Farewell to London

2008, 4.20 London, England

Today I am leaving London and I am sad to go. As I think about the past six months living here, I realize how much I will miss this wonderful city. In all honesty, its pace can be overwhelming at times, especially in places like Oxford Street and traveling to and from work on the Underground; however, it is a city unlike any other I have ever lived or even visited.

There are so many things I like about London, but what I loved most about it: its size; rich historical past; present life and culture; being able to play in the many parks or squares on a Sunday afternoon; go to Art Galleries or see a show; meet people from all over the world; easily travel to other European countries on a whim and inexpensively; historical pubs and vibrant nightlife; transportation throughout the city; interesting markets; the delicious curries and other endless food options to choose from; and even the feeling of safety despite the size of the city.

These are just some of what I enjoyed about London and what make the city a truly amazing place to experience. I am happy to have been able to call it my home, even for just a short time.

Brick Lane

2008, 4.19 Whitechapel, London

Known as a great place to find a delicious curry dish, Brick Lane is one street in London full of life and culture. In the afternoon I spent exploring this historical street, I found vintage clothing shops, antique and vintage furniture for sale, Bangladeshi music drifting into the street from the stores filled with the basic necessities for a local. I enjoyed the art and graffiti sprinkling the walls of buildings, music shops, and being among young adults sitting in an outdoor restaurant area drinking and socializing, people wandering about exploring the area, and a curry house every few steps along the way. It was one of my favorite London experiences.

1 brick lane

A side street off Brick Lane where I found a fun music store

Some of the street art

Day trip to Cambridge

2008, 4.18 Cambridge, England

Mom and I took a train from London to Cambridge, England for day five of our English adventure. It was a relaxing ride and I think Mom really liked seeing the English countryside--very different than the busy, bustling city of London.

We arrived in Cambridge mid-morning and walked from the train station to the City Centre--about 20 minutes. We wandered the city a bit and were looking for a place to have lunch. Eventually, we found a place called Henry's that was right on the River Cam and a great atmosphere. The table at which we sat had a view of the river just outside our window. The food--fresh green salads and chicken curry with rice--was delicious, and our waitress was very prompt and pleasant. It was a lovely lunch.

After lunch, Mom and I wandered the city. We saw beautiful parks, lots of green, students headed to class, tourists wandering about, houseboats in the river, and lots of punts (flat-bottomed boats, punting is a pastime for which Cambridge is very well known by tourists).

Punts on the River Cam

Punts up close

Making our way farther into central Cambridge, we went to King's College Chapel, which is part of the King's College of the University of Cambridge. At one end of the chapel, there was the beautiful painting "Adoration of the Magi" (1634) by Pieter Pauwel Rubens, and on the other an enormous and intricately designed mahogany wooden screen and organ dividing the space into two large sections.

The inside ceiling of King's College Chapel

My mom in King's College Chapel

Stained glass windows inside of King's College Chapel. The windows show stories from the Old and New Testaments, those with similar morals placed on top of one another.

The courtyard outside of King's College Chapel

After our experience ini King's College Chapel, mom and I browsed for a bit at a few local shops. We also went to the market in the center of the city and bought a few things there. I purchased a couple of scarves, which I love, and some fresh cucumbers and tomatoes to make some Greek salad later.

Local market fruits and vegs

As the sun began to fall slowly in the evening sky, Mom and I made our way back to the Cambridge train station to catch our train back to London. Cambridge made for a very nice day trip, despite not having tried punting. Maybe next time...

A brilliant musical experience

2008, 4.17 London: Billy Elliot at the Royal Victoria Palace

In the morning, Mom and I slept in a bit, had breakfast at the hostel, and then headed in to Central London by Victoria Station. I closed my bank account, which took a bit, and then we had lunch at Garfunkel's--some fish and chips. From there, we went a few doors down to the Royal Victoria Palace to see the musical production Billy Elliot.


The story according the Wikipedia article on Billy Elliot:

Billy is a boy living in County Durham. His father, Jackie, and older brother, Tony are striking miners during the UK miners' strike (1984–1985).

Billy's father is an admirer of real life world boxing champion Ken Buchanan, and hopes that Billy would become a champion boxer. Billy, however, is more interested in music, a passion he inherited from his late mother.

Billy is taken to the boxing gym by his father, but he finds out that he doesn't really like the sport, and has no real talent for it. Part of the boxing gym is used by a ballet class because their usual studio in the basement of the sports center is being used as a soup kitchen for the striking miners. He is drawn in by the dance instructor, and with her help, secretly starts taking ballet class.

As a consequence of Billy's brother being arrested, he misses an important audition for the Royal Ballet School. His dance instructor goes to their house to tell his father about the missed opportunity. Billy's father and brother, fearing that Billy will be seen as a "poof", become outraged at the idea of him becoming a professional ballet dancer.

Once having seen Billy dance however, his father understands that ballet is Billy's passion and he takes him to an audition in London himself. Billy is accepted and moves to London on his own at age 11 to attend the school.

The movie concludes with a scene that takes place 14 years later, where his father and brother see Billy dancing. The film ends as the older and more mature Billy (dancer/actor Adam Cooper) takes the stage to perform the lead in Matthew Bourne's Swan Lake."

The acting, the story, the set, the costumes, the symbolism and imagery, the music and choreography were all wonderfully done. I had heard that it was really good show and was definitely not disappointed. It was everything art should be, really. Well-organized in a way, but not rigid. Music, color, dancing, different lighting all finely blended to create a connection with the audience and affect human emotions as realistically as possible without actually living through the story yourself. It was phenomenal.

Another Eventful Day in London

2008, 4.16 London, England:

Today was quite the day. My mom is here in London with me. This morning, we had some toast, tea, and coffee at our hotel for breakfast, went luggage shopping (I have waaaayyy to much stuff!) and then checked out of Olivelli's Hotel before stopping by the BUNAC Hostel to get more of my things. We traveled via the Underground to Stamford Brooke to drop our luggage off at the Globetrotter Inn in Hammersmith and then went back into Central London to check out the infamous Tower of London.

The White Tower of the Tower of London

After completing our tour of the Tower, we walked the Queen's Walk along the Thames River, crossing Tower Bridge and seeing London Bridge as we went.


From there, we took the Tube to Green Park, enjoyed an ice cream cone, saw Buckingham Palace, walked through the Wellington Arch, and then headed to Hyde Park. Mom really liked all the flowers. It was fun to see her so excited about the beautiful things around us.

