Grand Canyon
Las Vegas
Taj Mahal
Niagra Falls
Venice
Great Wall of China
Yosemite
Tianamen Square
Red Square
The Dalmatian Coast
Tuscany
The Gobi Desert
Halong Bay
Maroon Bells
Angkor Wat
St. Petersburg
New York City at Christmas
Monterey Aquarium
Rome
Cappadocia
Meteora, Greece
Alhambra
Czech Republic (the WHOLE country)
the High Tatras
Rila Monastery
Terracota Soldiers
Plitvice
Tortuguero
St. Peter's Cathedral
Hungarian Baths
Turkish Baths
the Ganges River
Luang Prabang
Auschwitz
Lake Baikal
the Great Plains
Old North Church
Santa Barbara
the Statue of Liberty
Savannah, Georgia
Charleston, South Carolina
Monday, February 09, 2009
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Outdoor Ed
I've just returned from a 6th grade Outdoor Ed trip, skiing up to the Shrine Mountain Inn above Vail. This was my first trip on skins and with a free heel! I'm pretty impressed with myself and my ability to push through and take on new challenges. The kids did a great job, and my "competition" were eleven year olds - but I'm feeling good anyway.
The phrase, "see one, do one, teach one" is feeling very real to me right now. I've seen my friends lock into their tele bindings and take off. I followed their lead and locked into my skiis, and then could help my students.
I love going on Outdoor Ed trips, because not only can I help provide that experience for my students, but also learn so much myself. I would probably have never pushed myself to do a hut trip, because I always think things will be harder than they really are. We take the kids on these trips to teach them about the backcountry, but also to help them learn about themselves. As the leader, you will also learn about yourself - and here is my lesson.
Always push yourself. Don't give up and ask more of yourself than you think is possible. You'll always find a way to accomplish your goal.
The phrase, "see one, do one, teach one" is feeling very real to me right now. I've seen my friends lock into their tele bindings and take off. I followed their lead and locked into my skiis, and then could help my students.
I love going on Outdoor Ed trips, because not only can I help provide that experience for my students, but also learn so much myself. I would probably have never pushed myself to do a hut trip, because I always think things will be harder than they really are. We take the kids on these trips to teach them about the backcountry, but also to help them learn about themselves. As the leader, you will also learn about yourself - and here is my lesson.
Always push yourself. Don't give up and ask more of yourself than you think is possible. You'll always find a way to accomplish your goal.
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Turning Thirty
With a month left of my twenties, I find myself taking serious stock in my time thus far. Are my choices leading me to the life I really want to be living, to the person that I really want to be.
One of the things that I do not do enough of is take risks. I have attended colleges that I knew I could handle, taken jobs that were well within my grasp, attempted hobbies that would not push me too far. I'm not trying to be arrogant, but there comes a point when things have come too easily, and you know that you are either lucky as hell, or not trying hard enough. There should be some failure in your life, right?
Well, with thirty-two days left to be a twenty-something I took a risk and plunged off the edge in to Baby Ruth. No, I did not take a candy bar challenge or anything. Instead, I let myself follow my friend Emily into a ski run in Snowmass that yesterday or even this morning, I would have said was well past my ability level. The first part of the run is steep, narrow and full of bumps. Big bumps. Actually more like large mounds. I slowly eased into the run, burying my skiis in two feet of powder. I was making turns, not great ones, but I wasn't always facing the same direction. After a little traverse and a few small but steep downhills we were cruising through trees and ducking branches. I was deep in powder, a little bit scared and loving every minute! It was the greatest thirty minutes of sheer skiing pleasure mixed with the exhiliration of success. I asked myself to push my comfort level and it paid off. Just as I'm ready to head on over to Buttermilk and join the serious X-Gamers with my newfound skills, I make the last little jump down to the catwalk and eat it in the snow. Brought quickly back to reality by the powder up my jacket, I realized that my goal for the day was not to hit a 1280 switch in the halfpipe - but to ask more of myself and of my life and that is what Baby Ruth means to me today.
One of the things that I do not do enough of is take risks. I have attended colleges that I knew I could handle, taken jobs that were well within my grasp, attempted hobbies that would not push me too far. I'm not trying to be arrogant, but there comes a point when things have come too easily, and you know that you are either lucky as hell, or not trying hard enough. There should be some failure in your life, right?
