TravelStream™ news feed for member steph_444 on TravelPod's free travel blogs service http://www.travelpod.com/syndication/rss/steph_444 en-us Copyright ©2009 TravelPod.com Sat, 21 Jun 2008 19:33:00 -0400 http://www.travelpod.com http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/steph_444/4/1214086320/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/steph_444/4/1214086320/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/steph_444/4/1214086320/tpod.html Sat, 21 Jun 2008 19:33:00 -0400 Europe one year later!! Scotland finally! St. Andrews, Edinburgh...who knows where else? 55 days, and plenty of new countries. Sights, sounds, and lots of good times of course! Enjoy........;)

Jump to the full
entry & travel map

Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

I've been back in Canada two days now. The flights home were tiring. Edinburgh via Amsterdam and Minneapolis, then finally into Winnipeg. The last two flights were killer on my ears, my head feeling like it was going to explode, and then losing my hearing, and now on antibiotics and such because apparently the cold I caught over 3 weeks ago upon leaving Ios is now an ear infection. Geez! Oh, well. I am never too surprised that I get run down and eventually sick when I travel. At least I have a good time!I am missing Europe so so much right now. Winnipeg is the same as ever, despite the fact that this will be the first summer I will have spent here since 2004, nothing much has changed. Europe just never ceases to amaze me. The history, the different cultures, languages, festivals, music, landscapes, food, people, and then all the new experiences you inevitably have and new people that you meet. Everyday is exciting because you never know what it will bring. I think if I could have just repacked my backpack in Edinburgh and left behind about half of the stuff that I had with me at the end of two months, I could have kept going for the rest of the summer. I would have loved nothing more! Back to reality though. The air travel isn't looking too favourable at the moment as far as costs and fuel prices go, but if all works out well, after this summer, and working for a few more months, I am hoping to head off to the other other side of the world. Australia!!! It's been a long time coming this trip, and now that I am back home and no longer concentrating on where in Europe to go to next, it's a bit easier to focus on a new trip and put that into perspective. I think you always need to wait for the right timing as far as a big trip goes and I think I have waited long enough, and the time is right. So come September or October, I hope to be off again. I will definitely look forward to blogging about that as well.Guess there is not much more to add. I am finally getting the pics up from the missing entries, so that should be done in the next two or three days. Otherwise, thanks for reading and til next time.... 
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/steph_444/4/1213749900/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/steph_444/4/1213749900/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/steph_444/4/1213749900/tpod.html Sat, 21 Jun 2008 19:11:21 -0400 Europe one year later!! Scotland finally! St. Andrews, Edinburgh...who knows where else? 55 days, and plenty of new countries. Sights, sounds, and lots of good times of course! Enjoy........;)

Jump to the full
entry & travel map

Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom

This is it. I leave for the airport really really ridiculously early this morning. The middle of the night really, but that was my fault I guess. Not sure the reasoning of the decision at this point but there you have it.My last night in St. Andrews was great. My old bosses invited me over for dinner so we had a great evening drinking wine and just talking about lots of random things and playing with their dogs. It's always good to catch up with them so I was grateful to have been able to get in touch with them before I got into town.Back in Edinburgh has been great too of course. The weather has been absolute shit the whole time. It rained today and it has been quite cold as well. Caught up with a friend last night and went and caught a movie. I also went and visited the National Museum of Scotland just up the street from where I am staying as I had never made it up there. It was pretty interesting with lots of history about Scotland, artifacts and information. I like those types of museums and they're usually the ones I try to visit first in every country I go to. At least I've been now and enjoyed it. I also went for the first time to the Elephant House Cafe just down the street from the museum. This place is famously known as the location where J.K Rowling wrote the Harry Potter novel. It was quite a cute place too. Good food, lively atmosphere, and decorated with lots of articles and figures of elephants. Reminiscent of the time I visited the Parrot restaurant up near Bruntsfield a few years ago that had parrots all over the place. Mostly I've just wandered around and wished I still lived here. Taking solace in the fact that I still remember places and things that used to be familiar, every day things from when I did live here. I think this will always be my favourite city in Europe.Sad to be heading home, but looking forward to it as well. It's hard to keep traveling and taking in all these new sights, sounds, and experiences when you know the clock is counting down to leaving time. It's different when there are no time restraints. Ever since returning back to the UK from Greece, it's just been two weeks left, 13 sleeps left, 12....and so on. Once you know the time is near to be home again, it's hard to be as carefree. I think I am looking forward to being home as well, just because I know it's coming so soon.Gotta run now though. I've decided to go out on a pub crawl for my last night at the hostel. Why not hey? Last night in Edinburgh, one last hurrah!!This trip has been amazing and I am going to miss it, so one last cheers from Edinburgh and Europe!
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/steph_444/4/1213467720/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/steph_444/4/1213467720/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/steph_444/4/1213467720/tpod.html Sat, 14 Jun 2008 09:40:44 -0400 Europe one year later!! Scotland finally! St. Andrews, Edinburgh...who knows where else? 55 days, and plenty of new countries. Sights, sounds, and lots of good times of course! Enjoy........;)

