Well my world wide trip continues.
I am really starting to notice how much I am actually up to, or have been up to, I can now count the different countries that I have been to on this trip on two hands now, the toes I am sure will be out sooner than I know it.
Last time I update you all, I had been in France with Mum and Dad, maybe a bit more you know after France so I will pick up when we went to Copehagen.
I finally took myself across the River, which is all it basically is to see Nick, Rach and Ella - I have lived here 5 months and it took having vistors to get there, yes I know, I am slack. But we had a fabulous time.
We arrived on Thursday May 31, was picked up by Nick at the airport and drove the short distance to their home. I think it may be just a little further than what I had to drive in Townsville to pick people up, so not far at all. We meet up with Rach and Ella at home, talked for a while and then Nick went back to work. Rach and Ella walked us to a canal where we hopped on a boat tour of the Canals and River of Copenhagen. It was really lovely and we saw heaps, pity that the guy who was telling us what things were, forgot to translate into English for a lot of it, or if he did, it was for a tenth of the time that he spoke about it in Danish. We then went home for a lovely dinner.
Thursday, we took ourselves on a walking tour of the city, which was great, we went to museums, saw Tivoli and walked the main street "Stroget" of Copenhagen. Along the way we saw lots of souvenior shops, the funniest thing I saw was magents of Mary, Fredrick and Christian in their ski clothes. We then went into Royal Copenhagen store (crockery) now I wasn't convinced. But it turned out to be really nice and I actually bought something, only small, but I will still be able to use it when I come home to Aus. We then went into Georg Jensen, another store of notiery of Copes - the Queens choice of Jeweller. And another night with a lovely dinner and a bottle of red.
Saturday, Nick took us for a driving tour of Copes, and we went and saw the Royal Jewels of Copes and their Palace. Which is nothing like Buckingham Palace, where you can't even get within 100m's of the place, here you can practically walk right up to the door, there are guards, and I am sure they would challenge you if you tried. As it was raining by this stage, we decided to ditch the outdoor cookout we had planned and stayed in.
Lucky we did, as there were droves of people out who were going to a football game between Denmark and Sweden. They were everywhere, climbing the statues, drinking in the street and this was all before the game. Now we didn't watch the game but we did happen to flick over the TV in the last minute to see the score. And we were glad we did, a Dane punched a swede in the stomach, the Dane got red carded, a Fan then came out and acosted the Ref, the refs then decided to walk off with 57secs left on the clock. Now as the game was tied, this caused even more chaos. All the people were standing in the stadium and no one knew what was happening, oh to be able to speak the language at that time. But in the end, we worked out that to punish the danish fans, the refs declared the game 3-0 to the Swedes.
An exciting end to our trip in Copes. Sunday we returned to London, to find it sunny. Dad and I went off to Tower Bridge, to go up in it and have a look around. Mum went off to Tate Modern and St Pauls Cathedral. Mum had a great time, as did Dad and I. Dad and I happed to read a sign which said that the bridge was opening in an hour after we were there, so we called mum and got to her come and join us. It was quite cool.
Monday, no work for me, so I joined mum and dad in their last bit of sight seeing, Mum went to West Minster Abbey, we were all going to go, but the cheap tickets ran out the day before, and i was being cheap and didn't want to pay £10. Dad and I went off to Harrods where Mum met up with us an hour or so later. We looked around and found nothing that we wanted, as its all too expensive. Mum bought her Harrods Bag and was very happy.
Tuesday, no work for me again, and Mum and Dads last day. Took them souvenior shopping on Oxford street and off to Picadilly circus. A full day it was, we got back to my house about an hour before they had to catch the train. So we finalised their packing and walked to the train station. It turned out that we got to the train, it was leaving in 2 mins, so a quick goodbye and they were off. It was weird, as it just seemed like because they were hopping on a train, that they would be back soon, but no, they are gone and back in Australia.
Had a good time whilst they were here, despite being cramped at night in my small room as I am sure they will tell you. But it all worked out well and they loved their time here.
Well I am off to Canada to start my job as Assistant Camp Director at Camp Wyoka in Toronto, heres the website http://www.whiteoaksgirlguides.ca/camp/index.php
Tell you more soon.
Thursday, June 07, 2007
Monday, May 21, 2007
3 days of Paris
Friday May 18 Mum, Dad and I set off for Paris, France on the Eurostar. A very early morning rise we had to get to Waterloo international on time, but we made it with style (15 mins earlier, than we needed to be there).
We ended up getting into Paris at 12 noon, and then a very quick Lunch at McDonalds. Not before we were inundated by these very poor looking, hardly able to walk "Gypsy Women" asking we if speak english and then holding up a sign about their hardships and if we could please spare some change. Funny though, as soon as the police came these women who could hardly walk etc, all ran across the street like there was a fire. Coincidence I think not.
Then off on a bus tour which was provided with our journey. We got driven around Paris and saw; The Palais Garnier, which is the actual Opera House which inspired the Phantom of the Opera Show (it actually has a lake underneath). We also saw, Les Invalides, Napoleans Tomb, where he has his coffin sitting higher than everyone so that when people come to see him they have to look up at him. The "Kissing" Bridge, Notre Dame, Lourve, Effiel Tower and we drove around the Arc De Triomphe (where an accident is said to happen every 8 mins, and if you do have one, you aren't covered by any insurance company in the world), it has 12 lanes coming off it, and the only rules are that you have to give way to people coming onto the round about, no lane markings or anything. Along our travels, we got to see many lovely one fingered people shouting abuse at our bus driver and other cars around them. A cyclist even had the nerve to cut our bus off and still have a go at our bus driver for blasting the horn at her.
Once off the Bus the 3 of us went back to Notre Dame for a look and then off to the Lourve. We had been told then 26's got in for free on Friday's so we investigated, but sadly its under 26 you get in, too old now I am, schucks. So then, back to the hotel for dinner and then sleep for the next day.
We woke early, did breakfast and arrived at the foot of the Effiel tower at 9:25am, and a huge line we encountered. But we started talking to the people in front of us who were a group of 12 - a family from Arizona. So they were our entertainment whilst waiting to go up. We ended up convincing Mum to come the the 3rd level with us, and we were up there by about 11:30am. Looked around for about 20mins and then made our way slowly back through floors 2 and 1. It was 1:30pm by the time we got down, had some lunch and went off to the Arc De Triomphe where we stood underneath it and took photos and then 3 2 1 what happens, a motorcycle runs into the back of a car. They stopped, the cyclist got off the ground looked around whilst the driver looked as well. Then back in the car, stand the bike up and off they went.
That evening we went to Sacre Coeur, a church atop of one of the only hills in Paris. Where we saw the Effiel Tower sparkling in all its glory and watched the sun set at 10pm at night. It was just full of people, all sitting on the steps singing, drinking wine and enjoying the lights of Paris. It was very late by the time we got back to our hotel, but very worth it.
Sunday, saw us up and out of the hotel by 8:30am, at the Lourve by 9:15am and in at the Monna Lisa by 9:40am. A treat, as the Lourve was only just opening so the lines were very short and crowds little to none. I left Mum and Dad in the Great Hall, and went and got the audio tour of the Davinci Code tour of the Lourve. It was brilliant, as it wasn't just all the movie, yes it was themed by the movie, but it was an explaination of all these paintings that I would of just glanced at had I not bought the tour. Mum and Dad looked around the rest of the Lourve whilst I was doing this and then we met up after I finished the audio tour and parted again, where I startedmy National Lampoons Tour of the Lourve. If you've seen the movie they do the lourve in about 15 mins to the song Ca plane pour moi by Plastic Bertrand, so I was singing the song in my head, racing (well ever so elegantly) around the other two alises of the Lourve that I had yet to see, I ran into Mum and Dad once, and they said to go into something, but I was on a mission. No I didn't do it in 15 mins, but I managed to cover 3 floors and 2 wings in about 45 mins. And they said it takes 9 months to see the entire Lourve. But damn my legs were tired afterward.
Then back to the Arc De Triomphe, where we walked down the Champs-Élysées (the road of Diamonds and Rubies, not just because you can buy them there, but at night when you look at the cars their headlights/tailights look like the sparkling gems, no I am not making that up, I am quoting our tour guide) On our day, it was raining and most of the shops were closed as it was a Sunday, but still a lovely day.
