Today was one of the first sunny and beautiful days I’ve seen since being here. One of the places I wanted to visit while I was in London was the famous Harrods.
I was speechless when I walked in. I was handed a map as I passed one of many security guards standing at the entrance and continues to walk through the first room in Harrods. Everything in the store was designer right down to the pair of socks on sale for £20. Each level was more extravagant than the next and catered to specific items. You could buy practically anything at from furniture to a pool table for your rec room to personalized stationary to of course the many clothes. It almost felt as if you were in a museum, where everyone watched you if you touched anything. Before I left I went to Laduree, to try their famous macarons, and they lived up to all the hype surrounding them.
After I left Harrods I decided to head to one of London’s many markets, on today’s list was Portobello Market located at Portobello Road, go figure! The street was filled with people up and down. As I walked down the road I saw small side vendors selling jewelry, bags, vinyl albums, and antiques. And I can’t forget to mention the kiosks of vendors selling the most delicious smelling food. It was unlike anything I had seen, and I wondered if I would find anything that I would really like. After looking around for a bit, I decided to get some lunch. I got a delicious chorizo sausage baguette with salad, and the first bite was just as good as the last.
After leaving Portobello Road I headed back to school. Later that night I met up with Rob Huber, who I worked with in North Carolina on the Obama Campaign. It was great to see a familiar face and catch up. Since the last time I saw Rob, he has become a temporary resident of London. He is now working for the State Department as a Foreign Service Officer at the U.S. Embassy, not a bad job to have!
And that was the end of Saturday in London, simple and perfect. Sunday’s weather was a testament to London weather, and the fact that you never really know what you’re going to get. It was raining all day, but I guess it was the sign I needed to sit down and get some work done. I had a lot of fun exploring London this weekend, and I can’t wait for my next adventure: Munich, Germany!
Pictures: Harrods & Portobello Road
Sunday, February 21, 2010
All the World's a stage...
Within the first month and a half or so I have gotten to travel and get a taste of a variety of different cultures. But I haven’t really taken in London or England in general. Someone told me that by the time I leave I should be able to tell anyone travelling to London, where to go, what to do, and really give them an idea of what England is really like. So that being said this weekend I got to explore the city I have been living in.
I spent most of my day walking around London. I took the tube from Gloucester Rd to Green Park, to go witness the Changing of the Guard for the first time. I know what you’re thinking, that I’ve been in London this long and this was my first time. I figured out a couple things when I go there, one arriving about 40 minutes early was still not early enough. Two, I figured out where I need to be in order to see something other than staring at someone’s backpack. And three, to expect a big crowd, people shoving you in every direction, and that maybe there is no such thing as getting there too early.
After seeing what I could of the Changing of the Guard, I decided to explore the South Bank, in other words the Millennium Mile. I started at Parliament and crossed the Thames River. Thanks to my History of London professor, I can confidently tell you that without the Thames River, there would be in London. Way back when it provided another form of transportation, improved trading, and helped in the development of military strategy.
FUN FACT OF THE DAY: The Thames is the major water source for London, that being said according to my history professor, anyone who stays in London for at least three months would technically be a walking “Thames Aquarium,” because by that point at least 60 % of you would be the Thames. (Weird I know)
Anyway, I spent the day walking along the South Bank. This later became known as the Queen’s Walk, and today is recognized as the Millennium Mile. I walked past the massive line for the London Eye, and passed a number of people posing as statues and bands.
I made my way to Shakespeare’s Globe Theater, which was really interesting. It was rebuilt and in 1996, and took four years to complete, because Sam Wanamaker wanted to build using only the technology they had hundreds of years ago when it was first built. I got a brief history of Shakespeare, and I can’t wait to come back in April when I will get to see Macbeth with my class.
After I left the South Bank, I came back to campus and met up with a couple of my friends for dinner. After dinner I worked on one of my papers, and later went out with a group of students who also stayed in London for the weekend.
Pictures: South Bank
I spent most of my day walking around London. I took the tube from Gloucester Rd to Green Park, to go witness the Changing of the Guard for the first time. I know what you’re thinking, that I’ve been in London this long and this was my first time. I figured out a couple things when I go there, one arriving about 40 minutes early was still not early enough. Two, I figured out where I need to be in order to see something other than staring at someone’s backpack. And three, to expect a big crowd, people shoving you in every direction, and that maybe there is no such thing as getting there too early.
After seeing what I could of the Changing of the Guard, I decided to explore the South Bank, in other words the Millennium Mile. I started at Parliament and crossed the Thames River. Thanks to my History of London professor, I can confidently tell you that without the Thames River, there would be in London. Way back when it provided another form of transportation, improved trading, and helped in the development of military strategy.
