TravelStream™ news feed for member kamyp on TravelPod's free travel blogs service http://www.travelpod.com/syndication/rss/kamyp en-us Copyright ©2009 TravelPod.com Sun, 12 Apr 2009 17:48:08 -0400 http://www.travelpod.com http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/kamyp/1/1239582960/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/kamyp/1/1239582960/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/kamyp/1/1239582960/tpod.html Sun, 12 Apr 2009 17:48:08 -0400 Wombling thru the UK (A Ray inspired trip)

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York, England, United Kingdom

We departed from Edinburgh (Waverley station ) on the 10 o'clock train and passed through some of the most scenic railway. For the majority of the first hour of the journey the coast line of Great Britain was within our visual range and it was stunning. The route from Waverley station to London's Kings Cross is a route that is steeped with history, specifically that of the "Flying Scotsman". Within 2,5 hours we disembarked at York station and proceeded to our hotel which is next door. The Royal York has always served as the railway hotel and it is nothing short of magnificent. The station access is almost directly from the platform but this entrance can be very deceiving. It is the parking entrance that you can see the true beauty of this hotel. Usually, I don't rave about the hotel that I stay in but this one is very special. After all the historic buildings and castles that we have seen through these travels, I can finally pretend that I am a princess staying a beautiful manor ;) - if only for a little while.
York is a historic city with wide ranging activities to suit everyone's requirements. I had to get to two sights: The York Minster and the National Railway Museum. It is Easter weekend so with a bit of logic and research I found out that the Minster was closed for the tours on Easter Sunday but obviously open for worship. A Minster for those who are wondering is "the Anglo-Saxon name for a missionary church". A cathedral is a mother church of a diocese and it houses the seat or 'cathedra' that the bishop sits upon. So the next time you want to impress someone you can throw in that fact...or not. The York Minster is the largest medieval Gothic church in Northern Europe and is well worth the effort to visit. This was the first sight that we chose to visit after we had checked in at the hotel. If you enter the minster as a tourist, there is an admission fee which is different for the various activities that are available (the minster, crypts and the tower). The minster is simply gorgeous!!! Even though I have a preference for Gothic churches, I think that images of the church prove that it is not just my bias. I was lucky enough to join a free, informal tour which is available to all individuals at set times. This service is provided by the minster. Once this was complete, I wandered through the church admiring not only its striking beauty but taking the opportunity to pray and reflect. I also decided that I would climb the 275 steps to ascend the central tower to its highest point of 195 ft/ 60m. I had to pay for the privilege of getting hot and sweaty as I climbed the cold,spiral staircase with 49 other people who also bought into this idea. I know : 'There is a bridge that you want to sell to me.' :) As we climbed the tower, the choir was preparing for evensong and the sound of their beautiful voices served as the inspiration to get up and down. This is the highest point in York and I got some really beautiful views of the city. We finished at the minster fairly late and there was nothing much else to do but wander through the Shambles. This is a meandering, narrow medieval street that is probably the best preserved medieval street in Europe. The cobbled stoned street is lined with specialty stores that invite you in to see their wares. The Shambles can offer the visitor anything that their heart desires from food to lace stores with everything in between. It is also the spot that you should go to if you want to go on a Ghost tour. As I wandered through the city, it becomes obvious to all but the blind that this city is different. It has a medieval city wall through the city and anyone is able to walk on it.. It is alot of fun and well it gives one the feeling that one is invading the city in a skirmish.

The next day we went to the National Railway Museum which is the largest railway museum in the world. My friends among the readers will be shaking their heads and tutting at my need to go this particular museum but it worth the day out for the family. As a little boy said to me: 'There lots of choo-choos. I like choo-choos'. He was cute!!! It is a place that young and old seem to satisfy their fascination with the railways. Britain has a strong railway history and one that they are extremely proud of. This is evident in the effort that I have put into the NRM. These are not just exhibits,they completely restored train sets. It is an amazing experience. There are two large halls each with 20 steam locomotives and train sets. Access is also provided to the workshop in which they preserve these trains. The Rocket, the first steam locomotive and the Mallard, the world record holder for steam traction are on display in their complete glory.In addition, the royal trains are lined up at the platforms almost pleading for you to board so that they may transport you to somewhere that is special to your heart.Evetually I had to leave this wondeerful place to get back and prepare for our departure back home. Even though, we didn't spend a great deal of time in York, we had a magnificent time here and it is place that I will definitely come back to when next time I am wombling through the UK. It was a fabulous ending to a fabulous holiday!!!!!!
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Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom

We had planned to cross the border into Scotland and onto Edinburgh but before we did I wanted to see the wall that Hadrian, Emperor of Rome had built in AD 122 to keep the the marauding Scots out of Britain.He realised that there was no way to control them instead he built a wall to keep them out. The wall spans 117km and is extremely close to the border with Scotland. I really wanted to see this fortification with a little bit of planning I had narrowed the possible locations to two - Housestead's Roman Fort and Chester's Roman Fort. Since I didn't know which of the two would be a better location, I decided to stop off at the visitor's center which was 1,5 hour drive west of Windermere. The drive as with all our wandering in this part of the world was incredibly beautiful. As usual we tried to capture the beauty that surrounded us but as usual we were unable to do the area justice.