Jump to the full
entry & travel map

St. Andrews, Scotland, United Kingdom

Back again in my little home. Not my home, but it fits like a glove every time I come back here. I took a wee wander around town my first night and I am pleased to confirm that not a lot has changed. Most of the shops are the same, a couple new coffee shops and one or two name changes, but it's still good old St. Andrews. North American students, tourists, the golfers from around the world that can't stop grinning as they walk around town basking in the history and excitement of following in the footsteps of the great on the Old Course. Most people would call this a quiet place, but I never seem to get bored here.The hostel is as good as ever. Met some people the first night and went out to one of the local pubs for a pint which was fun. I love always meeting random people at the hostel here. Never fails. The weather here is shit but that's nothing new. The sun shines, but it's got no heat to it whatsoever, and the wind blows of course. I took a walk down to the very end of the beach the first day so that was cool. I always have the best intentions when it comes to walking it, but never quite make it to the end. I love the beach here, it's amazing! I had lunch yesterday with my old boss from the golf shop which was great. I left contacting them till the last minute, but it all worked itself out and I am having another little visit tonight. I am off to Edinburgh tomorrow, but I think I might have a wander around the Old Course and the beach again before I leave. I don't usually end up doing much when I am here. I just wander. There really isn't a lot to do, but I think I find it easiest here to slip back into how I used to feel when I lived here. It's still one of my favourite places I have ever been, and I am pretty sure that one day, some day I will find myself back here again, walking down to the far end of the beach and watching the golfers tee off.Ah! It's now raining out. Perfect. First real rain I've seen since I arrived in Europe back in April. Guess I will hold off on visiting the castle and the old Cathedral. Not much else to say about St. Andrews. Anything to know I really wrote about 3 years ago in my first blog. It's just good to be back.Cheers from St. Andrews once again, and I will see you next in Edinburgh!
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/steph_444/4/1213229760/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/steph_444/4/1213229760/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/steph_444/4/1213229760/tpod.html Wed, 11 Jun 2008 16:23:34 -0400 Europe one year later!! Scotland finally! St. Andrews, Edinburgh...who knows where else? 55 days, and plenty of new countries. Sights, sounds, and lots of good times of course! Enjoy........;)

Jump to the full
entry & travel map

London, United Kingdom

Well, I leave London in a few hours on a night bus to Scotland. I arrive in Edinburgh in the am and then I am heading right over to St. Andrews. Can't wait to see my wonderful town again. It feels just like when I used to go back over a year and a half ago. I feel like I haven't been away long, and I still have that same excited feeling I always got before returning again. I'm sure not much will have changed.So I've been in London for the past few days. Haven't done a heck of a lot really, just enjoyed being here in the midst of all the hustel and bustle. My room at the hostel I've been at is right at Hammersmith station and is beyond NOISY 24 hours of the day be it traffic, nighttime construction, and sirens at every five minute interval. But every morning after waking up 4 times already at the most ungodly hours, I walk over to the window and look out on the chaos below and can't help but embrace it. This city is noisy, congested, overcrowded, dirty, and expensive, but I don't care! While I've been here I checked out St. Paul's Cathedral and the British Museum, twice. St. Paul's was amazing, with views from the top of the 528 or some stairs, and I even stayed for their Evensong service as I did in Bath. What an AMAZING church!!! Wow! British Museum was good as well, but my main interest there was all the pieces from the Athens Acropolis!!! The British Museum has about 60% of the Acropolis pieces, whereas Athens has the other 40%. They want them back, but that's a whole other story! I didn't get to see any of this in Athens as they were in the process of moving the Acropolis Museum from the Acropolis to another location which was not yet opened this summer. Anyways, I have to run and catch my bus and the net time is almost up. See you next from Bonnie Scotland!!!
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/steph_444/4/1212523680/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/steph_444/4/1212523680/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/steph_444/4/1212523680/tpod.html Wed, 11 Jun 2008 16:14:34 -0400 Europe one year later!! Scotland finally! St. Andrews, Edinburgh...who knows where else? 55 days, and plenty of new countries. Sights, sounds, and lots of good times of course! Enjoy........;)

