Quick note about Ireland and Paris...

Sorry for the lack of posts lately...here are a few quick notes about my stays in Dublin and Paris...

DUBLIN
Monday
- Got lost at 11pm at night, trying to find my hostel...people partying everywhere!
Tuesday
- Walked around and saw OConnell Street, Parnell Square, street concerts in St.Stephens Green, Grafton Street
- Went to the National Museum of Ireland, Trinity College; Douglas Hyde Gallery
- Went out for dinner and drinks with Deirdre...met an irish man wearing a Ottawa Senators pin...made friends with him
Wednesday
- St.Pattys Day!
- Saw the parade, more people and more green than I have ever seen in my entire life!
- Met up with Katrina and Kayla ( two architecture students doing an exchange in Madrid)
- Went to bar number one...had great street meet for dinner
- Met up with Katrinas sisters friend, Justin and his Irish friends at bar number two...had my first whole Guiness to myself (soooo filling)
- Headed with the whole group to bar number three...had green beer and did the irish jig
- Went with Irish friends to bar number four...picked up a nagan of husset (mickey of vodka...so weird) along the way...did the jig and belted out Fairytale in New York in the bar
- Met back up with the girls and went to bar number five, six and seven, before getting some street meat, making friends with some cops, and later heading to bed
Thursday
- Went to a great cafe for lunch with the girls
- Wandered around St.Patricks Cathedral, Guinness Brewery (too long of a line to go in) and St.Stephens Green
- Headed to the airport and caught a flight to Oxford

Hung out in Oxford for two days before heading to Paris

Paris
Sunday
- found hotel and finally food, and hung out in the hostel bar
Monday
-Saw St.Chapelle, Notre Dame, the Louvre, Orangerie, Tuileries, the Eiffel Tower, the Arc de Triomphe, Champs dElysee and Centre Pompidou
- went out for a French dinner
Tuesday
- Headed to Chartres to see the Chartre Cathedral
- Walked around Montparnasse
- Had a dinner of cheese and baguette on the Seine
Wednesday
- Headed to Poissy to see La Villa Savoye by Le Corbusier
- Visited the Musee dOrsay
- Had a crazy last night at the hostel bar...met alot of travellers...made friends with the French people that worked there...went out to another bar...spoke French alot
Thursday
- Visited the Cimetiere de Pere Lechaise...kissed Oscar Wildes grave...saw Moliere and Jim Morrisons graves
- Headed to a dodgy area of town to meet up with our travelling tour...got caught in a downpour of rain and hail while we were walking there (all our stuff got soaked...I think I have to throw out my shoes)
- Met the people on our Topdeck tour at dinner
- Went on a night Tour of Paris
Friday
- Wandered around Paris for the day
...and am now heading off to a French dinner where I will be trying escargot before leaving for Switzerland tomorrow...



Pictures to follow...

Norway

Spent my first week in As, Norway recovering from jetlag, and getting used to the snow. During my second week, we decided to venture out of As (since there is nothing in this town...not even a coffee shop), and head to Oslo.

During our first visit to Oslo, we saw the Design and Architecture Centre of Oslo...some cool industrial design projects, but the rest of the centre was kind of disappointing. We then headed to the Munch Museum - there was so much security, but I guess that can be expected seeing how the "Scream" has been stolen so many times. I was very suprised by the "Scream". It looks so much more vibrant in books, but when I say it in person, I realized that it is crayon on cardboard...literally. It has probably faded since it was done in 1893, but still I was so surprised. After the Munch Museum we met Ingrid, and headed to the Oslo Opera House. I am in love with the Opera House. It is such elegant architecture. You view it as art, but still realize it is a building...it is breathtaking. We climbed to the roof and saw amazing views of Oslo.

On our second trip to Oslo, we saw Alice in Wonderland in 3D. The theatre was beautiful, and parts of the movie were well done, but there didn't seem to be a point to have it in 3D. After the movie, we raced to the train station, hoping to catch the 11:48pm train back to As, only to realize that there was no 11:48 train, and that there was only a 12:48am train. Having an hour and a half to waste, I wandered back to the Opera House to take pictures at night. It was lit up, and was this beacon in the fjord...it was beautiful.

On Saturday, night we went to an "Around the World" party hosted by the international committee at Hayley's school. It was fun to see all the different nationalities, and how they party. I am sure I will see alot more of that as I head to Dublin for St.Patty's Day!

Copenhagen...my new love

Last weekend, Hayley and I headed to Copenhagen to celebrate her 21st birthday. Upon arrival, we were very excited that there was no snow! Copenhagen is so beautiful. The buildings are colourful, the streets are all cobblestone, people bike everywhere, and the city is so safe, that bikes aren't even locked up. I want to learn danish and move there!

After navigating through the city to get to our hostel (we got off at the wrong subway station), we ventured out and had an amazing vegetarian buffet dinner at Riz Raz. We were so excited to see taboulah and hummus, and fresh baked pita bread!

