tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-68199555322672342432024-03-29T03:29:42.475+00:00Soul FodderWanderlust and other things that feed the soulJenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04917172384441849242noreply@blogger.comBlogger27125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6819955532267234243.post-83467256882054708952012-05-14T00:42:00.000+01:002012-05-14T22:32:34.674+01:00For the Love of the Rain<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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“Some people walk in the rain, others just get wet.” – Roger Miller</blockquote>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">It’s raining again in
London.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m lying on the couch, listening
as the rain rat-tat-tats outside my window.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The rain in England constantly surprises me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I expect it to be insistent and hard, matching
the continually grey skies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I do not
expect the rain to be indecisive, falling half-heartedly and intermitedly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Fading in and out as though indifferent to
its purpose.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I am a child of the California
rain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the land of movie stars, the
rain is transient and soft like cotton candy – a delicious treat that melts
away in an instant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My love affair with
the rain began in California.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWtWgT7tZr3fhZuNv26tDumzxf7pMcNVY2dNUbVQZFbiaeC7tqa4X7BJvbwFcvPW29n5c0EDCrjbPeNUO86JiENIGPpHLN9vs6a3jkfXriQ25B5CiOsULNiQKPDPV46To1tAceRJ72szRQ/s1600/let+it+rain.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Let it rain collage" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWtWgT7tZr3fhZuNv26tDumzxf7pMcNVY2dNUbVQZFbiaeC7tqa4X7BJvbwFcvPW29n5c0EDCrjbPeNUO86JiENIGPpHLN9vs6a3jkfXriQ25B5CiOsULNiQKPDPV46To1tAceRJ72szRQ/s400/let+it+rain.jpg" title="Let it rain collage" width="370" /></a></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Rainy days in Los
Angeles were always a treat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They
happened so infrequently and ended so abruptly that I always felt they needed
to be celebrated to their fullest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even
after I had aged past the point where it was considered “seemly”, I could be
found running through the rain, kissing in the rain and generally enjoying the
feel of it on my face.</span><br />
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Having only known the
California rain, it wasn’t until I spent time in Guyana that I realized how
much the qualities of the rain can differ from place to place.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">In Guyana the rain
fell with determination.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It poured out
of the sky in curtains, each drop racing to hit the ground first.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I might have stayed drier standing under a
waterfall.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I fell in love with
the intensity of the rain in Guyana.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">My days in Guyana were split into mirror images.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Half the day was spent in bright sunlight, paired with a blistering heat that seared the skin after mere minutes under the equitorial sun.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The nights were pleasantly warm, humid and featured torrential downpours – the likes of which I had never expereinced before.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">At night I would lie awake in bed, listening to the rain through the open window.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the dark of those nights, the rain sounded like thunder on the corrugated tin roof.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The sound was soothing and it fit with the scents of lush greenery and wet dirt that floated through my window.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqO8GkYzxtNUm_cLWgKC66tSctId3fXTLMVVZ2PhxZUCgUi4Mr_RldHb9hIPDC06d8OucJt_0VVqMF3YDDYWLN5S_Pp0G1ff8CYjTGf_FgQwIcJ0beJ6oAY_HT441pPGVG53GmjgB7H3Kt/s1600/Rain.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Rainy airplane window" border="0" height="353" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqO8GkYzxtNUm_cLWgKC66tSctId3fXTLMVVZ2PhxZUCgUi4Mr_RldHb9hIPDC06d8OucJt_0VVqMF3YDDYWLN5S_Pp0G1ff8CYjTGf_FgQwIcJ0beJ6oAY_HT441pPGVG53GmjgB7H3Kt/s400/Rain.jpg" title="Rainy airplane window" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I spent those wet Guyanese
nights in a state of very near contentment, with one exception.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nights found me seeking protection under a
mosquito net.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Despite that precaution, I
