Paris
My trip started off with finding my way from the airport to my hotel. With the help of several kind local french men I was at my hotels doorstep. The Lorraine Hotel. You have to have a good sense of humour or really low self esteem to stay in a dive like this. My dodgy hotel was next to one of the main train stations. I did have a great view of the intersection and multiple drug deals no doubt. Well, I wasn't planning on spending much time in my hotel with a shower where the closet once probably was and when you book a room with a shower expect that. The toliet was shared by the floor, thankfully my floor's toliet seat was merely for decorative purposes... oh my is right!
I had this fantasy of how magical Paris would be which in reality it wasn't even one of the most beautiful cities I've been to (Florence). The Notre Dame and the Latin Quarter area was my favourite with lots of restaurants and shops. I would say it was the safest area.
Can't complain about the weather so I wanted to walk along the river over to the Eiffel tower. After being approached by two handfulls of street gangs (which are different than home-g gangs in Canada or the states) I decided to find a bus tour and be with the tourists instead of the people targeting tourists, especially me by myself. I was underwhelmed by the Eiffel Tower. It photographs very well but a lot smaller than I had dreamed. That day I mostly rode the bus tours. I was hoping to go to the Museum of Modern Art but never made it in time after the tour stopped. And the next day made it to the picasso museum but it was closed for renovations :(
My third day I went to find the Sacre-coeur which was beautiful! Oh it was magical up on it's high hill top over looking the city. I just had to get passed these african men trying to attach bracelets to my wrist yelling "Gift!" "Admission" what they should have been saying was "Red rover! Red rover!" Aggressive jerks. After that I was literally stalked by a young man and hid in a clothing shop where people didn't speak-a the-english-a! I waited it out and eventually got away.
I only share these stories because people are so in love with the idea of Paris when actuality there are better places. And Paris was the first place I feared for my safety constantly to not enjoy my trip. But I survived it is the point. I got a couple photos and grabbed some good greek, lebanese, food and obviously a stale baguette and this delicious chocolate filled pastry I could have rolled in a ball and popped in my mouth it was so light and fresh! MMMmm. A good way to end the trip and with a salmon quiche which I didn't know was salmon until I got it as none of the labels were in english but good none-the-less.
Another interesting thing I really adored about Paris was these bridges over the river covered in locks. The story is couple go there and attach the lock throwing away the key as a symbol of eternal love. That's kind of nice, delusional, but nice.
So that was my trip to Paris! I ended Portrush with a day at Barry's amusements with my bestie Irish friend Meabh doing bumper cars (twice) and all my favourite non-scary rides. We played the 10p machines which I got a tad obsessed with and then had a beautiful lunch looking out my window. A ramore head walk was necessary and a walk around ramore head rarely ends without a trip to the old mans pub the Harbour pub! We continued a little pub crawl and drank like it was our full time job, as you do. So sad to leave and my beautiful apartment. Dear god!
Saturday, 7 July 2012
Thursday, 28 June 2012
A County called Fermanagh
I recommend being unemployed to all of you reading this. It feels like when I first arrived in Ireland (except with more debt).
Yesterday I got back from a week in County Fermanagh out on the farm in a town I'm ashamed to say I still don't know how to spell but it's on Lough Erne Lake if that helps! Beautiful and peaceful besides a couple craic-filled nights. I ended up falling in love with this donkey out on the farm. I didn't know I even liked donkeys but this one is beautiful! I call it Donkey. Donkey's are surprisingly popular in Ireland. They even have donkey races in a small town down South in August. I'm not that obsessed.
During the weekend my cousin Sinead and I ventured down South to a town called Carrick-on Shannon. PS, also another popular Hen and stag party place! Crazy Irish. We visited this 300 year old Thatch pub just outside town that my moms brother ended up landing a job and room while cycling around Ireland a few years back. What a gem! It was amazing with all these antiques cluttered on any available surface not excluding the ceiling which held old farm equipment I've never seen and walls covered in character paintings and portraits of the thatch (one which has a corner missing because someone needed to roll a cigarette a few years back). Seriously! It was great. When we walked in at 8pm (when it opens) a 84 year old gentleman named pierce greeted us and was pulling pints for me in-between his football match. Nobody showed up really except Dublin Patty and his separated wife of twenty years and a trio from Notting Hill until the music started at 11pm. The band by the way was owner Gene who played the guitar, accordion, harmonica and sang. I could have stayed there all night but we had to hit the twisty rural road back home in the rain. I'll go back. You should too!
