strange people but it's now my home (sigh). Finally got my work uniform today so feel like an actual staff member now but they still don't have my bank account details or anything else so I'm not sure exactly how I'm going to get paid....
Workwise, it's pretty similar to Q except they've instigated a 'learning module' policy which means I have to prove I can do everything I've been doing for the past three years. It's a bit like being sent back to square one, which I guess is what happens when you're starting a new job anywhere. Hopefully I'll get to do a bit of Outreach work as well which would be really nice.
Umm, what else? I'm off to do a tour of the Highlands on Sunday which should be nice. And the IMAX theatre at work is showing Harry Potter in 3D so I'll get free tickets if anyone wants them (yes, I've resorted to bribing people to be friends with me :o)
I'm also on Facebook but there isn't much I can do with that until I get broadband connected in my place. It's a-coming.
Later peoples, the library shuts soon and I'll be kicked out :o( Love you long time
Workwise, it's pretty similar to Q except they've instigated a 'learning module' policy which means I have to prove I can do everything I've been doing for the past three years. It's a bit like being sent back to square one, which I guess is what happens when you're starting a new job anywhere. Hopefully I'll get to do a bit of Outreach work as well which would be really nice.
Umm, what else? I'm off to do a tour of the Highlands on Sunday which should be nice. And the IMAX theatre at work is showing Harry Potter in 3D so I'll get free tickets if anyone wants them (yes, I've resorted to bribing people to be friends with me :o)
I'm also on Facebook but there isn't much I can do with that until I get broadband connected in my place. It's a-coming.
Later peoples, the library shuts soon and I'll be kicked out :o( Love you long time
Friday, June 22, 2007
Crazy times...
Well, still havent found a place to live. Maybe I'm being too picky - all I really want is a place with internet, a front entrance that locks and is clean. Preferably with a window. Apparently, those places are few and far between... maybe I'll up my ante a little, which may involve getting a bar job as well.
As a result, I don't really have anything interesting to write. I've been too busy trying to find a bed - and haven't been sleeping very well lately. But at least I have a job. I start on Monday, which should be good - will be nice to meet some people.
Once I find a place, rest assured the whole world will know about it.
As a result, I don't really have anything interesting to write. I've been too busy trying to find a bed - and haven't been sleeping very well lately. But at least I have a job. I start on Monday, which should be good - will be nice to meet some people.
Once I find a place, rest assured the whole world will know about it.
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
Classy Glasgow
Man, trying to think of titles for these things is hard.... normally I leave the subject heading blank so that the bulk of the email/post/thing is like a secret and then you read it and wham, your hit by the stunning simplicity and wittyness of my writing.
Can you tell I'm drinking at the moment?
Actually, just had my first Fosters. Apparently its ok to drink overseas - although I never really saw it in any bars back home so never had a chance to try it before. It's a girly beer, which is ok since I'm a girl.
Been wandering around Glasgow and it's an interesting place - one street looks gorgeous and then you turn a corner and there are gangs of 12 year old boys running madly down the road, down another street and there is a 5 minute parade of taxies decorated with balloons and then you hit the main shopping drag... actually, it's starting to grow on me, people seem much friendlier here than London and then there's the accent (the girls will know what I mean :o)
However, it is summer (apparently) and I dont think i'll ever be taking off a jumper...
I've been offered a contract at the science centre here doing gallery/outreach stuff - just waiting for an email so have been ringing people to look at flats... got a few to check tonight. Hopefuly I can find something before the weekend - then I'm planning to head off to Edinburgh to visit a friend I met while travelling. Back to London in a few weeks to celebrate my official disqualification from youth discounts (26 is apparently too old. 25 is still a youth in Europe... goodbye free museum entries and cheap transport) and then THE festival is on in August. YAY.
Missing everyone. Will have Skype up and running next week so I'll set up a lottery and ring people at random times, pretending I have no idea what the time is back home (he he he) - maybe I'll start with Ally who is probably up all night with Thomas anyway (hope it's all going well, send me photos!)
Choos.
Can you tell I'm drinking at the moment?
Actually, just had my first Fosters. Apparently its ok to drink overseas - although I never really saw it in any bars back home so never had a chance to try it before. It's a girly beer, which is ok since I'm a girl.
Been wandering around Glasgow and it's an interesting place - one street looks gorgeous and then you turn a corner and there are gangs of 12 year old boys running madly down the road, down another street and there is a 5 minute parade of taxies decorated with balloons and then you hit the main shopping drag... actually, it's starting to grow on me, people seem much friendlier here than London and then there's the accent (the girls will know what I mean :o)
However, it is summer (apparently) and I dont think i'll ever be taking off a jumper...
I've been offered a contract at the science centre here doing gallery/outreach stuff - just waiting for an email so have been ringing people to look at flats... got a few to check tonight. Hopefuly I can find something before the weekend - then I'm planning to head off to Edinburgh to visit a friend I met while travelling. Back to London in a few weeks to celebrate my official disqualification from youth discounts (26 is apparently too old. 25 is still a youth in Europe... goodbye free museum entries and cheap transport) and then THE festival is on in August. YAY.
Missing everyone. Will have Skype up and running next week so I'll set up a lottery and ring people at random times, pretending I have no idea what the time is back home (he he he) - maybe I'll start with Ally who is probably up all night with Thomas anyway (hope it's all going well, send me photos!)
Choos.
Friday, June 15, 2007
Paris and beyond
Well, after loving Barcelona I wasn't sure what I'd think of Paris... two very different cities in a lot of ways (well thats what I would have assumed anyway, yet to really decide if thats true or not, to some extent - in the words of Paul Kelly - 'every fucking city's just the same')
But I had one of those great moments when you realise where you are and how bloody cool it is that I am able to do what I'm doing... just sitting in a train station, having a coffee and a croissant and watching the destination board clacking through all these places... not sure why, was very happy about being there at that point. And I love the old fashioned traintable, the ones that clack as they rotate around... they're much more satisfying for some reason than electronic lights or voices.
Met a wonderful woman yesterday at Notre Dame - she's a volunteer explainer there and after the others all left, she asked if I wanted to see another church she'd talked about so I said sure. Then she showed me a whole heap of cool things, like the hotel that Mozart stayed in and the oldest house in Paris. And she showed me how to find the most famous ice-cream store in Paris. Hooray!
Then I had one of the best dinners I've had in Europe in a cafe by the side of the road. I will try to reserve judgement on Parisian food until I've had a few more meals (maybe it was a fluke) but its damn promising :o)
So I guess to sum up, am enjoying Paris. Even though its raining (just like in the Hunter Valley, although not so many emergency beer drops here), its still pretty nice. Tonight I get free entry to the Louvre and then I think I'll jump on a night boat and then head out to the bars in the Latin Quarter, which I found yesterday and is a cool little maze of cafes, turkish/italian restaurants and bookstores. Reading 'Canidide' because I figured I should read something vaguely relevant to the country... it's actually quite funny (still think Voltaire was a grade-A dickhead but anyway...)
Love you long time
But I had one of those great moments when you realise where you are and how bloody cool it is that I am able to do what I'm doing... just sitting in a train station, having a coffee and a croissant and watching the destination board clacking through all these places... not sure why, was very happy about being there at that point. And I love the old fashioned traintable, the ones that clack as they rotate around... they're much more satisfying for some reason than electronic lights or voices.
Met a wonderful woman yesterday at Notre Dame - she's a volunteer explainer there and after the others all left, she asked if I wanted to see another church she'd talked about so I said sure. Then she showed me a whole heap of cool things, like the hotel that Mozart stayed in and the oldest house in Paris. And she showed me how to find the most famous ice-cream store in Paris. Hooray!
Then I had one of the best dinners I've had in Europe in a cafe by the side of the road. I will try to reserve judgement on Parisian food until I've had a few more meals (maybe it was a fluke) but its damn promising :o)
So I guess to sum up, am enjoying Paris. Even though its raining (just like in the Hunter Valley, although not so many emergency beer drops here), its still pretty nice. Tonight I get free entry to the Louvre and then I think I'll jump on a night boat and then head out to the bars in the Latin Quarter, which I found yesterday and is a cool little maze of cafes, turkish/italian restaurants and bookstores. Reading 'Canidide' because I figured I should read something vaguely relevant to the country... it's actually quite funny (still think Voltaire was a grade-A dickhead but anyway...)