While meandering through Hyde Park and then on to Kensington Gardens, we came across a filming for Burberry's Fall 2008 collection. The models were the attractive and talented Sam Riley, the main actor from the movie Control (I saw this movie earlier in my London trip and really enjoyed it, so it was neat to see this actor. Also, we smiled at each other as he walked by me--about a foot away, so that was fun), and famous model Rosie Huntington, who according to an article I later read is supposedly the next Kate Moss. I was a bit starstruck. It was fun.

Filming of Sam Riley and Rosie Huntington for Burberry fashion

Taking a walk through Kensington Gardens

Kensington Gardens at Kensington Palace

After Mom and I finished exploring the gardens, we headed back to Store Street to see if I could pick up the rest of my luggage at the BUNAC Hostel; however, Bill (hostel manager with access to my luggage) was not around, so we decided to stop by Olivelli's Restaurant for a drink. To our pleasant surprise, there was a movie filming going on at the Fill Station (gas station) kitty-corner to the BUNAC Hostel and the restaurant at which we were sitting.

It turns out that the movie being filmed was "An Education" with Emma Thompson and Alfred Molina, written by Nick Hornby. It was quite a sight to see and exciting to have seen two filmings in one day with famous actors that I recognized. Unfortunately, I didn't get any autographs, but I was okay with that.

After watching the filming a bit and finishing our Irish coffees, I got the remainder of my things from Bill at the hostel, said farewell and then Mom and I headed back out to Hammersmith to our hostel for the night. It was another fun-filled, adventurous day in London.

Covent Garden, St. Paul's Cathedral, and Tate Modern

2008, 4.15 London, England

The day started off with breakfast of tea, toast, and jam in the small dining area at Olivelli's Hotel that was really simple, but enjoyable. The family that owns it lives in the downstairs of the hotel and the dining room walls were nearly full of all kinds of family photos. They were a friendly family and it was sweet to be able to observe that small part of their personal lives.

After breakfast and stopping at an internet cafe to catch up with email and get our next accommodation plans set, Mom and I began a long walk through Central London. From the internet cafe on Charing Cross Road, we went to the Covent Garden area and briefly browsed the market.

Entrance to Covent Garden Market

English accessories for sale in Covent Garden

After a bit in the market, we continued walking towards the River Thames. It was a rather nice day outside, so we decided to see as much of London above ground as we could, rather than take the tube to get to where we were headed. We covered a remarkable amount of ground and it was fun to see so much of London this way. Along the way, we zig-zagged through different streets until we came to the Thames. We crossed the Waterloo Bridge, and then headed back towards St. Paul's Cathedral crossing Black Friar's Bridge.

City of London Crest just around the corner afer going over the Black Friar's Bridge

Our first real destination for the day was St. Paul's Cathedral. It was an impressive structure. The interior of the Cathedral is exquisite. It is massively hug and decorated in a simple, yet also elaborate way, meaning elegant, but not overdone. The ceiling is covered in deeply coloful mosaic and showing icons and holy people and scenes from the Bible. The windows were a beautiful stained glass.

Besides admiring the beauty and size of the Cathedral, Mom and I climbed all the way up to the top of the Cathdral--some 500 steps in total. It was cut up into levels, so we got some breaks along the way. One of the levels had some seats you could rest on, and if you were sitting on one side of the platform and you whispered facing into the wall (it was part of the arched dome on the interior), another person sitting several feet away could clearly hear what you said. People around us were having quite a lot of fun with this, and it was fun to observe.

Anyway, eventually, we made it to the top. The climb was worth it and felt like an accomplishment. The view from the top of St. Paul's was quite impressive. It allowed me to see a new perspective of London, helping me to better realize and understand just how massive the great city truly is.

View of London towards the River Thames, London Eye, and The Houses of Parliament from St. Paul's Cathedral

View of Millenium Bridge and Tate Modern Art Museum from the top of St. Paul's Cathedral


After enjoying the aerial view of London for a bit and making our way back down to the ground level of the Cathedral, Mom and I decided to also check out the Crypt in the basement of the Cathedral. We didn't spend a whole lot of time here, but were able to see where many famous people's remains are buried, including that of Christopher Wren (the architect of St. Paul's Cathedral) and Florence Nightingale.

From St. Paul's Cathedral, Mom and I crossed the street for some lunch at a little cafe to the south before heading across the Millenium Bridge to the Tate Modern Art Museum. Not being a huge fan of modern art, this was a mediocre experience. My favorite piece was a video of ants carrying bits of confetti during Holy Week. It may sound boring, but there was a room full of people watching the same thing, so I guess there must be something appealing about it that many could appreciate.

View of St. Paul's Cathedral from the Millenium Bridge

When Mom and I finished our exploration of the Tate Modern, we made our way to the Southwark Underground Station and went back to the hotel. That evening, we had dinner at Olivelli's Paradiso Ristorante--under the same ownership as Olivelli's Hotel.

Throughout the six months I lived in London, I walked by Olivelli's Ristorante about a thousand times, always wanting to dine there--it had white cloth covered tables with a bright red rose and a small candle on each table that I noticed every time I passed by--especially in the evening. A very classy and cozy ambience is what I envisioned, and when I finally made it, I was not disappointed.

I ordered a delicious garden salad with large wedges of tomato and sliced cucumber to start. My main dish was Rigatoni with courgettes (zucchini) and red sauce. The pasta was cooked perfectly al dente and tasted delectable. Mom had ravioli stuffed with walnut and gorgonzola and butternut squash, which she also greatly enjoyed. It was a lovely meal and I was happy to have shared the experience of Olivelli's Paradiso Ristorante with my Mom.

Walked the lengths of Central London, browsed Covent Garden, meandered along the Thames, climbed the heights of St. Pauls Cathedral, crossed Millenium Bridge, explored the oddities of the Tate Modern, and ended with a great meal at a lovely restaurant all done in great company... this was another lovely day in London.

Shakespeare, Beatles, and The Magna Carta

2008, 4.14 London, England: The British Library, The British Museum

On the morning of April 14, the second day of adventure for my mom and I started the day with a proper breakfast served by our hotel with eggs, bacon, toast, cereal, yogurt, oj, coffe, and tea. It was a nice beginning to what would be an interesting and busy day.

After breakfast, we walked from our hotel to the British Library--just north east of where I had lived during my time in London. I had heard that the British Library was an interesting place to visit, but I did not expect it to be one of my favorite places in London.