Well, with thirty-two days left to be a twenty-something I took a risk and plunged off the edge in to Baby Ruth. No, I did not take a candy bar challenge or anything. Instead, I let myself follow my friend Emily into a ski run in Snowmass that yesterday or even this morning, I would have said was well past my ability level. The first part of the run is steep, narrow and full of bumps. Big bumps. Actually more like large mounds. I slowly eased into the run, burying my skiis in two feet of powder. I was making turns, not great ones, but I wasn't always facing the same direction. After a little traverse and a few small but steep downhills we were cruising through trees and ducking branches. I was deep in powder, a little bit scared and loving every minute! It was the greatest thirty minutes of sheer skiing pleasure mixed with the exhiliration of success. I asked myself to push my comfort level and it paid off. Just as I'm ready to head on over to Buttermilk and join the serious X-Gamers with my newfound skills, I make the last little jump down to the catwalk and eat it in the snow. Brought quickly back to reality by the powder up my jacket, I realized that my goal for the day was not to hit a 1280 switch in the halfpipe - but to ask more of myself and of my life and that is what Baby Ruth means to me today.
Friday, December 26, 2008
Simple Pleasures
Turning thirty...My younger sister bringing her serious boyfriend home for Christmas...The relationship I want to be in is not happening...A career somewhat stalled out...
I feel like I'm being handed some big stumbling blocks, and in my infinite maturity and wisdom, I know the solution lies in the simple pleasures in life. I trust that these challenges will only serve to strengthen me in the long run - but right now I'm struggling!
Here is my list of the things that will sustain me, and that I plan to add LOTS more of to my days.
1. Surprises... I love being surprised... like finding money in your pocket, like getting a call for drinks when you thought you would spend the whole night in, like finding a solution to a problem, when you thought you were sunk...
and although I can't make other people surprise me more, I can stop analyzing things so much so that I've already thought of all the possibilities and created an expectation. I need to let life happen, and be excited with the results.
2. Baking... Arranging all the ingredients on the counter, creaming butter and sugar, finishing with a beautiful, creative, sweet product.
3. Storytelling... hearing laughter as a result of your mishap and retelling.
4. Fountain drinks... crushed ice, effervescent energy in your mouth
5. Seeing a smaller number on the scale than was there yesterday
6. A good run, with a good friend and good conversation that leaves you breathing hard and dripping with sweat and happier than you've been all day
to be continued...
7. A good hair day ... when you've got body, bounce, curls, confidence
8. Blue groomers ... I like to ski - fast.
9. Basketball ... I love the smell of the gym, the thrill of the well executed play, the tight-knit family of the team, the blue of the best jerseys in the game
10. My camera ... I love playing with the settings, like I know what they all do, and surprise! find a great photo
11. Creation ... a painting, the perfect playlist, new furniture arrangement ... there is nothing like making something out of nothing
I feel like I'm being handed some big stumbling blocks, and in my infinite maturity and wisdom, I know the solution lies in the simple pleasures in life. I trust that these challenges will only serve to strengthen me in the long run - but right now I'm struggling!
Here is my list of the things that will sustain me, and that I plan to add LOTS more of to my days.
1. Surprises... I love being surprised... like finding money in your pocket, like getting a call for drinks when you thought you would spend the whole night in, like finding a solution to a problem, when you thought you were sunk...
and although I can't make other people surprise me more, I can stop analyzing things so much so that I've already thought of all the possibilities and created an expectation. I need to let life happen, and be excited with the results.
2. Baking... Arranging all the ingredients on the counter, creaming butter and sugar, finishing with a beautiful, creative, sweet product.
3. Storytelling... hearing laughter as a result of your mishap and retelling.
4. Fountain drinks... crushed ice, effervescent energy in your mouth
5. Seeing a smaller number on the scale than was there yesterday
6. A good run, with a good friend and good conversation that leaves you breathing hard and dripping with sweat and happier than you've been all day
to be continued...
7. A good hair day ... when you've got body, bounce, curls, confidence
8. Blue groomers ... I like to ski - fast.
9. Basketball ... I love the smell of the gym, the thrill of the well executed play, the tight-knit family of the team, the blue of the best jerseys in the game
10. My camera ... I love playing with the settings, like I know what they all do, and surprise! find a great photo
11. Creation ... a painting, the perfect playlist, new furniture arrangement ... there is nothing like making something out of nothing
Saturday, June 14, 2008
Back on the trail
I'm back in Hanoi, and passing it off as work. My friend and fellow teacher, Sarah and I have been asked to speak at a workshop in Cambodia and for a free plane ticket we'll do about anything.
We decided to take off a few weeks earlier and travel around Northern Vietnam before going to Cambodia. Thus far we've seen Ho Chi Minh's body, a sad sight inside his giant marble mausoleum surrounded by small booths and shops selling his likeness in many a fashion. Amazining how the communist leaders keep spawning such great capitalistic endeavors!