Love you long time
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
Big Ships and Briliant Houses
I may be showing my ignorance here, but I'd never actually heard of Antoni Gaudi until I got to Barcelona... I've been missing out! He designed some of the coolest buildings I've ever seen along with a church (The Sacrada Familia) that he worked on for 45 years designing and will still take another 25 years to finish building.
The Picasso museum was pretty cool too. I really like Barcelona, its lovely and warm and it has a great vibe, full of energy and enthusiasm. Las Ramblas is the main drag and is an icon in itself, loaded with human statues, capoeria demonstrations, pet/flower stalls, magicians, cafes... its a pretty cool pedestrian area and its nice to sit and watch people enjoying the company of others.
I head off to Paris tonight on an overnight train, which will be nice since I got kicked out of bed at 4am... long story and not entirely suitable for small children.
Anyway, hooray for the Maths-ys who are back in Canberra along with the Smovers I assume... hope you guys had a good tour, and farewell to Rich who will no doubt be working in the galleries when I eventually come back, a wise and wizened woman.
The Picasso museum was pretty cool too. I really like Barcelona, its lovely and warm and it has a great vibe, full of energy and enthusiasm. Las Ramblas is the main drag and is an icon in itself, loaded with human statues, capoeria demonstrations, pet/flower stalls, magicians, cafes... its a pretty cool pedestrian area and its nice to sit and watch people enjoying the company of others.
I head off to Paris tonight on an overnight train, which will be nice since I got kicked out of bed at 4am... long story and not entirely suitable for small children.
Anyway, hooray for the Maths-ys who are back in Canberra along with the Smovers I assume... hope you guys had a good tour, and farewell to Rich who will no doubt be working in the galleries when I eventually come back, a wise and wizened woman.
Sunday, June 10, 2007
Spanish is just like Italian (in the same way that chicken is just like beef)
I've left the green fields of Germany and arrived in a balmy, coastal metropolis. First impressions of Barcelona are that its easy to get around. Thats about all I've done, only just arrived at the hostel since leaving Frankfurt at 5am (!!!).
Germany was fantastic. Beer, sausages, good mates... what more could a girl want? And just in case anyone is interested in seeing the Heidelburg Castle (with the worlds biggest wine vat but more on that later), I'm sure Torsten would love to walk you up there. Again. Then he can take you to the chocolate museum :o)
Dusseseldorf was pretty nice. They have some amazing buildings, the area around the harbour is gorgeous. They are also known (according to my guide book) for having the worlds longest pub strip. There are a LOT of pubs in Dusseldorf, and thats saying something for a nation that has built a reputation around breweries. I even went up the TV tower, which overlooks the city - pretty scary because the windows lean out and apparently you can lie on them (hence lying on glass about 160m in the air)... which I didnt do because I have a healthy fear of falling 160m.
We visited the Cologne Cathedral which was stunning, and finally made it up the 560 odd steps to the top of the tower - on the way down there were kids about 3 years old literally climbing and crawling their way up the tower, dragging their parents behind them. No-wonder Germans are so bloody tough if thats what their kids can do...
Then we visited the Neanderthal museum and discovered that fathers are the same all around the world - they all know everything already and like to show off just all the things they know. Elly's, Torsten's and my own dear father all knew about the Neander river (we didnt) and that the original Neanderthal discovery was in West Germany (I didnt) and so on and so on. But it was a pretty nice little museum and although the actually caves and area where the fossils were found has been destroyed by limestone-mining, they have a park which commemorates the area. They've also bred cattle and horses to look 'authentically' stone aged but we couldnt find them despite numerous attempts. I think the photos were staged, they just put extra fur around the horses.
Then onto the Rhine Valley, one of the more beautiful parts of the world and a large reason that the Germanic tribes managed to avoid too many Romans living in their part of the world (the other reasons being the Black Forest and the tribes themselves who were famously vicious and skilled fighters..... and now they have kids that can climb bell towers faster than tourists.)
Koblenz was gorgeous and I got to see a medieval festival (Historenspiel) in the old fortress which was entertaining (better than the museum anyway) - and I had a glass of ye olde cherry beer (Kirsh? I think thats what it was called) which was pretty nice.
Then onto the Loreley cliffs, which has a legend similar to that of the greek Sirens. It was stunning as well, and full of grey nomads. On Friday, we caught a ferry unaware that it was half price seniors day so we had to battle old ladies with bricks in their handbags and old men with their sticks and knee socks.... but it was worth it.
Heidelburg was really nice - great for shopping and the castle is pretty cool. And they have a HUGE wine vat, that was used to collect taxes... so everyone put their wine in the same vat... white, red, sparkling... mmmm, nice. Then, to make sure they could collect taxes the next year, they would have to drink it all and the townspeople would come and help. At least you'd get some benefit out of paying taxes.
Long blog - sorry i havent been writing but its been hard without a computer. Bill Gates hasn't worked THAT one out yet. Good for nothing.
Germany was fantastic. Beer, sausages, good mates... what more could a girl want? And just in case anyone is interested in seeing the Heidelburg Castle (with the worlds biggest wine vat but more on that later), I'm sure Torsten would love to walk you up there. Again. Then he can take you to the chocolate museum :o)
Dusseseldorf was pretty nice. They have some amazing buildings, the area around the harbour is gorgeous. They are also known (according to my guide book) for having the worlds longest pub strip. There are a LOT of pubs in Dusseldorf, and thats saying something for a nation that has built a reputation around breweries. I even went up the TV tower, which overlooks the city - pretty scary because the windows lean out and apparently you can lie on them (hence lying on glass about 160m in the air)... which I didnt do because I have a healthy fear of falling 160m.
We visited the Cologne Cathedral which was stunning, and finally made it up the 560 odd steps to the top of the tower - on the way down there were kids about 3 years old literally climbing and crawling their way up the tower, dragging their parents behind them. No-wonder Germans are so bloody tough if thats what their kids can do...
Then we visited the Neanderthal museum and discovered that fathers are the same all around the world - they all know everything already and like to show off just all the things they know. Elly's, Torsten's and my own dear father all knew about the Neander river (we didnt) and that the original Neanderthal discovery was in West Germany (I didnt) and so on and so on. But it was a pretty nice little museum and although the actually caves and area where the fossils were found has been destroyed by limestone-mining, they have a park which commemorates the area. They've also bred cattle and horses to look 'authentically' stone aged but we couldnt find them despite numerous attempts. I think the photos were staged, they just put extra fur around the horses.
Then onto the Rhine Valley, one of the more beautiful parts of the world and a large reason that the Germanic tribes managed to avoid too many Romans living in their part of the world (the other reasons being the Black Forest and the tribes themselves who were famously vicious and skilled fighters..... and now they have kids that can climb bell towers faster than tourists.)
Koblenz was gorgeous and I got to see a medieval festival (Historenspiel) in the old fortress which was entertaining (better than the museum anyway) - and I had a glass of ye olde cherry beer (Kirsh? I think thats what it was called) which was pretty nice.
Then onto the Loreley cliffs, which has a legend similar to that of the greek Sirens. It was stunning as well, and full of grey nomads. On Friday, we caught a ferry unaware that it was half price seniors day so we had to battle old ladies with bricks in their handbags and old men with their sticks and knee socks.... but it was worth it.
Heidelburg was really nice - great for shopping and the castle is pretty cool. And they have a HUGE wine vat, that was used to collect taxes... so everyone put their wine in the same vat... white, red, sparkling... mmmm, nice. Then, to make sure they could collect taxes the next year, they would have to drink it all and the townspeople would come and help. At least you'd get some benefit out of paying taxes.
Long blog - sorry i havent been writing but its been hard without a computer. Bill Gates hasn't worked THAT one out yet. Good for nothing.
Friday, June 01, 2007
Frankfurt, Elly and Sex on the Beach
Now I bet people are reading my blog!!
