Monday, March 7, 2011
Venice is sinking!
Is Venice really sinking? I say yes - and have proof for you! Arrived in the evening to a flooded city. Raised boardwalks were put up all over the place to allow walkers to wander through streets.
I wrote down very detailed instructions on how to get to our hostel - a very important thing to do in Venice as it is one of the places where a map is not entirely useful, and getting lost is quite a reality. We navigated through tightly wound streets and came to the last instruction on my paper "at the end of the road, take a right and it is the first door on the right". We reached the end of the road, looked right, only to find that the first door on the right was blocked by two meters of foot deep water. Great. Not only to the door was it flooded, but the entire main floor if the building was flooded as well. So we took off our shoes, hiked up our pants, and waded our way down the street, and through the building to our first floor hostel - safe from the floods.
We were in Venice for 5 days - in that time we roamed the many convoluted streets of Venice, got lost, took the boat to Murano, the glass blowing island, and Burano, the colorful building island, and experienced the opening week of Carnival.
The whole weekend, masses of people flooded into Venice, adorned in the beautiful masks sold throughout the city. Some were dressed head to toe in beautiful old dresses, or bizarre costumes.
Saturday night, we were told that to toast the start of Carnival, we could go get free wine in Piazza Saint Marco from the "wine fountain there". In my head, I pictured a large, ornate fountain pouring out wine, much like one you would find spewing water. I then however thought that what I was imagining was so far fetched, and that a giant "wine fountain" was a little ridiculous to become a reality. We arrived in St. Marks square, and to my surprise my initial image of wine fountain was in fact not so far fetched! A rather large, elaborate stone fountain was pouring out red wine to elegantly dressed people. Opera music was blasting out of large speakers, and the beautifully dressed people by the fountain were ball dancing to it. Behind the gated - off fountain area were thousands of visitors pushing and nudging their way to the front of the gate to get a mini cup of wine. Quite a scene, but it was a really amazing experience!
The next event was Sunday morning, and was a boat parade down the Grand Canal. Hundreds of boats, filled with people in costumes rowed down the canal to the cheers of the spectators.
Venice was wonderful. It is really a beautiful and magical place.
I wrote down very detailed instructions on how to get to our hostel - a very important thing to do in Venice as it is one of the places where a map is not entirely useful, and getting lost is quite a reality. We navigated through tightly wound streets and came to the last instruction on my paper "at the end of the road, take a right and it is the first door on the right". We reached the end of the road, looked right, only to find that the first door on the right was blocked by two meters of foot deep water. Great. Not only to the door was it flooded, but the entire main floor if the building was flooded as well. So we took off our shoes, hiked up our pants, and waded our way down the street, and through the building to our first floor hostel - safe from the floods.
We were in Venice for 5 days - in that time we roamed the many convoluted streets of Venice, got lost, took the boat to Murano, the glass blowing island, and Burano, the colorful building island, and experienced the opening week of Carnival.
The whole weekend, masses of people flooded into Venice, adorned in the beautiful masks sold throughout the city. Some were dressed head to toe in beautiful old dresses, or bizarre costumes.
Saturday night, we were told that to toast the start of Carnival, we could go get free wine in Piazza Saint Marco from the "wine fountain there". In my head, I pictured a large, ornate fountain pouring out wine, much like one you would find spewing water. I then however thought that what I was imagining was so far fetched, and that a giant "wine fountain" was a little ridiculous to become a reality. We arrived in St. Marks square, and to my surprise my initial image of wine fountain was in fact not so far fetched! A rather large, elaborate stone fountain was pouring out red wine to elegantly dressed people. Opera music was blasting out of large speakers, and the beautifully dressed people by the fountain were ball dancing to it. Behind the gated - off fountain area were thousands of visitors pushing and nudging their way to the front of the gate to get a mini cup of wine. Quite a scene, but it was a really amazing experience!
