So, I do not know why hostels seem to choose me to be the single female who gets to share a room with all men. This has happened a number of times on my trip and again last night. Let's just say I was shocked when I came out of the bathroom and was faced with 5 big Italian men! I was cool about it (quickly put away all my undies) but not too comfortable. I had a bad experience in Rome with the guys I shared a room with standing over with me with flashlights and taking pictures as I slept. That was really unnerving especially as I couldn't do anything: they were completely wasted and I was greatly outnumbered. So granted, I would be a little uncomfortable as I was outnumbered again this time. Fortunately, the hostel was great about moving me into another room once I asked. And they did say they racked their brain over who to put in my room: the 5 Italians or 5 English blokes. In my books, neither should have been an option. But it all ended relatively well. Just that the guys above my room were rowdy: they serenaded me with the full version of "99 bottles of beer on the wall" at 4am, accompanied by stomping, hooting and hollering. Ah, Liverpool - isn't it grand!
Yesterday was a marvelous day in Liverpool. I visited the two Cathedrals (very different). The Metropolitan Cathedral looked like a spaceship from the outside and glowed blue on the inside: very cool! Then I walked along the pier and started my Beatles experience. I visited the Beatles Story Museum (a little overpriced for what they had) and then the Magical Mystery Tour (cool to see a few of the important sites in Beatles history). I went to the Cavern Club and watched a bit of a performance and then headed back to the pier. I have plenty of pics for you Kristen - you would love Liverpool! It was a blistering hot day but I loved it! Since I arrived in Ireland, the weather has been great. It just has to keep up for another 2.5 weeks!
In the evening, I met up with Bill, a man from the Egypt Western desert trip. It was nice spending time with someone I met earlier on.
As I already mentioned, last night was rough as there was constant yelling, singing and stomping from the groups staying in the hostel. We'll see how today goes for me! I leave for Keswick, in the Lake District. It should be a really quiet and relaxing few days where I can walk up mountains. Got to relax before I hit Scotland with avengeance!
I hope everybody is doing well and enjoying spring. It sure feels like summer where I am! (Sorry, I don't mean to brag!)
Love, Lisa
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Friday, May 29, 2009
Pics from Manchester (and Wales)
Me on the pitch in Old Trafford, home of Manchester United. Sacred ground!
Me in the changing room between the most famous players on the team: Ronaldo, Rooney and Giggs.
The closest I got to seeing a footballer change. Everyone with me: mmmmmmmm! For those who don't follow football, that is Christiano Ronaldo, one of the best players in the league. He has mad skills when it comes to ball control and the tricks!
This is from the train on my way through Wales to Liverpool. It is supposedly the longest train station name in the world. If you can say it, well, I'm impressed!
Manchester rocks! Oh, and Liverpool as well!
So I just had an amazing day in Manchester! I was up early so I could take the 8.00 train to Mcr (that's the abbreviation). I got off early so I could walk to Old Trafford, the football grounds for Manchester United. I had time to hit the megastore before the tour (I am now sporting a Man U t-shirt in Liverpool - living dangerously!). And the tour was amazing. I was able to go into the Players dressing room (unfortunately they weren't there), the lounge room and then walk through the tunnel to the pitch as the crowd cheered and music played (it was a sound track!). I was so excited and I don't even follow football that much. It was a beautiful day and the stadium looked majestic! Afterwards, I went through the museum which was cool. It was well worth the trip.
After, I walked all the way back into the city (a little longer than I expected and it was blistering hot!). The city is great: not as industrial as I expected. There are beautiful buildings and great areas within the city. I ate lunch in Chinatown, walked through the shopping districts, went to a few museums and then walked towards the train station. It was an exhausting day but I loved it.
It has actually been a long few days as yesterday was a long day of travelling: I am so glad I do not have to take any more ferries and the train trips get fewer each day. Just an update, my clothes are finally dry (3 days later) and I have replaced by shampoo (but still am angry that I had to!).
Tomorrow will be a full day in Liverpool - home of the Beatles. I plan on doing a tour which should be exciting. Who doesn't love the Beatles?
Anyways, check out the pics I will post on Manchester - they are great!
Love, Lisa
After, I walked all the way back into the city (a little longer than I expected and it was blistering hot!). The city is great: not as industrial as I expected. There are beautiful buildings and great areas within the city. I ate lunch in Chinatown, walked through the shopping districts, went to a few museums and then walked towards the train station. It was an exhausting day but I loved it.
It has actually been a long few days as yesterday was a long day of travelling: I am so glad I do not have to take any more ferries and the train trips get fewer each day. Just an update, my clothes are finally dry (3 days later) and I have replaced by shampoo (but still am angry that I had to!).
Tomorrow will be a full day in Liverpool - home of the Beatles. I plan on doing a tour which should be exciting. Who doesn't love the Beatles?
Anyways, check out the pics I will post on Manchester - they are great!
Love, Lisa
Thursday, May 28, 2009
So long Ireland
I am just getting ready to leave Ireland and take the ferry back to England for Liverpool. That should be amazing. But my time in Ireland has been great.
After Killarney I went to Belfast which was... well interesting. It is a very industrial city and doesn't have the traditional tourist sights as the rest of Europe. I was there just under 24 hours and that was enough for the city. I did go on a Black Taxi Tour which was interesting as we went into the Protestant and Catholic areas which are still rather tense areas. I saw the murals on the buildings and they were incredible. Propaganda, but meaningful. I also saw the wall that still divides the areas and wrote a message on the wall. Yes, I am now a graffiti artist!
So, I came back to Dublin and craziness has ensued. I went out the evening I got back and that was insane. Rosaleen, Lauren and I went back to "our pub" (from the first night) but had to bail when drunk barrister arrived. Then it was on to another pub where the music was great, company was excellent and we stayed until closing. But the evening wasn't over yet so we went on to another bar and I danced until the wee hours of the morning. I realized that I do attract the creepers though. Man, you dance harmlessly with one old guy (Uncle Jimmy aka Jumpin' Jimmy - met his nephew and partied on with them) and every other creeper thinks I am into that. Weird but whatever! That turned out to be a very long day. But I had an amazing idea when we finally stumbled into the hostel - I wanted to shower and I also had to do laundry as I got beer poured down my back. So, I thought it would be very smart to shower in my clothes and just strip down layer by layer. And it did work - I was clean. The only downside is that two days later, my skirt is still not dry! Too much water but I was impressed that it mostly worked!
