My English Family and Views on Life

Since being back home (referring to York, obviously) I've found myself doing well on my resolutions for the new year in the form of cooking more 'real' meals, attempting to spend less money and seeing more of York. I'm getting closer and closer to seeing all of the tourist sightings of the city but there are still things left for me to do. I visited the York Castle Museum two weeks ago with Amanda where we learned what life was like in York from the 18th century to the 60's. I procured myself a city of York library card that not only allows me to check out books (the first one I took out was Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, oh yes) but also let's you get into a couple of museums for free including the Yorkshire museum that I checked out last week. Yesterday I underwent a training session for Barley Hall, a medieval hall set in the centre of York hidden in the medieval streets and owned by the York Archaelogical Trust. Starting in a couple weeks I will be volunteering on a weekly basis, running the front of house and hopefully making my way to room steward where I can share my historical knowledge with the public!

Cooking wise i've been doing well also. Pasta is still my favorite dish but i've been getting creative with my salads and have also been developing my omeletes to a superb level of tastiness. Not only that, but i've been working on larger dishes to feed not just me but our 'flat family'. My first dish was homemade mac and cheese that I made from scratch, cheese sauce and all (well I bought the noodles but that's a bit tougher.) It was excellent and I was amazed at my skills. This week I'm thinking about tackling some enchiladas so as to get my mexican food fix, i'll let you know how it goes!

The most exciting thing I've done is visiting some friends of mine in Shropshire near the Welsh border. For those of you that don't know, after living in Brighton two summers ago I traveled to Shrewsbury on my own for a few days. There I went to a methodist church and was taken in by a lovely couple, Martin and Pam, whom I met there. I've stayed in touch with them and have been meaning to visit them ever since I got over here again. We finally coordinated and I made my way to Shrewsbury for a weekend stay. It was absolutely lovely having a visit somewhere that felt like home. I mean this in a way that I was with some great people, staying in a house and eating home cooked food. I joined them for a dinner with the local Amnesty International Branch (of which Martin is the chair) at a posh pub in town and met some great people. I also got to see a lot of the countryside including a little trek over the border into Wales to see the largest canal aquaduct to be built by Thomas Telford during the industrial revolution. I also got to watch tv! This sounds trivial, and it is, but think about how much TV you watch in a day or a week even. It may not be a lot but I'm sure you find it on in the background at least a few hours a week. Well I haven't watched any television in four months and it was really nice being able to just veg and watch some good old British tele. I was sad to go on Sunday and came home with an odd sense of homesickness that cannot be placed nor explained in a rational way.

If anything, I find the feelings one experiences on this kind of adventure (that beeing living away from home and in a different culture) to be one of the most fascinating things. It helps to understand yourself better, not just about how close you are to your friends and family, but how you deal with things. How a reaction can be set off by something small and insignificant or stifled by the simplist joke from a friend over dinner. Now that I've been gone for a good amount of time I've gotten to the stage where coming home is on the horizon (considering I have very strong eyesight, which in fact, I don't) and my time here is numbered. I find myself thinking of all the things I want to do, all the places I want to go and of all the friendships that have an effective expiration date. What it really makes me feel is a strong sense of being. I am determined to live the next 5 months to the fullest and so far I'm doing a pretty good job of it. I'm putting myself out there, making new friends, forming stronger bonds with the ones that I already have and overall taking advantage of all the oportunities that I can get my greedy little hands on. Because let's face it: sure i'll do more traveling in my life, that's the kind of person I am, but this right here. I'll never have this again.

I didn't mean for this to take that slightly tangent turn but no matter. A blog is the creation of its author and this refelcts me perfectly: a twist, a turn, something new around the corner and a beautiful lesson about life on way.

Of the Continent

After a speedy visit with the girls, a whirlwind tour of Italy and a week of revising for my dreaded economics exam, I am happy to report that I'm taking some downtime, or at least as much as I can handle. I still have a load of projects on my plate like the start of classes next week, planning my parent's April visit and formulating ideas for my research project. But for right now i'm going to take the time to tell you about my last week of winter break, from Florence to Paris.

Florence-Firenze
I spent two nights in Florence at a hostel about 10 minutes from the main train station which was convenient. I met some cool people including a new Aussie friend, Nyssa, who's studying in Germany and knows Sean Stephens, who was in my class at Chico High, small world, huh? Anyway, Florence was an interesting place for me because despite it being one of those places that you want to go to I really didn't know a whole lot about what to do there. I saw the Duomo, the big red roofed dome church that dominates the skyline and city centre and went to the Ufizzi gallery but other than that I didn't actually do anything touristy. I think the two hours I spent in line to get into the Ufizzi and the subsequent two hours I spent inside ogling the world famous art took up about all my tourist seeking will after 5 days in Rome. I did have a nice wander around the city and over to the other side of the river where I met two Americans from Gonzaga who had just arrived there for their semester abroad. I had the most fun the last night I was there when Nyssa and I went out and had some real fresh Italian pizza and found a neat place that during the day is a internet cafe/book shop and has a bar at night with live music. We hung out there for awhile and listened to the swaying sounds of the young Italian band before calling it a night and I prepared for my next destination...

