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Yeeeeah Booooiiii! I am in Norway.
I ate a seafood feast at the Bergen residence of the Norwegian royal family. It was delicious. Prawns (Reker), Salmon, Mussels Blåskjell), Proscuttio (Spekeskinke), Bread (Bydelsørt), Wine (Vin) etc. Yes, they all deserve capitals on account of how delectable each of them was.
I tried caviar and whale at the Bergen fish market.
This afternoon Ben, Trond and I will go to Marriane´s cabin on the fjord to fish and hunt deer and chop wood and ride whales and pick berries and conquer mountains and bathe in icy waters and bask in glorious sun.
Jag.
Yes.
Oslo: water features and contemporary art and sculptures. And duck poo on Ben´s towel. And synchronised marching men in uniform with REAL guns. And bodies piled on top of each other in some kind of obilesk. Aker Brygg docklands woo woo.
Ceilidh on its way on a farm on hardangerfjord. Thank you to the Davis posse for bringing in the litre of whisky each for Benj and I. Time to get our dancing shoes on and do some eightsome reels and burling. Dashing white sergeant. Strip the willow. St Bernad´s Waltz, Boston two-step. Eee-YIP woo!!!
Thursday 22 July 2010
Saturday 17 July 2010
Stork fort and Whit beer
Rouen-Paris, Paris-Strasbourg.
Strasbourg is a very pretty town. It is in the French region of Alsace. I arrived early afternoon and had a nap to recover from 1.sleeping on the floor in Rouen, 2.waking at 6am that morning, after a string of up-before-I-want-tos, and 3.Bosler's train arrived close to 5pm and I had time to kill.
We found cheap beer and then an ACDC soundtrack to accompany our Croque Monsiuer dinner.
In Strasbourg you can find 'Little France' which is a gorgeous old part of town cut off from the Rhine by locks. You can find a beautiful gothic catherdaral in the middle of town, you can find sales in all the shops in the commercial strip, you can find a crazy homeless guy making out with his dog, and you can find a lot of stalks (as in the bird. And they are stuffed toys. Didn't see any real ones). Through a rough and hideous translation Strasbourg means Stalk - fort.
Strasbourg-Offenberg-Konstanz
My first night in Konstanz was great!
So wonderful to see Nomes again. And she speaks English in a German accent. Funny!
The train from Strasbourg took us through the Black Forest and then as we approached Konstanz I could see the Alps in the distance.
We headed along Lake Konstanz shore front, across the border and into Switzerland. Lake Konstanz is the biggest freshwater lake in Europe. It's big. I swam in it. Cheese and wine ensued with Nomes' local contigency made a solid turnout. Donner and blitzen moved overhead and across the lake. The storm took our sun light and then eventually rained on us. I was dinked in to and then out of Switzerland. The group gathered at a house where the wine was finished.
This morning I have had a traditional Bavarian breakfast of white sausage (don't eat the skin!) and white beer with sweet mustard and bretzel (like a large, bready pretzel). The weather is a mild 25 today but the rain may come back. I think my carefully planned itinerary includes canooing, a festival on the island on the lake, 'relax clubbing' (?) and german things like beer.
Strasbourg is a very pretty town. It is in the French region of Alsace. I arrived early afternoon and had a nap to recover from 1.sleeping on the floor in Rouen, 2.waking at 6am that morning, after a string of up-before-I-want-tos, and 3.Bosler's train arrived close to 5pm and I had time to kill.
We found cheap beer and then an ACDC soundtrack to accompany our Croque Monsiuer dinner.
In Strasbourg you can find 'Little France' which is a gorgeous old part of town cut off from the Rhine by locks. You can find a beautiful gothic catherdaral in the middle of town, you can find sales in all the shops in the commercial strip, you can find a crazy homeless guy making out with his dog, and you can find a lot of stalks (as in the bird. And they are stuffed toys. Didn't see any real ones). Through a rough and hideous translation Strasbourg means Stalk - fort.
