Hello, Goodbye



 

 





This coat has seen a lot of action over the past nine months.

 

I  paid ten pounds for it at a second hand store in Camden back in April when I was freshly arrived in London and it's been with me all the way since. I've had to sew buttons back on four times, put a hole in my pocket and recently lost the belt strap to the crowds in Leicester Square.

 

This coat has seen me through the rainy London summer, windy Paris and the inappropriately cold walking tour of Prague. It's taken the tube, the train, the plane, the bus and the Eurostar. My trusty coat has kept me warm on the way to work and on the way home, on the way to many a theatre show and while strolling through museums. Whatever the adventures over the past nine months of travelling, this black trench coat has seen it all and stood by me.

 

Sadly, it is time for me to say goodbye to the beautiful black coat that means London, as there is no room for lightweight cotton in chilly Saskatoon. There is definitely no room in my suitcase.

 

I've had some truly awesome adventures in that coat and also some pretty hilarious setbacks. I've grown and learned and laughed and made so many great memories that I will carry with me even after my textile companion is lost to me. I feel sad to see it go, but also really happy as I'll always think fondly of our times together. My black coat will forever remind me of my time in London, setting out in the big city to have some adventures and see the world.

 

So it's back home to Canada to regroup and rest. Nine or ten hours of flying doesn't seem like a lot but the distance between London, England and Saskatoon, Saskatchewan is substantial - literally and figuratively. It will be interesting to see how I readjust to life in the Great White North - in snowy, comfortable Saskatoon.

 

While I have greatly appreciated all that this coat has done for me over the past little while, it's time to move on to the next big adventure: real life.

 

Enjoy Prague

Happy Holidays from the most Christmas-y of European cities - Prague!

 

Although it was once again very chilly in Prague the festive atmosphere was definitely worth it. The famous Christmas markets were a highlight, along with the music and mulled wine that accompany them. I cannot say that the Czech people were exactly welcoming but they got the job done, and everything in Prague is so cheap compared to the rest of Europe. When beer is one euro, it really is hard to go wrong.

 

After an especially chilly walking tour of the city (3 hours improperly dressed in -10 degree weather), Sunday was spent exploring. Laura and I walked through the Christmas markets, which are basically stalls lined up next to each other selling hot chocolate, mulled wine, pretzels, sausages and various trinkets and things. A huge Christmas tree in the centre of the square was pretty amazing against the backdrop of Prague's beautiful old buildings. A trek up to the castle over the Charles Bridge was perhaps the most magical moment of all. Real snow started falling from the sky as we sipped our wine and strolled past ancient statues, vendors selling paintings, jewellery and musicians. The scene was downright cheery, especially once we reached the top of the hill and looked out over the city of Prague to admire the view.

 

On our way back from the castle the snow started really coming down and we ran into a choir of carollers in the Square, which was teeming with people all bundled up in the cold. What better way to spend one of my last days in Europe? It was a day of holiday cheer and frolicking in the snow filled with delicious food and laughs.

 

In spite of the chilly reception of the Czech population we did manage to find one or two kind people during the visit, which was nice. Prague got the last laugh though as I couldn't leave Europe without losing some of my belongings. The airport has claimed one of my favorite scarves as its own, which I guess is a small price to pay for such good memories of the city.

 

Next time I visit though, I think it will be in the summer time...

Dublin Tales

Dublin days have been great! The city is similar enough to London for me to be able to get around easily, but exciting enough to have lots to offer in terms of tourist attractions.

 

I spent a day doing the tourist blitz, including a stop at the infamous Guinness Brewery in Dublin. Apparently Arthur Guinness signed his lease for 9,000 years in 1759 so he must have known he was onto something good with his beer. I can probably count on one hand the number of pints (sips) of Guinness I've had in my life, but I have to say I really enjoyed my pint atop the Guinness storehouse looking out over Dublin. There are also so many writers that are from Dublin! It's the City of Literature because there have been so many famous playwrights and authors to come out of Dublin - James Joyce, Oscar Wilde, Yeats, the list goes on.

 

I was really excited for my day trip to the Hill of Tara, that magical place, except that it got cancelled!! Instead I visited the Cliffs of Moher, which are apparently these super famous cliffs on the west coast of Ireland. At first I was like, ok, so they're some cliffs...good. But once we got there I was pretty blown away. Literally. It was extremely windy.

 

 

 

 

The cliffs were really beautiful and just a good reminder of how stunning the planet can be without mankind doing anything to it. Our tour guide also sang Irish folk songs to us on the bus so of course I fell in love with him immediately. I love hearing the stories of people's history and how things came to be in different countries, I think it's something that we may be lacking at home in Canada.

 

So I left Dublin with a tiny appreciation for the Irish country and culture, although a few days is such a short time to try and take it all in. Plus I had two Tim Horton's doughnuts in the time that I was there, so that's definitely a success.

 

I was looking out at the Cliffs thinking how strange it is that in one week's time I will be back in Canada trying to process and absorb everything that's happened on this crazy adventure. Back on the bus Joseph Mulligan (Irish tour guide) sang a song about coming home that really struck me (if you substitute Caledonia for Canada).

 

Let me tell you that I love you
that I think about you all the time
Caledonia you're calling me
now I'm going home
and if I shall become a stranger
no it would make me more than sad
Caledonia's been everything I've ever had

On The Contrary

Travelling solo is full of contradictions. It is great, because you get to do exactly what you want, when you want, within reason. You don't have to worry about what another person wants to do or how they're feeling or what their travel priorities are. But, you are also lacking that companionship that comes along with having a travel buddy. You have to make all the plans and arrangements yourself and when things go wrong, it is all on your shoulders with no one to share the burden.

 

I enjoy solitude and think it is one of the things I have loved most about my travel time - being more okay with touring myself around and doing things I want to do simply because I want to do them. There are moments of real empowerment and victory: figuring out the bus system in Oslo in order to get myself to the Viking Ship Museum (sidenote: Viking ships are SO COOL. They are huge. And pretty awe-inspiring), researching the location of Henrik Ibsen's apartment in Oslo and taking a tour of his last residence, and finding myself an a cappella Christmas concert to attend at the Konserthus in Oslo.

