5 posts tagged “travel”
It has been some time since I blogged. I've been quite distant, cutting myself off from people. Not really communicating, not wanting to. At least that's how I've been feeling these last couple days.
Got back from an awesome road trip that started on Wednesday last week. Rishina and I rented a car.
This was an unplanned road trip. We knew our main destination and that was it. Had a great big map of the United Kingdom. The journey took us through the Lake District where we stayed overnight in a village called Ambleside (a lovely quaint place).
I would most definitely return to the UK just to visit that area of the country again. Beautiful surroundings, lakes, mountains, villages, forests. Headed to Edinburgh where we stayed for the next two nights. Edinburgh is a beautiful city, everything I ever imagined a European city to be... at least the Old Town side of it. We stayed in a fantastic guest house there called The Lantern Guesthouse where we had a triple room (large spacious room with high ceilings and en suite) for £50/night. On our first night in the city, we tried on a number of hats and ended up at a German festival, had our first taste of Glühwein which is similar to mulled wine and walked around the city a bit till our hands and feet could not take the cold any longer.
Second day in the city we got a parking fine of £30 for being 10 minutes late. Spent some time finding parking elsewhere, then went on a walking tour of the Old Town. In the late afternoon we drove to Glasgow which is just a crazy city to drive in. After meeting Tiia at Glasgow central station and walking around a bit, we spent an hour trying to get out of the city due to really bad signage and all the one way roads. In fact driving in any city is a bit stressful compared to driving on open roads between cities. The temperature displayed -2 degrees celcius at one point during the drive back. Once back in Edinburgh we went out on the town (not before indulging in some Scottish whisky). I don't remember much of that night... the bits I do remember were a lot of fun and the stories I heard the next day sounded like I was having a fabulous time. The walking tour was great. You get a good background history and extra little stories which make you see the city in a different light. Edinburgh had a really good energy to it. It felt great being there.
The rest of the trip consisted of a lot of driving which I completely enjoyed, especially when driving through the Scottish Borders and the North York Moors.
Most of the greatness of the journey are just the memories and sights seen which I will not be able to convey in this blog post.
11 days till I head back to SA.
Where to start... hmmm?
I'll just get this out of the way. It was very cold
in Berlin, about 5 degrees celsius during the day. Also there are some things
that can make you almost wish you didn't go at all, things like getting back at
23:15 and having to wait till 00:07 for a train in the cold on the platform.
Okay, now that that's out of the way, I had a great time. It was very short and one definitely needs more time in that city. There is sooo much to do and see. I barely even scratched the surface. I mean really, one needs a whole lot more time than 48 to take in a city. There is so much history to take in.
I arrived at Berlin
Schoenefeld 21:35 Berlin time, walked out of the plane and was temporarily in
shock because of the cold. Had to show passport control my credit card and proof
of my outward flight (as my Schengen visa expired today). Collected my luggage
and made the fairly long walk to the S-bahn. Figured out how to buy a train ticket, got on the
train for the S9 line and thought, wow, I'm in Berlin.Who would have thought? It was never a city I planned to visit.
At first there
were not many people on board, but as we went in more central, it got much
busier on the train. The impression I have of the younger people who boarded (who I
assume were teenagers) are quite hard-core, aggressive (in their groups)
carrying their beers and large coca-cola bottles (with alcohol for sure). Not much
different to the hoodies/chavs/yobs in England.
Got off the train at Hackesche Markt, found the hostel easily which was City Stay Mitte. Quite a decent hostel compared to many other's I'm sure. Great location, very central, 5 min walk from the S-bahn and tram station and all the shops/restaurants/cafes. Staying there though made me realise that I am over my hostel days and should stay in a hotel in future if I can afford to. The ear plugs I bought at Luton airport came in very useful especially when sharing a room with 3 others who are in and out of the room at all times of the night.
On Saturday morning I bought a day travel pass and made my way to the Starbucks on Unter den Linden across from the famous Adlon Hotel which has been host to many famous people such as Greta Garbo, Marlene Dietrich, Einstein, Nelson Mandela and recently Michael Jackson who dangled his baby from the balcony of his room in 2002. Only £8000 per night.