The next event was Sunday morning, and was a boat parade down the Grand Canal. Hundreds of boats, filled with people in costumes rowed down the canal to the cheers of the spectators.
Venice was wonderful. It is really a beautiful and magical place.
Monday, February 14, 2011
i love you, Botanique
Newest, and possibly best discovery yet in Brussels - la Botanique - an old botanical building converted into cultural centre. While it still is a greenhouse of sorts, it is also the venue for many wonderful artists and musicians.
Saw Laura Veirs perform in la botanique tonight. It was stunning and perfect.
Well done, Laura.
Saw Laura Veirs perform in la botanique tonight. It was stunning and perfect.
Well done, Laura.
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| Disco ball ceiling in la salle Rotunde, Botanique |
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Preview:
Have survived foreign exams. Quite the feat, I think!
Now without the heavy burden of studying weighing down on me, I am free to resume my travelling life! This upcoming month is gong to be incredible: going to see three concerts in Brussels (Laura Veirs, The National, and I Blame Coco), seeing Cirque Du Soleil, and have flights booked to Venice and Rome. Doesn't get much better!
Promise to be better at keeping this blog updated!!!
Now without the heavy burden of studying weighing down on me, I am free to resume my travelling life! This upcoming month is gong to be incredible: going to see three concerts in Brussels (Laura Veirs, The National, and I Blame Coco), seeing Cirque Du Soleil, and have flights booked to Venice and Rome. Doesn't get much better!
Promise to be better at keeping this blog updated!!!
Monday, January 17, 2011
Saturday, November 27, 2010
Brussels Christmas Market
Bizarre merry go rounds, mulled wine, Ferris wheels, snow, skating, delicious food, and endless rows of merchants selling everything from mittens, to mini chimney-shaped incense holders, stretching through the entire centre of the city. This is the Brussels Christmas market. It is truly amazing.
Sunday, November 21, 2010
I fell in love with Brännö
I was invited into the home of the most wonderful Swedish family this past weekend. Upon arrival onto the beautiful island of Brännö (accessible only by ferry - no cars on the island, only bicycles and mopeds!), I was greeted by lovely people, wonderful pets, served a delicious meal, was taught how to play banjo (life long dream!), bongos, and ukulele, and got to jam with esteemed members of Brännö's very own band "The Burning Islanders".
The next day, we made a trip to the countryside outside Goteborg for a family dinner, where I had my first traditional Swedish meal - a REAL smorgasbord! Pickled herring, herring in different sauces, boiled potatoes, flat, crispy bread, a crayfish and shrimp cake dish, "light" beer, and to top it off, a delicious Swedish birthday cake. Wonderful wonderful meal!
And as a send off, I got to ride in the front crate of the moped from the house to the ferry terminal. A most enjoyable experience!
All in all, I fell in love with Sweden. It reminded me a lot of home - the air was cold and crisp, there were beautiful evergreen trees everywhere, open fields, and I was lucky enough to have been present for the first snowfall of the year.
I can't wait to go back!
The next day, we made a trip to the countryside outside Goteborg for a family dinner, where I had my first traditional Swedish meal - a REAL smorgasbord! Pickled herring, herring in different sauces, boiled potatoes, flat, crispy bread, a crayfish and shrimp cake dish, "light" beer, and to top it off, a delicious Swedish birthday cake. Wonderful wonderful meal!
And as a send off, I got to ride in the front crate of the moped from the house to the ferry terminal. A most enjoyable experience!
All in all, I fell in love with Sweden. It reminded me a lot of home - the air was cold and crisp, there were beautiful evergreen trees everywhere, open fields, and I was lucky enough to have been present for the first snowfall of the year.
I can't wait to go back!
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| Brännö |
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| Brännö |
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| Brännö |
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| Moped with crate for carrying things (or people!) |
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| "Swedish" dishes :) |
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| Brännö |
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| Brännö |
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| Ferry coming into Brännö |
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| Ferry terminal on Brännö |
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| Brännö harbour |
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