 

 

 

 

And then there are the other moments: realizing you have brought your European/UK electric converters but sadly neither of these works in Norway, being woken up at 1:00 am by hostel roommates wearing very loud shoes, and finding yourself at the airport in Dublin with only a vague idea of how to proceed to your hostel from there.

 

In the end, it's all experience and I've become acquainted with myself in fresh ways over the past 4 days as I revisit some of my solo habits. A couple things I've noticed that get amplified when I am alone:

 

I don't like to ask for help. I know that there are people who are literally employed as tourist information providers, and still I feel that I should instinctively already know where to go and how to get there. I would absolutely hate to be in a situation where I would have to ask someone who was not directly employed in the information-giving business - a person on the street for directions - as I would feel that I am infringing on their personal space/life/bubble.

 

I feel bad for not speaking your language. I don't speak Norwegian! Apparently I used to be able to count to ten, but that has not helped me so far. Sometimes I feel so horrible imposing my American, westernized English on the poor people of Oslo. Granted, their city benefits from tourism and speaking English is practically required to get a job there, but still...I'm pretty hopeless when I walk up to the counter and begin every sentence with "Sorry..."

 

I'm in a glass cage of emotions. My flight is delayed half an hour. The customs officer was short with me. I don't have correct change for my Pizza Hut meal. Well, that's it, may as well go home and cry, right? As much as I don't mind getting around myself, when I don't have anyone else around to bounce things off of I become a bit uber-sensitive to the outside world.

 

These are just some of the things I've been pondering during my travel times recently. I do love a good chunk of pondering time. It is interesting how the dynamic shifts as soon as I have someone else around to look after or converse with. A little alone time will surely make you appreciate a good friend. And also a good wi-fi connection....

 

In summary, I am glad to be out of Norway and onto Dublin where they at least speak English as one of the official languages, right? They even have Tesco's here, so I'm right at home. I did actually manage to find my hostel just fine, even though I had to get up and ask the bus driver to direct me to the correct stop (tragic I know....I should just quit right now...). Tomorrow is a new day, promising another rollercoaster ride of new experiences and sightseeing. I look forward to seeing what Dublin has to offer me over the rainbow!

 

I knew that it was all going to be ok when I got off the plane in Dublin and found this at the airport. An unmistakable sign that all is not lost in the world, and that goodness and truth will yet prevail....

 

 

 

Oslo Offerings

To catch up over the past few days seems so crazy!

 

I moved out of the Italian Share House on Wednesday, hauling all of my things over to my friend Laura's place for temporary storage. I had rented a car for myself and two suitcases....somehow I had a tiny bit more stuff than that.  Upon looking at my things the driver said - "You're moving house, aren't you?"

 

The next few days were filled with me running frantically around London in search of a mega-large suitcase (impossible to find when you need one), nearly buying a mega-large suitcase that was missing one wheel (bad things would have happened when I tried to roll that bad boy) and settling for the purchase of more vacuum-seal bags instead. Add in some last minute catchup dates with friends and the building of a few items of IKEA furniture, and you have the makings of a very tired girl.

 

Friday was my final day at work, which turned out to be pretty sad in the end. Everyone was really kind to me on my leaving and I felt really appreciated which was nice, but bittersweet! I will definitely take away fond memories of my time in the office and will miss the satisfaction of all that reconciling and payment authorizing. The staff Christmas Party was a pretty fun time as well. It culminated with a night at the Penthouse club in Leicester Square which overlooked all of London. A stellar view with awesome people so that was definitely a good memory.

 

Not so good was the next morning.

 

All that matters in the end is that through sheer force of will I got myself to London Heathrow airport and on my flight to Oslo. It is COLD in Oslo. Proper wintery, snowy, cold. Which is great, but my pampered London self was a little shocked at first!

 

Today I visited the Nobel Peace centre and the National Gallery. It was really cool to see the displays at the Peace centre, including a whole exhibition on Ghandi, who strangely enough never recieved the prize during his lifetime even though he was such a big advocate of peace and nonviolence. I also saw that famous painting - The Scream by Edvard Munch and enjoyed some chilly time exploring Oslo.

 

I am here for a couple more days before heading off to my next stop, then back to London briefly before coming Home Sweet Home to Canada.

 

Things to note about Oslo so far:

There are so many H & M's here!!! I have gotten lost because I'm like, oh, that's by the H & M on the corner, only to discover that there are three H & M's within like two blocks of each other. Do people really shop there that often?

 

Oslo is quiet. Walking around the harbour this morning was eerie. Granted there was me and a couple of other tourists, but compared to London this city feels like a ghostland!

 

Christmas is coming! There are so many Christmas lights and decorations up here in the city! It is dark out after about 3pm here so I guess that makes sense, but still, it is exciting!

Off to bed for me to prepare for another big day in the city.

Watching the BBC For Real

On my last Saturday in London (eek), I attended a recording for BBC Radio 2 for FREE. It was a celebration of the music of the late Marvin Hamlisch, that famous composer, and they totally give away tickets for free if you register online. So, along with my musical theatre friend (love that there are so many of these people in London) we sat down to watch the BBC Concert Orchestra and several notable vocalists belt out showtunes and serenade us with movie scores. The conductor was even a Broadway maestro himself, Larry Blank, who worked with Marvin for many years.

 

Some of his songs have special meaning for me so it was a great way to spend my last weekend in London humming the theme from A Chorus Line and thinking about What I Did For Love. I also did a little solo strolling in Notting Hill yesterday in the rain, and if milling about a crowded street playing umbrella chicken with tourists is not the true London experience, then I don't know what is.

 

I've only got a few days of work left as my last day will be this Friday, which is pretty surreal. It's been a great learning curve for me on the job and I've enjoyed it, but it will be nice to leave the world of Accounting for a bit and return to my nomadic tendencies. The big build up this week will be to the staff Christmas Party that's being held in coincidence with (or in honour of?) my last day. I made the wise decision to book my flight to Oslo the very next morning so we shall see how that travel day goes....

 

All that's left to do is soak up this last week in Londontown before I head out on my final hurrah of this adventure. That, and enjoy my last few days of comraderie in the Italian Share House. I'm not sure what I will do when I wake up in the morning and hear.....English?