Until later I am, Melting in Vietnam
We decided to take off a few weeks earlier and travel around Northern Vietnam before going to Cambodia. Thus far we've seen Ho Chi Minh's body, a sad sight inside his giant marble mausoleum surrounded by small booths and shops selling his likeness in many a fashion. Amazining how the communist leaders keep spawning such great capitalistic endeavors!
Until later I am, Melting in Vietnam
Saturday, December 15, 2007
Classroom Laughs
The Hot Seat
It's an interesting job to bond your students to one another. However, the better they work as a group, and love each other as a family the more distance you can cover academically.
In order to accomplish this we've been moving through the class - taking turns on the hot seat. Each kid gets to sit on the special chair in the front and their classmates get to ask them questions. Then we all share something we appreciate about that student. Yesterday, Julia was on the hot seat, and we were hearing "she's such a good friend" "she's very kind" "Julia is a good helper" "Julia is definitely an optimist", which was quickly followed by "Better than a communist!" from Emery. That brought a quick end to Julia's turn as we all erupted in laughter.
It's an interesting job to bond your students to one another. However, the better they work as a group, and love each other as a family the more distance you can cover academically.
In order to accomplish this we've been moving through the class - taking turns on the hot seat. Each kid gets to sit on the special chair in the front and their classmates get to ask them questions. Then we all share something we appreciate about that student. Yesterday, Julia was on the hot seat, and we were hearing "she's such a good friend" "she's very kind" "Julia is a good helper" "Julia is definitely an optimist", which was quickly followed by "Better than a communist!" from Emery. That brought a quick end to Julia's turn as we all erupted in laughter.
Thursday, October 25, 2007
Kids Say the Darndest Things
Spelling in a fifth grader can be a very creative activity. Reading their writing at times can take the deciphering skills of the CIA. It gets really fun when a misspelled word ends up being the correct spelling of another word. This happened to me yesterday when Jason finished his Terra Nova testing about thirty minutes early and had time to kill. He chose to draw and after several "masterpieces" he made me a special card. It has a picture of an airplane trailing a banner, which reads, "U.S. Jamie is the beast". So true!
Today, Sierra came in with a new hairdo. Her much anticipated body wave. Sierra has a simple bob, reminiscent of Ramona Quimby, and was very excited about this new coif. She kept tossing her hair, and scrunching up her new curls. Flipping her short locks around in an attempt to gain some attention. I must say, be careful what you ask for! Robert turns to Sierra at lunch and says, "Why is your hair so wrinkly today?"
Today, Sierra came in with a new hairdo. Her much anticipated body wave. Sierra has a simple bob, reminiscent of Ramona Quimby, and was very excited about this new coif. She kept tossing her hair, and scrunching up her new curls. Flipping her short locks around in an attempt to gain some attention. I must say, be careful what you ask for! Robert turns to Sierra at lunch and says, "Why is your hair so wrinkly today?"
Friday, October 12, 2007
Flying Hampster
We have a new class pet. His name is Ziggy, and he is a six week old hamster. I really was hesitant to allow living things into the room,at least those that cannot take care of themselves fairly well. Fairly well is a fluid concept in the middle school world. Most of the time, if they ate and didn't break anything we call that a victory!
The last time I had a class pet he came back to school from the weekend dead. And then he sat on the shelf in his cage for about three hours before the little girl had the guts to tell me he had died! Deceased animals and school children don't mix all that well. I've already hosted one pet funeral, and don't have much desire to repeat that fun. Our shaky rendition of Wind Beneath My Wings was reason enough to say, that's enough to class pets.
But, Amanda's hamster had babies and she was insistent that one come to live at school. He's only been here about a week, but I am in love! He is light tan, with little gray ears that stick out at all times. He has pink paws and a twitching pink nose, that he rubs ferociously that just makes me melt. He spent the first few days just exploring his new cage, and surving the taps and pokes frequently directed at his plastic cage. But after he started squealing a little too much, we decided he needed to take some countertop field trips. Evan and Keegan were the first students to get him out, and he didn't take too kindly to ten year old hands. He peed on Evan's shirt and jumped from Keegan's hand about four feet to the floor. Keegan stands over Ziggy, who is sprawled and dazed on the ground, and says "You better stop that or you'll get a concusion!"
Ziggy may meet his maker sooner than he'd like, or maybe that's what he prays for at lunch after surviving a loud fifth grade morning. Either way, I'm glad he's come to give me company in this school of crazy kids! Ziggy and I taking on the middle school!
