With 5 days to go and many goodbyes to make, I'm starting to fear the end.
My last post concluded at the end of Canada. An absolutely amazing experience, in which has increased my love of Canada, and has also made me miss my wonderful Canadian friends so much more!! I cannot thank Laura and Emily enough for their lovely hospitality! I hope to be able to return the favour if they come to Oz! (which is hopefully soon!!)
After returning back to Guildford, I soon moved into my flat. The first night I remember to be awful. Being in a new house, with people you don't know, it reminded me of my first night in Glasgow. The nerves soon left me as I unpacked all my things the next day and got further settled in.
On July 8th I celebrated two amazing years with Nathaniel in Belgium. It was a very welcomed weekend away in a Country that I am now very very in love with! Unfortunately to get over to Belgium, it takes a ferry ride to get over to France and then onto Belgium...my love of ferry's has become more apparent. The day after we returned from Belgium, I was off again, back on that exact same ferry on my way to Amsterdam with my cousin, Matt. This ferry ride was definitely not as fun as advertised, as an unexploded WWII bomb was found in Dover harbour, and so our ferry was delayed till 3am with caused our 11hr bus/ferry trip to be 13hrs.
Once in Amsterdam, Matt and I visited unbelievable amounts in only 3 days. The highlight of Amsterdam was meeting up with Cora, a friend who I worked with back at the good old RSL at home. She took us to a proper Dutch restaurant, where I tried a Dutch soup with pea and ham. It was delicious but unbelievably filling, therefore we needed to wash it down with Dutch beers! :D The time we spent together was seriously not long enough. It just makes my want to return to England/Europe increase.
From Amsterdam we bussed to Brussels (yes, back to Belgium :D )
Brussels was so different the Holland. The was a perfect mix of old and new, displaying their love of beer, chocolate and waffles EVERYWHERE!!! (hello extra 2kgs)
In Belgium, the beers are far and wide the best I have EVER had. They also include the very sweet and flavoursome fruit beers, no, not cider, fruit beer. Instead of dinner on our last night, Matt and myself indulged ourselves on many many different beers, the best.
This trip was the last time I shall visit Europe before I leave for Australia.
With two weeks left of Guildford I went on my way going to the gym, into town, bike riding, and dying in the 30 degree weather.
I have 5 days left of my trip until I return to the motherland, and in that time I have planned:
.Nigerian night
.Aussie shindig
.batman at IMAX
.Olympic ceremony
.Olympics Volleyball
.much much gym and cooking
The next days will disappear in a flash, and even though I cannot wait to go home, I don't want to leave everyone and everything behind. I am already dreading the goodbyes and farewells, and have refused to start packing in the hope of forgetting reality.
The last question that needs to be answered is through all my travels, every country, every experience, did I end up finding wonderland?
Wednesday, 25 July 2012
Sunday, 1 July 2012
Happy 145th Birthday Canada! :)
I'm not sure where I left my last blog, probably would have been a good ideal to read over it before I start a new one...but I didn't....
NOTE: due to lack of organisation, I may repeat myself somewhat during this blog.
If anyone ever wants to go to a non English speaking part of Germany, Hanover is the place to go. My great Uncle fort in WWII as an RAF pilot and was shot down on one of his last missions, and so, my uncle thought it appropriate (considering he was the same age as myself when he was killed) to visit his war grave in Hanover. This place was unbelievably tranquil, and so very lovely. Although, if you want to go to a touristy town, this is not for you. The only things to see in Hanover are possibly the war graves and a half blown up church, other than this, it's a fairly boring, ordinary town.
From Germany we traveled to Ireland, Dublin. We had booked day tours around the ring of Kerri and the Blarney Stone, not realising that these places were a 3hr train ride away from our hotel in Dublin. Whilst fighting the weather (which poured the whole time we were there) we pushed on and kissed the stone, saw the sights and fell asleep on the trains.
God seemed to be very persistent on keeping us in Dublin as when it came time to catch our ferry to England, it had been cancelled and the next one was 6hrs later. My patience was definitely challenged as we sat in an empty ferry terminal waiting till 2:30pm to board our ferry.
York proved to be a bit of an adventure. After visiting Hanover days earlier, we stayed on the theme of my Great Uncle, and so, we visited Brighton airbase where he would have flown off from.
This airbase is now, quite literally, a manure field. hmmm...not exactly a well kept and preserved part of our history...Saying this, Uncle David did not give up on finding the runway and hanger areas of the old base. (We even drove through black, stinking manure water to get there)
From York we traveled to London where I said goodbye to my uncle. It was so sad to say goodbye. I just want to take some time in thanking him. Although many of the people reading this don't know him, and will probably never meet my uncle, he is one of the kindest and generous people I have had the pleasure of having in my life. It is so wonderful to travel with family, and truly get to know them on their good and bad days. Although by the end of our trip i'm sure Uncle David was glad to be rid of my impatience, complaining and random 2hr naps in the middle of the day. I still enjoyed every minute and wish I could go back!