We arrived at the Once Brewed Visitors Center and the very nice lady at the center indicated that with my limited time, I should see Housestead's since it had a really good section of the wall and the fort gave a really good impression of what it felt like to be stationed at the wall.She did point out that it was a bit "blustery today". This is a euphemism for that there is enough wind for a wind farm generate electricity for all of Johannesburg. Well, I didn't know any better so I was off to Housestead's. I discovered that it was a 15 minute walk to the fort itself and the wall came in on the North East corner of the fort - became the north battlement and extended further west. In addition I would be able to walk on the walk for a bit. This sounded perfect.I was truly excited about all this.We arrived at the fort but we decided that I would go in alone as it was a "bit blustery" and I started on my walk. The path to the fort took me through grazing land and though the path was predominately uphill but I felt that I was finally a part of the land that I have tried to describe. As I started to wander through the ruins I was struck ,other than by wind that was slicing through my pants, by the strategic genius of the fort.The location of the camp gave the legion stationed there a great 360degree views of the area. The hills that I trudge up also made it difficult to attack the fort from the flank. This was an amazing experience that gave me a greater appreciation of this great civilization. As I stood on the northern battlements, it started to rain. It was awful. The wind howled, the rain lashed and I understood what it must have been like for those poor souls who were stationed at the furtherest edge of the Roman empire. I also wondered why the Romans put so much effort into the defending of this land!!!! I left the fort and walked around the western edge through the gate toward the wall with the wind howling around me. As I reached the wall itself, I walked through the trees and heard - nothing. The strategic genius of the Romans used the surrounding trees as protection for the soldiers who had to stand duty on the wall. As my feet trudged into the stones surface, I could easily imagine my feet being replaced by those of a Roman soldier. I,thankfully, had a very short tour of duty at Housestead's. I am sure the Romans who left the fort probably left much as I did - with a smile on the face and gladness in the heart. We left for Edinburgh after a well deserved cup of tea. It was on this drive that I feel in love - with Scotland. We crossed the border and everything seemed different. The names of towns were more romantic and there was definite time warped quality of the surroundings. As we drove through Edinburgh, it became obvious that the city father's have fought to retain the old world history of the city. It is beautiful!!!!

We had to return the car the next day so this took up a fair part of our morning as we had to navigate through Edinburgh. This would not be a problem usually but there are upgrades being done on the public transport system - they are building a new tram system. This means that it is not an easy task traveling through the city. This being said, it does not detract from the appeal of the city. We then proceeded to the visitor's center where we bought our "hop on-hop off" tickets which included the entry into the three historic attractions. We also used the opportunity to take the first of many magnificent pictures of the city. We went on the tour that took us through the "Old town" and "New Town". This gives the impression that you would find skyscrapers and modern buildings in the New Town - actually the buildings there date from the Georgian period which though they are not as old as the buildings in the rest of Edinburgh but they are not exactly post-modernistic by any stretch of the imagination. The tour also provided us with the opportunity to go to see the Royal Yacht Britannia, which was Her Majesty's official means of ocean transport until the ship was decommissioned in the late 90's. The yacht was not as opulent as the other residences that we had visited but it does have a garage with Rolls Royce in it. It was not a waste of time but it did not have me enthralled. The Edinburgh Castle on the other hand seems to have captured my imagination and as the most predominate building in the Edinburgh skyline I had plenty of opportunity to admire it. We walked home that evening through Princes Garden and I really did believe that I would be able to move to this city and be happy. I could be cliche about the whole thing and say that I felt that I was home but I have to say I do have a sense of belonging in this city. Perhaps its all the romantic novels and Braveheart that have helped create this familiarity.