The last time I had a class pet he came back to school from the weekend dead. And then he sat on the shelf in his cage for about three hours before the little girl had the guts to tell me he had died! Deceased animals and school children don't mix all that well. I've already hosted one pet funeral, and don't have much desire to repeat that fun. Our shaky rendition of Wind Beneath My Wings was reason enough to say, that's enough to class pets.
But, Amanda's hamster had babies and she was insistent that one come to live at school. He's only been here about a week, but I am in love! He is light tan, with little gray ears that stick out at all times. He has pink paws and a twitching pink nose, that he rubs ferociously that just makes me melt. He spent the first few days just exploring his new cage, and surving the taps and pokes frequently directed at his plastic cage. But after he started squealing a little too much, we decided he needed to take some countertop field trips. Evan and Keegan were the first students to get him out, and he didn't take too kindly to ten year old hands. He peed on Evan's shirt and jumped from Keegan's hand about four feet to the floor. Keegan stands over Ziggy, who is sprawled and dazed on the ground, and says "You better stop that or you'll get a concusion!"
Ziggy may meet his maker sooner than he'd like, or maybe that's what he prays for at lunch after surviving a loud fifth grade morning. Either way, I'm glad he's come to give me company in this school of crazy kids! Ziggy and I taking on the middle school!
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Back to Work
Giving up the rambling life has proved more challenging than I could have imagined. Being back in the states, and finding my identity has been hard. I'm no longer in graduate school, or moving forward on my career path, nor do I own a home anymore. Nope, I'm someone with a graduate degree, living at home, and carpooling to school with my seventeen year old sister! I've never felt more lost in my life.
However, I do have a classroom, and my confidence and comfort in that role sustains me when I realize that I will celebrate my 29th birthday at my parents house where I sleep in a room with two twin beds!
When my reality starts to depress me, days like this one at school, get me through.
Last week, I was on lunch duty and was patrolling the tables when I saw Chris walking up to a table with Robert and Gordon. Chris is an adorable little thing, with great curly blond hair, and big smile. He is a little bumbling thing, without a whole lot of direction in life. He also has a little speech impediment, and pronounces his r's with a little L in them! Gordon is an British transplant, new this year. Robert is quiet, but really smart and mature.
Chris sets his tray down on the table, looks at the other two boys with a determined stare and says, "Boys, how do you feel about George Washington?" He pauses for a second, and then follows up with, "Because I am not a fan!". Robert and Gordon just stared at Chris for a second, trying to make sense out of this comment. It is a quite serious statement for 5th grade lunch, where we usually talk about how fast we ran at recess, and which girl we farted in front of!
Gordon starts off the response, with "Chris, you shouldn't hate George Washington! If it weren't for him, you'd all be talking like me and paying taxes to the queen!". This comment made no sense to Chris, so Robert steps in and offers, "Chris did you mean, George Bush?"
Chris thinks for a second and then with a chuckle, says, "Oh yeah, I get them mixed up a lot. But I'm still not a fan! I mean who starts a war after that other guy is already dead."
At this point he turns to me and says, "You know that guy, what's his name?" I said, "Saddam Hussein?"
"Yeah, him. Didn't he get hanged? I mean he's already dead and then we go over there. That's ridiculous!"
I let Robert and Gordon straighten Chris out, and they continued the Iraq debate for a while. Chris never swayed though - it doesn't matter to him what George's last name is - He is not a fan!
However, I do have a classroom, and my confidence and comfort in that role sustains me when I realize that I will celebrate my 29th birthday at my parents house where I sleep in a room with two twin beds!
When my reality starts to depress me, days like this one at school, get me through.
Last week, I was on lunch duty and was patrolling the tables when I saw Chris walking up to a table with Robert and Gordon. Chris is an adorable little thing, with great curly blond hair, and big smile. He is a little bumbling thing, without a whole lot of direction in life. He also has a little speech impediment, and pronounces his r's with a little L in them! Gordon is an British transplant, new this year. Robert is quiet, but really smart and mature.
Chris sets his tray down on the table, looks at the other two boys with a determined stare and says, "Boys, how do you feel about George Washington?" He pauses for a second, and then follows up with, "Because I am not a fan!". Robert and Gordon just stared at Chris for a second, trying to make sense out of this comment. It is a quite serious statement for 5th grade lunch, where we usually talk about how fast we ran at recess, and which girl we farted in front of!
Gordon starts off the response, with "Chris, you shouldn't hate George Washington! If it weren't for him, you'd all be talking like me and paying taxes to the queen!". This comment made no sense to Chris, so Robert steps in and offers, "Chris did you mean, George Bush?"