Joined the mass of people gathering waiting for the New Berlin free Walking Tour (which has guides doing the tour in English, Spanish, Deutsch and French).
Our guide Jared was very informative and entertaining with his very unique style of telling a story (quite an orator), an American with a lot of Americanisms which the Europeans/Asians/Australians found amusing. Some of the places that stood out for me during the tour was the The Brandenburg Gate,
A girl (Cynthia) joined the tour soon after it started. She was on an old bicycle. Figured she was a local so I asked her why she's on the tour. She said she was passing by and heard the American guide's voice and it sounded interesting so she tagged along. I ended up wandering around with her for the rest of the afternoon after the tour. Turns out that Saturday was her last day in Berlin as she was moving to another city. She's really cool and I was lucky that I chatted to her. We briefly checked out the Sony Centre at Potsdamer Platz, "Seven steel and glass structures and a light-flooded plaza spanned by a spectacular roof". It is amazing and an extreme contrast to the buildings and architecture seen earlier in the day.
Later that night I went back to the hostel to ask the staff if they knew a place that I could watch the rugby final. Luckily a newcomer to the 4-sleeper room, Amy (an Australian living in Dublin) was also intending on watching the game somewhere. We invited David to come with us (an Australian living in Australia travelling through Europe for 3 weeks) who was asleep but we hadn't noticed till he poked his head out from underneath his duvet. We checked out several places around Hackesche Markt before we found a German restaurant with a big screen willing to change the channel from poker to the rugby world cup final. The service & food wasn't great but we were glad that we had comfortable seats and a good view of the game, compared to if we squashed in to the Irish pub around the corner from there. Amy and I were the only people cheering when the South African team scored and then finally won the game! I missed home a lot at that moment but was glad for the good company. I didn't find the game all that exciting compared to a few others that I've watched before. Both teams seemed really nervous and were making mistakes. We won and that is what matters. Woohoo!!!
Sunday I woke up a half hour before check out time. I wanted to do the
Concentration camp tour but was late for it. Instead I decided to wander around
Alexanderplatz, Oranienburgerstraße and Rosenthaler Platz. I took random buses,
trains, trams. Went on a mission to find the "world's best waffle" at the 'Kauf
dich glücklich' (on recommendation from Cynthia) in Oderberger Strasse which I
found to be a very cosy coffee shop/ice cream parlour, the furniture is all
mismatched, every chair/seat/couch was unique. I'm glad I went there because
that waffle (with chocolate ice-cream) was the best food I ate in Berlin.
I got on the S9 train back to Schoenefeld airport at about 19:15. Arrived there before 20:00. Checked in, went through security, sat in the busy departures lounge till about 21:00, then for another hour at the boarding gate. The feeling at the airport was very former GDR in terms of the buildings/ deco/ airport staff. At one point when I went through the security check I felt like I was in an old film. Plane left Berlin at about 22:15. Touched down at Luton airport at 23:05 London time. Got home at about 01:15. It was cold in London last night waiting on that station platform. Geez!!!
Travelling alone is very liberating. It's great being away from everyone you know, being in a foreign city, being anonymous but it does get lonely 'on the road' and its nice to share a meal now and then and have a laugh and chat with someone familiar. I hope to be travelling with someone when I do a longer trip.
Photos will be posted later this week on flickr.
Just when i was letting all the negativity get to me, I stumble upon this incredible blog dedicated to promoting the goodness of South Africa the country that I love.
It's funny, the about page is similar to several conversations I've had with a few people that we need to focus on the positive aspects and promote the positive aspects of our country, because by focusing on the negative, we are perpetuating almost creating this cycle of negative actions through our collective thoughts/consciousness
Check out the SA Rocks blog!
on friday the 31st august, i woke up early so that i could finish packing and get to work by 8am. left work at 4pm and headed to liverpool street station where i met rishina who had my stansted express tickets. had a quick nap on the train on the way to the airport. the train is quite convenient because it terminates just under the airport, no need to lug bags very far. it was crazy busy there, lots of queues. first queue at the check-in desk. had to check in my little backpack even though it was quite small due to the one bag for handluggage rule. (my camera and lenses in one bag and clothes in another). second queue at security point one where you have to remove your jacket, any liquids/gels, belt, keys,phone, anything metal through the x-ray machine. third queue, remove your shoes so that it can be scanned. Eventually got through security into the terminal and wandered around, had a beer and waited till the boarding gate opened. It is quite a walk from the terminal to the boarding gate at Stansted airport.