Yesterday was great. I started my day by visiting the Guiness Storehouse and pouring my own pint - perfectly I may add! The whole facility is great. I followed my nose to find it as you can smell the roasting barley as you approach which has such a sweet and beautiful smell. The floors presented the process really well but the highlight was learning how to pour a pint. So cool! But after, I needed a real meal so I was on the search for a burger! Then I visited the Castle and St Patrick's Cathedral before heading back to the hostel. Last night was the Premier League Final between Manchester United and Barcelona and I really wanted to go watch in a bar. I have watched a few games as football is pretty big in Europe. A group of us went and it was great - except that Man U lost! But you cannot fault Barcelona as they played really well and their goals were impressive. Of course, now it will be interesting to go to Old Trafford (Man U pitch) on Friday - I have a tour booked. It would have been incredible if they had just won! After the game, we bounced around a bit, listened to Irish music and then found a pub to perform a graduation ceremony for Graham, a fellow Canadian I met in the hostel who was over here and missed his graduation. Good times!
So now, as I said, getting ready to take the ferry across. But first I have to buy more shampoo. I have made it this long without having anything go missing until yesterday - my shampoo is mysteriously gone! Who steals shampoo? I am so upset because I have just a few weeks left and now I have to buy new stuff. Ahhhhhhh! Oh well, I guess I am still pretty fortunate.
Well, gotta go but can't wait to see everyone again (well, the people back home).
Love, Lisa
After Killarney I went to Belfast which was... well interesting. It is a very industrial city and doesn't have the traditional tourist sights as the rest of Europe. I was there just under 24 hours and that was enough for the city. I did go on a Black Taxi Tour which was interesting as we went into the Protestant and Catholic areas which are still rather tense areas. I saw the murals on the buildings and they were incredible. Propaganda, but meaningful. I also saw the wall that still divides the areas and wrote a message on the wall. Yes, I am now a graffiti artist!
So, I came back to Dublin and craziness has ensued. I went out the evening I got back and that was insane. Rosaleen, Lauren and I went back to "our pub" (from the first night) but had to bail when drunk barrister arrived. Then it was on to another pub where the music was great, company was excellent and we stayed until closing. But the evening wasn't over yet so we went on to another bar and I danced until the wee hours of the morning. I realized that I do attract the creepers though. Man, you dance harmlessly with one old guy (Uncle Jimmy aka Jumpin' Jimmy - met his nephew and partied on with them) and every other creeper thinks I am into that. Weird but whatever! That turned out to be a very long day. But I had an amazing idea when we finally stumbled into the hostel - I wanted to shower and I also had to do laundry as I got beer poured down my back. So, I thought it would be very smart to shower in my clothes and just strip down layer by layer. And it did work - I was clean. The only downside is that two days later, my skirt is still not dry! Too much water but I was impressed that it mostly worked!
Yesterday was great. I started my day by visiting the Guiness Storehouse and pouring my own pint - perfectly I may add! The whole facility is great. I followed my nose to find it as you can smell the roasting barley as you approach which has such a sweet and beautiful smell. The floors presented the process really well but the highlight was learning how to pour a pint. So cool! But after, I needed a real meal so I was on the search for a burger! Then I visited the Castle and St Patrick's Cathedral before heading back to the hostel. Last night was the Premier League Final between Manchester United and Barcelona and I really wanted to go watch in a bar. I have watched a few games as football is pretty big in Europe. A group of us went and it was great - except that Man U lost! But you cannot fault Barcelona as they played really well and their goals were impressive. Of course, now it will be interesting to go to Old Trafford (Man U pitch) on Friday - I have a tour booked. It would have been incredible if they had just won! After the game, we bounced around a bit, listened to Irish music and then found a pub to perform a graduation ceremony for Graham, a fellow Canadian I met in the hostel who was over here and missed his graduation. Good times!
So now, as I said, getting ready to take the ferry across. But first I have to buy more shampoo. I have made it this long without having anything go missing until yesterday - my shampoo is mysteriously gone! Who steals shampoo? I am so upset because I have just a few weeks left and now I have to buy new stuff. Ahhhhhhh! Oh well, I guess I am still pretty fortunate.
Well, gotta go but can't wait to see everyone again (well, the people back home).
Love, Lisa
Sunday, May 24, 2009
Pics
Sorry, the order is wrong!
This is in Killarney National Park - isn't it stunning!
Stonehenge - need I say more!
Again, Killarney National Park.
Killarney National Park. Stunning!
This is back in England, and the view is of the area surrounding Berkeley and Stroud. I stayed in Berkeley. Again, cows everywhere.
This is in Killarney National Park - isn't it stunning!
Stonehenge - need I say more!
Again, Killarney National Park.
Killarney National Park. Stunning!
This is back in England, and the view is of the area surrounding Berkeley and Stroud. I stayed in Berkeley. Again, cows everywhere.
I know it isn't Christmas, but...
"How grand it feels to click your heels
And join in the fun of the jigs and reels
I'm handing you no blarney
The likes you've never known
Is Christmas in Killarney
With all of the folks at home..."
That song has been running through my head since I got here yesterday! But it doesn't matter because I am having the most wonderful time!
The past two days have been so relaxing and I have had the opportunity to truly experience Ireland in all it's beauty. The hostel I am staying in is really cute and comfortable. But once I arrived in Killarney I wanted to get going. So I walked for 4 hours through Killarney National Park and along the waterfront of the nearest lake. I was speechless (and for those who know me, I am not at a loss for words very often!). The view over the lakes with the mountains behind and the green pasture fields in front was so spectacular. I just sat up there with cows on one side of me and deer on the other. Yes Dad, I saw deer and they were so beautiful (and so close!). I probably looked a little crazy because I could not stop grinning as I walked along. I wasn't even afraid when I walked right through the middle of a cow herd (you just have to watch where you are walking). I have not felt that close to nature since the desert in Egypt. It was so amazing to be alone in the middle of beautiful Ireland and all I see is green. This country is so green even the dead trees are still green (moss). It is just so stunning. And to make the day even better, not one rain drop fell! Of course I got a little heat stroke because I wasn't ready for the heat of the sun but I still had a great day. During my evening walk through the town, I passed a church that offered a free concert. Hoping it would be traditional music I went in - it was an organ recital and it was awful! I guess some things are free for a reason.
Today was another spectacular day! I was up early so I could get an early start before all the cars got on the road. I rented a bike from the hostel and headed off for the rest of the lakes in the surrounding area. For the first part, I had to ride on the road (hence wanting to get out early). It was a little weird at first because they drive on the left side of the road but I picked it up really quickly as I did not want to get in an accident. The ride was so great (tough at parts) but the scenery was spectacular. In all, I probably rode for around 25-30 km with walking in between (more like climbing up a mountain to see the view) so it was an exhausting day but I loved it. But I won't be taking any pictures of myself for a few days because my rest in the park has left me with pink on only one cheek! I really was not ready for all this beautiful weather!
