I went to London and Dublin with Kari and Erica. We were on a mission to see everything the two cities had to offer, and my stamina (not to mention legs and feet) was put to the test. I took almost 250 photos, but i am not going to post them all. Eventually, I may put up a few of my favorites, but most are just pics of buildings.
here's the blow-by-blow. don't feel like reading everything?, just know that we did it all.
Day 0 - meet the gals at Boston airport and fly to London.
Day 1 - wake up incredibly early, gather our "free" continental breakfast and get moving. Trafalgar Square, Westminster Abbey, Parliament, London Eye, River tour (Thames), Tower of London, tour of the London Underground...we didn't stop until dinner. It was neat/surreal getting to see the place Anne Boleyn lived while awaiting execution. Before dinner we drank a bottle of wine and after dinner we split a 4-pack of giant Stella's; needless to say we slept like babies...very drunk babies.
Day 2 - wake up at a more reasonable time. Off to Windsor Castle! The queen was "in residence" while we were there, so we didn't get to see the state rooms and all that, but it sure was neat. Then we went to Kew Gardens and saw all kinds of neat flowers, plants and water fowl. We couldn't even begin to cover all the ground there in the amount of time we had, but we gave it a good go. For dinner we went to this awesome little Italian restaurant. We split a bottle of wine, and we each had room for a spectacular dessert (I went for the millefoglie).
Day 3 - We decided to take a tour. As luck had it, the pick up point was outside our hotel, so we didn't get lost or anything. They took us to Winchester, Stonehenge and Bath. Having heard so much about Stonehenge I was expecting to be totally mystified, but the touristy feel of the place sort of takes away from the mystery. I think I enjoyed hearing all the theories about its purpose and construction more than walking around it (being sure to stay outside of the roped off perimeter). Bath was neat, too. I got to thinking about what it would have been like to be a rich ancient Roman who had nothing else to do but lounge around in hot pools and saunas...and I actually relaxed a little. I was even able to sleep a little on the 3 hour bus ride home. The bus dropped us off in the middle of the city, and we walked through Hyde Park to get back to our hotel...beautiful. I had been seeing a the "Physical Energy" statue on the map of Hyde Park all week; imagine my disappointment to see that it was just a statue of a guy on a rearing horse. Yeah, that's physical energy, but I was expecting something more...subtle.
Day 4 - Despite the fact that we were leaving London in the afternoon we managed to make the trip to Buckingham Palace and Harrods (never go there, it's chaotic!). Poor Erica was feeling sick, so Kari and I sent her ahead to the train station while we gathered the luggage and joined her on the train to the airport. In Dublin we checked into our hotel and then went out to grab dinner and visited our first real live pub. It was a pretty fun night considering how cranky we all were after the flight.
Day 5 - Start the day at Kilmainham Gaol. This is a jail that was used in the 1800s and early 1900s. It was probably one of the most interesting places I've been; we got to see the evolution of the jail system from cramped, damp, dark cells and halls to the more open setup. Also, a lot of very important Irishmen were imprisoned and executed at the Gaol. The place still felt very much alive. Then we shuffled on over to the Guinness Storehouse to learn how the "ruby red" miracle is made and even enjoyed a free pint. Next we went to some big church; I think it was called the Christ Church. They kicked us out cause they were about to have services. The Dublin Castle was next on our whirlwind tour. This is still a "living, working" castle, and the lady giving the tour walked so fast that it was hard to keep up. She would be behind us one second, and then standing in the next room (impatiently) waiting for us the next, it was creepy. At this point we were very hungry so we stopped at a little Bistro and had probably the best vegetable soup I've ever had and little cream filled pastries for dessert. The last stop of the afternoon was St. Patrick's Cathedral. It was beautiful! That night I stayed in while the girls went out. I think we all thoroughly enjoyed the evening.
Day 6 - In the morning we rushed to get a shuttle to Newgrange. We got to see neato burial mounds and even go inside one. This is another one of those neolithic sites that is extremely large, hard to build and we have no idea why it was built or by whom...there are, of course many theories. The thing I thought was the neatest was that hundreds of years ago the tops of the mounds slipped and covered the entrance and front of the mounds and preserved it for us to see today. They had to reconstruct the front, but they did so using only material found on-site. If you ever get to Dublin, I suggest making the 45 minute trip up there to check it out. After we got back to town we visited Trinity College and hopped on the bus to visit the coast/Malahide Castle. The castle was closed and in the middle of a beautiful park. We probably would have enjoyed the park more if hadn't taken us 20 minutes to make our way through it to the castle (thus arriving 10 minutes late).
Day 7 - fourteen hours of traveling home to Tammer...I missed him a heap!
the weekenders
Friday
Tammer came home and we made a lame ass dinner. Then we're off to a bar with a couple of his co-workers. I even got to meet one of his bosses, which was neat. I think it was only supposed to be 4 or 5 of us, but since Tammer works with teenagers, the crowd eventually grew to 10 or so, which was too large a crowd for the tiny-boothed establishment. We drank, we laughed, and we made sure to catch the last T home (it stops at midnight), so we wouldn't have to pay for a cab.
