Travelling

Okay, so vacation is over and I don't know how I am going to get back into the swing of things.  Starting my new job on Monday and although I am very glad I have the job and work for the next three months, I really would like another few days off to enjoy Calgary like a tourist. Things are good and life is good, I had a fantastic vacation and am now planning next years travels.  Italy and Greece; I am sure hoping that I can talk someone into either going with me or meeting me somewhere part of it. Just thought I would keep the blog going and will check in every once in a while to update what is going on in life.

Okay so I have been home a few days and it still doesn't feel like reality and my trip now seems like just a blur; man what a whirlwind that was and what a fantastic experience. When I got home a very dear friend from Toronto has come to visit me and I am so lucky to still have her and you have no idea what a big deal it is that she travelled out here - she hasn't been anywhere in a few years.  I feel like I won the lottery!! I have had some friends visit this past year and it has been the best year ever!!  I am sure none of them know how fortunate I feel to have them in my life they are the best people anyone could have, just the best. Back to reality on Monday and back to work.  I start a job with a new company and although I wish I could have more time off to do some running around; reality dictates that my Visa bill will be arriving soon and I maybe ought to get to work, so off I go on Monday.  I don't think it will be as great as the last place I worked, it doesn't...

I made it home safe and sound!!!  I had the best trip and the best time!!!! I have to thank everyone for following and commenting on my blog, it was fun and I LOVE hearing from y'all. HEY, I AM HOME

Well, I arrived back in England last night and Liz and I had a proper visit a couple of glasses of wine and a good chat. Today I am heading out to have a proper tea in England (High Tea at that). It has been a great vacation and although there has been some unknowns I have made the best of it, travelling by all modes of transportation - bus, car, plane, train, metro/underground and of course the shoelace express (walking). I have had some really great experiences and it is nice to see an old friend and have a visit. Henry (her son) I finally had an  opportunity t o meet this young lad and what a character he is busy and a real boy.   Thanks to everyone that has been reading and for making comments; I have enjoyed reading them as well. Cheers from England for today

Well I have to say Scotland would not have been a choice and I was supposed to meet up with a friend here that is why I am here - that didn't work out; I am glad that I got to see Edinburgh - it is a lovely place and there is a lot of history here.  I hope you have enjoyed my trip through Europe; this picture is of the lovely city of Edinburgh. I am heading back to England in the morning and will be home a few days after that.  I can honestly say I am looking forward to sleeping in my own bed and cooking a meal in my own kitchen. I have had great internet connections throughout so I have been lucky - thanks Lesly for all of your tips about the UK - and thanks everyone for sending me emails and keeping in touch. Cheers!

Okay 'nuf of the rain now..... - I am done with it; ready for sunshine.  I am sipping a cup of tea and having a piece of Sicilian lemon and ricotta cheesecake mm mmm mmmm - alright so I did the bus tour today and walked the Royal Yacht Britannia; and the Holyroodhouse.  I am so cold right now it was raining and man was it cold - I had on three layers and my teeth are still chattering.  Oh and I have switched hotels, I am now in the heart of Edinburgh, walking distance to most everything.  It is kind of coolio.  More touring tomorrow before I head back to England. Cheers for now!

Okay, so there are just as many stairs (and ad to that HILLS) in Scotland.  It is a rainy day and I still managed to get a picture or two - not a great picture taking day.  I was going to take a bus tour today and opted out when I saw how gloomy it is, I'll go tomorrow.  I did go to a museum (National Galleries of Scotland); it was great!  I discovered that I prefer art from the 1500's - love the use of colour and how bold it is (Titian specifically) this is Venus rising from the sea.  Titian has a lot of amazing paintings hanging in the museum.  I am sitting in a pub having a Stella - and just catching up. Cheers! P.S.- don't eat fish and chimps in Scotland yuck I braved it and it was horrible!!!!

Okay another day in a beautiful city and no one to share it with; yeah, I am sharing with all of you.... Was wondering around thinking what a great day and how lucky I am to have had the opportunity to travel here.  Scotland was not my first choice and the friend that I was hoping to meet up with bailed, so I won't see her.   The sun was shining today and it was lovely to wonder around like I belong.   Back at my hotel and have to get packed up - checking out of the fancy hotel for a not so fancy hotel (downtown woohoo). Cheers y'all PS - what is with all of the freakin' STAIRS

Edinburgh Castle - I spent the day scoping out the downtown - Lesly you are so right the Hanover is the perfect spot.  I shopped (me who doesn't like shopping) and I kind of enjoyed it even a little.  Went into a pub to get a drink and some dinner - sat there for 20 minutes someone came to clean the table then proceeded to ignore me so I decided to leave. I will head back into town tomorrow and check out old town.  It rained most of today - man I could use some sunshine - maybe tomorrow.