And drum roll please! To commemorate the Queen's visit to Enniskillen I got a tattoo! Just kidding. But I really did get the tattoo. I just never went to see the Queen while she was in town. After two failed attempts at getting a tattoo at this mysterious drop in only guy's house out in the country I went to a well known parlour. It was pretty rad because right when he started my tattoo Nirvana's Teen Spirit was playing... perfect. Sadly it was only to be followed by Arosmith's armageddon song. I hate that song. Anyways, the tattoo I love and I'm pretty proud of myself for making the biggest commitment of my life, thus far. It's only permanent.
Anywho! Off to Paris in three days and hopefully there's some good craic about town with the Irish Golf open going on just down the road... I swear I saw that Rory golfer character across the street when I was heading home but I could have been mistaken. I'm awful at spotting my friends never mind famous people!
Yesterday I got back from a week in County Fermanagh out on the farm in a town I'm ashamed to say I still don't know how to spell but it's on Lough Erne Lake if that helps! Beautiful and peaceful besides a couple craic-filled nights. I ended up falling in love with this donkey out on the farm. I didn't know I even liked donkeys but this one is beautiful! I call it Donkey. Donkey's are surprisingly popular in Ireland. They even have donkey races in a small town down South in August. I'm not that obsessed.
During the weekend my cousin Sinead and I ventured down South to a town called Carrick-on Shannon. PS, also another popular Hen and stag party place! Crazy Irish. We visited this 300 year old Thatch pub just outside town that my moms brother ended up landing a job and room while cycling around Ireland a few years back. What a gem! It was amazing with all these antiques cluttered on any available surface not excluding the ceiling which held old farm equipment I've never seen and walls covered in character paintings and portraits of the thatch (one which has a corner missing because someone needed to roll a cigarette a few years back). Seriously! It was great. When we walked in at 8pm (when it opens) a 84 year old gentleman named pierce greeted us and was pulling pints for me in-between his football match. Nobody showed up really except Dublin Patty and his separated wife of twenty years and a trio from Notting Hill until the music started at 11pm. The band by the way was owner Gene who played the guitar, accordion, harmonica and sang. I could have stayed there all night but we had to hit the twisty rural road back home in the rain. I'll go back. You should too!
And drum roll please! To commemorate the Queen's visit to Enniskillen I got a tattoo! Just kidding. But I really did get the tattoo. I just never went to see the Queen while she was in town. After two failed attempts at getting a tattoo at this mysterious drop in only guy's house out in the country I went to a well known parlour. It was pretty rad because right when he started my tattoo Nirvana's Teen Spirit was playing... perfect. Sadly it was only to be followed by Arosmith's armageddon song. I hate that song. Anyways, the tattoo I love and I'm pretty proud of myself for making the biggest commitment of my life, thus far. It's only permanent.
Anywho! Off to Paris in three days and hopefully there's some good craic about town with the Irish Golf open going on just down the road... I swear I saw that Rory golfer character across the street when I was heading home but I could have been mistaken. I'm awful at spotting my friends never mind famous people!
Tuesday, 19 June 2012
Where Rainbows end
Okay, I totally stole that from the latest Cecilia Ahern book
I'm reading. I just always seem to read her books at the right times.
Last night was my last shift at work. As my mom’s cousin Myra would say, "Yee - hoo!" I am now un-employed until my departure on July 9th. That's right, I'm coming home but not before one final Euro-trip to Paris on Canada Day, no-less.
I've seen a lot on my travels. But you can never really see enough, can you? I've been very lucky and very unlucky, it can't all be rainbows!