Chris thinks for a second and then with a chuckle, says, "Oh yeah, I get them mixed up a lot. But I'm still not a fan! I mean who starts a war after that other guy is already dead."
At this point he turns to me and says, "You know that guy, what's his name?" I said, "Saddam Hussein?"
"Yeah, him. Didn't he get hanged? I mean he's already dead and then we go over there. That's ridiculous!"
I let Robert and Gordon straighten Chris out, and they continued the Iraq debate for a while. Chris never swayed though - it doesn't matter to him what George's last name is - He is not a fan!
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
190 Days Already?
So, my postings have been fewer and further between these past few days because the Chinese government has a problem with my blog and keeps me from getting my words out there for all the world to see. But on my last morning in China I won't be kept down!
I spent the last week in Xian seeing the Terracotta Warriors and the pandas and just generally enjoying the city, with its bell tower and drum tower and city walls that just ask to be run.
After the worst train ride ever sitting in hard seats overnight for twelve hours with a third of the Chinese population in my compartment - I returned to Beijing for a little more Chinese KTV (karaoke) and I'm off for the airport at noon.
Six months have flown past and I'm amazed to be done. Some friends I've been traveling with for the past month are headed to Hanoi and I really wish I was starting over with them.
However, I will return to Aspen to teach 5th grade at Aspen Middle School - and that should be an exciting new adventure. Teaching that doesn't involve gansta rap and the ghetto!
I spent the last week in Xian seeing the Terracotta Warriors and the pandas and just generally enjoying the city, with its bell tower and drum tower and city walls that just ask to be run.
After the worst train ride ever sitting in hard seats overnight for twelve hours with a third of the Chinese population in my compartment - I returned to Beijing for a little more Chinese KTV (karaoke) and I'm off for the airport at noon.
Six months have flown past and I'm amazed to be done. Some friends I've been traveling with for the past month are headed to Hanoi and I really wish I was starting over with them.
However, I will return to Aspen to teach 5th grade at Aspen Middle School - and that should be an exciting new adventure. Teaching that doesn't involve gansta rap and the ghetto!
Sunday, July 15, 2007
Beijing
Highlights of China thus far:
Tianamen Square and the 4:57 am flag raising
Having my photo taken by LOTS of Asian people
Peering over Mao's picture at a sea of black heads
Touring gorgeous temple architecture being spruced up for the Olympics
Climbing the steps of the Forbidden City
Being driven around the park pond on a motor boat
Eating dumplings at the night market...
While others ate skewered testicles and starfish
Cheering on the 309 day 21 hour and 59 minute countdown marker for the Olympics
Loving the Chinese hospitality and friendly faces!
Tianamen Square and the 4:57 am flag raising
Having my photo taken by LOTS of Asian people
Peering over Mao's picture at a sea of black heads
Touring gorgeous temple architecture being spruced up for the Olympics
Climbing the steps of the Forbidden City
Being driven around the park pond on a motor boat
Eating dumplings at the night market...
While others ate skewered testicles and starfish
Cheering on the 309 day 21 hour and 59 minute countdown marker for the Olympics
Loving the Chinese hospitality and friendly faces!
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
The Ger Camp
Driving down the bumpiest paved road in the world, with dust flying up behind the van we headed up the Mongolian "tourist" valley to our Ger Camp. Upon arrival we found three yurts and the most beautiful landscape. Craggy jagged peaks sticking through smooth green valley floors, with hawks circling the sky.
We immediately got on our horses and took off for a ride to Turtle Rock. It had been a while, but my short-legged Mongolian horse and I got along well. I named him Gladiator because his mane had been shaved off straight so he looked like a Roman Soldier with that brush on his hat. He only had a third gear, so we trotted most of the way, but on horseback is a great way to see the Mongolian steppe.
Beautiful stars, meat dumplings, and a gorgeous sunrise and now I'm back in UB headed to the train for China!
We immediately got on our horses and took off for a ride to Turtle Rock. It had been a while, but my short-legged Mongolian horse and I got along well. I named him Gladiator because his mane had been shaved off straight so he looked like a Roman Soldier with that brush on his hat. He only had a third gear, so we trotted most of the way, but on horseback is a great way to see the Mongolian steppe.
Beautiful stars, meat dumplings, and a gorgeous sunrise and now I'm back in UB headed to the train for China!
Monday, July 09, 2007
First Impressions on Mongolia
I arrived in Mongolia this morning after another two days on the train. We left Irkutsk, Russia at 9 pm, and arrived at the border at 1 pm the next day. We left the border at 8 pm that night. Yes, thats seven hours at the border!