Back to our hotel, where we met back with our group. Boarded the bus to get us back to Garde du Nord, where we caught the Eurostar back to London. A fun, yet very busy trip had by all.
And today, Monday, I am at work, I woke at 6:45am and thought I can't be bothered, went back to sleep and my phone rang at 7:35am for work. I accepted a day of exam cover, where I am currently sitting watching students do an exam in a computer room, whilst I tell you all of my trip with my parents in Paris. A pretty nice way to recover from my trip to France.
Overall I did pretty well with the language barrier, I didn't speak Italian when trying to speak French (unlinke my time in Belgium) and my Parlez vous anglais - do you speak english? Did me pretty well.
We ended up getting into Paris at 12 noon, and then a very quick Lunch at McDonalds. Not before we were inundated by these very poor looking, hardly able to walk "Gypsy Women" asking we if speak english and then holding up a sign about their hardships and if we could please spare some change. Funny though, as soon as the police came these women who could hardly walk etc, all ran across the street like there was a fire. Coincidence I think not.
Then off on a bus tour which was provided with our journey. We got driven around Paris and saw; The Palais Garnier, which is the actual Opera House which inspired the Phantom of the Opera Show (it actually has a lake underneath). We also saw, Les Invalides, Napoleans Tomb, where he has his coffin sitting higher than everyone so that when people come to see him they have to look up at him. The "Kissing" Bridge, Notre Dame, Lourve, Effiel Tower and we drove around the Arc De Triomphe (where an accident is said to happen every 8 mins, and if you do have one, you aren't covered by any insurance company in the world), it has 12 lanes coming off it, and the only rules are that you have to give way to people coming onto the round about, no lane markings or anything. Along our travels, we got to see many lovely one fingered people shouting abuse at our bus driver and other cars around them. A cyclist even had the nerve to cut our bus off and still have a go at our bus driver for blasting the horn at her.
Once off the Bus the 3 of us went back to Notre Dame for a look and then off to the Lourve. We had been told then 26's got in for free on Friday's so we investigated, but sadly its under 26 you get in, too old now I am, schucks. So then, back to the hotel for dinner and then sleep for the next day.
We woke early, did breakfast and arrived at the foot of the Effiel tower at 9:25am, and a huge line we encountered. But we started talking to the people in front of us who were a group of 12 - a family from Arizona. So they were our entertainment whilst waiting to go up. We ended up convincing Mum to come the the 3rd level with us, and we were up there by about 11:30am. Looked around for about 20mins and then made our way slowly back through floors 2 and 1. It was 1:30pm by the time we got down, had some lunch and went off to the Arc De Triomphe where we stood underneath it and took photos and then 3 2 1 what happens, a motorcycle runs into the back of a car. They stopped, the cyclist got off the ground looked around whilst the driver looked as well. Then back in the car, stand the bike up and off they went.
That evening we went to Sacre Coeur, a church atop of one of the only hills in Paris. Where we saw the Effiel Tower sparkling in all its glory and watched the sun set at 10pm at night. It was just full of people, all sitting on the steps singing, drinking wine and enjoying the lights of Paris. It was very late by the time we got back to our hotel, but very worth it.
Sunday, saw us up and out of the hotel by 8:30am, at the Lourve by 9:15am and in at the Monna Lisa by 9:40am. A treat, as the Lourve was only just opening so the lines were very short and crowds little to none. I left Mum and Dad in the Great Hall, and went and got the audio tour of the Davinci Code tour of the Lourve. It was brilliant, as it wasn't just all the movie, yes it was themed by the movie, but it was an explaination of all these paintings that I would of just glanced at had I not bought the tour. Mum and Dad looked around the rest of the Lourve whilst I was doing this and then we met up after I finished the audio tour and parted again, where I startedmy National Lampoons Tour of the Lourve. If you've seen the movie they do the lourve in about 15 mins to the song Ca plane pour moi by Plastic Bertrand, so I was singing the song in my head, racing (well ever so elegantly) around the other two alises of the Lourve that I had yet to see, I ran into Mum and Dad once, and they said to go into something, but I was on a mission. No I didn't do it in 15 mins, but I managed to cover 3 floors and 2 wings in about 45 mins. And they said it takes 9 months to see the entire Lourve. But damn my legs were tired afterward.
Then back to the Arc De Triomphe, where we walked down the Champs-Élysées (the road of Diamonds and Rubies, not just because you can buy them there, but at night when you look at the cars their headlights/tailights look like the sparkling gems, no I am not making that up, I am quoting our tour guide) On our day, it was raining and most of the shops were closed as it was a Sunday, but still a lovely day.
Back to our hotel, where we met back with our group. Boarded the bus to get us back to Garde du Nord, where we caught the Eurostar back to London. A fun, yet very busy trip had by all.
And today, Monday, I am at work, I woke at 6:45am and thought I can't be bothered, went back to sleep and my phone rang at 7:35am for work. I accepted a day of exam cover, where I am currently sitting watching students do an exam in a computer room, whilst I tell you all of my trip with my parents in Paris. A pretty nice way to recover from my trip to France.
Overall I did pretty well with the language barrier, I didn't speak Italian when trying to speak French (unlinke my time in Belgium) and my Parlez vous anglais - do you speak english? Did me pretty well.
Thursday, May 10, 2007
To all the soccer balls ...
Yes thats right, I have been travelling along the South West Train line for a good 4 months of my life now and everyday I see a soccer ball or 3. They are all different types, white, red, green, blue, checkered, some still round, others deflated, others faded and others which you could fit in the palm of your hand. But still some poor kid out there is suffering without his soccerball. But then again, sucker shouldn't of been playing so close to the tracks!
No, I have not gone mad, I was just bored and filling my mind in whilst I was coming home this afternoon and so I thought I would share my madness with you. That being the soccerball thing, not anything else you think I am about to share from my werido sense of humour. Sheesh ...
Well, haven't got any exciting London or travelling moments to share at the moment, as I have been laying low since New York (saving up), as Mum and Dad are here on Saturday and it should be great.
What was also great, was seeing my entire Family on Sunday morning, as Carolyn and I figured out how to have a video conference over msn, so we got the whole family in the next time. So I got to see Mum, Dad, Carolyn, Rach, Ben, David, Bradley, Harry and Nan; little challenging at times when all of them were talking and I had to hear it all through the headphones, but I wouldn't of missed it.
So I shall share my mum and dad moments very soon. Till then areverdici!
No, I have not gone mad, I was just bored and filling my mind in whilst I was coming home this afternoon and so I thought I would share my madness with you. That being the soccerball thing, not anything else you think I am about to share from my werido sense of humour. Sheesh ...
Well, haven't got any exciting London or travelling moments to share at the moment, as I have been laying low since New York (saving up), as Mum and Dad are here on Saturday and it should be great.
What was also great, was seeing my entire Family on Sunday morning, as Carolyn and I figured out how to have a video conference over msn, so we got the whole family in the next time. So I got to see Mum, Dad, Carolyn, Rach, Ben, David, Bradley, Harry and Nan; little challenging at times when all of them were talking and I had to hear it all through the headphones, but I wouldn't of missed it.
So I shall share my mum and dad moments very soon. Till then areverdici!
Thursday, April 26, 2007
Nothingness, random stops, buttons and enjoying the slow times.
So, its been two weeks since I have been a travelling and well what have I been up too?
Not much at all, but still, it is probably just what I needed. In my first couple of days back I spent at home reading books and doing nothing. Then I had work the first Monday back, which was fine and normal.
Tuesday, I didn't get any work, and tried to go out with Alex to the movies, but after a water issue at her house, we ended up waiting for people to come and have a look, reading in the sun and then an early dinner.
Wednesday came around and still no work, so I decided to register with another agency. The appointment was at 3pm. So I took myself into london with a book and decided to get off at a random stop. Well, Green Park was my random stop, which turned out to be awesome. It is as it says a park thats green, but it was at lunch and absolutely every piece of grass had someone sitting on it, reading, eating, talking or contemplating their next investment. So I took myself to lunch in a cafe across the road then back to the park for some reading.
