You get a sense of the size of the monument. You can see Lill looking at Book of Honour.
Huge multiple layers of glass.
List of all those who lost their lives in the line of duty and the circumstances of their death.
- Derek
Location:London, England
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Police Memorial in London, England
For all my friends in the RCMP band. This is the Police Memorial in St. James Park, just down from Buckingham Palace. Beautiful, respectful commemoration to those who serve.
You get a sense of the size of the monument. You can see Lill looking at Book of Honour.
Huge multiple layers of glass.
List of all those who lost their lives in the line of duty and the circumstances of their death.
- Derek
You get a sense of the size of the monument. You can see Lill looking at Book of Honour.
Huge multiple layers of glass.
List of all those who lost their lives in the line of duty and the circumstances of their death.
- Derek
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Riding Virgin Rail
We've been traveling very frugally for most of this trip. I have some great tips on how to save money while traveling and how to travel light, but that is for a different blog posting. We decided to spoil ourselves with the train trip from London to Glasgow and travelled first class on Virgin Rail. It cost us an additional 73 pounds for the two of us, but it was well worth it!
It is OK to be spoiled once in a while!
- Derek
It is OK to be spoiled once in a while!
- Derek
Cool Stuff for Ryan Harvey
A few weeks ago, we were in Koln Germany and came across a bike/board store with some really unique things. Thought you might find this interesting!
- Derek
- Derek
Location:Koln Germany
Uig, Isle of Lewis
Of all the beautiful places on the Isle of Lewis, few views can prepare you for the wind-swept, chiseled coastline of the western Isle of Lewis. The landscape is rocky and green and totally exposed to the north Atlantic. This is a place where it makes little sense to fence in the sheep or the highland cattle so time, like the grazing sheep slow idle of highland cattle as they look for better pasture. Your priorities and your sense of time are subordinated.
This is a place of solitude and peace, even as the winds off the Atlantic Ocean blow in. These photos from a pocket camera hardly do it justice, but even with the best of cameras, it is hard to describe the sound of the sea crashing onto the rocks, the smell of the sea and the feel of the wind blowing in from the Atlantic
It seems like you can see forever along the western horizon and watch the next weather system hours before it actually arrives. The sunsets inspire song, the landscape strengthens community. You feel like you are among the first souls to have touched the ground here. Pretty special place on this crowded planet.
- Derek
This is a place of solitude and peace, even as the winds off the Atlantic Ocean blow in. These photos from a pocket camera hardly do it justice, but even with the best of cameras, it is hard to describe the sound of the sea crashing onto the rocks, the smell of the sea and the feel of the wind blowing in from the Atlantic
It seems like you can see forever along the western horizon and watch the next weather system hours before it actually arrives. The sunsets inspire song, the landscape strengthens community. You feel like you are among the first souls to have touched the ground here. Pretty special place on this crowded planet.
- Derek
Location:Western Hebrides
Girl's Trip to Glasgow
After a lot ( I mean A LOT) of secrecy, whispering and near slips, the surprise 60th birthday weekend for my cousin Catherine is underway.
This is a picture of the girls-only at the Stornoway Airport on the way out. Guaranteed that the suitcases will be heavier on the return flight! Several others have already made their way down to Glasgow and are warming up the retail sector for the mini-invasion.
Here's to ya girls. All the planning and secret e-mails were worth it just to see the look on Catherine's face! Good on ya!!!
- Derek
This is a picture of the girls-only at the Stornoway Airport on the way out. Guaranteed that the suitcases will be heavier on the return flight! Several others have already made their way down to Glasgow and are warming up the retail sector for the mini-invasion.
Here's to ya girls. All the planning and secret e-mails were worth it just to see the look on Catherine's face! Good on ya!!!
- Derek
Location:Stornoway
The Piping Centre - Glasgow
Yup!!! Made it the Piping Centre (of the known universe!!) in Glasgow Scotland. Otherwise known as MacMecca.
Our B&B is attached (did you hear that? ATTACHED) to the Piping Centre. It is called the Piper's Tryst Hotel. You can't go more than two steps anywhere inside the building without hearing bagpipes, seeing the unbelievable selection of whiskeys or chatting to really friendly people with the same interests. OMG! That is all I've got to say...OooMmmGeee..
- Derek
Our B&B is attached (did you hear that? ATTACHED) to the Piping Centre. It is called the Piper's Tryst Hotel. You can't go more than two steps anywhere inside the building without hearing bagpipes, seeing the unbelievable selection of whiskeys or chatting to really friendly people with the same interests. OMG! That is all I've got to say...OooMmmGeee..
- Derek
New Whiskey - Isle of Lewis
Went for a drive down the beautiful western coast of the Isle of Lewis to Uig. Went down to visit the newest and only whiskey distillery (well...legal one anyway...) in this part of northern Hebrides.