We spent the last day in this city exploring the two sites that I believe every traveller to this city should visit - the Edinburgh castle and wandering down the Royal Mile. The queue that snaked toward the ticket vendor at the castle made my heart drop but the ticket that I had purchased with the tour bus gave us direct access to the castle. No queues - yes!!!!! The Edinburgh is not a castle is not an opulent residence of a monarch - it is a fort that has defended the city through invasions and uprisings.This history is available for the visitor to explore and discover. The castle sits atop a volcanic rock known as Castle Rock and its domination of the Edinburgh skyline gives the visitor ample opportunity to view the Edinburgh skyline unhindered. These highlights include Salisbury Crag, Arthur's seat, the port of Leith, Old town and New town. The sheer cliffs that are found on three of the four directions have made it all but impregnable. I loved the castle and the fascination that I had from the exterior was only deepened as we explored the interior of the castle. As I learned of the stone of destiny and the Honours of Scotland, I became increasingly fascinated by the Scottish history. As I walked down the Royal Mile,I had the incredible feeling to explore this country further. I guess Edinburgh gave me a glance into a country and know I want to explore this further.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/kamyp/1/1239144000/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/kamyp/1/1239144000/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/kamyp/1/1239144000/tpod.html Tue, 07 Apr 2009 13:56:29 -0400 Wombling thru the UK (A Ray inspired trip)

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Windermere, England, United Kingdom

Well my stay in London was over and though I was a bit sad ,mostly because I realised that I wasn't in time capsule and soon I would have to leave, I was excited to explore a part of the world which I have never seen previously. I was also a bit daunted and worried, I have hired a car but hadn't asked for satellite navigation!!! Silly girl. We left London and got the direct train from Euston station and in two hours we were Lime Street station in Liverpool. We picked up the car and managed to rent a sat nav from the agent and we were off. The trip I am pleased to say was uneventful. As we got closer to the Cumbria region of England, we encountered the most strikingly beautiful landscapes. Although this may not be the most beautiful place in the world but it gives everywhere else a run for its money. The luscious green rolling hills provided a spectacular canvas for the quintessential pastoral settings.Many of the buildings were made of stone while every boundary wall was less than 1m high and was constructed from stone.We passed through the winding roads and at the end was a wonderful hotel situated on the edge of Lake Windermere and this is were we are lucky enough to have spent two nights. Supper was delicious and extremely expensive, three course gastronomic wonder. Coffee was served in front of the roaring fire and as I gazed up toward the lake, I realised fairy lights had been used to decorate the patio. I was sure that I had found a little piece of magic in England.

I was swept into memories of my childhood today and it was wonderful!!! We spent the day at the World of Beatrix Potter Attraction and then at the Motor Museum : Cars of the Stars. The Beatrix Potter Attraction has incredibly managed to create the world of Peter Rabbit and his friends exactly as it has been illustrated the Beatrix Potter novels. It was heartbreakingly perfect in every detail. The imaginary world was one in which I was very easily transported into and then sadly I had to leave. While I was there, I smiled the entire time and the joy that I felt in my childhood as I read these books, was encompassing. Beatrix Potter resided in the Cumbria region of the country and it is this area, scenery, animals and people that proved to be the inspiration for her much loved children's books.

From the Beatrix Potter exhibit, we travelled to the Motor Museum in the town of Keswick. The scenery on the way to Keswick proved to be spectacular and Mum had to deal with the fact that I was constantly stopping to take photographs of the scenery at every opportunity. The rolling hills seemed to go on forever and each opportunity to pass through the hills allowed us to view vegetation in golden and green hues. The lake provided a spectacular backdrop for this setting. It was a marvellous drive but unfortunately too short for us to really appreciate the palette that was before us.

Finally we arrived at the Motor Museum: Cars of the Stars exhibit. This little gem of a museum houses the vehicles from famous movies and television series.It is a definite stop for any movie buff or TV fanatic. Unfortunately we are not allowed to take photos in the exhibit as the copyrights to those vehicles all remain with the studios that created the movies :( I will give you an idea of the types of vehicles that I saw: The bat-mobile, KITT, the
A-team van, Mr. Bean's little mini and the Noddy Car.Although the exhibit isn't very big for the price that you pay as an entry fee but in mind it was absolutely worth every cent.

As I get ready for my departure to the next stopover in my womble around Great Britain, I am sure that I will be back to this beautiful part of the world. I will definitely take more time to explore the natural beauty that this part of the world has to offer.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/kamyp/1/1238948580/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/kamyp/1/1238948580/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/kamyp/1/1238948580/tpod.html Mon, 06 Apr 2009 16:38:34 -0400 Wombling thru the UK (A Ray inspired trip)

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London, England, United Kingdom

Spent Saturday in the best possible way - with my family in Basingstoke.It was an amazing day which was filled with familiar laughter and happiness. It was fun catching up, reminiscing and planning for the future.Yax and Addy have a 10 week old baby girl who is the reason that I am in the UK. Tigger is definitely going to bring happiness to all of us. It was a long day for all of us but one that we all enjoyed immensely.