Last week my friend Andrew took me out on his job sites as he's a town planner and we took the coastal route to towns I've never been too. The roads were proper rural Irish roads along steep cliffs which on-coming traffic tended to drive outside the lines. It was only slightly terrifying. I met Randall's goat, hiked through mud to see really old farm houses, forest and hilltops with rocks that called castles (kidding) I conquered my fear and curiosity by crossing Carrick-a-Reede Rope Bridge. There has to be some deep seeded metaphor here as the bridge means, "a rock in the road". Ya, got it.
This past weekend I went 'camping' with my often-talked about friends Meabh and Andrew to Westport in the south in a County called Mayo, if you've ever heard of such a ridiculous name for a County. The landscape I saw through the fog on the way down and my reclined hung-over position on the way back was beautiful. If you ever plan on having a stag or hen party I suggest Westport as that seems to be where everyone in Ireland goes. While there, we visited Matt Malone's Pub and on the way up sipped delicious French wine in a castle and had a pic-nic at Yates's grave. The Irish love their graveyards!
I'm off to Co. Fermanagh for a long weekend and hoping to visit the Thatch pub my uncle worked/lived in while touring Ireland a couple years back. I'll be staying at my family’s remote, peaceful homestead on a lake and maybe I'll catch a fish! Weather allowing. It is June, right?
Last night was my last shift at work. As my mom’s cousin Myra would say, "Yee - hoo!" I am now un-employed until my departure on July 9th. That's right, I'm coming home but not before one final Euro-trip to Paris on Canada Day, no-less.
I've seen a lot on my travels. But you can never really see enough, can you? I've been very lucky and very unlucky, it can't all be rainbows!
Last week my friend Andrew took me out on his job sites as he's a town planner and we took the coastal route to towns I've never been too. The roads were proper rural Irish roads along steep cliffs which on-coming traffic tended to drive outside the lines. It was only slightly terrifying. I met Randall's goat, hiked through mud to see really old farm houses, forest and hilltops with rocks that called castles (kidding) I conquered my fear and curiosity by crossing Carrick-a-Reede Rope Bridge. There has to be some deep seeded metaphor here as the bridge means, "a rock in the road". Ya, got it.
This past weekend I went 'camping' with my often-talked about friends Meabh and Andrew to Westport in the south in a County called Mayo, if you've ever heard of such a ridiculous name for a County. The landscape I saw through the fog on the way down and my reclined hung-over position on the way back was beautiful. If you ever plan on having a stag or hen party I suggest Westport as that seems to be where everyone in Ireland goes. While there, we visited Matt Malone's Pub and on the way up sipped delicious French wine in a castle and had a pic-nic at Yates's grave. The Irish love their graveyards!
I'm off to Co. Fermanagh for a long weekend and hoping to visit the Thatch pub my uncle worked/lived in while touring Ireland a couple years back. I'll be staying at my family’s remote, peaceful homestead on a lake and maybe I'll catch a fish! Weather allowing. It is June, right?
Monday, 11 June 2012
When in Rome..
Visit the Canadian Embassy. They're really nice, (obviously). As if I don't spend enough time in self reflection the embassy made me write it out on paper. Every date, address and job over the past seven years! I highly recommend you do this and see how you feel after, besides headachy.
Despite a few non-alcoholic induced hiccups I'm happy I had the chance to spend five days in Italy. I had great weather, some really great food and Italy was the first place where I felt like a foreigner, and it's good to be a minority sometimes I think to keep you right.
I landed in Pisa. The air was warm which was a definite contrast to the cool Belfast airport air. I suggest only dedicating half a day to Pisa. It's amazing and slightly uncomfortable to see the Leaning Tower in person.
The following day I took a short train trip to Lucca it was in my tour book and I was lucky enough to stumble across the main attraction due to my extremely strong sense of direction. Ha ha! Then I secretly shadowed English speaking walking tour guides to see the rest, only slightly creepy I'm sure.