Entrance to The British Library

Painting inside The British Library

The Library's exterior and entrance drew me in right from the start. From there, Mom and I found our way to The Sir John Ritblat Gallery: Treasures of the British Library (the rest of the building is an actual library where you can check out books and do research, etc.). It was literally a gallery full of treasures. Because there were so many amazing things to see, I will just list some of my favorites below:

-Shakespeare's First Folio-the first genuine collection of Shakespeare's works, published in 1623

-Lewis Carroll's Diary, author of "Alice in Wonderland," actually mentioning said book

-The original copy of "Beowulf"

-George Frederic Handel's Messiah, an autograph composition draft from 1741

-Sir Thomas More's last letter to Henry VIII, 1523

-The Gutenberg Bible, 1454-55

-Aesop's Fables, 1484

-Writings from Galileo Galilei

-Codex Arundel by Leonardo Da Vinci

-The Codex Sinaiticus, which is the earliest manuscript of the complete New Testament

-The Magna Carta--a charter of liberty and political rights obtained from King John of England by his rebellious barons at Runnymede in 1215, which came to be seen as the seminal document of English constitutional practice. A very important and influential historical legal document, later influenced the creation of many constitutional documents, including the U. S. Constitution

-And last but certainly not least, hand-written Beatles lyrics for the songs "The Fool on the Hill," "I want to hold your hand," "Help!", "Yesterday," "Ticket to Ride," "Hard Day's Night," "Michelle," and " In My Life" all of which you could listen to on the headphones they provided right there in front of you as you read the lyrics.

This Gallery's contents were truly impressive and, like I said, one of my favorite experiences in London. On top of the amazing gallery exploration, there was a temporary exhibit outside of the Sir John Ritblat Gallery called "All Power to the Imagination! 1968 and Its Legacies. This was an incredible collection of photographs, art, articles, video clips, music from the year 1968, which was a truly interesting and earth-riveting year in history. This exhibit was the cherry on top of an already awesome experience at the British Library.

Me at the British Library

The British Library

Sign at the British Library


After exploring the British Library, Mom and I made our way towards the British Museum. We stopped at Tesco (local grocery store) to buy some take away food for lunch and then sat in Russell Square while we enjoyed our lunch and tried to stay somewhat dry as it had begun to rain lightly as we sat there. Luckily I have a very easy-going mother and this did not disturb her much. From there, we made our way around the block to the British Museum.

British Museum in Central London, blocks from the BUNAC Hostel


While Mom and I didn't spend a great deal of time at the British Museum, we did stop by and enjoy seeing the Rosetta Stone--an ancient Egyptian artifact that helped scholars to decipher hieroglyphics and learn more about ancient Egyptian language and culture. It was pretty neat. In addition, I saw real mummies, which were disturbingly incredible and interesting.

While this was interesting and there were many treasues to be found in the British Museum, mom and I spent the majority of our time there in an exhibit called "The American Scene: Prints from Hopper to Pollock." It was somewhat funny to be viewing an American exhibit while traveling, but interesting to see it from somewhat of a foreigner's viewpoint. There were many interesting pieces of art there, however, and it was well worth the time.


Night on the El Train by Edward Hopper


One of my many feet photographs from my travels...this one taken by my mom on the way out of the British Museum

After getting our fill of historical treasures for the day, Mom and I headed back to our hotel for a bit. We stayed at Olivelli's Hotel just a few doors down from the BUNAC Hostel, which was nothing fancy, but was pretty reasonably priced for the area and suited us well for a comfortable place to sleep at night and a brief resting place in between excursions.

That evening, Mom and I had dinner at one of my favorite Thai restaurants in the area called Busaba Thai just down Store Street from Olivelli's Hotel and the BUNAC Hostel. We enjoyed Massaman Duck Curry with coconut rice and some hot tea. It was a lovely end to another lovely day in London.

Last of London, Day 1

2008, 4.13 Sunday, Mom arrives in London

This morning, I picked my mom up from Heathrow Airport in the morning. After exchanging some American dollars for GB pounds and getting her set up with an Oyster card for transport, we rode the Picadilly line from Heathrow to Russell Square in Central London.

At the time, it was pouring rain, but we made our way from the Russell Square tube station to the nearby Brunswick Square to get brunch at one of my favorite breakfast restaurants in London, Giraffe. Thankfully, by the time we were done with catching up (though honestly, we kept in touch really well for the time I was gone, so it didn't seem like I hadn't seen her for as long as it was) and enjoying our food, the rain had mostly stopped.

From there, we made our way to the BUNAC Hostel so I could pick up my bags and then we went to check into our room at the Arran Hotel off of Gower Street and Store Street--just around the corner from the hostel. We got settled into our very small but comfortable room and relaxed for a bit of the afternoon--Mom needed some travel recovery time from her flight and journey. I appreciated the down time, too.

Later in the afternoon, Mom and I headed out of the hotel to explore London. We went for a very long and winding walk through different areas of Central London and eventually ended up walking along the Thames by Embankment and seeing the London Eye, Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament, and other famous London landmarks. Here are some photographs from the journey...

Telephone Booths

Street Sign for the Embankment area

Big Ben and Clock Tower of the Houses of Parliament



Charing Cross Road Underground (The 'Tube') Station Sign

After getting our fill of admiring London landmarks for the day, Mom and I stopped for dinner at a very charming and comfortable pub called Garrick's. It was a very English dining experience, which was the perfect way for mom to begin her English adventure. She ordered the Steak pie with mashed potatoes and green peas and I ordered a Greek salad with lettuce and sun- dried tomatoes, olives, tomatoes, and served with wholemeal pita bread. It was a good meal and overall pleasant dining experience.

From Garrick's Pub, Mom and I went towards Trafalgar Square and then headed back to the hotel to relax and get some rest for the next adventurous day in London.

Latest update and catch up.

Dear friends,

First of all, thank you so much for the birthday wishes. I was in southern Spain with two of my friends, Wes and Nate, on my birthday who spoiled me with kindness and fun. With that and the messages from all of you, I had a really great birthday. Thank you!!

It really means a lot to me to hear from friends and family back home, especially being so far away and not always being able to be in contact with everyone I care about. Please know that I think of you, though I may not write or call as much as I would like.

I also wanted to give you an update of what I've been doing for the past few months. It's been quite a busy time, so there's a lot, but I'll try to keep it somewhat short.

Since last September, when I moved to London, I have been mostly working and traveling. I started out working as a child protection social worker. This was a great opportunity in many ways--for growth, work experience, earning money (of course), and for me to realize that this was not my kind of work. With that, I decided in December that I would do something else and I quit my job as a CP social worker. For me, it just did not fit.

After Christmas and New Years, I started looking for a job. I was referred to World Class Teachers, an agency who places teachers and teachers assistants (TAs) in schools. With the agency's help, I found temporary work as a TA in a couple of different schools-a day or two in each school. Then, in early February, I was fortunate enough to be placed in a school where I ended up staying for the rest of my working time in London. I was working with children who have special needs, mostly autism and learning disabilities. I did one on one work with the children, supporting them in the classroom and also working with them on their IEPs (Individual Education Plans designed to focus on that child's particular educational needs). My co-workers were great and the work felt like it was really making a difference in the children's lives. I really enjoyed the work and was sad to leave. However, in early March, my work visa expired and so I had to go.