Thursday, Friday I got work, wahoo ... and it was just ordinary, except for the student setting a fire extinguisher off and another swallowing a button.
Saturday - Bubbles birthday lunch, which was a lovley afternoon in the park, drinking wine and champange, eating cheese and bisucits and a lovely semi BBQ lunch and then Boules in the latter part of the evening.
Sunday, met a friend for a late lunch, which turned into an evening of drinking. Really Victoria, you say, well yes I am a sad predicitment of an Aussie, but when duty calls ...
And this week, I have worked eveyday and don't have much planned for the weekend, but I am sure something will come up.
Not much at all, but still, it is probably just what I needed. In my first couple of days back I spent at home reading books and doing nothing. Then I had work the first Monday back, which was fine and normal.
Tuesday, I didn't get any work, and tried to go out with Alex to the movies, but after a water issue at her house, we ended up waiting for people to come and have a look, reading in the sun and then an early dinner.
Wednesday came around and still no work, so I decided to register with another agency. The appointment was at 3pm. So I took myself into london with a book and decided to get off at a random stop. Well, Green Park was my random stop, which turned out to be awesome. It is as it says a park thats green, but it was at lunch and absolutely every piece of grass had someone sitting on it, reading, eating, talking or contemplating their next investment. So I took myself to lunch in a cafe across the road then back to the park for some reading.
Thursday, Friday I got work, wahoo ... and it was just ordinary, except for the student setting a fire extinguisher off and another swallowing a button.
Saturday - Bubbles birthday lunch, which was a lovley afternoon in the park, drinking wine and champange, eating cheese and bisucits and a lovely semi BBQ lunch and then Boules in the latter part of the evening.
Sunday, met a friend for a late lunch, which turned into an evening of drinking. Really Victoria, you say, well yes I am a sad predicitment of an Aussie, but when duty calls ...
And this week, I have worked eveyday and don't have much planned for the weekend, but I am sure something will come up.
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
New York
Where to start on a fabulous trip ... Obviously from the beginning, but there is just so much to say.
Sat April 7 - after waking up to a great start I realised I was very excited as I left the house at 9am, then walked around in my station for ages trying to think of a way that I can download my photos before I go ... solution, after much deliberation, photo shop across road, so yup ready to
go. Damn it ... walk past blockbuster and need to return DVD. Walk back home ... go home, decide to take my time and watch TV etc. Leave home with DVD, walk halfway to station, damn it, left sunnies at home. Walk back home. In the end I met Alex at the Airport on time at the Kuwait Airlines checkin desk at 12. All checked in, emergency alise an all - and our flight is delayed for 3 hours - tops ... seeings that we were there 3 hours before our original time of departure we were there 6 hours waiting. But all went well and fast and the trip to New York great. 
Got into JFK NY and it took about 2 hours to get thru customs - seeings my hands were to dry to take my finger prints and I had to moisturise whilst standing at the customs desk, then I blinked in my mug shot ... and no this is not because I did something wrong, but standard procedure when going into the states now. Made it to shuttle desk, booked a shuttle to our hotel in Central Park West and then we finally got there at
midnight - 5 am London time - we were stuffed, but it worked out pretty well for the jetlag thing, as we slept until 8 ish the next morning and started exploring from there.Sun Apr 8 - Easter, so I left a tobelerone for Alex at the foot of her bed so the Easter bunny had looked like he came, and we
celebrated by having some for breakfast. Which became our morning ritual for the coming week, wake up eat Tobelerone and set off for the day. Today we learned how to master the subway after a failed attempt to go to a gospel church, we were at 135th street in Harlem and needed to get to Lower Manhatten, so we bought ourselves a Metrocard and we were off. We ended up getting off by chance at the World Trade Centre site so this was our first sight we saw ... its a very errie (can't spell it) sight, as you know what happened there, but now its just a building site. But I have to say to the credit of them, that the photos which are around and the dedications are very respectful, informative and tasteful.
Then we walked from WTC to Battery Park, and froze our butts off in the wind tunnel we were walking in. It was a funny day, rainy, sunny, windy so very funny to think what to do. So we caught the ferry to Ellis and Liberty Island, and as we were too late get booked into the statue we decided to go to Ellis first. Here we did the tour of the Immigration centre - which for someone with family heritage there would be very good, for us it was interesting. And also whilst we were there it started to snow - very weird but not uncommon for April in
NY we were later told. Had some fun on the island video taping ourselves and then off to Liberty Island. Upon reading the wall found that an Anthony Sadler family came into the States, pretty close I think.Had since found out that since Sept 11 no one is allowed in the statue, and its not a security risk thing. When we got to Liberty Island, we read a sign that said there were free walking tours on the hour. We went and asked the info desk and the guy said you meet him at the flagpole .. now I wanted to
be a smart arse here, as the flagpole is huge and well you just can't miss it. So I sarcastically asked "Wheres the flagpole?" ... and the guy started to explain to me ... bugger, he didn't catch onto Aussie humour and I had to aplogise profusely whilst Alex was having a go at me. Seems that lots of people actually ask that question, and well he just answers all questions no matter how dumb. Damn ...
Our tour guide, who we scored on the island to ourselves as we were the only 2 who showed up for the 3pm free walking tour. So he walked us aorund the island telling us all about the statue and how it came about, it was great ... even though the guy seemed to get a bit lost in his words. Now back to reasons for not being allowed in the statue - they did a safety overhall of New York after Sept 11 and realised that duh, theres only one staircase up and down the statue and it'll be a bit hard to get everyone out in an emergency, and well if you only let 5 - 20 people up at a time, then well, we'll let you keep
her open. They came to the outcome that too many people would be disappointed and therefore now no one gets to go inside, just up to the platform where the statue actually starts. So we didn't go, as we had found out all that we would read inside already.We returned to mainland Manhatten and made our way to Times Square, which again
I asked for directions (in all seriousness) from a NYPD officer, to have him point behind my back and say .... there. Alex by this time was in hysterics at my mind numbedness, as I was having a pearler of a day. So we got to the centre of it all, and were taking our pictures, and whilst there a man who was doing his daily run decided to grace us with his company. Now he didn't bother us at all in any way, except for the fact the man was wearing a g string leotard - he did a couple of runs by before we decided to leave and go for dinner. Mon 9 Apr - Alexs Birthday! We took our time getting up that morning and to decide what to do. We made our way to Canal Street Markets - which is a place where the entire street is knock off merchandise. Where you walk along and every second person is saying "Handbag, handbag ... gucci, chole, prada". Where we looked and walked for a very long time and decided to come back on our last day for
the sake of carrying things. So by 1pm we had walked our way along Canal Street to China Town, so we had Chinese for lunch. Then Alex decided that we should do the Empire State Building - this is where I started to go quiet, I was determined to do it, but I tell you I was kinda scared. Made our way to the building where we find that there is a line outside around the corner. I walked inside to ask the security guard where to buy tickets, the guy said right up the escaltor and I asked if the line outside was for the tickets, he said "If you don't see that line, I don't" .... SCORE! So we got to dodge about an hour of waiting, now this is not to say that we still didn't line up, as we did and while waiting we learned that there was an IMAX show and you got a free tshirt, and that the 102nd floor was open for an extra $15 ... I convinced Alex to do the Imax tour and she convinced me to do the 
102nd floor. So after a nice investment to the building owners of the building. We did the IMAX (so so) and then off to the 80th floor where we lined up again to get to the lift for the 86th floor. Then after about 1 1/2 hours of waiting we were up the top. And verdict - It was great! Not jitters at all, I loved it and Alex did the audio tour first and then I, and on this we learned about the buidlings around and a little about the Emipre state building itself. Had dinner on the lower end of 5th avenue at a restaurant called DANO, then caught a cab home. FACT - even in 110mph winds the building will not move more than a 1/4 inch either way.