 

 

 

Kiss today goodbye

And point me toward tomorrow

We did what we had to do

Won't forget, can't regret

What I did for love

 

- Marvin Hamlisch/Ed Kleban

Souvenirs

Though we travel the world over to find the beautiful, we must carry it with us or we find it not.

 

-Ralph Waldo Emerson

 

 

 

I have certainly seen a lot of beauty in my journey so far. I have loved seeing places with so much history built into them - Westminster Abbey and Shakespeare's Birthplace. I've loved the natural beauty of Norway's Nordkapp and the Scottish Highlands. I have loved meeting people from all over Europe and the world and seeing that their smiles and laughter are really not so different from my own.

 

Yes, there have been some down times in London. It is a big, busy and harsh city at times. It has kicked me down a couple of times undoubtedly. But I have definitely been looking for the good, for the beautiful and for the enjoyable in life over the past few months. In London and elsewhere, I have found it.

 

It's less than a month now till I am home sweet home in Canada and I am taking notice of all the things I will miss about London when I am gone. Just as I remember certain details about places in Canada, there are lots of tiny, special little memories that I will carry with me of London to remind me of my relationship with this beautiful city.

 

There's beauty in a gloomy, rainy day in this town, and in the rhythm of the tube taking me home from a night in the city. Joy to be found in eating pasties at the train station and buying cider at the convenience store. I've loved having to drink a lot of tea and the music of so many different languages constantly playing on my ears. I will always think fondly of London in the evening and how busy it is when you walk through Leicester Square. London to me will also always mean the thrill of sitting in a dark theatre when the curtain goes down, and strolling along the shops and cafes in the afternoon.

 

I know there will always be more to see and do in this city, in Europe, and everywhere. It would be impossible to do it all in this lifetime, and so instead I focus on the things I have done and seen so far and how wonderful they've been to me. It is these peculiar little things that are so beautiful and so specific to me and my time on this whirlwind ride.

 

 

 

 





On Top of The World

Edinburgh- Take 2

 

In which Amanda and Laura attempt to climb that very famous mountain/hill known as Arthur's Seat, overlooking the majestic city of Edinburgh.

 

It turns out that neither of us really knows why it is called Arthur's Seat. Or how to climb it, for that matter. Perhaps it was the seat of a giant named Arthur, perhaps it has to do with King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table, wikipedia knows as well as I do at this point. It turns out the real reason for climbing this mountain/hill (I'm just going to go ahead and go with mountain on this one to make myself feel better...) was part stubborness and part foolish romanticism. You know, in the book, One Day, where they climb to the top of the hill (mountain) and everything's going to change in the future but just for that one day they're together etc. etc. 

 

Reportedly this mountain is a "relatively simple climb" and takes "approximately 40 minutes" to reach the summit. Well, not on my watch...We did not take the "east approach" recommended to us, mainly because we did not know which direction east was and we saw a bunch of people going up the side of the hill and followed them. A prudent start then, to our brave enterprise...

 

An hour or so later, we realize that we are on one side of a very circular path around the mountain underneath some rocky craggs which are not in fact Arthur's Seat. Pause for refreshment break and some much needed guacamole. Stare at the guy who must be at least 65 sprinting past us up the treacherous rocky mountain path like it's his day job. Regroup. Continue up the path in the direction of what we now believe to be Arthur's Seat, keeping our spirits up by singing any song that has to do with flying, mountains, soaring, etc.

 

Eventually we did in fact reach the peak of Arthur's Seat. By this time what was predicted to be a "mostly sunny" day in Edinburgh had soaked our heroes through with rain. For this we can only blame the BBC Weather update. I have to admit the view was pretty awesome from on top of that misty cloudy hunk of rock. For which I was glad, even though we did climb it in the most roundabout way possible.

 

As we descended from Arthur's Seat we did in fact come across the "east approach" which involves a staircase built into the side of the hill with a handrail....Not that searching for handholds in the slippery wet rock wasn't fun, but next time I climb that mountain I will be doing so via the eastern approach. At the very least I will be bringing a compass.

 

At the end of the day all was not lost. Eventually feeling/dryness returned to my fingers and toes and nobody ended up having to pee in the wilderness due to getting completely lost, which is always a plus. Perhaps by taking the unorthodox approach and "making our own path" we were simply forging our own destiny, which is something I feel the Scottish would highly approve of. At least that is what the movie "Brave" has led me to believe...

 

There was so much inspirational singing that took place over our brief but blissful time in Edinburgh so it is hard to pick just one song to summarize this post with. But I am going to have to go with that songstress of heartache and whimsy, Miley Cyrus...

 

There's always gonna be another mountain

I'm always gonna wanna make it move

Always gonna be an uphill battle

Sometimes I'm gonna have to lose

Ain't about how fast I get there

Ain't about what's waiting on the other side

It's the climb

-Miley Cyrus' songwriters

 

 

Dreams Can Come True

One of my dreams came true at work today:

 

 

One of my co-workers who shall remain nameless set another co-worker's mug in jello after he returned from holidays. A truly amazing moment for me personally to witness and to reaffirm once again that if you work hard enough at something, you really can achieve anything - and I'm not talking about politics.

 

The days are dwindling down at the job and so I'm glad I got to experience this prank in the actual setting of an office as I don't know when next I'll be employed or in an office. Best to try and cherish these moments of clicking around on spreadsheets and having scheduled one-hour lunch breaks. Come December most of my time is going to be one big lunch break, which I'm quite excited about, minus the lack of paycheque.

 

However, readers will remember that November is the Month of the Motto, and so Money Isn't Everything must come into play here as well. So far this has led to me seeing the amazing Top Hat musical which is a take on Fred and Ginger's films and was so, so lovely. I spent some solo time walking around Trafalgar Square and the river this weekend which was also very nice. Trying to wrap my brain around this whole adventure will probably remain a challenge for the next little while as things warp into hyper speed for me.

 

There's always time for a good mug-in-jello prank, though.

Sweet November

Remember that awful movie? With Keanu Reeves and Charlize Theron trying to make the most of their one bittersweet month together? It may be corny but it seems surprisingly fitting as my own love affair with London has only one more month to survive (at least this time around).