Saturday
We slept in till noon. I haven't slept this late in years...4 years, folks! Saturday was the first truly nice day of spring, so we decided to go on an outing.
First stop was a little Japanese place where we got authentic (?) ramen and rice bowls. Then we wandered around Newbury Street for a couple of hours. This street is full of those stores that most normal people can't afford to go into. I am surprised they don't do a credit check when you turn the corner..."what's your annual income?" "Right this way, madame." We went into a place that sells kitchen stuff, and the only thing we could bring ourselves to buy were some cheap little corn cob holders.
We finally ended up at a cute little jewelry store (the reason for our outing) where we spent a gift certificate we had (Tammer returned some things after Christmas). Their website doesn't show everything, but I got a fun bracelet and some tiny skull & crossbone earrings and couple pair of hoop earrings. So fun!
After "shopping" we were tired and thirsty, so we headed over to the bookstore for some coffee. Along the way we went through the Boston Common, and there was some kind of concert going on. There was a band and a bunch of kids all singing and celebrating. Later, someone told us it was for Earth Day, but I am too lazy to check.
On the way home we stopped by Blockbuster and quarreled over which movie to rent (I get grumpy when I'm tired), then we stopped by Tammer's friends house to say hi. We stayed there for a while just chatting until it was time for them to have dinner.
Then we came home and collapsed; ordered a $5 pizza and watched an episode of Angel before going to bed. This was one about a guy who could detach his own body parts (hands and eyeball) and they would move/behave independently from his body...pretty terrible.
Sunday
This morning I gave Tammer a haircut (I'm his new barber) before going to brunch. Then we went to a coffee shop where I looked through my London travel books while Tammer coded a bit and then played pool with some strangers. On the way home we picked up a travel book for Dublin, so I'll be well prepared. Now we're home, safely under the covers. It's rainy and cold (my jeans were soaked through after the walk from Harvard Square), so it's nice to be indoors. Maybe in a bit we'll watch the rented movie that caused so much drama.
BTW- I leave Tuesday for London. I'll be there until Saturday, then I'm off to Dublin. I come back the following Tuesday. I'm going with a couple of pals from Pasadena, and it promises to be a rockin' good time!
I'll tell you all about my trip when I get back. Stay tuned.
Tammer came home and we made a lame ass dinner. Then we're off to a bar with a couple of his co-workers. I even got to meet one of his bosses, which was neat. I think it was only supposed to be 4 or 5 of us, but since Tammer works with teenagers, the crowd eventually grew to 10 or so, which was too large a crowd for the tiny-boothed establishment. We drank, we laughed, and we made sure to catch the last T home (it stops at midnight), so we wouldn't have to pay for a cab.
Saturday
We slept in till noon. I haven't slept this late in years...4 years, folks! Saturday was the first truly nice day of spring, so we decided to go on an outing.
First stop was a little Japanese place where we got authentic (?) ramen and rice bowls. Then we wandered around Newbury Street for a couple of hours. This street is full of those stores that most normal people can't afford to go into. I am surprised they don't do a credit check when you turn the corner..."what's your annual income?" "Right this way, madame." We went into a place that sells kitchen stuff, and the only thing we could bring ourselves to buy were some cheap little corn cob holders.
We finally ended up at a cute little jewelry store (the reason for our outing) where we spent a gift certificate we had (Tammer returned some things after Christmas). Their website doesn't show everything, but I got a fun bracelet and some tiny skull & crossbone earrings and couple pair of hoop earrings. So fun!
After "shopping" we were tired and thirsty, so we headed over to the bookstore for some coffee. Along the way we went through the Boston Common, and there was some kind of concert going on. There was a band and a bunch of kids all singing and celebrating. Later, someone told us it was for Earth Day, but I am too lazy to check.
On the way home we stopped by Blockbuster and quarreled over which movie to rent (I get grumpy when I'm tired), then we stopped by Tammer's friends house to say hi. We stayed there for a while just chatting until it was time for them to have dinner.
Then we came home and collapsed; ordered a $5 pizza and watched an episode of Angel before going to bed. This was one about a guy who could detach his own body parts (hands and eyeball) and they would move/behave independently from his body...pretty terrible.
Sunday
This morning I gave Tammer a haircut (I'm his new barber) before going to brunch. Then we went to a coffee shop where I looked through my London travel books while Tammer coded a bit and then played pool with some strangers. On the way home we picked up a travel book for Dublin, so I'll be well prepared. Now we're home, safely under the covers. It's rainy and cold (my jeans were soaked through after the walk from Harvard Square), so it's nice to be indoors. Maybe in a bit we'll watch the rented movie that caused so much drama.
BTW- I leave Tuesday for London. I'll be there until Saturday, then I'm off to Dublin. I come back the following Tuesday. I'm going with a couple of pals from Pasadena, and it promises to be a rockin' good time!
I'll tell you all about my trip when I get back. Stay tuned.