managed to trap a rogue insect inside my net nearly every night.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I never noticed the
bug bites until the next day and in the peace that came after midnight, the
buzzing only added to my overall feeling that the atmosphere was perfect.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was happy to skimp on sleep during those
nights so I could meditate to the sound of the South American rainy season.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">These days, I love
living in London.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here, the rain is
faithful and I am never left <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>waiting
long for its return.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I even saw the
winter face of the London rain when it snowed several times this year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The world is full of
different places, all of which have their own versions of the rain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Each full of nuances and subtle differences,
just like the different places where the rain falls. So here I am, gently drifting
off to my favorite sounds and day dreaming of the hundred different flavors of
rain I haven’t experienced yet.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</div>Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04917172384441849242noreply@blogger.com5London, UK51.5081289 -0.12800551.350006900000004 -0.443862 51.6662509 0.187852tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6819955532267234243.post-88376183128012172342012-04-25T20:16:00.004+01:002012-04-25T20:16:00.760+01:00Wordless Wednesday - So many shoes, so little time<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxha13QInuUiBAzWfr4TH7BuvVFa3fk8sim2EflNpL_CL3KtlzJoX0NxXq2D521GjkJwJBd-SM9PUDqCxErGUQ1S8Y6DtKSvZO2r0GkMDIzSnJsOm4U5s9WThusVTQl4eSlxpim-93lA2m/s1600/DSC_0027_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="404" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxha13QInuUiBAzWfr4TH7BuvVFa3fk8sim2EflNpL_CL3KtlzJoX0NxXq2D521GjkJwJBd-SM9PUDqCxErGUQ1S8Y6DtKSvZO2r0GkMDIzSnJsOm4U5s9WThusVTQl4eSlxpim-93lA2m/s640/DSC_0027_edited-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
</div>Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04917172384441849242noreply@blogger.com315tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6819955532267234243.post-88342908337452445582012-04-20T12:33:00.000+01:002012-05-13T01:35:20.498+01:00Travel Rules - Does foreign etiquette apply to visitors?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Several years ago, Diesel and I spent two weeks in Rome.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even though it was October, it was surprisingly sultry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Anyone that knows Diesel knows that the man runs hot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not just that, but he literally radiates heat when he gets too toasty.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As a result, he rarely wears more than a t-shirt and shorts unless he has to.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And for our visit to Vatican City and St. Pauls Basilica, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">I insisted that he wear pants</b>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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After all, the Vatican has a strict dress code that specifies no skirts above the knee, no bare shoulders, no shorts and no bare feet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The last thing I wanted to do after waiting in the massively long line was to return to our rented apartment for him to change.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Grudgingly, and with no small amount of grumbling, he acquiesced and we headed off to Vatican City.</div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">And that was where I got into trouble.</b></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIB5Z3cCNuxdQrLkpqADocHDtsdWxgIMau-lZ2X3v9iGIpz58ahEe0bU7lOndmZV7z1h6H4NsQrKMOsWNNZH3GHmHyau36AJE7dg5yLZczpQsAqjDKjq9hrLpi8WSiZ-IeCFGQ1yoEN18l/s1600/IMG_2067_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIB5Z3cCNuxdQrLkpqADocHDtsdWxgIMau-lZ2X3v9iGIpz58ahEe0bU7lOndmZV7z1h6H4NsQrKMOsWNNZH3GHmHyau36AJE7dg5yLZczpQsAqjDKjq9hrLpi8WSiZ-IeCFGQ1yoEN18l/s640/IMG_2067_edited-1.jpg" width="473" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Swiss Guard in Vatican City.</td></tr>
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Not for my outfit, or Diesel’s even, but for everyone else’s.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because a large number of visitors to the Vatican that day were wearing shorts, and Diesel was pissed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because he always runs so hot, Diesel is never in a particularly good mood when he is extra hot, and since I was the one who inflicted the extra warmth on him, he was not a fan of mine that day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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But how was I to know that the dress code wouldn’t be enforced?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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I have always been one to follow the rules and as visitors I felt that we should comply with the wishes of our destination.</div>