 

I've been trying to focus on what my priorities should be for the next 4 or 5 weeks of my life, and have come up with some truly inspirational mantras, such as: Rest Is Important Too, Don't Focus on Work, Money Isn't Everything and my most original one - One Day At A Time. Hopefully with these guidelines in place I will be able to enjoy the next month without allowing myself to get too overwhelmed.

 

Without trying to get TOO serious in one week, I've also been trying to embrace that old philosophy of loving yourself. In particular, loving the way you handle things. Most of the time, I'm ok with how I handle things. But sometimes I drive myself crazy with the way I choose to handle things and how I react to certain situations by getting too worked up or worrying needlessly. I had one of these moments this week after getting the run around by London once again. I can definitely change the way I handle things in future situations, but once I was lost in London without bringing a phone number or address with me the only thing to do was stop and really love how I had handled the situation. Just smile at Past Amanda and her lack of foresight and then have a little laugh at the current situation.

 

I don't know how I'm going to fit all this in-the-moment living and loving into one singular day as I've already spent half of it sleeping and lying around, but let's not forget mantra #1 (Rest Is Important Too). However it turns out, at least I will be Doing My Best during the month of November (mantra #5?).

Happy Halloween!

H ow gloomy the sky looks this morning

A little fall of rain dusts the pavement outside my window

L ondon, why are you always so wet?

L ove affair with your busy, bustling pace

O I will be sad to leave you

W hen my time here is over

E ven though you are filled with tourists,

E uropeans, and public transport

N othing could make me love you less

Activities Galore

I said farewell to the rents last night for a couple of weeks as they ended their European adventure and departed early this morning back to Canada. It was very nice to see them and we all got to have some really grand adventures together, which doesn't happen every day, that's for sure.

 

My mom really loved all the culture and historical sights everywhere, and there was always an interesting fact or two for my dad to learn about each place that we visited. It's hard to tell which over-crowded tourist trap he hated more: the M & M's store in Leicester square or Harrods. Each frightening in its own right and filled with hundreds of people milling about aimlessly.

 

We got to see some shows together which was awesome. My dad definitely favored the music shows: Let It Be for The Beatles and Thriller, Live!, the tribute show to Michael Jackson. Everyone agreed that War Horse was one of the most phenomenal shows we have ever seen. Simply watching them bring the horses to life on stage is incredible, let alone the story and music of the show. We ate out just one or two times...my dad said it was the last time they were eating out until 2014, so we'll see how that turns out.

 

We took a bunch of trains and stayed in hotels and B and B's, and my dad even got his fill of pubs by the end of the trip! I sampled what is possibly the worst beer in London (dare I say the world?). I guess the name "Fursty Ferret Ale" should have tipped us off...

 

But all around it was a great visit with lots of memories to look back on. The compression of so many new experiences and adventures in a short time is always a lot to take in, whether it be 2 weeks or 9 months. I'm sure we all will need some time to absorb it once we get home. Having my parents here was a reminder of home and how much is waiting there for me when I go back. Don't get me wrong, I love adventuring and London, but there is a part of me that cannot wait to lay on the couch with Harley the greyhound, doing absolutely nothing.

 

So, Harl, keep the sofa warm for me because in about 6 weeks or so it's gonna be you and me counting the zzz's buddy!

 

 

 

O Brave New World

Readers will be pleased to know that I recently paid my third visit to Stratford-upon-Avon along with my parents this past weekend. We stayed at a lovely bed and breakfast called the Adelphi Guest House just a few blocks from the town centre at Stratford, and Sue and Simon cooked us all breakfast and tea in the morning. You may be shocked to hear that I have become a huge fan of tea here in England, as if I wasn't already. The main difference is that in Canada where I would have had tea by the cup, here in England they like to serve it by the pot! As a result I have come to really enjoy a solid session of English Breakfast with my own cute little miniature pot of tea with milk and sugar.

 

Don't even get me started on the scones.  My father says that someone must have lost their mind on the way to Canada from England because what we have there are not really scones. And it's true for the most part, although I never really paid scones much attention until recently. The secret is the clotted cream. I know it sounds gross but trust me when I say that it tastes like angels are dancing on your scone.

 

For those unfamiliar with the tea/scone technique I have developed a particularly good one that I will be attempting to bring home to Canada, once I have researched the scone possibilities that exist there. It is best if your scone is still warm from baking, or at least reheated. The density of the scone is important (satisfyingly thick but not heavy) as is the content: raisins are nice, as is a delicious buttery flavoring. To truly go all out, your helpings of cream and jam should be generous, verging on excessive. Slice your scone in half. You should see two cakes of porous perfection staring up at you. First, gently drape a layer of clotted cream over your still-steaming pastry so that it melts just a little, but not enough to lose its texture. Next, apply the jam (strawberry for best results) atop the layer of cream. You will be faced with a glossy red and white masterpiece of baking excellence. Now that you have assembled your decadent treat, take that first tantalizing bite. It's always the best one. Intersperse with sips of your darkly luxurious black tea sweetened with sugar and milk.

 

Please be forewarned: eating tea, scones and jam in this manner is a game-changer. Your life may be dramatically altered and I will not be held responsible for any future love affairs with tea and scones....

O wonder!

 

 

How many goodly creatures are there here!
How beauteous mankind is!

 

O brave new world
That has such people in't!

- William Shakespeare, The Tempest, 5.1

Parental Invasion (or The Boys Are Back In Town)

***The following entry is backdated to 15th October, 2012. Please imagine me typing it in the relative luxury of a wifi-less 2 bedroom apartment-hotel in rainy, cold Edinburgh after having survived a 5 hour train ride with my parents. In first class, no less....***

 

Britain better look out – because my parents are taking it by storm over the next few weeks and taking me along for part of the ride. We’ve already conquered most of London (haha) and been to a couple of pubs, which definitely made my father happy. It is really nice to be able to share this adventure with them as they see London for the first time. This week we’re all travelling to Scotland together as I’m off work, so more adventures will be in store.