Riomaggiore-Cinque Terre
I took an early train from Florence to Riomaggiore on the Cinque Terre (five earths) region of the coast. By this time I was thoroughly in need of some country outdoorsness and by God did I find it. Breathtaking. From my very first glimpse of the Mediterranean, through a gap in the tunnel which the coastal railway makes its way, I was in love. When the train stopped at the opening in the tunnel that was Riomaggiore station I had to pull my gaping face away from the window and as I stood on the platform I walked dumbfounded on the beauty I had fallen into. I hurriedly pulled myself together and pulled out my trusty internet directions to the accommodation I had booked on hostelworld. There are a lot of places in Cinque Terre that let out beds in apartments and rooms throughout the villages. I ended up being in a apartment style place with three other people, a mother, daughter, and the daughter's boyfriend all from Australia. There was a small kitchenette, two rooms with beds in them and a bathroom. The windows looked out on the street of colorful buildings with flowing white linens hanging from the shuttered windows. It was just after midday and I could barely put my things down before my feet carried me out into the fresh sea air. I bought two slices of pesto faccacia bread at a small shop and walked down the narrow stone stairway to the marina area. A small fleet of fishing boats lay upturned on the dock while others floated serenely in the small harbor. For fear that I may go on with a novel here trying to describe every beautiful scene that I beheld I'll try to speed up the description from here.

I decided I had time to do some walking on the paths since I arrived so early so I headed back towards the train station where the famous Via dell'Amore began the coastal path along to the other 4 villages. As I began ascending the steps I was reprimanded in Italian and notified that it costs money to walk on the paths! Well i'll tell you something, where I come from we walk freely on paths and that is the way it should be. Alas, because my italian vocabulary didn't allow me to argue this point I grudgingly forked over the 8 euros for a two day pass on the paths. What an expensive little souvenir. Once I started walking I thought maybe these views are worth it, in my opinion there were utterly priceless. I walked to Manarola the closest of the villages and walked around up to a small cemetery that I thought wouldn't be a bad place to rest for eternity overlooking the rich vegetation and coves bordered by a calm sea. I walked back to Riomaggiore and took a seat down path to the marina to watch the sunset. You don't often stop and fully watch the sun descend below the earth. I sat for nearly half an hour watching the slow progress until the golden ball melted into the horizon and a brisk chill took over it's warmth where I sat. It was very calming and I walked back to my lodings with a light heart. I occupied my time until I thought it late enough to eat dinner and I went to one of the local restaurants where I had a nice pasta plate and sampled the local wine that was a very unique color, a very dark white, almost the color of light whiskey. What was most memorable about the dinner was the rock vaulted ceiling that, whenever the door was closed even slightly with force, a sprinkling of rock dust fell on to the table, into my food, and on me. I didn't know how to say "You're roof is falling," in Italian so I left without saying a word, I can't be the only one to notice this and even so, how do you fix that problem, cover the atmospheric ceiling? Oh well, at least the wine was good.

The next day I spent the entire day walking. First from Riomaggiore to Manarola where I took the train to Corniglia and walked to Vernazza and then took the train again to the last of the "five earths" to Monterosso al Mare. I didn't spend the day alone though, I met a group of five Australians (I tell you, they're everywhere this time of year!) Two couples around my parents age and one of the women's mother. They were extremely nice and took me in as the sixth addition to their party. We had an interesting trek as we lost the main path along the coast about half way to Vernazza and then walked along the switchback road for about 8 kilometres before finding ourselves in the actual town. We had a nice lunch near the water and then went to Monterosso on the train to have a bit of coffee and dessert. Helen, who I had first met that morning gave me her card with her information on it so that I can keep in touch with them. My next adventure might find me in Australia now that I have so many contacts! I spent the evening with the mother and daughter that I was staying with (the boyfriend had left) We had dinner together in the apartment and then walked to the information centre, the only place with internet. I was loathe to leave this Mediterranean oasis but I had a ticket on the 8:50 train to Torino in the snowy alps and I couldn't help feeling a childish excitement about going to the snow.