Web site is http://www.abhainndearg.co.uk/
The first commercial batch of whiskey is a 3 year old and is a really fine young scotch. The owner is a friend of my cousin Jonathan and was happy to take us through the process of making the whiskey. More complexity to the process than first imagined. Coopered mash tanks, tall copper kettles barley storage, and tightly coopered whiskey storage barrels. The smell of yeast working its way through the barley is unmistakable.
We had a couple of drams as we were standing outside the distillery where the barrels are being stored. The wind was blowing, rain visible in the distance and fresh water stream was actively splashing away beside the distillery building. What a beautiful sight! There is no better place to have a healthy, generous dram of uisge beatha. This is the real Scotland!
- Derek
Web site is http://www.abhainndearg.co.uk/
The first commercial batch of whiskey is a 3 year old and is a really fine young scotch. The owner is a friend of my cousin Jonathan and was happy to take us through the process of making the whiskey. More complexity to the process than first imagined. Coopered mash tanks, tall copper kettles barley storage, and tightly coopered whiskey storage barrels. The smell of yeast working its way through the barley is unmistakable.
We had a couple of drams as we were standing outside the distillery where the barrels are being stored. The wind was blowing, rain visible in the distance and fresh water stream was actively splashing away beside the distillery building. What a beautiful sight! There is no better place to have a healthy, generous dram of uisge beatha. This is the real Scotland!
- Derek
Location:Uig, Isle of Lewis
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Scars and Cauliflower Ears - Graffiti
Anyone with a degree in Art History, a penchant for anarchism or access to wikipedia can tell you that graffiti has been around since the dawn of mankind. You'd think that, as an art form at least, some good graffiti would emerge - metaphorically "standing on the shoulders of giants" kinda thing. You'd also be wrong. Consider the ubiquitous tagging along Europe's railways and highways is an example. I know that Canada and the States have their fair share of vandalart (did I just invent a new term?) so the problem is definitely not just a European thing.
Now I am not talking about the beautiful murals you see on the side of buildings where someone with inspiration, vision and talent compliments otherwise boring architecture. I am talking about the jokers with a spray can and an fully exhausted Retalin prescription who have nothing to say and everything to spray. What a godawful mess they have made!
Examples below from a variety of places.... (Sorry for the rant....)
Written on a ancient cemetery wall in Innsbruck Austria
Wall outside train station in Munich Germany
Near the Italian border with Austria
Anyway, sure leaves a vagabond like me with sense that a very vocal element in a community has a lot of ....what is the term....unresolved issues?
Must be a fortune to be made in graffiti removal...hmmmmmm...
- Derek
Now I am not talking about the beautiful murals you see on the side of buildings where someone with inspiration, vision and talent compliments otherwise boring architecture. I am talking about the jokers with a spray can and an fully exhausted Retalin prescription who have nothing to say and everything to spray. What a godawful mess they have made!
Examples below from a variety of places.... (Sorry for the rant....)
Written on a ancient cemetery wall in Innsbruck Austria
Wall outside train station in Munich Germany
Near the Italian border with Austria
Anyway, sure leaves a vagabond like me with sense that a very vocal element in a community has a lot of ....what is the term....unresolved issues?
Must be a fortune to be made in graffiti removal...hmmmmmm...
- Derek
Location:Various locations
Saturday, October 8, 2011
Jet Propelled Razor
My father taught me how to shave. From a very young age, I would follow him into the bathroom where Dad would expertly build a good thick foamy lather in his soap mug and get his two-sided razor prepared. I would study the morning process with fascination. Dad even bought a small plastic toy razor and he would put the soap on my face with the badger hair brush so I could mimic his every step.
I remember that Dad had to make a razor blade last a long time as they were an expense that a soldier on a private's salary thought about. Sometimes the razor would get dull and would "knick" his cheek or neck and sting like crazy. I learned some of my first curses that way. Things like "oy - ka shalla jee rum" (phonetic gaelic) or "holy jumping jeezus that hurts". I learned that words shared between a father and a son over the shaving sink should NEVER be repeated. Conversations between father and son over the shaving sink, no matter how brief, are sacred. That took a couple of painful exchanges between my Mother and me, and I didn't understand why she got so upset. Another sink discussion with Dad and I learned it fairly quickly.
Anyway, when traveling by air, you need to make sure you have nothing with you any sharper than a banana so I left my prized razor in Calgary and figured that I would look for one when we got on the ground over here. I should mention that I still use a double sided razor like my Dad used so long ago. Blades are easy to find and the cost is pretty cheap. There are other reasons I will explain later.
So Lill and I stopped in to a store when we landed in Brussels and I was shocked to see the cost of these jet-propelled razors on the market today! When exactly did it become necessary to have five blade razors with a battery powered mini-blade on the back to trim sideburns? Feeling guilty that I was still living in the shaving equivalent of the stone age, I bought a Fusion razor.
