In the Swiss alps

Hey, Venice was a blast... we went to San Marco's square and the churches (the pigeons were absolutely insane... I don't reemember seeing so many at once). We went on a Gongola ride with romantic accoridan music and opera from another boat, it was the best time ever.

Today we hit the swiss alps and had an ascent to Mount Pilatus... the view up top was simply amazing... we went shopping in the town of Luzern and took in the views.

i'm afraid i cannot talk for long, internet is in high demand and expensive here. I loved Italy and Switzerland, and will be back one day.

Unfortunately i'm gettting a bit sick lately... actually running on a fever right now, so i'm going to bed now. mom and dad, i'll most likely give you a call today or leave a message. GAAAA being sick really blows... wish me luck on Paris... we leave tmw... and hopefully i'll be well enough to enjoy the city.

talk later... love lou

In the Venetian heat

The tour has been going so quickly. I left off at St. Goar in Germany. Home to the largest coo coo clock, the invention of the teddy bear and a famous beer stein shop. The town is so sweet and simple... but the architecture, displays in the shops and the people are unlike anything I've encountered. Feels like a new home :) There are castles converted into hotels right up the mountains. Angella and I took a hike up to one of them; the view was silent, still and spectacular.

The only pub still open was the one at our hotel. Everyone was inebriated by the time we got back. The beer bottles are big. I'm taking one home.

We took off to Munich the next morning. We saw the Glockenshpiel... (bad bad spelling... it's the big clock) a little golden bird sings everyday at 5pm. We drove by the field where Oktober fest was being set up, I wish I was around for that... another time for sure. We headed to the famous HB (Hofbrauhaus) beer hall. The place was MASSIVE!!! a field of tables... we were informed not to sit at tables with pictures hanging over them... they were reserved for the big drunks that keep their own beer stein at the HB. The tourists got served with 1L glass mugs. I had 2L of beer that night plus a traditional meal of pork palm and potato duplings.... I'm never eating again. Munich is beautiful and suprisingly packed in anticipation of Oktober fest. Everyone in the shopping district look very stylish. We took in the sights with what little time we had. Street performers were great. A violin and cello trio played Bach Air (my fave piece) and I also heard an xylophone rendition of Beethoven's moonlight sonata.... By an amazing and talented musician. I got yelled at by the fruit lady. Apparently, you can't touch the fruit you want to buy (because teh front ones are for display purposes). I had no idea what she was rambling on about in German, but I don't think she was wishing me good day.

We drove through the beautiful mountains of southern Germany today and headed into the Austrian Alps... all the while singing to the Sound Of Music, how perfect is that?!!
The view was breath taking. Castles from left and right. We stopped overfor a couple of hrs at an Austrian town called Innsbruck. It is surrounded by mountains, and home ot the biggest Swarovski crystal shop in the world. Austria was nice... I'll be back.

We drove throughout Austria and onto Italy. The commute has become some of the best parts of the trip. The scenery is well worth my $$... Plenty of grape vines in Italy. The wine is spectacular here. I'm headed to a night club to celebrate someone's bday... (someone who's already smashed beyond recognition at the moment).

This has been the most productive day in a long time... 3 countries!!!
arrividerci bella/bello!!!

On tour and luvin it

So I wrapped up my last night in london. I met a nice guy Elad from Israel. We hit a local pub called Waxy O'connor and it was a good time. The place was old english style with about 5 floors of hard wood floors and tables.

I met up with the tour and headed out. We drove past Belgium and onto Amsterdam. I met some awesome people already. This gal Angella from Australia is a blast. She's been living in London working and is going to Vietnam to teach english right after the tour... she's only 18!!!!
We took an evening river cruise through the canals in Amsterdam (which was absolutely amazing I almost lost it!!!) We took in the sights and took advantage of the wine and beer :). The city is beautiful at night because all the little bridges light up. Bicycles are vicious here!! they don't stop for anything. Angella, Danielle (another aussi) and I headed to the red light district after the cruise. The ladies are very beautiful, but don't ever take pics of them... they freak out at you. The district is packed, and we ended up at a ... coffeeshop and Angella and I each had a large ... coffee... and some coffee cookies. We spent the rest of the night trying to find the bus stop in the rain... we were actually wondering around for 2 hours... but we hardly noticed. The coffee is really good here. Angella was far gone... she kept laughing at everything ot the point of tears hahaha... we got told off by an 80 year old pimp... for standing to the girls too closely.... he told us if we did it again, we'd be up there... F@%!er.