So this could be my beach house (because it has a red door) and it looks very nice.    I got up at oh about 8:00am and took a nice leisurely shower got dressed and went for a walk about.   Walked to the beach (about 15 minutes from the hotel) put my feet in the water, and walked on the sand - man my feet are sore; walking on sand works waaaay different muscles.   Then I came back to the hotel and used the hot tub ahhhhh, and the sauna aaaaaah aaaaaahhhh.  I am now contemplating a walk to go and get some dinner - it is 5:30pm here and I am having a quiet night.  Tomorrow I am off to the City's Centre to see what is what and have a shanty (I was told by a friend that I need to try one).  Cheers from Edinburgh  PS I am determined to figure out how to turn on this flat screen digital TV thing that is on the wall - yeah watch me go

Okay, so the flight was LONG and there were many children on the flight and they all seemed to have just come back from Euro Disney IMAGINE.  Whew, I am glad that I am here.  Checked into my very expensive very nice room in my very nice hotel.  Oh and it has a pool and a hot tub and a sauna and I have the biggest shower EVER and there are a gajilion (yup that's a word, I made it up) jets (okay maybe only seven plus the shower head) and what the hell is it with Europe and no top sheet, can someone 'splain that to me?  I mean really no sheet!!! I will bask in the shower before I crawl into bed and have  good nights sleep.  Tomorrow I think I will take a walk by the seaside and just have a really nice quiet day,  Then I will start touring a castle and distillery and whatever else - maybe just walk around the downtown core and the best is when I get back I can use the hot tub woohoo!!! Good night from Edinburgh :o)

Okay I knew I lost a day here - I wondered around the Arc de Triomphe and the Champs Elysees all day Saturday.  I even went into Louis Vuitton to look at purses that A) I really didn't find all that stylish and 2) Would never spend that kind of money on - whew, I thought I was going a bit CRAZY - how could I lose a day, I mean REALLY. Okay so I leave the apartment and I turn right go one block and I look to my right and there it is the Arc de Triomphe in all of it's glory practically in my back yard.  It is pretty amazing.  The weather was kind of yucky so the pictures aren't all that great - it was a sight to behold.  I mean all of the carvings etc. here are amazing and there are so many wow. Paris was fantastic and I am ready to move on....

Okay I am a total IDIOT - I am a day ahead for whatever reason.  I thought today was the 11th and I was all packed and ready to head to Scotland.  I guess I am in a hurry to sleep in that hotel room.  Oh well, guess I will walk the streets of Paris this afternoon and pretend I belong.  I did give someone directions this morning and I was quite proud of myself. Okay so TOMORROW THE 11TH I will be in Scotland. I totally convinced myself that I was a day ahead for some reason - what a goof I am glad I got to stay though.  This picture will not do anything justice, I saw it LIVE though - the Eiffel Tower at night Oh and I GOT MY STEAK - it was medium rare the way I like it and it was not all covered in a rich sauce woohoo!!!!! and I might ad that I was sitting facing the Arc de Triomphe all lit up - what a backdrop to have when dining. It was a great day!

Well at least it is warm here.  I travelled to Versailles (Chateau) and visited a Palace that could house 5,000 people can you believe it!!!! I am a tourist in Paris and I have to say I am SICK of tourists man some of these people are so rude! I have enjoyed it here and I would come back (not alone though).  It is a great place to see and there is much I have not seen yet, so I will have to come back another time.  It has rained every night since I arrived and I do not like rain (wonder how I will manage in Scotland). Rachelle, Mary and Kyle, thanks for the offer of taking me to the Keg -  I just might take you up on it in November sometime ;o)  - I really do want a steak. My favourite place in Paris is all of it.  I have been all over this city and taken a bus, Metro and the SNF - which is like the Go-Train in Toronto.  I have to say it has been reasonably easy to get around.  Tonight is the last night in my little room and tomorrow night I will sleep in a REAL BED WOOHOOO!!!  I have ...

I have come to realize that all big city's offer much of the same, only a different back drop.  Paris is so very lovely and so very overpriced.  Thanks Remko for the advice; I found a Marche and have been feeding on fruit and bread and cheese - the pastries do not appeal to me at all, oh and I went into McDonalds because I had to see - yup they offer French Pastry there as well - you can pay double for really bad food as well. I am in for a steak dinner when I return to Canada so if anyone wants to buy (or cook) me dinner - I am so there.  Me who LOVES bread is actually tired of it; yup, I don't care if I see bread for a while now.  The fruit is quite tasty here and salads; well they are virtually non-existent (I think I may have said that already somewhere. I went to a Castle today and it was not the one that I had hoped to go to; however it was nice, I ate my packed lunch on the grass overlooking Paris - it was the best view and the cheapest price. I have discovered how ever...