Shimmering, glittering, battery assisted jet propelled 5 bladed - no, make that 6 bladed - razor. Even came with a free AAA battery. Notice the glowing blue light in the middle of the handle! When it is glowing, it is vibrating (VIBRATING ferchristsakes....Just what you want when you hold the thing near your ear and think about Vincent van Gogh - a vibrating razor blade.....)
Now, with THAT many blades on one device, you need to have a face as big as an Easter Island statue to do it any justice at all. However, on a squished up old face like mine, two strokes on either side of my prominent nose and the work is nearly done. Well, almost..... How the devil to you get the areas by your nostrils or the joint between your upper and lower lips with a behemoth razor like this, I ask you? Well that is where the 6th jet propelled, triple A supported back blade comes into play. It vibrates (vibrates for christ sake!!) so you can get into the challenging spots. However, it requires a steady hand AND good aim or you carve off small pieces of your nostril, lips, ear lobes or all of the above in one 10 minute period. Believe me!
So, I found that the Fusion razor has a range of about 30 meters with the wind behind you. Just about into the middle of the Inns River. Pretty good for an old guy. To replace it, I found a place that specializes in old-school razors...kinda like gourmet-razors-are-us. They had more soaps, razors, brushes, holders and paraphernalia than I have ever seen. Feeling nostalgic, I longed for a good, stout 2 sided razor. I realize now, that I shouldn't have had 2 big Austrian beers before going into the shop, but hindsight is a wonderful thing.
Anyway, I came out with this German made Merkur beauty. Heft? Oh yeah - sucker weights in at about 10 kg. Sharp? It's German - come on, of course it is jugular sharp. Precise? Once you lift it using both hands or a small hydraulic jack, it is a thing of beauty. And the soap? No two-bit goo will do for this machine. I mean, would use Canadian Tire brand lube in your Formula-1? So now I smell like...well, actually I have no idea what I smell like but I am willing to bet it smells good enough for Graham Muir to make some comment like "does that come in men's fragrances too?"
Really liking the Merkur, I went and bought a second, smaller and more traditional one. They are both just great!
Oh yeah, a word or two about why I think shaving is such an important thing for yours truly. Nothing to do with appearance or such things. It is a morning ritual that reminds me of my Dad every day. He was a great guy and I miss him. I get a chance to look into that mirror each day and ask myself - at least I think it is myself who answers back - "am I being a good dad? am I being a good husband? a good person? am I working hard enough and with the right priorities aligned?" The voice that answers back is the voice I trust the most. By the time the soap is gone and the little "knicks" and stings of truth are felt, I feel better about the day ahead. When my daughters were young, I used to try to continue the tradition by putting the foamy soap on their delicate little cheeks and would use the back of the comb to "shave" it off. We would chat about all kinds of things. These were times forever embedded in my memory.
- Derek
I remember that Dad had to make a razor blade last a long time as they were an expense that a soldier on a private's salary thought about. Sometimes the razor would get dull and would "knick" his cheek or neck and sting like crazy. I learned some of my first curses that way. Things like "oy - ka shalla jee rum" (phonetic gaelic) or "holy jumping jeezus that hurts". I learned that words shared between a father and a son over the shaving sink should NEVER be repeated. Conversations between father and son over the shaving sink, no matter how brief, are sacred. That took a couple of painful exchanges between my Mother and me, and I didn't understand why she got so upset. Another sink discussion with Dad and I learned it fairly quickly.
Anyway, when traveling by air, you need to make sure you have nothing with you any sharper than a banana so I left my prized razor in Calgary and figured that I would look for one when we got on the ground over here. I should mention that I still use a double sided razor like my Dad used so long ago. Blades are easy to find and the cost is pretty cheap. There are other reasons I will explain later.
So Lill and I stopped in to a store when we landed in Brussels and I was shocked to see the cost of these jet-propelled razors on the market today! When exactly did it become necessary to have five blade razors with a battery powered mini-blade on the back to trim sideburns? Feeling guilty that I was still living in the shaving equivalent of the stone age, I bought a Fusion razor.
Shimmering, glittering, battery assisted jet propelled 5 bladed - no, make that 6 bladed - razor. Even came with a free AAA battery. Notice the glowing blue light in the middle of the handle! When it is glowing, it is vibrating (VIBRATING ferchristsakes....Just what you want when you hold the thing near your ear and think about Vincent van Gogh - a vibrating razor blade.....)
Now, with THAT many blades on one device, you need to have a face as big as an Easter Island statue to do it any justice at all. However, on a squished up old face like mine, two strokes on either side of my prominent nose and the work is nearly done. Well, almost..... How the devil to you get the areas by your nostrils or the joint between your upper and lower lips with a behemoth razor like this, I ask you? Well that is where the 6th jet propelled, triple A supported back blade comes into play. It vibrates (vibrates for christ sake!!) so you can get into the challenging spots. However, it requires a steady hand AND good aim or you carve off small pieces of your nostril, lips, ear lobes or all of the above in one 10 minute period. Believe me!