FUN FACT OF THE DAY: The Thames is the major water source for London, that being said according to my history professor, anyone who stays in London for at least three months would technically be a walking “Thames Aquarium,” because by that point at least 60 % of you would be the Thames. (Weird I know)
Anyway, I spent the day walking along the South Bank. This later became known as the Queen’s Walk, and today is recognized as the Millennium Mile. I walked past the massive line for the London Eye, and passed a number of people posing as statues and bands.
I made my way to Shakespeare’s Globe Theater, which was really interesting. It was rebuilt and in 1996, and took four years to complete, because Sam Wanamaker wanted to build using only the technology they had hundreds of years ago when it was first built. I got a brief history of Shakespeare, and I can’t wait to come back in April when I will get to see Macbeth with my class.
After I left the South Bank, I came back to campus and met up with a couple of my friends for dinner. After dinner I worked on one of my papers, and later went out with a group of students who also stayed in London for the weekend.
Pictures: South Bank
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Punya Goes to Parliament
One of the classes I am taking this semester is PLT 301 British Politics: Inside Parliament. It’s somewhat of a foreign subject to me, but it’s one of my more interesting classes here.
Each Monday night at 6 we go to Parliament, and each time there are speeches are given by students on a major debate topic facing UK politics. Each visit is a bit different and depending on time we will get the chance to see the House of Commons, the House of Lords, and maybe get to sit in on a committee meeting or two. Our visits to Parliament are all supervised by MP John Hayes, who is a member of the Conservative Party.
On the second visit to Parliament, which was this past Monday, it was my turn! The topic that I would be discussing would be the question of who governs, in terms on the prime minister or the cabinet. In other words it would be like asking is the president or congress governs in the U.S. The obvious answer is that you need both, but I was ready to present my argument of why the prime minister rules, or at least as ready as I could be!
I have to admit I was really nervous, I don’t think I have ever been that nervous about a speech in my entire life! I got up there and delivered my 15 minute speech and before I knew it I was done. I think the most nerve racking part of all of it was that the MP John Hayes, critiques you in front of the class, but for the most part I got positive remarks which was exciting.
I don’t have any picture inside Parliament, but as soon as I do I will be sure to share them with all of you!
Each Monday night at 6 we go to Parliament, and each time there are speeches are given by students on a major debate topic facing UK politics. Each visit is a bit different and depending on time we will get the chance to see the House of Commons, the House of Lords, and maybe get to sit in on a committee meeting or two. Our visits to Parliament are all supervised by MP John Hayes, who is a member of the Conservative Party.
On the second visit to Parliament, which was this past Monday, it was my turn! The topic that I would be discussing would be the question of who governs, in terms on the prime minister or the cabinet. In other words it would be like asking is the president or congress governs in the U.S. The obvious answer is that you need both, but I was ready to present my argument of why the prime minister rules, or at least as ready as I could be!
I have to admit I was really nervous, I don’t think I have ever been that nervous about a speech in my entire life! I got up there and delivered my 15 minute speech and before I knew it I was done. I think the most nerve racking part of all of it was that the MP John Hayes, critiques you in front of the class, but for the most part I got positive remarks which was exciting.
I don’t have any picture inside Parliament, but as soon as I do I will be sure to share them with all of you!
Weekend in Amsterdam
Sorry for the delay on the Amsterdam weekend, but school does come first. On that note back to to the topic at hand. I had a great weekend in Amsterdam with a huge group of students from Richmond.
I flew out Friday morning, and after a chaotic journey to Gatwick Airport I finally made it to Amsterdam!
It’s a very unique city and it’s a little hard to describe. Amsterdam is one of those places that appear on every list when it comes to the best cities in Europe, and I can see why. Aside from the cold, it was a great weekend.
Friday was a first official day there and after breakfast we met in Dam Square. We are staying at different hostels and Dam Square was the perfect meeting point for all of us. After walking around, for a bit we decided to go to the Anne Frank House, which was incredible.
I cannot tell you how moved and touched we each were. What was once the office of a jam company where Otto Frank, the father or Anne Frank, worked became there secret hideaway amidst the harsh and difficult times of World War II. The building was converted to a museum, but what was impressive was that everything looked just like it would have back then.
All around the museum were painted excerpts from Anne Frank’s diary. It was as if you could get a small glimpse into the life they were forced into. As we made our way up very narrow and steep stairs we walked through the secret door that was once covered by a bookshelf. We walked through the rooms where the Frank family lived. As I walked in too Anne Frank’s room the pictures and clippings she kept and pasted to the wall were now faded photographs showing us her attempt to remember what life was like before WWII.