I'm not sure what we were doing all that time, except getting a good look at the "vast lumbering Russian bureacracy" as Tad put it. Luckily, we all made it out of the country safely and had a pretty amazing time while there.
Mongolia so far is definitely in Asia. The people are an interesting mix of Inuit and Chinese in appearance and very warm and friendly. Our Honcho, Elmira, met us at the train. She is a cute little bundle of energy at 18 years of age. She already speaks Khazak, Mongolian, and English - that last two she has picked up in the past two years. With her as an example the Mongolian future looks very bright!
We are headed to the ger camp tomorrow to ride horses and sleep in a yurt. I'm excited to try the yurt Mongolian style!
I'm not sure what we were doing all that time, except getting a good look at the "vast lumbering Russian bureacracy" as Tad put it. Luckily, we all made it out of the country safely and had a pretty amazing time while there.
Mongolia so far is definitely in Asia. The people are an interesting mix of Inuit and Chinese in appearance and very warm and friendly. Our Honcho, Elmira, met us at the train. She is a cute little bundle of energy at 18 years of age. She already speaks Khazak, Mongolian, and English - that last two she has picked up in the past two years. With her as an example the Mongolian future looks very bright!
We are headed to the ger camp tomorrow to ride horses and sleep in a yurt. I'm excited to try the yurt Mongolian style!
Saturday, July 07, 2007
Beaten with Sticks
Four days on a train, and you get pretty comfortable. I settled in nicely to that life. We filled our days with reading and eating and drinking and talking. One of our group members brought his laptop and we would have movie night every evening at eight. Not a bad plan! But, then again I wasn't sharing my compartment with a Russian Secret Forces Army Man, like our groupmates!
The Siberian countryside was beautiful, with rolling green hills and wide rivers - but it all starts to look the same from the window of a train.
So I was happy to arrive in Irkutsk, where we transfered to Lake Baikal, the largest freshwater lake in the world. It was beautiful - and freezing (5 degrees C) which we found out a few minutes after arrival, in our first and last lake swim!
We hiked up to some gorgeous overlooks and took a boat ride around the water. All exciting, but the highlight of Siberia was the Russian Banya!
The Homestead where we were staying just built their sauna, and we were only too eager to participate. There are three rooms in the banya, one with the coals and benches which is burning hot. The next with the freezing cold water buckets, to pour over yourself of course. And the last, which has a picnic table where you can sit and snack between steamings!
We started in the coal room for five minutes, then out to the cold water, then to the table. Again, coals, water, table. The last time you enter the coal room - someone is to come with you and beat you first with birch branches, leaves intact, and then pine branches! After six months of traveling with people, there is nothing more rewarding than beating them with sticks!
We all survived, and thoroughly enjoyed our third cultural "bath" experience.
Today we are headed back to the train and onto Mongolia, bring on that smooth train rock and roll.
Sunday, July 01, 2007
Headed to Siberia
Moscow has been wonderful - great borscht, Soviet concrete buildings, well decorated metro stops, Lenin mosaics, even very "charming" women selling tickets to the Kremlin.
We head out tonight on the train and don't arrive until July 5th at 10:00am! In Irkutsk, Russia at Lake Baikal. That's three days and four nights on one train, in one compartment! We are well prepared with anything that can be cooked with hot water (as hot water is the only thing readily available on board), chocolate, toilet paper and vodka. All the necessities!
So, mom if you don't hear from me for a while - I'm okay. Just in Siberia or then Mongolia!
We head out tonight on the train and don't arrive until July 5th at 10:00am! In Irkutsk, Russia at Lake Baikal. That's three days and four nights on one train, in one compartment! We are well prepared with anything that can be cooked with hot water (as hot water is the only thing readily available on board), chocolate, toilet paper and vodka. All the necessities!
So, mom if you don't hear from me for a while - I'm okay. Just in Siberia or then Mongolia!
Friday, June 29, 2007
RUSSIA
The grand finale!
We made it through the Russian customs on Monday, and arrived at our hostel, by Russian bus and metro, no problem. We met our group, which is the four of us, two British guys and one Aussie guy. Girls don't come to Russia apparently!
We had two great days in St. Petersburg viewing the tzars handiwork. Winter Palace, Summer Palace, the Hermitage. All beautiful and baroque and European. We also spent most nights touring the town until 2:30 or 3:00 am as the sun is still up and it feels like the middle of the afternoon. Surreal.