A bit of a detour as me and my passport parted ways around this point so I'm on the 5:45 am train to Rome! (PS, I have no love for that place.) I'll spare the 'humourous' details of my misfortunes that day which makes me wonder why when really shitty things happen people say, "Oh, one day you'll look back at all that and laugh!" I'm pretty sure I'll still be bitter but slightly smarter for it.
The only attraction I saw in Rome was a cardboard cut out of a Canadian Mountain Police saluting me. I can't remember the last time I saw one in person but felt oddly comforted by this none-the-less.
Um, a bit of interesting things I took with me from Rome (besides my Temporary Passport). People park in intersections. Seriously; leaving just enough room for a car to inch through if they so need to. And the homeless people that I did see were heartbreaking, they were about as old as the buildings I couldn't help but think about my granny sitting out there begging for money, (she'd probably be lecturing people too though with her crazy stories).
I made it in time to catch the last train to Florence! I love Florence, I could live there. Despite all the American tourists I really enjoyed the busyness and beauty this easily accessible city offered. AND FOOD! I finally had a chance to relax, eat and enjoy some vino.
I found this local gem recommended by a girl from my awesome Pisa hostel right outside the tower to visit this place called Trattoria Mario just around the corner from The Duomo Group, which is also a new odd obsession I’ve developed. It's stunning. Anyways, the food was amazing. Everyone sat with anyone and the staff were climbing over tables to take orders and deliver food. You know the food had to be good, right? My over-stuffed ravioli was silky and fresh and salty. I'll dream of it. The steaks looked like a religious experience and apparently that's what they're known for, if you're into steaks.
Later that night I found myself at an outdoor Ristoronte enjoying the best bruschetta in life. It was fresh, silky, salty, garlicky and crusty, don't-even-talk-to-me I'm eatting good! My Spaghetti tomato basil was delish too but a tad too salty... their noodles are much thinner than any I've had before and that was good. I also enjoyed three gelato's in Italy that I wanted to enjoy more than I did but how can ice cream be bad, really?
Of course my trip wouldn't be complete without being fingerprinted and mug shot by the UK Border control. Now, I did crack a smile when I was getting fingerprinted but that's another blog!
Despite a few non-alcoholic induced hiccups I'm happy I had the chance to spend five days in Italy. I had great weather, some really great food and Italy was the first place where I felt like a foreigner, and it's good to be a minority sometimes I think to keep you right.
I landed in Pisa. The air was warm which was a definite contrast to the cool Belfast airport air. I suggest only dedicating half a day to Pisa. It's amazing and slightly uncomfortable to see the Leaning Tower in person.
The following day I took a short train trip to Lucca it was in my tour book and I was lucky enough to stumble across the main attraction due to my extremely strong sense of direction. Ha ha! Then I secretly shadowed English speaking walking tour guides to see the rest, only slightly creepy I'm sure.
A bit of a detour as me and my passport parted ways around this point so I'm on the 5:45 am train to Rome! (PS, I have no love for that place.) I'll spare the 'humourous' details of my misfortunes that day which makes me wonder why when really shitty things happen people say, "Oh, one day you'll look back at all that and laugh!" I'm pretty sure I'll still be bitter but slightly smarter for it.
The only attraction I saw in Rome was a cardboard cut out of a Canadian Mountain Police saluting me. I can't remember the last time I saw one in person but felt oddly comforted by this none-the-less.
Um, a bit of interesting things I took with me from Rome (besides my Temporary Passport). People park in intersections. Seriously; leaving just enough room for a car to inch through if they so need to. And the homeless people that I did see were heartbreaking, they were about as old as the buildings I couldn't help but think about my granny sitting out there begging for money, (she'd probably be lecturing people too though with her crazy stories).
I made it in time to catch the last train to Florence! I love Florence, I could live there. Despite all the American tourists I really enjoyed the busyness and beauty this easily accessible city offered. AND FOOD! I finally had a chance to relax, eat and enjoy some vino.