To start with a more somber topic, I visited the site of the Gestapo yesterday - there is a big open air gallery/museum which describes what the area was like from the 1910s onwards. There are some pretty confronting photos of political prisoners being shot and public hangings that the Nazi party put on to disuade any opposition. They were big on arresting anyone who disparaged the regime on the charges of 'personal safety' and undermining military strength. Germany's greatest piano player was executed for making comments at a dinner party after his mothers childhood friend informed the Ministry of Music (who did nothing) and then the Gestapo (who did a lot). There were also items about the failed assignation attempts, the proposed coups and a section about the Berlin wall.
Elly said something last night that I'd read in the guidebook - the wall still exists in German heads. There is still a gap between East and West Germany - housing is more expensive, the standard of living is apparently higher and there is more economic investment in West Germany. Its cheaper to live in Berlin than Frankfurt.
For people who dont know, Elly was my best mate in S'pore who I havent seen since 2003. So finally met at the train station yesterday and we went and had cocktails. On the menu, Sex on the Beach had 'secret of the barman' underneath rather than ingredients... so when we were paying, the waiter came to pick up a SOTB, looked at it and asked what it was. The bartender said its a SOTB, to which the waiter replied 'it doesnt look like one' and the bartender basically said the menu means he can make whatever he wants and call it Sex on the Beach. (of course, this was all in German so Elly was laughing and i had no idea why).
Anyway, there isnt much to do in Frankfurt apart from shop, so thats my plan. We´re heading to Düsseldorf tommorrow (which was rated the most livable city in Germany and 5th in Europe) to meet up with Torsten, my other good mate from 2003. YAY!!!
To start with a more somber topic, I visited the site of the Gestapo yesterday - there is a big open air gallery/museum which describes what the area was like from the 1910s onwards. There are some pretty confronting photos of political prisoners being shot and public hangings that the Nazi party put on to disuade any opposition. They were big on arresting anyone who disparaged the regime on the charges of 'personal safety' and undermining military strength. Germany's greatest piano player was executed for making comments at a dinner party after his mothers childhood friend informed the Ministry of Music (who did nothing) and then the Gestapo (who did a lot). There were also items about the failed assignation attempts, the proposed coups and a section about the Berlin wall.
Elly said something last night that I'd read in the guidebook - the wall still exists in German heads. There is still a gap between East and West Germany - housing is more expensive, the standard of living is apparently higher and there is more economic investment in West Germany. Its cheaper to live in Berlin than Frankfurt.
For people who dont know, Elly was my best mate in S'pore who I havent seen since 2003. So finally met at the train station yesterday and we went and had cocktails. On the menu, Sex on the Beach had 'secret of the barman' underneath rather than ingredients... so when we were paying, the waiter came to pick up a SOTB, looked at it and asked what it was. The bartender said its a SOTB, to which the waiter replied 'it doesnt look like one' and the bartender basically said the menu means he can make whatever he wants and call it Sex on the Beach. (of course, this was all in German so Elly was laughing and i had no idea why).
Anyway, there isnt much to do in Frankfurt apart from shop, so thats my plan. We´re heading to Düsseldorf tommorrow (which was rated the most livable city in Germany and 5th in Europe) to meet up with Torsten, my other good mate from 2003. YAY!!!
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
All Alone in Big, Bad Berlin
As JFK once famously said "Ich bein ein Berliner" (which actually means I am a jelly donut, known as a Berliner... what he should have said was Ich bein Berliner... but hey, its the sentiment that counts...)
I managed to score a lift to Berlin (thank you Mark, the best tour leader EVER) and am joining the Topdeck mob for a pub crawl later tonight. Until then, I have been entertaining myself on Museum island, which is an island in East Berlin full of elephants (I wish... Well, that would be pretty damn cool).
I saw the Pergamon which, for those history buffs out there, is home to the Pergamon altar and the Ishtar gate, two pretty huge finds in archeology. They have both been reconstructed in the museum to give some idea of how imposing they must have been originally and they are pretty damn impressive. Especially the Ishtar gate, which was built by King Nebachanezza in Babylon.
I wandered around the Ancient History museum and the Egyptian museum as well, which is home to THE statue of Neferiti that pretty much everyone would have seen on a poster/book/postcard/hairy mans arm... and for something thats had no restoration work, it looks amazingly new.
This afternoon is reserved for the task of tackling the bits of Berlin that caused so much pain and anguish around the world. I visited the Eastside Gallery yesterday, which is a section of the Berlin Wall that was painted just before it was torn down in 1988 (i think it was 88, feel free to correct me) and we drove past Checkpoint Charlie, which was one of the more notorious checkpoints between East and West Berlin - Im heading back for a closer inspection today. There is also a brand new memorial to the holocoust victims in Berlin. Its a whole garden of gray, tomb-like slabs in varying heights and sizes, designed to confuse and overwhelm people and perhaps gain a perspective of something that seems so impossible. I cant write too much because I havent been there quite yet but it will be different after visiting Austwizch on Sunday.
I managed to score a lift to Berlin (thank you Mark, the best tour leader EVER) and am joining the Topdeck mob for a pub crawl later tonight. Until then, I have been entertaining myself on Museum island, which is an island in East Berlin full of elephants (I wish... Well, that would be pretty damn cool).
I saw the Pergamon which, for those history buffs out there, is home to the Pergamon altar and the Ishtar gate, two pretty huge finds in archeology. They have both been reconstructed in the museum to give some idea of how imposing they must have been originally and they are pretty damn impressive. Especially the Ishtar gate, which was built by King Nebachanezza in Babylon.
I wandered around the Ancient History museum and the Egyptian museum as well, which is home to THE statue of Neferiti that pretty much everyone would have seen on a poster/book/postcard/hairy mans arm... and for something thats had no restoration work, it looks amazingly new.
This afternoon is reserved for the task of tackling the bits of Berlin that caused so much pain and anguish around the world. I visited the Eastside Gallery yesterday, which is a section of the Berlin Wall that was painted just before it was torn down in 1988 (i think it was 88, feel free to correct me) and we drove past Checkpoint Charlie, which was one of the more notorious checkpoints between East and West Berlin - Im heading back for a closer inspection today. There is also a brand new memorial to the holocoust victims in Berlin. Its a whole garden of gray, tomb-like slabs in varying heights and sizes, designed to confuse and overwhelm people and perhaps gain a perspective of something that seems so impossible. I cant write too much because I havent been there quite yet but it will be different after visiting Austwizch on Sunday.
Sunday, May 27, 2007
Krakow
Krakow is in southern Poland, the second largest city in the country. I'd never heard of it before this trip so I assume the majority of my avid audience hasn't either.
The story goes that a Dragon once lived on the hill here, along with a man named Mr Krak. They got along swimmingly and eventually the people built a castle on the hill that they lived on and named the city after Mr Krak.... as you do.
Again, a very pretty city. Today I took a trip out to the UNESCO protected Salt Mines - 20 euros to get in (ouch) but I think it was worth it. We had a guide take us around for 1.5 hours, walking about 2km and down 135m underground. I think my favorite cavern was the Chapel, which 3 men carved out of the salt rock over a 68 year period. It was pretty amazing - everything was made out of salt. The chandeliers, the baby Jesus, the altar, the floor tiles... and around the edges were a series of carvings depicting different scenes, like the Last Supper or the Slaughter of the Innocents (which seems to be a popular theme but I don't recall learning about it in R.E.... maybe someone can help me out?)
The whole thing was carved from salt, which is different colours depending on how pure it is and what it's mixed with. So iron rich salt is a deep red, while the majority of salt in Krakow is a marbled grey. It was pretty impressive.
The other picture is of Princess Kinder, who is credited with creating the salt mine by moving it underground from Hungary to Poland with her engagement ring... don't ask, it didnt make much sense to me either. But they were cool statues and, again, made out of salt.
I also wandered around the Cloth Markets, which is an old undercover marketplace thats smack in the middle of Krakow. Apart from that, it's just been wandering around the city. Had half a bottle of Polish wodka last night so I think the walk outside was needed.
The story goes that a Dragon once lived on the hill here, along with a man named Mr Krak. They got along swimmingly and eventually the people built a castle on the hill that they lived on and named the city after Mr Krak.... as you do.
