Well--it's been ages since my last entry....Here's the rough blow by blow of my trip....
Saturday 9/6:
1st: went to Notting Hill to peruse the market on Portobello Road,
2nd: went to Oxford Circus to search for the same kind of duvet on my hotel bed (that thing was MAGIC I tell you),
3rd: I met up with Taylor (an OFDA colleague joining me on the "European Tour" as it was to be known and had lunch at a proper pub
4th: went to the Tower of London for 2 1/2 hours--that place is huge!!
5th: walked to St Paul's Cathedral along the Thames
6th: went to Covent Garden to met a friend of hers for dinner
7th: took a pedal cab home (instead of horse drawn--it's person riding a bike pulling you home)
Sunday 9/7:
1st: went to Buckingham Palace for the tour--set for a state dinner---totally cool!!!
2nd: went to Harrod's
3rd: went to Westminster Abby
Monday 9/8: meetings in London
Tuesday 9/9: traveled to Oxford for all day meetings (cool, beautiful place from what I saw. It would be nice to spend more time there!!).
Sadly--my time in England was at an end....I loved England. And if the election doesn't go my way in December, I'm going to see (seriously) if I can emigrate.....
Wednesday 9/10: traveled, at the crack of dawn, to Dublin. After checking in to the hotel, we went to Dun Laoghaire (pronounced Done Leary if you can believe it). then in the afternoon we took a little bus tour of dublin with a stop at the Guinness factory. I gotta say, I'm not a fan of the Guinness. I liked Dublin. I could live there.
Thursday 9/11: Traveled by plan, train and automobile to Lausanne, Switzerland and enjoyed a nice night with a stroll by the water.
Friday 9/12: Back to back meetings with two partners and the on and off rain kicked back in. I did have dinner with a friend of mine from college who now lives in Zurich and works for FIFA (I know--cool right!). Though we both claim to have been at the 10th college reunion--we somehow didn't see each other....so it's been 13 years!! Crazy!! Anyway, a dinner and a few pints later and all is right with the world! I like Lausanne---but by golly it's expensive!!!
Saturday 9/13: Traveled by train to Paris. Finally got cash (what kind of train station doesn't have an ATM in this day and age!!!!) and got to my hotel. I settled in and quickly set out for a bite to eat and a strong in the garden between the Louvre and Place de la Concorde.
Sunday 9/14--the anniversary of my mother bringing me into this world--I got up and made my way to the Musee d'Orsy. I was there for about 3 hours--part of which was relaxing in the cafe having brunch. From there, I walked to the Eiffel Tower where I was joined by Taylor--who treated me to my trip to the tippy top. Since it was a beautiful, clear sunny day (my first since that first day in London) we had a spectacular view in every direction. Absolutely amazing!! After a quick stop for a crepe-to-go, we hopped on a boat for a 1 hour ride on the Seine. Then, I walked and bussed down to Notre Dame and then made my way back to my hotel. Taylor and I went to dinner at an Italian place (groan--I know I know--but for a vegetarian in Paris my options were very limited!)
Monday 9/15--two more meetings while negotiating my way around the city
Tuesday 9/16--my last partner meeting, followed by my last chance to buy little presents for friends/family at home! And at night, I jammed everything into my suitcase and prepared for an early start.
Wednesday 9/17 (yesterday)--I traveled home, without incident and with ease. I made it home by 3 pm and was able to keep myself awake until almost 9 pm!
Today was my first day back in the office. It's nice to go back after a break, for sure, but I wasn't really done with Europe. I'll have to figure out a way to live there at some point. either through school, work, or marriage! (still looking for that Scotsman (see earlier blog entry)).
So--It's 8:45 pm now and I'm almost asleep again. I'll try to post photos tomorrow or soon thereafter...not enough energy for tonight.
A bientot y bon nuit,
Jane
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Saturday, September 6, 2008
The thing about England is.....
So after my first full week here I've decided the following:
1) I love cheddar and pickle sandwiches (particularly from pret--something about that pickle!)
2) I don't love the trend of women wearing short skirts or shorts with tights and flats....it just looks wrong!
3) Some food choices are just wrong....for example
---boiled egg on pizza
---corn in tuna fish (and corn on pizza....eww)
---a Haggis Mac (available on at McDonald's in Scotland at special times of the year--BLECH)
4) there's just too much to see in a few weekends--especially with the wonky hours
5) the little gardens off of peoples houses are lovely
6) it's super expensive to live here (what I thought was a months rent and thus comparable to DC is actually the per week rent!!
7) I had no desire at all to try the "vegetarian haggis" or lump of bread pudding on Portabello Rd this a.m.