So, I found that the Fusion razor has a range of about 30 meters with the wind behind you. Just about into the middle of the Inns River. Pretty good for an old guy. To replace it, I found a place that specializes in old-school razors...kinda like gourmet-razors-are-us. They had more soaps, razors, brushes, holders and paraphernalia than I have ever seen. Feeling nostalgic, I longed for a good, stout 2 sided razor. I realize now, that I shouldn't have had 2 big Austrian beers before going into the shop, but hindsight is a wonderful thing.
Anyway, I came out with this German made Merkur beauty. Heft? Oh yeah - sucker weights in at about 10 kg. Sharp? It's German - come on, of course it is jugular sharp. Precise? Once you lift it using both hands or a small hydraulic jack, it is a thing of beauty. And the soap? No two-bit goo will do for this machine. I mean, would use Canadian Tire brand lube in your Formula-1? So now I smell like...well, actually I have no idea what I smell like but I am willing to bet it smells good enough for Graham Muir to make some comment like "does that come in men's fragrances too?"
Really liking the Merkur, I went and bought a second, smaller and more traditional one. They are both just great!
Oh yeah, a word or two about why I think shaving is such an important thing for yours truly. Nothing to do with appearance or such things. It is a morning ritual that reminds me of my Dad every day. He was a great guy and I miss him. I get a chance to look into that mirror each day and ask myself - at least I think it is myself who answers back - "am I being a good dad? am I being a good husband? a good person? am I working hard enough and with the right priorities aligned?" The voice that answers back is the voice I trust the most. By the time the soap is gone and the little "knicks" and stings of truth are felt, I feel better about the day ahead. When my daughters were young, I used to try to continue the tradition by putting the foamy soap on their delicate little cheeks and would use the back of the comb to "shave" it off. We would chat about all kinds of things. These were times forever embedded in my memory.
- Derek
Alister, I found my nuts!!
These beauties great examples of the chestnuts we used to use when we were kids in Germany. At that time we use to call them "Konkers" and it was a game a lot of the kids used to play at a time long, long, long ago - even before PacMan! I'm talking about a long time ago!!
What we would do is "season" our nuts for a couple of days by letting them harden in the sun undisturbed. This was harder than it sounds because guys are always trying to make sure their nuts are in the most advantageous position. Then, there would be a special process, done in secret when no one was looking. Some guys would soak their nuts in vinegar for a couple of days. The outside of them would get all wrinkly but when they dried, they would be good and hard. Others would put them in the oven at a low heat for a few minutes. Too long and they would crack with a sound like your mother slapping you on the ear. Oh, wait a minute - that wasn't the nuts cracking....
The next step was all important. you made a small hole in the top of the nut and another in the bottom. Really sharp kitchen knives were the best to make the hole with although I am told there was some danger with this approach. Who knew? Then you used your mother's knitting needle and carefully pushed the needle from the top hole to the bottom hole. Sometimes you heard that cracking sound again if your mother was in swinging range. Once you had the hole through your nuts, you used a different, smaller knitting needle to push a string through the hole. Knitting needles are best because you can bend them with just a little bit of muscle power and if they slip, they only go into your knee about 1/2 inch or so. Not bad cause it heals up really quickly. If you were successful fishing the knitting needle through, you had a nice tight hole in your nuts. This is important to the game of Konkers! Tie a good, big tight knot at the end of the string and you are ready to do battle.
The object of the game is to break the other kids' nuts. How much fun is that, I ask you? You hold your nuts at arm's length with the string hanging down about 12 inches - just long enough so that it misses your eye by 1/16" in battle. Your worthy opponent uses his best nuts and swings them at yours with a force designed to crack your nuts in a "one-er". Your opponent misses and it is your turn to crack his nuts. Strength, precision, nut-conditioning - this game has it all!
This next picture is of smaller nuts. I am not sure if these ever grow into really good nuts or not. They are pretty small. Mind you, I took this picture on a really cold morning and everyone knows what happens to your nuts in the cold.
- Derek
What we would do is "season" our nuts for a couple of days by letting them harden in the sun undisturbed. This was harder than it sounds because guys are always trying to make sure their nuts are in the most advantageous position. Then, there would be a special process, done in secret when no one was looking. Some guys would soak their nuts in vinegar for a couple of days. The outside of them would get all wrinkly but when they dried, they would be good and hard. Others would put them in the oven at a low heat for a few minutes. Too long and they would crack with a sound like your mother slapping you on the ear. Oh, wait a minute - that wasn't the nuts cracking....
