Blogger is still in French.
I will go back later and blog better about Paris and London.
After an amazing week in London, I had to move on. Spent a weekend in Leicester, just relaxing. I stayed at the YMCA, whose housing is generally just a homeless shelter, but they were kind enough to let me stay there since the hostel closes in the winter...
From Leicester I was planning to go to Cardiff, but some train line was closed for repairs, meaning I would have to go all the way back to London and then to Wales, so I decided to go to Oxford first. I really like Oxford! It's like Trin except taken to a whole other level. Trinity wishes it was that cool! People in gowns, evensong in a college chapel, students... I felt right at home! I learned that undergrads have to wear short gowns - people wearing ones like ours are masters students. I dropped in and chatted with the warden at St Anthony's College. Now some of you are probably wondering why on earth, and how, I managed that, but the warden there used to be the provost at Trin. I think Dr. MacMillan was a little surprised to see me! But it was still neat. A lot of the colleges are very beautiful, but not too many let visitors in. The hostel was alright, but kinda grungy.
After Oxford I went to Bath, which was very Roman and very cool. The baths themselves are fascinating. They're about 6m below street level because of new buildings being erected over the ruins of old ones. Stayed at a hostel run by the same people as the one in Oxford, but I liked this one better. Hostels are really starting to empty out during the week - the two nights I was there, there were two of us in a 10-bed dorm, and today I have 8 beds to myself. Not bad! It's nice to have the space.
Right now I am in Cardiff, Wales. I got here today. There is a very nice castle here. The oldest part was built shortly after 1066. The house itself was started in the 15th century, although a lot of the interior was redone in the 1800's. I'm going to go down to Cardiff Bay tomorrow.
It's weird to think that I've been doing this for 8 weeks now, and that I'll be back in Canada in 2 weeks. Where has my time gone!
Thursday, November 29, 2007
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
I'm back
Hi.. sorry.. I went away for a bit there.
So. After Bruges came Paris, and a hostel whose internet time was quite expensive. It was a great city. There was tons to see, and tons I didn't get around to seeing, so I will definitely have to go back there. Went to the Louvre and spent a couple hours seeing highlights, but after only that much, you feel... saturated. There's just so much. One of the girls I was hanging out with that day said the building could be empty and it would still be cool to go see. While in Paris I also saw Notre Dame, l'Arc de Triomphe, Sacre Coeur, went up the Eiffel Tower, walked a ton, and some other things that I can't remember right now. Yes, I am keeping a better written log than this!
After Paris came mis-adventures. I'm not sure if its made the news at home or not, but France is in the middle of labour reforms under new leadership, etc, which has the effect of disgruntled workers, which leads to massive striking. It's actually still on, and is the 2nd time it has happened since I've been in Europe. All public transit within Paris is on strike, as well as trains in all of France, and now the civil servants are also joining in. Oi. All they could tell me was that I may or may not be able to get to Calais to get my boat, and that it depends on the day. So the day I was to leave, I went to the station. They said yes, it's good, that train is running (since some small % of them are), there you go. When I get on the train, they say that no, actually, the train is only going to Lille and not to Calais. What? By this point the train is already going, so what am I supposed to do besides wonder where Lille is? I get there, and look at the boards in the station, and there's nothing that can help me. At all. But Lille has two stations, so I walk to the other one. The only choices there are Eurostar on to London, or Eurostar back to Paris. For lack of any other options, I forked over the money for the Eurostar and went on to London a day early. It was only 60 euro for a return ticket, whereas a 1-way would have been 200 euro, so I have a ticket back to Lille that will just go unused. This seems quite simple now relating it in words, but it was actually a rather terrifying sort of experience. Especially since it started off with almost not being able to get my backpack off the metro in Paris since it was so crammed with people. No one was willing to move if it were to mean losing their spot on the once-every-hour trains.