Jump to the full
entry & travel map

Athens, Attica, Greece

Well, I had a whole entry I written out that I intended to just put right on here, but I am no good at prepared writing, so I am just going to write what comes to me for now.Last few hours in Greece now. I can't believe it's been three and a half weeks already. I don't know where the time has gone. It feels like I've been here ages, but in the best possible sense.I spent my last night in Mykonos by grabbing a beer from one of the take-away shops and watching the sunset at my "spot". On a rock ledge overlooking an outcropping of rocks with the waves lapping up and looking out towards Little Venice and the row of windmills. I watched my first Mykonos sunset there on my first vist as well as the previous night. There's something comforting about finding your groove in a foreign place. The only thing that could have made it even better would have been if I had had my bottle opener with me, and a giant beer rather than my small can. Giant beer being the drink of choice for this island hopping experience. Such have been the extent of my worries on this trip. Tough I know!It's been an undescribable time here in Greece, a destination that I know will now take it's place among Portugal, Italy, Czech Republic, and Scotland among my favourite European destinations. Just a little review now on the places and things I've seen. Santorini - A must-see, my first island, and my introduction to Greek Island culture and things to come. It is the quintessential Greek Island with charming little white-washed villages carved into vertiginous cliffs, blue-domed churches, and spectacular views towards the caldera of this gorgeous volcanic island. The place with something for everyone be it shopping, water sports, tours to the caldera, romantic dinners, suntanning, or my favourite, cruising around on an ATV with the sun on your back and the wind on your face. A couple of days of sun, relaxation, and exploration, and it was on to the next destination!Ios - My beloved Ios. I'd planned to stay 3 nights, and it turned into 10 and very nearly an entire summer!! I won't soon forget the nightly going out speech at the hostel, "Welcome to Ios, the party island...!!" And indeed it was. Great people and great times night after night after night. Blue Note to start, then Slammers, Flames, Red Bull, Disco 69, and more. Big night's out, which let's be honest, were every night, were made up for by lazy afternoons (by the time things got moving!) spent soaking up the rays at Mylopotas beach and then cruising across the street to Far Out and their poolside bar for a cold drink and a dip in the pool. Dinner was had, many nights at The Nest, and then the night was ready to begin again. Over and over and over again. Ios was hands down my favourite island by miles. The unforgetable views from Francesco's hostel, breathtaking sunsets over the harbour, the friendliest most welcoming locals, amazing travelers, and I could not have created a more perfect place in my dreams. I like to think that you leave a bit of yourself in all your favourite places as much as you take a bit of them with you when you leave. I think the sand in my purse (and not to mention my amazing tan if I don't say so myself!) would attest to that! However these things work, Ios will forever hold a special place in my memories and in my journeys. I doubt I'll ever be back, but I will not soon forget.Mykonos - The little surprise island of my Greek trip. I didn't have high hopes for this place which in the end worked to my advantage. My first visit was cut short due to Ios calling me back, but luckily I found my way back, like I sort of knew I eventually would. Every single thing I had heard about this place that made me think it wasn't for me, was so utterly wrong. The shopping was amazing, the gyros addictive, sunsets serene, and the island as a whole, enchanting, stunning, and ridiculously romantic. Hands down the island to visit with that special someone. The only drawback being that this place was ludicrously expensive, but hence all the more reason to take advantage of those gyros!! A great few days spent here on the beaches at Paradise and Paranga and in the main town, and grateful was I that I found my way back here.I may feel slightly the norm for hitting up and enjoying the three most recommended and popular islands in Greece, but popularity is what it is for a reason, and I will continue to sing their praises!Paros - Last but not least, my fourth and final island. I was a bit harsh in my prior descriptions of the place, and though I never gave it due attention, it just wasn't my cup of tea. Laidback the island certainly was. Parikia, the port was lovely to explore with it's endless alleys and beautiful shops reminscent of Mykonos. The church was a must-see for history buffs, and I am grateful to have stumbled upon it. Naoussa was a serene alternative to the bustle of the port town, but unique indeed. Here, for once, tourists did not rule the roost. It was nice to be surrounded by a local majority. Boys sitting on the bridge near the harbour or enjoying a game of footy in the internet cafe. Little kids laughing, screaming, and playing bar in the main square well into the night. It was a lively place full of real Greek people that I had yet to see in the islands. My visit was short, but I'm glad to have made it here in the end.21 days - 4 islands - 8 ferriesDrink of Choice - Giant Heineken or Amstel beers (preferably by a pool or beach)Favourite Island - IosBest Gyros - Santorini followed closely my MykonosBest Sunset - Day 6, 7, or 8 in Ios (wow!)Best Scenery - SantoriniThere are tons of things that I will never understand about Greece and the Greeks, but there's nothing wrong with a little mystery. Like who is that guy in Athens and seemingly every island, that drives around in a little pickup truck full of plants yelling into a megaphone, and what <i>is he saying? What does he want and why do I always feel like I am in trouble when I hear him coming?? Why? I guess that's the fun in exploring a new country for the first time. It's all those little things that make it unique and just seem to combine to make your experience what it is.My final night in Athens was great. I absolutely love this city at night. It is so alive! I took a stroll around the Plaka area with all it's shops selling all kinds of things you don't need but inevitably really really want. I grabbed a super cheap gyros, walked beneath the illuminated Acropolis, and had a final beer on the hostels rooftop bar with the best view in Athens. I tried the foods, learned a few words, saw some new places, and met tons of awesome people. I'm sad to leave, as I always am, but that's life. That's travel. Never a place I thought I would come to, but I can't even imagine not having had this experience. I hope you've enjoyed reading about it and the pics will be up when I get to London town with it's cheap and quick internet connections.Two more weeks and I am definitely looking forward to the UK. Until then, here's the crossing my fingers that my flight doesn't get cancelled!!!Final goodbyes from Greece!!!
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/steph_444/4/1212961920/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/steph_444/4/1212961920/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/steph_444/4/1212961920/tpod.html Sun, 08 Jun 2008 18:00:59 -0400 Europe one year later!! Scotland finally! St. Andrews, Edinburgh...who knows where else? 55 days, and plenty of new countries. Sights, sounds, and lots of good times of course! Enjoy........;)