The next step was all important. you made a small hole in the top of the nut and another in the bottom. Really sharp kitchen knives were the best to make the hole with although I am told there was some danger with this approach. Who knew? Then you used your mother's knitting needle and carefully pushed the needle from the top hole to the bottom hole. Sometimes you heard that cracking sound again if your mother was in swinging range. Once you had the hole through your nuts, you used a different, smaller knitting needle to push a string through the hole. Knitting needles are best because you can bend them with just a little bit of muscle power and if they slip, they only go into your knee about 1/2 inch or so. Not bad cause it heals up really quickly. If you were successful fishing the knitting needle through, you had a nice tight hole in your nuts. This is important to the game of Konkers! Tie a good, big tight knot at the end of the string and you are ready to do battle.
The object of the game is to break the other kids' nuts. How much fun is that, I ask you? You hold your nuts at arm's length with the string hanging down about 12 inches - just long enough so that it misses your eye by 1/16" in battle. Your worthy opponent uses his best nuts and swings them at yours with a force designed to crack your nuts in a "one-er". Your opponent misses and it is your turn to crack his nuts. Strength, precision, nut-conditioning - this game has it all!
This next picture is of smaller nuts. I am not sure if these ever grow into really good nuts or not. They are pretty small. Mind you, I took this picture on a really cold morning and everyone knows what happens to your nuts in the cold.
- Derek
Location:Innsbruck, Austria
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
Lawn Mowers
Derek's idea of a steep hill lawnmower
Charlie King's idea for a lawnmower (and what eventually got his ancestors kicked out of Scotland)
- Derek
Charlie King's idea for a lawnmower (and what eventually got his ancestors kicked out of Scotland)
- Derek
Monday, October 3, 2011
Switzerland - A little piece of Paradise!
We lucked in!! I asked my sister, Kay and son Lee and his girlfriend Alida for recommendations of places to stay in Switzerland. They all said to try to avoid Interlaken as is very commercialized, busy and expensive. I took notes and when Lill and I started searching for spots outside of town, we came across the town of Lauterbrunnen. I double checked with Kay and sure enough, this is the place that she and Ed really liked and that Lee and Alida stayed in as well. So, we checked around in good Scottish/Canadian fashion (cheapest place first) and came across the Hotel Staubbach. It is only ranked as a 2 star and the only room available was in the attic. Well, why not? So we took the chance, 6 hours of train rides, three connections and we finally got here. With a bit of trepidation we walked through the town until we got the Hotel Staubback. Fantastic staff at the front desk (both girls were from Australia and had been here for years). We got the key to the room, walked up a very narrow staircase to the attic, opened the door and WOW!!!
(That is a waterfall on the right)
(Note the little chocolates on the comforters!)
These are the pictures of our room and the view out the windows! What a little, peaceful, quiet piece of paradise. After all the months of packing, moving, hustling, planes, trains, u-hauls, automobiles, busses....... WOW! I will send more pictures tomorrow. This place is really sweet!
- Derek
(That is a waterfall on the right)
(Note the little chocolates on the comforters!)
These are the pictures of our room and the view out the windows! What a little, peaceful, quiet piece of paradise. After all the months of packing, moving, hustling, planes, trains, u-hauls, automobiles, busses....... WOW! I will send more pictures tomorrow. This place is really sweet!
- Derek
Sunday, October 2, 2011
Tourists in Purgatory
One of the more common sights in Europe is the mini parade of tourists. We've seen literally dozens of them in every city we have been in so far. You can see them from a distance too. Here's how to spot them in their natural habitat.
First of all, look around cathedrals, statues, rounded cobblestone streets - that sort of thing. Next, look for a slowly winding line of grey hair. If you allow your eye to follow the moving line to the front and you usually see some poor joker with a badminton racket with bright streamers held over his head, or a gaudy green umbrella aiming at the sun. We've even seen broom sticks with a cardboard sign stapled to it. You get the idea. Anyway, the holder of this impromptu mace is the tour leader.
Commonly, the leader has a Madonna type of mic going from his ear to just in front of his (or her) mustache. The followers of this parade will have an iPod looking thing hanging from a lanyard around their neck and earphones plugged in so they can hear what the leader is saying and so they can be totally unaware of traffic, bicycles and pedestrians. The leader is talking away as they walk along at a methodical pace and points to buildings, gargoyles, sculptures and/or fountains. Occasionally the leader waves his/her the mace in a circle to signify that all the followers form a semi-circle around so he/she can present their well rehearsed soliloquy. If you look closely, you will find some old duffer at the back of the group screwing around with his iPod-y type of thing trying to get the frigger to work. Can't miss him.
Try this:
1. plug your ears with earbuds (don't plug them in to anything just yet)
2. then, tilt your head about 5 degrees
3. squint your eyes
4. furrow your brow
5. drop your iPod-y thing and accidentally kick it into the canal
6. Look around to see if anyone else has the same problem.
The rest is easy. Keep looking at the plug end of your earbud and retain the same confused look, like you are trying to figure out if you just found a new rope of just lost an old donkey.