Sunday was the last day of the leg in London and we were both exhausted. As a result we wanted to be able to enjoy the last of London and do some sightseeing but still be back early enough to pack our bags and with all that money that I have spent in this economy, you can bet this was going to be a challenge.We decided that we go to Harrods department store in Knightsbridge. Harrods is really part department store and part tourist attraction.The crowds outside Harrods is only rivaled by the crowds watching the changing of the guards ;) The store itself is bewildering.There are five levels and the entire store spans a block. The store is so big that it has a store guide that is actually pamphlet!!!! The store has a central staircase that has a Egyptian theme and it nothing short of awesome. Tourists not the real shoppers literally walk around with their jaws dragging on the floor. The store has become some what of an institution with tourists and many can't leave from London without a little green bag as a souvenir. The management of the store have caught up with this fact and the result is that they have an arcade dedicated to obtaining souvenirs for the store. I am ashamed to say one of the many tourists who walked away with a little memento of the occasion - stop laughing at me :)

Harrods has a policy of being able to source anything for a customer - anything. There are rumours of tigers having been purchased through the store (and that was not me *grin*). As I wandered through the store, I found myself in the furniture department - specifically the ANTIQUE FURNITURE section with its £40 000 furniture. This store opened my eyes to how the other 5% of the world live.I guess if you have the money, there is always something to spend it on. Harrods has a food hall that would make your mouth water and heart quicken- a gastronomic Eden if I have ever seen one. There is also a poignant memorial to Princess Diana and Dodi Al-Fayed who were killed in Paris in a car crash.I did thoroughly enjoy my time wandering through the store and I guess if I was a part of the other 5% I could design a couple of items that I could spend my money on.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/kamyp/1/1238805540/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/kamyp/1/1238805540/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/kamyp/1/1238805540/tpod.html Sun, 05 Apr 2009 12:22:00 -0400 Wombling thru the UK (A Ray inspired trip)

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London, England, United Kingdom

After a late evening at the theater the night before, we had to be up early for the only tour that we had booked for the trip. It was a 10,5 hour tour to Windsor Castle, Stonehenge and Oxford. This was a select tour which meant that the there was no real tour guide to speak of at the respective locations but there are time limits to each of the locations.We were accompanied by a tour guide called Mel who also conducted a free walking tour of Oxford of approximately 40 minutes to give you an idea of the highlights of the town.

First stop was Windsor Castle, which we were told is the favorite residence of the Queen. To highlight this fact, when we got this magnificent castle, we saw the royal standard flying on the flag post - which means that the Queen was in residence. Believe it or not, she didn't invite me in for tea. Quite disappointing :( We had two hours to entertain ourselves at Windsor Castle which resulted in a sprint through the place. It is a glorious example of a working castle and it was quite easy to close my eyes and imagine that we were in the era of knights and ladies.We walked through the public areas of the state rooms. These rooms were absolutely magnificent but unfortunately like in practically all historic sights, we were not allowed to take an photographs. This is truly a pity but you are then forced to buy the postcards pf each room that are sold in the shop or you have to try to keep the memory of the rooms. My favorite room was the St.George's hall which is often used for banquets at Windsor. Although the room is not the most opulent - it is beautifully decorated room with the shield of the Knights of the Garter. The entire castle is incredibly opulent and has 1000 year history dating back to William the Conquerer. The other beautiful architectural specimen was St, George's chapel and is many people's opinion the best example of a church from the middle ages in Britain. I have a tendency to agree with them bit then again I think that I have a preference for Gothic architecture.The castle also gives the public the chance to see the ceremonious "Changing of the guards." This is a better place to watch the ceremony than Buckingham palace as the guards are not obstructed by large gates and due to the timing of our travels, no thronging crowds.The two hours definitely was not enough and I will want to go back when next I am here.

From Windsor Castle, we travelled for 1,5 hours to the middle of nowhere to see the most mystical site in Britain - Stonehenge. Stonehenge is a love it or hate it kind of place for most people. I fall into the love it category. It is not the site that intrigues or stirs my interest but just the mystery behind the site that intrigues me the most. Questions filled my mind as I looked at the site. What is the purpose of the henge? How did this civilization get everything to construct the site? Why was it so important to them that they could bring rocks from Wales to this location in the middle of nowhere? Who did they construct such a complicated piece of architecture with their primitive tools?Aren't we a bit full of ourselves when we believe that we have wonders today when they were able to build structures that survived for 5000 years? Well the trip didn't give me any answers to the questions but I have to admit that I did enjoy the site immensely.