After someone reported that the Franks were hiding, they were separated and sent to concentration camps. What was really sad was that Otto Frank was the only to survive, and that Anne Frank died one month before the concentration camps were liberated. This was by far the most life changing part of Amsterdam. If you ever get the chance, it’s a must see.
After visiting the Anne Frank House, we continued to walk around the city, crossing one bridge after another. I had no idea how man canals and bridges there were in Amsterdam. Later that afternoon we decided to go to the old Heineken Brewery, which was really entertaining and informative.
We learned all about the history of Heineken and how it is produced. We went on a hilarious simulation as if we were the beer being brewed and left laughing as we walked out. One of most interesting parts of the “Heineken Experience” was learning how to properly pour and drink beer to get the best flavor. After that we got to sample two versions of Heineken, the original and extra cold.
After that we were all a bit tired and went back to go get ready for dinner, and enjoyed the nightlife of Amsterdam. The following day involved a lot of exploring the city. We practically walked all over the city. In the afternoon we went to the Van Gough Museum, which was pretty good, even though a few of the major pieces were missing. As we continued to explore we did a must and got fries from a small vendor on the side of the road. I have come to conclusion that food from little side kiosks is almost always cheap and delicious, it’s a little travelers tip to keep in mind.
I flew back Sunday afternoon and had a less hectic time getting back home, thankfully. As for next weekend, I will be exploring more of the great city of London, something that I really haven’t gotten to do!
Proost! (Cheers in Dutch)
Pictures:Weekend in Amsterdam
I flew out Friday morning, and after a chaotic journey to Gatwick Airport I finally made it to Amsterdam!
It’s a very unique city and it’s a little hard to describe. Amsterdam is one of those places that appear on every list when it comes to the best cities in Europe, and I can see why. Aside from the cold, it was a great weekend.
Friday was a first official day there and after breakfast we met in Dam Square. We are staying at different hostels and Dam Square was the perfect meeting point for all of us. After walking around, for a bit we decided to go to the Anne Frank House, which was incredible.
I cannot tell you how moved and touched we each were. What was once the office of a jam company where Otto Frank, the father or Anne Frank, worked became there secret hideaway amidst the harsh and difficult times of World War II. The building was converted to a museum, but what was impressive was that everything looked just like it would have back then.
All around the museum were painted excerpts from Anne Frank’s diary. It was as if you could get a small glimpse into the life they were forced into. As we made our way up very narrow and steep stairs we walked through the secret door that was once covered by a bookshelf. We walked through the rooms where the Frank family lived. As I walked in too Anne Frank’s room the pictures and clippings she kept and pasted to the wall were now faded photographs showing us her attempt to remember what life was like before WWII.
After someone reported that the Franks were hiding, they were separated and sent to concentration camps. What was really sad was that Otto Frank was the only to survive, and that Anne Frank died one month before the concentration camps were liberated. This was by far the most life changing part of Amsterdam. If you ever get the chance, it’s a must see.
After visiting the Anne Frank House, we continued to walk around the city, crossing one bridge after another. I had no idea how man canals and bridges there were in Amsterdam. Later that afternoon we decided to go to the old Heineken Brewery, which was really entertaining and informative.
We learned all about the history of Heineken and how it is produced. We went on a hilarious simulation as if we were the beer being brewed and left laughing as we walked out. One of most interesting parts of the “Heineken Experience” was learning how to properly pour and drink beer to get the best flavor. After that we got to sample two versions of Heineken, the original and extra cold.
After that we were all a bit tired and went back to go get ready for dinner, and enjoyed the nightlife of Amsterdam. The following day involved a lot of exploring the city. We practically walked all over the city. In the afternoon we went to the Van Gough Museum, which was pretty good, even though a few of the major pieces were missing. As we continued to explore we did a must and got fries from a small vendor on the side of the road. I have come to conclusion that food from little side kiosks is almost always cheap and delicious, it’s a little travelers tip to keep in mind.
I flew back Sunday afternoon and had a less hectic time getting back home, thankfully. As for next weekend, I will be exploring more of the great city of London, something that I really haven’t gotten to do!
Proost! (Cheers in Dutch)
Pictures:Weekend in Amsterdam
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Au revoir de Paris Trois (Goodbye Paris Day 3)
It was my last day in Paris, and I wasn’t ready to go. We finished breakfast, and rounded everyone up to go to the Louvre.
We originally planned to rent bikes and peddle down the Seine River to the Louvre, but our plans were quickly thwarted when we discovered we couldn’t use pay for them unless you had a special pass. Oh well, we managed to find the nearest metro, and made our way to the Louvre.