Tues 10 Apr - Alex and I went our seperate ways today, she to Woodbury Common to go to a discount shopping outlet. Myself, I went to 59th Street and started a walking tour of Midtown Manhatten. My first stop Bloomingdales - which is a maze and a half, but an alright store. Then off I went to the Plaza hotel to have my Kevin McAlister moment - which sadly failed, as the hotel is under restoration. So next (and these are all in the same 2 block area) I went to Tiffany's - where I only suffered one jaw dropping moment - for some lovely ruby and diamond earrings. And I saw a giddy couple who were just getting engaged - Tiffany had supplied champange and all - very cute. Then to Trump towers (right next door) ... it was alright but very Donald. Then back from where I came from and to FAO Schwatrz ... Had my BIG moment and played on the huge keyboard and then off I walked to the Waldof Astoria to have a squizz, along the way I discovered that 5th Ave has Tuilips lining their median strips - very nice. Off to the brooklyn bridge where I had my Qantas moment (from the ad a few years ago). Then lunch and I had some time to kill so I got my haircut ... nothing drastic or NYish just a trim. Then off to Central Park where is was a sunny afternoon and I took some arty photos. Then in the evening I took myself to dinner at Tom's Restaurant - where Seinfeld used to eat. A day where I relived a fair few of my favourite New York movie moments. 
Wed 11 Apr - We made our way to Rockefeller Centre and decided to go up "The Rock" which is basically another viewing platform, but had better views of Central Park and mid town Manhatten. Which was great, I thought awesome no jitters this time ... until our lift started to go up and woppee the lift has a glass roof and the inside of the shaft is lit up like a disco. But it wasnt' that bad and it was very quick. Then down we went and off to Grand Central Station - a beautiful building with amazing detail, but very lost on the fact that its a train station and people just walk around without a care for its beauty. Then in the afternoon, back to Central Park where we caught a bus to Central Park South and 72nd and walked to see the Bethseda Fountain and Bow bridge and we decided to meander until we were sick of walking, we took ourselves all the way to 86th street. Along the way we saw people playing Baseball, a castle which is now a meterological
centre, had a swing in the park and a photo with a lamppost. Then off to Serendipity 3 (the resturant from the movie) got there and was informed of an hour and a half wait, so what else to do but shop. The closest location - Bloomingdales, where after many different try ons and much convincing from Alex and the shop assistant I bought a lovley sliver and black netted dress. Then back to Serendipty for dinner (Corn Chowder - YUM!) and dessert a frozen hot chocolate (very tasty, but it was all cold).Thurs 12 Apr - Our final day. Made our way to the Staten Island ferry, the ride was great, but a little disappointing as it was pouring rain and you couldn't really see the sights of the harbour as it was a complete white wash. Then back to Canal Street for shopping, bought shoes, perfume, jewellery and some hats. Then making our way back to hotel we found a nice Thai place for
lunch (well it was 3pm) and then off we went to our hotel and waited for our shuttle bus. Which arrived practically empty - but then we got to zigzag around the streets of new york picking up other people. We finally arrived at JFK after a very bumpy and stomach curdling ride at 7pm. Booked in all ready to go. Fumbled around the airport spending the last couple of USD we had on us, and were really surprised when we looked at the exchange rate of USD to AUD $1.08 amazing!On the flight home I slept nearly the entire time, and made a fool of myself. As I was acting out my dreams with my hands ..
Had a fabulous time in New York with Alex and some great moments of spazoidisms on my behalf and barry's on Alexs. We realised that we forever had songs in our head and so at random moments we asked what was in our heads - ranged from for me - I still call Aus home, MMMM
bop (Hanson), Jenny from the block, Adams Family, Working girl song (Rivers run) and other werid ones, but it was good. Walked from here to kingdom come, seriously the days after I just didn't go anywhere as my legs were soooo tired and flet like lead. So now, I am back in London and back to work, as I spent up in NY and then mum and dad are arriving in about 4 weeks. So that'll be great so until I next write ... B Bye
Saturday, March 31, 2007
Pictures of my travels
IRELAND
These are way over due and should go into the actual blog, but its all too much effort now ... so now you get a montage.
1000 yr old church in Dublin, Biggest Free Standing Celtic Cross, Castle ruins, The city of Derry
Giants causeway from above and beside, McDonnell Castle (its slipping into the sea)
Sights from a photo stop in Ireland ...
The houses of Lower Shankill and their painted walls, guy with guy follows you round the area
Signing the "Peace Wall" which seperates the relgious areas of Belfast, and my little bit
Guiness Factory - first pint ever ... and outside the factory
So thats my overdue Ireland photos, hope you enjoyed ...
These are way over due and should go into the actual blog, but its all too much effort now ... so now you get a montage.
1000 yr old church in Dublin, Biggest Free Standing Celtic Cross, Castle ruins, The city of Derry
Giants causeway from above and beside, McDonnell Castle (its slipping into the sea)
Sights from a photo stop in Ireland ...
The houses of Lower Shankill and their painted walls, guy with guy follows you round the area
Signing the "Peace Wall" which seperates the relgious areas of Belfast, and my little bit
Guiness Factory - first pint ever ... and outside the factory
So thats my overdue Ireland photos, hope you enjoyed ...
Thursday, March 29, 2007
Stonehenge, Bath, Herbie the Love Bug, Garbage Bag Dress
After being chastised for not updating my blog, here it is.
Last I was off to Bath and Stonehenge. On March 24 I set off nice and early on Saturday morning off to catch the bus from Earl's Court. Met a lovely Swiss lady who was my travel buddy for the day - she was extra lovely as she put up with my spastic camera as well ... see its not just me. But alas, it did play nice and I have got some photos ... just not here with me now to post with my blog. I'll do it tonight I promise, as I have heaps of backdated photos I need to post.
Off on the Bus on Saturday morning, we travelled along with Anderson tours out of London and along the way our bizarre tour guide (seems they all are weird over here) was telling us lots of stories, we travelled along where Hugh Grant is from, where Mary Poppins was filmed and where the end of the head of the river race is. Interesting stuff, but don't ask me to tell you exactly it all was as I don't remember.
Then to Stonehenge we arrived ... awesome! Was my first word,
being an astrological site, built
by aliens, that the druids made it, ancient burial site, sacrifical worship site and the crop circles that are associated with it, its pretty good. So, if you just walk around and think about it, that its been there fornow despite the rumours of it 5000 years+ well, its a pretty amazing sight. And I would definately recommend to go. Only spent an hour there, but when you realise that its just in the middle of a paddock somewhere and all there is, is the rocks and gift shop, its enough time. But a thing I didn't know about the area of stonehenge is that it has these mounds (3/4 metres high and wide) around the area that are actually peoples graves, where bones and after life offerings are burried with them. Some have gold others have pots and pans etc. Very egyptian ideas. But the truths of Stoneghenge keep changing, one day we will know or it will remain a mystery - still a good mystery to look at though.
Then off to Bath, and not for my first Bath - members. Where we were swiftly hurried off the bus and straight into the Bath ruins, which are nice and green. We were told not to touch the water as its got some baddies in it which would muck you up nicely if you played with it. Its an amazing sight, with alot of flok law tales and truths about it. Its funny tour guides over here, tend to know all the rubbish and truths and tell you the lot. Its great. We heard one story about a guy with Pigs and Leprecacy and how he watched thank you sarcastic familythe pigs sores magically disappear after rolling in the springs mud, so he to did it and was cured and then he flew back on his magic carpet (yes you heard right) and took on the crown as he was rightly entitled to.
Went off for a lovely lunch and then quickly through about 5 streets of Bath and it was time to be back on the Bus for the 3 hour trip home. Therefore I didn't get to go to the new Bath Springs sauna, so I will just have to go back.
It was well worth the trip, even though it was very long. A big highlight for the day, I was watching the cars drive by and Herbie the Love Bug drove past. It was awesome, the car was all painted up with racing stripes and no. 53. I love that movie.
Then, glutton for punishment I went out that night with Jackie and Trudy,
my housemates to a ABC party. Anything But Clothes party. Where we all dressed up in our grabage bags and hopped on the tube to West Hampstead to go to our party. Now luckily its still cold at night so we swooshed along in our dresses with our coats on. Now we picked up some wine at Waterloo station and started drinking on the tube. And my bottle was gone 
by about 1 1/2hours into being at the party. It was a great night, met some lovely new friends, sprained my hamstring in a competition of flexibilty - another girl and myself won as we had both done Jazz ballett. Then the night went on, and I caught the 7am tube home and slept in until 2pm in the afternoon. What a full weekend. It was great.