Finally, we were off to Oxford to what is the oldest university on its original foundations, Balliol College. There is great rivalry between Oxford and Cambridge and this becomes obvious in the bot race that is held every year.This year Oxford were the winners. We wandered around the campus and saw sights such as Exeter College, Radcliffe college, All Saints College. It was beautiful and there were splendid examples of Georgian architecture. The college is actually the sight of Sir. Christopher Wren's first architectural attempt and it was done while he was a professor of Astronomy at the university. Talk about a career change ;) We got back to London exhausted but pleased with our efforts of the day. We have memories that will be difficult to describe. Ultimately it was a day that was well worth our time and efforts.
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London, England, United Kingdom

Obama mania and the G20 summit hit London at the same time - what a combination for me. I really wanted to get close enough to Barack Obama to see him but I didn't want to risk my life for it. With that in mind I decided that I would avoid the Square Mile i.e. the oldest part of London and the heart of the London financial district for the next two days. Seems like a good plan - lets implement it. As a comment, the protesters at the G20 summit are protesting against capitalistic system that has resulted in the global recession. The result as we all know has been that there have been numerous bail out packages for the ailing financial systems. The protest action that they took is meant to shut down the economy of London for at least the duration of the summit - which is ironic because all those people who can't work, can't put money back in the economy and the result is a deepening recession. I see the logic in that. Enough of my rambling (which did have a purpose - I promise) , I will get off my soap box and tell you about my travels ;)

We spent the day in Kensington, far from the G20 protesters yet still enjoying the sightseeing that comes with being a traveler / tourist. Well I spent some money in the English economy and wandered through what is really quaint street (with great shopping). It is very easy to believe that we have been transported to the Georgian era and some gentlemen in a horse and carriage is going to pass you by. The houses are all still very Georgian to Victorian in architecture and I found it to be quite romantic. From High Street Kensington, we wandered into the immaculate Kensington gardens and to Kensington palace. I have to admit,I found Kensington palace to be informative but disappointing. I learned a great deal about the debutantes (which kept me in the Victorian age for a bit) and saw Queen Mary's boudoir but other than that it was not very inspirational. King William moved into Kensington Palace because he suffered from asthma and as we emerged from the palace I realized that much of the reason that King William of Orange moved here is still intact and that is truly remarkable. We ended the day in the immaculate grounds of Kensington Palace watching the world go by. It was then that I realized that I truly enjoyed this wonderful Spring day in a chilly London.

Day two of the G20 protests - and know what do you if you want to avoid the mess.You go the Science Museum!!!!We also needed to be close by to the hotel as we had tickets to watch Phantom of the Opera in West End. The Science Museum left me with very sore feet and feeling like a kid again. There was so much to see, experience and discover. It can be information overload if you are not careful. I decided on the divide and conquer strategy - picked those things that I wanted to see and enjoyed them all thoroughly. We left the museum and realized we needed some rest before our night out at the theater. The play and the music is something that I extremely familiar with but it still managed to delight me. The sets and the music were awesome but it does come with a warning - this kind of theater is not for everybody. As I laid my weary head on the pillow that night, I became acutely aware of how blessed I am to experience all of this.
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London, England, United Kingdom

Well I am back in the truly cosmopolitan city of London and it has been a chilly reception. I don't mean the people - its the weather.When I boarded my BA flight out of Johannesburg,it was balmy 27 degrees Celsius. When I landed it was -3 degrees Celsius.It was a bit of a shock to the system but I took it with all the grace that I could. Mum and I spent the first day of our return journey ensconced in the comfort of our hotel room - mostly because we were exhausted.There was no point in pushing ourselves,we had bit of time in the city and we were better prepare than the last time. There is just on little spanner in the works - the G20 summit.Oh well,I guess we will just have to work around the potential security hazard.

Spent our first full day in London, wandering around the city. Regent and Oxford Streets were both great places to walk around and get a feel for the city. I became acutely aware that the recession is here - from the empty stores that have been placed under liquidation,the specials at the cafes and the posters advertising that "you should recession proof your career - study at a certain University". It is also sale season - so I felt compelled to help out this economy by spending some of my hard earned money in the stores along the way up the street. Then it appeared - the store that is guaranteed to bring you delight if you have a child hidden in you somewhere - HAMLEYS. The deliver anywhere in the world :) Well I had to restrain myself and more importantly my mum but after two hours we emerged with gladness in our hearts,less money in our wallets and stuff. Oh well...I helped out this economy. We proceeded to Trafalgar square where we had a late lunch with the pigeons. It was actually a perfect afternoon.I proceeded to take pictures of South Africa house - don't make fun of me- then it was off to the National Gallery where I was surrounded my magnificence of art.This gallery truly explains the meaning of quality over quantity. The art housed in this gallery is truly spectacular. When I finally emerged, I was exhausted but I knew I was back in London.