On arriving in Edinburgh my first thoughts are that London may have some stiff competition for the most beautiful city I’ve seen. The buildings look older, more authentic and more rugged here. Plus, there is a castle and a palace on the same street - called the Royal Mile and it houses both the ancient stronghold of Edinburgh Castle and the Palace of Holyroodhouse, which is the Queen's official residence here in Scotland.

The train ride from King’s Cross was surprisingly short and in a few hours’ time we disembarked not at Hogwarts, but at Edinburgh Waverly into the centre of the Scottish city. Travelling with the parentals is always an adventure but somehow between the three of us we arrived at our quaint little apartment hotel just off the Royal Mile.

There really is a lot of tartan here, at least on the high street. And my father even ordered haggis bites for supper….but the real fun begins tomorrow when we head off on a day trip to St. Andrews, a whisky distillery and other fun sights.

***Upon my return to London....***

 

Scotland was definitely one of my favorite places so far! Turns out we were not going to St. Andrews the next day at all but in fact on a crazy day tour my mom had researched called "The Hairy Coo." Apparently that is Scottish for "The Hairy Cow." You will be glad to know that we did in fact get to visit some hairy coos on our tour and they were the cutest things EVER! So huge, hairy and scruffy but adorable all the same.

 

We also learned all about the Scottish Wars of Independence and the role William Wallace and Robert the Bruce played in that whole affair. We visited the Wallace Monument which is on top of a huge hill at which one of the biggest battles of the wars took place. It would appear that the movie Braveheart has one or two historical inaccuracies portrayed in it. Our tour guide said that the film Shrek is probably closer to the life of William Wallace...

 

Other amazing Scotland moments: walking around lochs and waterfalls, visiting a pagan/Celtic worshipping site where the ancient Kings of Fife were coronated, the views from Edinburgh Castle, meeting Wallace the Hairy Coo, visiting the bedchamber of Mary, Queen of Scots, and seeing the coffee shop in St. Andrews where Kate Middleton supposedly split up with Wills when they were both attending uni there!

 

Not-so-amazing Scotland moments: the rain, not bringing my umbrella one day, not bringing my rain boots, walking uphill to the castle in the rain, soaking two pairs of socks in the rain, riding the bus in the rain, and touring outdoors at the castle - in the rain.

 

But aside from the rain, and occasional herding of the parentals, Scotland was super enjoyable. It really has its own history and flavor which we only scratched the surface of in our few days there. I found myself really enjoying learning about their culture and history and feeling somewhat at home there. Apparently Scotland and Canada could possibly have been part of the same land mass at one point - coincidence? Or maybe I was just glad to be out of London and somewhere that felt a bit more hospitable! Scottish people are generally pretty friendly. Unless you're English...

 

All in all it was a great visit and I had a wonderful time exploring Edinburgh and surrounding areas with M and D. The beautiful autumn scenery and rich culture were a much needed, much appreciated break from the hustle and bustle of Londontown. Here's to another day of reprieve before I jump back into the fray...

 

Haiku for an Autumn Evening

After a long day's work preparing for going away on holiday for a week:

blurry eyes hands shake
too many spreadsheets I cry
how I hate Excel


On seeing Our Boys by Jonathan Lewis at the Duchess Theatre tonight:

you stood so proudly
awestruck I watched from row D
neville longbottom


Tomorrow morning my parents arrive in London for a visit:

dad writes me daily
tea, scones and jolly good show
the day approaches

Cheers from Munich

 

 

 

PROST from the German city of Munich, in the heart of Bavaria and home to Oktoberfest, which is essentially a 3-week long beer festival.

 

The two hearty travellers pictured above may have underestimated just how crazy Oktoberfest really is when they boarded the coach from London to Munich. 19-hours of driving and one ferry later these two lovely ladies arrived at their campsite in Munich, complete with traditional German drindl costumes and wellies for the mud.

 

The festival itself started in 1810 as a wedding celebration for King Ludwig and his bride when everyone was invited to partake in the festivities and yes, the beer. Two hundred years later the festival is still going strong, with something like 7 million litres of beer consumed every year and thousands of Oktoberfest celebrations modelled after Munich everywhere around the world. The majority of the locals and tourists wear traditional outfits - drindls for the women and yes, leiderhosen for the men. From nine in the morning this weekend there were huge crowds of people vying to get in to the beer tents, because if you are not in early then you likely won't get a seat, and you can't get served beer unless you're sitting at a table. Inside the beer tents the band plays German music while everyone sings, clinks their steins and eats sausage.

 

The thing that struck me about Oktoberfest is that the main reason people go there is literally to drink. To drink beer. To drink beer from one-litre steins. I can tell you from experience that one litre is a lot of beer.

 

 

 

It seems a little ridiculous that this is the only size in which beer is served at Oktoberfest. One might wonder if this is not asking for people to get out of control drunk, which is not uncommon at this festival. At our campsite, they physically removed all of the toilet seats in the washrooms because they have had so many issues during past festivals. The main tents close fairly early in the evening, but there was a bar at the campsite we stayed in, and never fear if you get really desparate - just head to the vending machine full of Lowenbrau brew...

 

It was good just to be there and experience the whole thing, plus I got to wear a really cute drindl costume, so that was definitely a plus. But I don't know that drinking festivals are really my thing. At least, festivals at which drinking is the main attraction. Add in our truly stellar accomodations (sleeping in rows of tents with tons of other young twenty-somethings enjoying the festivities) and 2 over night bus rides, and this weekend has been thoroughly exhausting.

 

That said, we did have a really great time at the festival and met some awesome people from different parts of the world. We saw the cliffs of Dover and the countryside of Germany. We learned there's not many vegetarian options at Oktoberfest, and I got a really great hat. Those crazy Germans may have way more stamina for drinking and partying than two innocent Canadians, but we certainly made some memories to last us a lifetime at Oktoberfest.

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

A Little Culture in the City

Hedda: Oh courage… oh yes! If only one had that… Then life might be livable, in spite of everything.

--Henrik Ibsen

In my quest to take in as much theatre as possible, this weekend saw the appreciation of a little culture. Where else in the world can you visit a working palace, ancient houses of parliament and see an Ibsen play all in the same day? Must be London.