I have had such am amazing time in Ireland so far and can't wait for more. Tomorrow I head off for Belfast, Northern Ireland for a day. Then it is back to Dublin to jump right in to all the fun!
I'll keep you posted!
And join in the fun of the jigs and reels
I'm handing you no blarney
The likes you've never known
Is Christmas in Killarney
With all of the folks at home..."
That song has been running through my head since I got here yesterday! But it doesn't matter because I am having the most wonderful time!
The past two days have been so relaxing and I have had the opportunity to truly experience Ireland in all it's beauty. The hostel I am staying in is really cute and comfortable. But once I arrived in Killarney I wanted to get going. So I walked for 4 hours through Killarney National Park and along the waterfront of the nearest lake. I was speechless (and for those who know me, I am not at a loss for words very often!). The view over the lakes with the mountains behind and the green pasture fields in front was so spectacular. I just sat up there with cows on one side of me and deer on the other. Yes Dad, I saw deer and they were so beautiful (and so close!). I probably looked a little crazy because I could not stop grinning as I walked along. I wasn't even afraid when I walked right through the middle of a cow herd (you just have to watch where you are walking). I have not felt that close to nature since the desert in Egypt. It was so amazing to be alone in the middle of beautiful Ireland and all I see is green. This country is so green even the dead trees are still green (moss). It is just so stunning. And to make the day even better, not one rain drop fell! Of course I got a little heat stroke because I wasn't ready for the heat of the sun but I still had a great day. During my evening walk through the town, I passed a church that offered a free concert. Hoping it would be traditional music I went in - it was an organ recital and it was awful! I guess some things are free for a reason.
Today was another spectacular day! I was up early so I could get an early start before all the cars got on the road. I rented a bike from the hostel and headed off for the rest of the lakes in the surrounding area. For the first part, I had to ride on the road (hence wanting to get out early). It was a little weird at first because they drive on the left side of the road but I picked it up really quickly as I did not want to get in an accident. The ride was so great (tough at parts) but the scenery was spectacular. In all, I probably rode for around 25-30 km with walking in between (more like climbing up a mountain to see the view) so it was an exhausting day but I loved it. But I won't be taking any pictures of myself for a few days because my rest in the park has left me with pink on only one cheek! I really was not ready for all this beautiful weather!
I have had such am amazing time in Ireland so far and can't wait for more. Tomorrow I head off for Belfast, Northern Ireland for a day. Then it is back to Dublin to jump right in to all the fun!
I'll keep you posted!
Friday, May 22, 2009
In Dublin and still kicking
Hey everyone,
I have arrived in Dublin and having a blast. The ride over in the ferry was surprisingly smooth and sunny so it got my hopes up for Ireland. But alas, the moment I get off the bus and have to walk for 25 minutes to my hostel, I starts to rain. I guess it shouldn't surprise me anymore. But as I always say, I am not made of sugar so I am not going to melt!
The walk to the hostel was interesting as I saw every stereotype I had of the Irish: drunk men and women stumbling down the street (some with beers still in their hands), hung-over Irish, battered and bruised Irish (one man even in a suit but had a wicked limp), the typical Irish man in a track suit, and the hot-tempered Irish man who threw a glass bottle at a wall for no apparent reason. It was quite entertaining. I had a pretty chill day and ended up going out in the evening with a few Canadians I met in the hostel. We went to a pub in Temple Bar, the major centre for pubs and parties, and were entertained. A local barrister (lawyer for you North Americans) decided to tell us about one of his cases in which the client had a serious problem in her nether-region. It was so uncomfortable to listen to so I'll spare you the details but nevertheless, it was entertaining as he was plastered! Having a drink made it humourous as well.
Today I thought would be a great day for walking as it was sunny when I woke up but the second I stepped outside, it decided to rain. I did the free walking tour anyways and it gave me a good reference point for my time in Dublin. I'm glad I have a few days at the end of the week to see everything. The creepy part was bumping into two guys I shared a room with in Naples almost two months ago. You never know who you are going to see again. I have had a pretty good day just walking around (like always!) and found an amazing and un-noticed site - the Chester Beatty Library. It has two floors of his personal library which has hundreds of old books, illuminated manuscripts and the second largest collection of Qu'rans in the world. It was so incredible to walk around and look at all the ancient texts and items. They of course had to kick me out at closing because I would have stayed for ages. The awesome part - it was free. Yes, I found something that was free and cool at the same time! Things are looking up.
So, some of you may have noticed that I finally signed up for Facebook. I tried to resist but it was getting to the point where Facebook seemed like the easiest way to stay in touch with all the people I have met along the way and everyone back home. But just to let you know, this blog will still be my primary way of communicating... it's just easier that way.
As for how I am feeling - better. The last week has been exhausting and I have wanted to just stop all together a couple of times. But now that there is an end in sight for this phase of my trip, I feel better. Only 3 weeks to go before I get to return to the comfort of home. So now I realize I have to make the most of it while still taking it easy so I make it through the rest of the trip.
Anyways, things are excellent and I leave tomorrow for Killarney for a few days. Hiking in the green fields and hills of Ireland - this should be amazing!
Love, Lisa
I have arrived in Dublin and having a blast. The ride over in the ferry was surprisingly smooth and sunny so it got my hopes up for Ireland. But alas, the moment I get off the bus and have to walk for 25 minutes to my hostel, I starts to rain. I guess it shouldn't surprise me anymore. But as I always say, I am not made of sugar so I am not going to melt!
The walk to the hostel was interesting as I saw every stereotype I had of the Irish: drunk men and women stumbling down the street (some with beers still in their hands), hung-over Irish, battered and bruised Irish (one man even in a suit but had a wicked limp), the typical Irish man in a track suit, and the hot-tempered Irish man who threw a glass bottle at a wall for no apparent reason. It was quite entertaining. I had a pretty chill day and ended up going out in the evening with a few Canadians I met in the hostel. We went to a pub in Temple Bar, the major centre for pubs and parties, and were entertained. A local barrister (lawyer for you North Americans) decided to tell us about one of his cases in which the client had a serious problem in her nether-region. It was so uncomfortable to listen to so I'll spare you the details but nevertheless, it was entertaining as he was plastered! Having a drink made it humourous as well.
Today I thought would be a great day for walking as it was sunny when I woke up but the second I stepped outside, it decided to rain. I did the free walking tour anyways and it gave me a good reference point for my time in Dublin. I'm glad I have a few days at the end of the week to see everything. The creepy part was bumping into two guys I shared a room with in Naples almost two months ago. You never know who you are going to see again. I have had a pretty good day just walking around (like always!) and found an amazing and un-noticed site - the Chester Beatty Library. It has two floors of his personal library which has hundreds of old books, illuminated manuscripts and the second largest collection of Qu'rans in the world. It was so incredible to walk around and look at all the ancient texts and items. They of course had to kick me out at closing because I would have stayed for ages. The awesome part - it was free. Yes, I found something that was free and cool at the same time! Things are looking up.