Again, a very pretty city. Today I took a trip out to the UNESCO protected Salt Mines - 20 euros to get in (ouch) but I think it was worth it. We had a guide take us around for 1.5 hours, walking about 2km and down 135m underground. I think my favorite cavern was the Chapel, which 3 men carved out of the salt rock over a 68 year period. It was pretty amazing - everything was made out of salt. The chandeliers, the baby Jesus, the altar, the floor tiles... and around the edges were a series of carvings depicting different scenes, like the Last Supper or the Slaughter of the Innocents (which seems to be a popular theme but I don't recall learning about it in R.E.... maybe someone can help me out?)The whole thing was carved from salt, which is different colours depending on how pure it is and what it's mixed with. So iron rich salt is a deep red, while the majority of salt in Krakow is a marbled grey. It was pretty impressive.
The other picture is of Princess Kinder, who is credited with creating the salt mine by moving it underground from Hungary to Poland with her engagement ring... don't ask, it didnt make much sense to me either. But they were cool statues and, again, made out of salt.
I also wandered around the Cloth Markets, which is an old undercover marketplace thats smack in the middle of Krakow. Apart from that, it's just been wandering around the city. Had half a bottle of Polish wodka last night so I think the walk outside was needed.
Friday, May 25, 2007
Well, I'm now in gorgeous, hot Budapest. It's a really pretty city, and we're staying in a hostel just down the road from the markets which has been handy...
We left Vienna yesterday - this photo is actually from the Butterfly House in Vienna which was a part of the Imperial Palace.
We got to Budapest in the afternoon and spent it trying to avoid roadworks. Unsuccessfully. Eventually, we made it to the Citadella and Buda Castle, which are both in the hills.
Just a quick point - Budapest was originally three seperate cities: Buda, on the hilly side of the Danube, Pest on the flat and fertile side and Obuda, the old Roman settlement.
The photos below are from a spot called the Fishermans Bastion, which was the part of the city wall that the Fishermans Guild were responsible for. And its the only bit still looking good, so all I can say is I'm going to give Fishermen a wider berth from now on.
Below is the Pork Snitzel we had for dinner. I ate just over a half of it and 7 people managed to finish it. Then today I had a liver sausage, which was really nice. Tonight, I'm having GOULASH! (Yay, love goulash... if its what i think it is...)
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
Wiena (try saying it with a V and a german accent...)
Well, I now officially a backpacker sell-out because I joined my Topdeck Tour on Saturday. So far so good, everyone has been really friendly and lovely. And drunk... but apparently thats just what people do in Venice so thats ok.
We managed to get from Venice to Vienna in about 7 hours, which is pretty good, so we made it to the Shoburg (?) place, one of the homes of the Hapsburgs (a family which controlled much of Europe for 650, mainly through marriage aliances and inbreeding, hence there were some interesting rulers...). It has Europes oldest zoo and huge gardens that are filled with roses. So it was a nice break after being on the bus for so long.
Last night we went to Pratar, which is Europes oldest Amusement park. It has a ferris wheel built in 1897 (which i went on) and all the rides are owned by individual families rather than a big corporation. It was fantastic!
Today is our free day to wander around Vienna so I visited the catherdral and am off to the Hapsburgs Winter Palace... then this evening, I get to dress up and see a concert at one of the four Opera theatres in Vienna, which I`m really looking forward to- Vienna is the home of classical music for those who were unaware. There are Mozart statues everwhere and apparently they play Eine Klien Nachtmusik (which i know i spelt wrong) at the concert, so it will be just like being on tour :o)
We managed to get from Venice to Vienna in about 7 hours, which is pretty good, so we made it to the Shoburg (?) place, one of the homes of the Hapsburgs (a family which controlled much of Europe for 650, mainly through marriage aliances and inbreeding, hence there were some interesting rulers...). It has Europes oldest zoo and huge gardens that are filled with roses. So it was a nice break after being on the bus for so long.
Last night we went to Pratar, which is Europes oldest Amusement park. It has a ferris wheel built in 1897 (which i went on) and all the rides are owned by individual families rather than a big corporation. It was fantastic!
Today is our free day to wander around Vienna so I visited the catherdral and am off to the Hapsburgs Winter Palace... then this evening, I get to dress up and see a concert at one of the four Opera theatres in Vienna, which I`m really looking forward to- Vienna is the home of classical music for those who were unaware. There are Mozart statues everwhere and apparently they play Eine Klien Nachtmusik (which i know i spelt wrong) at the concert, so it will be just like being on tour :o)
Thursday, May 17, 2007
Bloody computers
Ok, I have been trying for the last week to post photos. But it doesn't seem to work. Either they wont load, or the page wont display.... ARRRGGGHHH!
Anyway, I'm in relaxing Bologna right now. It's got a huge student population, as well as being a fairly wealthy city in a region reknown for it's food, so it's a nice spot. On top of that, it's known as the Red Capital of a country which has the largest democratic communist voting blocks apparently - all I know is that there is a museum of Communist propoganda here. So I'm off to join the Reds this afternoon.
An update of whats been happening...
I went to Gubbio (in Tuscany, the same region as Florence and Pisa) on Tuesday to see the Corsa di Ceri. That was what I really wanted to post because it was one of the most impressive and entertaining things I've seen in ages. There are three teams, each with a patron saint, of about 60 men who carry these huge ceri up a hill. (A ceri kind of looks like two vases stuck end to end, about 3 metres tall, with shoulder rafts and it takes at least 10 guys to carry it around... on top of the ceri is a little statue of the patron saint of each team)
I say 'hill' but it would be more accurate to describe it as a cliff-face... and they run with the ceri full tilt up the hill. The first team into the basillica gets to slam the doors on the other team... of course, by tradition, the yellow St Ulbino team always wins but that didn't seem to bother anyone.
There were marching bands, and fairy floss and tons of randoms running through the streets... I had a great time. And the best roast pork.
Really wish I could put up the photos... will try and see what I can do.
Only have one day in Bologna and then I'm off to Venice to join up with my topdeck tour. I'm not sure how often I'll manage to post but I'll try and keep it up.
Anyway, I'm in relaxing Bologna right now. It's got a huge student population, as well as being a fairly wealthy city in a region reknown for it's food, so it's a nice spot. On top of that, it's known as the Red Capital of a country which has the largest democratic communist voting blocks apparently - all I know is that there is a museum of Communist propoganda here. So I'm off to join the Reds this afternoon.
An update of whats been happening...
I went to Gubbio (in Tuscany, the same region as Florence and Pisa) on Tuesday to see the Corsa di Ceri. That was what I really wanted to post because it was one of the most impressive and entertaining things I've seen in ages. There are three teams, each with a patron saint, of about 60 men who carry these huge ceri up a hill. (A ceri kind of looks like two vases stuck end to end, about 3 metres tall, with shoulder rafts and it takes at least 10 guys to carry it around... on top of the ceri is a little statue of the patron saint of each team)
I say 'hill' but it would be more accurate to describe it as a cliff-face... and they run with the ceri full tilt up the hill. The first team into the basillica gets to slam the doors on the other team... of course, by tradition, the yellow St Ulbino team always wins but that didn't seem to bother anyone.
There were marching bands, and fairy floss and tons of randoms running through the streets... I had a great time. And the best roast pork.
Really wish I could put up the photos... will try and see what I can do.
Only have one day in Bologna and then I'm off to Venice to join up with my topdeck tour. I'm not sure how often I'll manage to post but I'll try and keep it up.
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
Sunday, May 13, 2007
Uffitzi
I'm having a lot of problems with these computers - they like to do random punctuation, I can't attach my memory stick and they wont accept CD's so I have no idea if if the 5 euros I just spent were actually buying a disk with my photos on it or a table coaster...
Anyway, went to the Uffitzi today which is THE museum in Florence (apparently). And it was free because it's culture week or something so woo hoo. Spent three hours there - well worth the money :o)
It's got over 50 rooms dedicated to various artists, periods and styles... Caravaggio, Raphael, Botticelli... it was pretty amazing. It's home to the 'Birth of Venus' (the one with the naked chick standing on a shell) and some other classics as well as the scariest medusa head I've ever seen.