 

In my quest to follow my own path and do what's right for me I also exercised a little courage this week in giving notice to quit my job here in London. It seems as though this whole year has been one of change and there is only more to come as I will have 2 more months of work and then be heading home to Canada at Christmastime.

 

It wasn't really that long ago that I arrived in London looking for work, a place to live and a life to create for myself. As much as I will be sad to leave this gorgeous city and all its incredible culture and sophistication in a few months' time, I also feel the need to go home and sort out what the next direction will be for me. I've really been going hard since I arrived here and plan to pack in as much adventure as possible over the next few weeks and months. I've already been so inspired, amazed and rejuvenated by this adventure and this city in so many ways that I feel it's time to use this new momentum to carry me forward.

 

That said, I will sorely miss the land of tea and scones, classical theatre and beautiful buildings. Which is why I've been trying to really be present on these gorgeous autumn days in Londontown - walking through the park, drinking tea and breathing in the brisk British air.

So bring on October and the month of Mega Adventures with all the amazing memories that are sure to be made!

 

 

Do You Hear the People Sing?

At the end of the day there's another day dawning
And the sun in the morning is waiting to rise
Like the waves crash on the sand
Like a storm that'll break any second
There's a hunger in the land
There's a reckoning still to be reckoned

 

As you may guess from the lyrics mentioned above, I recently went to see Les Miserables here in London. It was pretty epic, to be sure. The songs had special significance as they reminded me of some truly prime rehearsals experienced during my theatre school days.

 

I don't know that I will ever get my fill of seeing great theatre, especially in this city. Don't get me wrong - I haven't loved every show I've seen so far....just most of them. I enjoy these productions so much because they are just well done. The actors are amazing, they have money to spare on lighting, costumes and production value, and they are out to entertain you. I know that not all theatre can be like this, but it sure is something to see when and if you can. So I'm trying to take in as much as I can.

 

The day when I will no longer be able to pop down to the West End is nearing all too soon so I mean to treasure these days as much as I possibly can!

 

I'm entering a period of what one might call Mega Adventuring! October will be filled with many fun times, featuring a trip to Munich for Oktoberfest as well as my parents' subsequent visit to London and our trip to Edinburgh. Perhaps I will revisit Stratford-upon-Avon somewhere in there, just for kicks.

 

It is important, when enjoying Mega Adventures, to take things one day at a time:

One day more!
Another day, another destiny.
One day more
One day to a new beginning
There's a new world for the winning
One day more!

Stratford-Upon-Avon: A Visitor's Guide

 

Upon visiting Stratford-upon-Avon, which of course is the town of Shakespeare's Birthplace and other important Historical sites, you will be welcomed by the kind, generous people of Stratford. My good friend Katie and I encountered several of these people during our recent time in Stratford - taxi drivers, cashier clerks, ticket sellers and others. Many tourists from London will choose to visit Stratford-upon-Avon on a day tour, led by a touring company, riding a coach to and from London within the same day....only a few intrepid travellers will attempt to visit Stratford the way we did: with enthusiasm, spontaniety and oh so many assumptions...

 

 

 

There are 5 official sites of the Shakespeare's Birthplace trust, which you will want to explore. We visited 4 of them on this day. This includes the house Shakespeare was apparently born in, the house he most likely bought and returned to live in until his death and the houses of his supposed daughter and son-in-law, John Hall. There is not a lot that can be said with certainty about Shakespeare's life in Stratford-upon-Avon so it is interesting to view the historically accurate wording of most things in this town, but there remains a good chance that he is one of the most brilliant playwrights in the world, ever.

 

Visitors may enjoy a traditional English cream tea, a walk along the River Avon, and a performance at the Royal Shakespeare Company here in Stratford. A delightful afternoon in the gardens at Anne Hathaway's Cottage on one of England's last fine days of the season is sure to be a treat.

 

Around 5:00 pm, you will begin to notice shops and stores closing up, even though it is still early evening. This is because most tourists will be heading back to their coaches to return to London for the night, unless, of course, you Choose Your Own Adventure and decide to make your own way home from this quaint village.

 

You will of course have purchased an advance train ticket to take you home to London from Stratford-upon-Avon, and will have examined the time on this ticket very closely. About one hour before this train is due to leave in the evening, I would recommend heading to the train station, leaving enough time to say your goodbyes and remembrances to the beautiful village of Stratford.

 

 

If, when you arrive at the Railway Station at Stratford, this is the view you are confronted with, it is likely that you may ask yourselves a few questions. Such as, why are there no other human beings at this train station at 9:30pm in the evening on a Saturday?

 

It is important to check the time table AT the train station so that you are aware of what time the last train to London is. Then, if this time is earlier than the time printed on your ticket, it is important to catch the last train to London.

 

In the event that you ARE in fact stranded in Stratford-upon-Avon overnight, use your mobile phone to call the local Travelodge and book a room. Yes, it may be money that you had not planned on spending, but at least you will not be spending the night sleeping on the benches in the picture above.

 

When travelling, always look on the bright side! Yes, things may not always go right, but now you have extra time to explore Stratford! You can visit the 5th Shakespearean site - a farm which is just outside of town that Shakespeare's mother lived at. You don't need a map to find it - walking is probably fine and won't take you more than one hour or so through the grass, thorns and rain.

 

After your visit to the farm, take a cheap 9-minute taxi ride back over the route you walked miserably along in the rain earlier in the morning, and say your last goodbyes (really) to Stratford.

 

Get to the train station in plenty of time so that you can purchase another expensive one-way ticket back to London. Alternatively, use your most desparate voice and plead with the ticket officer to let you ride back to London  on the grounds that your tickets were woefully uninformative.

 

After your relaxing mini-break in Stratford you may want to take the chance to refresh your clothing, have a warm shower and rest. You can recount the endless fun times had in this charming English village and how clever of a traveller you and your companions truly are.

Festivities

 

I did not drink any champagne on my birthday, but it was a good one anyway. I enjoyed my day at work, even though I was at work. Everyone knows you only have to work half as hard on your birthday anyways and besides there was cake at the end of the day, so all in all that was pretty excellent.

 

A group of us went out for some yummy Lebanese food for dinner (falafel, hummous etc) and then made our way into Central London to get some drinks.