Now I am in London, which is absolutely amazing. I love it here. There is so much to do, and most of the museums are free! Paris was really killing me on museum fees. The Science Museum and the Natural History Museum are both the coolest museums of my life - I haven't decided which I enjoyed more. Matthew, Michelle, Alistair, and Will (friends from Trin) are all here this year, which means people to see! Mom's cousin Robert is also in the city, and he took me to Canterbury and to see his mother, my Great-Aunt, Margaret. She's a hoot. I absolutely loved her. She uses the phrase "what the dickens," which automatically says something.
This is a rather rushed entry... this hostel has internet for £1 for 40 minutes, which isn't a lot when trying to keep on top of life. Sorry that there isn't more detail. Blogger is still in French, even in England.
So. After Bruges came Paris, and a hostel whose internet time was quite expensive. It was a great city. There was tons to see, and tons I didn't get around to seeing, so I will definitely have to go back there. Went to the Louvre and spent a couple hours seeing highlights, but after only that much, you feel... saturated. There's just so much. One of the girls I was hanging out with that day said the building could be empty and it would still be cool to go see. While in Paris I also saw Notre Dame, l'Arc de Triomphe, Sacre Coeur, went up the Eiffel Tower, walked a ton, and some other things that I can't remember right now. Yes, I am keeping a better written log than this!
After Paris came mis-adventures. I'm not sure if its made the news at home or not, but France is in the middle of labour reforms under new leadership, etc, which has the effect of disgruntled workers, which leads to massive striking. It's actually still on, and is the 2nd time it has happened since I've been in Europe. All public transit within Paris is on strike, as well as trains in all of France, and now the civil servants are also joining in. Oi. All they could tell me was that I may or may not be able to get to Calais to get my boat, and that it depends on the day. So the day I was to leave, I went to the station. They said yes, it's good, that train is running (since some small % of them are), there you go. When I get on the train, they say that no, actually, the train is only going to Lille and not to Calais. What? By this point the train is already going, so what am I supposed to do besides wonder where Lille is? I get there, and look at the boards in the station, and there's nothing that can help me. At all. But Lille has two stations, so I walk to the other one. The only choices there are Eurostar on to London, or Eurostar back to Paris. For lack of any other options, I forked over the money for the Eurostar and went on to London a day early. It was only 60 euro for a return ticket, whereas a 1-way would have been 200 euro, so I have a ticket back to Lille that will just go unused. This seems quite simple now relating it in words, but it was actually a rather terrifying sort of experience. Especially since it started off with almost not being able to get my backpack off the metro in Paris since it was so crammed with people. No one was willing to move if it were to mean losing their spot on the once-every-hour trains.
Now I am in London, which is absolutely amazing. I love it here. There is so much to do, and most of the museums are free! Paris was really killing me on museum fees. The Science Museum and the Natural History Museum are both the coolest museums of my life - I haven't decided which I enjoyed more. Matthew, Michelle, Alistair, and Will (friends from Trin) are all here this year, which means people to see! Mom's cousin Robert is also in the city, and he took me to Canterbury and to see his mother, my Great-Aunt, Margaret. She's a hoot. I absolutely loved her. She uses the phrase "what the dickens," which automatically says something.
This is a rather rushed entry... this hostel has internet for £1 for 40 minutes, which isn't a lot when trying to keep on top of life. Sorry that there isn't more detail. Blogger is still in French, even in England.
Saturday, November 10, 2007
I had a moment when I sat down to use this computer where I thought that the shift function of the number 2 was an odd place to put the @ sign. Then I remembered that this is where it usually is for me... how long have been away?
I loved Gottingen a lot. Smaller, university town, plus getting to hang out with Almuth! It was a relaxing few days, just sitting and talking, walking around the town, trying weis beer (the funny s-like symbol that should be there isn't on this computer), and just catching up on the last 3 and a half years! I really didn't want to leave. That's the thing about visiting people - it always sucks to have to move on, especially when it's been a good visit. But.. on I went.
Spent a couple of nights in Amsterdam, which is taking the title of most over-rated city so far. I didn't like it too much. They're in the process of building a new metro line, so there is lots of construction. The hostel I was staying at was alright, but social to the point of never being quiet all night. Sigh. I like social places, but I also like getting at least some sleep... that may also have clouded my opinion of the city. I went to the Van Gogh museum, which was nice. I had a poster of Starry Night on my wall all through undergrad, so it was interesting to see some of his other works/styles (Starry Night itself is in MoMA in New York, I think). I also went to Anne Frank's house. It's amazing that so many people were kept hidden in such a small place for so long! The bookcase itself is still in place, and her original diary is on display as well.