I found this local gem recommended by a girl from my awesome Pisa hostel right outside the tower to visit this place called Trattoria Mario just around the corner from The Duomo Group, which is also a new odd obsession I’ve developed. It's stunning. Anyways, the food was amazing. Everyone sat with anyone and the staff were climbing over tables to take orders and deliver food. You know the food had to be good, right? My over-stuffed ravioli was silky and fresh and salty. I'll dream of it. The steaks looked like a religious experience and apparently that's what they're known for, if you're into steaks.
Later that night I found myself at an outdoor Ristoronte enjoying the best bruschetta in life. It was fresh, silky, salty, garlicky and crusty, don't-even-talk-to-me I'm eatting good! My Spaghetti tomato basil was delish too but a tad too salty... their noodles are much thinner than any I've had before and that was good. I also enjoyed three gelato's in Italy that I wanted to enjoy more than I did but how can ice cream be bad, really?
Of course my trip wouldn't be complete without being fingerprinted and mug shot by the UK Border control. Now, I did crack a smile when I was getting fingerprinted but that's another blog!
Wednesday, 30 May 2012
Portrush Adventures
The weather the past week has been uncommonly nice. The soft sandy beaches resemble what I can only imagine is a California lifestyle. But like all good things the weather is not lasting forever and I can see a change is coming. Thankfully I'll be in (fingers crossed) sunny Italy in three days time! Eeeek!
On Sunday my friends Meabh and Andrew took me on one of Andrews often-talked about never-personally-experienced long hikes; 10 miles around Giants Causeway. The views from the cliffs were both stunning and scary. They didn't understand why I was taking so many photos of cows but once I upload them onto my facebook page you'll see why. The weather was hot but the breeze and halfway picnic/pint stop at this little pub 'The Nook' helped keep the heat at bay.
The rocks were pretty neat to walk along at low tide but honestly not as beautiful as the sights from the heights.
They also took me to the smallest church in Ireland which luckily is located across from the beach with the cows! I know it sounds like I have a thing for cows now but weird to see them wondering on beaches, no? Anyways, this church or chapel was small. I would say a priest and two people comfortably... or a preist and one very round person. Cute place for a wedding anyways! Again pictures will be uploaded at some point.
Friday hoping to get to the Rope bridge which someone who is afraid of heights undoubtingly looks forward to! Weather permitting.
On Sunday my friends Meabh and Andrew took me on one of Andrews often-talked about never-personally-experienced long hikes; 10 miles around Giants Causeway. The views from the cliffs were both stunning and scary. They didn't understand why I was taking so many photos of cows but once I upload them onto my facebook page you'll see why. The weather was hot but the breeze and halfway picnic/pint stop at this little pub 'The Nook' helped keep the heat at bay.
The rocks were pretty neat to walk along at low tide but honestly not as beautiful as the sights from the heights.
They also took me to the smallest church in Ireland which luckily is located across from the beach with the cows! I know it sounds like I have a thing for cows now but weird to see them wondering on beaches, no? Anyways, this church or chapel was small. I would say a priest and two people comfortably... or a preist and one very round person. Cute place for a wedding anyways! Again pictures will be uploaded at some point.
Friday hoping to get to the Rope bridge which someone who is afraid of heights undoubtingly looks forward to! Weather permitting.
Thursday, 26 April 2012
My Edinburgh
My Edinburgh experience was monumental. You'll better understand that pun after seeing my photos. I'm not big on monuments but Edinburgh sure is and I was okay with that because although a tad excessive, it's part of its charm.
I left my place at dawn on Monday morning only to be informed my 10:30am bus was full so I had 4 hours to kill in Belfast. I chatted with an interesting hippie chick I met on the bus who is over from the states writing a book on wild mushrooms. A refreshing free-spirit to say the least! After departing I hopped on the Hop Off bus and toured Belfast in an attempt to give it do respect I lacked last visit. Gladly there are some bits to Belfast with heart that I heart, like the Peace Wall and this other activist wall I'll call the PSA wall and obviously the Titanic sight.
