54 minutes ago
So gutted I missed out on the second hand 20€ mini oven I saw online a few days ago... I should have just bought it, doesn't matter that I don't have room for it in my tiny room.. My microwave doesn't work anyways...
I want SCONES!!!
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People on the East Coast of the States, please be safe and stay away from Irene !
I want SCONES!!!
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People on the East Coast of the States, please be safe and stay away from Irene !
Off to La Rochelle tomorrow morning on a 5 day trip to see my French family again. Unfortunately the weather has not been great these last few days, seems summer is coming to a close, oh no!
Still, will be a good time out of town to get my head back into focus for the new semester. I do hope so, I really feel the need to focus on life and study...
Still, will be a good time out of town to get my head back into focus for the new semester. I do hope so, I really feel the need to focus on life and study...
Talked to good friend A on the phone. It's been ages since I'd talked to her! Hey, sweetie!! She is one of the big people in my life. People who have influenced me in a big way, shaped who I am today. Some of the things she has said to me in the past, I will cherish for the rest of my life, remembering at certain times over and over again. She probably doesn't even remember saying them to me, but they have touched me deeply, and given me strength and confidence. There are people who know you so well, that they surprise you. Like Mum. Like A. Haha. Just talking to her about this and that, and she suddenly she throws in a sharp remark that catches me completely by surprise. How did she know? I didn't even realise it myself, but, yes, she is so right.
As we grow old we get so caught up with our own quick paced lives, sometimes it gets so stressful and tiring. From time to time we need to stop to rest, and even to look back down the roads we have come along, though not to dwell in the past for too long. It's always good to be back in touch with old friends, to continue on your long relationships. Doesn't matter if there has been long or short absences in between. I know I have been in their minds from time to time, as they have been in mine, never completely forgotten.
Was so good to talk to you again, love <3.
As we grow old we get so caught up with our own quick paced lives, sometimes it gets so stressful and tiring. From time to time we need to stop to rest, and even to look back down the roads we have come along, though not to dwell in the past for too long. It's always good to be back in touch with old friends, to continue on your long relationships. Doesn't matter if there has been long or short absences in between. I know I have been in their minds from time to time, as they have been in mine, never completely forgotten.
Was so good to talk to you again, love <3.
Don't know why I was so sleepy today. Fell asleep while reading. Oh, perhaps it may have been because I had woken up really early this morning, thinking I had to welcome a friend to France. Went for a morning walk instead, because I felt too heavy to jog, haha. Met up with a friend, went to work.. My French family from LR says it's okay to visit them next week, so I checked the train prices again. They went up. Argh.. The trains are so expensive.. :( My card wouldn't go through, anyway, again. Will try again tomorrow, hope the prices won't have gone up again by then..
Every time I open the fridge door, it smells really bad. Mum thought that it smelt like kimchi, but since I never had any at home - I almost never ever do - that couldn't be it. It was cheese I bought a week before my parents arrived that is the culprit. Even long after it's been finished, the odour refuses to go... I'd also like to melt the ice that's formed inside the freezer partition, but I am afraid to leave the contents out in the hot weather for however long it will take it to melt away completely...
Kensington Gardens (Peter Pan) * Hyde Park * Saatchi Gallery * Portobello Market * Covent Garden * Musicals (Les Miserables, Lion King, Chicago, Billy Elliot) * Afternoon teas with scones * books * Tate Modern * Picadilly Circus * Baker Street (Sherlock Holmes) * the Globe...
1. France:
- Paris
- La Rochelle
- Angoulins
- Le Havre
- Hornfleur
- Nice
- Cannes
- Lyons
- Grenoble
- Reims
- Chartres
- Rennes
- St Malo
- Versailles
- Giverny
- Dijon
- Toulouse
- Bordeaux
3. the Netherlands:
- Amsterdam
4. Germany:
- Hamburg
- Berlin
- Frankfurt
5. Spain:
- Madrid
- Zaragoza
- Barcelona
6. Italy:
- Rome
- Florence
- Pompeii
- Salerno
7. Vatican City
8. Great Britain:
- London
9. Czech Republic:
- Prague
10. Belgium:
- Brussels
Feeling thirsty and my hand automatically reaches for a bottle of beer. Bad habit learnt from being with Dad these past two weeks ! Beer for practically every meal, you see, the best thirst quencher but not the healthiest option. Only until I finish the last of the bottles in my fridge...
After having spent two weeks with my parents, never far from my sides, as the three of us travelled around Western Europe together, seeing sights, eating local foods, sleeping in the same rooms, it feels very very quiet now that I am left by myself again.