With my work visa, I was required to leave the UK on the day the visa expired. So, on March 13th, I started traveling.

My first stop was a road trip in Ireland with three friends I met in London, Nate, Ami, and Steve. Think rental car, driving on the left side of the road, lots of green Irish countryside, sleeping in the car in a parking lot one night, lots of pictures and lots of rain. It was quite the experience, and a lot of fun. We covered a lot of ground starting in Shannon, going north to Galway and the Cliffs of Moher, down to Dingle Bay, over to Blarney Castle near Cork, headed up to Kilkenny. We ended the trip in Dublin just in time for St. Patty's Day where we met up with some other friends for the weekend, which was an experience in itself and tons of fun. All in all, Ireland was beautiful, despite all the rain, and the trip was a lot of fun. I put up all kinds of pictures, if you care to take a peek.

From Ireland, Nate and I flew from Dublin to Marrakech, Morocco, North Africa. This was an amazing experience. Briefly, we stayed in Marrakech one night, went on a two day tour down to Zagora in the Draa Valley. This involved several hours riding in a van surrounded by people from all over Europe, many of whom did not speak English, including our tour guide, but best of all, riding camels and sleeping in tents in the desert under a full moon. It was truly one of the most incredible experiences I have had and so much fun. After our adventures in Draa Valley, we returned to Marrakech and then moved on to Fes.

After our adventures in Morocco, Nate and I headed to Spain. Nate's family has a timeshare condo in Nueva Andalucia, Marbella, Spain and he was kind enough to let me and our friend Wes come and hang out with him for a week and enjoy the condo, including the surrounding beautiful sunshine and beaches (This was where I was when I celebrated my 23rd birthday). After hanging out with these guys for the past six months, it was nice to have one last week together relaxing and having fun. It was sad to have it end and I miss them all ready. I also miss the sunshine and beaches. ; )

After saying goodbye to Wes at the condo and later to Nate in Malaga, I headed on my own from Malaga to Barcelona via night train. I spent one day in Barcelona, bumming around, but I had been there all ready with Kate in January, so just kind of hung out wandering a bit and spending a lot of the afternoon in the park. (Spain is wonderful, by the way, one of my favorite places.)

From Barcelona, I traveled to Switzerland (beautiful!!), then moved on to Germany, stopping in Munich and Berlin (both very cool and each in their own ways), then stopped in Stockholm, Sweden on my way towards Norway. I didn't have much time in Stockholm, but from what I gathered, it is a pretty neat place.

From Stockholm, I took a night train up to Narvik, Norway--the farthest north you can go on a train in that area--and then took a bus from Narvik to Tromso to visit my dear old friend Brian and his lovely wife Linn. I went to school with Brian in Winsted from 3rd grade through high school and hadn't seen him in about two years, so it was really nice to catch up with him and also to see the life that he and Linn have created for themselves in Tromso. Linn grew up in Tromso, so I got to meet her family and a few of their friends, who were all wonderful. Brian and Linn also let me stay at their beautiful and comfortable home free of charge (you can probably imagine how nice this was after having been on the go and sleeping in trains and hostels for the past week, so a million thanks to them!). While I was staying there, they spoiled me with treats and showed me around the beautiful Norwegian city of Tromso. It was definitely too short a visit, but I had such a good time and was really happy to spend time with Brian and Linn.

From Tromso, I flew to Oslo, Norway, took a train from the airport to a smaller international airport near Torp, Norway, and then flew from there to Glasgow, Scotland. Unfortunately, time and schedules did not allow for me to meet up with my friend Kellie who lives in Glasgow (sorry Kellie!) and I headed to Edinburgh. I spent the last two nights in Edinburgh meeting some really fun people and checking out the Castle, Mary King's Close, St. Giles Church, a neat and creepy graveyard, and a few other Scottish treats. Edinburgh is, as everyone had told me, an amazing city with tons of history and a great feel to it.

At the moment, I am headed on a train (my favorite way to travel!) from Edinburgh to London. I will meet up with some friends tonight and then my mom arrives in the morning, which I am very excited about. My mom and I are going to be exploring London and some of England for the next week and then we will be flying back together to the good ol' US of A next Sunday. I am really going to miss Europe and all the fun I have had here. At the same time, I am so excited to see my family and friends!!!

I'm not sure what the next step will be on my life's journey. I will be moving home to Winsted to live with my mom for an undetermined amount of time. My little sister graduates in May/June and my Uncle Tim with whom I am very close, is getting married in mid-June, so I will definitely be in Minnesota for that. And, after that, we shall see. One thing I have learned with my travels is that things work out the way that do and you may have to plan a little bit, but life will throw at you what it wants to. Embrace it and make the most of it.

Bonny Scotland

2008, 4.10-12 Edinburgh, Scotland

The flight from Oslo Torp airport to Glasgow Prestwick, Scotland went smoothly. I tried calling my friend Kellie MacAlonan who lives in Glasgow to see if she wanted to meet up, but it didn't work out with our schedules. I took a train from the airport to downtown Glasgow and then on to Edinburgh, which was very easy. The Scottish countryside is very pretty, from what I saw, which, really, wasn't much. I can't imagine what the rest of the country is like, though I've heard wonderful things.

I made it to Edinburgh pretty late in the evening. It was dark, but there were still quite a few people out and about, so that was good, as I wasn't exactly sure where I was going in order to find my hostel and there were some areas that seemed kind of shady. I stayed at the Edinburgh Backpacker's Hostel. I shared my hostel room with five other people-4 American girls and a guy.

I went on a free tour led by an employee from the hostel to explore Edinburgh. On the tour, I learned about Greyfriar's Bobby.

Bobby's Bar dedicated to Greyfriar's Bobby

Burial site of the famous Greyfriar's Bobby, Bobby the dog who almost never left his owner's side, even when Greyfriar passed away

One of the most haunted places in the world

A window along The Royal Mile

Edinburgh Castle


The Princes Mall and the Train Station in Central Edinburgh

War Memorial


St. Giles Cathedral and the Royal Mile

Advocate's Close, one of the many historical passageways in Edinburgh


Stained glass window in St. Giles Cathedral

Edinburgh is a city in which it feels as though the history is still being made as you walk down the street. The history and the present culture are still very much alive in the every day life of the city. It is an incredible feeling. Despite the weather--spotty rain showers throughout the day intermingled with spots of sunshine--it is a very charming city with a lot to offer. I didn't have nearly enough time there--about two days, but I did get the chance within that time to see a lot of the city, make some new acquaintences, and even try the Haggis, which was surprisingly tasty.