Torino
On the train north you need only to blink in between the time the scenery changes from coast to snow. There was a light dust falling when I arrived and found my B&B a 2 minutes walk from the station. It was really nice and it's a shame I couldn't have stayed longer. Since I only had the one, partial, day there I had to get going if I wanted to see anything. Luckily the owner of the place gave me a very detailed map/guide with all the museums and sights that I gratefully tucked away into my bag. I walked to the city center as the snow continued to fall and I found that it was difficult to keep from sticking my tongue out in an attempt to catch the snow. I walked through the city centre and under the arcaded sidewalks. In the little time I spent in Torino I found it to me my favorite city. It didn't even really feel like Italy. I think the entire Alps region takes on its own feel no matter which country you're in. It's a gorgeous, manageable city that is clean and well cared for. I'd like to go back when I have more time and maybe some ski stuff as well. I went to the National Cinema Museum that was absolutely awesome. It made me want to drop everything i'm doing and make films. Damn practicality. It was a great way to get in out of the snow that was becoming less of a novelty. On the way back I passed a small theatre and decided to see the film they were showing. It ended up being a French film dubbed in Italian so not only did I not understand what was going on, the mouths and voices didn't match up. I think it would have been bad even if it was in English and after sitting for 2 hours and 20 minutes I had to get up and leave. Mostly because it was getting late and I still had to walk all the way back across town. When I came out the snow was even heavier and my childish enthusiasm returned as I practically skipped down the nearly deserted streets, looking at the perfect snowflakes that fell into my black gloved hands. I love the snow.

Paris
I can't even describe the train from Torino to Paris. It took a full three hours longer than it was supposed to for a reason that I can't even tell you because I don't understand Italian. We stopped for 2.5 hours at one station where they checked everyone's passports, took a couple people off the train and then we went on to stop again after only being in motion for another 2o minutes. Not only that but one of my headphones wasn't working and the train seemed to be composed solely of couples who were being all couply...for 9 hours. I got to Paris, a city I finally felt comfortable with because I can at least understand and speak a bit of French and I have a great directional memory so the city was familiar. I met Ellen, Sophie, Ellen's mom and sister at a pub and spent the evening with them. Sophie helped me find my hostel and we had dessert and a bottle of wine at a cafe while we caught up.

The next day Sophie and I met at the new hostel we were both staying at (I had to stay at a different hostel the first night because I came a day earlier than i had planned) and made our plans for the day. We walked around the Latin Quarter, Pantheon, Jardin du Luxumbourg and ended up going to one of the best museums I've been to. The European House of Photography near the Marais district. They featured Sabine Weiss, a woman photographer from the mid 20th century and these partners who do photographs based on the Victorian era, even giving them a supposed date, but were really done in the 80's-90's. It was very Sophie and Me so it was a good way to spend the afternoon. We met the Knights for a late dinner around 9 near Ellen's place and then had a pint at Ellen's local (which by the way charged 7 euro for a pint of Guinness, that's like charging money for water!) It was supposed to be Sophie and my's night out but we ended up hanging out at the hostel bar until it closed and then moving on to the internet lounge where we met...you guessed it more Australians! Just in passing, but still, I said they're everywhere.

The last day I was there we met Christine and Hannah at the Musee D'Orsay and spent a good couple hours there. I've been before but it was good going again. They had two good exhibitions going on that I really enjoyed and I could look at a million impressionist paintings without getting tired of them. Had Chinese for lunch, go figure, and then walked around in the cold. Did I mention that there was still snow on the ground from three days before. That's how cold it was and stayed. It was ridiculous, I got so cold that I had to bee line it to a cafe where i warmed my shivering hands on some hot wine. Sophie had to leave in the early evening to go meet her couchsurfing accommodator and I had dinner in the hostel cafe where I met a girl studying nursing in Boston. I thought I was going to spend a quiet night in the hostel and get to bed early because Sophie was staying far out in the burbs and Ellen was working. I ended up calling Christine and Hannah though and went to meet them at Ellen's place. We watched The Women which wasn't that good and I even got to sneak down to see Ellen at work (babysitting) and the apartment of her rich employers. Ended up getting back after one in the morning and not getting a lot of sleep but what can you do?

In the morning I headed out early for the long long trek to Beauvais airport that isn't actually in Paris at all but in a small town called...Beauvais. I took the metro for 50 minutes that brought me to a large mall thing that was deserted. I wondered around aimlessly trying to find the bus stop, asking numerous people in my rudimentary french until finally I found the coach parking lot. Then paid for my ticket and took the hour and a half bus ride to the airport for a flight that only took half as long. Because I had bought my train ticket home at the cheapest price I had an assigned train and had to spend 2.5 hours in Derby where I had a very good salad and finished my book, Neither Here Nor There by Bill Bryson, an entertaining read that was also a very good descriptor of my current situation. Finally I made it to York where I found the bus prices had been raised over the new year by 10p and came home to my very own room. What a trip.