Last I was off to Bath and Stonehenge. On March 24 I set off nice and early on Saturday morning off to catch the bus from Earl's Court. Met a lovely Swiss lady who was my travel buddy for the day - she was extra lovely as she put up with my spastic camera as well ... see its not just me. But alas, it did play nice and I have got some photos ... just not here with me now to post with my blog. I'll do it tonight I promise, as I have heaps of backdated photos I need to post.
Off on the Bus on Saturday morning, we travelled along with Anderson tours out of London and along the way our bizarre tour guide (seems they all are weird over here) was telling us lots of stories, we travelled along where Hugh Grant is from, where Mary Poppins was filmed and where the end of the head of the river race is. Interesting stuff, but don't ask me to tell you exactly it all was as I don't remember.
Then to Stonehenge we arrived ... awesome! Was my first word,
being an astrological site, built
by aliens, that the druids made it, ancient burial site, sacrifical worship site and the crop circles that are associated with it, its pretty good. So, if you just walk around and think about it, that its been there fornow despite the rumours of it 5000 years+ well, its a pretty amazing sight. And I would definately recommend to go. Only spent an hour there, but when you realise that its just in the middle of a paddock somewhere and all there is, is the rocks and gift shop, its enough time. But a thing I didn't know about the area of stonehenge is that it has these mounds (3/4 metres high and wide) around the area that are actually peoples graves, where bones and after life offerings are burried with them. Some have gold others have pots and pans etc. Very egyptian ideas. But the truths of Stoneghenge keep changing, one day we will know or it will remain a mystery - still a good mystery to look at though.
Then off to Bath, and not for my first Bath - members. Where we were swiftly hurried off the bus and straight into the Bath ruins, which are nice and green. We were told not to touch the water as its got some baddies in it which would muck you up nicely if you played with it. Its an amazing sight, with alot of flok law tales and truths about it. Its funny tour guides over here, tend to know all the rubbish and truths and tell you the lot. Its great. We heard one story about a guy with Pigs and Leprecacy and how he watched thank you sarcastic familythe pigs sores magically disappear after rolling in the springs mud, so he to did it and was cured and then he flew back on his magic carpet (yes you heard right) and took on the crown as he was rightly entitled to.
Went off for a lovely lunch and then quickly through about 5 streets of Bath and it was time to be back on the Bus for the 3 hour trip home. Therefore I didn't get to go to the new Bath Springs sauna, so I will just have to go back.
It was well worth the trip, even though it was very long. A big highlight for the day, I was watching the cars drive by and Herbie the Love Bug drove past. It was awesome, the car was all painted up with racing stripes and no. 53. I love that movie.
Then, glutton for punishment I went out that night with Jackie and Trudy,
my housemates to a ABC party. Anything But Clothes party. Where we all dressed up in our grabage bags and hopped on the tube to West Hampstead to go to our party. Now luckily its still cold at night so we swooshed along in our dresses with our coats on. Now we picked up some wine at Waterloo station and started drinking on the tube. And my bottle was gone 
by about 1 1/2hours into being at the party. It was a great night, met some lovely new friends, sprained my hamstring in a competition of flexibilty - another girl and myself won as we had both done Jazz ballett. Then the night went on, and I caught the 7am tube home and slept in until 2pm in the afternoon. What a full weekend. It was great.
Sunday, March 18, 2007
Evening out the balance
Went out for St Pats last night, every man his dog, sister and his uncles were out last night and it was a very busy night out. Still a good night, some people were dressed up, but others were just out for a regular night ... seems Aussies latch on a bit more, plus I didn't get to make it to and Irish pub, as they were all too busy, people were drinking on the street out the front of them, but alas still a good night.
So I came to the realisation that I probably have spent more time in pubs in London than sightseeing .. well almost. So I took myself on a mini tour today, I saw Tate Modern - modern art gallery, with some very weird pieces, if it exists in this earth, it is part of an art exhibition at the Tate Modern. Don't believe me well, they had an ode to floruos which were all lit up, toilet bowls and urinals painted and cast in pvc, drain holes, shot puts in random places, a light switch which had been photographed and then put on display via a projector and my favourite a room which was full of automated mirrored sliding doors (thats all, you just kept walking through the mirrored doors) .... but they had some very cool slippey slides in the middle, which I will do another day as the line was too long. Then I happened upon Shakespeares globe theatre which is an open air theatre, am going back there another day ... other sights to acomplish.
I then walked across the millenium bridge to St Pauls catherdral, this was a feat in itself. It was blowing a gale and the bridge is open, so there were times I had to stop or I thought I would get blown off. I was feezing, and wanted to put my scarf on, but I was worried that it would blow over the edge, and I am kind of attached to my £2 scarf.
St Paul's is an amazing building and all the bells were tolling as I walked up to it, as a service was about to begin. So I quickly looked around where I could and went down to the crypt and reads little tid bits of the history. Its been around since 600, is the 3rd St Pauls to be built on the same sight and has been through many atrosities but still stands today. And they are cleaning the outside in preparation for the 08 Olympics.
Thats about it, am working all next week and am thinking of taking myself to Bath for a trip next weekend.
So I came to the realisation that I probably have spent more time in pubs in London than sightseeing .. well almost. So I took myself on a mini tour today, I saw Tate Modern - modern art gallery, with some very weird pieces, if it exists in this earth, it is part of an art exhibition at the Tate Modern. Don't believe me well, they had an ode to floruos which were all lit up, toilet bowls and urinals painted and cast in pvc, drain holes, shot puts in random places, a light switch which had been photographed and then put on display via a projector and my favourite a room which was full of automated mirrored sliding doors (thats all, you just kept walking through the mirrored doors) .... but they had some very cool slippey slides in the middle, which I will do another day as the line was too long. Then I happened upon Shakespeares globe theatre which is an open air theatre, am going back there another day ... other sights to acomplish.
I then walked across the millenium bridge to St Pauls catherdral, this was a feat in itself. It was blowing a gale and the bridge is open, so there were times I had to stop or I thought I would get blown off. I was feezing, and wanted to put my scarf on, but I was worried that it would blow over the edge, and I am kind of attached to my £2 scarf.
St Paul's is an amazing building and all the bells were tolling as I walked up to it, as a service was about to begin. So I quickly looked around where I could and went down to the crypt and reads little tid bits of the history. Its been around since 600, is the 3rd St Pauls to be built on the same sight and has been through many atrosities but still stands today. And they are cleaning the outside in preparation for the 08 Olympics.
Thats about it, am working all next week and am thinking of taking myself to Bath for a trip next weekend.
Wednesday, March 14, 2007
Next up ...
Well, I can't provide any photos of St Albans as my camera is being retarded ... and no its not the user. But it was a nice place with a beautiful abbey and roman ruins which date back as far as AD 200.
On April 7 - 12 I am going with Alex to New York and on the Monday it will be her birthday, so what better excuse not to go. We have been able to get a flight and hotel for a very reasonable price and I can't wait ... VERY EXCITED as a lot of you found out by my text message that I sent out.
But I have since been able to get my camera working again, few little love taps, and hopefully it will behave for my Trip to New York. Going out for Mexican tonight with some people that we met at a pub, as we noticed that they were Australian and started to chatting to them. Gotta love the cultural link, if your an Aussie over here your almost instantly mates.
On April 7 - 12 I am going with Alex to New York and on the Monday it will be her birthday, so what better excuse not to go. We have been able to get a flight and hotel for a very reasonable price and I can't wait ... VERY EXCITED as a lot of you found out by my text message that I sent out.
But I have since been able to get my camera working again, few little love taps, and hopefully it will behave for my Trip to New York. Going out for Mexican tonight with some people that we met at a pub, as we noticed that they were Australian and started to chatting to them. Gotta love the cultural link, if your an Aussie over here your almost instantly mates.
Friday, March 09, 2007
2 Weeks down
Well I have been a supply teacher for two weeks now and have worked 9 out of 10 days, and next week I am already booked for the full 5 days, its at a lovely school, so it should be a good week. Have come to realise that prac teaching though less stressful in a way, is still just as tiring, as you teach all day everyday. But its still working out alright, so I am going to stick with it.
Going to St Albans tomorrow, North London, so that should be great. Will get my photos from there and Ireland and shove them up so that people can see them.