It was a lovely place to end my post-London, month long travels. If only I'd have made it to Bonny Scotland earlier in my Journey Abroad, I'd have realized I should have made Scotland a top travel priority. Another day...

Visiting friends in Norway

2008, 4.7-10 Tromsø, Norway


From Stockholm, Sweden, I took a night train to Narvik, Norway--the farthest point north you can reach in Norway by train. It was a long, scenic ride. Along the way, I slept, relaxed, made notes of my travels so far.

I found that the farther I traveled north, the more I blended in with the locals with my blonde hair, blue eyes, and fair skin. Several times I had to try to say in Swedish or Norwegian, "I only speak English." Thankfully, many of the people I talked to also spoke English, and all of the train staff spoke English.

I tried reindeer stew served beside mashed potatoes and iceberg lettuce. The reindeer meat tasted much like roast beef, but the texture was more unique than the taste--a bit more chewy.

The ride to Narvik was especially beautiful towards the end where there were beautiful lakes reflecting the deep blue sky and the tall peaks of surrounding snow-capped mountains. Some of the lakes were frozen over, while others were wide open.

Once I reached Narvik, I figured out how to take the bus from Narvik to Tromsø and waited at the small train station. The bus ride was even more beautiful than what I had seen from the train. It took about four hours, but went quickly as I captured photographic memories of the breathtaking surroundings. I also discussed international politics with a young Swedish guy who was relocating to Tromsø to find work and take advantage of the strength of the krone (Norwegian currency) against the Swedish krona.

One view along the way from Narvik to Tromsø

Another breathtaking view along the way to Tromsø

When I arrived at the bus station in Tromsø, Brian and Linn were waiting for me. I felt so happy to see my old friend and his lovely Linn. They are such a nice couple and though I hadn't seen Brian for a couple of years, it seemed like we hadn't missed a beat. We greeted each other, then we hopped into their car and took a short drive around Tromsø on our way to dinner. After dinner, we stopped at the local grocery store--not dramatically different than the ones I'm used to back in the US, though quite a lot more fish products and, of course, everything was labeled in Norwegian.

Before continuing to Brian and Linn's home, we stopped to explore an old shipwreck on the ocean shore as the sun set. We delighted in the scenery as the snow covered mountains across the bay transformed into a dark silhouette while the twinkling lights of houses grew brighter and the slivered moon rose in the rainbow sky fading to black.


In the morning, Brian and I went to explore more of Tromsø, stopping at the Sandnessund Bridge to take in more natural beauty of the area, and then later at the Tromsø Museum.

One of the exhibits at the Tromsø Museum was called a "wake hammer," which was a long-handled metal hammer used during church ceremonies to tap and wake people who would fall asleep during homilies. There were lots of other interesting historical artefacts and exhibits at the museum, including the Vikings (they didn't actually wear horns!) and the Sami people, the indigenous tribes of Norway and other Nordic countries.

More of beautiful Norway near Tromsø

Brian standing in a former Nazi bunker from WWII

One of the road tunnels that go underneath the ocean connecting different parts of the city and the islands that make up Tromsø--there were several of these tunnels and they were surprising long, but very handy.

Brian, Linn, and I took the Fjellheisen, or mountain lift to the top of a surrounding mountain. This is the view from the top of the mountain overlooking Tromsø.

The Fjellheisen

Another view of the city and surrounding ocean waters, including one of the ships that travel along the Norwegian coast transporting people and goods

View from the downtown area

The Arctic Cathedral


Store bought lefse and dried fish

The few days I had in Tromsø were lovely. Brian and Linn spoiled me with their wonderful hospitality. I met Linn's family, absolutely wonderful people. We played soccer, caught up on life, relaxed, celebrated Brian's 23rd birthday, and explored a bit of the beautiful city of Tromsø. Brian dropped me off at the airport in Tromso so that I could catch a plane to Oslo, from where I took a train to a smaller city to catch another plane back to the United Kingdom. The train ride to Oslo, Torp felt a lot like I could be traveling through part of Minnesota, which was interesting.

Another connection to Minnesota I noticed was that the MinneSOtan accents that we are famous for sound a lot like the way some of the Norwegian words are spelled or pronounced, such as their word for yes is pronounced "yah" (think 'oh, yah, you betchya'). I thought it was kind of cute and fun.

Norway was a wonderful experience. I hope to make it back some day...maybe next time to see the infamous fjords, the aurora borealis (Northern Lights), and the midnight sun.

Sweden

2008, 4.6 Stockholm, Sweden

From Berlin, I took a night train to Malmo, Sweden, and then continued on to Stockholm. I only had a few hours in the city, during which I had to shower and eat. I did get a brief chance to explore the city on foot. Below are a few photos I snapped along the way.

Berlin, Deutschland

2008, 4.5 Berlin, Germany

I spent my day in Berlin on a walking tour hosted by The Original Insiders Tour that was well worth the time and money. Berlin has a fascinating history, about which I learned all kinds of information and stories as I explored the city.

My Berlin experience began with a short ride on the S train (which was free with my rail pass--very convenient) to the Zoo Garden where I had breakfast and then met up with my tour. The name of the tour was the "Original Famous Walk" which is a general Berlin tour and covered a vast array of interesting historical sights and landmarks. Because there were so many sights along the way, I will touch on some highlights of the tour:

-Unter den Linden: the avenue of old Berlin
-Babelplatz: sight of the first major Nazi book-burning in May 1933
-Humboldt University: Einstein taught here, Marx developed many of his ideas there, and alma mater of 29 Nobel Prize winners

-Museumsinsel (Museum Island)
-Neue Synagogue

-Fernsehturm (TV Tower): an architectural structure with an interesting story—it was built by the communist East government to show their power and advanced technological abilities during the Cold War in 1969. At the time, it was the second tallest structure in Europe, the tallest was in Moscow-it was built second, but they did not want to out-do the building constructed by their Soviet superiors in Moscow

-Siegessäule: a golden angel built to commemorate 19th-century Prussian military victories

-Hitler's Bunker: a parking lot now sits at the location, a legend and map stand off to one side showing the layout of the bunker, this is the location where Hitler is said to have committed suicide by ingesting cyanide. The parking lot is an attempt at covering up the history there, possibly to prevent neo-Nazis from creating a memorial site.


-Kaiser-Wilhelm-Gedächtniskirche or Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church. This is a church that was bombed during WWII and remains standing as a reminder of the destruction of war and as a symbol of Berlin's determination to rebuild itself after the war had ended. Just next to this church stands a new hexagonal shaped tower that was erected in 1961.