The feeling I had when I walked in, and made my way up the stairs can be summed up in one word: overwhelming. From the outside it may not look that big, but it would be a feat to see ever single piece displayed here. I heard someone say that if you observed every piece for a minimum of 30 seconds you would be there for years, and still not see every inch of this place.
I entered the first hallway, and it was a mass of people filing through trying to take in some of the most famous piece of art. Last spring I had taken a class that covered a large range of European artist and their work, and I could believe I was actually in front of the real thing. Obviously we there were specific pieces we all were dying to see like the Mona Lisa, and as we made our way in to the room, you couldn’t even see it. The only sign we had to the exact location was the massive crowd surrounding her and snapping dozens of pictures.
As I continued to explore what was quite possibly the most fascinating museum in the world I walked past some incredible pieces from Da Vinci’s Madonna of the Rocks to The Wedding Feast to the Venus de Milo. I spent over two hours in there and only seeing a very small fraction of the exhibits, but what I did see was astounding. One thing I noticed as I was walking around everything, including the information about the pieces was in French. It made it difficult to really understand and appreciate the pieces that I was seeing for the first time.
After leaving the Louvre, we made our way to the Arc de Triomph. From that point a number of streets meet at this one point. The architecture of the arc was amazing; it is hard to full take it all in. From there I was on a mission to try a macaron before I left Paris. I was given a couple of suggestions of places to go, but sadly they were all closed. I stopped in at a place called Pierre Hermé. I got a few different kinds, and as I took a bite of one, it instantly melted in my mouth, it was pure bliss.
Kristy, one of the girls I was with had visited Paris a few years ago with her sister, and mentioned that we needed try this monster of a sandwich called “The Grec”. We made our way to this tiny hole in the wall place to try the infamous Grec. I’m sure you’re asking yourself, what exactly is a “Grec”? It is a pita roll split open with a delectable cucumber and dill sauce, followed by fresh romaine lettuce, onions, tomatos, hamburger patties with cheese, and stuffed with french fries. Sure it sounds like a heart attack, but it tastes like heaven. It was the perfect last meal to have in Paris.
We made our way around Paris for one last time, stopping at the Eiffel Tower to say our last goodbyes. We headed back to the hotel to meet up with the rest of the students, boarded the coaches, and made our way back to the train station.
MOVIE TRIVIA:
For all you Jason Bourne fans out there, our guide was sure to point out the street right outside the station where they filmed part of the first movie. Our guide said, “You may have not seen any famous people while you were in Paris, but at least when you go home you can say, Hey I saw the spot where Matt Damon stood!”
Of course we all laughed, partly because that would pathetic if any of us said that, and partly because it sounded like a good anecdote to break the ice!
We boarded our train to go back home. Weird isn’t it, that for us to say we’re going home and we’re referring to London. But I guess it’s true it really has become our home away from home. On that note, I miss you all very much, and I cannot wait to tell you about my next adventure!
Pictures: Paris Day 3
We originally planned to rent bikes and peddle down the Seine River to the Louvre, but our plans were quickly thwarted when we discovered we couldn’t use pay for them unless you had a special pass. Oh well, we managed to find the nearest metro, and made our way to the Louvre.
The feeling I had when I walked in, and made my way up the stairs can be summed up in one word: overwhelming. From the outside it may not look that big, but it would be a feat to see ever single piece displayed here. I heard someone say that if you observed every piece for a minimum of 30 seconds you would be there for years, and still not see every inch of this place.
I entered the first hallway, and it was a mass of people filing through trying to take in some of the most famous piece of art. Last spring I had taken a class that covered a large range of European artist and their work, and I could believe I was actually in front of the real thing. Obviously we there were specific pieces we all were dying to see like the Mona Lisa, and as we made our way in to the room, you couldn’t even see it. The only sign we had to the exact location was the massive crowd surrounding her and snapping dozens of pictures.
As I continued to explore what was quite possibly the most fascinating museum in the world I walked past some incredible pieces from Da Vinci’s Madonna of the Rocks to The Wedding Feast to the Venus de Milo. I spent over two hours in there and only seeing a very small fraction of the exhibits, but what I did see was astounding. One thing I noticed as I was walking around everything, including the information about the pieces was in French. It made it difficult to really understand and appreciate the pieces that I was seeing for the first time.
After leaving the Louvre, we made our way to the Arc de Triomph. From that point a number of streets meet at this one point. The architecture of the arc was amazing; it is hard to full take it all in. From there I was on a mission to try a macaron before I left Paris. I was given a couple of suggestions of places to go, but sadly they were all closed. I stopped in at a place called Pierre Hermé. I got a few different kinds, and as I took a bite of one, it instantly melted in my mouth, it was pure bliss.