Okay the Louvre is AWESOME and I spent only six hours walking around before I had enough.  Yup saw Mona Lisa - very disappointing; saw some really awesome sculptures and then went to the Egyptian wing WOW; I took a lot of pictures and none will do them any justice at all.  I could easily spend another week there looking at everything and it was so overwhelming that I missed half of what I did see. The weather sucks it has rained two out of the three days that I have been here and I don't like the rain, all I want to do is sleep when it rains like it has been. Tomorrow another adventure to the Castle - it involves many different modes of transportation.   I am off to Scotland for sure on the 11th regardless of whether or not I see Amanda, decided I have come this far I ought to see where they make Scotch. I am still a bit homesick, not used to being so alone; people are nice and I have met a few fellow tourists. By the way ALMOST EVERYTHING is closed on Monday in Paris - sheesh.  Gl...

For those looking for an update  -  NO BOY KISSING IN PARIS!!!!  - I had more kissing in Calgary the day I left sheesh. Oh well I have been enjoying my day and just sat down at Starbucks it is 6:00pm in Paris.  Spent the day between the Eiffel Tower and Notre Dame Wow is all I can say. I am feeling a bit homesick, it is tough to be on my own like this for so long; wish I had someone to do Paris with.  It will be nice to see a friendly face in Scotland, and to have people speaking some form of English. I am off to the Louvre tomorrow and maybe a Castle visit (Yeah Donna the one your husband suggested) on Tuesday.

Okay, so I managed to post my writing from last night and now for this morning. It is raining, so I will nix the bus tour.  The Starbucks I mentioned has internet access woohoo and it is close to the apartment $2Euros for 1/2 hour (not sure what that compares to in Canada, at least I am connected) and I have had a latte - since I don't have to buy breakfast I guess $9 Euros is okay (I paid for an hour to catch up and do some surfing). The bathroom is so very small in the room that I have rented and I had to climb over the toilette to get into the shower.  They provide a shower curtain although I am unsure why, there is barely room to move in there and of course the shower curtain manages to find every one of my lovely lady lumps to cling to.  I managed to do the north american cleaning ritual though.  It was a feat though for sure. (Faron you NEVER would have fit in there standing up). I haven't seen a lot of Paris yet, however I am determined and tomorrow providing there is no...

Arrived in Paris - yup here I am in my very own tiny tiny (did I mention tiny) room.  I am doing laundry IN FREAKIN' PARIS (thanks for the soap Liz).  I got the keys to my 5th floor (YES FIVE FREAKIN' FLOORS) walk up.  Okay I don't care how well I packed and that I was underweight 13kg's is HEAVY when you are schlepping up FIVE FLOORS.  the staircase is circular and for me that is quite the challenge with my fear of heights, going up wasn't bad, it is the going down that makes me queasy. I walked a few blocks and managed to get myself lost, finally found a grocery store and bought some juice, bread, cheese and a frozen quiche like product (tasted okay, had it for dinner).  Oh and I found a Starbucks woohoo! It is almost 9:30pm here so I soon will be calling it a night and tomorrow I will head out on and adventure, my goal is to find a red bus tour and see Paris before I venture out on foot.  The metro (Subway) is really easy to manage and although my French is not s...

Went on a tour of Shakespear's town of Stratford-upon-Avon (just happens to be where Liz lives).  It is a lovely spot and I quite enjoyed seeing the countryside. Henry and I had a nice afternoon walking around town and he showed me every nook and cranny of the place.

Spent the day at Warwick Castle (Shannon you were right it is a MUST see), all I can say is what a freakin' blast!!!! It was awesome.

I arrived safe and sound in Manchester; Liz was there to fetch me and we headed back to her place for buttermilk pancakes and maple syrup (she was not surprised that I brought breakfast with me).  I met her son Henry - the Cowboy (FINALLY) and Des (her fella). It is now noon (here in England) and I can barely keep my eyes open, I have been up a long long time. Will write more tomorrow - when I get access to the internet I will post

August 29, 2008 3:22pm I am sitting in the airport and waiting for my flight.  My plane will leave at 4:20pm, made it through security no problems and bought a HUGE bottle of CC for Liz's boyfriend.  I have two cowboy hats on my head, yup you are reading it right two of them and the funny thing is not one person thinks it is weird.  You ought to see how some of these people are dressed and they have to have been travelling for a while because they look beat.  I imagine that is how I will look when I get to Manchester (at 7:40am their time). I was waaaaaayyyyy under weight with my back pack, I only had 13.5kg's and that is with a litre of maple syrup and pancake mix (apparently you can not get pancakes and maple syrup in the YK), my mother would turn over in her grave if she were here to see me buy pancake mix (those that know me would understand). I was on the phone for about three hours with calls this morning (after I dropped off cinnamon buns for some special folks at work) ...