- Derek
First of all, look around cathedrals, statues, rounded cobblestone streets - that sort of thing. Next, look for a slowly winding line of grey hair. If you allow your eye to follow the moving line to the front and you usually see some poor joker with a badminton racket with bright streamers held over his head, or a gaudy green umbrella aiming at the sun. We've even seen broom sticks with a cardboard sign stapled to it. You get the idea. Anyway, the holder of this impromptu mace is the tour leader.
Commonly, the leader has a Madonna type of mic going from his ear to just in front of his (or her) mustache. The followers of this parade will have an iPod looking thing hanging from a lanyard around their neck and earphones plugged in so they can hear what the leader is saying and so they can be totally unaware of traffic, bicycles and pedestrians. The leader is talking away as they walk along at a methodical pace and points to buildings, gargoyles, sculptures and/or fountains. Occasionally the leader waves his/her the mace in a circle to signify that all the followers form a semi-circle around so he/she can present their well rehearsed soliloquy. If you look closely, you will find some old duffer at the back of the group screwing around with his iPod-y type of thing trying to get the frigger to work. Can't miss him.
Try this:
1. plug your ears with earbuds (don't plug them in to anything just yet)
2. then, tilt your head about 5 degrees
3. squint your eyes
4. furrow your brow
5. drop your iPod-y thing and accidentally kick it into the canal
6. Look around to see if anyone else has the same problem.
The rest is easy. Keep looking at the plug end of your earbud and retain the same confused look, like you are trying to figure out if you just found a new rope of just lost an old donkey.
- Derek
Special thanks to Troy, Jordan, Danic and Evan
Special thanks to Troy van Dusen, Jordan, Danic and Evan Butt
In my haste to get this blog thing going, I omitted a couple of really strong, capable and fun lads who helped with all the heavy lifting and loading the truck before we left Ottawa.
These young guys are as strong as horses and have an unconditional willingness to help out in any way that they can. I am truly grateful to them all because without them, I don't think I could have got the job done.
Thanks guys! You are awesome and I am in your debt.
- Derek
In my haste to get this blog thing going, I omitted a couple of really strong, capable and fun lads who helped with all the heavy lifting and loading the truck before we left Ottawa.
These young guys are as strong as horses and have an unconditional willingness to help out in any way that they can. I am truly grateful to them all because without them, I don't think I could have got the job done.
Thanks guys! You are awesome and I am in your debt.
- Derek
Location:Strasbourg, France
Koln, Germany
What a welcomed antidote to the chaos of Amsterdam! We took the morning high speed train from Amsterdam through Dusseldorf to Koln. It only took about 3 hours and our hotel was within easy walking distance from the train station. We got in around 1300 hrs, got the keys to our room and went for a hike through the town. Koln has the most spectacular Gothic cathederal I have ever seen.
We walked down the Rhine River for a couple of kilometers and all around the town just admiring the local architecture and planning out the next day or so. We stopped in to an outdoor cafe sponsored by Frau Breweries. Lill and I had a couple of beers and I had a local wurst and fries. Great to people watch and just relax in the sun. There is a huge university population in Koln and the students seemed to be out on some kind of initiation. Lots of singing, chanting and general frolicking around. Quite fun.
Koln also has some of the finest art galleries in all of Europe. So the plan is to go to the Ludwic Museum of Contemporary Art tomorrow. On the way back to our hotel, we passed by a large church about a block west of the famous twin spire cathedral. We heard choir singing inside so we went in to hear and experience the beautiful music. Couldn't believe what we saw! There were easily 300 well trained voices in the choir and we entered in just as the conductor was trying to correct some diction and presentation. The sound of this beautiful choir warms you from the inside out. We came in at the tail end of their rehearsal so after about 30 minutes or so, they were winding down and preparing to leave. Still, those 30 minutes will stay with me all my days. The full-on sound of this magnificent choir inside an ancient church that had survived wars and chaos, with the sun streaming through stained glass and the smell of old wood, leather and polish. So hard to describe, but hopefully, this small clip will give you a sample of what it sounded like. Simply AmazingI hope this recording works.... (having some difficulties connecting to my Youtube channel. Will update with videos when I have more bandwidth. sorry about that folks!)
Like a signature on a beautiful day.
- Channeling UTM
We walked down the Rhine River for a couple of kilometers and all around the town just admiring the local architecture and planning out the next day or so. We stopped in to an outdoor cafe sponsored by Frau Breweries. Lill and I had a couple of beers and I had a local wurst and fries. Great to people watch and just relax in the sun. There is a huge university population in Koln and the students seemed to be out on some kind of initiation. Lots of singing, chanting and general frolicking around. Quite fun.