Then I finished my book on Hadrian, had some vegetables for lunch and proceeded to get completely lost. Eventually (after two hours) I managed to find my way home. All in all I'd call today a sucess. Except that it's only 3:30 but that's the problem when you wake up at 6:30 to visit an art gallery. Maybe it's time for a quick siesta and then I'll once again resume my endless search for a cheap, decent place to eat in Florence. Then it's off to Perugia tommorrow.
Anyway, went to the Uffitzi today which is THE museum in Florence (apparently). And it was free because it's culture week or something so woo hoo. Spent three hours there - well worth the money :o)
It's got over 50 rooms dedicated to various artists, periods and styles... Caravaggio, Raphael, Botticelli... it was pretty amazing. It's home to the 'Birth of Venus' (the one with the naked chick standing on a shell) and some other classics as well as the scariest medusa head I've ever seen.
Then I finished my book on Hadrian, had some vegetables for lunch and proceeded to get completely lost. Eventually (after two hours) I managed to find my way home. All in all I'd call today a sucess. Except that it's only 3:30 but that's the problem when you wake up at 6:30 to visit an art gallery. Maybe it's time for a quick siesta and then I'll once again resume my endless search for a cheap, decent place to eat in Florence. Then it's off to Perugia tommorrow.
Saturday, May 12, 2007
Pisa
Sublimely ridiculous.
That pretty much is how I'd describe the leaning tower and it's surrounding environment - I spent a good while just sitting on the grass watching it. And the people posing around it. Briliant.
There is something about that tower that I love. I'm not sure whether it's the fact people continued to build it taller despite it leaning, tried to correct it and inevitably made it lean in the opposite direction and then topped it all off with a tilted 'hat' at the top to balance it up or perhaps it's the habit that Italians seem to have of beginning a project with one material in one style and finishing with something completely different... but it's great.
Then I visited the Duomo and Baptistry which are next door. I wasn't that impressed until I listened to the commentry - and I would put money on it being Sybil from Fawlty Towers or one of the Python girls reading a rough interpretation of the Italian description very quickly. And just so you'd realise when it was over, she finished with a 'end of description'. What more could you ask for.
Anyway, I'm off to wander around the town a little bit more.
That pretty much is how I'd describe the leaning tower and it's surrounding environment - I spent a good while just sitting on the grass watching it. And the people posing around it. Briliant.
There is something about that tower that I love. I'm not sure whether it's the fact people continued to build it taller despite it leaning, tried to correct it and inevitably made it lean in the opposite direction and then topped it all off with a tilted 'hat' at the top to balance it up or perhaps it's the habit that Italians seem to have of beginning a project with one material in one style and finishing with something completely different... but it's great.
Then I visited the Duomo and Baptistry which are next door. I wasn't that impressed until I listened to the commentry - and I would put money on it being Sybil from Fawlty Towers or one of the Python girls reading a rough interpretation of the Italian description very quickly. And just so you'd realise when it was over, she finished with a 'end of description'. What more could you ask for.
Anyway, I'm off to wander around the town a little bit more.
Friday, May 11, 2007
Florence, Firenze, it's all the same thing...
*just a note if anyone is struggling because the blog page is in Italian, which happened to my mum... go to the homepage (www.blogger.com), look at the bottom of the page and click on 'lingua' - then you can change the language to whatever your heart desires*
Well, a quick list of the museums\galleries\churches\stuff I've been to in the last two days...
1. The San Lorenzo Church - has a few tombs designed by Donatello (it's also where he was buried), a painting by Fillipo Lippi, a painting which is an exact replica of the sky on July 4 in 16-something and where I was yelled at by a curator for leaning on the marble railing to look at the exact replica of the sky on July 4.
2. The Bibliotecca next to San Lorenzo - designed by Michelangelo, it has the coolest staircase ever. I want a library in my house just like it. There was also an exhibition which displayed medieval manuscripts (the highly decorated ones) with various fantasy images like dragons or griffins which was pretty cool.
3. The Leonardo Museum - not worth the €5 euro although if I wasn't convinced that the man was pretty damn smart I am now. And he was obsessed with war machinery.
4. The Bargello Museum - home to some of the greatest statues in the world, with a room dedicated to both Michelangelo and Donatello. My favourite was Michelangelo's earlier David statue, which was the first nude 'done' since the Roman classical era and looks like a transvestite. If I could have taken a photo, I would have.
5. The Historical Science Museum - two levels of science equipment from around the 14th century onwards, including Galileo's finger (yes, his actual middle finger from his right hand). Was much more interesting than it sounds - a gallery on sundials, on chemistry, on mechanical devices... ok, I'm a nerd. And one gallery which made me glad to be a 21st century woman - the surgical obstetrics waxworks. Eeewww.
6. Piazza Spangoli - basically an outdoor museum which statues dotted around everywhere, including a replica of the more famous 'David' (the one that doesn't look gay) - the original is now safely indoors. I did take a photo of this one but I can't get them onto the computer at this stage. Will keep you posted when I do.
7. Ponte Vechio - the only bridge the Nazi's didn't raze during WW2 and full of goldsmiths.
I was planning to visit the Uffitzi today but there are staff meetings, tour groups... plan to go on Sunday instead. So am really enjoying Florence.
Oh, and the coolest clock at the Science musuem - a ball came down a spiral and when it got to the bottom, it was thrown back up into the air and the clock reset itself. Pretty damn cool. Almost as cool as the one which wrote a set phrase every day (the clock movement moved a mechanical hand attached to a nib and inkpot.)
Well, a quick list of the museums\galleries\churches\stuff I've been to in the last two days...
1. The San Lorenzo Church - has a few tombs designed by Donatello (it's also where he was buried), a painting by Fillipo Lippi, a painting which is an exact replica of the sky on July 4 in 16-something and where I was yelled at by a curator for leaning on the marble railing to look at the exact replica of the sky on July 4.
2. The Bibliotecca next to San Lorenzo - designed by Michelangelo, it has the coolest staircase ever. I want a library in my house just like it. There was also an exhibition which displayed medieval manuscripts (the highly decorated ones) with various fantasy images like dragons or griffins which was pretty cool.
3. The Leonardo Museum - not worth the €5 euro although if I wasn't convinced that the man was pretty damn smart I am now. And he was obsessed with war machinery.
4. The Bargello Museum - home to some of the greatest statues in the world, with a room dedicated to both Michelangelo and Donatello. My favourite was Michelangelo's earlier David statue, which was the first nude 'done' since the Roman classical era and looks like a transvestite. If I could have taken a photo, I would have.
5. The Historical Science Museum - two levels of science equipment from around the 14th century onwards, including Galileo's finger (yes, his actual middle finger from his right hand). Was much more interesting than it sounds - a gallery on sundials, on chemistry, on mechanical devices... ok, I'm a nerd. And one gallery which made me glad to be a 21st century woman - the surgical obstetrics waxworks. Eeewww.
6. Piazza Spangoli - basically an outdoor museum which statues dotted around everywhere, including a replica of the more famous 'David' (the one that doesn't look gay) - the original is now safely indoors. I did take a photo of this one but I can't get them onto the computer at this stage. Will keep you posted when I do.
7. Ponte Vechio - the only bridge the Nazi's didn't raze during WW2 and full of goldsmiths.
I was planning to visit the Uffitzi today but there are staff meetings, tour groups... plan to go on Sunday instead. So am really enjoying Florence.
Oh, and the coolest clock at the Science musuem - a ball came down a spiral and when it got to the bottom, it was thrown back up into the air and the clock reset itself. Pretty damn cool. Almost as cool as the one which wrote a set phrase every day (the clock movement moved a mechanical hand attached to a nib and inkpot.)
Thursday, May 10, 2007
Firenze
Finally made it to Florence - I left the hostel at 10:15 and got to Florence at roughly 7pm without much waiting around so it was definately a travel day. Spent the whole time on the train eating chips, biscuts, other stuff... and missing my iriver who is sadly out of battery and guess who forgot the charger while packing hungover in the UK??? (Give you a clue, Taryn was there :oP)
Not much to write really as a result...
Oh wait - I met this girl called Rosalba on the bus to Amalfi so on Tuesday night I went to Ravello and met her. She ended up having to work late so she invited me around for dinner which was really nice of her. Talked a bit about Italian politics, made fun of George Bush, and then I wandered back to the bus station to find that all the buses had stopped for the night. So I ended up paying 25 euro to get a taxi to Amalfi! D'oh.