It was a spiritual day for me today - I spent it at St.Paul's Cathedral and Westminster Abbey :) Took the obligatory pictures in front of the 1666 commemorative monument and as close 10 Downing Street as I could get.No.10 was not as spectacular as I thought it would be - it is just a house. A well protected house but just a house. It also confirmed the distinct feeling that quite naturally the Prime Minister is not the head of state.Westminster Abbey was beautiful and it is truly just as much a historic place as it is a religious one. The abbey has stood in the form in which we currently see it since the 13 th century and has been the place where most of the monarchs have been coronated.The abbey is home to the crypts/ tombs of many of the monarchs including Elizabeth 1 and Mary, Queen of Scots. The high vaulted ceilings and the magnificent stained glass windows were beautiful but paled in comparison to the glorious St. Paul's cathedral. St. Paul's Cathedral. The entrance of the cathedral is very austere but as one proceeds to the dome and the quire, one is able to see the magnificence of Sir. Christopher Wren's masterpiece. The quire is covered in mosaic while the dome dome is painted in a style that makes it look like it has been etched or sculpted into the ceiling. One climb up the dome up 352 steps where you are able to get one of the most beautiful views of the London skyline. Of course, I was compelled to see the view and get a workout in the process. It was beautiful and it reminded that London has stood in one form or the other since Roman times - and really I don't think that London bridge can fall down - it will survive this recession as it has stood everything else.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/kamyp/2/1190685600/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/kamyp/2/1190685600/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/kamyp/2/1190685600/tpod.html Sun, 22 Mar 2009 16:10:16 -0400 La Dolce Vita

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Florence, Tuscany, Italy

I left Venice with a heavy heart - I was really starting to enjoy the city immensely and I had to leave again. That is a problem with having a time line - you have to be be somewhere else. I have to change that eventually but for know I will enjoy these trips with time lines. I really need to learn to get to the stations a bit earlier - all of this Amazing Race type departures are starting to become tiresome.This time I got the station, only to end up in the longest line ever.Miraculously I got my ticket with about five minutes to spare and I was off to Florence. I ended up in a compartment with three people - a couple from Singapore (the less said about them, the better) and a magnificent red-headed lady from Seattle, Washington called Heather. The couple from Singapore had been occupying the compartment illegally so they were eventually kicked out - they spent some time with me in Florence and from them I learned that you reap what you sow. Heather and I spent the next five hours chatting on the train (about life, love and everything else) and it turned out that we were very like minded in our reason's for travel. I gave her a couple ideas to as to where she could spend some spare days in her trip and promised that we would see each other in those cities that our paths crossed. I had got my first travel buddy :)

I got Florence late in the afternoon and had to make a choice regarding my activities for the next couple of days. I decided that I would have to go to the Pitti Palace and the Gardens of Baboli, the statue of David and the Uffizi museum.Problems that faced me, the long waiting times (3 weeks) if I did this on my own or I could book a place on a tour and I could get in the next day. I chose the tour. I still had the afternoon so I was off to the Pitti Palace. Firstly I stopped off in the Piazza della Signoria, were I saw the replica of the statue of David and other beautiful pieces of art like the "Rape of the Sabine woman". The later was intense and upon first glance the entwined bodies looked like they were dancing. I guess the artist managed to convey a horrific act perfectly. The Medici family who ruled Florence were patrons of the Renaissance
and Florence is littered with articles from their treasure trove, a great deal of which can be found in the Pitti Palace.I enjoyed the Pitti Palace immensely and I am left with a memory of painting of a lady in a white dress. I was convinced that her eyes were able to follow me around the room. I was on the last people to leave the Palace and as the echo of the door slammed behind - I was disappointed that I was unable to see the gardens of Baboli. As the sun set over Florence, I walked passed the Ponte Vecchio and the Duomo, I pondered over the difference between Florence and Venice - each beautiful but so different in character. The basis of mankind's search for knowledge - the move from the dark ages to an age of enlightenment started in Florence - and the Renaissance has definitely left its mark on Florence.