So, some of you may have noticed that I finally signed up for Facebook. I tried to resist but it was getting to the point where Facebook seemed like the easiest way to stay in touch with all the people I have met along the way and everyone back home. But just to let you know, this blog will still be my primary way of communicating... it's just easier that way.
As for how I am feeling - better. The last week has been exhausting and I have wanted to just stop all together a couple of times. But now that there is an end in sight for this phase of my trip, I feel better. Only 3 weeks to go before I get to return to the comfort of home. So now I realize I have to make the most of it while still taking it easy so I make it through the rest of the trip.
Anyways, things are excellent and I leave tomorrow for Killarney for a few days. Hiking in the green fields and hills of Ireland - this should be amazing!
Love, Lisa
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Oh, the weather outside is frightfull...
It has been a crazy couple of days. I can no longer brag about the amazing weather I have had on my travels. Once I got to England, that all changed. Before I arrived in England, I probably had about 6 days of rain in 3 months. No, most days there has been rain and the forecast is for more.
Yesterday, I went for a walk through Berkeley but had to turn back when it started to sprinkle. I think it was a good decision because within 5 minutes, the sky completely opened up and it poured! So yesterday was a quiet day reading a book. In the evening, Rachel and I went for dinner with Tim and Sue, a couple we met on our Egypt tour. It was absolutely lovely and I have loved getting together with people I have met earlier on in my travels.
So, today I leave Rachel (thanks girl for the bed and tour of the area) and head to Stratford-upon-Avon. I have booked a ticket forthe evening performance of "Julius Caesar" by the Royal Shakespeare Company, so I am looking forward to that. And from there, I makemy way to Holyhead, the port from where I leave for Ireland. That should be fun!
I only have 4 weeks left but so much to do. I have mixed feelings about it. I am excited at all the things I plan on seeing and doing but it is daunting to look at the ground I have to cover. I am getting exhausted of travelling alone: there is so much that rests on my shoulders. And there is no rest from the planning, organizing and implementation. That has been taking up a lot of my energy soI am getting tothe point where I am looking forward to going home and having a break. Backpacking alone is not a restfull holiday: it is hard work and requires a lotof thought and preparation. But it sure is fun!
So, who knows when I will get to write again. Until then, enjoy yourselves.
Love, Lisa
Yesterday, I went for a walk through Berkeley but had to turn back when it started to sprinkle. I think it was a good decision because within 5 minutes, the sky completely opened up and it poured! So yesterday was a quiet day reading a book. In the evening, Rachel and I went for dinner with Tim and Sue, a couple we met on our Egypt tour. It was absolutely lovely and I have loved getting together with people I have met earlier on in my travels.
So, today I leave Rachel (thanks girl for the bed and tour of the area) and head to Stratford-upon-Avon. I have booked a ticket forthe evening performance of "Julius Caesar" by the Royal Shakespeare Company, so I am looking forward to that. And from there, I makemy way to Holyhead, the port from where I leave for Ireland. That should be fun!
I only have 4 weeks left but so much to do. I have mixed feelings about it. I am excited at all the things I plan on seeing and doing but it is daunting to look at the ground I have to cover. I am getting exhausted of travelling alone: there is so much that rests on my shoulders. And there is no rest from the planning, organizing and implementation. That has been taking up a lot of my energy soI am getting tothe point where I am looking forward to going home and having a break. Backpacking alone is not a restfull holiday: it is hard work and requires a lotof thought and preparation. But it sure is fun!
So, who knows when I will get to write again. Until then, enjoy yourselves.
Love, Lisa
Sunday, May 17, 2009
Bristol to Berkeley
So Bristol was a great place to visit and I was able to make some day-trips. When I first arrived, I dumped my much lighter bags and hopped on the train to Salisbury. From there I went to Stonehenge. Now that was very cool. It was much smaller than I had expected but still very impressive to see. Even in the rain, it was mysterious and awesome. The only bad part was the traffic. It was so backed up that I had to wait an extra hour on the site to get back to Salisbury. By then, I was too late to thoroughly see the church so I just got on the train back to Bristol. One great day-trip.
The next day I went to Bath. What a stunning town. I visited the Roman Baths which were incredible. Then I went to the Abbey and went on the Tower Tour. It was one of the most interesting towers I have climbed. It was only 211 steps (nothing compared to what I have done) but the tour included the Ringing Room where I was able to see all the ways they ring the bells (electric, rope, etc), the clock face from behind, the bells (they have 10!) and then the rooftop. That was so interesting as usually visitors are not allowedto see all the hidden parts of the church tower. Awesome day-trip! Once I returned to Bristol, I went on a Pirate walking tour which was actually a waste of time. I didn't feel like I learned anything and was just cold and wet afterwards. But I went on a walk to the church and then up through the old part of Bristol. In the evening, after I had warmed up again, I went to aconcert at the church with a performance by Elin Manahan Thomas, a Welsh Soprano who has performed for the Pope. Pretty cool and she was soamazing - very eretheral (I think that is the word I am looking for). Great day in Bristol.
Today, a friend from Egypt, Rachel, picked me up and we went on a drive through Bristol and the surrounding area (so georgeous) before heading toa pub for lunch.I had a traditional Sunday Roast with beef, potatoes, veggies and of course Yorkshire Pudding. It was alright. Then we went to Berkeley Castle... my first English castle and it was amazing. It is actually still occupied so we weren't able to go everywhere but it was so stunning and beautiful. So, I am still having a blast.
So, I will post later. Love, Lisa
The next day I went to Bath. What a stunning town. I visited the Roman Baths which were incredible. Then I went to the Abbey and went on the Tower Tour. It was one of the most interesting towers I have climbed. It was only 211 steps (nothing compared to what I have done) but the tour included the Ringing Room where I was able to see all the ways they ring the bells (electric, rope, etc), the clock face from behind, the bells (they have 10!) and then the rooftop. That was so interesting as usually visitors are not allowedto see all the hidden parts of the church tower. Awesome day-trip! Once I returned to Bristol, I went on a Pirate walking tour which was actually a waste of time. I didn't feel like I learned anything and was just cold and wet afterwards. But I went on a walk to the church and then up through the old part of Bristol. In the evening, after I had warmed up again, I went to aconcert at the church with a performance by Elin Manahan Thomas, a Welsh Soprano who has performed for the Pope. Pretty cool and she was soamazing - very eretheral (I think that is the word I am looking for). Great day in Bristol.