TBD
Domestic Bliss (Sort Of)
or
How I Survived My First Week in
As many of you know I recently made the move to the
I arrived last Tuesday (April 3rd) in the evening. Tammer met me at the airport and we then took a cab to our new home and then out to eat.
The house:
We live in a cute little green house in
My stuff:
The moving company is taking its sweet time getting my belongings to me. Phone calls made a week apart informed me that by stuff would get here "mid-to-late next week". We don't have a couch or a TV, so time at home is spent in the (thankfully large/furnished) bedroom. Last night we got a kitchen table, so that opens up more options. Tammer and I are going a little nuts. I guess we need to think of it as a high intensity adjustment to co-habitation.
The kitchen floor:
It’s nasty. It’s supposed to be white; there are these white tiles (probably vinyl) with flecks of blue, purple and black (think elementary school cafeteria). I would like the floor if that was actually how it looked. I don’t think the people who lived here before ever cleaned the floor; they left a mop, but it was disgusting, I think they cleaned muddy dogs with it or something. The tiles are brown in high traffic areas. Meaning, most of the floor, you can actually see the paths you have to take to get to the door, the pantry, the bathroom and the hall. It’s gross. We have tried bleach, ammonia, pine sol, hands and knees scrubbing! Nothing will make the floor white again. What do we do?
The weather:
My first day of residency I immediately realized that I had made the biggest mistake of my life. Why, you may ask. On the afternoon of April 4th, 2007 it snowed in
Despite the weather I have to go outside, so the first few days I bundled up for small errands. When people asked me at Christmastime if I had a winter coat I was like, “Sure, I lived in DC for a while, I have coats.” I was naïve to think that these “coats” would be any match for the
My health:
I got sick on Thursday or Friday, a cold. I am always amazed at the body’s ability to produce mucus. I was cold, grumpy, lazy and snotty, and Tammer handled all of this surprisingly well. You would think that after waiting for me to arrive and to show me this city he loves for 6 months he would be a little put out. Nope, he went out to buy me medicine and tissues. When the two of us went out for dinner or something he was always ready to return home as soon as my sickly bad mood demanded.
My days:
Mostly I explore. I wake up between 8 and 11, but I can’t seem to get motivated to even get out of bed before 11. I decide what I want for lunch at about 2, look on-line to see where I can find it and then I walk there. It’s been a good way explore the ½ mile radius around my apartment. I stroll, have lunch, go to a market to pick up something for dinner (sometimes I leave this to Tammer). So far this has been enough to keep me from getting bored.
I have also decided to switch the way I get my email and internet news and manage my calendar/address book. I have been downloading all sorts of software (“clients”) to help with this, and getting everything set up just right took a few of days. Now I’ve switched to a new blog service, too. Since I have so much free time LOOK OUT! You’re gonna be bombarded with useless information about my boring daily life and my thoughts on the mundane.
Tammer:
As before he left for Boston six months ago, Tammer never fails to surprise me with how easy he is to spend time with. I am always at ease. In past relationships I was never sure of myself or of my partners feelings, this is nothing like that. We are open and honest with one another on every front. It's far from perfect, but we work on it every day.
Dinner Disaster
Friday night, we decided to meet one of Tammer’s work buddies for dinner. We were hoping to go to a pub or something (I was really in the mood for a burger) and be home by 8:30 for some lazy Friday night snuggling.
We walked down to Harvard square to meet this guy, and he tells us that some of his friends are at a Mexican place a couple of blocks away, so we (reluctantly) decide to join them. This place was apparently the most popular place to grab a margarita or watered down Mexican beer in the area. The place was packed, standing room only, the type of place I was reluctant to go to even during college. Upon our arrival (~7:10) we were assured that a table was being prepared for our party of seven, and were invited to wait in the (shoulder to shoulder) bar. We weren’t seated until 8. Did I mention that I was starving at 6:30. Grrrrrrrrrr.
The people we met for dinner seemed nice enough at first. One girl and I had a conversation about my move and she kept checking on the table so that we wouldn’t leave. However, the longer we waited for our table, and later our food, she and her boyfriend continued to consume more margaritas than is socially acceptable. By the end of the meal they were beyond drunk and beyond obnoxious. This same chick insisted on splitting up the bill for the waitress, a process which took about 15 minutes. She was circling items and drawing arrows…she even got one of those pens with different colored inks.
Did I also forget to mention that I was suffering the onslaught of a head cold? I finally said, “I need to leave” in my meanest voice possible. Have any of you heard me try to be mean? Needless to say, this had no affect. Tammer ended up just throwing money on the table once I started to walk out. I am certain we got home before the rest of them even got out of the restaurant. We agreed that we don’t like that girl or her meat head beau.
The next day we saw that same girl on the T. She was returning from some farmers market and appeared totally normal. No sign of the drunken mess that we left behind the night before. People can surprise you. I can’t decide if I ever want to see her again. I suppose everyone deserves a second chance. Next time, though, I will make sure tequila is not on the menu.
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