Jump to the full
entry & travel map

London, England, United Kingdom

Back in London tonight. Did my couple hour tour from Bath this morning to Stonehenge and then got the bus back to the city.Stonehenge. Not what I expected, but glad I got to see it. It's&nbsp;one of those places, I think, that you just have to see when you're that close by. The verdict? Probably more hype than necessary to be honest. It's a bunch of rocks in a cirlce. Bit harsh maybe. It's not as big as I expected it to be, as in the height of the stones. But you stand so far back from them, that it probably just appears more so that way than it really would be if you were right next to them. I think the reason that I didn't find it wholey impressive was the fact that we don't know what they are, why they are there, who put them there, or what they mean. So what exactly are they? They've figured out where the rocks come from, but there's no purpose anymore. Or rather no one knows what their purpose was at the time it was built. It is apparently over 5000 years old, which is definitely impressive, but the rest is just a lot of theories and skepticisms. Was it aliens, was it the work of a mythical giant, druids, or regular folk? It is really a calendar, do all the stone placements have meanings to due with solstices and sunrises and such? Who knows really. No one anymore. But really the thing to wonder about is, how that sort of feat was accomplished such a long time ago, and with rocks presumed to be from hundreds of kilometers away. No one can deny the impressiveness of that. A mystery that shall remain I guess, and who can argue with that. I don't know what else to say about it really. And now Stonehenge and bath are gone now. Bath was amazing and I do entirely recommend getting out there for a weekend. It was beautiful as you could ever imagine. Now I am back in London with good intentions of actually doing something over the next day or two or three or however long I plan to stay.I shall say goodnight for now though, and pics are coming. Take care from London!
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/steph_444/4/1212868860/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/steph_444/4/1212868860/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/steph_444/4/1212868860/tpod.html Sat, 07 Jun 2008 16:53:41 -0400 Europe one year later!! Scotland finally! St. Andrews, Edinburgh...who knows where else? 55 days, and plenty of new countries. Sights, sounds, and lots of good times of course! Enjoy........;)