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Other than Diesel’s occasionally snide remarks about how I forced him to wear pants against his will (is it me, or does that sound just a little bit naughty?) this incident had mostly been relegated to the annals of history until I spent the weekend in Istanbul.</div>
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I knew before the trip that I would need to cover my head when I visited the mosques.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I even brought two scarfs in different styles with me (have I mentioned I compulsively follow the rules?) just to cover my bases.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibg0FF-V-Bg-gjDU-C3mEiKDNkMz_Cv8lHqtKNcBMRhVq4xzHcAgC9MMiIA0PsTGPymB97E8zGQppq1YFD4jRPwCFmlrqbeedcDd0GGSDH6RHIHvbNhsz8SrLJUuFp_pu1nYLVvt_w4VWl/s1600/DSC_0053_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibg0FF-V-Bg-gjDU-C3mEiKDNkMz_Cv8lHqtKNcBMRhVq4xzHcAgC9MMiIA0PsTGPymB97E8zGQppq1YFD4jRPwCFmlrqbeedcDd0GGSDH6RHIHvbNhsz8SrLJUuFp_pu1nYLVvt_w4VWl/s640/DSC_0053_edited-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Men praying at the Blue Mosque in Istanbul.</td></tr>
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And yet when I was in the mosques, at least <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">half of the women inside had bare heads</b>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I seemed to be one of the few people who were concerned about respecting the cultural standards in Turkey.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And not one word was said to those who were flaunting the rules.</div>
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I feel that observing the cultural expectations of my destinations helps me to understand them better and gives me a more authentic view of what they are truly like for the locals.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think that disregarding the cultural norms of a place is a little like cheating on a significant other - just because you can get away with it, does that mean you should?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Personally, I don’t think so.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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If we act exactly the same way when we are traveling as we do at home, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">is it worth even leaving the house?</b></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">What do you think? Is it important to conform to the expectations of places we visit?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or does it not matter since we are just visitors?<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"></b></i></div>
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</div>Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04917172384441849242noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6819955532267234243.post-60179422822361276942012-04-18T12:13:00.000+01:002012-04-18T12:13:01.019+01:00Wordless Wednesday - Neal's Yard<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn65_lU_buWbYQzv-JFnGE7LLc5TSp84PryjM_pXByQ97aCYXD-yPaOD0x9oL-4UVvdEC8fDr0YReRxicWZZuZjm1fc8hS02MjuCMRlDS_22NODnepay_fjFgBAc79FDHjYrOcIAuWyJkj/s1600/DSC_0011_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn65_lU_buWbYQzv-JFnGE7LLc5TSp84PryjM_pXByQ97aCYXD-yPaOD0x9oL-4UVvdEC8fDr0YReRxicWZZuZjm1fc8hS02MjuCMRlDS_22NODnepay_fjFgBAc79FDHjYrOcIAuWyJkj/s400/DSC_0011_edited-1.jpg" width="362" /></a></div><br />
</div>Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04917172384441849242noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6819955532267234243.post-9252230609957949062012-04-11T09:01:00.002+01:002012-04-11T09:34:42.259+01:00The Motorcycle Watcher in Pune, India<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEFj2jwKU1c48qchEsl72jDehnrQsM3Oe3ANZzr6gaoQPQJXUPVx8XNjtZpRxWpOCkuNv8kXhXRztzMmPGPhgXed5qeFTmbihZ7ZjnoKULr3157SqGwfaH93bQCANeFNTW3EU3zTS14KZH/s1600/IMG_0843_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEFj2jwKU1c48qchEsl72jDehnrQsM3Oe3ANZzr6gaoQPQJXUPVx8XNjtZpRxWpOCkuNv8kXhXRztzMmPGPhgXed5qeFTmbihZ7ZjnoKULr3157SqGwfaH93bQCANeFNTW3EU3zTS14KZH/s640/IMG_0843_edited-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