From Amsterdam I went on to Bruges, which is where I arrived yesterday. I had intended to get up early, leave Amsterdam just after 7 am, and spend the day in Brussels before coming here, but I was just too tired. I came straight here, and was very thankful for it! I like Bruges! I think it's the smaller town thing. Yesterday I wandered around and visited a couple churches (how many times have I said that? parents' child, anyone?). One has a vial of what they say/believe is the blood of Jesus, and it's only set out for a couple hours per day. I didn't feel the need to pay a donation to go kneel in front of it, but I looked from afar. I also visited the church that has Michaelangelo's "Madonna with Child" sculpture.
Today I tried two food items that I was told I couldn't leave Belgium without eating. The first was their style of french fries with mayo on them. Tasty! But the paper cone disintegrates in to this soggy, oily mess of hydrogenated oils and you think to yourself... did I really just eat that? The other was a Belgian waffle. mmm. I visited a chocolate museum that told about the history of cacao beans in South America, how it came to Europe, etc. They also had a section of chocolate art. A copy of "Madonna with Child," dogs, purses, etc, all made of chocolate. I looked in the windows of a bunch of classy chocolate shops as well. Chocolate pope, anyone?
I loved Gottingen a lot. Smaller, university town, plus getting to hang out with Almuth! It was a relaxing few days, just sitting and talking, walking around the town, trying weis beer (the funny s-like symbol that should be there isn't on this computer), and just catching up on the last 3 and a half years! I really didn't want to leave. That's the thing about visiting people - it always sucks to have to move on, especially when it's been a good visit. But.. on I went.
Spent a couple of nights in Amsterdam, which is taking the title of most over-rated city so far. I didn't like it too much. They're in the process of building a new metro line, so there is lots of construction. The hostel I was staying at was alright, but social to the point of never being quiet all night. Sigh. I like social places, but I also like getting at least some sleep... that may also have clouded my opinion of the city. I went to the Van Gogh museum, which was nice. I had a poster of Starry Night on my wall all through undergrad, so it was interesting to see some of his other works/styles (Starry Night itself is in MoMA in New York, I think). I also went to Anne Frank's house. It's amazing that so many people were kept hidden in such a small place for so long! The bookcase itself is still in place, and her original diary is on display as well.
From Amsterdam I went on to Bruges, which is where I arrived yesterday. I had intended to get up early, leave Amsterdam just after 7 am, and spend the day in Brussels before coming here, but I was just too tired. I came straight here, and was very thankful for it! I like Bruges! I think it's the smaller town thing. Yesterday I wandered around and visited a couple churches (how many times have I said that? parents' child, anyone?). One has a vial of what they say/believe is the blood of Jesus, and it's only set out for a couple hours per day. I didn't feel the need to pay a donation to go kneel in front of it, but I looked from afar. I also visited the church that has Michaelangelo's "Madonna with Child" sculpture.
Today I tried two food items that I was told I couldn't leave Belgium without eating. The first was their style of french fries with mayo on them. Tasty! But the paper cone disintegrates in to this soggy, oily mess of hydrogenated oils and you think to yourself... did I really just eat that? The other was a Belgian waffle. mmm. I visited a chocolate museum that told about the history of cacao beans in South America, how it came to Europe, etc. They also had a section of chocolate art. A copy of "Madonna with Child," dogs, purses, etc, all made of chocolate. I looked in the windows of a bunch of classy chocolate shops as well. Chocolate pope, anyone?
Thursday, November 8, 2007
going on
Whose woods these are I think I know.
His house is in the village, though;
He will not see me stopping here
To watch his woods fill up with snow.
My little horse must think it queer
To stop without a farmhouse near
Between the woods and frozen lake
The darkest evening of the year.