Chatted to some friendly Irish people that are regular commuters between Cork and London. Flight left on time, got to see an incredible sunset above a sea of candy floss clouds. Had a short wait at Cork International before I was greeted by Nirven (our host), Yash and Donna (who had arrived a couple hours before me). We were completely spoiled by Nirven over the next few days. My brain even had a holiday. I refrained from thinking much about the things that have been concerning me, my plans for the near future, the decisions that have to be made. It was a completely relaxing week. Thank you Nirven.
I could not bring myself to have Guiness but I managed to have a pint or two of Murphy's Irish Stout beer and share a bottle of Jameson Irish Whiskey. The Old Jameson Distillery in Middleton not too far from where we were.
In Kinsale we had awesome desserts and coffee at Jola's Restaurant which is in this beautiful stone loft style building with a café overlooking the downstairs main dining room. We booked a table and waited 40min before they opened for dinner purely because of the decor.
Also in Kinsale, I convinced the others to help me re-live childhood memories or the fun times on the "dodgem cars" in Durban, at a small fair. It lasted about 7 minutes but it was a lot of fun!
Some of the places we visited during our roadtrips were Limerick, Ennis, Ennistymon, Lahinch, Liscannor. Small interesting towns with a lot of character.
It was cloudy almost all the way there. About a half hour's drive before we reached the cliffs, the clouds parted and sun shone down brightly. It was stunning. Everything perfect, a slight breeze, beautiful setting sun, not too many tourists. We hiked off the beaten track past the official boundary sign
'Do not go beyond this point'
to get a better view. Really a must-visit place!
The grass in Ireland is green. It is a green that I have not seen anywhere else. I took a lot of photos of the grass...
The cows must love it.
and a bit of Mpumalanga as well. The climate is warm and humid.
Ireland is a beautiful country. The people are friendly and polite. It's very chilled out. On the roads, they give you way, there's no tail gating, or hooting madly and no matter what Nirven says, the rush-hour traffic is not bad at all. The houses have no fencing, high walls, burglar guards, barbed wire, or alarm systems. It's all so open, in view and blending in with the landscape and accessible. At least the bits that I've seen. On the national roads once you've crossed over into a different county, there will be a road sign with the number of deaths since 2004, it was less than 60. County Clare had 9 road deaths in 2003 and County Cork was about 30. I didn't sense any aggression from anyone (especially compared to when I came back to London and arrived at Liverpool Street Station). You only get what people are saying when they go on about the fact that they moved away from South Africa because of the crime when you are in a place where it does not weigh on you at all, when it is not necessary to be vigilant and cautious, where worrying about your safety does not have to be a way of life. When you don't have to wonder if your car is going to be there when you get back from the cinema or if someone is going to smash your window at a traffic light intersection or if your car is going to hi-jacked as you pull up to your front gate. Or like in my brother's case, the power trips and you go to the box to turn it on again when four guys attack you and hold a gun to your head.
Oh my gosh, i'm turning into one of those people... I love South Africa... I don't want to be thinking about all this negative stuff. Sometimes it can't be helped, especially when the grass is looking greener on the other side.
To be honest I don't want to blog about my weekend... because most of what i would want to put in is a feeling that i can't really describe.
About a month ago, maybe more, I decided to book a weekend in Paris and thought that the weekend before my birthday would be a great time to go. I was looking forward to going with Nirven, but that didn't work out.
Nonetheless I was excited about my trip.
Sher came to see me off at Waterloo station. Walked to the Eurostar entrance, went through customs which felt like when you're at the airport, stamped my passport with no hassle. Most of the people in my cabin were French. Actually there was a huge group of uni students making their way back to Paris. Arrived in Paris at 23:30 local time. I had forgotten about the one hour time difference. Had a little bit of an issue getting a ticket for the metro, eventually went across the road from the station, got some change for the ticket machine and got 2 metro lines to the hotel.
Now, the first thing I noticed was how wonderfully warm it was, the night air was just perfect. The second thing is that people were quite helpful and there are just a lot of people out at night, there is a buzz in the air. The energy of the city is just fantastic.