On Saturday, after grabbing coffee and some pastries, we decided to explore Christiania - an original hippie commune. We entered through this wooden arch, and found a small neighbourhood that was covered with graffiti, including alo of graffiti that said "no photos". After walking along for a bit, we began to feel uncomfortable when the locals, and their barking dogs, started to stare at us as they warmed themselves by flaming trash cans. We quickly ducked out of there, and decided that it probably would have been a better idea to visit Christiania in the summer, not at 10am on a cold Saturday in March. We then went shopping in the town square, out for a sushi birthday dinner, and then headed to a club called "Rust" to see the danish version of "tegan and sara", and a female dj accompanied by a contemporary dancer.

When we woke up on Sunday, Hayley had some sort of stomach flu, so we decided against biking and taking a brewery tour (our original plan), and instead walked around the University of Copenhagen, and then checked out the Danish Design Centre. It was amazing - full of sustainability themed installation art and icelandic architecture. As we caught the right subway and headed back to the airport, all I could think about was what a dream it would be to move to Copenhagen and study at the Danish Design School...

Journey from Seoul to As

4 flights, 3 airplane stir-fries, 2 trains, 1 bus...

I have finally arrived in As, Norway, or at least part of me has...my bag is still in Hong Kong!

It all started when I left Tamara's in Seoul at 9:00am on Monday, March 1st, and took an hour shuttle bus to the airport. Everything was going smoothly, until I found out that there was bad weather in Beijing, and that our take-off would be delayed. After an hour delayed, we flew the 2 hours to Beijing (had airplane stir-fry #1 for lunch). I got my bag, and went to check in for my flight to Hong Kong. Since it was a connecting flight, and my final destination was London, I asked them to forward my bag to London (so I wouldn't have to pick it up during my 2 hour lay-over in Hong Kong). They agreed, and I proceeded to my gate.

Once again, the take-off was delayed (no idea for what reason). We finally took off, an hour later than expected, and I had a peaceful 3 hour flight to Hong Kong...during which the airline played Christmas music (no idea why), and I had airplane stir-fry #2 for dinner . We landed, and were dropped off in the middle of the runway. I was at the back of the plane, so had to take the second shuttle to the airport. As I was waiting for the shuttle, I realized that my connecting flight was leaving in 45 minutes! Upon arrival at the airport, I jumped off the shuttle, and started pushing my way through the swarm of passengers from the Beijing flight. As I looked up, I saw that there was a man ahead of me holding a sign with my name on it. He told me that the gate for my connecting flight was closing in 10 minutes, and that we had to run. We swerved our way through the crowds of people, going in the staff lines at security, and literally running at full speed through the airport. In between dodging people, and gasping for breath, I explained that I really needed my bag to make it on the flight. He assured me that they should be able to get it on, and that he would call down to the basement to make sure. I thanked him, and walked onto my flight.

When I got on the plane, I found out that I was in the middle aisle, squeezed between two people, on a 12 and a half hour plane ride. I also realized that my airplane tv didn't work. So here I was on a 12 and a half hour flight, stuck in my seat, no airplane movies, and consuming airplane stir-fry #3. I decided to put on my ipod, listen to some Amanda Marshall (who is for some reason my "go to" artist when I need to zone out), and try to practice meditating.

After 8 hours of sleep, 2 more hours of Amanda Marshall and a curious, hot English breakfast, I arrived in Heathrow...or at least part of me did. It seems that my bag didn't make it on the flight! I went to baggage enquiries, and had an interesting conversation with the British Airways representative:

Me: I just landed and can't find my bag
BA rep (after looking up my tracking number): It comes in tomorrow
Me (getting a little teary eyed): I won't be here tomorrow...I am leaving for Norway in 5 hours.
BA rep: Do you really need it?
Me (holding up my satchel that held my magazines and wallet): Yes...
BA rep: Are you staying in Oslo?
Me: No in As (pronounced OZ)
BA rep: Oh, so you are in OZlo...
Me: No, in OZzzz

After talking to him for 20 minutes, we agreed for them to send my bag to the Oslo airport, where Hayley and I would be flying out of on Friday on our way to Copenhagen. I thanked him, went and bought a bus ticket, and boarded a 2 hour bus to Essex...sans sac. Checked in at the Stansted airport in Essex, bought a delicious sandwich (was so good...probably because it was the only non-airplane food I had had in 2 days), and flew to Torp, Norway. Upon arrival in Norway, I bought a train ticket to As, where Hayley (my younger sister) is staying, and took a shuttle to the station.

After boarding the train, I found out that I was on the wrong train, and quickly switched at the next station. A beautiful 2 hour ride on the train, and I was at the Oslo station. I quickly transfered platforms, and followed the swarm of people onto the last train...I barely made it on, I literally had to worm my way on to the second last step...it was packed! Half an hour later, the conductor called out As, and I let out a little "yeah". I jumped off the train, and fell into Hayley's arms...