Today we took in the sights of Amsterdam. I went to Anne Frank's house, which was enlightening. I'm going to read her diary when I get back. The shopping is nice here too.... just wish we had more time. We got onto the coach and drove toward Germany... a whole lotta messing around on the bus... Aussi's are just too much soemtimes, the bus just stopped at our hotel in Rhine Vally!!!! it is BEAUTIFUL!!! there are villages and castles built on top of mountains. Everythign is so quaint... one of the most picturesque places in Germany. too bad the weather's crap! I'm going to a wine tasting after dinner then taking one of those 1 litre beers down for a walk along the Rhine river.
gtg, i'm loving this like nothing else!!!

Time to hit the road

hey, so the last couple of days have been tame. I've been touring some more museums/galleries. The tate modern was really nice, great pieces of picasso etc. There was this one display there though... the artist's intentions was to show that if a kind character was acting irratically/violently... then it creates an unsetting feeling to the viewer; his proof was a video of him dressed in a clown suit and having some kind of hissy fit... interesting to say the least; i guess art is simply what you make of it. I met some Germans at the hostel, Phillipe, Patrick and Andre, we hit piccadilly circus. Patrick wore a pair of capris pants and Andre was in flip flops... needless to say, we didn't get into the pub. (which was a shame, because it was abar from "cheers" the sitcom) They're such dorks haha, but completely nice and decent. We had a great time chatting on the steps of trafalgar square and the night after that. Today I hit London Bridge (I expected a LOT better, but at least it hasn't fallen down), the Tower bridge was impressive and beautiful, the weather was nice and I've got a lotta nice shots of it. I visited the Tower of London and saw the biggest diamond in the world, there are huge ravens all over the castle, and they pose for you if you get your camera out.

I met my tour group today, they seem nice, a lotta Canadians. I set out tomorrow for Amsterdam. I got some nice tips from an experienced traveller this morning. So I'm definately going see a "cultural show" while there bwahaha!!! I have a hotel room to myself for the night :)

I'm at the Camden Street Market in northern London right now. here's a tip... don't ever wear a tight t-shirt and strut to your own music while walking down those streets. The neighbourhood is kinda iffy to say the least. A got approached by a bunch of Londoners of african decent. They wanted to "party" hahaha... yeah right, anyway, their persistance paid off and I told them I'd meet them at a jazz club later... but after a second thought, it's just not going ot happen. Easlier, I had intended to go there and listen to jazz with me and myself, but looks like I'll be avoiding the place.... crappy really, but I bet mom thinks I've made the right choice.

all-in-all, London has been good to me. The people I've met are absolutely amazing, I don't know what else to say... a select few I wish to have around forever. I know if I was travelling with a friend... the the experience would have been a lot better, but it probably for the best, I'll probably would have overdosed on happiness.
I'm gonna get outta this crazy town!! I'll write again soon. Euro time!

On the go

So right after I left the internet cafe, I happened to pass by the entrance to the National Portrait Gallery. A jazz ensemble was had just started playing inside with base, sax and vibraphone. They took turns doing solos. The sax blew me away! I guess when you get that good at your instrument, it becomes a sixth sense. as I sat down to listen, it sank in for the first time that I was actually here... I almost started sobbing :P.

It's been a nice couple of days. I moved into another hostel. It's massive but clean. I got in late and my roommates weren't there. I met a gal named Becky from Leeds. She had tattoos everywhere and even a row of metal insertions in her collar bone (so i looked like a row of bumps) She had a hard time explaining what she wanted to the Japanese piercing guy haha. I hit the hostel bar with her for £1 beers; butBeckyy had to meetsomem friends and left right quick. It's crappy when you're put in a situation where you HAVE tosocializee, even if you're tired as hell... pretty hard to put yourself out there and meet people soemtimes. We played this limbo game where after each turn under the pole you have to roll a die and that's the number of seconds you get beer poured in your mouth. This idiot didn't know how to aim that bottle, I got 6 seconds worth all over my shirt. People had more to say to me after that... another crazy night..

I'm going to have another crack at the National (portrait) Gallery today. British Museum was huge!! I'm really tired to be honest. my legs are giving out and my pinky toes are numb (something I should be concerned about?) so maybe i'll take 'er easy for a bit, it is Sunday after all :)

Cheerio

London madness!