During the two weeks - exactly two weeks - my parents and I got to see a bit of Rome, Pompeii and the Southern Coast of Italy, Florence, Berlin, Dijon, London, and a tout petit de Paris. Not enough time, seriously. Especially in Paris, where there are so many places I had wanted to show them, like all my favourite places to walk, and eye shop, buy bread, macarons, cafes, etc, etc...
It was a new experience for all of us, since this had been their first time in Western Europe, and our first time travelling as a family (minus Little Sis, who couldn't join us, and for which we felt a bit guilty..) in ten years! Also as I had not been living with them for 5 years now, and NEVER is such close proximities, squeezed in my tiny 10 metres squared room in Paris, for example, it was certainly a time for some serious family bonding.
It was lovely. Nice. Hot. Sometimes almost annoying. Haha.
My favourite city was Rome, mainly because it was the first city and we stayed there the longest, thus saw the most. I really liked the Vatican city within it, I fell in awe of Michelangelo and his Piety work. Also Raphael and his beautiful colours. Pompeii was amazing, I had wanted to go since I was eight, and I was sad not to be able to explore it for longer. I would love to go back to London the next chance I got, because I feel that there were a lot that I missed.
After I saw them off at the Orly airport, I came back to my place, feeling tired, but unable to sleep. Talked to A on the phone for a while. Must ring up D this weekend.
There are two weeks left to the Summer, until the new semester starts. Originally I had been meaning to go on a pilgrimage to Compostela de Santiago in Spain, but after much regret, decided it wasn't the right time to go. Would love to go somewhere else though, even if for a day. Perhaps north of Paris, or back to La Rochelle for a while?
During the two weeks - exactly two weeks - my parents and I got to see a bit of Rome, Pompeii and the Southern Coast of Italy, Florence, Berlin, Dijon, London, and a tout petit de Paris. Not enough time, seriously. Especially in Paris, where there are so many places I had wanted to show them, like all my favourite places to walk, and eye shop, buy bread, macarons, cafes, etc, etc...
It was a new experience for all of us, since this had been their first time in Western Europe, and our first time travelling as a family (minus Little Sis, who couldn't join us, and for which we felt a bit guilty..) in ten years! Also as I had not been living with them for 5 years now, and NEVER is such close proximities, squeezed in my tiny 10 metres squared room in Paris, for example, it was certainly a time for some serious family bonding.
It was lovely. Nice. Hot. Sometimes almost annoying. Haha.
My favourite city was Rome, mainly because it was the first city and we stayed there the longest, thus saw the most. I really liked the Vatican city within it, I fell in awe of Michelangelo and his Piety work. Also Raphael and his beautiful colours. Pompeii was amazing, I had wanted to go since I was eight, and I was sad not to be able to explore it for longer. I would love to go back to London the next chance I got, because I feel that there were a lot that I missed.
After I saw them off at the Orly airport, I came back to my place, feeling tired, but unable to sleep. Talked to A on the phone for a while. Must ring up D this weekend.
There are two weeks left to the Summer, until the new semester starts. Originally I had been meaning to go on a pilgrimage to Compostela de Santiago in Spain, but after much regret, decided it wasn't the right time to go. Would love to go somewhere else though, even if for a day. Perhaps north of Paris, or back to La Rochelle for a while?
My parents are finally here in Europe to spend two lovely weeks with me. They arrived this morning after long hours of flight - 25+ hours - tired but happy to see me, and I them.
Papa is tired from the day's sight seeing, which included the Grande Arche, the Arc de Triomphe, Champs-Elysees, pont d'Alexandre III, the Louvre... and is fast asleep in my bed, already, haha.
Papa is tired from the day's sight seeing, which included the Grande Arche, the Arc de Triomphe, Champs-Elysees, pont d'Alexandre III, the Louvre... and is fast asleep in my bed, already, haha.
Bonjour, Madame la voisine,
excusez-moi, mais je ne suis pas une petite chinoise, moi.
Je suis une petite coréenne-néo-zélandaise...
excusez-moi, mais je ne suis pas une petite chinoise, moi.
Je suis une petite coréenne-néo-zélandaise...
24 August. Paris to Madrid - EasyJet, 59€. 17h30 - 19h45.
25 August. Madrid to Sarria - ALSA, 38,83€. 00h30 - 09h00.
59 + 39 + booking fee + 2 meals + 2 meals + 1 night's accommodation = ~170€
26 August. Sarria to Portomarin. 3 meals + accommodation = 30€
27 August. Portomarin to Palais de rei. 3 meals + accommodation = 30€
28 August. Palais de rei to Arzua. 3 meals + accommodation = 30€
29 August. Arzua to Arca. 3 meals + accommodation = 30€
30 August. Arca to Santiago de Compostela. 3 meals = 20€
= ~150€
30 August. Santiago to Madrid - ALSA, 43,70€. 21h30 - 06h30.
31 August. Madrid to Paris - EasyJet, 103€. 20h45 - 22h55.
44 + 103 + 3 meals = ~170€
170 +150 + 170 = ~500€
Roughly, roughly...