Jump to the full
entry & travel map

Bath, England, United Kingdom

I am in Bath!! I left London two nights ago for a wee weekend away, or it feels like it anyways, though there's not much to get away from. Anywho....I have had this pesky cough since I left Ios (that's what I take with me!), and it knocked me out on the bus ride here up until we literally pulled into town. I'm sure the english countryside was beautiful though!! Arriving at the bus station, I had no idea where my hostel was. I didn't bother to check my email directions, so I started walking. I got the feeling the main town wasn't that big though, and the hostel called itself central!! I eventually found it after asking two ladies in their shops the way there. Then after checking into the hostel, I couldn't pull myself out of bed to even go explore despite really really wishing I felt like it. So I slept for a good 3 or so hours. Got up around dinner time to grab some food, and then took a wee wander around town. Sort of a lost day, but you've got to catch up sometime otherwise you just wear yourself down. Ios takes a lot of catching up from apparently.Anyways, the next day, was/is today. A great day it was too. This town!!!!!!!! I cannot even begin to do it justice, it is just perfect. Absolutely stunning!! Where to start. I vowed to be the complete tourist and actually see things on this weekend, as in London, all I seemed to accomplish was a crap load of walking around, which is fine, but no sights!! I started off the day with a leisurly coffee, then headed over to Bath Abbey. In it's present form, it was built back in the 16th century, and repaired various other times over the years. It was absolutely stunning inside. So unlike churches on the continent, as churches in the UK seem to be so well kept, symmetrical, clean, and everything in it's place. Designs are simpler, and I don't really know how to explain it. Everything is just very in order, as was Bath Abbey. No brick missing or panel left unpolished, they really take well care of their churches. Amazing stained glass windows and plaster ceilings. I have some pictures so I will get those on as soon as I get back to cheap internet in London tomorrow or the next day. I then went through the south side of the abbey and visited the Heritage Vaults Museum which basically goes through the history of the church from Roman to present times. Very informative and easy to follow. Best part of the visit I think. The first King of England was crowned here in 973, and there is a plaque in the church commemorating a visit by the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh in 1973 to celebrate 1000 years of the monarchy in England. The plaque is actually written/carved with gold leaf writing, interesting! There are also over 640 plaques on the wall commemorating the deaths and achievements of important people in the history of the church. The largest collection outside of Westminster Abbey in London. I'm just full of little facts tonigth!! During the second world war, the stained glass windows were badly damaged by bombings, but they have since been restored by the same firm who had originally installed the windows many many years prior. There were chaplains around the church with little tidbits of information and open to questions if you had them. It was a very pleasant visit.After I left the Abbey, I then moved on to the Roman Baths, what Bath is indeed famous for. It was quite expensive to get in at £10.50, but you can't not visit the baths in Bath!! The tour came with an audio guide that by the end of it was quite heavy on the information, but very useful along the way. My favourite bit were the commentaries all the way through by the (mostly) travel writer Bill Bryson. I've read a few of his books and let's just say he has an interesting if not controversial (annoying?) view on certain things. I was very interested to hear his voice and opinions on the Roman Baths. It was great to see Roman sights again, as it felt like I was back in Greece again with all this ancient history right in front of me and underfoot. The baths and all the adjoining buildings that comprised the massive construction of the sight is actually all underground, or below Bath street level, so a lot of it will likely never be uncovered as the city lies above making excavation of more areas pretty much impossible. I also found it hard to grasp the size, scope, and direction of the various chambers you could explore, but it was amazing nonetheless. The main bath is now open to the sky, just outside the Abbey courtyard, whereas in Roman days there would have been a large roof overtop. Along with this main bath, were the sacred springs, where the water originated from below, a feat which remained a mystery to the Romans, and was therefore deamed beyond reality, or sacred! People would actually throw old Roman coins into these waters to the God's Sulis and Minerva (water God), as well as curses written in tin, folded up for only the God to read. Amazingly some of the curses were recovered, and interpreted from Latin into English. Certain ones calling for death to the person who stole my coat/gloves, coins from my purse. May the person die a horrible death and so on. Very dramatic messages to Minerva against their enemies. Entertaining in their triviality! All sort of things pulled out of the pool including jewelry, coins of all different dates, curses, etc. Just all the links to all these items that could prove certains dates, who inhabited the area, who visited, it's just so much information to take in, but so so interesting. I wish I could narrate the entire visit, because I feel like I am hardly getting at anything. There was one building on the site, a tholos, which is a Greek circular building, and it is speculated that it was built by Hadrian or influenced by him, as he was active in the Roman empire and in Greece, as he built various buildings around Athens. Therefore it was logical to think that Bath was not just another Roman sight in a vast empire, but much more important along with it's Temple, and many other surrounding buildings. I just love the history and the speculation behind it all, and that it is still possible to learn so much about things and people that have been gone for centuries and centuries.Enough about all that. You could spend a few hours in there just taking in all the details. One thing about Bryson though, his comments were very entertaining. He is a very smart guy, but really?? One comment in particular had me laughing out loud in the midst of all these people. In description of a bronze head cast in gold of the God Minerva. He commented on how she looked not attractive at all, whereas opposed to Roman men, they looked much more happy or something, like guys you could go have a pint with! This head of Minerva was just so unapproachable looking?? OMG!! I couldn't help but laugh and play it again. Are God's supposed to be approachable?? Is that the first thing you judge about a Roman God, his ability to be good company whilst sharing a pint with down at your local?? That was awesome. Aw, Bill, you had some good ones today. Like how he wished we still had baths like this in our day where we could go about our business deals and such. Interesting fellow that guy?!?!? He also had some thoughful insights into small details and aspects of Roman life. Thought-provoking he was.Upon leaving the baths, I tasted a little bit of the natural water, treated of course, warm and mineral tasting. A little unpleasant but drinkable I guess. Just as I was leaving I met a very nice old man who was sitting near the exit to the building. He said he was from Bath and just liked the come and listen to the music in the Pump Room Restaurant. He asked where I was from and a few questions of what I had seen. He then recommended me to go on a little walk and go on the free walking tour that is offered in town. I thanked him for the tips and was on my way.What a pleasant place this is, it's almost beyond belief.I took his directions and went for a wander up to The Circus, a gorgeous circular road featuring some amazing houses that totally reminded me of the West End of Glasgow overlooking Kelvingrove Park. Then I continued on to Royal Crescent overlooking a gorgeous green park. This city is practically a museum in itself. Just stunning everywhere you look. Reminded me of the architecture in Edinburgh and St. Andrews, very neat and aesthetically pleasing. One thing that really puts me off about this country in general are the bad social habits of people, and in particular the youth. You get so many youth that are just out to cause trouble, drinking, smoking, drugs, not going to school, getting pregnant at 13, etc. It's a sad thing to see as it seems to be everywhere not to mention the crime in the cities, but Bath on the otherhand was astounding. Instead, I see kids out playing mini golf, soccer in the park, out with their families, lawn bowling, riding their bikes. This seems like the perfect town. Not Stepford or anything like that, but it's a pleasant surprise that's for sure. People really seem to be happy here and have their priorities in order. It's another one of those places that you can't help but walk around with a smile plastered to your face.Finally to finish the evening, I went back to the Abbey and took part in what was called Choral Evensong. It turned out to basically be a short mass, with the majority of it sung by an adult choir. It was beautiful. There were two short readings by a priest of sorts, and one or two prayers. Even though I hadn't been to church in so so so many years, and despite not knowing what to do, the priest was very good, letting the small crowd know when to stand, sit, and such. It felt good to take part in that and it was something different indeed. I'm not sure why I haven't done something like this before in one of the other amazing churches I've visited in Europe. And that's been my day. I am back to London tomorrow, but before that I am taking a daytrip out to Stonehenge!!! I'm super excited as I just last night realized where exactly in England Bath is located. It's just a few hours trip, but I will get to see something that I hadn't planned on. Then I am back in London for two nights. Long enough entry for tonight, so goodbye from Bath!!
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/steph_444/4/1210960980/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/steph_444/4/1210960980/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/steph_444/4/1210960980/tpod.html Sat, 07 Jun 2008 16:00:15 -0400 Europe one year later!! Scotland finally! St. Andrews, Edinburgh...who knows where else? 55 days, and plenty of new countries. Sights, sounds, and lots of good times of course! Enjoy........;)