Segway to my maiden voyage to Scotland and I couldn't help but get a bit of a sinking feeling in my gut. I won't go too much into detail about the ferry itself as I could fill a page but I will say: comfy lounge seats and tables, wii, big screens, theatre, virtual fish pond that rippled when you stepped on it and ipads everywhere for use! Oh, and a bar. I Thoroughly enjoyed my plastic pint of stella at the bow of the boat. Very Kate Winslet I know.
My boat docked in Cairnryan, very South West. It was a beautiful day and the bus took the coastal route to Glasgow then over to Edinburgh. Glasgow has hints of Vancouver's layout to me. I swear we were driving down Pender.
Edinburgh. What a great city! I should know, I walked almost all of it. If Edinburgh were a video game I would be pac man and the streets and hilltops would be damn near cleared with little over-lapping. Some of the prettiest spots I found while finding my way, except when I got lost in Botanical Garden, that place is lost on me.
I arrived in Edinburgh at half nine on Monday night. After checking into my hostel (Castle Rock Hostel) just below the castle and right off the Royal Mile street in Old Town Edinburgh I climbed down the steps to the back and grabbed a fish and chip which I enjoyed on the benches outside while taking in all the intoxicated and eclectic passers-by. Edinburgh didn't seem to be a buzzing city but to be fair it was a week night and there's lots of construction going on.
Tuesday morning I was up and out of my hostel to take on The Royal Mile by 8am. I walked by many attractions; Giles Church, The Queens Palace, her church, parliament buildings (which I found quite odd and modern - not in a good way). Lots of tourist traps peppered throughout and I'm off to climb Calton Hill. Beautiful views of the city and a hodgepodge of monuments. In-between showers the sun appeared just in time for me to take photos. Don't let the blue sky pictures fool you!
After lunch I make my way over to New Town area and start finding my way to those unappreciated Botanical Gardens. After finding my way out I'm off to the Museum of Modern Art (which by the way most of the locals didn't even know where that was - or that they had one!) I got lost a lot and unfortunately ran out of time to see Our Dynamic Earth but I did see Edinburgh's MOMA and I'm in heaven! On the way I cross Dean Gardens - water of leith walkway and it's beautiful! I'll go into MOMA in more detail at the end as some people will not share my appreciation I'm sure.
Half seven I meet my cousin from Glasgow, Louise, for a meal. Unfortunately we pick a terrible place and do not stay for dessert. Off to royal mile with all the intentions of finding a cafe for tea - no go. Old mans pub it is! I sample a local dark ale - delish! And a crisp scottish lager, not as good. Brands I forget. We part, I sleep.
Up and out by 8am again I'm in search of Arthur's Seat as instructed by my father. What wasn't mentioned is that there's no actual seat so 45 minutes of speed hiking, two direction attempts and running into some locals I come to that relieving conclusion. Back down I go I have a bus to catch but not before stopping for tea in the least touristy place on the Royal Mile Clarinda's Tea Room. I enjoyed a warming pot'a and cinnamon toast in the antique looking room out at the street. I'd go back there! On my way home I find the last two attractions on my list; the Storytelling Cafe and John Knox house. Perfect! I'm racing to the Edinburgh bus station and back I go.
My UK stay-cation is finished at the legendary Crown Bar in downtown Belfast for a pint of the dark stuff.
Edinburgh's Museum of Modern Art:
Let me start by saying. What I love about modern art is looking at it and drawing your own conclusions and then reading about what the artist was trying to portray and looking at it again. It's conceptual and I like that.
One of the first pieces I loved where these 5-6 white canvases where there were impressions of peoples feet just past the toes. Miroslaw Balka "Entering Paradise" invited 12 homeless people to leave thier traces on an etching plate.
There was this series of six which the artist posted impressions of his body and orifices on black and white canvases. His anus and other unmentionables would be with a black background and fingerprints on white. Take what you want from it but he was trying to share a communality by using himself.
There was this Sculpture exhibit with a 20 ft new born baby and these pictures of people pinned up against the wall by wooden planks. Interesting.
One series was all about construction. Flat pictures on mirrors so you could see yourself it it. The picture was flat and you were the depth etc...