-The Royal Cathedral on Museum Island

-Checkpoint Charlie--the United States Army post after WWII during the Cold War

The Berlin Wall
-The Berlin Wall and East Side Gallery: the wall was built by the Communist German government in response to the 'brain drain' that was happening, meaning the well-educated, skilled, and professionals were moving from East to West Germany as a result of the Cold War and its effects. A wall was never part of the original plans when borders were drawn. Troops put up a barbed wire fence surrounding the entirety of the area within several hours of one night—the first physical border put into place. Later, the permanent wall structure was erected.


-Black and white photo of the Berlin Wall in front of a building that served as Nazi Headquarters during WWII and was later used during the Cold War

-Denkmal für die ermordeten Juden Europas (Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe or the Holocaust Memorial)

The Brandenburg Gate
-Brandenburg Gate Area: Brandenburg Tor (City gates). Nearby is also Hotel Adlon Kempinski, a very famous hotel where celebrities and powerful politicians, including the US President has stayed before (also the hotel where Michael Jackson held his baby up over the balcony in 2002).


Reichstag building, the home of German Parliament
-Richstaggedbäude (Parliament Building) and the Wall Victims Memorial: commemorates the 191 people who tried to cross from the East to the West side of the Berlin wall

Berlin was one of the most interesting places I visited. I find history and politics extremely intriguing and it was amazing to have the opportunity to explore the city of Berlin where so much important history has happened, learn more about it, and see firsthand where so many important historical events occurred. I would love to go back sometime and even do the same tour again, as well as learn more about other aspects of the city. Being I only had an afternoon there, I missed out on a lot of the other wonderful aspects of the modern culture. I hope to make it back to Berlin someday and spend more time there.

Article about Gordon Hogan, Tour Guide of Dachau Concentration Camp

The following article found at http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4161/is_20080316/ai_n24936952/pg_1?tag=artBody;col1
Accessed on 12/01/2008

FindArticles > Sunday Mirror > Mar 16, 2008 > Article > Print friendly

Genocide, the stench of death and eating lunch in a gas chamber..

LISA O'CONNOR

YOU could forgive Gordon Hogan for feeling depressed about going to work. After all, the Monday morning blues affect the best of us sometimes.

But the rest of us don't have to spend four hours every day in a concentration camp, walking through a gas chamber.

For Gordon's work day takes him by train from Munich to the site where the holocaust began.

He travels along the same railway line which transported hundreds of thousands of prisoners during the Second World War, and gets off the train at the stop which marked the end of freedom for Jews, gypsies, priests and homosexuals.

He walks beneath the infamous entrance sign, still cruelly marked "Arbeit macht frei", which means "Work makes you free".

Then he gathers tourists from all over the world around him, and guides them through the horrors of the Nazi Holocaust.

For Gordon, who is a self-confessed history junkie, has one of the least desirable jobs in the world.

He is one of the leading tour guides at the Nazi death camp of Dachau. But the irony is, he loves his work!

Showing people around a former torture enclosure in which more than 25,000 people perished might not be everyone's ideal career choice.

But for Tipperary man Gordon Hogan it simply doesn't get any better.

Gordon, 29, who lives in Munich, knows everything there is to know about the dark history of the horrific Dachau concentration camp.

So who better to show the camp to the huge number of visitors who come to see it annually than the Templemore artist?

The Nazi death camp held 200,000 prisoners between 1933 and its liberation by American soldiers in April 1945.

But while many people find visiting a site where such horrors took place to be depressing, Gordon says they are inspirational.

"Dachau was the first of 2,000 concentration camps. So working here is a heavy job. sometimes I have to take four or five days off, the work is so intense. I'm going to keep doing it until my passion for it runs out."

But even an eternally optimistic person like Gordon is forced to admit that his job can take its toll.

"It probably takes a certain type of personality to do this job," he admits.

"But I'm not an average Joe. My own personal journey is to face my fears.

But when you walk through a gas chamber every day, it can get very intense.

"I take people on three to four hour tours of Dachau. But there is so much I could say about the place, I could do a three day tour if necessary."

Gordon first moved to Germany nine years ago in order to study at the prestigious art school in Munich.

Having began his studies at Limerick School of Art and Design, he got the opportunity to spend three months abroad at a foreign university.

He always was fascinated by Germany, so he chose to study in Munich. Before his three months were up, he had fallen in love with the city, and persuaded a professor to let him finish his studies at the prestigious German art school.

"I always had an interest in Germany, so when I had the chance to take a three-month Erasmus course abroad, I picked Munich," he said.

"I spent six months working at odd jobs, and the Irish community here looked after me. I first started working in that community, serving beer in Irish bars to Germans."

But his interest in history and politics led him to the unlikely job of becoming a Dachau tour guide.

"I suppose the history of the Third Reich was always an interest or a hobby for me," he explains.

"I had to do a three month course at Dachau before they'd let me be a tour guide because it is such a sensitive subject," he says. "They don't want any old person coming here to take the mickey.

"After that, I became a fully qualified guide to the camp. So I set up my own little business with the permission of Dachau, and now I take people around the camp, talking about the politics and history of the place.

He added: "They have their own educational centre at Dachau and I do work for them too. It pays the rent and fills the belly, but it is really inspirational for me too, and inspires my art."

And the bilingual Irishman is so popular at his job that even Germans ask him to show them around this dark heart of their nation's history. "Most of the people I show around Dachau are tourists," he says.

"Germans tend to visit while they are still at school. But I've been living here for nine years and I do speak fluent German, so I do take Germans to Dachau too.

"Some people like the fact that they can ask me controversial questions that they mightn't feel comfortable asking a German guide. Germans still can feel guilty about what happened 70 years ago.

"But I explain the history so that we all share the guilt. What happened at Dachau goes on in different ways around the world today. It's a positive place now, where people leave feeling more informed about the world."

Gordon's tours are so moving that people who he has shown around the death camp often remain in touch with him afterwards, writing and emailing him.

"People often contact me after their holidays are over. They write to me to tell me things about their lives or world politics. The experience of visiting Dachau really moves them."

Gordon loves his gloomy day job but still harbours ambitions to become a successful artist. He graduated from art college two years ago and has since exhibited his video and photographic work, partly influenced by Dachau, in Germany.

But his ambition is to bring his art back home to Ireland, and he hopes that an Irish gallery will invite him to exhibit his photography and video installations in his native land.

"My last exhibition was before Christmas and my work focused on Dachau and was inspired by the place. I spent half of last year going to Dachau daily," he says. "I love history and politics, and they influence my work. But it's still very accessible for people.

"I do miss home sometimes," he admits. "I read Irish newspapers and listen to Irish radio on the internet. Today, I had an Irish couple on my tour of Dachau. Being Irish, they were surprised to have an Irish tour guide and I was very happy to have them on the tour.