Yeah, am off to stand in queues for hours on end. And, like me, perhaps it's time to let maths2 go. Good luck with the next tour all you travelling showpeople.
Not much to write really as a result...
Oh wait - I met this girl called Rosalba on the bus to Amalfi so on Tuesday night I went to Ravello and met her. She ended up having to work late so she invited me around for dinner which was really nice of her. Talked a bit about Italian politics, made fun of George Bush, and then I wandered back to the bus station to find that all the buses had stopped for the night. So I ended up paying 25 euro to get a taxi to Amalfi! D'oh.
Yeah, am off to stand in queues for hours on end. And, like me, perhaps it's time to let maths2 go. Good luck with the next tour all you travelling showpeople.
Tuesday, May 08, 2007
Le Scale d'Amalfi - The Stairs of Amalfi
I heard about this hostel from the guys at 6 small rooms in Napoli (see last posts) and it sounded pretty promising so I decided to stay for a few nights. I spent one night in Ischia (which I loved but more later) and then caught the ferry to Napoli, bus to Salerno and another to Amalfi. Luckily I met a local who works in the art gallery in Ravello (nearby) and she was catching the same bus so I chatted to her for the whole hour and a half trip... it was pretty amazing road, it's very very narrow, very very windy and it's right along the edge of the coast. At one point, the bus had to reverse back up the road because there just isn't enough room for cars to pass each other at the corners.
Eventually we got to Amalfi, caught ANOTHER bus to the hostel and then the fun bit. Walking up 296 stairs with my backpack. Luckily, I'm a fairly sensible woman and only packed what I actually need (as opposed to what I may want) so I made it ok(ish). Another girl staying here had a pack that weighed 23kg plus another backpack weighing 8kg. Crazy.
Today we went to the beach - an extra 746 stairs. So that's (ooh, pressure for the maths girl) 1042 stairs one way. Which we had to climb back up again. I think the words 'a lot of stairs' don't really give justice to it. Ooof.
Ischia was gorgeous - full of germans, all the signage was in german. But at night I went to a restaraunt overlooking the ocean, ate magharita pizza while the sun set and had a grande birra (a pint). Then, to top it off, the hotel just to the left of us and a little below had a fireworks display that lasted for about 6 minutes. Sitting there, drinking my beer, watching a ocean sunset and then fireworks... pretty damn good.
They also have a garden on Ischia belonging to the composer William Wallace which was stunning. It even had banksias. They also have a Victorian lilly, which opens in the morning as a female to catch bugs and then shuts its petals and reopens the next day as a male. Pretty damn cool as well. The only bad thing about it was that it must have been the mating season for the frogs because every single pond had frogs madly going at it. It was bordering on pornographic.
So now I'm off to Ravello tommorrow to meet the local girl for lunch and help her with her English. Then I head up to Florence, which from all accounts is like a giant gallery and pretty impressive, so I'm looking forward to it.
Hope you're all happy and healthy.
Eventually we got to Amalfi, caught ANOTHER bus to the hostel and then the fun bit. Walking up 296 stairs with my backpack. Luckily, I'm a fairly sensible woman and only packed what I actually need (as opposed to what I may want) so I made it ok(ish). Another girl staying here had a pack that weighed 23kg plus another backpack weighing 8kg. Crazy.
Today we went to the beach - an extra 746 stairs. So that's (ooh, pressure for the maths girl) 1042 stairs one way. Which we had to climb back up again. I think the words 'a lot of stairs' don't really give justice to it. Ooof.
Ischia was gorgeous - full of germans, all the signage was in german. But at night I went to a restaraunt overlooking the ocean, ate magharita pizza while the sun set and had a grande birra (a pint). Then, to top it off, the hotel just to the left of us and a little below had a fireworks display that lasted for about 6 minutes. Sitting there, drinking my beer, watching a ocean sunset and then fireworks... pretty damn good.
They also have a garden on Ischia belonging to the composer William Wallace which was stunning. It even had banksias. They also have a Victorian lilly, which opens in the morning as a female to catch bugs and then shuts its petals and reopens the next day as a male. Pretty damn cool as well. The only bad thing about it was that it must have been the mating season for the frogs because every single pond had frogs madly going at it. It was bordering on pornographic.
So now I'm off to Ravello tommorrow to meet the local girl for lunch and help her with her English. Then I head up to Florence, which from all accounts is like a giant gallery and pretty impressive, so I'm looking forward to it.
Hope you're all happy and healthy.
Saturday, May 05, 2007
Pompeii
Thankfully, Napoli has improved on further inspection...
Yesterday I visited the archeological museum, which has most of the statues and relics found in Pompeii, as well as a pretty cool Egyptian wing (Egyptian stuff was apparently very 'cool' in Roman times). I couldn't take my camera in which is a pity because some of the statues were over 3 metres tall (maybe ;o)) and pretty impressive.
I also visited the excavations underneath the Church of San Giovanni, which were amazing - much better than the museum. I walked along a Roman road and you could wander in and out of the buildings - a bakery, a treasury, a laundry... and I had the place all to myself which was even better. I think it's been one of my favority places so far, and they don't advertise it at all so you'd never know it was there. You can hardly even tell where the churches are in Napoli.
Anyway, here's a photo of me in front of the bakery - in the background are the ovens.
Then, after spending the night drinking beer, eating pizza and watching Spanglish, I went to Pompeii today with two guys I've met at the hostel (it's called 6 Small Rooms and it's brilliant) - Pompeii is so well preserved that you can see the murals on the walls, the rooftops, the fountains... it's like walking through a town that's been neglected rather than buried under ash and dirt for around 2000 years.
A couple of pictures:
This is the amphitheatre which could hold 20,000 people (although my guide book reckoned that the population of Pompeii was 20,000 so that seems strangely convenient...) and is one of the best preserved in the world - it looks like it does in the picture the full 360°.
This is a mural that we spent a good 10 minutes hunting for because it's pretty famous. It shows a young girl being inducted into the cult of Dionysus (and I'll leave you to work out what that entails).
And this is me, Greg and Hamza.
All in all, been a pretty good day. This hostel has been really lovely and rejuvenated my travelling enthusiasm, mostly because I met a few people who enjoy sitting around and having a chat, which is what I was missing most of all. Am off to Ishia tommorrow, the island of hot springs and spas so should be good :o)
Yesterday I visited the archeological museum, which has most of the statues and relics found in Pompeii, as well as a pretty cool Egyptian wing (Egyptian stuff was apparently very 'cool' in Roman times). I couldn't take my camera in which is a pity because some of the statues were over 3 metres tall (maybe ;o)) and pretty impressive.
I also visited the excavations underneath the Church of San Giovanni, which were amazing - much better than the museum. I walked along a Roman road and you could wander in and out of the buildings - a bakery, a treasury, a laundry... and I had the place all to myself which was even better. I think it's been one of my favority places so far, and they don't advertise it at all so you'd never know it was there. You can hardly even tell where the churches are in Napoli.Anyway, here's a photo of me in front of the bakery - in the background are the ovens.
Then, after spending the night drinking beer, eating pizza and watching Spanglish, I went to Pompeii today with two guys I've met at the hostel (it's called 6 Small Rooms and it's brilliant) - Pompeii is so well preserved that you can see the murals on the walls, the rooftops, the fountains... it's like walking through a town that's been neglected rather than buried under ash and dirt for around 2000 years.
A couple of pictures:
This is the amphitheatre which could hold 20,000 people (although my guide book reckoned that the population of Pompeii was 20,000 so that seems strangely convenient...) and is one of the best preserved in the world - it looks like it does in the picture the full 360°.
This is a mural that we spent a good 10 minutes hunting for because it's pretty famous. It shows a young girl being inducted into the cult of Dionysus (and I'll leave you to work out what that entails).
This is Mt Vesuvius in the distance, which is the volcano that destroyed both Pompeii and Herculeum in aruond 62 (72?)AD.