Kristy, one of the girls I was with had visited Paris a few years ago with her sister, and mentioned that we needed try this monster of a sandwich called “The Grec”. We made our way to this tiny hole in the wall place to try the infamous Grec. I’m sure you’re asking yourself, what exactly is a “Grec”? It is a pita roll split open with a delectable cucumber and dill sauce, followed by fresh romaine lettuce, onions, tomatos, hamburger patties with cheese, and stuffed with french fries. Sure it sounds like a heart attack, but it tastes like heaven. It was the perfect last meal to have in Paris.
We made our way around Paris for one last time, stopping at the Eiffel Tower to say our last goodbyes. We headed back to the hotel to meet up with the rest of the students, boarded the coaches, and made our way back to the train station.
MOVIE TRIVIA:
For all you Jason Bourne fans out there, our guide was sure to point out the street right outside the station where they filmed part of the first movie. Our guide said, “You may have not seen any famous people while you were in Paris, but at least when you go home you can say, Hey I saw the spot where Matt Damon stood!”
Of course we all laughed, partly because that would pathetic if any of us said that, and partly because it sounded like a good anecdote to break the ice!
We boarded our train to go back home. Weird isn’t it, that for us to say we’re going home and we’re referring to London. But I guess it’s true it really has become our home away from home. On that note, I miss you all very much, and I cannot wait to tell you about my next adventure!
Pictures: Paris Day 3
Monday, February 8, 2010
De Paris Avec le Jour d'Amour Deux (From Paris With Love Day 2)
The day started off fairly early with breakfast at 8 and a tour of the city starting at 9. We all bored the buses and started off on our tour of Paris. We crossed the Seine and made our way to Notre Dame.
Words cannot describe Notre Dame. The architecture alone is incredible, the intricate sculptures surround the outside, and the decorative stain glass was breathtaking. Before we went inside our guide showed us where “Point Zero” which is the official center of Paris. After leaving Notre Dame we continued on our way through the city of Paris.
We passed the Pont Neuf , which is the oldest bridge in Paris, we made our way to see the Hotel de Ville, which is actually their city hall, and past a number of famous churches in the area. We drove past one of a few opera houses in Paris, which was beautiful, and down the Champs Elysees, which was lined with stores and specialty boutiques. We made our way past the Arc de Triomph, and finally ended at the Eiffel Tower.
We made our way to the elevator, and only made our way to the top. The view was incredible; you could practically see the entire city from there. After spending time on top of the world, we grabbed a bite to eat and spent the rest of the day just wandering around Paris. Later that day we headed back to the hotel, and got ready to go out.
We went back to the Eiffel Tower, and walked around most of the night. We were trying to taken in as much of Paris as we could before we left tomorrow. Just as we walked past the Eiffel Tower, lights began to flash illuminating it, it was amazing. As we walked further down we passed these large pieces of glass with writing etched into them was the word peace in various languages from English to Hebrew to Arabic.
By the end of the night we were all exhausted and made our way back to the hotel. We still had a few places on our list to go see, so we headed off to bed.
Pictures: Paris Day 2
Words cannot describe Notre Dame. The architecture alone is incredible, the intricate sculptures surround the outside, and the decorative stain glass was breathtaking. Before we went inside our guide showed us where “Point Zero” which is the official center of Paris. After leaving Notre Dame we continued on our way through the city of Paris.
We passed the Pont Neuf , which is the oldest bridge in Paris, we made our way to see the Hotel de Ville, which is actually their city hall, and past a number of famous churches in the area. We drove past one of a few opera houses in Paris, which was beautiful, and down the Champs Elysees, which was lined with stores and specialty boutiques. We made our way past the Arc de Triomph, and finally ended at the Eiffel Tower.
We made our way to the elevator, and only made our way to the top. The view was incredible; you could practically see the entire city from there. After spending time on top of the world, we grabbed a bite to eat and spent the rest of the day just wandering around Paris. Later that day we headed back to the hotel, and got ready to go out.
We went back to the Eiffel Tower, and walked around most of the night. We were trying to taken in as much of Paris as we could before we left tomorrow. Just as we walked past the Eiffel Tower, lights began to flash illuminating it, it was amazing. As we walked further down we passed these large pieces of glass with writing etched into them was the word peace in various languages from English to Hebrew to Arabic.
By the end of the night we were all exhausted and made our way back to the hotel. We still had a few places on our list to go see, so we headed off to bed.