I had the best night! Dinner was great, we had home made custard for desert. I met some more Aussies along with Mattea (sp?) an italian and a dashing Parisian named Geoff. I decided to hit Piccadilly with them after dinner. We met up with Mattea's friends Andreas and Paulo. The crazy italians talked loudly in italian... which Geoff and I just don't understand... there was a lot of talk about"cigarettas"... anyway, we got to this club called a.k.a. that plays a whole lotta house music. It was total madness in there!! Geoff took a stool out of the lounge and we had to take turns dancing on it. The boys were so much fun, they're just crazy. I felt like a lucky gal!! At one point, the DJ decided go hardcore, everyone ... EVERYONE had their hand up in the air and were just dancing their hearts out and screaming, it felt bloody fabulous!! We kinda spread outselves all around and met most of the people there, from all over the place. I have a deep impression of this local bloke... Robert. His motto was "all or nothing" if I remember right; his dancing was so severe, I got punched a couple of times from standing to close.

Teh club closed at around 3am and we saw Andreas and Paulo onto a bus. Geoff and I were sad to see Andreas go. It was funny, we kept kissing him and yelling "I love you I love you!!" as he was getting on the bus. Mattea, Geoff and I walked through piccadilly which was still packed and onto Trafalgar square. We were exhausted but still joked around and sang... they told me the dinner was not great, but at least they met me, haha, gosh did I ever feel special. We managed to get back to the hostel at 4am and someone's sleeping in my bed! I took the empty bunk above that, when I woke up the next morning, I noticed my sheets were different than the rest of the beds... so whoever actually sleeps there probably didnt show up for the night... gross.

I was supposed to meet up with Geoff to see the Changing of the guards before he set home for Paris, but he didn't show up for breakfast, I figure he passed out. I spent the day taking in the city, Buckingham palace, Big Ben, Westminister abby, london eye, trafalgar square and shopping districts. Buckingham palace was amazing!! it cost a lot to get in but worth every penny.

Mattea's going to another club in Piccadilly so I might go if I see him... otherwise, relax for a night to prepare for Saturday night... stuff is expensive here!!!

I regret not bringing my camera on my nights out... but I managed to find this. if anyone (Jill my lover) can host this picture for me, or just save it, it'd be great. the site gets updated a lot and I don't want to lose this photo. It's of the gang in Manchester.

I'm gonna go, bye!!! ZZZzzz

.... in London now

hey, so last night was fun. I got back to my hostel after walking around the city for 10 hrs or so. I had to get ready to go out with a bunch of people right away. I met some great Aussies (Suzy, Charlette and Emmerson), a new zealander Kevin and some fellow Canucks from Calgary (mark), Newfie (adam) and GTAers Melissa, Dave and Eric. We first hit an Irish pub to watch the football match between Ireland and italy. Ireland ended up losing 2-1 I think, but people had a ball drinkin and talking. We left and took a walk down the gay district by a cute little canal. Everything was so lively and happening, with plenty of attractive but unavailiable brits.

We got into a nght club called the Ritz. They were havng a 70's retro night with the love train and the whole bit. we had fun dancing and got back at around 2 or 3 and had toast (the only free food at the hostel) half the group was missing at this point, but we found them at the hostel later... so yeah, that was fun.

I left manchester for london this morning at 10 and met a great Irish gal going to a festival somewhere down south. I really want to check out ireland now, so definately on another trip. She said the crack of the irish (which means their character and way of life) is great. It's also hard to battle a weak Canadian accent with the strongs ones of Aussi's and brits, i'm sounding more and more british by the minute!

London is ok, i haven't had time to see the place yet, but did walk up and down the same street for a while looking for the hostel. things are really quiet here, so I hope to meet some people soon. I'm going to dinner with desert and wine for 5 pounds soon. Gotta go!

Manchester

HIIIIIIII!!! i'm in the manchester library right now, it's huge!!!
the plane ride over was nice, the you can see the cities light up at night when you fly over them.

Manchester is amazing!! the buildings are made with such detail. i met some nice people at the hostel and toured around the city with a passionate spaniard Santiago. We went to a lot of museums like the Loury and the Urbis, which was an urban interactive museum. My favourite so far. We took a tour of the Town Hall, which was gigantic and powerful.... and toured the city on a double decker bus. BLOODY AWESOME!!! I don't have much time left, so i'll sign off.

England is great. Everyone is so well dressed and posh. I keep on having to look to the other side for oncoming traffic, it's totally backwards!!