And this is me, Greg and Hamza.All in all, been a pretty good day. This hostel has been really lovely and rejuvenated my travelling enthusiasm, mostly because I met a few people who enjoy sitting around and having a chat, which is what I was missing most of all. Am off to Ishia tommorrow, the island of hot springs and spas so should be good :o)
Thursday, May 03, 2007
Napoli, Finally
Well, it took two and a half hours longer than it's suppose to but I finally made it to Napoli (or Naples as we backwards foreigners renamed it). There was a free concert in Rome yesterday and on top of people trying to get home, the particular track we were on had problems so we were delayed.. by two and half hours! And they wouldn't open the doors at one point, people were starting to panic. Not a nice experience.
And then Napoli hits you. Again, not a nice experience but maybe it will look better in the morning... maybe...
My grumpyness probably has something to do with the fact I've been up since 5am to line up for the Vatican. It opens at 8:45. So the majority of the day has been spent waiting for stuff. No wonder I'm a bit blah at the moment.
Anyway, the Vatican Museum was great but the best bit is definately the Sistine Chapel... you spend a few minutes in there and eventually it starts to overwhelm you with the colour, detail, vibrance... they restored it a while ago. Unfortunately, no photos allowed so this is of the reading room to give you an idea
(oh, and I've finally managed to add photos to my previous posts if you have a look :o)
And then Napoli hits you. Again, not a nice experience but maybe it will look better in the morning... maybe...
My grumpyness probably has something to do with the fact I've been up since 5am to line up for the Vatican. It opens at 8:45. So the majority of the day has been spent waiting for stuff. No wonder I'm a bit blah at the moment.
Anyway, the Vatican Museum was great but the best bit is definately the Sistine Chapel... you spend a few minutes in there and eventually it starts to overwhelm you with the colour, detail, vibrance... they restored it a while ago. Unfortunately, no photos allowed so this is of the reading room to give you an idea(oh, and I've finally managed to add photos to my previous posts if you have a look :o)
Tuesday, May 01, 2007
Where the buffalo Rome (ok, that's stretching it...)
Suggestions gladly taken for new titles - you'd think after working with Allen and Jamos for so long I'd have puns coming out of of my ears but apparently not...
The good news is I've finally reached that point when I know whether I'm paying too much for food. The bad news is that I've worked it out through endless trial and error and now have €6 left. But never fear, my bankcard is here and I only withdrew enough for Rome anyways so I think I've done pretty well budget wise.
I spent most of yesterday wandering around the streets, looking for the Trevi Fountain (and failing miserably) and had planned to visit the Vatican today... except being the 1st of May, it's a national holiday in Italy and most of Europe. So it's not open. Instead, for a change, I spent the day wandering the streets, looking for the Trevi Fountain... and this time I found it :o)
I've tried to upload photos but it's not working here for some reason so keep an eye on this space and I'll try again later...
I also had lunch at this great little place where they spoke no English and we somehow muddled our way through conversations. People keep apologising for their bad English but it's much better than my pathetic Italian.
I've also started to realise that I'm not going to be able to visit everywhere I want to go - particularly the Amalfi coast, the Abruzzi Nat. Park and the deep south... it's going to be a stretch anyway so I'm thinking I'll come back for a second swing during winter, when I'll be glad to be around the mediterranian.
Long post. Am missing everyone a bit - haven't met any Australians in Italy yet, I'm sure they're around somewhere... but thats all good - had a great chat with a Argentian and Mexican y'day, with the Mexican interpreting for us both.
Hope you're all safe and happy. I'm heading to Napoli tommorrow (which is near Pompeii and Capri, south of Rome) so will write again from there.
The good news is I've finally reached that point when I know whether I'm paying too much for food. The bad news is that I've worked it out through endless trial and error and now have €6 left. But never fear, my bankcard is here and I only withdrew enough for Rome anyways so I think I've done pretty well budget wise.
I spent most of yesterday wandering around the streets, looking for the Trevi Fountain (and failing miserably) and had planned to visit the Vatican today... except being the 1st of May, it's a national holiday in Italy and most of Europe. So it's not open. Instead, for a change, I spent the day wandering the streets, looking for the Trevi Fountain... and this time I found it :o)
I've tried to upload photos but it's not working here for some reason so keep an eye on this space and I'll try again later...
I also had lunch at this great little place where they spoke no English and we somehow muddled our way through conversations. People keep apologising for their bad English but it's much better than my pathetic Italian.
I've also started to realise that I'm not going to be able to visit everywhere I want to go - particularly the Amalfi coast, the Abruzzi Nat. Park and the deep south... it's going to be a stretch anyway so I'm thinking I'll come back for a second swing during winter, when I'll be glad to be around the mediterranian.
Long post. Am missing everyone a bit - haven't met any Australians in Italy yet, I'm sure they're around somewhere... but thats all good - had a great chat with a Argentian and Mexican y'day, with the Mexican interpreting for us both.
Hope you're all safe and happy. I'm heading to Napoli tommorrow (which is near Pompeii and Capri, south of Rome) so will write again from there.
Monday, April 30, 2007
On the Rome again
NB - I wrote a post yesterday but for some reason it wouldn't post, hence the double posting today.
The sun has finally come out here, it was raining all morning so I bought an English newspaper and ate pizza. I've managed to muddle my way through things - most people speak enough english to understand me and I know enough Italian to know when the retailer shouts 'Due Due' at me he wants €2.20 which is helpful. And I can ask how much things are, which isn't as useful.
I'm not feeling great at the moment, I've got a head cold which makes wandering around the museums ect. pretty tiring. I was in bed by 8:30 last night and am still tired today. But will go drink more coffee and be shouted at a few more times and I'll be fine.
Well, now that it's nice weather again I guess I'll continue strolling along to the Trevi Fountain since the Shelly-Keats museum near the Spanish steps is shut. Hope everyone is well back home, I'm starting to miss your voices.
The sun has finally come out here, it was raining all morning so I bought an English newspaper and ate pizza. I've managed to muddle my way through things - most people speak enough english to understand me and I know enough Italian to know when the retailer shouts 'Due Due' at me he wants €2.20 which is helpful. And I can ask how much things are, which isn't as useful.
I'm not feeling great at the moment, I've got a head cold which makes wandering around the museums ect. pretty tiring. I was in bed by 8:30 last night and am still tired today. But will go drink more coffee and be shouted at a few more times and I'll be fine.
Well, now that it's nice weather again I guess I'll continue strolling along to the Trevi Fountain since the Shelly-Keats museum near the Spanish steps is shut. Hope everyone is well back home, I'm starting to miss your voices.
Rome, sweet Rome
Lessons I have learnt so far:
1. Getting drunk at the pub the night before an overnight train ride is not a good idea.
2. Neither is getting on said train without any food or water because of 1.
3. Neither is not checking which station said train leaves from and then frantically racing around London, missing out on breakfast and making 2. much worse.
4. French people are not rude, in fact they are lovely, but they expect everyone to speak French or understand French or generally be French.
Finally arrived in Roma this morning after the overnight train from Paris, which was great. Dumped my bags, had a quick shower and then caught the Metro to the Colloseum. It's pretty impressive- you walk out of the tube station (which is nothing special) and run smack into this amazing building.
Wandered around there for a while and visited Palatine Hill, which is where the Emperors built their respective palaces (except of course for our crazy friend Nero, whose palace took up the area where the Colloseum now is plus Palatine Hill).... and I am aware I am spelling colloseum wrongly but meh... anyway, it's a gorgeous area and so peaceful. You're in the middle of Rome but all you can hear are birds. And tourists. But I'm beginning to think that no-one actually lives in Europe, they're all just tourists that never left.
Anyway, will have to do because people are looking anxiously at the sole computer in this hostel (which I love, but more on that later, I'm about to be thrown to the floor...
1. Getting drunk at the pub the night before an overnight train ride is not a good idea.
2. Neither is getting on said train without any food or water because of 1.
3. Neither is not checking which station said train leaves from and then frantically racing around London, missing out on breakfast and making 2. much worse.
4. French people are not rude, in fact they are lovely, but they expect everyone to speak French or understand French or generally be French.
Finally arrived in Roma this morning after the overnight train from Paris, which was great. Dumped my bags, had a quick shower and then caught the Metro to the Colloseum. It's pretty impressive- you walk out of the tube station (which is nothing special) and run smack into this amazing building.