1 day after fare welling him, I flew to Canada. I traveled on Air Transat...and I sweat they are archaic. Having an 8hr plane trip ahead of me, I was ready to sit down and watch some movies, only to walk into the plane and find that there were no T.V's on the back of the seats, instead they had 1 small t.v above every 10th seat in the middle row. Lets just say that I was less than impressed. (and less looking forward to my flight home tomorrow night)
At the Airport I was greeted by Emily Dubis, a friend I met on Exchange. It was so great to be reunited with her, and it's always so welcoming having someone waiting for you at the arrivals gate.
My jet lag seemed to be the end of me, and at 9pm I crashed so bad.
The next day was Emily's 21st birthday and so I stayed home (whilst she had work) and made a chocolate mouse cake for her. That night she had many people come over to celebrate, and after being asked to 'speak Australian' multiple times during the night, I went to bed an early 12am. (mainly knowing that I had to get up to catch a 8:50am bus to Montreal)
My hate for public transport continues as my 5hr bus ride turned into a 6.5hr one due to a crash on the freeway. Arriving in Montreal was easy, having only have to make a 5min walk to my hotel I had no problem....except for the part where I tried to check into the wrong hotel, but a part from that, nothing went wrong.
Whilst walking around in the morning, I soon realised that Cirque Du Soliel was in town (obviously, as Montreal is their home town...) and on the spur of the moment bought ticket (how lonely does that sound) to go see it that night. I had already booked in for a bike tour that day, and so after riding around Montreal in 32 degree heat, I had to run to the show so I didn't miss anything.
From Montreal I took the bus into Toronto where I met up with Laura, my flat mate from Scotland. I still feels surreal being able to spend time with her and Emily, having met them in Scotland, now meeting up again in Canada.
I am now an expert in travelling around on the public transport system in Toronto and although the Canadian's my complain about it, I much prefer it to England's!! I have traveled to the Beaches districts, down town Toronto, the Island, went to see a Blue Jays game (Base ball) and have gone to Niagara falls. Each place is so unique and interesting, it seems sad that I only have 1 week here to see things, it's just not enough time!
Niagara is such an interesting place! the falls are AMAZING! SOOOO beautiful! Laura and I went on the maid of the mist and got soaked as we were awed by the wonder of Niagara falls. But alternatively, the streets leading up to the falls are trashy and somewhat reminded me of Las Vegas in the US, because there was little to no class associated with the blingy, in your face buildings. From Niagara we visited Niagara on the lake. A quaint little town that juxtaposed Niagara to the extreme! It was a much more enjoyable place to eat dinner.
Today is Canada day and whilst happily sitting here watching Spain beat Italy in the Euro (is it a bad thing that I'm Italian and going for the opposing team), it saddens me to know that tonight is my last proper night in Canada as I leave at 9:50pm tomorrow.
Highlights of Canada:
.THE SUN (over 30 degrees every day)
.Reuniting with firends
.Poutine
.Tim Hortons
.Bagels
.Bike riding
.Niagara
Lowlights of Canada:
.Heat rash from the sun :( (see what you've done to my Scotland)
.Montreal buses
.Knowing that after tomorrow, I wont see my Canadian friends again for a very long time
Both Laura's and Emily's families have been so wonderful allowing me to stay with them, and putting up with me. I am so blessed to have these wonderful people in my life, and to be able to experience all these wonderful new places.
Today also celebrates my last month away. In exactly one month I will have arrived back in Australia, back to family, back to friends, and back to normality.
NOTE: due to lack of organisation, I may repeat myself somewhat during this blog.
If anyone ever wants to go to a non English speaking part of Germany, Hanover is the place to go. My great Uncle fort in WWII as an RAF pilot and was shot down on one of his last missions, and so, my uncle thought it appropriate (considering he was the same age as myself when he was killed) to visit his war grave in Hanover. This place was unbelievably tranquil, and so very lovely. Although, if you want to go to a touristy town, this is not for you. The only things to see in Hanover are possibly the war graves and a half blown up church, other than this, it's a fairly boring, ordinary town.
From Germany we traveled to Ireland, Dublin. We had booked day tours around the ring of Kerri and the Blarney Stone, not realising that these places were a 3hr train ride away from our hotel in Dublin. Whilst fighting the weather (which poured the whole time we were there) we pushed on and kissed the stone, saw the sights and fell asleep on the trains.