Jump to the full
entry & travel map

Santorini, Greece

My last day in Santorini and I&nbsp;have been waiting to rent a scooter so I can get around and see the island. Today was the day and I am happy to say I've survived with no scratches on me.I didn't really get as early a start as I would have wanted as I stayed up last night reading and then didn't want to get out of bed, but I still had tons of the day left to enjoy. I walked just down the street to the nearest rental shop, and as I have never rode a scooter before, they decided that an ATV was the best for me. Uh, ok?! So I was ATVing it for the day. Not a bad choice considering this had four wheels instead of two. A bit safer I think. Like all things new, and when I am a bit nervous, I ask the same questions, or need to hear the same directions about 4 times until I feel comfortable with things. Unfortunately this guy didn't speak the best english, and everytime he seemed to say something important a motorcycle went by and I couldn't hear him. So I got the jist of it and just went for it. "Drive&nbsp;slowly," he says I pull away onto the road. Ha!I seriously cruised the <i>whole island today. I went all the way down to the beaches at one end, the archeological spot at Akrotiri which was sadly closed for the entire summer!, then back into Kartedaros past Fira, over to Oia, and then all the way back again. It was off for hours and hours, it was amazing!The roads around here are nuts, so windy, curvy, up and down and up again. I got became more at ease with the machine the more I rode it, and then when I wound my way along the lower coast from Kartedaros to Oia, I was going like the wind. My top speed was 48km and hour, and I know it's not that fast at all, but on an ATV with the wind blowing at you like crazy, it is really fast. The views were absolutely amazing along the coast, it was such a liberating feeling to just be zipping around at your own pace. Santorini is a large island, but I saw most of it today. On the way back from Oia, where I decided not to stay for sunset as the roads would be dark coming back, I took an alternate route from the lower one I took on the way there and was high up on the mountain side amidst cliffs and maroon and black coloured rock. It was gorgeous! I think it took about 35 minutes to go only a few kilometers, but as I said because the roads are so windy you can't really get going too fast. After riding that thing all day, I feel spolied now when I have to walk somewhere as I just want to take this thing with me everywhere. It doesn't reverse which is a bit of a challenge, but it's been an awesome day.Watched my last sunset here in Fira, and it was the nicest tonight out of the four nights I've been here. Then finally I found a gyros stand. Wasn't sure what went it them or anything, but just hovered around and pointed to the last persons order to say what I wanted. So cheap and let me tell you, AMAZINGLY delicious. It was like kebab meat in a pita with tomatoes, lettuce, mayo or some other greek tasting sauce, spices, and a few french fries all wrapped up together. Very messy and a bit gross looking, but it was so so good!!! I am totally sticking with these things for the rest of the Greek Islands part of this trip.Now I am back to my room to pack up my bag which has exploded all over the room, watch some Greek television, and then get a good's nights sleep so I am ready for a new place tomorrow. I take the ferry at 11:50am and get into Ios at 12:30. Ios is the "party" island, and as I've been alone for the last 4 nights at my guesthouse, I am seriously looking forward to a hostel atmosphere, meeting other travellers, and hopefully hitting the town. Should be a good time.Santorini has been great. Perfect introduction and a definite must see on a trip to Greece. Anyways, night from Fira!P.S - No need to worry mom, the beaches here are&nbsp;<i>nothing compared to Portugal so you're not missing out there at all!!
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/steph_444/4/1210900740/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/steph_444/4/1210900740/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/steph_444/4/1210900740/tpod.html Sat, 07 Jun 2008 15:35:58 -0400 Europe one year later!! Scotland finally! St. Andrews, Edinburgh...who knows where else? 55 days, and plenty of new countries. Sights, sounds, and lots of good times of course! Enjoy........;)

