In addition to Freya Stark, we need to consider travel writer Pico Iyer. Some of my favourite quotes about travel come from Pico.
"We travel, initially, to lose ourselves; and we travel, next, to find ourselves. We travel to
open our hearts and eyes and learn more about the world than our newspapers will
accommodate.”
So true. Something magical happens when I travel, something about realising my place in a world so much larger than my own backyard. I was recently talking to a year 12 student who told me he has absolutely zero desire to travel. He's not interested in the world, he is perfectly content with what he has here. What is it that makes some of us feel this desire? Others the opposite? And some lulling in the middle somewhere?
I am sure there is research out there somewhere.
Saturday, 18 July 2015
Saturday, 11 July 2015
Italy
As I mentioned last post, there is less we need to worry about organising with the Italy portion of our trip, because most of it is a tour package. We arrive a day earlier than the tour starts, so needed one night of independent accommodation and I chose the beautiful and perfectly located Hotel Raphael.
What a view from the rooftop restaurant! We noted that the Vatican visit on the tour was an optional extra during the walking tour afternoon. We decided we were best going ourselves on our first afternoon there, and then leisurely enjoying the walking tour without trying to pack it in to the same day. The colosseum was not part of the tour either, so we've booked a tour to do that the next morning, before we join the tour group. The rest is structured for us, aside from a free day in Venice. For that, we're contemplating a vaporetto to the islands of Murano and Burano. The only downside I have come across so far, is not enough time in Florence to see the city, AND go and check out David. I guess it's a good excuse to return, though.
Every time I look at pictures and really immerse myself in the planning of the Italy stuff, I get teary. This is such a moment for me. I'm not just excited, I am emotionally overwhelmed. Honestly, this is just so exciting. Not long now.
What a view from the rooftop restaurant! We noted that the Vatican visit on the tour was an optional extra during the walking tour afternoon. We decided we were best going ourselves on our first afternoon there, and then leisurely enjoying the walking tour without trying to pack it in to the same day. The colosseum was not part of the tour either, so we've booked a tour to do that the next morning, before we join the tour group. The rest is structured for us, aside from a free day in Venice. For that, we're contemplating a vaporetto to the islands of Murano and Burano. The only downside I have come across so far, is not enough time in Florence to see the city, AND go and check out David. I guess it's a good excuse to return, though.
Every time I look at pictures and really immerse myself in the planning of the Italy stuff, I get teary. This is such a moment for me. I'm not just excited, I am emotionally overwhelmed. Honestly, this is just so exciting. Not long now.
Friday, 10 July 2015
Where to stay in Paris?
The saga has continued. I changed to a hotel in Paris with a better view but began having second thoughts after reading a few negative reviews on Trip Advisor. Someone suggested AirBNB so spent days on there looking at millions of apartments, then got no replies for the ones we liked. Megs got to work and the two of us must have looked at literally hundreds of apartments and hotels. One thing I noticed: the French are smart, they use a lot of mirrors in their room designs to increase the illusion of space. Eventually, we settled on a hotel that met our strict criteria.
I didn't want a hotel that could be any hotel room in any city in the world. I wanted something different. Either a view, or design that was a little different to the norm. This place gives us both. With funky (and a little intense!) room designs the hotel is quick to brag as done by Christian Lacroix (whoever that is!) and views of Notre Dame and the Seine, this is exactly what we were after.
I didn't want a hotel that could be any hotel room in any city in the world. I wanted something different. Either a view, or design that was a little different to the norm. This place gives us both. With funky (and a little intense!) room designs the hotel is quick to brag as done by Christian Lacroix (whoever that is!) and views of Notre Dame and the Seine, this is exactly what we were after.
With that settled and paid for, our Paris portion of our trip is almost settled. We've booked and paid for a food tour, dinner at the Eiffel Tower, a Seine river cruise, a Moulin Rouge show, a museum pass, a Catacombs tour, and the Ballet. It's been the portion we had to plan most for, since most of the Italy stuff is done in the tour package. I still cannot get my head around this being real. This is my ultimate dream. How many people get to live their life dream? What's yours? Have you lived it?
