A Tribute to the Chins...

Hey again,

On Saturday Nov 28th 2009 the Chinchillas will be officially leaving the buidling. A friend from back in highschool and, subsequently, Masters at Carleton University will be coming by to take my two ladies away from me. I thought it would be appropriate to post some pics of them - a short tribute comprising photos and videos from my phone.

They're really cute and I will miss them. I am only half sad we never named them - even if we had, I probably would have kept on referring to them as the "black one" and the "grey one". haha.

Enjoy!

p.s. I snuck one of Britt and me in there too... see if you can tell which one it is!

Steve's countdown to take off

Hi all. Steve here. Britt's boyfriend for those of you who may not know.

I recently decided to travel as well - I have to admit that Britt was somewhat of a catalyst. As you can see from one of the posts below, all we really had planned up to this point is to meet in Rome (more specifically, the Vatican) in time for Christ's mass. Rest assured we have been in frequent communication figuring out how to make this happen and so far, things look good. However, as with every plan, there are bound to be some setbacks and other challenges, minor and major, that I am sure I will have as much fun blogging about as you will have reading about!

Just a few house-keeping issues:

1) Please comment on blogposts as frequently as you'd like. My limited experience tells me that blogs are most useful when actually read and updated. You can help us with that!

2) Please let me/us know if you know anyone in the places we're visiting. For safety reasons, having someone who knows someone you know when you're in a place you're not familiar with is quite a bonus. And also, whether you believe it or not, when you follow the blog and interact with us, you're a part of this journey as well.

3) There is no plan. If you think you would really enjoy a certain place, let us know. Maybe we'll enjoy it too - and take pictures for you!

4) Mom... please don't worry. I'll be fine. It's the other one you have to worry about ;)

Thanks everyone!

I look forward to updating you before my departure on the 3rd!

Steve

French Toast

I left Paris feeling cold, wet tired, a little disspaointed and pretty lonely. Fortunately, every cloud has a silver lining and in the case of France that lining is solid gold baby! And, that little cloud is hanging out over the village of Limoux in the foothills of the Pyrenees Mountains.

The landscape is lovely, the air is clean, and the people are friendly. Technically Im there to work, to help restore an old farmhouse, and I do. Its hard physical labour, I spend my first morning cleaing out a 400 year old pigeon coop (lovely), and an entire day chiping concrete off of a wall, but for the most part my chores are less labour intensive and include baking a pie for a day trip into the mountains, going for lesiurely strolls, washing my own laundry, spending an evening at the spa, and attending dinner parties. People have payed money to be treated a lot worse than this.

The people Im introduced to are all wonderful. There's Camille, the Australian wedding photographer who kept me company and cleaned along side with me. Alving Booth, a world class photographer who gave me a tour of his 12 bedroom, 6 bathroom, 3kitchen, labrynth of a house. Garth Bowden, my wonderful, welcoming and well traveled host who shared his house, his life and first hand world traveling experience with me... and in turn I shared with him my recipe for french toast. Equal trade? I think so!

Steve is on his way!

I have not been keeping up with this blog. I will though. I have things written down just dont have the time to post them. This one is quick though, and to the point. Steve is launching on December 3rd so from no one this will be a co-blog, with Steve and I both posting.

Can you handle it?!

Parler Vous Franglish?

I have a problem. I'm in a bus station in rural France and I'm down to €60. My visa is being declined, ditto for my debit. I use €20 to purchase my ticket to really rural France before I realize that my cell phone won't work to text my host in really really rural France to tell them to pick me up. I'm exhausted after a seven hour car ride spend trying to speak french with my covoiturage (ride share0. The pay phone only takes credit cards, the vache at the information doesn't feel like helping me and I'm foobared eight ways and counting.

So, what do I do? Do I cry? Do I quit? Do I pack my bags and start walking home?