Today, a friend from Egypt, Rachel, picked me up and we went on a drive through Bristol and the surrounding area (so georgeous) before heading toa pub for lunch.I had a traditional Sunday Roast with beef, potatoes, veggies and of course Yorkshire Pudding. It was alright. Then we went to Berkeley Castle... my first English castle and it was amazing. It is actually still occupied so we weren't able to go everywhere but it was so stunning and beautiful. So, I am still having a blast.
So, I will post later. Love, Lisa
Friday, May 15, 2009
Photos at last!
These photos are from England so far. They move backwards with each post. Sorry they are not in chronological order.
This is me dancing with the Morris Men in Shoreham-by-sea. So much fun!
Me at the Seven Sisters in southern England. It was an extremely windy day btu so much fun. In this picture, I am standing on the beach which actually shows the amount of erosion of the chalk over the past 100 years. It is a lot!
We cut through a field of sheep to get back to the car. Now that was cool... they just looked at us with puzzling looks but didn't really run away.
A tree along the beach which shows the direction of the wind. I thought this picture was so cool and wanted to share it with you all.
Love, Lisa
This is me dancing with the Morris Men in Shoreham-by-sea. So much fun!
Me at the Seven Sisters in southern England. It was an extremely windy day btu so much fun. In this picture, I am standing on the beach which actually shows the amount of erosion of the chalk over the past 100 years. It is a lot!
We cut through a field of sheep to get back to the car. Now that was cool... they just looked at us with puzzling looks but didn't really run away.
A tree along the beach which shows the direction of the wind. I thought this picture was so cool and wanted to share it with you all.
Love, Lisa
Photos at Mont St Michel
Mont St Michel by day.
Mont St Michel by night.
The picnic of cheese, meat, veg and fruit along with baguette on the train to Mont St Michel. Tasty!
Photos of one of the best meals I have had
Okay, so I hope you will be able to see the food (the pics are a little dark). This was such an amazing meal in Bayeux, France and was actually quite affordable considering what I got to eat. Enjoy!
Dessert - it was a collection of small, artful desserts. Unfortunately, not the best part of the meal.
An assortment of Normandie cheeses. Mmmm...
This is Duck and Tuna. The duck was delicious but the tuna was overdone. But the duck made up for it. Double mmmmm...
At last, this was actually the starter but was the best part of the meal. Fois gras. This was the first time I had had it and it was the best. It was perfect and so tasty. Triple mmmm...
Dessert - it was a collection of small, artful desserts. Unfortunately, not the best part of the meal.
An assortment of Normandie cheeses. Mmmm...
This is Duck and Tuna. The duck was delicious but the tuna was overdone. But the duck made up for it. Double mmmmm...
At last, this was actually the starter but was the best part of the meal. Fois gras. This was the first time I had had it and it was the best. It was perfect and so tasty. Triple mmmm...
Photos
This is Omaha Beach in Northern France. It is a beautiful beach with horrific history attached.
A small section of the American Cemetary in Normandy. It was extremely overwhelming to look out over the expanse of marked grave stones.
The English Gardens in Petit Trianon - I absolutely loved this place and wanted to stay for hours and hours. But my stomach forced me to leave in search of food!
Another section of the English Gardens with rocks (artificially installed) and a pond complete with fish!
(Sorry the pictures are not in order - when I upload, they show up in any order)
Photos
This is the Queen's Hamlet in the Petit Trianon at Versailles. The garden was designed by Marie Antionette in the English Garden style and was simply lovely.
A shot of Paris in Black and White - I think it looks so mysterious and old. All the small details seem to pop out!
One of my favourite shots from Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris. That was one of my favourite things I did in Paris.
View from the Arc du Triomphe - so cool!
And this is the Louvre along with the Pyramid that was designed to be completely sheer. They forgot about all the supports when designing!
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Okay, so I have had an amazing start
My few days in England have been great! I will continue from where I left off. Mmmmmmmmm... The Bangers and Mash were so tasty and after dinner, Lucy and Laurie gave me a list of British food I should try so here I come!
After a day of local sights (Seven Sisters is the area of the cliffs I saw), we went to Brighton yesterday for a day in the city. We walked through the Laines and looked at the ecclectic shops and alternative lifestyle (Kristen, you would have loved it!). Then we went to the Royal Pavilion, built by King George for his escapades with the ladies and to show his wealth and superiority (or that was how I saw it!). The decor is chinese influenced and the rooms were amazing! I just walked around with my jaw open (I know, very unattractive) but it was unlike any palace I had seen. It was very cool! Then we went to the pier and walked along the waterfront. That is where I had fall #3.
Now, have I picqued your interest? I guess I should tell you more. So far, in the past three months I have fallen two times and each time has been funnier so I thought the third would be a big one. I'll let you judge.
1. In Athens - I had just arrived and was coming up from the metro to walk to my hostel. At the bottom of the escalator I see that my shoelaces were untied. Now, I have all my bags on and saw there was no place to sit so I thought "I'll just go up the escalator, sure to be very careful, and tie them when I get to the top." So I stepped on the escalator and had a brilliant idea: if I flick my foot upwards when I get to the top, the laces will move up and then I can step off and the laces will not be anywhere near the end. So, this is what I did and it would have been great except that I flicked the laces right into the escalator and got caught. I went face first right down onto the metal platform at the top (which of course makes a lot of noise) but luckily bounced right back up (adrenaline and the fact that I was well-padded by all my luggage). To make the whole situation better, there was an old man behind me who insisted at pointing out my shoelace and saying what I assume to be "Your shoelace is untied." Fall #1.
2. In Venice - I am walking along the canals with Kris in the rain and see that we are right by the Grand Canal. I of course wantto get a better look at the water and decide to carefully walk down the wet and algae-covered steps to get a better look. As I get to the bottom of the steps and close to the platform, I slip. Now, this is when I panicked and started clawing at anything available. I slid for about 3 feet and rightat the edge of the Grand Canal managing to stop. Luckily, I did not go into the depths of the Canal where I probably would have died (do you know what is in the water? Let me just say it is not healthy). I now have a beautiful green stripe down my white bag where I slid across the platform and to make the whole situation better, an old man at the top said what I believe to be "Careful, it's slippery." Fall #2.
3. Brighton pier - I am walking with Laurie and Lucy along the waterfront and am getting distracted by the conversation and the sight of the English Channel so close. As I am stepping up to get onto the beach, I slip and go headfirst into the rocky beach. I managed to break my fall and was not harmed in any way (well, maybe my ego just a bit). Now, as you can see this fall is quite ordinary compared to the first two so of course I am quite disappointed. But I have a feeling that the next one will top the rest! I will keep you posted.