"I'm living the artist's life, but I am so fulfilled. My aim is to be a successful artist, and I'd love to take my work home to show the people of Ireland either next year or the year after. In fact, I'm planning to bring my work home either next year or the year after. I'm just waiting for a gallery to invite me!"

Gordon's art work, which features images of Dachau's watch towers and pictures of little children with Hitlerstyle toothbrush moustaches could be considered controversial.

But he believes that his work is as optimistic and positive as the former death camp which partly inspired the images he creates.

"People are really moved by visiting Dachau," he insists. "These days, it is a life camp not a death camp. People respond to the information I give them, and it often changes their lives. They come out realising the importance of celebrating life."

Copyright 2008 MGN LTD
Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights Reserved.

Dachau Concentration Camp

2008, 4.4 Dachau, Germany (Pronounced DOCK-ow)

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As may be expected, some of the content of this entry is very unpleasant. It is intended only as information from what I learned about the horrible atrocities that occurred at this Concentration Camp and others throughout Europe during the Holocaust and the time during which Hitler and the Nazi regime were in power. I have the utmost respect for those who suffered through the hate and violence of the Holocaust and I cannot imagine the horror that these victims endured. I sympathize with them and admire their strength. I believe it is amazing that the survivors are willing to share their story and that it is extremely important that they do. I hope to aid in this effort by sharing some of what I learned during my tour of the Dachau Concentration Camp in this blog entry.
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Dachau Concentration Camp near Munich, Germany

I visited Dachau Concentration Camp on 4 April, 2008. While the grounds are open for anyone to visit and explore on their own, I took a guided tour lead by Gordon Hogan, an Irish artist, who has studied and researched the history and politics surrounding WWII and the Holocaust for many years, several of which he has lived and worked in Germany, more specifically in the Munich/Dachau area. (Please see the following blog entry for more information on the tour guide.)

As would be expected, touring the Concentration camp was very sad. At the same time, it was extremely informative and forced me think deeply about different aspects about the world in which we live. Mr. Hogan did a wonderful job of explaining some of the surrounding facts and history, as well as providing some intriguing and large questions to ponder. What were the real reasons behind Hitler's actions? How could such an unimaginable tragedy have happened? In exploring the camp and the history, we also explored different thoughts on human nature and behaviour, politics, religion, history, and economics.

Front gate to the camp that says in German, "Work shall set you free."

Model layout of the camp as it stood before April 29 1945, when it was liberated by American troops. Out the window, a memorial from the survivors of the camp, as well as the open gravel courtyard on which prisoners would stand for roll call, sometimes for several hours at a time as a punishment .


A tree-lined walk that also had flowers and other visually appealing vegetation when the camp was in use--part of the image the Nazis wanted to create in order that outsiders would see it as a civilized prison and work camp. Some of these trees were also used by the SS to murder Catholic priests by hanging.

"To remember the dead, to warn the living" A memorial to honor the many who died at this and the many other concentration camps throughout Europe. The man standing at the top of it is a fictitious character--the designers wanted it to be a generic model in attempts to prevent against discrimination and exclusion

While the answers to the kind of questions surrounding the Holocaust are hard to answer and heartbreaking to think about, in a way it also felt important and challenging. It made me reflect on my life and how I fit into a world where such acts of violence and hatred have occurred, and in some places and somewhat similar ways are currently still happening. While I'm not sure I accomplished such a feat, I believe it was a meaningful experience from which I learned a great amount.

One of the most impressive things I learned about Dachau Concentration Camp is that after the Americans liberated the camp in 1945, the survivors of the camp joined together and created the Comité International de Dachau. Since 1965, they have been working to keep Dachau open as a memorial, to honor those who lived and died there, but also in efforts that it would educate future generations and prevent such an atrocity as the Holocaust from ever occurring again. I admire their courage and believe through this they show the human capacity for strength, resilience, and hope.

To see more in depth information regarding Dachau Concentration Camp, including a virtual tour and timeline, among other interesting and informative resources, please visit their website at http://www.kz-gedenkstaette-dachau.de/english.html

Bavaria, Deutschland

2008, 4.3-4 Munich, Germany

I arrived in Munich on a train from Zurich, Switzerland at about 5:30 pm, purchased a night train pass to Berlin for the following evening, and then found my way to Wombat's hostel, which was a very convenient three minute walk from the train station. The hostel was a nice place--a good atmosphere and I had a comfortable room.

After getting my things settled into my room, I headed out in search of cheap and somewhat light food for dinner. After searching for a bit, I caved and ended up getting a Subway sandwich. Not very exciting, but it was the most picturesque Subway sandwich I have ever purchased. The rest of the evening was spent planning for my trips to Norway and Scotland. I also got to know my roommates a bit who were all Americans teaching English in Spain who were on a weekend holiday. They were pretty nice. One of them had been to Minnesota for camping and hiking, which was fun to talk about with her.

The next morning, I got packed, checked my email, had breakfast at the hostel, put my things in a locker and then headed out. At 10:15 am, I met up with a tour group to go and explore the Dachau Concentration Camp led by Gordon Hogan. It was an incredible experience, about which you can learn more by reading my "Dachau Concentration Camp" blog entry.

During the tour, I made friends with a girl named CJ from South Africa who was also on holiday in Munich. When we returned from Dachau, she and I explored a bit of Munich together. We wandered from the train station down to the Marienplatz area, Munich's central square and a popular tourist area with lots of shops and restaurants, churches, street performers and people. It was a very busy place. Also in this area, not to be missed, was the infamous Glockenspiel, which every day at certain hours chimes and re-enacts two stories from the 16th century with figurines dancing and jausting. CJ and I were fortunate enough to be there for the spectacle and, among many other spectators, enjoyed the show.

Glockenspiel

After getting our fill of the Marienplatz, CJ and I wandered a bit more exploring Munich. There were some interesting pieces of architecture along the way; however, as it was starting to get dark and our tummies were beginning to grumble, we were in search of a beer hall--for which Munich and Bavaria, the area of Germany in which Munich is located, are famous (Sidenote: Munich is the city in which Oktoberfest is held every year). After grappling with a 'user-unfriendly' map, we finally found the Hofbräuhaus-a brewery and beer hall full of people, large portions of German food, a live polka band dressed to suit, and, of course, Mass-es of beer.

Hofbrauhaus--a famous beer hall in Munich

CJ and I eventually found a table--it is a very large building with lots of seating, but also lots of people, so it was hard to find vacant seats. Our waitress, dressed in traditional German costume brought us menus and served us well, though with how busy it was we had to be patient.