Thursday, 9 July 2015
Follow Your Dreams
The other night, I was scrolling through facebook and the news. I read about people catching rare diseases, having freak accidents, being diagnosed with horrible fatal diseases or killed by terrorists or nutty individuals... It struck me it is a wonder I am alive. Like it is a miracle to survive these days.
When I was 19, the full impact of my own mortality hit me fully. I realised that some day, I won't exist, and I kind of had a breakdown. For days, I just cried. I would watch my boyfriend play with our pets and think 'what's the point? we'll all be gone eventually...' I was a terrible mess. Eventually I got help from anti-anxiety medication and I got passed it. To a degree. For a good 10-15 years after this, every so often, when I was falling asleep, right as I drifted off I would wake in the middle of a horrible panic attack about the notion of death, or more specifically, not existing. It wasn't something I could ward off because there was no warning, one moment I'd be just falling asleep the next crying and gasping for breath in a horrible mad panic about not existing. Sheer terror. Was horrible. Those have lessened in the last few years and I can only surmise it is because I've made my life one worth living. Before it was just existing. Now, I am SO glad I am following my dreams and seeing the world and taking risks. Sure I might be in an accident over there, or a plane crash - but I could be killed just as easily here. Following my dreams means my life doesn't feel wasted anymore. I feel I am reaching more and more of my potential and that makes that panic and feat of death abate.
This is not an uncommon fear, the fear of death and not existing. I do think it is embedded in whether or not you feel you are reaching - or trying to reach - your potential in life. I know this is a weird travel post, but travel is a big part of this for me. Following dreams rather than putting them off for practicality and so on - it's such a very short life we get, who knows when or if we'll get the chance to act again.
When I was 19, the full impact of my own mortality hit me fully. I realised that some day, I won't exist, and I kind of had a breakdown. For days, I just cried. I would watch my boyfriend play with our pets and think 'what's the point? we'll all be gone eventually...' I was a terrible mess. Eventually I got help from anti-anxiety medication and I got passed it. To a degree. For a good 10-15 years after this, every so often, when I was falling asleep, right as I drifted off I would wake in the middle of a horrible panic attack about the notion of death, or more specifically, not existing. It wasn't something I could ward off because there was no warning, one moment I'd be just falling asleep the next crying and gasping for breath in a horrible mad panic about not existing. Sheer terror. Was horrible. Those have lessened in the last few years and I can only surmise it is because I've made my life one worth living. Before it was just existing. Now, I am SO glad I am following my dreams and seeing the world and taking risks. Sure I might be in an accident over there, or a plane crash - but I could be killed just as easily here. Following my dreams means my life doesn't feel wasted anymore. I feel I am reaching more and more of my potential and that makes that panic and feat of death abate.
This is not an uncommon fear, the fear of death and not existing. I do think it is embedded in whether or not you feel you are reaching - or trying to reach - your potential in life. I know this is a weird travel post, but travel is a big part of this for me. Following dreams rather than putting them off for practicality and so on - it's such a very short life we get, who knows when or if we'll get the chance to act again.
Tuesday, 7 July 2015
"There can be no happiness if the things we believe in are different from the things we do."
"To awaken quite alone in a strange town is one of the pleasant sensations in the world. You are surrounded by adventure. You have no idea of what is in store for you, but you will, if you are wise and know the art of travel, let yourself go on the stream of the unknown and accept whatever comes in the spirit in which the gods may offer it."
This is a passage by Freya Stark, who travelled all her life in the 1920s through the Middle East and Arabia when women just didn't do that. She captures in that paragraph, something that inspires and excited me about travel. For a control freak, this sort of lack of control is somewhat intoxicating.
Whilst I wanted to travel entirely alone at first on this trip, I am also excited to share it with a friend now who wanted to come along. There will still be moments for me alone, as there were when I travelled with someone in the USA. Those moments are the stuff life is supposed to be. I am excited to experience this feeling again. It really is addictive.
This is a passage by Freya Stark, who travelled all her life in the 1920s through the Middle East and Arabia when women just didn't do that. She captures in that paragraph, something that inspires and excited me about travel. For a control freak, this sort of lack of control is somewhat intoxicating.
Whilst I wanted to travel entirely alone at first on this trip, I am also excited to share it with a friend now who wanted to come along. There will still be moments for me alone, as there were when I travelled with someone in the USA. Those moments are the stuff life is supposed to be. I am excited to experience this feeling again. It really is addictive.
