Getting caught up is still happening. I uploaded all my photos on my photo page though. They are not necessarily in order yet, nor have they been commented or captioned. Give me time.
http://picasaweb.google.com/RossDMcKinney
The SB stands for Spring Break. The albums are about 60 photos each. My mother ought to be proud of the amount I have used the camera she got me.
Tuesday, 15 April 2008
Tuesday, 25 March 2008
So much to say, so little time
Internet time is limited. Sophia brought her computer, and that Alice has an i-touch I-pod, so that is the internet we get when we can get a wireless signal. And that is not necessarily often, I assure you. So I have it now while Sophia is in the shower. We are in Avignon, and we just got here. The nice folks of the train industry are on strike, apparently, and nobody decided to tell us when we were on the train from Bordeaux to Arles, then Arles to Avignon. This is important because the Arles to Avignon was cancelled due to the strike. We had to rush to try to get reservations on a night train to Strasbourg, Germany that happened to have a brief stop at Avignon two hours later than we expected to be there. So we played Euchre, the Indiana speciality, and waited for the train. We are now in Avignon, seat of the Papacy for some time in the medieval ages.
Yesterday in Bordeax was okay. I only say this because Peerman booked our hotel extremely outside the city limits of Bordeaux. We stayed in a hotel about 25 Euros in a taxi only worth away from the train station, Gare de St. Jean. Also, we were there on a Easter Monday, a holiday that the French apparently hold as dear as their right to strike, because nothing was open until 6pm, where we found a French pizzeria that was open for 3 hours on holidays. It was pretty good, with more selections of pizzas than I could have dreamed of. Also, we got to walk through a couple of miles of the countryside in search of this place, and it was thoroughly beautiful. I can only imagine how utterly gorgeous it is during the spring, when the acres upon acres of vineyards are in bloom.
Today, however, and the reason for Peerman and I nearly missing the only train to Avignon, is that we sought a sight in the city of Bordeaux. We knew from my guidebook that there was a gothic Cathedral that had a bell tower that reached 66 meters to the sky, and we had 1/2 and hour to find it. Since there was only one train at 2:30pm, and by the time we got to the train station and had our tickets it was 12:3opm, we had two hours to explore the city (again thanks to Peerman for the great locale on the hotel, at least it wasn't too expensive) The girls (Sophia and Alice) took the first shift of exploring, whilst Peerman and I guarded our luggage. When it was our turn, we had 40 minutes until the train left, and high ambition. We saw the spire from afar, and he and I started walking toward it eating the kebabs the girls had purchased. We found it in 20 minutes. We spend maximum of 2 minutes at the church, pictures to follow. We had to run back. We got on the train, after frantically finding the platform (the girls had already gone there, without telling us) we jumped onboard as the conductor's whistle blew. They were mad at us, and we were sweating and laughing at our luck. If we had turned down one of the wrong winding medieval streets, we would have been sulking in Bordeaux all night. Luckily, Peerman and I are the masters of adventure. And also, luckily, the girls were responsible enough to carry our bags for us to the platform and load it to the train and allow us to jump on at the last possible second. Much more to come. Nice, Venice, Poland, and Greece to follow.
Wednesday, 19 March 2008
Perugia, Rome, Florence, Paris
The internet has been hard to come by in a free manner, so now that I have a moment of free internet via the Hotel Balladins (a very not in Paris Parisian hotel), I'll take a few to write some updates.
I flew into Perugia International Airport, which consisted of 2 gates. We were the only plane for the day, so it wasn't too crowded. I had my passport inspected, then went on to find the airport shuttle had told me about previously. The man spoke no English, which made it interesting. There was a very crazy looking pseudo-hippy going too, I am fairly sure he talked his way out of paying. He was thickly and longly bearded, and spoke English and Italian, so he made sure I got to the Piazza Italia. Jay was waiting for me, and we were on our way.
The city of Perugia is the capital of the Perugia region, and it is on top of a very large hill. The streets are very winding and narrow. There seems to be no easy way to get anywhere, and after three days I was always surprised when we ended up back at Jay's flat. The views were beautiful, the buildings very old, and the food was delicious. Jay picked a very good place to live for 4 months.
The next day, Saturday, Jay and I went early to Rome to pick up Sophia. She didn't want to make the 3 hour train-ride by herself, and understandably so. On our way up, there were roughly 12 drunk and still drinking (at 9am) soccer fans. They were wearing various hats and wigs, and did not stop singing Italian songs for the duration of the journey. The entire 3 hours. Seriously.
Sophia says we have to go see Paris right now. Right now. So I'll get back on later tonight and write some more about it all. Leave me a comment.
Thursday, 13 March 2008
My Spring Break Plan
14. March: Fly to
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24. Renne to Bordeax
25. Bordeux to
26. Nice
27. Nice
28.
29.
30. Venice Sophia leaves for
31. Poland Poland night train to
- April:
- Ferry to
- Fly back to
whoops
Extreme business has prevailed for the last few weeks. I have had Jay and Peerman over for a while, we had adventures, then they left. Then I had two sizable papers to complete, which I naturally procrastinated on due to the presence of my dear guests. But alas, the time for my wicked awesome trip to Italy, France, Poland, Germany, Belgium and Greece starts in 3 hours. That is right folks. I leave from Swansea to London at 8:30pm, arrive in London at 11:50pm. I walk two miles to the bus station, where I take the bus to Stansted airport at 2am. I arrive there at 3:30am, then wait for 3 hours to board my plane for Perugia, Italy. That is where Jay is studying for the semester. So at 11am, I will meet him in the city's center and start my spring break. Sophia will have her computer, so I will do my best to keep you posted. Also, let it be known that all my clothes and supplies fit into a common ordinary backpack and a small collapsible duffel bag.