Strasbourg-Offenberg-Konstanz
My first night in Konstanz was great!
So wonderful to see Nomes again. And she speaks English in a German accent. Funny!
The train from Strasbourg took us through the Black Forest and then as we approached Konstanz I could see the Alps in the distance.
We headed along Lake Konstanz shore front, across the border and into Switzerland. Lake Konstanz is the biggest freshwater lake in Europe. It's big. I swam in it. Cheese and wine ensued with Nomes' local contigency made a solid turnout. Donner and blitzen moved overhead and across the lake. The storm took our sun light and then eventually rained on us. I was dinked in to and then out of Switzerland. The group gathered at a house where the wine was finished.
This morning I have had a traditional Bavarian breakfast of white sausage (don't eat the skin!) and white beer with sweet mustard and bretzel (like a large, bready pretzel). The weather is a mild 25 today but the rain may come back. I think my carefully planned itinerary includes canooing, a festival on the island on the lake, 'relax clubbing' (?) and german things like beer.
Thursday 15 July 2010
FRENCHIE CHERIE
O la la
PARIS was beautiful. I will try try try to return soon...
Rouen is also nice.
Capital of Normandy.
Gothic cathedrals, Impressionist festivals (thanks Rouen for hosting the birth of impressionism and bringing it from the landscape to the streets. Big up to Monet and Gauguin who loved the place, too)
leaving for Strasbourg but not before an amazing Afghani dinner and fireworks and music for Bastille Day.
See you in Rue de Bitche, Strasbourg
PARIS was beautiful. I will try try try to return soon...
Rouen is also nice.
Capital of Normandy.
Gothic cathedrals, Impressionist festivals (thanks Rouen for hosting the birth of impressionism and bringing it from the landscape to the streets. Big up to Monet and Gauguin who loved the place, too)
leaving for Strasbourg but not before an amazing Afghani dinner and fireworks and music for Bastille Day.
See you in Rue de Bitche, Strasbourg
Monday 12 July 2010
PARIS you're a babe
Bonjour!
After 4 days of hot hot heat and humidity the sky broke over Paris early this morning.
Thunder
Lightening
Rain. Lots of rain. Real rain, heavy rain!
Thankfully it's now cooler and the rain has moved on east. Ascent of the Eiffel Tower is locked in for today!
On arrival in Paris Jess and I hit the supermarce for essentials- pain, fromage, vin (and a bottle opener. No screw tops here, thank you.) and met up with some Real Parisians in a park in the middle of Paris that looked like it was in the middle of the 'bush'. Magnific! The sun set as we sat on the hill side and swapped cheeses for homemade mushroom pastries and rushed to finish our (surprisingly great tasting for only 3 euros) Bordeaux red before the park gates shut at 10pm.
Our connection to the locals is Romain.
A legend among men.
We met in the hot and absurd East of Turkey about a year ago.
After the piquenique we headed back to his cosy apartment for more wine, French philosophy mags, 80s French dance tunes and dancing with keyboards and retro irons & telephones.
Jess and I have done a lot in 4 days. Would love to stay longer in Paris, do more sitting and watching, but with so much to do in such a short period of time we've done well. Gold stars all round.
Romain met us on Saturday morning and guided us through Indian and Asian areas to a market under the train line where I bought cheries. Then up to Montmatre to the Sacre Coer on the hill with beautiful Paris views. Coffee, Moulin Rouge, some grave hopping (J Morrison, O Wilde), delicious lunch. An excellent morning. Thank you Romain for a really enjoyable amble through Paris.
Modern installations at Tokyo Palace, impressionists at Musee d'Orsay, flying buttresses at Notre Dame, chandelliers and silk and plastic and wood and polyester and weaves and china and puppies at a flea market...
More wine and cheese and Hotel de Ville and Pompidou and Jardin du Luxombourg and some Eiffel action and I'm done.
Sad to say bye byes to Jessica Rose tomorrow.
Soon to see the Bosdog and the reunion of Action and Adventure...