Um... I'll leave it for now. Maybe in late October...
25 August. Madrid to Sarria - ALSA, 38,83€. 00h30 - 09h00.
59 + 39 + booking fee + 2 meals + 2 meals + 1 night's accommodation = ~170€
26 August. Sarria to Portomarin. 3 meals + accommodation = 30€
27 August. Portomarin to Palais de rei. 3 meals + accommodation = 30€
28 August. Palais de rei to Arzua. 3 meals + accommodation = 30€
29 August. Arzua to Arca. 3 meals + accommodation = 30€
30 August. Arca to Santiago de Compostela. 3 meals = 20€
= ~150€
30 August. Santiago to Madrid - ALSA, 43,70€. 21h30 - 06h30.
31 August. Madrid to Paris - EasyJet, 103€. 20h45 - 22h55.
44 + 103 + 3 meals = ~170€
170 +150 + 170 = ~500€
Roughly, roughly...
Um... I'll leave it for now. Maybe in late October...
I really am not too good with heat...
Someone's cooking mushrooms and it smells so good !
Must be dinnertime!
Must be dinnertime!
On Aug 22 - 26 there is a campaign to live below the poverty line, which in NZ is NZ$2.25 a day, or NZ$11.25 for the week.
That, in Euros, would be around a little more than 1€ a day.
Challenging, but I think I would like to try !
So, here is my shopping list for the week:
That, in Euros, would be around a little more than 1€ a day.
Challenging, but I think I would like to try !
So, here is my shopping list for the week:
- milk - 1,4€
- 1 baguette - 1€
- salad - 1,85€
- tomatoes - 2,2€/kg ~1,24€ for 4
- 1 can of tuna - 1,49€
- tap water - free
Oh my goodness, that's not a lot at all ! I hope I will be able to last... Lucky the classes won't have started then, still, haha...
The 8-day long trip to three different cities in Spain was my longest travel experience in Europe, so far, especially by myself. Madrid, Barcelona, and Zaragoza. I only got to stay two and a half days in each city, which really wasn't much. The weather was hot, but fortunately not too hot. Apparently it was way cooler than was normal, which was lucky for me. It still averaged 35 degrees the whole week, which at first was unbearable for me, having never experienced that kind of heat much before, but I got used to it after a while. You learn to adapt quickly when you're travelling :)
Madrid was awesome for its free tour during which I learnt a lot about the history of Spain and its central capital city. Since it was the first city on my itinerary, I think I was more eager in seeing everything as well. I made some new Spanish and Latin American friends here, sipping cool tintos and trying out new tapas.
Barcelona has amazing architecture. Oh my goodness, they are awe striking. Casa Batllo, Parc Guell, with its curvy walls all around, amazing colours.. I didn't get to compare the FC Real Madrid's Santiago Bernabéu stadium with FC Barcelona's Camp Nou stadium (Camp Nou was more expensive than Santiago B, and too expensive for me to visit both), but I did go see an orchestra concert in the Palau de Musica Catalunya. I loved the old Barcelona with its maze little streets, so easy to wander around aimlessly, until you actually want to get out, but can't find the way out. Everyone has warned me about pick pockets in Spain, and in Barcelona in particular. Luckily I didn't get anything stolen from me, but I did see an attempted act by the Nord bus station around midnight. The lone guy must have been inexperienced, though, because he got scared when the lady started yelling at him to leave her stuff alone, and he almost tripped over several times in his haste to get away before the other guys in the area started chasing him down the road.
Zaragoza was much smaller in comparison than the other two biggest Spanish cities, but it provided a nice change for me to see a different side of the Spanish life culture. It was still quite touristy in the central area, where there are so many churches, practically next to each other. I could also spot some pilgrims, with their big backpacks and walking boots.
Spain is so lovely; I think it may be one of my favourite European countries ! It helped that I could kind of understand their language. I certainly improved a lot in my conversational Spanish skills, though still very very basic. I mean, I could have a whole meal with a Spanish person by myself, which meant a lot to me. I've certainly met a lot of interesting people during my week; a truck driver who wanted to buy me clothes, a surfing paediatric male nurse,.. I was definitely glad to come back to Paris, but I had lots of fun in Spain, and wouldn't mind going back soon. Hasta luego :)
Parque del buen retiro, Madrid. |
Madrid was awesome for its free tour during which I learnt a lot about the history of Spain and its central capital city. Since it was the first city on my itinerary, I think I was more eager in seeing everything as well. I made some new Spanish and Latin American friends here, sipping cool tintos and trying out new tapas.