Monday, 6 July 2015
A little luxury?
So, I'd already booked hotels for the 4 nights of my trip that were not covered by the tour. They were good choices, fairly central whilst not overly pricey. But, I started thinking, this is the dream trip. Maybe I should pay a little more to be better located? So, I sourced new hotels. One that is right off the Piazza Navona in Rome. Within a few minutes walk of several sites I want to see, and right in the hub of restaurants and trattorias and nightlife. In Paris, I found a pokey little hotel with fabulous views of the Eiffel Tower from the room, and only a ten minute walk to the Seine. Swoony.
That said, I did look at the Shangri La in Paris, it also has views of the Eiffel (right by it) and is not pokey or old at all. It's also $2000AUD per night. Lordy! Might not quite go that far huh? At least, not this visit...
That said, I did look at the Shangri La in Paris, it also has views of the Eiffel (right by it) and is not pokey or old at all. It's also $2000AUD per night. Lordy! Might not quite go that far huh? At least, not this visit...
Sunday, 5 July 2015
The List
South America (Peru)
Greece
Spain
UK
Brazil
Japan
Morocco
French Polynesia (Bora Bora/Tahiti)
New Zealand
Would also like to see Egypt and South Africa depending on safety stuff.
Where else do I need to go??
Greece
Spain
UK
Brazil
Japan
Morocco
French Polynesia (Bora Bora/Tahiti)
New Zealand
Would also like to see Egypt and South Africa depending on safety stuff.
Where else do I need to go??
Saturday, 4 July 2015
Me. Self and travel.
Maybe I need to tell you more about me, to get to the bottom of this why do I need to travel stuff.
I need to compare for you, the me of ten years ago, with the me now. Ten years ago, I was 27. I had one child, was in an unhappy marriage and weighed 130kg. I wanted another child, I had no career or passions and I had no idea what my future was. If I even had one. I reached a point where I knew I either had to make really difficult choices and decisions and change my life, or accept it as it was and die inside. I chose the former.
I had another child after much IVF and battle. I separated and ended my unhappy marriage amicably. I had weight loss surgery and lost 40kg (have since regained 10 though). I pushed myself through a post grad teaching degree in a year and got my dream job teaching English at a fantastic school. I travelled to the US and now that I work, I can do so again - hopefully annually. These changes took time, they were hard and confronting but they were my truth so I persisted. And I have now created a life for myself that I love.
Maybe travel is part of this recognition of my truth self. The craving I have always had for knowledge and learning. The world is so big and I am so small, I want to see it all and learn from it. Deepen who I am with experiences. Travel is magic. Magic we can access. How cool is that?!
I need to compare for you, the me of ten years ago, with the me now. Ten years ago, I was 27. I had one child, was in an unhappy marriage and weighed 130kg. I wanted another child, I had no career or passions and I had no idea what my future was. If I even had one. I reached a point where I knew I either had to make really difficult choices and decisions and change my life, or accept it as it was and die inside. I chose the former.
I had another child after much IVF and battle. I separated and ended my unhappy marriage amicably. I had weight loss surgery and lost 40kg (have since regained 10 though). I pushed myself through a post grad teaching degree in a year and got my dream job teaching English at a fantastic school. I travelled to the US and now that I work, I can do so again - hopefully annually. These changes took time, they were hard and confronting but they were my truth so I persisted. And I have now created a life for myself that I love.
Maybe travel is part of this recognition of my truth self. The craving I have always had for knowledge and learning. The world is so big and I am so small, I want to see it all and learn from it. Deepen who I am with experiences. Travel is magic. Magic we can access. How cool is that?!
Why?
Two things people say most commonly when I mention my trip. Firstly - why? Why Italy? Secondly, they comment on the fact that I am single and may meet someone. That one is easy to respond to - no way!! A man in another country when I am tied to this one with my children? Not going to happen.
But why Italy? is a better question. I suppose the roots were planted when I was a baby. We had Italian neighbours until we moved when I was 10 years old. The native tongue, the food... Nonna's aranciani were the BEST! We also learned Italian as a language in primary until we moved, so I was always able to say a few things in the language and the fascination grew from there. I feel a natural affinity with the country. Inexplainable. Maybe it is the history or the art, maybe the way the language sounds like music. It draws me to it, and this is the third time I have a booked a trip there, and the first it will actually eventuate.