One room was full of vertical stripes of primary colours with the same colours waved throughout the middle horizontally around it. It was an american artist called Sol Lewitt who said, "The idea becomes the machine that makes the art." (Oprah voice) LOVE THAAAAT!
I left my place at dawn on Monday morning only to be informed my 10:30am bus was full so I had 4 hours to kill in Belfast. I chatted with an interesting hippie chick I met on the bus who is over from the states writing a book on wild mushrooms. A refreshing free-spirit to say the least! After departing I hopped on the Hop Off bus and toured Belfast in an attempt to give it do respect I lacked last visit. Gladly there are some bits to Belfast with heart that I heart, like the Peace Wall and this other activist wall I'll call the PSA wall and obviously the Titanic sight.
Segway to my maiden voyage to Scotland and I couldn't help but get a bit of a sinking feeling in my gut. I won't go too much into detail about the ferry itself as I could fill a page but I will say: comfy lounge seats and tables, wii, big screens, theatre, virtual fish pond that rippled when you stepped on it and ipads everywhere for use! Oh, and a bar. I Thoroughly enjoyed my plastic pint of stella at the bow of the boat. Very Kate Winslet I know.
My boat docked in Cairnryan, very South West. It was a beautiful day and the bus took the coastal route to Glasgow then over to Edinburgh. Glasgow has hints of Vancouver's layout to me. I swear we were driving down Pender.
Edinburgh. What a great city! I should know, I walked almost all of it. If Edinburgh were a video game I would be pac man and the streets and hilltops would be damn near cleared with little over-lapping. Some of the prettiest spots I found while finding my way, except when I got lost in Botanical Garden, that place is lost on me.
I arrived in Edinburgh at half nine on Monday night. After checking into my hostel (Castle Rock Hostel) just below the castle and right off the Royal Mile street in Old Town Edinburgh I climbed down the steps to the back and grabbed a fish and chip which I enjoyed on the benches outside while taking in all the intoxicated and eclectic passers-by. Edinburgh didn't seem to be a buzzing city but to be fair it was a week night and there's lots of construction going on.
Tuesday morning I was up and out of my hostel to take on The Royal Mile by 8am. I walked by many attractions; Giles Church, The Queens Palace, her church, parliament buildings (which I found quite odd and modern - not in a good way). Lots of tourist traps peppered throughout and I'm off to climb Calton Hill. Beautiful views of the city and a hodgepodge of monuments. In-between showers the sun appeared just in time for me to take photos. Don't let the blue sky pictures fool you!
After lunch I make my way over to New Town area and start finding my way to those unappreciated Botanical Gardens. After finding my way out I'm off to the Museum of Modern Art (which by the way most of the locals didn't even know where that was - or that they had one!) I got lost a lot and unfortunately ran out of time to see Our Dynamic Earth but I did see Edinburgh's MOMA and I'm in heaven! On the way I cross Dean Gardens - water of leith walkway and it's beautiful! I'll go into MOMA in more detail at the end as some people will not share my appreciation I'm sure.
Half seven I meet my cousin from Glasgow, Louise, for a meal. Unfortunately we pick a terrible place and do not stay for dessert. Off to royal mile with all the intentions of finding a cafe for tea - no go. Old mans pub it is! I sample a local dark ale - delish! And a crisp scottish lager, not as good. Brands I forget. We part, I sleep.
Up and out by 8am again I'm in search of Arthur's Seat as instructed by my father. What wasn't mentioned is that there's no actual seat so 45 minutes of speed hiking, two direction attempts and running into some locals I come to that relieving conclusion. Back down I go I have a bus to catch but not before stopping for tea in the least touristy place on the Royal Mile Clarinda's Tea Room. I enjoyed a warming pot'a and cinnamon toast in the antique looking room out at the street. I'd go back there! On my way home I find the last two attractions on my list; the Storytelling Cafe and John Knox house. Perfect! I'm racing to the Edinburgh bus station and back I go.
My UK stay-cation is finished at the legendary Crown Bar in downtown Belfast for a pint of the dark stuff.