Sophia and I will meet up with Peerman and Alice in France in about a week. I am eager and slightly nervous. But isn't nervousness simply specific excitedness? I should think so. Sleep for the next 36 hours will likely be neglected, but if Wabash has taught me anything, it is how to function on little or no time in bed. Cheers!
Sophia and I will meet up with Peerman and Alice in France in about a week. I am eager and slightly nervous. But isn't nervousness simply specific excitedness? I should think so. Sleep for the next 36 hours will likely be neglected, but if Wabash has taught me anything, it is how to function on little or no time in bed. Cheers!
Thursday, 28 February 2008
Cardiff
Yesterday I ventured to the capital of Wales: Cardiff. I have been twice before, but not for a whole day. The Swansea University Real Ale Society made the annual trek via train for the Cardiff University Beer Festival. It was a blast. When one would think of the debauchery and wickedness of a Beer Festival, let alone at a University, the actual event would likely surprise you thoroughly. It was chilled out. It was held in the student union building, in a room that looks like a huge cafeteria. One wall of the large room was lined with 70 casks of delicious British brewed ales and lagers. It was a beautiful sight. When you picked from the gourmet list, you could go to the casks and have the staff fill your souvenir pint glass. Then you just sit down and chill out with your friends. That is what I did anyway.
Furthermore, the Swansea Real Ale Society has a tradition of dressing up for the occasion in 'fancy dress.' The theme for this year was 'what did you want to be when you grew up?' I didn't have much in the costume department, so I donned my bow tie, shaved down to a goatee and wore a sport coat and called myself a professor. Other members had a bit more fun with the concept. I leave the pictures to speak for themselves (coming soon).
I must say that it has been a bit of a rough week. I was very ill on Monday, but Sophia took the opportunity to give her maternal instincts a go. She came by and gave me Sprite and some food. She is a good girlfriend. She's probably going to read this, maybe I'll get some points for it.
Peerman is coming this afternoon via plane and train. Should be just in time to go to the weekly Real Ale meeting, this time at the Railway again. I am going to see if the brewer there will let us have a tour and maybe a job. That would be a good thing, we'll see though. I got some more good news, too. I may or may not have some of my writing in the Wabash Magazine. Either way, they already paid me, so it is a win/win. If they don't, I'll just post the entry on here. It was about the inspirational trip to Capriole Goat Cheese Farm. Trust me, it was inspirational.
Jay is heading our way tomorrow evening too, so the fun will likely be high in supply. I hope to head up to a castle that my Dad recommended via one of his colleagues. Should be a good time. I'll keep you posted.
Tuesday, 19 February 2008
A Small World After All
Valentine’s Day was fun. Sophia and I found a very nice Indian restaurant, well maybe Bangladeshi, but it was still really good. It is called the Viceroy. For a set price they bring a series of dishes and curries for your meal, and it was delicious. I am not sure what most of what I ate was, but I liked it all, except this sort of pumpkin or squash concoction. The prawns (shrimp to we Americans) were tasty and not too rubbery, which is often the case in many of the restaurants I have found. The service was quick and precise, and it wasn’t too taxing on the wallet. I insist that the rose they gave Sophia was of my own instruction and wasn’t just a Valentine’s special, but she doesn’t believe me. Just because all the other women received one is hardly evidence.
On a different note, a trip to Mumbles made Saturday more eventful than normal. Mumbles, you may be asking, is a town west of the city of Swansea, still on the sea, and not even that far, indeed only about 3 miles. We walked the way there, and the seaside wind was brisk and chilly. We did not wear coats, a mistake I take full credit for. But once we arrived, finding a restaurant and warmth was a top priority. Settling on “La Casa Nostra” was one of the best decisions of the trip yet.
We saw the menu in the window and the prices were very agreeable. More so than most of the places we have seen, and it was Italian. Anything but Fish ‘n’ Chips for a while. A waiter popped his head out of the door to greet us, and it was all uphill from there. We essentially had the place to ourselves. Another family was heading out when we arrived and on our departure another arriving, and it was awesome. The menu offered many a pasta dish, appetizers, and lots of drinks.
I had a severe hankering for some calamari, which was satiated with a delicious platter quickly brought from the kitchen. It was very tender and not at all over cooked. The batter was not over-spiced either, which let the subtlety of the young squid come through. It was also served without a sauce, which was new for me. I liked it though.
I asked for help from the waiter discerning what I ought order. I was very curious about the Pasta Mediterreana, featuring prawns, squid, and mussels. He said it was good, but it is always tricky recommending dishes, but I assured him I would place no blame on his judgment. It was then that we learned a great fact of our waiter. When I asked if he was from Italy, it turned out I was close, but not quite far enough east. This fellow was born in Greece. Sophia’s face lit up, and I immediately pointed out that she too, was of similar of heritage.
After many sentences and exchanges that are well beyond my rudimentary understanding of the language (I can successfully name 3 parts of the human face, not to mention hello, thank-you, and you’re welcome) it was determined that Dimitri’s village was no more than 6 kilometres from Sophia’s mother’s. Wow. What a coincidence. I decided this was certainly an instance of Divine intervention and this was to become my new favorite restaurant. Thankfully, the pasta was equally amazing, and will certainly warrant our prompt return.
Sophia couldn’t wait to call her mother and tell her the news. This resulted in my listening in many more minutes of Greek, which may someday result in my learning the language through pure constant exposure. I hope so.
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