The first time, my husband and I had separated and I booked a flight and ordered my passport. It was October of 2002. I lined up 12 months of nanny work, 6 months in England and 6 in Italy. The deposit on my flight was paid and it was all systems go. Then I fell sick, and couldn't seem to recover. Eventually I saw a doctor and had tests. It turned out I was pregnant. Cancel everything!!! 9 months later, my beautiful son was born. When he was 2, I tried again. A friend and I planned a short trip, and again, we paid our deposit on student fares, but I decided leaving my son at 2 years old, given his personality and attachment, was too much for him. So I cancelled it again. When the time again came to travel, I was led by my heart rather than my head and ended up in the USA twice.
Now, it is time. My dream trip. The one I have wanted for as long as I can remember, and which I have actually planned twice before, is finally coming true. I added Paris because... who doesn't love Paris? Who doesn't want to see that glamour and beauty? And it's so close, I would be mad not to at least briefly visit whilst in Europe.
Oh but how it has sparked such wanderlust. I've a list that grows all the time, of places I want to go. Just reading about Italy tells me I am not going to have anywhere near enough time to do all I want to and see all I want to. I'll need to return, there is no doubt. Some people never find travel within their reach. Some prefer other experiences or possessions. What is it that makes me want to travel so much? What is it that creates this deep down NEED in some of us?
Italia - Io vengo!!
But why Italy? is a better question. I suppose the roots were planted when I was a baby. We had Italian neighbours until we moved when I was 10 years old. The native tongue, the food... Nonna's aranciani were the BEST! We also learned Italian as a language in primary until we moved, so I was always able to say a few things in the language and the fascination grew from there. I feel a natural affinity with the country. Inexplainable. Maybe it is the history or the art, maybe the way the language sounds like music. It draws me to it, and this is the third time I have a booked a trip there, and the first it will actually eventuate.
The first time, my husband and I had separated and I booked a flight and ordered my passport. It was October of 2002. I lined up 12 months of nanny work, 6 months in England and 6 in Italy. The deposit on my flight was paid and it was all systems go. Then I fell sick, and couldn't seem to recover. Eventually I saw a doctor and had tests. It turned out I was pregnant. Cancel everything!!! 9 months later, my beautiful son was born. When he was 2, I tried again. A friend and I planned a short trip, and again, we paid our deposit on student fares, but I decided leaving my son at 2 years old, given his personality and attachment, was too much for him. So I cancelled it again. When the time again came to travel, I was led by my heart rather than my head and ended up in the USA twice.
Now, it is time. My dream trip. The one I have wanted for as long as I can remember, and which I have actually planned twice before, is finally coming true. I added Paris because... who doesn't love Paris? Who doesn't want to see that glamour and beauty? And it's so close, I would be mad not to at least briefly visit whilst in Europe.
Oh but how it has sparked such wanderlust. I've a list that grows all the time, of places I want to go. Just reading about Italy tells me I am not going to have anywhere near enough time to do all I want to and see all I want to. I'll need to return, there is no doubt. Some people never find travel within their reach. Some prefer other experiences or possessions. What is it that makes me want to travel so much? What is it that creates this deep down NEED in some of us?
Italia - Io vengo!!
Wednesday, 1 July 2015
Update on stuff I need
I said I needed walking shoes, a travel lock, EU adaptors, and a neck wallet.
I have all these things AND a backpack, phrase books, maps, luggage scale, insoles, travel towel, wipes, tissues, gastrolyte tablets to rehydrate, and a neck pillow.
I need earplugs, maybe headphones, and debating a good compact camera.
I have paid for flights, travel insurance, passport, tour deposit, museum pass for Paris, dinner, cruise moulin rouge night, ballet at the Palais Garnier, catacombs tour, Colosseum tour, and a Paris food tour. I also pre paid a private transfer from Rome back to the airport for the Paris flight because it leaves EARLY. Really early!
I still need to pay remainder of tour, vatican tour, gondola ride and Venice and Florence tours, extra night in Rome hotel, and Paris hotel. Also need spending money!