So, back to my local experiences. After Brighton, we went to a local pub in Shoreham-by-sea and saw the local Morris Men dancers perform outside on the street. It was so entertaining - it is a group of men who perform traditional folk dances regularly. They spin around, twirling, waving handkerchiefs and sticks. So much fun. I even got to learn an basic dance and I was good! Then afterwards, we went into the pub and sat in on a music session in which Laurie played and sang. I really feltlike a got a good taste of local England with East Sussex flavour.
Today, I leave for Oxford for a night where a friend has offered to store some of my stuff while I travel for the next month - Thank you so much Sasha, you are a lifesaver. (Just to give you an idea, I now have 4 bags! My large backpack on my back, my daypack on my front, my white bag on one side and a shopping bag on the other. Too much stuff to get anywhere easily and in any reasonable timeframe!)
Then it is off to Bristol, Berkeley, Birmingham (the 3 B's) before I go by ferry to Ireland. The next few weeks are going to be so much fun! Talk to you all later.
Love, Lisa
After a day of local sights (Seven Sisters is the area of the cliffs I saw), we went to Brighton yesterday for a day in the city. We walked through the Laines and looked at the ecclectic shops and alternative lifestyle (Kristen, you would have loved it!). Then we went to the Royal Pavilion, built by King George for his escapades with the ladies and to show his wealth and superiority (or that was how I saw it!). The decor is chinese influenced and the rooms were amazing! I just walked around with my jaw open (I know, very unattractive) but it was unlike any palace I had seen. It was very cool! Then we went to the pier and walked along the waterfront. That is where I had fall #3.
Now, have I picqued your interest? I guess I should tell you more. So far, in the past three months I have fallen two times and each time has been funnier so I thought the third would be a big one. I'll let you judge.
1. In Athens - I had just arrived and was coming up from the metro to walk to my hostel. At the bottom of the escalator I see that my shoelaces were untied. Now, I have all my bags on and saw there was no place to sit so I thought "I'll just go up the escalator, sure to be very careful, and tie them when I get to the top." So I stepped on the escalator and had a brilliant idea: if I flick my foot upwards when I get to the top, the laces will move up and then I can step off and the laces will not be anywhere near the end. So, this is what I did and it would have been great except that I flicked the laces right into the escalator and got caught. I went face first right down onto the metal platform at the top (which of course makes a lot of noise) but luckily bounced right back up (adrenaline and the fact that I was well-padded by all my luggage). To make the whole situation better, there was an old man behind me who insisted at pointing out my shoelace and saying what I assume to be "Your shoelace is untied." Fall #1.
2. In Venice - I am walking along the canals with Kris in the rain and see that we are right by the Grand Canal. I of course wantto get a better look at the water and decide to carefully walk down the wet and algae-covered steps to get a better look. As I get to the bottom of the steps and close to the platform, I slip. Now, this is when I panicked and started clawing at anything available. I slid for about 3 feet and rightat the edge of the Grand Canal managing to stop. Luckily, I did not go into the depths of the Canal where I probably would have died (do you know what is in the water? Let me just say it is not healthy). I now have a beautiful green stripe down my white bag where I slid across the platform and to make the whole situation better, an old man at the top said what I believe to be "Careful, it's slippery." Fall #2.
3. Brighton pier - I am walking with Laurie and Lucy along the waterfront and am getting distracted by the conversation and the sight of the English Channel so close. As I am stepping up to get onto the beach, I slip and go headfirst into the rocky beach. I managed to break my fall and was not harmed in any way (well, maybe my ego just a bit). Now, as you can see this fall is quite ordinary compared to the first two so of course I am quite disappointed. But I have a feeling that the next one will top the rest! I will keep you posted.
So, back to my local experiences. After Brighton, we went to a local pub in Shoreham-by-sea and saw the local Morris Men dancers perform outside on the street. It was so entertaining - it is a group of men who perform traditional folk dances regularly. They spin around, twirling, waving handkerchiefs and sticks. So much fun. I even got to learn an basic dance and I was good! Then afterwards, we went into the pub and sat in on a music session in which Laurie played and sang. I really feltlike a got a good taste of local England with East Sussex flavour.
Today, I leave for Oxford for a night where a friend has offered to store some of my stuff while I travel for the next month - Thank you so much Sasha, you are a lifesaver. (Just to give you an idea, I now have 4 bags! My large backpack on my back, my daypack on my front, my white bag on one side and a shopping bag on the other. Too much stuff to get anywhere easily and in any reasonable timeframe!)
Then it is off to Bristol, Berkeley, Birmingham (the 3 B's) before I go by ferry to Ireland. The next few weeks are going to be so much fun! Talk to you all later.
Love, Lisa
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
In Britain and loving it!
It took a lot of will power to get here but I have arrived on British soil! The ferry crossing from France was rough to put it gently. The waves were huge and the big ship was a rocking the whole way. I was trying to watch a movie to distract myself but itjust made it worse. I have never been more happy to be on ground and it was England to boot! Yeah!
My last night in France was one of the best of the past few months. I stayed in an absolutely delightful B&B "Au Bon Accueil" run by a great English couple. I had a very restful night's sleep helped along by the evening I spent in the local pub "The Oystercatcher". It was so great to sit at the bar, drinking some wine, and talking to the Englishmen in the pub. I felt totally relaxed and I needed it after the stress I had put on myself preparing for the trip over to England. So overall, if I had to recommend one place to go in France it would be Mont St Michel, staying at the B&B and spending your evenings at the local pub. So great!
But I will get back on track - I have arrived in England and am staying with a lovely couple I met on my Egypt tour, Laurie and Lucy. They live outside Brighton in a great little town. Today we spent the day along the coast. We walked along the chalk cliffs in almost gale force winds which was so thrilling! I have had a great day and already loving the food. Yes, I love English food. I had Cream tea which is tea along with scones and jam and heavy cream and cake. So yummy! And now I am about to have Bangers and Mash which smells great and I know I will love it! But it is ready so I have to go but I will post again later!
Love, Lisa
My last night in France was one of the best of the past few months. I stayed in an absolutely delightful B&B "Au Bon Accueil" run by a great English couple. I had a very restful night's sleep helped along by the evening I spent in the local pub "The Oystercatcher". It was so great to sit at the bar, drinking some wine, and talking to the Englishmen in the pub. I felt totally relaxed and I needed it after the stress I had put on myself preparing for the trip over to England. So overall, if I had to recommend one place to go in France it would be Mont St Michel, staying at the B&B and spending your evenings at the local pub. So great!