Pictures: Paris Day 2
Friday, February 5, 2010
Bonjour du Jour de Paris Un (Hello from Paris Day 1)
I arrived in Paris, France on Friday at around 6:30. Paris is unlike any other cit. It cannot be compared, and it is a city that I knew I would love.
We took the Eurostar from London to Paris. For those of you who didn’t know the three hour train ride was unique for a number of reasons, a big on being that in order to actually get to Paris we had to go through the “Chunnel”. The Chunnel is like a tunnel, submerged in water allowing us to travel the fastest way by train.
When I arrived, I checked into my hotel with the rest of the students. We were all a little hungry by that time and headed to a local store to grab a quick bit. One my staples for the week was a baguette with ham and swiss cheese, who knew simplicity tasted so good.
After getting settled we made our way to our evening cruise on the Seine River. Despite the cold, it was beautiful to see all the building lit up. It’s definitely a completely different experience to see the famous monuments like the Eiffel Tower and Notre Dame at night. I spent the majority of my time in Paris with three girls, Orlee who is from L.A., and Rachel and Kristy who are both from New York. We couldn’t believe we were actually in Paris; it was still sinking in that we were cruising on the Seine sharing a bottle of wine.
After the boat ride, we spent whatever was left of the night walking around Paris, after all we would only be there until Sunday. We walked down by the Bastille and a dozen or so different French Restaurants, and ended up at Route 66. There were about twelve of us enjoying a drink talking about what all we wanted to see, and soaking up the atmosphere and essence that is Paris. Before we knew it we were all ready to head back and get a good night’s sleep before the tour tomorrow
Pictures: Paris Day 1
We took the Eurostar from London to Paris. For those of you who didn’t know the three hour train ride was unique for a number of reasons, a big on being that in order to actually get to Paris we had to go through the “Chunnel”. The Chunnel is like a tunnel, submerged in water allowing us to travel the fastest way by train.
When I arrived, I checked into my hotel with the rest of the students. We were all a little hungry by that time and headed to a local store to grab a quick bit. One my staples for the week was a baguette with ham and swiss cheese, who knew simplicity tasted so good.
After getting settled we made our way to our evening cruise on the Seine River. Despite the cold, it was beautiful to see all the building lit up. It’s definitely a completely different experience to see the famous monuments like the Eiffel Tower and Notre Dame at night. I spent the majority of my time in Paris with three girls, Orlee who is from L.A., and Rachel and Kristy who are both from New York. We couldn’t believe we were actually in Paris; it was still sinking in that we were cruising on the Seine sharing a bottle of wine.
After the boat ride, we spent whatever was left of the night walking around Paris, after all we would only be there until Sunday. We walked down by the Bastille and a dozen or so different French Restaurants, and ended up at Route 66. There were about twelve of us enjoying a drink talking about what all we wanted to see, and soaking up the atmosphere and essence that is Paris. Before we knew it we were all ready to head back and get a good night’s sleep before the tour tomorrow
Pictures: Paris Day 1
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Edinburgh, Scotland: Day Two
Day two started pretty early. I grabbed some breakfast at the hostel, and met up with Kara and Anna. We had signed up for a tour of the Highlands. The Highlands are known for a number of things, but everyone I talked to said that it was a must to see when you go to Scotland. We checked in for the tour, and met out driver/guide Dave, who only added to the tour!
We drove through Sterling, Doune, and made out first stop at Kilmahog. Dave informed us that the most famous Highland cow, named Hamish is here. He told us that there aren’t many left, and I thought what could be so special about a cow. Turns out Hamish is basically a big, furry, cute cow who actually responds to his name! We got to feed him, and after a few photos of the area we headed on our way. Our next big stop of the day was a town called Oban, but we had quite the drive to get there. We passed a number of glens and lochs along the way, which were surrounded by snow capped mountains.
For those of you who don’t know what a loch or glen is, you actually do. The English call them lakes, the Scots call them lochs; and the English call them valleys, the Scots call the glens. I noticed that even today, the Scottish aren’t very fond on the British even after all this time. As we continued on our way we saw a number of castles, some which were burnt down in the midst of war, others where dukes and duchesses still live today. We finally arrived in the beautiful port city of Oban. The town was buzzing with tiny shops and restaurants right near the boardwalk. We stopped for lunch there, and wandered around the town. I wish we could have stayed longer; there was still a lot that we didn’t get to see while we were there.