8) Beefeaters and the bearskin hat guardsmen look pretty rad in their uniforms
9) It'd be pretty cool to be married at the Tower of London (as someone was today when we were there)
and lastly,
10) I would LOVE to live here----if only I could get a job--or better yet, a nice Scottish husband (it's really the best accent)
Photos will be posted tomorrow night....
Night love!
1) I love cheddar and pickle sandwiches (particularly from pret--something about that pickle!)
2) I don't love the trend of women wearing short skirts or shorts with tights and flats....it just looks wrong!
3) Some food choices are just wrong....for example
---boiled egg on pizza
---corn in tuna fish (and corn on pizza....eww)
---a Haggis Mac (available on at McDonald's in Scotland at special times of the year--BLECH)
4) there's just too much to see in a few weekends--especially with the wonky hours
5) the little gardens off of peoples houses are lovely
6) it's super expensive to live here (what I thought was a months rent and thus comparable to DC is actually the per week rent!!
7) I had no desire at all to try the "vegetarian haggis" or lump of bread pudding on Portabello Rd this a.m.
8) Beefeaters and the bearskin hat guardsmen look pretty rad in their uniforms
9) It'd be pretty cool to be married at the Tower of London (as someone was today when we were there)
and lastly,
10) I would LOVE to live here----if only I could get a job--or better yet, a nice Scottish husband (it's really the best accent)
Photos will be posted tomorrow night....
Night love!
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Bearskin hats in London!
Hello all...Here's an update of the last couple of days.
On Sunday--I slept in until 11 a.m.!! I think waking up at 6 or earlier every day for the past three weeks was taking it's toll and I just pooped out. After waking up and eating some brunch I took the tube to Waterloo station and walked along the Thames. That actually took quite a while...but there's a lot to see. Much to my mom's dismay I walked right past the Tate and other museums without a second thought. I've just enjoyed walking everywhere.
After a quick stop home, I met up with "Dr. Jill"--someone I met in Darfur while she was working for an NGO who is in London finishing up her graduate degree. We walked to a little Thai restaurant and made it just before the heavy rain!
Monday my nutrition course started. We're an interesting mix. There are a lot of Brits and other Europeans here but who general focus on Africa. There is a lone New Zealander, an Omani, and someone from the Solomon Islands....and I'm the lone American. The course is going well so far!!
Last night I walked down to Oxford street and took a look around, then stopped for a bite on the way back. I'm finding British t.v. very enjoying so far...particularly a show called "The Dragon's Den"--the dragon's being five rich British entrepreneurs who listen to pitches by random people and decide whether or not to invest (usually for some share of the business).
This morning, the news was focusing on Gustav missing New Orleans, the downturn of the British economy, the expense of school shoes, and perhaps most shockingly to me, that they're looking to a few designers to use synthetic fabrics for the Royal Guards bearskin hats. Who knew those were still real bearskin? NOT ME that's for sure. I'm totally appalled. Tons of poor little bears have died just to be these hats?!?! I hope this is an easy call for the decision makers. Surely Vera Wang can come up with an appropriate solution!
Oye
On Sunday--I slept in until 11 a.m.!! I think waking up at 6 or earlier every day for the past three weeks was taking it's toll and I just pooped out. After waking up and eating some brunch I took the tube to Waterloo station and walked along the Thames. That actually took quite a while...but there's a lot to see. Much to my mom's dismay I walked right past the Tate and other museums without a second thought. I've just enjoyed walking everywhere.
After a quick stop home, I met up with "Dr. Jill"--someone I met in Darfur while she was working for an NGO who is in London finishing up her graduate degree. We walked to a little Thai restaurant and made it just before the heavy rain!
Monday my nutrition course started. We're an interesting mix. There are a lot of Brits and other Europeans here but who general focus on Africa. There is a lone New Zealander, an Omani, and someone from the Solomon Islands....and I'm the lone American. The course is going well so far!!
Last night I walked down to Oxford street and took a look around, then stopped for a bite on the way back. I'm finding British t.v. very enjoying so far...particularly a show called "The Dragon's Den"--the dragon's being five rich British entrepreneurs who listen to pitches by random people and decide whether or not to invest (usually for some share of the business).
This morning, the news was focusing on Gustav missing New Orleans, the downturn of the British economy, the expense of school shoes, and perhaps most shockingly to me, that they're looking to a few designers to use synthetic fabrics for the Royal Guards bearskin hats. Who knew those were still real bearskin? NOT ME that's for sure. I'm totally appalled. Tons of poor little bears have died just to be these hats?!?! I hope this is an easy call for the decision makers. Surely Vera Wang can come up with an appropriate solution!
Oye
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