My last day in Florence was rather busy. A walking tour of the city followed by tours of the Academia (which houses the Statue of David) and the Uffizi. This was a day of true wonderment. I learned that the Ponte Vecchio was initially a road on which you could only purchase meat but the smell bothered the rulers so it was decreed that only gold and jewellery can be sold on this road. Alot less smelly and a better choice for all the ladies out there. The Duomo has a Latin meridian clock in it - one that measures time from 6pm not midnight. I saw the ancient homes of the wealthy which had bath rooms ( no running water but they had running slaves - my tour guides joke). I went into the Duomo and marvelled at both the architecture and the beauty of the church. The highlights though were nestled inside the Academia and the Uffizi. The statue of David was magnificent - and it boggles the mind that he was single piece of marble. The perfect proportions and the distant loving look in his eyes (his pupils are actually hearts ;) ) confirms that Michaelangelo was a superstar. After the tour was over, I took some time to sit in the hall and admire the statue that has become a iconic but you can't take any pictures. I guess it is a symbol that has to remain a part of your memory. Finally the day ended in Uffizt, with a tour of the development of art. I got to see the Sandro Botticelli's "The birth of Venus" and works of art that have made the Uffizi world famous. As I try to explain to everyone the majesty that is enclosed in the walls of the museum, I become acutely aware that I am unable to justly convey this.I would like to go back to wander those halls again but this time unhurriedly so that I am truly able to savor the beauty that is there.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/kamyp/2/1190341560/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/kamyp/2/1190341560/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/kamyp/2/1190341560/tpod.html Sun, 22 Mar 2009 14:44:56 -0400 La Dolce Vita

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Venice, Veneto, Italy

Switzerland is a great place for chocolate lovers. My friends truly enjoy this indulgence. What kind of friend would I be if I didn't send back to them. This meant that I had to find a post office and the associated paraphernalia. With the usual Swiss efficiency and completeness I mailed my presents home. Swiss efficiency worked for me with the post office but I had to really move quickly to make my train from Lucerne to Venice via Milan. This was going to be a long day in the train so I settled down with my book and music as I anticipated my arrival in Venice. This is city that I had vowed to see before it sunk under the canals that make it so unique. Well I was on my way.

I have to admit that I quite enjoy travelling by train - I watch the world go by, I ponder and the best part of it all (I don't have to do anything). On the other hand, I don't see the byways and hidden treasures of the country - but I guess nothing is perfect. Train travel allowed me to interact with people or enjoy the peaceful countryside. At Milan, the quiet was interrupted by the slow Texan drawl of lady whom I later found out was called Anita.She was travelling with her husband Paul, who it turned out was also in the rail industry. I spent an enjoyable trip with these wonderful people, who I am pleased to say, I am still in contact. We were both excited about this respective leg of our holiday and were swapping tips and ideas on the Venice and other parts of Italy. All of this was watched by lovely Italian gentlemen named Francesco -who didn't speak any English. It turns out that Francesco was very proud and of his beautiful Italy and with my meager Italian (and Italian phrase book) he helped me find the best sights for me to visit. It was probably on of the nicest conversations I have ever had. Francesco was a real gem!!!!

Finally we reached Venice and it was pouring!!!! I thought that I could make it to the hotel that I was booked into :The Santa Chiara which is located close to the train station . I forgotten that the blocks in Venice are separated by BRIDGES.By the time I got to the hotel it looked like I had fallen into the Grand Canal.I don't think that I am fussy traveller but the Santa Chiara....was special. The Santa Chiara is advertised as converted palace - I was obviously living in the broom closet. I didn't mind the small room, the inability to walk around my open bag, the drain that was under my window, the shower that was separated from the toilet by curtain - I think the thing that got to me was the black walls with embroidery work on it.I decided to give it go though so I cleaned up and went out to supper at restaurant close to canal. Here I overheard (I am so nosey) the conversation between an older American lady and her hunky younger Italian artist boyfriend. It seemed like something out of a movie - it was the first sign that I was in the city of love. I was loving it here and I do hope the lady and the young man are still together.

The next morning I woke from fitful sleep were I dreamed that I was buried alive in a coffin - this combined with no real breakfast to speak of made me decide that I needed to leave the hotel. I realised that nothing has to be perfect but it has to be good enough. Even though I felt like wasn't a real traveller, I decided that I wasn't going to let this spoil my time in Venice. I transferred to the Savoia and Jolanda which was absolutely wonderful and decided to get going.I spent my time at St. Mark's square and the Basilica,wandered through the Doge's Palace and then wandered through the streets of Venice. I spent the evening with Paul and Anita where we eventually ended up in St. Mark's square. It turned out to be an incredible day. I was impressed by the Basilica - the workmanship and the beauty while square seemed like the melting pot of the world. people of every nationality all wanting to one of the most beautiful sights is Europe. I was there and fulfilling parts of my dreams and it doesn't get any better than that. I was horrified to hear that a trip in a gondola was going to cost me 100 Euro.This is the one event that defines a trip to Venice for me - something that I always wanted to do.I guess I 'll have to grudgingly pay the money.