But I will get back on track - I have arrived in England and am staying with a lovely couple I met on my Egypt tour, Laurie and Lucy. They live outside Brighton in a great little town. Today we spent the day along the coast. We walked along the chalk cliffs in almost gale force winds which was so thrilling! I have had a great day and already loving the food. Yes, I love English food. I had Cream tea which is tea along with scones and jam and heavy cream and cake. So yummy! And now I am about to have Bangers and Mash which smells great and I know I will love it! But it is ready so I have to go but I will post again later!
Love, Lisa
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Mont St Michel is near the top
Oh my gosh, I have found one of the most beautiful places in Europe. I am in Mont St Michel and it is stunning. It is a walled town that at night, when the tide comes in, is surrounded by water and is only accessable by the two lane causeway. I ended up changing my plans and spending two nights here and I am glad.
When I got into Bayeux I immediately met Jaime, who asked if I wanted to split the cost of a taxi out to the American Cemetary, Omaha Beach and Pointe du Hoc. I really didn't have a clue what I was doing so I said yes. And I am so glad. It was a very emotional experience to see the cemetary and the thousands of marked tombstones and then to see the beach and the pointe du hoc where the men stormed the beach. I still am in awe at the circumstances and the sheer bravery it would take for those men to accomplish the feats they did under such horrific conditions.
But I was also so glad I met Jaime. I think she is my travel "soulmate" if there is such a thing. We have such similar travel styles and are amazingly similar. I had a great time with her and ended up leaving Bayeux earlier to go to Mont St Michel with her. I think that was a brilliant decision as I was able to share the splendour of thr Mont with someone. In Bayeux, we had a truly amazing dinner (4 hours long) where I ate fois gras, duck, cheeses and dessert along with great wine. I was so satisfied and was so impressed with the quality of the meal.
And then before we left, we went to the market and got three types of cheeses, prosciutto, baguette; tomatoes and pears and had anough for three picnics. So amazing and I feel so content. Now I can leave France!
I have had a great few days and am really looking forward to going to the UK and meeting up with the people I met in Egypt. Plus; everybody speaks English! Yeah!
So, I will talk to you all later and will post pics when I can (Warning: there will be amazing pics of food!)
Happy Mothers Day!
Love, Lisa
When I got into Bayeux I immediately met Jaime, who asked if I wanted to split the cost of a taxi out to the American Cemetary, Omaha Beach and Pointe du Hoc. I really didn't have a clue what I was doing so I said yes. And I am so glad. It was a very emotional experience to see the cemetary and the thousands of marked tombstones and then to see the beach and the pointe du hoc where the men stormed the beach. I still am in awe at the circumstances and the sheer bravery it would take for those men to accomplish the feats they did under such horrific conditions.
But I was also so glad I met Jaime. I think she is my travel "soulmate" if there is such a thing. We have such similar travel styles and are amazingly similar. I had a great time with her and ended up leaving Bayeux earlier to go to Mont St Michel with her. I think that was a brilliant decision as I was able to share the splendour of thr Mont with someone. In Bayeux, we had a truly amazing dinner (4 hours long) where I ate fois gras, duck, cheeses and dessert along with great wine. I was so satisfied and was so impressed with the quality of the meal.
And then before we left, we went to the market and got three types of cheeses, prosciutto, baguette; tomatoes and pears and had anough for three picnics. So amazing and I feel so content. Now I can leave France!
I have had a great few days and am really looking forward to going to the UK and meeting up with the people I met in Egypt. Plus; everybody speaks English! Yeah!
So, I will talk to you all later and will post pics when I can (Warning: there will be amazing pics of food!)
Happy Mothers Day!
Love, Lisa
Thursday, May 7, 2009
And I am off... again
Hello everyone,
It has been an interesting week in Paris. I have seen so much - some good, some bad, some simply amazing! But it has been a long week and I am ready to move on to a new place. I find that anything longer than a few days and I get restless... I must have bedouin blood in me!
So, I thought I would lay out my favourite things I have done in Paris. So far, I have been pretty impressed with the museums, and there are a lot of them. My favourites have been the Musee l'Orangerie which has Monet's water lilly rooms and Musee Rodin, which features a number of his most well-known sculptures. The reason I have loved those museums is because they are so well laid out and allow the viewer ot immerse themselves in the art. I also went to another Modern Art Museum which has been a great break. Now, the Louvre is definitely the main attraction to Paris and should not be avoided but a word to anyone going to Paris - it can be done in 7 hours. My style is to walk through the museum and stop only at the pieces that grab my attention. So of course, I got stuck in the sculpture area.
Another place that I feel in love with was in Versailles. No, it was not the Hall of Mirrors (although it was nice) and it was not the well-manicured gardens of Versailles but it was in the Petit Trianon. This was the residence of Marie Antoinette and the gardens are the best part of the entire complex. She redesigned them to be free-flowing and real and natural. I spent an hour walking around and absorbing the surroundings - birds chirping, smells of flowers and fragrant trees and shrubs, watching the breeze dance of the tops of the grass, seeing the farm complete with animals, the Queen's hamlet of cottages and getting lost in the beauty of the entire garden. It was a little piece of heaven in the middle of France. Just wish there was someone to share it with...
As for things that can be missed while in Paris... going up the Eiffel Tower. I know, scandalous! But it is so overhyped and not worth the hour long wait to go to the top. Now, it is cool to see it lit up at night from the ground but it just isn't as spectacular as many make it out to be. For better views, climb up the Arc du Triomphe (amazing views of the pinwheel traffic) and Notre Dame Cathedral complete with gargoyles within reaching distance! Now that was cool!
Anyways, Paris has been exhausting and overwhelming and lonely. The HI hostel I am at is filled with children so it doesn't lend itself to meeting people my age. And Parisiennes are not the most friendly...
I leave tomorrow for Bayeux where I will spend two nights and plan on relaxing. I probably won't make it to the D-Day beaches as the tours are a lot more expensive than I thought and considering I have to stay in a pricey hotel (oops, my bad - I need to start planning ahead more than a few days). Then I will stay outside Mont St Michel for a night before taking the ferry to England. I am so excited to go to the UK and to be among English speakers again.
Oh, I forgot to mention that the food has been the one definite upside to France. A few words: crepes from street vendors while walking down the street, fresh warm baguette (at least one a day), rare steak with fries (yes Dad, I said rare and it was so good!), Onion soup which they do not call French Onion soup. Lets just say I have been a very happy person the last week! Sorry Steph, again I talk about food!
So, I love you all and can't wait to write about my experiences in England, then Scotland, then Ireland and back to England. Oh, how I love to travel!
Love, Lisa
It has been an interesting week in Paris. I have seen so much - some good, some bad, some simply amazing! But it has been a long week and I am ready to move on to a new place. I find that anything longer than a few days and I get restless... I must have bedouin blood in me!