Jump to the full
entry & travel map

Santorini, Greece

Day two here in Santorini, or my third night. It's been nice so far. I think I am zapped from the sun, I almost have no energy to start writing all about it. Do my best though.Santorini is totally a beach sort of holiday, just not necessarily all beach all the time. I haven't even been to one yet as the most of the island is rock cliffs, but I am going to rent a scoorter tomorrow and go and see some black sand! I am staying just outside of the main town, Fira, in a place called Karterados. It's about a 20 minute to the center of the town but it goes by quickly because there are shops all the way there. The town is FULL of shops selling gorgeous jewelry, clothing, postcards, and all that kind of stuff. Today I suntanned around the pool at my guesthouse, and then took a quick dip in the pool. Darn freezing it was. Oh ny god, I guess they don't really need to heat the pools here, but it was still all I could handle for about 4 minutes. After that I wandered into the center of Fira and just went through all the shops. When I say it is totally a beach holiday type place, I mean that when you're here, there is nothing that needs to be done. You can wander, tan, and shop all day and not feel guilty or feel like you are missing something important or wasting your time.Yesterday I did the same. Walked into Fira, and along the top of the island to a town called Imerovigli. The towns like Karterados, Fira, and Imerovigli just all run into each other, so you never really know what town you're in when you are walking between them.&nbsp;I decided to catch the bus to Oia (pronounced Ee-ah) later on in the afternoon because that is the place where you are supposed to be able to see the best sunsets. It was a very cute little town at the cliff edge of the island. The same sort of shops, windy little streets, blue-domed churches, and white-washed buildings with blue shuttered windows. Unfortunately the clear day didn't hold and around 6 or 7 the clouds rolled in completely. Second night in a row too. So I got a few shots, but decided there wasn't going to be a sunset and headed back to Fira and then walked back to Karterados for dinner. The places to eat near my Pension are&nbsp;much cheaper than in Fira itself. I can't believe how expensive most of the places are in town. Outrageous that they can charge so much. But, that is just the type of place this is, and in the summer when it is packed beyond capacity, people will pay. Today I decided to check out the sunset here in Fira, and it was slightly better than yesterday, though clouds covered the better part of it. I decided to grab some cheese and ham pies for dinner instead of going out. I kind of look like a beach bum, so no point in going to a restaurant.&nbsp;I can't wait to eat them when I get back. They are&nbsp;just pastry pies&nbsp;filled with feta cheese, but warmed up they are amazing and so cheap! I am still working my way through the&nbsp;Greek foods. Still want to try Mousaka which is a pie made of aubergines, mince meat, and some other stuff, gyros, which I believe are&nbsp;like pitas stuffed with meat and veggies and super greasy but delicious,&nbsp;a greek salad, greek coffee because I don't know what it is, and some sea food. Haven't had that yet. I've had souvlaki twice and they serve it with chips. So simple too. Just a bit of salt and oregano, and a lemon on the side. Reminds me of Portugal where they don't go over the top with different flavours, and it's amazing how far half a lemon will go. Mmmmm. Went into a shop today that sold tons of goodies like spices, traditional drinks like vinsanto and ouzo, little turkish delight looking treats with different flavours, olive tapenade, which is like an olive paste&nbsp;(had it on a sandwich&nbsp;yesterday and it was surpriisingly good considering I hate olives), cookies, and more. I totally want&nbsp;to bring back so many&nbsp;things from&nbsp;here, but I hate&nbsp;carrying it all around. Likely will anyway though. It's funny how things I won't eat&nbsp;at home, I&nbsp;barely think about when I am traveling.&nbsp;Like the Greek Sandwich I had with&nbsp;olive tapenade and tomatoes. Soooo goood. Such a foodie I am and making myself hungry.I always wonder after the fact how I sort&nbsp;of plan my trips, but this one so&nbsp;far is very unplanned. I book my hostels or places to stay either a couple of days or even the night before I get there. I am in Greece but don't&nbsp;know when&nbsp;or where I am leaving from and to where. I am off to Ios, another island known for it's partying on Saturday and am there for a few nights, but other than that I have no clue. It's a perfect time to travel&nbsp;at this time&nbsp;of year because I am the flexibility and the choice to make up my mind at&nbsp;the last minute. The crowds are nothing, accomodation is ridiculously cheap,&nbsp;and the weather is great. I&nbsp;have no idea why anyone would consider coming here in July or August!!!Tomorrow is scooter and beach time. Can't wait, but really nervous. Absolutely everyone drives them here, so I know it will be fine. I really want to get over to Akrotiri as well. It's an&nbsp;archeological excavation of an ancient settlement that sounds really interesting. It's called the Pompei of the Greek Islands, so&nbsp;sounds promising. I am dead tired and sunburnt so I am off to eat and&nbsp;soothe the burning!I'll let you know how the scooter works out, so goodnight from Santorini and sorry pics are coming I promise!&nbsp;
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/steph_444/4/1212630960/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/steph_444/4/1212630960/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/steph_444/4/1212630960/tpod.html Wed, 04 Jun 2008 17:21:14 -0400 Europe one year later!! Scotland finally! St. Andrews, Edinburgh...who knows where else? 55 days, and plenty of new countries. Sights, sounds, and lots of good times of course! Enjoy........;)