Cheers!! Lou

Farewell

Here goes the my last entry before I set off to Europe. It's gonna be crazy fun. I'm leaving tomorrow at 7:35pm from Pearson International and spending my first day touring Manchester. Then it's off to London on a double decker bus. I'm spending 5 nights there (which is a long time) but I'm sure there will be a lot to see. My last 3 nights alone involves a stay at the Generator Hostel. It's been voted one of the top 10 hostels in the world and a guaranteed good time. My tour starts off on the 23rd, and going to 8 countries in 10 days. I'll be getting off in Paris and touring the Museums and relaxin for a couple of nights. I found a cheap hostel for 15 euros a night :D. After that, I'm taking a coach from Paris to London, passing the Somme Valley battle fields.

I'm gonna get so freakin lost! I remember feeling so nervous a week ago... and now, exceptance. it's time to go with the flow.

I'm going to write when I get over there. So mum and dad will have to check in too (I haven't figured out a way to call you guys yet).

So long, farewell, ta ta!!

So long Stratford

My stay has finally come to an end... I promised myself I wouldn't spend anymore money this week, unfortunately, I have no food at my house... I am really tempted to steal an ear of corn from this corn field... really tempted... really hungry... so, hunger induced insanity will justify my actions right? Either that or harvesting my landlady's garden for dinner... we'll see what happens.

Going bleeping crazy!!

I’ve been listening to incessant beeping all day. I’m helping the IT guy reprint labels. They must be manually fed and each time the printer beeps 3 times to tell you it’s ready for some more. If I do it strategically, I can cut the printer down to a half a beep. It takes precise timing, something I’ve gain through experience of this rewarding task.

Half a beep is still a beep. MAKE IT STOP!! I’m driving everyone else in the office nuts as well. You can hear it all the way through the hall, AROUND A CORNER!!
I’ve been thinking…. real hard about how to make this printer work continuously. To which the IT guy responded “it cannot be done.” F@$#er... the printer I mean… go bleep yourself!!

Right now I’m typing with one hand while frantically pressing the feed button with the other. Can someone video tape this? If I can’t get a printer to work, I can at least tell kids to stay in school.

In search of Ellavation

If they asked me, I could write a book.
About the way you walk, and whisper, and look.

I'm luvin this song by Ella Fitzgerald called "I Could Write A Book" Heard it on Canadian Idol last night... yes the secrets out, I love that show, they put US talents to shame. The theme was the standards genre.... so I've got a lot of jazz to look into :)

On a totally depressing note, my evaluation came in... I have a rank of between good and very good... it sucks arce, because I really didn't get an opportunity to prove myself. Hoping for a fresh start next term. My last 2 days of work will involve zeroxing stuff for the IT guy... this really is a junior job!! never again.

The pressure or lack there of... of work is lifting; but I'm more overwhelmed than ever. I still have a lot of planning from hostels to transportation to $$, still haven't decided whether to leave the tour early and stay in Paris. A good 2 solid days of clicking around will hopefully get me somewhere. I'm still in my prepping stage and already I feel I need more time over there. My gal Nadia is in Vienna after the 20th, it pains me to know I could go visit her but have no time to. Another time perhaps, although it'd be nice to see how she handles European gents... oh riot.

Good Day Sunshine

I've been listening to some kickass classic rock courtesy of Wolfy, it's got almost every Beatles song under the sun... even their crappy period.

Work is wrapping up, my bosses will be talking to me about my evaluation soon too... geeez... i've got a bad feeling about this one, but just too tired to care at this point. I've been going to the library every evening to plan out this trip... seems i've been intending to do that a lot lately, but end up reading "Fashion" magazine instead. Don't get me started on the fall collection WOWY!!! I'm starting to think money really can buy happiness... or at least the cutest white dress in history.
There won't be much room in my luggage, but I"m bringing a dress damnit!!

check this out... http://www.wibsite.com/wiblog/dull/
The littliest activities in life can generate such a response... inspiring really...

Blah.

I'm bummed out by laziness. This work report is not getting done, my room is a mess :S. I've also been disappointed by a friend. this person has such charisma and energy. Which makes it hard to believe that he cannot find the resources to perform the simplest of favours. he's adamant on appologizing for things he doesn't do "Sorry I can't help you more on this and that." but he can, he's fully capable and knowledgeable!! maybe it's laziness, but the true let down stems from the fact that I would do just about anything to help him, and my worth doesn't nearly compare in his eyes.

I am over reacting... but it's the way I feel right now. Whatever, i'm going to listen to music now. Sorry about this post.