He gives his harness bells a shake
To ask if there's some mistake.
The only other sound's the sweep
Of easy wind and downy flake.
The woods are lovely, dark and deep,
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.
His house is in the village, though;
He will not see me stopping here
To watch his woods fill up with snow.
My little horse must think it queer
To stop without a farmhouse near
Between the woods and frozen lake
The darkest evening of the year.
He gives his harness bells a shake
To ask if there's some mistake.
The only other sound's the sweep
Of easy wind and downy flake.
The woods are lovely, dark and deep,
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.
Sunday, November 4, 2007
Germany
Hello!
I am now in Germany.
So after leaving Geneva, I went on to Zurich. I only spent one night there, since there wasn´t tons I wanted to see. Visited a couple churches, including one that had stained glass windows by the artist Marc Chagall, whose gallery I visited in Nice. Beautiful. Went out in the evening with some people from the hostel to a bar that took us a while to find, but when we got there, I discovered they serve Molson Canadian! A little piece of home. haha.
From Zurich I rode for what felt like ages on the train to get to Munich. That ride was also my one view of Austria. Nice countryside.. Munich was very big city. I visited a few churches (as usual). I made sure I was in the square at 11 am to see the glockenspeil do its thing. In preparation for the city´s 850th anniversary next year, all the bells from the tower are actually in Holland being repaired/recast/whatever it is one does to bells to prepare them for special occasions, so it was quieter than I was expecting. I also visited the Residenz, which is the former palace of the Elector of Bavaria. Very ornate! A lot of it is post-WWII recreations of what it was like before. Lots of furniture and art and whatnot was destroyed by bombs.
The other thing I did in Munich was that I caved and bought a winter coat. Until now I´ve just been doing the layering thing with my raincoat as the top one, but it´s starting to get colder. First thing in the morning, and as soon as it hits dusk, it´s not enough, so I now have a rusty orange coloured jacket. It´s the kind where it itself is two layers zipped together. And it´s warm!
Today I left Munich and took the train to a town called Göttingen, about 3 and a half hours north. A friend, Almuth, who did a year at Trin when I was in 2nd year is here, so I´m spending a few nights visiting her. Exciting stuff! It´s been a few years, so it´s great to see her again and to reconnect.
Also, rumour has it that Stephanie and Josef had their baby! Yay! Can anyone out there share the details with me?
I am now in Germany.
So after leaving Geneva, I went on to Zurich. I only spent one night there, since there wasn´t tons I wanted to see. Visited a couple churches, including one that had stained glass windows by the artist Marc Chagall, whose gallery I visited in Nice. Beautiful. Went out in the evening with some people from the hostel to a bar that took us a while to find, but when we got there, I discovered they serve Molson Canadian! A little piece of home. haha.
From Zurich I rode for what felt like ages on the train to get to Munich. That ride was also my one view of Austria. Nice countryside.. Munich was very big city. I visited a few churches (as usual). I made sure I was in the square at 11 am to see the glockenspeil do its thing. In preparation for the city´s 850th anniversary next year, all the bells from the tower are actually in Holland being repaired/recast/whatever it is one does to bells to prepare them for special occasions, so it was quieter than I was expecting. I also visited the Residenz, which is the former palace of the Elector of Bavaria. Very ornate! A lot of it is post-WWII recreations of what it was like before. Lots of furniture and art and whatnot was destroyed by bombs.
The other thing I did in Munich was that I caved and bought a winter coat. Until now I´ve just been doing the layering thing with my raincoat as the top one, but it´s starting to get colder. First thing in the morning, and as soon as it hits dusk, it´s not enough, so I now have a rusty orange coloured jacket. It´s the kind where it itself is two layers zipped together. And it´s warm!
Today I left Munich and took the train to a town called Göttingen, about 3 and a half hours north. A friend, Almuth, who did a year at Trin when I was in 2nd year is here, so I´m spending a few nights visiting her. Exciting stuff! It´s been a few years, so it´s great to see her again and to reconnect.
Also, rumour has it that Stephanie and Josef had their baby! Yay! Can anyone out there share the details with me?
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