Last night we took the train to Moscow, where most things are dark, concrete and Soviet! Todays highlight was Lenin's body, in all its waxy glory. Red square with the Kremlin walls, St. Basil's Cathedral and the State Historical Museum is amazing. All very different architecture, with the solid red brick of the Kremlin, the snowy white roofs of the Museum and the cartoony onion domes on St. Basils.
So far, Russia is great. Interesting sights and good vodka!
We made it through the Russian customs on Monday, and arrived at our hostel, by Russian bus and metro, no problem. We met our group, which is the four of us, two British guys and one Aussie guy. Girls don't come to Russia apparently!
We had two great days in St. Petersburg viewing the tzars handiwork. Winter Palace, Summer Palace, the Hermitage. All beautiful and baroque and European. We also spent most nights touring the town until 2:30 or 3:00 am as the sun is still up and it feels like the middle of the afternoon. Surreal.
Last night we took the train to Moscow, where most things are dark, concrete and Soviet! Todays highlight was Lenin's body, in all its waxy glory. Red square with the Kremlin walls, St. Basil's Cathedral and the State Historical Museum is amazing. All very different architecture, with the solid red brick of the Kremlin, the snowy white roofs of the Museum and the cartoony onion domes on St. Basils.
So far, Russia is great. Interesting sights and good vodka!
Monday, June 25, 2007
To Hel and Back
I've recently returned from Hel! That is a small town in Poland on the Baltic Coast at the very tip of a long peninsula! Not very hellish, except for the weather - too much rain, at least if you wanted to lay out on the beach.
We stayed at Mamma Mia's and sang lots of ABBA. Ate some lody (polish ice cream), basically a twist cone sold on every corner. Each of these places is a tarp over and ice cream machine with a large fiberglass replica of the cone in front. Wouldn't I have liked to have been the person to think up those cones!
And got the beach once, and got a little sun while we watched the dark gray clouds roll in.
We had an amazing sunset last night, and got to sit on the beach and watch that slow, northern sun sink into the ocean. It was partly amazing because the settting didn't actually happen until about 10 pm!
Our Russian visa saga comes to fruition tomorrow as we depart for St. Petersburg. Communist mecca here we come!
We stayed at Mamma Mia's and sang lots of ABBA. Ate some lody (polish ice cream), basically a twist cone sold on every corner. Each of these places is a tarp over and ice cream machine with a large fiberglass replica of the cone in front. Wouldn't I have liked to have been the person to think up those cones!
And got the beach once, and got a little sun while we watched the dark gray clouds roll in.
We had an amazing sunset last night, and got to sit on the beach and watch that slow, northern sun sink into the ocean. It was partly amazing because the settting didn't actually happen until about 10 pm!
Our Russian visa saga comes to fruition tomorrow as we depart for St. Petersburg. Communist mecca here we come!
Friday, June 22, 2007
Laugh to Keep from Crying
There are days when the traveling is amazing. Every moment is a new experience and the beautiful views, delicious tastes and inspiring sounds surround you.
Others, you have to work at it. The last twelve hours have been work.
My family left last night for Vienna, and I waited with them at the train station for a while and then had to make my way back to the hostel alone.
We were unfortunately sleeping in a twelve bed dorm last night, so when I opened the door at 10:00 there was a guy getting dressed, but he had only made it into his underwear when I entered! Okay.
The other nine people in the room went out last night, about the time we went to bed, so I knew I would be expecting them throughout the night. At about 2:30 some show up flip on the light, clumsily and noisily get their things together and go to sleep - without turning off the light. So, once out of bed.
Again some more folks came home, twice out of bed to turn off the light.
The last guy stumbles in at 4:30, and gets into bed. Just about then our resident snorer starts up, and the last one home starts mumbling something in his bed and then jumps out of bed. "F-this, and f-that.", he says. I'm not sure what was f-ing wrong because I couldn't understand his accent! Then he starts into, "I hate you. And I hate you. And I hate you most of all." He heads out the door, and I was greeted by him almost coming out of his shorts this morning where he passed out on the couch just outside the room. He slept right through the large Asian group eating breakfast this morning, so I doubt the snoring would have been that big of a problem!
We got up early this morning and headed to the train for Gdansk. In our compartment there is already a guy, who probably hasn't showered in a week, or atleast thats how it smelled when he helped me put my bag on the shelf above our heads!
This wouldn't be so bad, except that I've already been dealing with the worst smelling man in Poland back at the hoste! Take a freaking shower! They are free, and the hostel will even give you a towel!
But he sits down and the smell subsides, another girl joins us and we now have five people in this small compartment, but it will work. Until seat 33 shows up, and her beagle. That's right - six people and a dog! Plus the lady has no control over the stupid thing so it spends the first fifteen minutes of the trip licking my feet! I just kept repeated, I asked for this trip, I asked for this trip!