With Megan now coming with me, hotel costs are halved so that's cool.
I have all these things AND a backpack, phrase books, maps, luggage scale, insoles, travel towel, wipes, tissues, gastrolyte tablets to rehydrate, and a neck pillow.
I need earplugs, maybe headphones, and debating a good compact camera.
I have paid for flights, travel insurance, passport, tour deposit, museum pass for Paris, dinner, cruise moulin rouge night, ballet at the Palais Garnier, catacombs tour, Colosseum tour, and a Paris food tour. I also pre paid a private transfer from Rome back to the airport for the Paris flight because it leaves EARLY. Really early!
I still need to pay remainder of tour, vatican tour, gondola ride and Venice and Florence tours, extra night in Rome hotel, and Paris hotel. Also need spending money!
With Megan now coming with me, hotel costs are halved so that's cool.
USA Trip 2, May 2011
Over a year later, I finally was able to return to the US. I was still with the same man, but things were pinched and struggling with such distance and no visits between. I knew this would be my last trip, and I wanted to make it count. The flight there was packed this time and I was a bigger girl so it was not a comfortable 17 hours at all. Phil and I met in LA this time, and spent time looking at the Hollywood sign, Grauman's Chinese Theatre with it's hand and footprints of the stars, and all the stars on Hollywood Boulevard. Only in LA do you stop and chat and have photos taken with a Captain Jack lookalike, and see Darth Vader crossing the street. We had an absolute ball at Madame Tussauds in LA, was awesome. I really wanted to bring the Leonardo Di Caprio figure home with me! Swoon!
We also went and did the Warner Brothers studio lot tour seeing sets for True Blood, Jurassic Park, Friends, Gilmore Girls (the whole reason I went!), Pretty Little Liars, Lois and Clark and various movies such as Spiderman, Annie, Muppets etc. The garage with all the famous movie cars was so cool as well and we saw the set of Molly and Mike.
We went to a baseball game to see the Dodgers play. No idea WHO they played or even who won now but that was fun! And we made a day trip down to San Diego and back to lunch with a friend. Venice Beach was an adventure in and of itself! Weird. And an enormous pancake brekky with a dear friend was lovely. That was it for LA, I wouldn't hurry back to be honest. It was boring in the end. After this, we flew to New York City for a few days. Now NYC I would absolutely return to. I loved it. I was non stop for the 3-4 days and barely scratched the surface. It was amazing!
In NYC, we saw the wall street bull and the touching 9/11 tribute museum. They were part of the way through building the new tower and memorial and that was interesting to see as well. The lines for a cruise to the Statue of Liberty were enormous and it was raining so we skipped that and saw her from a distance instead. We then hung out in Times Square for a bit. That place blew my mind! Busy vibrant and interesting endlessly. Even at night, after a late attendance of The Lion King on Broadway, the place was packed shoulder to shoulder. I went to the top of Rockefeller Place and admired views of Central Park and the Empire State Building.
Central park was HUGE. The squirrels! The bagels! The lakes! The movie scenes! The Statues (especially the Alice in Wonderland one) The horses! The John Lennon memorial! It was all so beautiful. I spent ages in the Met museum looking at amazing art, likewise MoMA. Van Gogh's, Picasso's, Monet's, Poussin's, Bourdon's, Matisse's... Just amazing.
And what would a trip to NYC be without a stop off at Tiffany on 5th Avenue for some bling?! That trip went far too quickly. I bid the man farewell (for what did indeed turn out to be the last time) and flew home to my darling babies again.
We also went and did the Warner Brothers studio lot tour seeing sets for True Blood, Jurassic Park, Friends, Gilmore Girls (the whole reason I went!), Pretty Little Liars, Lois and Clark and various movies such as Spiderman, Annie, Muppets etc. The garage with all the famous movie cars was so cool as well and we saw the set of Molly and Mike.
We went to a baseball game to see the Dodgers play. No idea WHO they played or even who won now but that was fun! And we made a day trip down to San Diego and back to lunch with a friend. Venice Beach was an adventure in and of itself! Weird. And an enormous pancake brekky with a dear friend was lovely. That was it for LA, I wouldn't hurry back to be honest. It was boring in the end. After this, we flew to New York City for a few days. Now NYC I would absolutely return to. I loved it. I was non stop for the 3-4 days and barely scratched the surface. It was amazing!