Jump to the full
entry & travel map

London, England, United Kingdom

I made it here! It was a trek, but it feels like a bittersweet relief to be here finally. My flight got in last night super late at about 11:30pm. I wondered for a short time on whether or not to stay at the airport till morning or else to take a bus or train into the city and have to find a night bus that would take me to the general area where I knew I had booked my hostel for the next night, and hope they had a bed for me at one in the morning. So...I jumped on the express train into the city and hoped for the best. The tubes were no longer running, but I got the last bus towards the hostel I was hoping to stay at, found it easily enough, and they had a bed for me. I got to sleep finally at about 1:30am, or 3:30am Athens time. Brutal!!!I got up super early, 8:00am, so I could sort my stuff out, check out because I had to change rooms, and then hit the town. The previous night, London was the last place on earth that I wanted to be in. I missed my Greece! London was cool, damp, dark, smelly, and dodgy, as always. Why did I even come here&nbsp;I had no idea. I figured, I should just head to bed and think things through after a night's sleep.Now, I will admit, I LOVE this city!!! It can be dirty, crowded, unbelievably expensive, and yet today I absolutely loved it. I felt like Maria in the Sound of Music where she sings and dances and twirls around in circles on the top of that mountain meadow surrounded by the beautiful Alps. Of course I would never do that in broad daylight, or any time really, but inside I felt like it. London was amazing. Sunny, warm for London, people were out in force, I remembered old places to visit, and saw some new sights. I started off with a coffee down the street, then made my way down to check out Southwark Cathedral. Across the proper London Bridge, and over past St. Paul's Cathedral, it's steps full of lunchtime dwellers. Down Fleet Street and then I got lost somewhere in the vicinity of Aldwych/Leister Square and came out at Covent Garden. How perfect. Covent Garden being on my list of places that I recommended myself to stay away from along with Camden, Portobello and the biggie, Oxford Street. I.E the shopping zones!!! Everywhere I went, the outdoor cafes were heaving with people finally getting their dues as far as the weather is concerned. I know winters, and I know the year in general, and it's not always a cheery one. England and the UK in general are gloomy, damp, and depressing, so it's always nice to see this kind of day. You can't help but smile as you walk down the street with a spring in your step, and I've just come back from a month of sun in Greece nevermind a UK winter.&nbsp;It made me forget that I was supposed to be resenting this place for dragging me from Athens!!! I took a wee peek through Covent Garden and the cool little shop called David and Goliath (check it out). Then I wandered around lost, trying to find places from years back that I vaguely remembered where they were located. I finally came out at Leister Square, then made my way over to Picadilly Circus, a glorified and chaotic wagonwheel intersection. Down towards Big Ben in the distance and upon Westminster I was. Gorgeous as ever! Across the bridge and then past the London Aquarium and the London Eye. Then&nbsp;I made my way all the way along the river, the area called Southbank, past cafes, parks full of people, a randon book sale on the sidewalk, past a skateboard park, theatres, Shakespeare's Globe Theatre, the Millenium Bridge, Tate Modern Museum, and then finally at 7:00pm, back to my hostel. What a long day, but a really good one. I definitively love this city, despite the fact that I have my moments, as do most that have spent any amount of time here. It can be a bit chaotic, but when you think about its diversity, it's events, concerts, sights, museums, restaurants, shopping, that cosmopolitain feeling, and you can't deny it it's dues. One of the greatest cities in the world. Anything you want you can find!Tomorrow, I will again be trying to avoid the shopping areas (I am only saving&nbsp;that until Edinburgh so I don't have to haul stuff around for an extra week and a half....plus I already caved a bit in Covent Garden....oops, it was inevitable!). I am going to try and check out some of the many many free sights around that are so much more worth seeing than some of the things that charge an outrageous £10 or £15 entrance fees! I'll let you know some places to check out tomorrow as the hostel has a ton of stuff on display.I am finally doing laundry tonight and loving it!! Might go watch a movie now, and then revel in the fact that I can sleep in tomorrow if I so desire. Goodnight from London!
]]>