The trip to the Highlands took the entire day, but it was well worth it. It is hard to describe in words what it was like, but I took plenty of pictures to show you. We headed back towards Edinburgh, for our last night in town. We were famished by the time we got back and grabbed a bit to eat at Pizza Express, which was delicious! We headed back to our hostel, changed and decided to go to a traditional Scottish Pub. We walked into the Scotsman Lounge; it was a small room which was filled to capacity. Everyone was cheers to the day and dancing to the live band, Ranctum Sanctum. That was probably the best part of the night, hearing the rich lively Scottish band. It was the end of another night, and it was no surprise that we were all really tired.
I woke up the next day, packed everything into my backpack, and checked out. I had some time before my coach was going to be leaving, and there was still one place I wanted to see, The Elephant Room. It is this cozy café where many famous authors would often go to right the beginnings of their novels. J.K. Rowling the author of Harry Potter would go to the very back where you had a view of Edinburgh Castle, and would draw inspiration for her book from the city. I left the café and started making my way to catch my coach back to London. The weekend was perfect. I never thought Scotland was going to be one of those places that I would say, “I have to come back here,” but it was. There is still so much that I wasn’t able to explore, but I was able to see I absolutely loved.
Slàinte mhath! (Cheers to your good health)
Pictures: Edinburgh Day 2
We drove through Sterling, Doune, and made out first stop at Kilmahog. Dave informed us that the most famous Highland cow, named Hamish is here. He told us that there aren’t many left, and I thought what could be so special about a cow. Turns out Hamish is basically a big, furry, cute cow who actually responds to his name! We got to feed him, and after a few photos of the area we headed on our way. Our next big stop of the day was a town called Oban, but we had quite the drive to get there. We passed a number of glens and lochs along the way, which were surrounded by snow capped mountains.
For those of you who don’t know what a loch or glen is, you actually do. The English call them lakes, the Scots call them lochs; and the English call them valleys, the Scots call the glens. I noticed that even today, the Scottish aren’t very fond on the British even after all this time. As we continued on our way we saw a number of castles, some which were burnt down in the midst of war, others where dukes and duchesses still live today. We finally arrived in the beautiful port city of Oban. The town was buzzing with tiny shops and restaurants right near the boardwalk. We stopped for lunch there, and wandered around the town. I wish we could have stayed longer; there was still a lot that we didn’t get to see while we were there.
The trip to the Highlands took the entire day, but it was well worth it. It is hard to describe in words what it was like, but I took plenty of pictures to show you. We headed back towards Edinburgh, for our last night in town. We were famished by the time we got back and grabbed a bit to eat at Pizza Express, which was delicious! We headed back to our hostel, changed and decided to go to a traditional Scottish Pub. We walked into the Scotsman Lounge; it was a small room which was filled to capacity. Everyone was cheers to the day and dancing to the live band, Ranctum Sanctum. That was probably the best part of the night, hearing the rich lively Scottish band. It was the end of another night, and it was no surprise that we were all really tired.
I woke up the next day, packed everything into my backpack, and checked out. I had some time before my coach was going to be leaving, and there was still one place I wanted to see, The Elephant Room. It is this cozy café where many famous authors would often go to right the beginnings of their novels. J.K. Rowling the author of Harry Potter would go to the very back where you had a view of Edinburgh Castle, and would draw inspiration for her book from the city. I left the café and started making my way to catch my coach back to London. The weekend was perfect. I never thought Scotland was going to be one of those places that I would say, “I have to come back here,” but it was. There is still so much that I wasn’t able to explore, but I was able to see I absolutely loved.
Slàinte mhath! (Cheers to your good health)
Pictures: Edinburgh Day 2
Edinburgh, Scotland: Day One
Destination: Edinburgh, Scotland. This weekend was my first time actually outside of England. I figured I’ll start out small and work my way around to the bigger cities in Europe while I’m here. I found out before I was leaving that two other girls were also going to Edinburgh, I was even more excited to know that I would have company along the way.
I took a coach from London to Edinburgh on Thursday night, arriving in there on Friday morning. I made my way to the hostel, and I have to admit I was a little nervous. I didn’t know what to expect when I arrived at the Castle Rock Hostel, which was located at the bottom of Edinburgh Castle. I checked in and went to go meet up with Kara and Anna, who are both from Richmond too. The town was covered in plaid. The seats on the buses were all plaid, a number of men were walking around in traditional kilt suits, and every store was selling plaid clothing; it was exactly how you would hope Scotland would be. We decided to go on a free walking tour of Edinburgh, since we knew there was a lot to see.