Koln also has some of the finest art galleries in all of Europe. So the plan is to go to the Ludwic Museum of Contemporary Art tomorrow. On the way back to our hotel, we passed by a large church about a block west of the famous twin spire cathedral. We heard choir singing inside so we went in to hear and experience the beautiful music. Couldn't believe what we saw! There were easily 300 well trained voices in the choir and we entered in just as the conductor was trying to correct some diction and presentation. The sound of this beautiful choir warms you from the inside out. We came in at the tail end of their rehearsal so after about 30 minutes or so, they were winding down and preparing to leave. Still, those 30 minutes will stay with me all my days. The full-on sound of this magnificent choir inside an ancient church that had survived wars and chaos, with the sun streaming through stained glass and the smell of old wood, leather and polish. So hard to describe, but hopefully, this small clip will give you a sample of what it sounded like. Simply AmazingI hope this recording works.... (having some difficulties connecting to my Youtube channel. Will update with videos when I have more bandwidth. sorry about that folks!)
Like a signature on a beautiful day.
- Channeling UTM
Koln Germany Street performers
Koln is known for its arts community and a trip through the public areas around the cathedral and along the Rhine walkways provides an example of this.
This fellow was walking (WALKING) around Europe with a 40kg pack on his back. He sleeps outside for much of the time and in hostels when his artwork generates some coin.
These two guys set up on a street corner and used some interesting and unconventional instruments to generate really interesting sounds.(will attach video later...)
This trio, again using unconventional accompaniment to traditional concert violinist. He played non-stop for about 30 minutes. (some connectivity issues with Youtube channel. Will post this video later as well)
- Channeling UTM
This fellow was walking (WALKING) around Europe with a 40kg pack on his back. He sleeps outside for much of the time and in hostels when his artwork generates some coin.
These two guys set up on a street corner and used some interesting and unconventional instruments to generate really interesting sounds.(will attach video later...)
This trio, again using unconventional accompaniment to traditional concert violinist. He played non-stop for about 30 minutes. (some connectivity issues with Youtube channel. Will post this video later as well)
- Channeling UTM
Strasbourg - City of contrasts
Not sure what to make of this place. When we arrived in the train station, we were met by a patrol of 3 very fit, very tough looking soldiers in full combat clothing and with sub-machine guns and hands on the ready. They slowly made their way through the crowd - ever vigilant. You also notice a number of people standing around in key locations just watching what was going on. Outside the train station, there are two fully loaded, hardened Landrovers at the ready.
Strasbourg is not the prettiest city in Europe. That is being charitable. There are some really interesting places like the pictures below, but the main impression one has is of a city in need of a good hosing down.
There are a lot poorly maintained areas and even the more picturesque places, like the canals, have become hang-outs for local wine-o's and vagrants. They have set up shop just under the bridges and are sleeping on the sidewalks, in store entrances and on the lawns. This is right in the middle of the city centre. The police are totally ambivalent and we watched several police turn a blind eye to things our Canadian police would have intervened on immediately. Different standards I guess.
The funniest thing I saw here was a policeman on a Vespa with a whistle in his mouth. He was getting through the crowd by tooting his whistle, then gunning the Vespa through the crowd. You could hear him as he wove his way through the throngs of tourists there to see the Cathedral. Lt. Cluseau (Peter Sellers) came immediately to mind! Blake Edwards would have had a ball with this scene. Nuns flying everywhere.
- Derek
Strasbourg is not the prettiest city in Europe. That is being charitable. There are some really interesting places like the pictures below, but the main impression one has is of a city in need of a good hosing down.
There are a lot poorly maintained areas and even the more picturesque places, like the canals, have become hang-outs for local wine-o's and vagrants. They have set up shop just under the bridges and are sleeping on the sidewalks, in store entrances and on the lawns. This is right in the middle of the city centre. The police are totally ambivalent and we watched several police turn a blind eye to things our Canadian police would have intervened on immediately. Different standards I guess.
The funniest thing I saw here was a policeman on a Vespa with a whistle in his mouth. He was getting through the crowd by tooting his whistle, then gunning the Vespa through the crowd. You could hear him as he wove his way through the throngs of tourists there to see the Cathedral. Lt. Cluseau (Peter Sellers) came immediately to mind! Blake Edwards would have had a ball with this scene. Nuns flying everywhere.