Pebbles and butterflies

I did some research on my trip to Europe yesterday… actually managed to find the blog of someone who went on the exact tour I’m about to embark on. I have some free time before and after the tour. The plane lands in Manchester, quite a distance away from London… I’ll be taking some kind of coach there. Then I can hopefully find a cheap youth hostel and tour with people. Nothing is guaranteed to go the way we plan though. I’ve decided to leave the tour early and stay in Paris for an extra day or so… then take the water tunnel train to London. Other than that, NOTHING IS PLANNED!!! I’m leaving in 10 days… a time I once could hardly wait for, and now seems like it’s quickly approaching. I feel like I had a nice helping of pebbles and butterflies… they’re stuck.

Brings me back to a time when I asked a cute boy from work out on a date. I was delighted when he said yes, but the date was still to come! I liked him, a lot… and I remember feeling like a nervous wreck right before going out… like vomiting nervous… going to Europe without a clue nervous!! and I had no one to thank for my current state but myself. We ended up having an ok time, but never went out again. I hope London will work out better. I didn’t regret asking the cute boy out… and I’m sure as heck not going to regret this trip… it’s going to be bloody awesome!! There’s a lot more to research on my part, but you’d never know what to expect until you’re in that crowded London street, or across the table making leisurely chit chat with the cute boy. I can only prepare for so much, and have to take my chances with the rest… DIVE DIVE!!!

Ok… I’m blabbering now… on another note, I would like to share my new desire. I desire to be a better writer. This blog has shown me the limit of my vocabulary and expressive ability, like a Eurasian speaking Quack in 1984 (if you know what I mean). My first step is to try to read more and check up words I don’t know instead of skimming idly past them.

Must get back to work. Maria, Faraz, and Steve are coming to Stratford for a play today, should be really nice to see them!

Exercise your member!!

My class is changing its class name again… we need to come up with a good name and logo, or slogan. If anyone out there has ideas, which I’m sure all of you do, fill me in. I’m in Mechanical Engineering… wit away!!

On another note, http://searchforlove.blogspot.com is hella funny. This gives you an idea of what work has been for me. Hope Geoff and Mike see this (I doubt it) but something tells me they’ll get a kick out of it.

Weekend at the Cottage

I spent my weekend with Jill at her cottage on Lake Erie, she was nice enough to pick me up from Brantford on Friday. Janet, Matt, Matt’s friends Yuhoi and Brian came in the evening and us gals headed down to a gnarly pub called Norfolk. This town doesn’t have a smoking by-law yet… so it’s been a while since I was in a smoke filled room. A U2 tribute band called Elevation was playing there that night, they did U2 proud!! Even looked the part too… the electric guitar work was great. Why doesn’t waterloo (a much bigger town) have those bands performing at bars? Maybe I just haven’t seen any. We headed down to the beach lighthouse afterwards… it was deserted and we had a good time singing our hearts out at the pier.

Next day… after we ate a hearty breakfast, headed down to the beach. Sun and water were right on the money and we girls had fun swimming. Somehow, I thought it’d be funny to make a wreath out of seaweed and wear it on my head; I caught the attention of some cute gals from Berlington who wanted to take a picture with me… geeezzz I must have looked like a swamp lady. Ironically, the guys were sitting around… tanning I suppose, and left after they got burned. We had dinner at this restaurant patio right on the beach. I had grouper… it’s this monster ugly looking fish from Florida, it was great. We headed to a club called the Turkey Point Hotel afterwards, the line-up was INSANE!! We didn’t end up getting in, but did see a brawl between police and some drunk guy outside. The stars were f#@$in incredible.

Woke up Sunday with the biggest heat stroke, the tent was about 50 degrees inside. It was nice to just lounge around with people though. In fact, I’m not sure if we did anything besides going to dinner at this other restaurant by the beach. Best coleslaw EVER! We lit a fire and burned things, which is always a good way to pass the time, then headed down to the lighthouse again… some more loud singing ensued, mostly on my part… glad my friends didn’t throw me overboard.

Headed down to Stratford on Monday… I met this interesting guy on my way back. He was an electrician/Samurai Swordsmen who had an accident with the sword, though they reattached his thumb, it can never bend the same say again. He also had a whacked out theory about how Bin Laden works for the CIA… he takes orders from the US and therefore the London bombings were the result of the US being bored, and wanted an excuse to use their weapons and power… ok there….

Anyway, great weekend, great friends and too much work to do… I will sign of. So long and thanks for all the fish.