</div>Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04917172384441849242noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6819955532267234243.post-78088202444976506952012-04-10T15:02:00.001+01:002012-05-14T00:42:27.859+01:007½ Things that have surprised me about living in London<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Moving from California to London was a major life change in many ways, but I have realled enjoyed it. And the time has flown. Last week marked four months since I moved to London. In honor of the occasion, I thought I would share a list of the things that have been the biggest surprises about living in the UK.</div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">1. Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVa_K9CXujgSV4WJKz7bdMbtyjTkt7aQS2J8e5NWcTTSjFIY9CHCb_8Rnp0ozzvPDPa1z1pvGOs6R2kifKxOzb2vnjVJOKW9jPHu96acPvUDTJB9nrFg1619PKY_iT476V7cJiv0jpfm3q/s1600/DSC_0005_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVa_K9CXujgSV4WJKz7bdMbtyjTkt7aQS2J8e5NWcTTSjFIY9CHCb_8Rnp0ozzvPDPa1z1pvGOs6R2kifKxOzb2vnjVJOKW9jPHu96acPvUDTJB9nrFg1619PKY_iT476V7cJiv0jpfm3q/s320/DSC_0005_edited-1.jpg" width="209" /></a>As an American, I know very little about the British royal family. However, one of the first things that I noticed about them was that Queen Elizabeth was married to Prince Philip. Not King Philip, but Prince. I was perplexed. Shouldn’t Queens be married to Kings? I always thought that was the way of royalty.</div>
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Well, it turns out I was wrong - or, at least partially wrong. Since Queen Elizabeth is the sovereign (i.e. she inherited the crown), traditionally her consort remains a Prince so as to not outrank her. </div>
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If the crown had come to Philip, and he was married to Elizabeth, he would have been king and she would become Queen. But when the crown passes to a female, their spouse traditionally remains the Prince-Consort.</div>
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<strong>2. TV Licenses</strong><br />
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It is putting it mildly to say that I was shocked when I found out that I needed to get a license for my TV. On top of the cost of the TV and the monthly service charges, the UK requires that you purchase a yearly TV license for £145.50 ($230.00) (although it’s only £49.50 if your TV is black and white).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The license gives you the right to operate a television at a given residence.</div>
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To be perfectly honest, I’m not sure why I need one, only that it is the law.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They do enforce this, though I have yet to hear of anyone that has been sent to TV jail for not having a license.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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Here is the secret I need you to keep though – I don’t have a license.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I first heard about them I didn’t have a TV.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And now I have approximately one hundred other things I would like to spend that hundred and fifty pounds on.</div>
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So please, be a pal and don’t tell the authorities on me.</div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">3. Pre-made Sandwiches</b></div>
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I’m not sure how this all started, but Brits are kinda funny about their sandwiches - they like them premade and pre-packaged. </div>
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Although, I do have to say that despite the fact that the sammies are premade, they do come in a startling variety of options. Sweet corn and tuna on your mind? We’ve got those. Have a hankering for prawn, BLT or brie, grape and chutney? Got those too.</div>
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And while I do have a fondness for the egg mayo variety (that’s egg salad for you fellow Americans), I do wish there were more places where I could get a customized sandwich that didn’t exist prior to my order being placed.</div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">4. Why would you want to move to London?</b></div>
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Moving to London was a hassle. There are no two ways about it. And in my quest to find an apartment, set up my TV and internet service, get a new cell phone, and a dozen other things, I spoke to a lot of people. A LOT of people. And my typical conversation went something like this.</div>
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Them: You moved from California to London?</div>
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Me: Yep.</div>
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Them: Why would you want to do that?</div>
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And no, to answer the question that I know you are ready to ask, they did not want to know which of the amazing things about London had brought me here. They were honestly confused as to why I would want to leave California and move halfway around the world. I couldn’t understand why they weren’t thrilled to be living in one of the most exciting cities in the world.</div>
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What I’ve decided is that it can be very difficult for people to appreciate the place that they live. It’s just like they say, the grass is always greener on the other side. </div>