Casa Batllo, Barcelona. |
Barcelona has amazing architecture. Oh my goodness, they are awe striking. Casa Batllo, Parc Guell, with its curvy walls all around, amazing colours.. I didn't get to compare the FC Real Madrid's Santiago Bernabéu stadium with FC Barcelona's Camp Nou stadium (Camp Nou was more expensive than Santiago B, and too expensive for me to visit both), but I did go see an orchestra concert in the Palau de Musica Catalunya. I loved the old Barcelona with its maze little streets, so easy to wander around aimlessly, until you actually want to get out, but can't find the way out. Everyone has warned me about pick pockets in Spain, and in Barcelona in particular. Luckily I didn't get anything stolen from me, but I did see an attempted act by the Nord bus station around midnight. The lone guy must have been inexperienced, though, because he got scared when the lady started yelling at him to leave her stuff alone, and he almost tripped over several times in his haste to get away before the other guys in the area started chasing him down the road.
Pilar Cathedral, Zaragoza. |
Zaragoza was much smaller in comparison than the other two biggest Spanish cities, but it provided a nice change for me to see a different side of the Spanish life culture. It was still quite touristy in the central area, where there are so many churches, practically next to each other. I could also spot some pilgrims, with their big backpacks and walking boots.
Spain is so lovely; I think it may be one of my favourite European countries ! It helped that I could kind of understand their language. I certainly improved a lot in my conversational Spanish skills, though still very very basic. I mean, I could have a whole meal with a Spanish person by myself, which meant a lot to me. I've certainly met a lot of interesting people during my week; a truck driver who wanted to buy me clothes, a surfing paediatric male nurse,.. I was definitely glad to come back to Paris, but I had lots of fun in Spain, and wouldn't mind going back soon. Hasta luego :)
A small bar.
A girl eating alone, drinking, in a corner, watching people. Writing in her little notebook.
She used to be with a guy. He was nice, while they were physically together.
But there were gaps in their relationship, which could not be filled, pray as she might.
She was scared, but she decided to let him go, and move on. It was hard.
She didn't want to be left all alone...
But it was the right thing to do, she told herself everyday afterwards.
Now even that regret is left behind, but she does feel lonelier, still.
In a small bar...
She waits for someone.
Will he be the one for her, this time?
Only time will tell...
Cheers to a new start.
But for now, she is still sitting alone.
A girl eating alone, drinking, in a corner, watching people. Writing in her little notebook.
She used to be with a guy. He was nice, while they were physically together.
But there were gaps in their relationship, which could not be filled, pray as she might.
She was scared, but she decided to let him go, and move on. It was hard.
She didn't want to be left all alone...
But it was the right thing to do, she told herself everyday afterwards.
Now even that regret is left behind, but she does feel lonelier, still.
In a small bar...
She waits for someone.
Will he be the one for her, this time?
Only time will tell...
Cheers to a new start.
But for now, she is still sitting alone.
- Reims - Chagall
- Prague - Mucher
- Rouen - cut off heads
- Le Havre - modern
- Lyon - extravagant
- Zaragoza - the first Marian church
Perhaps the only time you realise you have enough clothes is when it's laundry time. You have the whites and the coloureds, which is already going to have to be two washing cycles, then you have the towels and the bed sheets that take up more room...
I have just got my laptop revived again, in the one last desperate attempt to be connected to the world again.
You! Junk! Thump ! Thump! Why ! Did ! You! Have! To ! Crash!
Then miraculously the machine decided to be kind and start up again. Tears of joy.
Before when I had no means of accessing the Internet I had too much time on my hands, even if I filled the daytime with friends and trips and food. Now that I have the connection back, there's TOO much to do, especially since I'm trying to catch up on things I've fallen behind..
But, oh, how I'm glad to have you back :)
Photos and updates of my travels in Spain coming soon, hopefully before I leave for Italy this weekend !
I have just got my laptop revived again, in the one last desperate attempt to be connected to the world again.
You! Junk! Thump ! Thump! Why ! Did ! You! Have! To ! Crash!
Then miraculously the machine decided to be kind and start up again. Tears of joy.
Before when I had no means of accessing the Internet I had too much time on my hands, even if I filled the daytime with friends and trips and food. Now that I have the connection back, there's TOO much to do, especially since I'm trying to catch up on things I've fallen behind..
But, oh, how I'm glad to have you back :)
Photos and updates of my travels in Spain coming soon, hopefully before I leave for Italy this weekend !