Edinburgh's Museum of Modern Art:
Let me start by saying. What I love about modern art is looking at it and drawing your own conclusions and then reading about what the artist was trying to portray and looking at it again. It's conceptual and I like that.
One of the first pieces I loved where these 5-6 white canvases where there were impressions of peoples feet just past the toes. Miroslaw Balka "Entering Paradise" invited 12 homeless people to leave thier traces on an etching plate.
There was this series of six which the artist posted impressions of his body and orifices on black and white canvases. His anus and other unmentionables would be with a black background and fingerprints on white. Take what you want from it but he was trying to share a communality by using himself.
There was this Sculpture exhibit with a 20 ft new born baby and these pictures of people pinned up against the wall by wooden planks. Interesting.
One series was all about construction. Flat pictures on mirrors so you could see yourself it it. The picture was flat and you were the depth etc...
One room was full of vertical stripes of primary colours with the same colours waved throughout the middle horizontally around it. It was an american artist called Sol Lewitt who said, "The idea becomes the machine that makes the art." (Oprah voice) LOVE THAAAAT!
Monday, 16 April 2012
Good Friday
t's been a while since I've blogged. Truth be told, lack of financial funds have taken some of the 'fun' out of My Grand Travels. Thanks to the Canadian Government (oh but, once a year) times are changin'!
I never aspire to materialistic wealth (despite what some may think of me) but money can bring about so many other riches in the form of trips and experiences. Come June I'll be going to Pisa and Florence, Italy. (Happy birthday Hirmer!) Although I bought the Top 10 Rome book friends and personal research has changed my mind.
Looking at the map of Italy there's so many other places I would love to see and spend time in. Places that sappy novels turned movies and trashy US TV shows bring to light. I think the most important misfortune is four days in Italy couldn't possibly be enough to enjoy all the delicious food! So far I'm going solo if anyone wants to join or meet me there! I bet florence is beautiful in June!
Obviously my broke-ass spirits are lifted! And I just finished reading my fourth Cecelia Ahern book, "The Gift." Fuck she's profound and insightful for a fictional chick-lit author, (something she'll surely want someday written on her book cover as a review). I really must get cracking on my Eckhart Tolle book I started before Amsterdam or it'll succumb to the same fait his other two novels have with me.
That's my little travel update. I do plan on seeing Scotland this month and more of Northern Ireland and the Aran Islands have just popped up on my radar! (Sometimes I wish I drove as it'd be so much easier then a forever-taking bus.
(This may not get posted as my publisher is on holidays until after Easter.) Which remind me, happy easter! This may be my first once ever without being around family and lots of food so my soon-to-be-maid-of-honour body is thankful.
I never aspire to materialistic wealth (despite what some may think of me) but money can bring about so many other riches in the form of trips and experiences. Come June I'll be going to Pisa and Florence, Italy. (Happy birthday Hirmer!) Although I bought the Top 10 Rome book friends and personal research has changed my mind.
Looking at the map of Italy there's so many other places I would love to see and spend time in. Places that sappy novels turned movies and trashy US TV shows bring to light. I think the most important misfortune is four days in Italy couldn't possibly be enough to enjoy all the delicious food! So far I'm going solo if anyone wants to join or meet me there! I bet florence is beautiful in June!
Obviously my broke-ass spirits are lifted! And I just finished reading my fourth Cecelia Ahern book, "The Gift." Fuck she's profound and insightful for a fictional chick-lit author, (something she'll surely want someday written on her book cover as a review). I really must get cracking on my Eckhart Tolle book I started before Amsterdam or it'll succumb to the same fait his other two novels have with me.
That's my little travel update. I do plan on seeing Scotland this month and more of Northern Ireland and the Aran Islands have just popped up on my radar! (Sometimes I wish I drove as it'd be so much easier then a forever-taking bus.
(This may not get posted as my publisher is on holidays until after Easter.) Which remind me, happy easter! This may be my first once ever without being around family and lots of food so my soon-to-be-maid-of-honour body is thankful.
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