In NYC, we saw the wall street bull and the touching 9/11 tribute museum. They were part of the way through building the new tower and memorial and that was interesting to see as well. The lines for a cruise to the Statue of Liberty were enormous and it was raining so we skipped that and saw her from a distance instead. We then hung out in Times Square for a bit. That place blew my mind! Busy vibrant and interesting endlessly. Even at night, after a late attendance of The Lion King on Broadway, the place was packed shoulder to shoulder. I went to the top of Rockefeller Place and admired views of Central Park and the Empire State Building.
Central park was HUGE. The squirrels! The bagels! The lakes! The movie scenes! The Statues (especially the Alice in Wonderland one) The horses! The John Lennon memorial! It was all so beautiful. I spent ages in the Met museum looking at amazing art, likewise MoMA. Van Gogh's, Picasso's, Monet's, Poussin's, Bourdon's, Matisse's... Just amazing.
And what would a trip to NYC be without a stop off at Tiffany on 5th Avenue for some bling?! That trip went far too quickly. I bid the man farewell (for what did indeed turn out to be the last time) and flew home to my darling babies again.
USA Trip 1, March 2010
Thought I might look back at previous trips before looking ahead to Europe. I first went to the US in March of 2010. I had gone to meet a man, very cliched but a good push to travel as I had always dreamed. America had never really been on my travel list, but I had made several friends there with the miracle that is Twitter, so I decided to throw caution to the wind. My daughter was 2 at the time, my son 6 and I left them with their Dad and left for 10 days. Ten days is a fast trip, but was all I was prepared to leave the kids for. The flight over was quite good - the middle seat was vacant and the young guy on the aisle seat was quiet and friendly. I had a window seat and slept a fair part of the way. My first international trip as a solo traveller. I. Loved. It. Truly it was addictive. The queues for passport and security checks, the hanging out waiting for ages in airport lounges - and not the fancy ones - I was a budget basement traveller. Watched a few movies on the flight - no back of seat screens for bargain basement United Airlines... But I didn't care. I was going OVERSEAS!!!! We landed in San Francisco, and then I made a connecting flight to PDX. Portland, Oregon. I had friends there, and this was where the guy I was interested in met me. We had an amazing trip, it was giddy, happy, beautiful love. We met other friends that night in Portland, spent some time at his parents place, then took his 2 children up to friends in Seattle to stay whilst we spent time on our own.
5:30am, a Tuesday morning, barely Spring in Seattle and the weather was still quite cool. We had a long drive ahead as we spent two days driving down the coast to San Francisco. Because we wanted to go via the coast, that was a good 1430 kilometre trip. I wasn't familiar with Seattle, but we needed an early breakfast and bland but reliable IHOP was yet to open. Eventually, Phil, my man friend, remembers a diner he used to frequent when he had lived in Seattle years before. It's called Beth's, and was featured once on Man Vs Food for their 12 egg omelette. I settle for something far smaller and tamer, but the atmosphere and patron drawings that adorn the wall make a lasting impression.
Our coastal drive is fun and uneventful. We drive through the Chandelier tree - a trunk so enormous our car fits through the centre of it!! We eventually cross the Golden Gate Bridge into San Francisco. I love the city. It's pier, it's views of the bay, the City Lights Bookstore, The Japanese Tea Gardens in Golden Gate Park, Coit Tower, the St Patricks Day Parade that went FOREVER! Alcatraz I did not get time to explore, but saw from a distance... next time. Loved the crooked Lombard Street and the exterior Full House shot at Alamo Square, though apparently now a dodgy area of town. The view of the bay and Bridge from Marin Headlands was breathtaking.
We had dinner with a bunch of twitter friends at Bucca Di Beppo, and explored the strangeness of supermarkets with foreign candy and every flavour of vodka imaginable. Dark cherry mochas at Starbucks became a favourite too. We toured Ghiradelli chocolates and had cob bowl clam chowder at Fishermans wharf. I even had bacon flavoured chocolate! Grace Cathedral was stunning and I spent time there taking photos and enjoying the quiet. We had dinner at an amazing little diner that I think has since closed down on my final night. La Antica Trattoria it was called, and it was beautiful.