My shortest blog ever ... wow!
Going to St Albans tomorrow, North London, so that should be great. Will get my photos from there and Ireland and shove them up so that people can see them.
My shortest blog ever ... wow!
Thursday, March 01, 2007
Waffle
Boy o Boy can I Waffle on, but please forgive my looooooooong diatribe about Irleand I absolutely loved it all and I am writing this for me as much as for my poor suffering friends and family who decide to read the blinking thing.
Well If I haven't told you, and a lot of people don't know. I decided 3 weeks ago to change to supply work. After my week in Ireland, I have been working supply. And its going ok, its very different to full time teaching, but the schools haven't been too bad and at least it is still work, and I get to walk out the gate when the day ends and thats it for me. One school in particular have liked me and asked me back 3 days in a row in my first week, so all is good.
Went to David Strassman Thursday night, it was good, but then when you sit back you think ... hey this is just one guy on stage talking to a bunch of puppets all by himself .... hmmm can you spell crazy???
Went to the pub tonight - the Road House, nice pub bummer about the smoke, had a few drinks with Alex, Karen, Louise, Courtney and met Bridgit (Courtney's flatmate). The Aussie culture is great over here, if your an Aussie you have a link, therefore you become friends - I love it.
Also its been two months over here, so these are the things I have learned.
1. Pushing on the train is just the done thing, and if you grumble you get dirty looks.
2. You have to keep to the right when walking around or on escalators at tube stations, but at the train station you keep left. YEAH Figure that one out and explain it to me please.
3. 35 pound gets you your weeks worth of shopping.
4. It is wise to always carry your brolly, even if its blue sky.
5. Sha up = Shut up, Innit = Isn't it and saying Ta instead of thanks gets you weird looks like you are insulting a person.
Therefore thats my little, but long again update. Tell you what I am up to again soon. V
Well If I haven't told you, and a lot of people don't know. I decided 3 weeks ago to change to supply work. After my week in Ireland, I have been working supply. And its going ok, its very different to full time teaching, but the schools haven't been too bad and at least it is still work, and I get to walk out the gate when the day ends and thats it for me. One school in particular have liked me and asked me back 3 days in a row in my first week, so all is good.
Went to David Strassman Thursday night, it was good, but then when you sit back you think ... hey this is just one guy on stage talking to a bunch of puppets all by himself .... hmmm can you spell crazy???
Went to the pub tonight - the Road House, nice pub bummer about the smoke, had a few drinks with Alex, Karen, Louise, Courtney and met Bridgit (Courtney's flatmate). The Aussie culture is great over here, if your an Aussie you have a link, therefore you become friends - I love it.
Also its been two months over here, so these are the things I have learned.
1. Pushing on the train is just the done thing, and if you grumble you get dirty looks.
2. You have to keep to the right when walking around or on escalators at tube stations, but at the train station you keep left. YEAH Figure that one out and explain it to me please.
3. 35 pound gets you your weeks worth of shopping.
4. It is wise to always carry your brolly, even if its blue sky.
5. Sha up = Shut up, Innit = Isn't it and saying Ta instead of thanks gets you weird looks like you are insulting a person.
Therefore thats my little, but long again update. Tell you what I am up to again soon. V
Saturday, February 24, 2007
Ireland
On Feb 18 2007 Tracey and I set off in the morning to go to Ireland. Caught the tube from her place to Heathrow and caught an very late Aerlingus flight to Dublin. (ok, I apologise now for dodgy spelling, I am on a really dodgy keyboard), then it was off to explore the place that is Dublin.
Dublin, is an older town than I thought, but despite its buildings being mostly grey (and maybe because the weather was quite grey) it was still a lovely town to walk around. Where we saw the Liffey River, Ha Penny Bridge, Temple Bar and a Church (one of several) which was built/established in 1030, and extends across a road, so they have built a bridge to get from one side to the other. We then had dinner at O'Sheas up the road from our Hostel (a huge roast beef) and then off to bed. Not before I have words with someone who doesn't understand the ethics of Hostel TV (my family are laughing at me now, most probably dad, as he has experienced me and my TV control before) but, she sat down grabbed the remote and just changed the channel with no consultation, so I asked for it to be changed back. And it was, but sheesh she didn't like me saying something, but you can't just change it, one must ask. Ok, so Ireland ...
Monday morning we started our tour, with Phil our crazy Irish driver. We travelled out of Dublin and on towards St Peter's Cathedral where we saw the preserved head of Sir Oliver Plunkett who was charged with consipring against the state, and he was found guitly, his penatly - to be hung drawn and quartered. And what we saw of him, was a very black chared head where you could see that his spine had been ripped off at the base of his neck, pretty gross but still a site to see. Sorry no photos of that. Onto Ireland's biggest free standing cletic cross, which is near the Battle of Boyne fields, this battle really stands out for the Catholics and Prostentants it was the War where William of Orange (the orgin of the Orange Colour representing the Protestants) fought for Ireland to be free from the British in 1690, mean while I do not remember all these details from my trip, I am googling it as I type to get the tid bits that I remember right. Then off to Derry.
Derry as called by the locals, but sign posted as Londonderry, and on the signs the London is graffitied to simply say Derry, as the Protestants want it known simply as Derry. Derry has a wall built by the Protestants (during 1613-1619) to keep the Catholics out of the city centre - its still in pretty good nick too. We had a tour along this wall where we had a local give us a walk and talk about the wall and its history and purpose, finishing off at the site of Bloody Sunday, in this area there are powerful murals painted on the walls of the sides of houses, depicting the suffering over the years of the people of derry. From the hunger strikes to how the locals used to warn of british soldiers in the area - they banged their rubbish tin lids with sticks to warn the locals to protect their homes.
Interestingly the "probritish" show their pride/territory by painting their kerbs red, white and blue in line with the British Flag. And we also found out along the way, that when the Irish Army fold their flag they must not let the orange and green touch, as these represent the catholics and protestants and the white symbolising peace which is the element which will one day unite Ireland again.
That night, we as a group went to a pub with a very Irish name which I now forget, and had some dinner and drinks, we were told that there was music that night, which there was but it started at 11pm. I stayed a little while, but ended up going to bed.
Tuesday morning, we set off in the crazy bus again, let me just say that our bus driver, though very good at his knowledge sometimes was too absorbed in talking rather than driving, so there were a few moments, where a couple of "Jesus, Mother, Mary and Josephs" came out of our drivers mouth and other comical excerpts came out of his mouth. And the suspension on the bus meant that we were rocking side to side with his swerving. But nothing went wrong with the driving the whole time, so we were fine.
But Tuesday - We left Derry and travelled East along the coast of Ireland where we saw Giants Causeway - a geological marvel and Ireland's most vistited natural attraction. The tale goes, that a Giant from Ireland fell in love with a Giant on Scotland and he built a bridge across to bring her back to Ireland as he couldn't swim, he brought her back, but she knew she would be followed, so they made an evil plan to trick the person from Scotland who followed her. It worked, but the Giant from Scotland was peeved on the way back so he destroyed the bridge on his way back, leaving what we see today. But the science of it all is that a volcano errupted and caused the rock that is there - Basalt to form into long colums of hexagons when it cooled - I like the tale better. But, alas, as technolgoy goes, my camera was being perverse and wouldn't zoom, so I have really crappy shots of the place.
Then off the Dunluce Castle, where the McDonnells lived, and one evening were serving a lovely banquet, and a servant walked in and said, that the banquet could not continue as the kitchen and 16 of the staff had just fallen into the ocean - this is actually true as seeing the ruins of it now, it was built too close to the cliff and is still suffering slides to this day. Very picturesque. Then lunch in yet another Irish pub and off to Belfast.
We arrived in Belfast at late afternoon, so we unpacked, and lounged around until 7pm and went off to find a place for dinner. We found a place and just missed the dinner call as we had deviated to a pub on the way to dinner as well - when in Ireland ... so we went across the road and had some pretty average food and then back to our pub we found. Where a football (soccer) match had just ended and a quiz night was beginning, so I had a lovely night drinking Irish Cider -Magners and answering questions which we hardly knew anything about, lucky we had 2 locals with us on the trip and they could help us out, but sadly we came 15th.