So, I thought I would lay out my favourite things I have done in Paris. So far, I have been pretty impressed with the museums, and there are a lot of them. My favourites have been the Musee l'Orangerie which has Monet's water lilly rooms and Musee Rodin, which features a number of his most well-known sculptures. The reason I have loved those museums is because they are so well laid out and allow the viewer ot immerse themselves in the art. I also went to another Modern Art Museum which has been a great break. Now, the Louvre is definitely the main attraction to Paris and should not be avoided but a word to anyone going to Paris - it can be done in 7 hours. My style is to walk through the museum and stop only at the pieces that grab my attention. So of course, I got stuck in the sculpture area.
Another place that I feel in love with was in Versailles. No, it was not the Hall of Mirrors (although it was nice) and it was not the well-manicured gardens of Versailles but it was in the Petit Trianon. This was the residence of Marie Antoinette and the gardens are the best part of the entire complex. She redesigned them to be free-flowing and real and natural. I spent an hour walking around and absorbing the surroundings - birds chirping, smells of flowers and fragrant trees and shrubs, watching the breeze dance of the tops of the grass, seeing the farm complete with animals, the Queen's hamlet of cottages and getting lost in the beauty of the entire garden. It was a little piece of heaven in the middle of France. Just wish there was someone to share it with...
As for things that can be missed while in Paris... going up the Eiffel Tower. I know, scandalous! But it is so overhyped and not worth the hour long wait to go to the top. Now, it is cool to see it lit up at night from the ground but it just isn't as spectacular as many make it out to be. For better views, climb up the Arc du Triomphe (amazing views of the pinwheel traffic) and Notre Dame Cathedral complete with gargoyles within reaching distance! Now that was cool!
Anyways, Paris has been exhausting and overwhelming and lonely. The HI hostel I am at is filled with children so it doesn't lend itself to meeting people my age. And Parisiennes are not the most friendly...
I leave tomorrow for Bayeux where I will spend two nights and plan on relaxing. I probably won't make it to the D-Day beaches as the tours are a lot more expensive than I thought and considering I have to stay in a pricey hotel (oops, my bad - I need to start planning ahead more than a few days). Then I will stay outside Mont St Michel for a night before taking the ferry to England. I am so excited to go to the UK and to be among English speakers again.
Oh, I forgot to mention that the food has been the one definite upside to France. A few words: crepes from street vendors while walking down the street, fresh warm baguette (at least one a day), rare steak with fries (yes Dad, I said rare and it was so good!), Onion soup which they do not call French Onion soup. Lets just say I have been a very happy person the last week! Sorry Steph, again I talk about food!
So, I love you all and can't wait to write about my experiences in England, then Scotland, then Ireland and back to England. Oh, how I love to travel!
Love, Lisa
Monday, May 4, 2009
Bonjour
I have been in Paris for three days and I love it! There is so much to see and I have made a pretty good dent already.
When I arrived in Paris I was pretty stressed out. The train ride from Brugges involved 3 connections so that was pretty nerve wracking but I made all of them. Then when I went to Tourist Information for some guidance as to where my hostel was, I was told it wasn't even in Paris! I started to panic at that point but not to worry, it is in a neighbourhood (Clichy) just outside the Peripherique but still connected to Paris through the Metro.
The evening I arrived, Justin took me for a walk from the hostel all the way to centre Paris. It was great to see the monuments along the way. I can't belive I am in Paris. It is so large and can be very overwhelming but I am just going with the flow.
On my first full day I walked for 15 hours!!! I did the free walking tour through centre Paris and then went to the Musee d'Orsay before doing the Montmartre walking tour. I really deserved the free beer at the end! Of course, then a couple of the girls on the tour wanted to go to the Eiffel Tower at night so we eventually made our way there. It was a long day but I loved it!
Yesterday, I spent most of the day alone which got a little tiresome. Yes I know, I am a thrilling and exciting person but even I was getting sick of myself (ha ha). I tried to minimize the walking but didn't have a lot of success. I did end up going to Notre Dame and my favourite museum in Europe so far... Musee l'Orangerie. It has Monet's Water Lilles series and it was incredible to sit in the large oval room and be surrounded by the large panels of water lilly scenes. When I can, I will post pictures. I was going to have an early night because I have been up really late every night for at least a week but alas, I met another boy. And of course, I had to take him out on the town. Good times!
So, what can I say about Paris? It is very beautiful, filled with stunning architecture and monuments. But it can swallow you whole. It is so large and filled with people that at times I am extremely overwhelmed. But then I just have to take my baguette and sit in a park and people watch (just like to Parisiennes do).
It is also very romantic and a place to come with someone you love (or at least like), not necessarily alone like I have done! But I am enjoying my time and will head to the Louvre today. Wish me luck!
I will talk to you all later. Love, Lisa
When I arrived in Paris I was pretty stressed out. The train ride from Brugges involved 3 connections so that was pretty nerve wracking but I made all of them. Then when I went to Tourist Information for some guidance as to where my hostel was, I was told it wasn't even in Paris! I started to panic at that point but not to worry, it is in a neighbourhood (Clichy) just outside the Peripherique but still connected to Paris through the Metro.
The evening I arrived, Justin took me for a walk from the hostel all the way to centre Paris. It was great to see the monuments along the way. I can't belive I am in Paris. It is so large and can be very overwhelming but I am just going with the flow.
On my first full day I walked for 15 hours!!! I did the free walking tour through centre Paris and then went to the Musee d'Orsay before doing the Montmartre walking tour. I really deserved the free beer at the end! Of course, then a couple of the girls on the tour wanted to go to the Eiffel Tower at night so we eventually made our way there. It was a long day but I loved it!
Yesterday, I spent most of the day alone which got a little tiresome. Yes I know, I am a thrilling and exciting person but even I was getting sick of myself (ha ha). I tried to minimize the walking but didn't have a lot of success. I did end up going to Notre Dame and my favourite museum in Europe so far... Musee l'Orangerie. It has Monet's Water Lilles series and it was incredible to sit in the large oval room and be surrounded by the large panels of water lilly scenes. When I can, I will post pictures. I was going to have an early night because I have been up really late every night for at least a week but alas, I met another boy. And of course, I had to take him out on the town. Good times!
So, what can I say about Paris? It is very beautiful, filled with stunning architecture and monuments. But it can swallow you whole. It is so large and filled with people that at times I am extremely overwhelmed. But then I just have to take my baguette and sit in a park and people watch (just like to Parisiennes do).
It is also very romantic and a place to come with someone you love (or at least like), not necessarily alone like I have done! But I am enjoying my time and will head to the Louvre today. Wish me luck!
I will talk to you all later. Love, Lisa
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