CJ and I each ordered a beer, which comes in a large glass mug called a Mass. For dinner, I ordered Bavarian meat loaf and potato salad, accompanied by some apple streusel for dessert. The meatloaf, which I mistakenly thought would be ground beef, looked more like a large slice of American SPAM, though the taste was a bit better. The potatoes were like chunky mashed potatoes with a slight vinegar-like tartness to them. The apple streusel was kind of bland and, honestly, a bit disappointing. So, though it was a well prepared meal, it did not quite fit my taste as a good one.

Though the meal was not the greatest, the atmosphere and the company with whom I spent the evening was lots of fun. Because the house was so full and the tables so big, CJ and I ended up sharing our table with a few Bavarian gentlemen who sat down next to us. They were probably about thirty-something and late forty-something. They were very kind and friendly and we spent the rest of our evening there chatting with these two. I talked mostly to Wolfgang, the older gentleman, who thought it was pretty cool that I was from Minnesota. I also told him that I had ancestors from Germany, but when I told him which part, he thought it was a boring area of Germany--so maybe that's why they left. Ha ha.

As the evening went on, I sat and enjoyed the beer, the live music pumping polka just an arms stretch away from where we were sitting, and good company, and soaked in the Bavarian culture around the hall. It was a very fun experience. Wolfgang gave me his contact information and told me that if I ever make it to Oktoberfest, that I should let him know so he can help arrange a spot for camping. It was a kind offer.

CJ and I said good bye to our new friends and headed back towards the hostel. I had a night train to catch, so I said goodbye to CJ, retrieved my things from the hostel, and went to the station to wait for my night train that would take me to Malmo and then Stockholm, Sweden before continuing on my way to Tromso, Norway.

Switzerland

2008, 4.2-3 Switzerland: Lake Geneva at Lausanne, Bern, Interlaken, Lucerne, Zürich

Train passing through Lausanne on Lake Geneva to Bern to Interlaken
Highlights:
-Lake Geneva
-The Swiss Alps

Lake Geneva while passing via train through Lausanne very early in the morning

Small town and the Swiss countryside between Interlaken and Lucerne

Lucerne (Luzern)
Highlights:
-Surrounded by a lake and snow-capped mountains
-Kapellbrücke (Chapel Bridge) and Spreuebrücke (Spreuer Bridge)
Food: Swiss red wine, Veal sausage served with Swiss -style hash browns


Dusk in Lucerne

Zürich

I had one short afternoon to wander around the city of Zürich. It wasn't quite long enough, but it was enough time to enjoy a little bit of the architecture and the life there.

Highlights:
-Walking along Limmat River
-Grossmünster (Church)
-Fraumünster (Church with stained glass windows)
-Lake Zurich
-St Peterskirche (Church with Europe's largest clock faces on its tower)
-Wandering through the narrow streets
-Colorful architecture
-Swiss chocolates


Wandering in Zürich I came across some of these...

A fun poster for a theater show and an idea of their language

St Peterskirche (Church with Europe's largest clock faces on its tower) from across the river

Grossmünster

Lake Zurich


See the blue sign on the building to the left of the picture, that is a street.

This is where that street leads.


Limmat River

Swiss chocolates, very yummy

Switzerland was wonderful, despite the snow and rain. I will most certainly try to make it back again some day and take advantage of the many outdoor activities available, maybe even multiple trips so that I can experience both the summer and winter activities.

The next stop...Germany.

Barcelona, take two

2008, 4.1 Barcelona, Spain

After spending the night on a train from Malaga, I arrived in Barcelona, my second time in this beautiful Spanish city, though this time, I was really only passing through on my way to Switzerland. After figuring out the night train schedule and purchasing my ticket to Switzerland, which would not leave until after eight o'clock that evening, I spent the majority of the morning on the hunt for an internet cafe. It took a while, but eventually I found one and did what I needed to do online, and with a heavy backpack and confusing maps of the city, it felt like a big success.

Once this feat was accomplished, I hunted down a restaurant recommended by my Lonely Planet Europe on a Shoestring Guide. Its name? La Fonda, at which I chuckled, as it reminded me of the movie "Napoleon Dyamite," yet turned out to be a solid choice for lunch cuisine. My meal began with a mixed green salad with large chunks of tomatoes and cucumbers--some of my favorite veggies. This was followed by a plate of chicken breast grilled to perfection, aubergine (egg plant), courgette (zucchini) and half of a tomato, along with chips (French fries). It was a simple, but delicious meal and the ambience of the restaurant was relaxing, classy, and clean. The service was excellent and the price was reasonable. To finish off my meal, I tried a slice of La Fonda's apple cake served on top of Catalan cream, a regional specialty (Barcelona is in the Catalunya region of Spain). This dessert was not something I would order again, as it did not quite match my taste in desserts (the cream was much like flan, which I don't particularly care for), but it was nice to try, anyway. My lunch at La Fonda was, overall, a very enjoyable experience.

After a nice leisurely lunch, I was back out wandering the city of Barcelona. It was kind of fun to return to this city, though I didn't have much time. Nevertheless, I recognized a lot of what I saw and got to experience it again in another light. One of my favorite moments from this short stop in Barcelona was the time I spent in the park a few blocks from the train station. Having seen much of the city, with limited time, and tired feet, I found sanctuary for a few hours in the park near the Estacion de Franca (the train station) of Barcelona.

At first, I sat on a park bench reading my Lonely Planet for a bit, mentally planning what I would do in Switzerland. When I looked up from my book, I absorbed my surroundings as the Spanish rays of sunshine beamed down on me. I saw the bright green grass of the park with paths going this way and that and I observed the beautiful culture around me. Besides their attractive physical features, the people seem to have such a passion for life, a deep appreciation of the importance of family and relationships, and a high level of ingenuity. You can see it in the way they dress, the way they interact with each other, and how they carry themselves. People from varying generations spend time together and really seem to enjoy it, whether family or strangers.

As I observed and strolled around the park, I saw couples strolling along, families enjoying their time together, athletes jogging or biking or rollerblading by, elderly people meandering, young people sitting around in varying sized groups, people playing the guitar or taking their dogs for a walk. As the sun continued to drop lower in the sky and the time for my train to leave grew closer, I tried to internalize as much as I could of these couple hours in the park before going to the train station. It was one of my favorite experiences.

Looking towards the entrance of the park

A woman feeding the pigeons and the parakeets in the park

The inside of the Estacion de Franca train station in Barcelona.

My conclusion from the day and the other time I spent here is that Barcelona is an attractive, vibrant city with attractive inhabitants, great weather, and full of life and culture.

Eventually, I had to say "hasta luego" to the wonderment of the park and go to the train station where I waited for a bit longer and then boarded the night train that would take me across France to Switzerland.