Belfast Wednesday morning - Went on a black cab tour around Belfast where we first stopped in Shankill a very protestant area where murals are painted on the walls of their fights, one mural is very famous. Of a balaclava clad man with a M16 pointed at the centre of the area and whereever you walk he follows you, very clever artistry, but also quite spooky. Other murals depict other people who have died for the cause, but some more modern ones are depicting heros who killed people and are now considered maytrs for their cause.
These areas in belfast are still seperated into religious zones where walls are built to seperate them, and are gated, these gates close at 6:30pm and don't open again till 6am in the morning and are closed permanetly from Friday evening until Monday morning. And one wall is recently being up graded its called the peace wall, but it is this huge monstrosity which is about 20 feet high and solid. We were given the opportunity to write messages on the wall, I couldn't think of much at the time, so I wrote the boring thing of my name and country.
That was belfast, we then had an hour or 3 to kill before we went back to Dublin, where we walked around the city centre of Belfast, considered quite safe, just the outer regions are where you don't go wondering. We saw the Europa Hotel which has been bombed 14 times and shopped in the city centre. Then back to Dublin on the bus, the trip went fast as most of us slept. That night, Tracey and I had a quiet night of dinner and then more TV in the hostel common room, no more TV ethic debates though.
Thursday we wondered - 6 of us from the trip to the Guiness Storehouse where we paid our 14 euros and did the 7 floor self guided tour of the Guiness factory. It was great you get given a guiness pebble which is a 5cm round piece of clear PVC with a drop of guiness in it as your ticket, which also gives you a free pint on the 7th floor. Went through and read everything about Arthur Guiness and his product.
Interesting facts; Art Guiness took up a 9000 year lease on his site, now theres self assurance in your product; the pelican is the original symbol for guiness as he could hold more in his mouth than he could in his stomach - 7 guiness, one for each day of the week, the Guiness book of records was actually started by the guiness clan as the manager at that stage was interested in having a book of world records, as he wanted to know the fastest bird in the world and it went from there. Ahhh the pint went down pretty well at the top, but alas I didn't finish it as I hadn't had much to eat and was feeling the effects quite quickly. So I only had half.
Then back to meet Tracey and shop a little for souveniours. Then off to the airport, which was a delima in itself, note to all, if you go to Dublin airport, give yourself more than your recommended hour as they haven't coped with all the new security needs and it takes forever. We bolted in our socks from the security gates to our plane and got there with about 3 mins to spare. Then home to London and reality - I have spent the last 2 days as a Hermit Crab reading and doing nothing as I had such a huge week. But I loved it and am going back to do southern Ireland real soon.
Dublin, is an older town than I thought, but despite its buildings being mostly grey (and maybe because the weather was quite grey) it was still a lovely town to walk around. Where we saw the Liffey River, Ha Penny Bridge, Temple Bar and a Church (one of several) which was built/established in 1030, and extends across a road, so they have built a bridge to get from one side to the other. We then had dinner at O'Sheas up the road from our Hostel (a huge roast beef) and then off to bed. Not before I have words with someone who doesn't understand the ethics of Hostel TV (my family are laughing at me now, most probably dad, as he has experienced me and my TV control before) but, she sat down grabbed the remote and just changed the channel with no consultation, so I asked for it to be changed back. And it was, but sheesh she didn't like me saying something, but you can't just change it, one must ask. Ok, so Ireland ...
Monday morning we started our tour, with Phil our crazy Irish driver. We travelled out of Dublin and on towards St Peter's Cathedral where we saw the preserved head of Sir Oliver Plunkett who was charged with consipring against the state, and he was found guitly, his penatly - to be hung drawn and quartered. And what we saw of him, was a very black chared head where you could see that his spine had been ripped off at the base of his neck, pretty gross but still a site to see. Sorry no photos of that. Onto Ireland's biggest free standing cletic cross, which is near the Battle of Boyne fields, this battle really stands out for the Catholics and Prostentants it was the War where William of Orange (the orgin of the Orange Colour representing the Protestants) fought for Ireland to be free from the British in 1690, mean while I do not remember all these details from my trip, I am googling it as I type to get the tid bits that I remember right. Then off to Derry.
Derry as called by the locals, but sign posted as Londonderry, and on the signs the London is graffitied to simply say Derry, as the Protestants want it known simply as Derry. Derry has a wall built by the Protestants (during 1613-1619) to keep the Catholics out of the city centre - its still in pretty good nick too. We had a tour along this wall where we had a local give us a walk and talk about the wall and its history and purpose, finishing off at the site of Bloody Sunday, in this area there are powerful murals painted on the walls of the sides of houses, depicting the suffering over the years of the people of derry. From the hunger strikes to how the locals used to warn of british soldiers in the area - they banged their rubbish tin lids with sticks to warn the locals to protect their homes.
Interestingly the "probritish" show their pride/territory by painting their kerbs red, white and blue in line with the British Flag. And we also found out along the way, that when the Irish Army fold their flag they must not let the orange and green touch, as these represent the catholics and protestants and the white symbolising peace which is the element which will one day unite Ireland again.
That night, we as a group went to a pub with a very Irish name which I now forget, and had some dinner and drinks, we were told that there was music that night, which there was but it started at 11pm. I stayed a little while, but ended up going to bed.
Tuesday morning, we set off in the crazy bus again, let me just say that our bus driver, though very good at his knowledge sometimes was too absorbed in talking rather than driving, so there were a few moments, where a couple of "Jesus, Mother, Mary and Josephs" came out of our drivers mouth and other comical excerpts came out of his mouth. And the suspension on the bus meant that we were rocking side to side with his swerving. But nothing went wrong with the driving the whole time, so we were fine.
But Tuesday - We left Derry and travelled East along the coast of Ireland where we saw Giants Causeway - a geological marvel and Ireland's most vistited natural attraction. The tale goes, that a Giant from Ireland fell in love with a Giant on Scotland and he built a bridge across to bring her back to Ireland as he couldn't swim, he brought her back, but she knew she would be followed, so they made an evil plan to trick the person from Scotland who followed her. It worked, but the Giant from Scotland was peeved on the way back so he destroyed the bridge on his way back, leaving what we see today. But the science of it all is that a volcano errupted and caused the rock that is there - Basalt to form into long colums of hexagons when it cooled - I like the tale better. But, alas, as technolgoy goes, my camera was being perverse and wouldn't zoom, so I have really crappy shots of the place.
Then off the Dunluce Castle, where the McDonnells lived, and one evening were serving a lovely banquet, and a servant walked in and said, that the banquet could not continue as the kitchen and 16 of the staff had just fallen into the ocean - this is actually true as seeing the ruins of it now, it was built too close to the cliff and is still suffering slides to this day. Very picturesque. Then lunch in yet another Irish pub and off to Belfast.
We arrived in Belfast at late afternoon, so we unpacked, and lounged around until 7pm and went off to find a place for dinner. We found a place and just missed the dinner call as we had deviated to a pub on the way to dinner as well - when in Ireland ... so we went across the road and had some pretty average food and then back to our pub we found. Where a football (soccer) match had just ended and a quiz night was beginning, so I had a lovely night drinking Irish Cider -Magners and answering questions which we hardly knew anything about, lucky we had 2 locals with us on the trip and they could help us out, but sadly we came 15th.
Belfast Wednesday morning - Went on a black cab tour around Belfast where we first stopped in Shankill a very protestant area where murals are painted on the walls of their fights, one mural is very famous. Of a balaclava clad man with a M16 pointed at the centre of the area and whereever you walk he follows you, very clever artistry, but also quite spooky. Other murals depict other people who have died for the cause, but some more modern ones are depicting heros who killed people and are now considered maytrs for their cause.
These areas in belfast are still seperated into religious zones where walls are built to seperate them, and are gated, these gates close at 6:30pm and don't open again till 6am in the morning and are closed permanetly from Friday evening until Monday morning. And one wall is recently being up graded its called the peace wall, but it is this huge monstrosity which is about 20 feet high and solid. We were given the opportunity to write messages on the wall, I couldn't think of much at the time, so I wrote the boring thing of my name and country.