 

A brief interlude on the steps of St. Paul's Cathedral was definitely a pretty awesome moment, and then we walked across the bridge to Shakespeare's Globe theatre who had conveniently scheduled a midnight showing of As You Like It on my birthday!

 

The show itself was awesome - I have had amazing experiences at the Globe both times so far and I only hope to see more. It was a perfectly warm summer night, which is pretty magical for London. What could have been a shivering uncomfortable experience was downright balmy instead.

 

Our car brought us safely back to West London at the sensible hour of 3:30 am, at which point I proceeded to putz around in my room for another half hour or so. Cue exhaustion for the rest of the weekend!

 

But seriously it was a pretty stellar birthday all things considered, except possibly for the fact that I was not with my family back in Canada. BUT I received several cards and many well-wishes, which always make a person feel good.

 

This year has certainly started on a high - me, living the dream in London and doing things that I set out to do. I can feel myself being pulled forward in some sort of timewarp to more adventures and other goals as I know that 2013 will almost certainly bring only more change and transition. But for the time being and on my birthday the goal was and is to Be Here Now.

 

So thank you to everyone for all the birthday love, which I intend to try and carry with me into the brisk autumn air of London.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Almost 24

There is a tide in the affairs of men.
Which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune;
Omitted, all the voyage of their life
Is bound in shallows and in miseries.
On such a full sea are we now afloat,
And we must take the current when it serves,
Or lose our ventures.


Julius Caesar Act 4, scene 3, 218–224

 

As I ride out the last few hours of being 23, I will take some time to reflect upon how much has happened during the past year. It has certainly been an incredible one, proving that you never can tell where time and life will take you. When I think back to the place I was in my life one year ago tomorrow it is a little mind-boggling. I was living in Vancouver, dreaming of plans and trips, working at a soul-slaying restaurant job and feeling generally inadequate in various departments of my life. I celebrated my birthday with a group of friends and a delicious dinner in the little apartment I called home in East Van.

 

Since then, I have moved house three (and a half) times, visited six new countries, gotten my first "grown up" job, filled four notebooks with journalling, seen twelve West End shows, visited Shakespeare's Globe and made London my own. I have climbed the Eiffel Tower, admired the beauty of Stonehenge, seen the famous white cliffs at Dover, been horsebacking riding in Wales, sat in a boat on the English seaside, seen a clog-making demonstration, been to the edge of the world in Norway and seen a real live reindeer. I've waved to the Queen, watched an Olympic event, and figured out London's tube system.

 

I have grown in so many ways that it is difficult to quantify them, especially while I am still in the midst of this whirlwind journey. I've become more confident in my self and my abilities - in all things. I did something I was really afraid of (i.e. moving to London on my own, not knowing anybody in the entire city...) and survived! I feel more joyful, more open and like I am living the life I am supposed to lead.

 

That's an awful lot to be grateful for in one year, and an awful lot to process as well. I try to remind myself every day of where I am and how lucky I am to be here, but it's not always easy to appreciate the magnitude of something while you're living it. There are still growing pains every step along the way. But for today (and hopefully tomorrow) I just want to be present in my life. The life that I have created for myself here, in beautiful London.

 

The thing about birthdays is that they sure are once in a lifetime, so I must grab the turn of this tide and carry it on to fortune. Who knows what the next year of adventuring may bring?

Paris Through The Window

Croissant number one was in fact purchased in the UK but enjoyed with that unforgettable French joie de vivre en route to Paris, so I have included it in the overall croissant count for the weekend, which was not nearly as high as I had originally imagined. It seemed my ambitions were larger than my stomach....

I did eat quite a few delicious pastries though, and wine and cheese and some delicious homemade French liqueurs...but that's another story...

On Saturday I met up with my friend Scott who was travelling through Europe and his French hosts, which was certainly a treat. We wandered the streets of Paris and made our way to Montmartre, the artists' district of Paris, where Moulin Rouge is situated and also that Really Big Church (also known as Sacre-Coeur). Definitely some spectacular views in that city to behold, and the weather was stunning for the rest of the weekend.

Then I ate another croissant.

I enjoyed that this visit was spent mostly walking around and just taking in the city. There is an atmosphere (at least for tourists) of romance and beauty in the city, and the chance to simply be there and try to take it all in was wonderful. At one point, Scott and I were having a cappucino at a little cafe on the streets of Montmarte and a couple of newlyweds came running up the streets taking their wedding photos. How romantic can you get?

 

We climbed the Eiffel Tower, of course, and saw Les Catacombes, the underground tunnels/quarries/graveyards of Paris. Very creepy - they used the old quarries as "graves" in the 1800's when the cemeteries of Paris began to overflow and they were running out of space. Then a cruise along the river Seine to view all those historic buildings that Paris is filled with.

 

By the end of the weekend I was in love with Paris again, even though I think it is dirtier and smellier than London. I love how French people are so incredibly French that the stereotype may actually be true in some cases. I love that there is so much good food and wine and art in the city, and that I was on holiday walking around for three days! I love nutella, crepes, and red wine, and that everyone everywhere is selling you something. I won't soon forget my stay at the aptly named "Young & Happy" hostel, the flash mob of MJ dancers in the park who were so bad they were good, and running into a London pal at the lifts on the Eiffel Tower proving just how small the world really is.

 

I was glad just to allow myself to be there and practice all that "in the moment" stuff everyone is always talking about.

 

As a wonderful songwriter once wrote about the City of Lights:

 

"Nothing that happened/and nothing we saw/in the week that we stayed could compare/To simply being there..."

La Belle Paris

***The following entry is backdated to Friday 24 Aug 2012. You must imagine that I am sitting in a cafe in Paris writing it, all excited and touristy. ***

 

 

What a day in beautiful Paris. I continue to be astounded by how quick the transit is over here. In less than the time it takes to drive from Saskatoon to Calgary (or barely even Regina), I hopped on the Eurostar train over to Paris Gare du Nord and was in central Paris by lunchtime.

 

I was a little apprehensive at finding my way in the city, but luckily my expert map reading (ha) came in handy and I am much better at reading French than speaking it. Also, everyone here speaks English...They see the panicked look in my eyes after we get past the "bonjour" part and they usually jump right into English.