I realize this turned into a short novel and I apologize for the length. If you made it thus far then I congratulate you and thank you for taking the time to do so. I hope you're all well and I will try very hard to make subsequent entries a shorter and more manageable length. I've also added a comparable volume of photos to my flickr site for you to browse through it you feel the urge.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/kcgoslin/

A Lively Night in Paris

Well I have 10 minutes left on my internet time and thought I'd write something for you lovely folks. It's my last night in Paris and I just bid adieu to Sophie who is heading across town to her couch surfing home for the night. Luckily the hostel i'm at is English and therefore very cool and had a nice little lounge in bar for me to occupy my time. I've enjoyed my trip immensley but I can't tell you how excited I am for tomorrow night when i'll be cozied up (God willing) in my own little bed in my own little room in lovely little York. Paris has been ridiculously cold, there's still snow on the ground from Monday/Tuesday, the most the city's seen in over 6 years. I'm lucky to see a white Paris because it's not a common thing but really, must it be sub-zero tempratures? I think not. I will never again complain about the cold chico winters and if I do just tell me to be thankful I live in the California valley!

6 minutes...I don't really have a whole lot to say. I'm going to write a nice long entry when I get home telling you as much as I can remember from my adventures but right now i have neither the time nor the energy. I will say this though. I had forgotten how much I love Paris. I've spent the last couple days frequenting old haunts that Ellen, Robin and I had 2 1/2 years ago when we spent a lovely August week here. I walked through the market down the street from our hotel just a stone's throw from Notre-Dame, checked in at Shakespeare & Co, the most famous English bookshop in Paris and walked through the Latin Quarter. What memories!

I only have a minute and i need to post this. So look out for my updates in the next couple days when i'll hopefulyl have more time. Ciao mes amies!

When in Roma...

Finally I have a chance to give you a little update but im afraid I just dont have the time to do my adventure justice but I cant help telling you just a bit. For starters Ive made it to Florence and am now starting the independent part of my travels, so far so good. Had an excellent time in Rome despite a general lack of sleep and gigantic blisters plagueing my poor feet. Theres so much to tell I dont even know where to start but I suppose ill just go from the beginning and pick out the important parts.

We started our adventure in York where we took a train to Liverpool and a bus to John Lennon Airport where we arrived at 12:30am. Already tired I was able to take a picture with the lifesize statue of John Lennon before curling up on the floor of a closed airport pub, so glamorous. Didnt really sleep but was shooed away around 3:30 when the pub was opening just in time to check in to our Ryan Air flight. Arrived in Rome about 12 hours after heading off from York a little worse for the ware. A bus, metro, bus and walk found our way to the all female and evidently feminist hostel around 12:30 and then, being in Rome, began the site seeing extravaganza. Now lets hit the highlights...

First off: Rome has got to be the most touristy of tourist cities in the world. I have been to London, Paris, Madrid, Bacelona, Prague, Shanghai etc and never have I felt so overwhelmed by the flashing cameras, foreign tongues and jostling street sellers. I suppose its because there is so damn much to see there but Lord, it was the first time I didnt feel ashamed to walk around with my guidebook held determindly in front of me because literally everyone else was doing the exact same thing. I even saw a gladiator looking puzzeledly at a Rick Steves guide! OK that might be a lie but you get the picture. Despite the hourdes of tourists I did enjoy being one of them and got to see the main sites: Palatine Hill, the remains of the Circus Maximus (think Ben Hur) the Colloseum, Roman Forum, Vatican City, the Pantheon, Trevi Fountain, the Ecstacy of St Teresa and the Spanish Steps among other things. I also had my fill of pizza, pasta, vino and gelato. Unfortunately i cant rave about the food to you, at least not yet. Its all pretty good but honestly I dont think its any better then something I could get in Chico or York. Maybe I just havent found the perfect authentic example, but ill be sure to let you know when i have. My favorite thing about Rome and Italy in general is the winding streets and the beautiful colors of the buildings. Especially those great little streets that take you through to a small piazza with a fountain gently flowing, bella.

New Years was defintely an experience that ill just briefly mention. We went to the Piazza di Popolo, the largest square in Rome where about half of the citys population converged on. Fireworks are legal in the streets and waranteed nearly 500 heart attacks. At midnight everyone cheered and the sky was lit with dozens of fireworks at a time for nearly half an hour. I couldnt open my Champagne and had to get help. Finally made our way down to the main Piazza to get a better view and ended up meeting a family from Venezuela. They were amazingly nice and we celebrated with them in the piazza for over an hour. You will defintely see pictures when I get home.

Hope you all enjoyed the holidays festivities and are keeping up with resolutions and what not. I will wish you a happy 2009 and be off leaving you with a saying from my new Venezuelan friends: "Nueva Ano, Nueva Vida!" New Year New Life. Ciao Amici!