Time came to leave and our farewell at the airport was emotional and tear filled, the trip home uneventful. I would return.
5:30am, a Tuesday morning, barely Spring in Seattle and the weather was still quite cool. We had a long drive ahead as we spent two days driving down the coast to San Francisco. Because we wanted to go via the coast, that was a good 1430 kilometre trip. I wasn't familiar with Seattle, but we needed an early breakfast and bland but reliable IHOP was yet to open. Eventually, Phil, my man friend, remembers a diner he used to frequent when he had lived in Seattle years before. It's called Beth's, and was featured once on Man Vs Food for their 12 egg omelette. I settle for something far smaller and tamer, but the atmosphere and patron drawings that adorn the wall make a lasting impression.
Our coastal drive is fun and uneventful. We drive through the Chandelier tree - a trunk so enormous our car fits through the centre of it!! We eventually cross the Golden Gate Bridge into San Francisco. I love the city. It's pier, it's views of the bay, the City Lights Bookstore, The Japanese Tea Gardens in Golden Gate Park, Coit Tower, the St Patricks Day Parade that went FOREVER! Alcatraz I did not get time to explore, but saw from a distance... next time. Loved the crooked Lombard Street and the exterior Full House shot at Alamo Square, though apparently now a dodgy area of town. The view of the bay and Bridge from Marin Headlands was breathtaking.
We had dinner with a bunch of twitter friends at Bucca Di Beppo, and explored the strangeness of supermarkets with foreign candy and every flavour of vodka imaginable. Dark cherry mochas at Starbucks became a favourite too. We toured Ghiradelli chocolates and had cob bowl clam chowder at Fishermans wharf. I even had bacon flavoured chocolate! Grace Cathedral was stunning and I spent time there taking photos and enjoying the quiet. We had dinner at an amazing little diner that I think has since closed down on my final night. La Antica Trattoria it was called, and it was beautiful.
Time came to leave and our farewell at the airport was emotional and tear filled, the trip home uneventful. I would return.
Saturday, 13 June 2015
Stuff to buy
I need new good walking shoes. I need a TSA travel lock, a EU power adaptor and a neck wallet thing.
Not a big list. Which means I am likely to be forgetting a lot. I really want to pack as light as possible. One case, half empty to fill along the way. Surely this is doable!?
Not a big list. Which means I am likely to be forgetting a lot. I really want to pack as light as possible. One case, half empty to fill along the way. Surely this is doable!?
Thursday, 11 June 2015
From there to here
Traveling is a passion. Sadly, it is an expensive one and one I have always longed to do more of. I am Australian, and live in Melbourne. I've been to the USA twice. The first trip I drove from Seattle down to San Francisco and spent a week in SFO. Beautiful city. The second trip I went to LA and NYC. The former bored me, the latter thrilled me. Both times I met someone in country to travel with, but flew to and from alone. I have children, but they are too small yet to come with me. One is close, he is 11. We are planning the UK next year together.
But this year, this year is my dream. Since I was a child I have wanted to go to Italy. Several times now I have come close, but it's never eventuated for various reasons. It's never gone away. It remains my dream. Now I am working I intend to travel more and I've just confirmed a small loan to enable me to live that dream. 8 days in Italy and 2-3 to Paris tacked onto the end. Magnifique!!!
Other places I'd love to go some day are the rest of Europe, New Zealand, South America...
So, I've paid a deposit on an 8 day tour of Italy, and I am waiting for the $$ to come through to secure my flights. Then it's no turning back! My passport has expired too, so I need to get a new one of those happening ASAP. SQUEE!!!!!!
But this year, this year is my dream. Since I was a child I have wanted to go to Italy. Several times now I have come close, but it's never eventuated for various reasons. It's never gone away. It remains my dream. Now I am working I intend to travel more and I've just confirmed a small loan to enable me to live that dream. 8 days in Italy and 2-3 to Paris tacked onto the end. Magnifique!!!
Other places I'd love to go some day are the rest of Europe, New Zealand, South America...
So, I've paid a deposit on an 8 day tour of Italy, and I am waiting for the $$ to come through to secure my flights. Then it's no turning back! My passport has expired too, so I need to get a new one of those happening ASAP. SQUEE!!!!!!
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