 

I worked out that it has been 7 years since I last visited Paris during my high school tour....a little bit scary but yes it was back in 2005. I found myself remembering lots of the whirlwind two and a half days I have spent here and the things I wanted to revisit and explore on my own.

 

Also there is a large difference between being on a school tour and navigating Paris on your own. I did well and just making my way to my hostel was the biggest relief. I am staying in a great location - in the Latin quarter - which is within walking distance of some of the big sights - the Louvre and the Seine, and also near the Metro for everything else. I am also conveniently located near the Luxembourg Gardens - Paris' answer to Hyde Park - where I spent the afternoon lounging, strolling and just generally trying to take it all in and wrap my head around being in Paris.

 

I visited the Musee d'Orsay, which was one of my favorite memories of my last visit to Paris. It has paintings from all the great Impressionist artists and I recall really falling in love with Monet especially. It was cool to re-visit those paintings and feel like we've got a relationship going - me and the awesome art :) I also visited some new friends - Gauguin, Renoir and others.

 

It was raining after I came out of the museum so I ate my dinner crouched beneath the shelter of the museum - baguette, boursin, blueberries and some Milka chocolate - it was very romantic. After trying to gauge whether I could wait out the rain I purchased what it possibly the worst umbrella ever for 4 Euro from the dude outside the museum. It kept me dry for the half an hour that mattered when I would have been soaked, but I am a little skeptical to see what will happen when I try to open it again.

 

My day was not yet over - I walked along the Champs d'Elysees - the BIG shopping street in Paris. I am now enjoying a hot chocolate before turning in for the night.

 

Day 1 in Paris - exhausting, exciting, challenging and beautiful.

 

As my father would say, c'est bon!

There's No Place Like London...

I'm writing to you this morning from the humid bubble that is my bedroom on the second floor of this house in London. I'm actively sweating from the exertion of sitting here and typing. But hey this could be the last nice day in London for a while - so I may as well enjoy it!!

I figured an update was in order as I seem to have been getting up to quite a bit of adventuring lately. After my weekend of Welsh adventures I returned to London for another whirlwind of funtimes including my first visit to the London Eye and two more shows on the West End!

One of my favorites so far has to be Sweeney Todd - so creepy and so well done, plus it is a uniquely London musical. The gentleman playing Sweeney (Michael Ball) and Mrs. Lovett were both excellent - so much so that I feared I may have nightmares of gruesome barbershops and bakehouses. Thankfully I am still alive and have my hair on. The musical definitely showed a darker side to this city and the millions of people that have been crowded within its walls over the years.

It is sometimes hard to wrap my head around the fact that I can just drop down to Leicester Square to see a show anytime I like. In thinking about what the next step will be for me I already know I will be so, so sad to leave London. It is such an incredibly beautiful city and has re-opened my eyes to so many possibilities that I know it will always be a special place for me. But it is not an especially realistic place to live, at least not considering some of the other goals I have yet to achieve. Something I've been thinking about a lot in the past little while....

BUT there are still many more adventures to come before I have to leave lovely London, including a trip to Paris over the long weekend bank holiday coming up. Which means only a four day work week ahead :) I remember feeling at the begining of the summer that surely this holiday would never come. I would be stuck working full time for 9, 10 weeks in a row - and without batting my eyes here we are at the end of August.

Today I am going to try to enjoy a day of quiet and rest after all of the craziness of the past little while. I will be taking it easy (as much as I am able) and hopefully enjoying the London summer while it's here.

Welsh Weekend Adventures

This is a photo of me and my new friend Max, the horse that I was riding this past weeked during my adventuring weeked in Wales! He is really nice except for the fact that he was really hungry and wanted to stop and eat lots of ferns and plants along the way. He took me all the way through the Brecon Beacon mountains in Wales and it was very beautiful - postcard perfect. The morning looked a little misty but it cleared right up and we were riding through a valley in this national park in the midst of sheep and wild horses. I'm pretty sure I saw a unicorn.

This is a photo of the "hostel" we stayed at during the adventuring weekend. I use the term hostel very loosely as it was the most mansion-like hostel I will ever stay at, I am fairly sure. For one thing when we walked in the door there was a Welsh couple awaiting us to say "Welcome to the Baskerville Hall Hotel"....

It is the real Baskerville Hall from the Hounds of the Baskervilles by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. This means that we were staying in the same grounds that the author of Sherlock Holmes did - very cool. And the hotel is still very much in its original state. The girls on the tour shared a chilly but comfortable dorm room and we ate breakfast in the dining room overlooking stunning grounds and the Welsh countryside. Add to this the fact that we were fairly far out in the middle of nowhere and I could almost believe that I was in a Jane Austen novel as I drank my coffee and had baked beans for breakfast.

This is the only photo I took during our stop to Hay-on-Wye, also known as the Town of Books. They have a yearly literary festival every year in May and have something like 30 plus bookshops in this tiny Welsh town. Needless to say I was in heaven!

I exercised restraint and only bought one book from this bookshop which was yes, in a legitimate castle. The whole main floor of the castle has been converted into rows upon rows of dusty old books, photos and other vintage knick-knacks for sale. There was also a massive bookshop inside of an old cinema that we visited.

Other stops during the adventuring weekend in Wales included Chepstow Castle - the oldest stone castle in Europe, and Tintern Abbey where the monks used to live hundreds of years ago and which was made famous by the poet Wordsworth.

Overall I really really enjoyed Wales - definitely a highlight of my time so far. The atmosphere was so peaceful and incredibly beautiful. Surrounded by so much natural beauty it was hard not to enjoy the slower pace of Wales and just try to take it all in. The horseback riding was a great way to experience the mountains and see some sheep close up. The weekend felt like it was a couple of weeks long and it was like going back in time and entering another world to leave the hustle and bustle of the city.

On the way back to London I seriously considered a new life plan that involved moving to a secluded cottage in Wales to write a novel and while away my days in the countryside. I will try and give plenty of notice if this plan is to go ahead but in the meantime it is back to work in London for me. I'll be dreaming of Max, unicorns and the gorgeous Welsh countryside all day long...