Wandered around there for a while and visited Palatine Hill, which is where the Emperors built their respective palaces (except of course for our crazy friend Nero, whose palace took up the area where the Colloseum now is plus Palatine Hill).... and I am aware I am spelling colloseum wrongly but meh... anyway, it's a gorgeous area and so peaceful. You're in the middle of Rome but all you can hear are birds. And tourists. But I'm beginning to think that no-one actually lives in Europe, they're all just tourists that never left.Anyway, will have to do because people are looking anxiously at the sole computer in this hostel (which I love, but more on that later, I'm about to be thrown to the floor...
Saturday, April 28, 2007
London again (there's a theme emerging...)
Am going to put up a photo in the next day or so. Of a building. A hostel to be more precise. Which, if you value you're sanity, you should not stay at unless you plan on being so drunk that you can pass out and ignore the constant sound of groaning, humming, throbbing plumbing (and no, that's not a euphimism).
Of course, I am staying in room 101 so I should be surprised by the torture that I experienced last night.
On a better note, I visited Buckingham Palace and Westminister Abby today which was fantastic. Had a really good tour guide who told us loads of bits and pieces - we walked past Sting's house (should have taken a picture for Georgia! Sorry, just realised) and it was cool to see where Issac Newton, Elizabeth I, Lord Kelvin, Tennyson ect where all buried. I seem to be visiting a lot of graves and enjoying it...
Of course, I am staying in room 101 so I should be surprised by the torture that I experienced last night.
On a better note, I visited Buckingham Palace and Westminister Abby today which was fantastic. Had a really good tour guide who told us loads of bits and pieces - we walked past Sting's house (should have taken a picture for Georgia! Sorry, just realised) and it was cool to see where Issac Newton, Elizabeth I, Lord Kelvin, Tennyson ect where all buried. I seem to be visiting a lot of graves and enjoying it... I'm tossing up whether to go on a Jack the Ripper tour tonight or whether I should go to the theatre, although I don't have many pounds left... bloody London.
Thursday, April 26, 2007
London Still
Visited St Pauls this morning, which is one of THE cathedrals of Europe (and there are a few over here) and while you can't take photos inside, here is a few of the outside and the view from the top. It's the second tallest dome in Europe (or so they claim but I always take those with a grain of salf) although I did have to climb over 400 stairs in a series of windy staircases to get to the top so I guess it may be pretty tall.
The first photo is me sitting out the front, and you can see the church clock in the background. The other photo is from the church gardens of the dome. It's got that awful vibe (in the old sense, as in full of awe) - and I got a guilty thrill from seeing the tombs of William Blake and Florence Nightingale.
Then I wandered off to the London Science Museum which was very museum-y, less hands-on. Actually it was all a bit strange, guess I'm used to little science centres. I'll be interested to see what Glasgow is like. So after checking out the maths and energy sections I left to have a look at Harrods. Which is about all I did - it's too big to really do anything useful in.
Am heading to Taryn and Mike's place for dinner tonight which should be good. Oh and I had the best bowl of chips I've ever had at one of the pubs where Charles Dickens used to drink.
Sorry for the crap spelling or entry in general - my brain isn't working quite right because I've been awake since 3am and was woken up every half hour without fail by some bloody bell called Ben. Oh, and I just got offered an interview for a job with the London Science Museum so now I should proabably undo my previous comments... and am heading to Taryn and Mike's for dinner which will be great.
- Heard one of the sweetest stories this morning. I met a elderly couple from Melbourne who have been married for only 12 months. The woman's first three husbands had all died and she began doing lawn bowls. They met every wednesday night until eventually he gathered up the courage to ask her on a picnic... and it took him seven goes to actually stay on the line when he rang. They've been together ever since. Awwww.
Then I wandered off to the London Science Museum which was very museum-y, less hands-on. Actually it was all a bit strange, guess I'm used to little science centres. I'll be interested to see what Glasgow is like. So after checking out the maths and energy sections I left to have a look at Harrods. Which is about all I did - it's too big to really do anything useful in.
Am heading to Taryn and Mike's place for dinner tonight which should be good. Oh and I had the best bowl of chips I've ever had at one of the pubs where Charles Dickens used to drink.
Sorry for the crap spelling or entry in general - my brain isn't working quite right because I've been awake since 3am and was woken up every half hour without fail by some bloody bell called Ben. Oh, and I just got offered an interview for a job with the London Science Museum so now I should proabably undo my previous comments... and am heading to Taryn and Mike's for dinner which will be great.
- Heard one of the sweetest stories this morning. I met a elderly couple from Melbourne who have been married for only 12 months. The woman's first three husbands had all died and she began doing lawn bowls. They met every wednesday night until eventually he gathered up the courage to ask her on a picnic... and it took him seven goes to actually stay on the line when he rang. They've been together ever since. Awwww.
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
London
Well, I survived the plane trip (despite a few bumpy moments over Thailand and being seated next to two honeymooners for the first 9 hours) and I even managed to catch a few hours sleep on the plane. Although now it's only 11:30am and I feel like i've been up for hours - and i can't sleep 'cause my room isn't ready yet.... meh.
I'm staying right near St Pauls Cathedral. Apparently the guy who was commissioned to build it was a little bit whay, little bit dodgy... Story goes that the bishops vetoed his first three designs so he tried a much more conservative design which the King then approved. Once they started building, he persuaded the King to add 'necessary alterations' and the end product bears very little similarity to what the King initally approved. Yet another example of what can happen once you get your foot in the door.
I'm going to try and get in this evening for the choir performance (which is free, as opposed to the 9 pound tour) - might wander down to the Tate museum as well and the Globe - despite studying Shakespeare at University level I've never actually seen it performed live (half hour school visits from the Bell Shakespeare Company don't count).
So basically I arrived safe and sound. Will post a few photos once I actually take them.
I'm staying right near St Pauls Cathedral. Apparently the guy who was commissioned to build it was a little bit whay, little bit dodgy... Story goes that the bishops vetoed his first three designs so he tried a much more conservative design which the King then approved. Once they started building, he persuaded the King to add 'necessary alterations' and the end product bears very little similarity to what the King initally approved. Yet another example of what can happen once you get your foot in the door.
I'm going to try and get in this evening for the choir performance (which is free, as opposed to the 9 pound tour) - might wander down to the Tate museum as well and the Globe - despite studying Shakespeare at University level I've never actually seen it performed live (half hour school visits from the Bell Shakespeare Company don't count).
So basically I arrived safe and sound. Will post a few photos once I actually take them.
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
Pre-Trip (D-Day minus 7)
I was trying to think of a phrase to sum up how I'm feeling at the moment. Perhaps it should have been "I'm leaving on a jet plane, don't know when I'll be back again..." except that song starts with the words 'All my bags are packed, I'm ready to go' which is a lie. I guess it's how all good journeys should really start although that would require firstly locating the aforementioned bag. At the moment I have several bags but they all seem to either be 1. full of stuff from moving or 2. buried under stuff from moving. So I guess my mission for the next week is to completely re-arrange all the crap I have accumulated over the past 25 years until I have a spare bag to pack.
I'm almost all booked now - just chasing up a tour (you wouldn't think it would be so bloody hard to give people money) and then a few last odds and ends. For those who don't know, my first stop will be London for four days and then I head off to Rome and wander Italy for while. Am looking forward to using some attrociously bad Italian from highschool. Then it's off to Eastern Europe and then onto Germany and a reunion with Elly and Torsten.
I'm hoping to use this blog as a way to keep in touch with people. I'm not sure how much internet access I'll get (Europe being so backwards and all) but that way I can send proper emails instead of that mass-produced dribble found on group emails. I can save that for here :o)
I'm almost all booked now - just chasing up a tour (you wouldn't think it would be so bloody hard to give people money) and then a few last odds and ends. For those who don't know, my first stop will be London for four days and then I head off to Rome and wander Italy for while. Am looking forward to using some attrociously bad Italian from highschool. Then it's off to Eastern Europe and then onto Germany and a reunion with Elly and Torsten.
I'm hoping to use this blog as a way to keep in touch with people. I'm not sure how much internet access I'll get (Europe being so backwards and all) but that way I can send proper emails instead of that mass-produced dribble found on group emails. I can save that for here :o)
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