I consider all of the above but decide instead that this is the perfect time to eat the meringue that has been stowing away in the bottom of my pack since I left Paris. There's a little voice inside my head reminding me that I have no right to be upset. This is the adventure I wanted and nobody said it was going to be easy. I chose this and I'll figure it out.

Happily, I can say that I did, all on my own (with a little help from the meringue).

I made it from one end of France to the other taking the less easy, but easily more rewarding, path less traveled. I saw the earliest settlements of towns in Europe, practiced my french, got to hear fun historical facts from my french guide, and saw breathtaking landscapes for half the price of the train.

Was it worth in? Right now I'll have to abstain from answering that. I just got off of the phone with Visa and I'm still a little riled up after tearing a stip off of Rajid my friendly customer service representative who didn't seem to comprehend "I'm calling from France!!" But, give me a few days a hot shower and a glas of wine to ease these shaking nerves and I'm sure be "yes" or at least a very convincing "probably."

Paris

A city I wanted to love but who had no love for me. Arriving tired and in need of a shower after a long and boring bus ride wasnt the perfect way to start (neither was lacking change for the washroom or the metro). I soon saw a women walking with a baguette in her oversized designer bag. Thats when I knew I was in Paris.


The first day I headed out on a free three hour walking tour. I found a croissont before I found the tour and felt very french until I had to ask for directions, apparently all I need to say is 'Oui, ca va?' and I give away that Im Canadian. Its not that they wouldnt say that here, its just that my accent is that bad. Whatever. Screw you french bakery.

I take the tour, I meet other travelers, I see the sights,I stroll along the river with a cute australian (sorry steve) learning about Louis IX, etc, etc. Fast forward an hour - its raining and Im wet, Im cold, I dont tip the guide, I forget the Aussie, I go for wine instead with another girl who has had enough of this learning about history tourist crap.

When it stops raining we meet up with a local and we see the city from a different perspective, one that I prefer but still dont love.

Tomorrow I leave for Toulousse (very near spain) to spend some time in the countryside studying art. Paris was nice but Im not sad to be moving on so quickly and dont feel that Im missing out on very much. In fact, Im really looking forward to some fresh air.

a que for the loo (and I payed for it too) ... London.

London was... large. Very, very, very large actually. A city of 7 million people that nearly doubles itself to 12 million every day when people commute to work. Thats 12 million people all on there way somewhere, doing something and being incredibly incredibly polite in the process. The only rude people I met were indeed other tourists. We just know how to ruin everything dont we?

Im going to apologize in advance, this is being typed on a very french keyboard in Paris. In addition to the keys being where they shouldnt be, it lacks punctuation and has an attitude of its own. Im also sans spell check and since Ive lost the ability to spell on my own, there are going to be spelling errors up the wazoo. Is that how you spell wazoo? Spell check would know.

What did I see?

The British Museum - the outside, and the long line to get in.
Princess Dianas Park and her lovely pet swans.
Big Ben. A big dissapointment.
Houses of parliment. Meh.
Buckingham Palace. I ate lunch on the lawn.
Trefalgar Square. I tried to climb the giant lion statues. Epic fail.
Picidily Circus. Not actually a circus
Harrods. I tried to buy an elephant... Asian or African? They asked.

(that was day one)

Londons oldest cathedral
Artisian food market (free lunch!!!)
Boat to Greenwitch. I tired to get other people excited about being on a boat... apparently no one has seen that one here.
Greenwitch Market.
Watched football in the park.
Stradled the meridian.
Portabello Market filled with rude tourists and no mushrooms
Notting Hill. Couldnt find Hough Grant.
Payed to use the washroom.
accidentally found myself at Londons bombed out Metro Station. Had a very sobering moment.
Halloween wherehouse party (youd be proud of me Nicole)
Camden Market. cold. wet. grumpy Britt.
London Eye
South Bank.
Royal National Theatre.
Gabrielles Wharf
Tate Modern Museum
Millenium Bridge.

I would love to write more about each and everyone of these places but I wont because no one would read it. Also, Im really sick of this keyboard.

Next stop, Paris.