The hotel was fine, nothing amazing, but clean just what i like. it had a little balcony as well which was great. Slept with the doors open because it was just so warm.
I am not going to go into any detail about what I did there because really I had no plan whatsoever, no map or guide book, nothing. Just wandered. Had an idea of the touristy attractions that I needed to see and worked my way around that. Set off on Friday morning, a hot sunny bright day. I walked and walked and walked and sat and watched and took photos and absorbed. I started in the 1st arrondissement at the Louvre,
There were a few times when I would be staring at a map at the metro stations and some kind person would ask me in French if I was lost, what was I looking for on the map and if I needed directions (at least this is what I gathered), to which I would reply that I do not speak french but would really appreciate their help.
In the late afternoon I made my way to La Défense to meet Adin whom I was introduced to by Romain. When I arrived there I had some time before he got off work, so I walked around the Grande Arche and sat on the stairs where a whole lot of people were sitting. After awhile the left portion of the building arche was smoking, literally smoke seeping
from the crowd.
After Adin found me, we had a drink with another friend of his, went to his house for a bit, had dinner, then set off for a party in an apartment near La Madeleine. The people at the party were cool, it was someone's birthday. It was great to meet up with Adin and crash someone's house party in Paris on a Friday night. Quite a few attractive french girls at the party too (sadly attractive straight girls), though I could not be too sure about one...
Saturday was much like Friday, wandering around in the heat of the day. I did see the Eiffel Tower, had crepes with nutella along the river, walked for miles and miles (at least thats what it felt like to met). Had an afternoon nap as I was not feeling so great. Met with Adin at the Bastille in the evening. Went for dinner to his friend's apartment in a 'little india' area of Paris. And then to a night club much later. The night club to me was like any other night club, the venue was fine, the music was 'house' and the people were alright, the cover was 10 euro, the drinks were crazy expensive.
(Side note) Around the Eiffel Tower area there are many scam artists. They will approach you and ask if you speak English. The first time you will naturally say yes, and then they will give you their sob stories and somehow you will move on. A bit further on, another person will approach you the same way, asking if you speak English hopefully by this time you would have learned and you will nod stupidly in an attempt to indicate that you don't understand what they're asking.
On Sunday, I checked out of my hotel, left my bag there and decided to do some last minute wandering. Found some awesome street cafes with the most delicious looking food and atmosphere. Of course because I had limited time, I got lost down some side streets between the 5th and 6th arrondisements. Just completely lost my sense of direction. Eventually made my way out of the maze of little streets and cafes and found myself at a metro that I recognised. Got back to the hotel in time to collect my bag and was on time at Gare du Nord station to head back to the UK.
I reccommend Paris as a city you have to visit and spend time in at least twice in your life if not more.
Some random thoughts:
Rollerblading is very very popular in Paris. It is quite a flat city as
well which makes it perfect for getting around on your rollers. I did walk into a rollerblading store, and was in awe of what was on offer in terms of the rollers, the accessories, the equipment, clothing and other gear. Very cool!
Both Friday and Saturday night I took a cab back to the hotel, each time the trip cost just under 10 euro.
The metro is fairly simple to use if you can figure out which direction
you're going in. There are 14 major lines and when you're not really
looking for a metro station you will be able to find one every few
hundred metres.
When I was with Adin we went on the Line 14 which is the only fully automated line in the Métro system, with driverless trains. We sat right up in the front of the train (where usually there would be a conductor) and could see down through the tunnel.
What I have discovered is that I prefer the wandering around instead of having fixed plans. I prefer taking photos of people and street scenes instead of buildings and famous attractions. I prefer watching people instead of browsing through museums, galleries and churches. But thats me, it doesn't appeal everyone for sure. Of course when you visit a new city you need to see the famous landmarks and monuments and have a taste of the cultural side like exhibitions art theatre museums...
A few people that I spoke to which gives me the impression that most people in France are of the view that South Africa is still in its apartheid feel even though they know it was abolished over a decade ago, they also feel it is not a good safe time to visit South Africa and that discrimination and violence is still rife. And I don't mean crime, but violence and fighting. This is concerning.