That was belfast, we then had an hour or 3 to kill before we went back to Dublin, where we walked around the city centre of Belfast, considered quite safe, just the outer regions are where you don't go wondering. We saw the Europa Hotel which has been bombed 14 times and shopped in the city centre. Then back to Dublin on the bus, the trip went fast as most of us slept. That night, Tracey and I had a quiet night of dinner and then more TV in the hostel common room, no more TV ethic debates though.
Thursday we wondered - 6 of us from the trip to the Guiness Storehouse where we paid our 14 euros and did the 7 floor self guided tour of the Guiness factory. It was great you get given a guiness pebble which is a 5cm round piece of clear PVC with a drop of guiness in it as your ticket, which also gives you a free pint on the 7th floor. Went through and read everything about Arthur Guiness and his product.
Interesting facts; Art Guiness took up a 9000 year lease on his site, now theres self assurance in your product; the pelican is the original symbol for guiness as he could hold more in his mouth than he could in his stomach - 7 guiness, one for each day of the week, the Guiness book of records was actually started by the guiness clan as the manager at that stage was interested in having a book of world records, as he wanted to know the fastest bird in the world and it went from there. Ahhh the pint went down pretty well at the top, but alas I didn't finish it as I hadn't had much to eat and was feeling the effects quite quickly. So I only had half.
Then back to meet Tracey and shop a little for souveniours. Then off to the airport, which was a delima in itself, note to all, if you go to Dublin airport, give yourself more than your recommended hour as they haven't coped with all the new security needs and it takes forever. We bolted in our socks from the security gates to our plane and got there with about 3 mins to spare. Then home to London and reality - I have spent the last 2 days as a Hermit Crab reading and doing nothing as I had such a huge week. But I loved it and am going back to do southern Ireland real soon.
Tuesday, February 13, 2007
My next coming trip
Well, its coming up to mid term break here so I am off on a holiday. I am going with Tracey to the Emerald Isle - yes Ireland. We will be leaving on Sunday Feb 18 and spending the Day in Dublin and then we will be embarking on a Bus Trip for 3 days around the northern parts of Ireland. I return Thursday Feb 22.
The things which we will be seeing on the trip, as they are the preprogrammed events of the trip, most of these I know nothing about at the moment, but am sure I will know heaps when I come back: Slane Castle: Rock concerts, Battle of the Boyne Battlefield (1690), The preserved head of St. Oliver Plunkett (1681), South Armagh: ‘bandit country’, Walking Tour of Belfast, The green Glens of Antrim, Giants Causeway, Dunluce Castle: McDonnell fortress, Traditional music night in Historic Derry, Historic Walking Tour of Derry’s walls (1613), Bloody Sunday Murals.
Therefore no Blarney stone, so I will just have to go back again, possibly with Mum and Dad when they come over.
So that should be great. Tell you more about it once I return.
The things which we will be seeing on the trip, as they are the preprogrammed events of the trip, most of these I know nothing about at the moment, but am sure I will know heaps when I come back: Slane Castle: Rock concerts, Battle of the Boyne Battlefield (1690), The preserved head of St. Oliver Plunkett (1681), South Armagh: ‘bandit country’, Walking Tour of Belfast, The green Glens of Antrim, Giants Causeway, Dunluce Castle: McDonnell fortress, Traditional music night in Historic Derry, Historic Walking Tour of Derry’s walls (1613), Bloody Sunday Murals.
Therefore no Blarney stone, so I will just have to go back again, possibly with Mum and Dad when they come over.
So that should be great. Tell you more about it once I return.
Wednesday, February 07, 2007
Brussels
Well last weekend was my birthday and I went to Brussels, Belgium.My weekend started off Thursday night, as I went home to find that we did not have any heating or any gas services at all so no cooking, nor a
Bathroom to have a shower. Therefore, I packed myself for my upcoming weekend and off I went to spend another night at Alex and Karens (its my second home now I am sure). Went to school Friday and then off to London Waterloo in the afternoon to catch the Eurostar to Belgium.Met up with Tracey, Megan and Alex at around 6pm at the train station. Now its very weird knowing that your about to undertake international travel but your lining up for a train. And the customs process just felt like when you are flying out of a domestic airport in Australia, except you get a stamp in your passport - which is a train (very cute I thought).
Then a travelling we went, through the tunnel between mainland England and France (yes Tracey we have been through the tunnel) and after about 40 mins we were in France. Then a short stop in Lille France and off to Brussels. The train ride went very fast, one because the train was going fast and two because we chatted and didn't notice the time go past - or the fact that we were in a tunnel for 20 mins cough cough Tracey.Then we arrived in Brussels and made our way to a taxi, not
before a mile long hike to find the one and only Bathroom in the Train station - which by that time, was closed so we had to line up and wait for the disabled loo. After that, we caught our taxi to the Hilton Hotel in Brussels, next to the Building - which was lit up with all blue fluros, very easy to spot where your staying when walking home at night. Then as we were all hungry we went and found a Cafe - it was midnight by this stage, but as we found out its the euopean way to eat late, the Cafe was open until 5am. We sat down to find out menus in French, not a problem I think, so we'll ask the waiter ... the waiter described something Mozeralla and Tomato to us, by making a 
symbol on his hand of a circle with slices, so here we are thinking its a pizza - gotta be. But as it turns out it wasn't, in fact we had ordered a salad which was a tomato cut into 8 with Mozeralla filling the cuts in the tomato. Woops! Well Alex and Tracey ate theirs but I didn't so I returned my meal to a baffled waiter. But all was resolved and I ordered the next best thing that I could understand on the menu - a Cheeseburger. It came out tasted lovely, until I actually looked on the inside an found that it was pretty much raw - now I am not one to complain twice, so I ate what I could and left it at that.Saturday - Happy Birthday! I awoke to a beautiful sunny crisp day in Brussels. We saw the amazing Grand Palace which is a cobble stone square in the heart of Brussels where a mass of 1600's buildings are, and the detail and beauty
of these are difficult to describe so I will let the pictures do the talking. We spent well over an hour just in awe of the sights we were seeing. Then off we went and happened upon a sight that I wanted to see anyways - the Museum of Chocolate. Where we learned about the orgins of chocolate and watched praline be made - and we Sadleirs have been doing it the Belgium way for a long time, I was quite impressed. Then we got to taste some that he had made earlier - sounds like a danoz ad. A little bit later on we happened upon a Belgium Waffle place, where we were all tempted and had to have a Waffle whilst in the place of origin - needless to say it was lovely, but very filling and just too much for one day. But after having eaten one, you come to realise that 
every where you go the smell haunts you and though it is a nice smell, after just having eaten one it kinda puts you off for another.Then off we went to explore and shop - found the Mannequin Pis which is a statue of a little boy peeing and the story about it, is that in the 1600's a little boy was lost in Brussels for 2 days and when he was found by his father he was found in the comprising position which is now immortalised at his fathers request. Interestingly with this statue is that he has costumes 600 infact (all housed in a museum,
but brought out regularly) which change daily and that are sent to the country by all different countries around the world. We saw him twice once in Tuxedo and the next day completely naked.Shopping was good fun - I bought throughout my duration there a Handbag, Brooch, traditional Belgium Lace, a rubby Ducky TShirt and Chocolate of course. And was given Moriccian Pearl earrings from Alex. Tracey and Megan have bought me a Hairdryer for my birthday and will be receiving it this weekend - no point in carrying it on the trip.
Other highlights of my trip was to see the Atomium - an atom structure which is 150 Billion times the size of an actual atom. But its full of Barbie Dolls so we didn't bother going in.Sunday was a day of shopping in the antique markets - where I picked up my brooch and then a little bit more sightseeing and then off again to the train station to go back to London.
Now whilst in Blegium I tried my hardest to speak the French which Tracey and Alex where imparting on me, Merci, Bonjour, Palre Le vou Enlge ... but when I tried to say excuse me in French it actually came out in Italian, ex cusi, Alex pays me out for it now.
The trip back was also very nice, as this time we could see out the window for a while before it got dark. Once I returned to London I went home, to find still no Shower, but we do have heating! And my housemates had bought me a chocolate cake with one candle, where they came into the living room singing Happy Birthday, all in all it was a lovely weekend and a great 26th Birthday.Where to next, I don't know but I am sure it will be great.
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