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.