I decide that I was going to see as much as Francesco suggested that I see, but I was going to walk everywhere. This would give me the opportunity to gain a feel for the character of the city and enjoy the beautiful day that had dawned. I set off the Santa Maria Della Salute Church, the Doge's museum, the Scuola Grande di San Rocco, the Accademia, the Church of the Frari, the Rialto bridge (where I had lunch) . in all of these places I saw beauty and history that made me smile. Venice is unique and this has become a part of its character. From the masks on the street that remind of the masquerades and Casanova to the beauty of Tintoretto's version of the Sistine Palace as well as the music that fills St. Marks' square at night- Venice is truly unique. As I stood on the Rialto bridge, I was approached by a Czechoslovakian guy to take some photos in front of the grand canal with him. I said he didn't even know me - he replied Its Venice. I guess that sums up Venice - anything can happen. I ended the evening with my gondola ride around the grand canal. Other than the expense I was afraid that I would look silly and feel depressed after (it is meant to be done by couples) but Antonio my gondolier made laugh and smile the whole way. It was lots of fun. I was relaxed and I felt it.

Overall I loved Venice. It was everything I hoped it would be. There is so much that I haven't seen but I guess it is a reason to go back ;) Looking back, if I were to be quite honest - this was undoubtedly my favourite city.
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Lucerne, Lucerne, Switzerland

I left to Lucerne the next day and I found that the heaviness that was there the day before had not left me. I decided that I wasn't going to put pressure on myself and that I was going to accept each day as it came and for its own challenges. On my way to Lucerne I met a lovely lady on the train who happened to be a pollution scientist at the University of Bern. It struck me that a great deal of work was being done to maintain this apparently effortless beauty that surrounded me.It should actually be quite obvious that success doesn't happen by chance - it is something that requires effort and commitment ;)

This day as it turns out was one of the most memorable of my life - not because I was swept off my feet or that Lucerne was the most magnificent city ever but simply because I enjoyed the simple pleasures that surrounded me. I will show my total ignorance - and lack of planning. I did not do much research on the city of Lucerne and on Switzerland in general so I was expecting a city with skyscrapers and I was so pleased to find this wonderful city.My hotel was situated in the old part of Lucerne and after I checked into the hotel I went straight off to the Transportation Museum. I am appalled to say that I spent approximately 4 hours in the museum - mostly with the trains and the history of the Swiss railways. It was fascinating for me to see aspects of the development of the railways in Switzerland. What can I say: I am a railway junkie!!!! After my meander in the museum, I went off the Imax to watch a great film on the Alps. As I walked out of the theater, the magnitude of what I was doing finally hit me. This trip and indeed this moment was a pinnacle in my life. As I strolled around the lake, I watched life and nature pass me by. As I watched a paddling of ducks, a couple of philosophical thoughts struck me and I feel compelled to write it here in the hope that I will remember them:
- As I watched the ducks, it looked like they were floating effortlessly in the water. It was only when I particular duck was close by that I realised that its legs were moving furiously below the water. A lesson for life, just because you can't see the effort - it doesn't mean that it isn't happening.
- A particular duck duck saw something in the water and dove in for it. There it was with its rear in the air and all its feathers on show. A lesson for life: When you want something, sometimes you have to show that world your rear and go for it ;).
I finished off my perfect day with a traditional Swiss meal at my hotel - which has a restaurant that is known for its traditional meals.

The following day I went on a walking tour of Lucerne which I found to be quite fascinating. It seems that the early history of the Lucerne was built on the economy of war / defense - but I guess that depends on which side your are on!!!Lucerne's primary economy was based on the provision of mercenaries to whom ever needed them. These mercenaries where called Swiss Guards and the last remnants are found in the Vatican City. The Lion Monument to the Swiss Guards that were killed during the French Revolution is one of a dying lion. It has been said that the monument is one of the most haunting and I have to agree. The memory of each of those killed is quite beautifully encapsulated in this monument. I also found the fresco painted exterior of buildings quite beautiful. One which is found on the exterior of a doctor's home reads: There is no cure for love. I guess there are always heartbroken people in every age looking for some peace.I decided to take look at the Rosengart collection which has a fantastic Picasso collection. I didn't think that I would be a big fan of Picasso but I was so wrong. I found his art fascinating. In fact I would sit in the middle of each gallery and stare at the pictures. The only reason that I would get up and move into the next hall because I was like an addict who needed to see more. It was experience of art really moving me to the core and I absolutely loved it. I have said it before but I think I need to learn more about art - mostly to satisfy my curiosity and lessen my ignorance.After the Rosengart I wandered through the churches and walked across the Chapel bridge. I closed a wonderful day in Lucerne by walking across the battlements of the city. This activity truly gave one the impression being in days of old. I could almost imagine myself being Maid Marion with my Robin Hood coming to rescue me. Sigh!!!! In the end I truly enjoyed my time in the city that I didn't research or plan. It was tons on fun and I could see myself spending more time there - I noticed that I could go back to every city that I have been in. I guess its good sign that I enjoyed myself.
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