After 4 days of hot hot heat and humidity the sky broke over Paris early this morning.
Thunder
Lightening
Rain. Lots of rain. Real rain, heavy rain!
Thankfully it's now cooler and the rain has moved on east. Ascent of the Eiffel Tower is locked in for today!
On arrival in Paris Jess and I hit the supermarce for essentials- pain, fromage, vin (and a bottle opener. No screw tops here, thank you.) and met up with some Real Parisians in a park in the middle of Paris that looked like it was in the middle of the 'bush'. Magnific! The sun set as we sat on the hill side and swapped cheeses for homemade mushroom pastries and rushed to finish our (surprisingly great tasting for only 3 euros) Bordeaux red before the park gates shut at 10pm.
Our connection to the locals is Romain.
A legend among men.
We met in the hot and absurd East of Turkey about a year ago.
After the piquenique we headed back to his cosy apartment for more wine, French philosophy mags, 80s French dance tunes and dancing with keyboards and retro irons & telephones.
Jess and I have done a lot in 4 days. Would love to stay longer in Paris, do more sitting and watching, but with so much to do in such a short period of time we've done well. Gold stars all round.
Romain met us on Saturday morning and guided us through Indian and Asian areas to a market under the train line where I bought cheries. Then up to Montmatre to the Sacre Coer on the hill with beautiful Paris views. Coffee, Moulin Rouge, some grave hopping (J Morrison, O Wilde), delicious lunch. An excellent morning. Thank you Romain for a really enjoyable amble through Paris.
Modern installations at Tokyo Palace, impressionists at Musee d'Orsay, flying buttresses at Notre Dame, chandelliers and silk and plastic and wood and polyester and weaves and china and puppies at a flea market...
More wine and cheese and Hotel de Ville and Pompidou and Jardin du Luxombourg and some Eiffel action and I'm done.
Sad to say bye byes to Jessica Rose tomorrow.
Soon to see the Bosdog and the reunion of Action and Adventure...
Monday 5 July 2010
Four marvels of Florence
As Jess caught those cheeky Zs we'd foregone in the morning in order to avoid queues and sweltering heat, I went for a solo stroll around Firenze. No camera, no money, no map or idea of where I was going. A promenade in Florence.
Just after eight thirty. Still quite warm- about 32 degrees but with a slight (and much anticipated) breeze.
The sun was setting.
Marvel one.
It was enormous, perched between the roof tops and just above the horizon. Blood orange red. Fiery red and huge.
I wandered further towards the old town and the river. I cut through piazzas I hadn't seen. There were people huddled around televisions in bars watching the Germany Argentina match and synchronous cheers echoed down the narrow streets as various crowds in various bars and restaurants watched the beating unfold. I made it down to the river, further downstream than the Ponte Vecchio. I crossed the river and headed to a weir I could see. It was set at a gradient to the river so the water was flowing deepest over the left side and gradually became shallow and was damed up from about half way across the river. On the side where the weir was higher than the water level the concrete of the weir was exposed and people were sitting out on the weir watching the sun set and drinking from bottles of wine.
Marvel two.
As I looked across the weir and the river towards the domes and towers of the city the street lamps all came on. The reflection of the lamps on the water was magical. All of a sudden the buildings became highlighted and the water was shimmering. Very beautiful.
When the street lights come on I took that as my cue to head back to Jess and the hostel. As I cut through the old streets, past gelato stores, bars, leather and fashion shops closed for the day I heard the sound of music in the distance. I followed my ears and ended up in a square with big columned walls. A heavy crowd had formed around the music. It was a brass band with drums and a very funky tune. I got closer and as they finished a swinging big number I recognised the trombone player as the guy I'd spoken to on the beach in Barcelona. (Did I tell you about that? The travelling brass band playing for free on the beach during the fireworks of the San Juan midsummer festival in Barcelona?)
Marvellous!
They were so fun. Molte bueno! The What Cheer? brigade. The trombone player told me they'd finished their business in the Basque country where they'd been invited to compete in a world champs of brass bands. They'd won first place and popular vote. Legends!