God seemed to be very persistent on keeping us in Dublin as when it came time to catch our ferry to England, it had been cancelled and the next one was 6hrs later. My patience was definitely challenged as we sat in an empty ferry terminal waiting till 2:30pm to board our ferry.
York proved to be a bit of an adventure. After visiting Hanover days earlier, we stayed on the theme of my Great Uncle, and so, we visited Brighton airbase where he would have flown off from.
This airbase is now, quite literally, a manure field. hmmm...not exactly a well kept and preserved part of our history...Saying this, Uncle David did not give up on finding the runway and hanger areas of the old base. (We even drove through black, stinking manure water to get there)
From York we traveled to London where I said goodbye to my uncle. It was so sad to say goodbye. I just want to take some time in thanking him. Although many of the people reading this don't know him, and will probably never meet my uncle, he is one of the kindest and generous people I have had the pleasure of having in my life. It is so wonderful to travel with family, and truly get to know them on their good and bad days. Although by the end of our trip i'm sure Uncle David was glad to be rid of my impatience, complaining and random 2hr naps in the middle of the day. I still enjoyed every minute and wish I could go back!
1 day after fare welling him, I flew to Canada. I traveled on Air Transat...and I sweat they are archaic. Having an 8hr plane trip ahead of me, I was ready to sit down and watch some movies, only to walk into the plane and find that there were no T.V's on the back of the seats, instead they had 1 small t.v above every 10th seat in the middle row. Lets just say that I was less than impressed. (and less looking forward to my flight home tomorrow night)
At the Airport I was greeted by Emily Dubis, a friend I met on Exchange. It was so great to be reunited with her, and it's always so welcoming having someone waiting for you at the arrivals gate.
My jet lag seemed to be the end of me, and at 9pm I crashed so bad.
The next day was Emily's 21st birthday and so I stayed home (whilst she had work) and made a chocolate mouse cake for her. That night she had many people come over to celebrate, and after being asked to 'speak Australian' multiple times during the night, I went to bed an early 12am. (mainly knowing that I had to get up to catch a 8:50am bus to Montreal)
My hate for public transport continues as my 5hr bus ride turned into a 6.5hr one due to a crash on the freeway. Arriving in Montreal was easy, having only have to make a 5min walk to my hotel I had no problem....except for the part where I tried to check into the wrong hotel, but a part from that, nothing went wrong.
Whilst walking around in the morning, I soon realised that Cirque Du Soliel was in town (obviously, as Montreal is their home town...) and on the spur of the moment bought ticket (how lonely does that sound) to go see it that night. I had already booked in for a bike tour that day, and so after riding around Montreal in 32 degree heat, I had to run to the show so I didn't miss anything.
From Montreal I took the bus into Toronto where I met up with Laura, my flat mate from Scotland. I still feels surreal being able to spend time with her and Emily, having met them in Scotland, now meeting up again in Canada.
I am now an expert in travelling around on the public transport system in Toronto and although the Canadian's my complain about it, I much prefer it to England's!! I have traveled to the Beaches districts, down town Toronto, the Island, went to see a Blue Jays game (Base ball) and have gone to Niagara falls. Each place is so unique and interesting, it seems sad that I only have 1 week here to see things, it's just not enough time!
Niagara is such an interesting place! the falls are AMAZING! SOOOO beautiful! Laura and I went on the maid of the mist and got soaked as we were awed by the wonder of Niagara falls. But alternatively, the streets leading up to the falls are trashy and somewhat reminded me of Las Vegas in the US, because there was little to no class associated with the blingy, in your face buildings. From Niagara we visited Niagara on the lake. A quaint little town that juxtaposed Niagara to the extreme! It was a much more enjoyable place to eat dinner.
Today is Canada day and whilst happily sitting here watching Spain beat Italy in the Euro (is it a bad thing that I'm Italian and going for the opposing team), it saddens me to know that tonight is my last proper night in Canada as I leave at 9:50pm tomorrow.
Highlights of Canada:
.THE SUN (over 30 degrees every day)
.Reuniting with firends
.Poutine
.Tim Hortons
.Bagels
.Bike riding
.Niagara
Lowlights of Canada:
.Heat rash from the sun :( (see what you've done to my Scotland)
.Montreal buses
.Knowing that after tomorrow, I wont see my Canadian friends again for a very long time
Both Laura's and Emily's families have been so wonderful allowing me to stay with them, and putting up with me. I am so blessed to have these wonderful people in my life, and to be able to experience all these wonderful new places.
Today also celebrates my last month away. In exactly one month I will have arrived back in Australia, back to family, back to friends, and back to normality.
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