- Derek
Location:Strasbourg, France
Saturday, October 1, 2011
Warning for Men! - Travel Laundry
Ok compadres, this is going to be
So I read in Mr. Tilley's travel suggestions that you can travel around the world with just two pairs of underwear and two pairs of socks. The trick is to wash a pair of each nightly and cycle them throughout the trip. Good advice! He goes on to suggest that to assure they are dry in the morning when you need them, you go through the usual process of washing them THEN YOU WRING THEM OUT IN A TOWEL! Brilliant If you give them a good wringing, they are practically dry when you finish. Hang them up for the evening and they are ready to wear the next morning. So, being the eager-to-please kind of husband that I am (stop laughing - I can hear you!), I took all the dirty laundry in the catch bag, two envelopes of Woolite and dutifully filled the sink up with near scalding water and proceeded to do the laundry. So, my first mistake was that I ignored good advice and sorted things by size rather than colour. If it fit in the sink with the rest of the stuff, well close enough for me. The second mistake was that I let things soak for about 10 minutes before vigorously kneading the garments into some form of near-surgical condition. The third mistake was panic. When I saw my wife's (formerly white) greyish blue bra I felt the sudden need to rinse in cold water in an attempt to restore the original white colour. Next step, take Mr. Tilly's advice to wrap the item in a towel and wind and wind and wind until you get all the moisture (and I hoped, the new colour) out. Well, let me tell you that no device or modern garment known to mankind has as much elastic, lycra, underwire and stretchable lace as a woman's bra. You wind that puppy up to about 6 turns and you have a lethal weapon! Could take your eye out! Luckily, nothing too serious happened to me, but I may have to wear my sunglasses for a couple of days. Geez,
- Channeling UTM
So I read in Mr. Tilley's travel suggestions that you can travel around the world with just two pairs of underwear and two pairs of socks. The trick is to wash a pair of each nightly and cycle them throughout the trip. Good advice! He goes on to suggest that to assure they are dry in the morning when you need them, you go through the usual process of washing them THEN YOU WRING THEM OUT IN A TOWEL! Brilliant If you give them a good wringing, they are practically dry when you finish. Hang them up for the evening and they are ready to wear the next morning. So, being the eager-to-please kind of husband that I am (stop laughing - I can hear you!), I took all the dirty laundry in the catch bag, two envelopes of Woolite and dutifully filled the sink up with near scalding water and proceeded to do the laundry. So, my first mistake was that I ignored good advice and sorted things by size rather than colour. If it fit in the sink with the rest of the stuff, well close enough for me. The second mistake was that I let things soak for about 10 minutes before vigorously kneading the garments into some form of near-surgical condition. The third mistake was panic. When I saw my wife's (formerly white) greyish blue bra I felt the sudden need to rinse in cold water in an attempt to restore the original white colour. Next step, take Mr. Tilly's advice to wrap the item in a towel and wind and wind and wind until you get all the moisture (and I hoped, the new colour) out. Well, let me tell you that no device or modern garment known to mankind has as much elastic, lycra, underwire and stretchable lace as a woman's bra. You wind that puppy up to about 6 turns and you have a lethal weapon! Could take your eye out! Luckily, nothing too serious happened to me, but I may have to wear my sunglasses for a couple of days. Geez,
- Channeling UTM
Amsterdam - Red Light District humor.
The hotel we stayed at in Amsterdam was perfectly located, if somewhat expensive. We expected that but were very happy when we found that the hotel was an easy walk to the train station and right in the middle of the hullabaloo which is Amsterdam. The Bellvue Hotel was a comparatively small hotel with modern furnishings and pretty clean appearance. The first night went very well. We met Meagan and she took us to the hostel where she was staying - the infamous Bulldog Hostel. Looked like a very interesting hostel and was just 1/2 block away from the infamous red-light district. Come to think of it, EVERYWHERE in downtown Amsterdam is within a block or two from the red-light district. It is really grotty. The working girls are down alleys that are only wide enough for a wheelchair to pass through. I know this because we walked through one of the alleys and two young guys (late teens/early twenties) were just ahead of us. One was in a wheel chair and the other was his tour guide. Both were LOADED! Anyway, they were laughing and checking out the harlots. The "tour guide" was trying to find a good looking girl for his crippled friend. As he was pushing him through, the front wheels of the wheelchair got caught in a drain grate and the passenger was launched onto the well worn cobblestones. The alley was so narrow that the tour guide couldn't get around the wheelchair to help his friend up. Both were laughing hard. A young fellow saw the commotion and came up the alley from the street and helped lift the guy back into the wheelchair. He then helped lift the front wheels of the wheelchair off the grate and back onto comparatively stable ground. It was interesting to hear the ladies calling out to the tour guide to be careful with his passenger. They were genuinely concerned that his passenger would get hurt. And when he did fall from the wheelchair, there was a lot of "I told you that would happen" "you should be more careful - he could get injured" "is he alright?". With the exception of their repulsive profession, they are really no different from any of us. Selling our time for dollars.
Anything goes in Amsterdam! The police are ever present around town, but there is a very relaxed atmosphere. A "coffee shop" is just another name for a legal marijuana outlet.
In the tour guides, they tell you that you should only buy marijuana from coffee shops rather than street vendors as the coffee shops are regulated. Believe it or not, one of the coffee shops is the former police station!
- Channeling UTM
Anything goes in Amsterdam! The police are ever present around town, but there is a very relaxed atmosphere. A "coffee shop" is just another name for a legal marijuana outlet.
In the tour guides, they tell you that you should only buy marijuana from coffee shops rather than street vendors as the coffee shops are regulated. Believe it or not, one of the coffee shops is the former police station!
- Channeling UTM
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)