We learned a lot about the history of Scotland, from when the English came were in power to when William Wallace (yes, Mel Gibson played him in Braveheart) lead the first of many fights for freedom. After about an hour or so the cold finally got to us and we decided to explore Edinburgh Castle. The view was incredible; you could see the entire city from the highest point in the Castle. I was surprised to find out that they had built the castle on top of an extinct volcano. By the time we realized it, it was already 4:00, and we didn’t get a chance to go inside Parliament.
Anna and Kara decided to walk down there, but I decided to go to the “Heritage of Scotch Whisky Experience.” This was one of the most interesting parts of my time in Edinburgh, Dada you would have really enjoyed this! I got to learn about the famous drink of the region, and how it was made, which is quite a long process! I never knew that much actually went into making what to me seemed like such a simple thing to make. The oldest distillery in Scotland is Glenturret, which was founded in 1775.
After learning about how it’s made, one of the guides explained that there are four different regions of Scotland that produce Scotch whisky. We go to see just how different each region was by having an exaggerated small of what each smelled like. They ranged from vanilla to fruity to peat, the smoke used to dry the malt. We were then able to select a sample of which ever region. But even before we could try it, we were led into the room where Master Blender, Diageo Claive Vidiz which is indescribable, bottles which were served at the Queen’s Jubilee, or were made special for the sail of Titanic. The one thing that our guide told us to remember was, “Never listen to anyone who tells you to drink a particular scotch or tells you how to drink it. Scotch should be enjoyed to your taste” We were able to keep a glass that was designed specifically for tasting and drinking Scotch whisky. While I don’t particular car for the taste, I consider myself a connoisseur on Scotch whisky.
After that enlightening day of learning about Scotland, I headed back to my hostel to get settled in. I met up with Kara and Anna for dinner at a small pub. A tip for travelers: the best and least expensive food can be found at any local pub. After dinner we explored the night life of Scotland, were we didn’t meet a single person from Scotland, but people from Brazil, Australia, England, and Germany! By the end of the night we were exhausted and headed to bed, we had a very exciting day planned for tomorrow.
Pictures: Edinburgh Day 1
I took a coach from London to Edinburgh on Thursday night, arriving in there on Friday morning. I made my way to the hostel, and I have to admit I was a little nervous. I didn’t know what to expect when I arrived at the Castle Rock Hostel, which was located at the bottom of Edinburgh Castle. I checked in and went to go meet up with Kara and Anna, who are both from Richmond too. The town was covered in plaid. The seats on the buses were all plaid, a number of men were walking around in traditional kilt suits, and every store was selling plaid clothing; it was exactly how you would hope Scotland would be. We decided to go on a free walking tour of Edinburgh, since we knew there was a lot to see.
We learned a lot about the history of Scotland, from when the English came were in power to when William Wallace (yes, Mel Gibson played him in Braveheart) lead the first of many fights for freedom. After about an hour or so the cold finally got to us and we decided to explore Edinburgh Castle. The view was incredible; you could see the entire city from the highest point in the Castle. I was surprised to find out that they had built the castle on top of an extinct volcano. By the time we realized it, it was already 4:00, and we didn’t get a chance to go inside Parliament.
Anna and Kara decided to walk down there, but I decided to go to the “Heritage of Scotch Whisky Experience.” This was one of the most interesting parts of my time in Edinburgh, Dada you would have really enjoyed this! I got to learn about the famous drink of the region, and how it was made, which is quite a long process! I never knew that much actually went into making what to me seemed like such a simple thing to make. The oldest distillery in Scotland is Glenturret, which was founded in 1775.
After learning about how it’s made, one of the guides explained that there are four different regions of Scotland that produce Scotch whisky. We go to see just how different each region was by having an exaggerated small of what each smelled like. They ranged from vanilla to fruity to peat, the smoke used to dry the malt. We were then able to select a sample of which ever region. But even before we could try it, we were led into the room where Master Blender, Diageo Claive Vidiz which is indescribable, bottles which were served at the Queen’s Jubilee, or were made special for the sail of Titanic. The one thing that our guide told us to remember was, “Never listen to anyone who tells you to drink a particular scotch or tells you how to drink it. Scotch should be enjoyed to your taste” We were able to keep a glass that was designed specifically for tasting and drinking Scotch whisky. While I don’t particular car for the taste, I consider myself a connoisseur on Scotch whisky.
After that enlightening day of learning about Scotland, I headed back to my hostel to get settled in. I met up with Kara and Anna for dinner at a small pub. A tip for travelers: the best and least expensive food can be found at any local pub. After dinner we explored the night life of Scotland, were we didn’t meet a single person from Scotland, but people from Brazil, Australia, England, and Germany! By the end of the night we were exhausted and headed to bed, we had a very exciting day planned for tomorrow.
Pictures: Edinburgh Day 1
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