I wore a smile as big as the gelati I'd had earlier that day.
And then, as I turned a corner, in my path stood an old fashioned carousel. Marvel four. Lit up in the middle of the piazza. No music, but spinning around and glowing. There weren't many people about so I don't understand why it was there, or why it was still turning. But it was beautiful.
A marvellous promenade through the streets of Florence. Gorgeous city.
To Venice tomorrow.
Today was a long one- a tour of Siena and Tuscany and the Chianti region (yes, it's where Chianti red wine comes from). We did some wine tastings and ate some very nice Tuscan tucker. Nicest white I've ever had. And a beautiful Chianti red where the old bloke who ran the winery turned up in a flashy sports car (he was about 70) in what looked like pyjamas with a cigar hanging out his mouth. We exchanged brief words, but I think he liked me, because I was one of the few who got a second helping. He made sure I got the first glass of the second lot :)
Good night lovelies. Thought a lot about my wonderful new friends I've made and those I'll see soon back in Australia on my solo Firenze spin. Much love to you. x
Just after eight thirty. Still quite warm- about 32 degrees but with a slight (and much anticipated) breeze.
The sun was setting.
Marvel one.
It was enormous, perched between the roof tops and just above the horizon. Blood orange red. Fiery red and huge.
I wandered further towards the old town and the river. I cut through piazzas I hadn't seen. There were people huddled around televisions in bars watching the Germany Argentina match and synchronous cheers echoed down the narrow streets as various crowds in various bars and restaurants watched the beating unfold. I made it down to the river, further downstream than the Ponte Vecchio. I crossed the river and headed to a weir I could see. It was set at a gradient to the river so the water was flowing deepest over the left side and gradually became shallow and was damed up from about half way across the river. On the side where the weir was higher than the water level the concrete of the weir was exposed and people were sitting out on the weir watching the sun set and drinking from bottles of wine.
Marvel two.
As I looked across the weir and the river towards the domes and towers of the city the street lamps all came on. The reflection of the lamps on the water was magical. All of a sudden the buildings became highlighted and the water was shimmering. Very beautiful.
When the street lights come on I took that as my cue to head back to Jess and the hostel. As I cut through the old streets, past gelato stores, bars, leather and fashion shops closed for the day I heard the sound of music in the distance. I followed my ears and ended up in a square with big columned walls. A heavy crowd had formed around the music. It was a brass band with drums and a very funky tune. I got closer and as they finished a swinging big number I recognised the trombone player as the guy I'd spoken to on the beach in Barcelona. (Did I tell you about that? The travelling brass band playing for free on the beach during the fireworks of the San Juan midsummer festival in Barcelona?)
Marvellous!
They were so fun. Molte bueno! The What Cheer? brigade. The trombone player told me they'd finished their business in the Basque country where they'd been invited to compete in a world champs of brass bands. They'd won first place and popular vote. Legends!
I wore a smile as big as the gelati I'd had earlier that day.
And then, as I turned a corner, in my path stood an old fashioned carousel. Marvel four. Lit up in the middle of the piazza. No music, but spinning around and glowing. There weren't many people about so I don't understand why it was there, or why it was still turning. But it was beautiful.
A marvellous promenade through the streets of Florence. Gorgeous city.
To Venice tomorrow.
Today was a long one- a tour of Siena and Tuscany and the Chianti region (yes, it's where Chianti red wine comes from). We did some wine tastings and ate some very nice Tuscan tucker. Nicest white I've ever had. And a beautiful Chianti red where the old bloke who ran the winery turned up in a flashy sports car (he was about 70) in what looked like pyjamas with a cigar hanging out his mouth. We exchanged brief words, but I think he liked me, because I was one of the few who got a second helping. He made sure I got the first glass of the second lot :)
Good night lovelies. Thought a lot about my wonderful new friends I've made and those I'll see soon back in Australia on my solo Firenze spin. Much love to you. x
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