Luckily I found a more vacant compartment and got a new seat, and we arrived in Gdansk which is a great city, and our hostel was only five minutes from the train station! It resembles a halfway house more than a hotel, but I'm still laughing!
Others, you have to work at it. The last twelve hours have been work.
My family left last night for Vienna, and I waited with them at the train station for a while and then had to make my way back to the hostel alone.
We were unfortunately sleeping in a twelve bed dorm last night, so when I opened the door at 10:00 there was a guy getting dressed, but he had only made it into his underwear when I entered! Okay.
The other nine people in the room went out last night, about the time we went to bed, so I knew I would be expecting them throughout the night. At about 2:30 some show up flip on the light, clumsily and noisily get their things together and go to sleep - without turning off the light. So, once out of bed.
Again some more folks came home, twice out of bed to turn off the light.
The last guy stumbles in at 4:30, and gets into bed. Just about then our resident snorer starts up, and the last one home starts mumbling something in his bed and then jumps out of bed. "F-this, and f-that.", he says. I'm not sure what was f-ing wrong because I couldn't understand his accent! Then he starts into, "I hate you. And I hate you. And I hate you most of all." He heads out the door, and I was greeted by him almost coming out of his shorts this morning where he passed out on the couch just outside the room. He slept right through the large Asian group eating breakfast this morning, so I doubt the snoring would have been that big of a problem!
We got up early this morning and headed to the train for Gdansk. In our compartment there is already a guy, who probably hasn't showered in a week, or atleast thats how it smelled when he helped me put my bag on the shelf above our heads!
This wouldn't be so bad, except that I've already been dealing with the worst smelling man in Poland back at the hoste! Take a freaking shower! They are free, and the hostel will even give you a towel!
But he sits down and the smell subsides, another girl joins us and we now have five people in this small compartment, but it will work. Until seat 33 shows up, and her beagle. That's right - six people and a dog! Plus the lady has no control over the stupid thing so it spends the first fifteen minutes of the trip licking my feet! I just kept repeated, I asked for this trip, I asked for this trip!
Luckily I found a more vacant compartment and got a new seat, and we arrived in Gdansk which is a great city, and our hostel was only five minutes from the train station! It resembles a halfway house more than a hotel, but I'm still laughing!
Monday, June 18, 2007
Hiking the Tatras, Polish Style
We are in Zakopane, Poland now. About twenty miles from Strebske Pleso, Slovakia where we were two weeks ago. We could have walked over last month, but decided to take the long way around, by way of the Czech Republic!
We went hiking today, which considering that the chairlift was broken was a much bigger undertaking than we had first expected. But we made it up to the alpine lake, gorgeous views and it only rained on us a little. Apparently I am just meant to see these mountains only in clouds!
Tomorrow we take to the roads on bicycle!
Saturday, June 16, 2007
Poland
Krakow
We have been in Krakow for three days now, and are loving the communist hospitality. Last night we went to dinner, or tried, but when we asked for a table for seven people the young lad said, with great disdain "Oh, no, impossible!" So we tried a different place!
Overall, the former bloc has been great, but there is still a little too much left to feel really comfortable. The folks here stand in line, with no frustration, for way too long. They are quite gruff and curt when providing service. And would not like you to know at all that they speak English.
Yesterday we hit Auschwitz, which was a day. We were walking through the camp at Birkenau and the wind blowing in the rain storm provided some relief from the heat, but with it came a burning smell that just comes from the ground. The entire area, an old farm, one massive grave, just pulses with the tragedy.
Today we shopped and piddled. Judy and Kendall took to the tourist golf cart tour! Tomorrow we head to the mountains. High Tatras here come the Evans!
We have been in Krakow for three days now, and are loving the communist hospitality. Last night we went to dinner, or tried, but when we asked for a table for seven people the young lad said, with great disdain "Oh, no, impossible!" So we tried a different place!
Overall, the former bloc has been great, but there is still a little too much left to feel really comfortable. The folks here stand in line, with no frustration, for way too long. They are quite gruff and curt when providing service. And would not like you to know at all that they speak English.
Yesterday we hit Auschwitz, which was a day. We were walking through the camp at Birkenau and the wind blowing in the rain storm provided some relief from the heat, but with it came a burning smell that just comes from the ground. The entire area, an old farm, one massive grave, just pulses with the tragedy.
Today we shopped and piddled. Judy and Kendall took to the tourist golf cart tour! Tomorrow we head to the mountains. High Tatras here come the Evans!
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