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When I lived in Los Angeles, I never gave much thought to the fact that the weather was always nice and that I lived mere minutes from the ocean. When I moved to Northern California, I never appreciated the fact that by driving in one direction I could be in San Francisco in an hour. By driving in the other direction, I would be in Lake Tahoe in the same amount of time. </div>
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The point? It doesn’t matter where you are, or where you go, if you always want to be somewhere else. I am working on being present and enjoying my time in London. One day when I live somewhere else, I want to be able to look back on my time in this city and feel grateful for all that I got to experience. I don’t want to waste my time thinking that being somewhere is would be better.</div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">5. Smoking</b></div>
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I am continuously surprised by the number of people who smoke in London. Every morning, I have to walk through what my co-worker and I have dubbed as “the tunnel of smoke” – a walkway were everyone tends to gather to get their last cigarette before entering the office for the day.</div>
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Not that many people smoke in California. After all the money spent to make your skin, teeth, hair and nails look perfect, you just don't ruin them all with a cigarette. Hell, my aunt is the mayor of Calabasas, California, where they have banned smoking in public areas and mandate 80% of rental apartment buildings to be smoke free (<a href="http://www.tmz.com/2012/04/04/justin-bieber-buys-calabasas-home-local-mayor-welcomes/" target="_blank">she's also a Justin Beiber fan</a>). So that’s the attitude that I am used to when it comes to smoking.</div>
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I'm not sure when, or if, I'll get used to how many people smoke. Though I do envy the numerous smoke breaks that my coworkers take everyday. Maybe there is something to this afterall...</div>
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<strong>6. Apartment Hunting</strong></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Finding accommodation in London was a hassle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the States, you find an apartment building, walk into the office, ask if they have any apartments available and possibly sign a lease.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the UK, you need a realtor. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
Your realtor will help you find and visit available apartments and help you negotiate a lease (this is especially important because properties fly off the market like hot cakes, with a number of them being rented sight unseen due to the competitive market).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oh yea, and they charge you a hefty fee to do it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s on top of the six weeks deposit and the fee you pay to have the apartment inspected.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And don’t forget that if you are paying for all of this out of a foreign bank account (because you need a permanent address in order to open a bank account in the UK) there is an extra charge for that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All in all, this is a very expensive process, time consuming and difficult process. So make sure you like the place you rent you may never <strike>be able to afford to move</strike> want to move.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The US definitly has the right of things when it comes to finding a place to rent.</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">7. Keep calm and carry on</b></div>
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<a href="http://www.keepcalmandcarryon.com/product_images/z/537/KEEP-CALM-POSTER-LOW_large__38515_std.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Image 1" border="0" src="http://www.keepcalmandcarryon.com/product_images/z/537/KEEP-CALM-POSTER-LOW_large__38515_std.jpg" /></a>In 1939, British Ministry of Information produced the original “keep calm and carry on” posters. These fliers were intended to help raise moral during the Second World War. Beginning in 2000, this motto has taken the pop culture world by storm.</div>
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In Sacramento I had a British gentleman who worked for me for two years. He had this slogan on a mug, so I was no stranger to the words when I arrived in the UK. However, I have been surprised by the fact that I see this mantra everywhere. And not just in its original form either. I have seen countless variations from “keep calm and go shopping”, to “keep calm and jingle all the way” for Christmas, and my personal favourite “keep calm and throw a tracker jacker nest at the careers” (<a href="http://soulfodder.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/4-things-hunger-games-taught-me-about.html" target="_blank"><span id="goog_1558446500"></span>for all you Hunger Games fans out there<span id="goog_1558446501"></span></a>).<br />
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While it does get a little old to see the same slogan repeated everywhere, I do appreciate that the Brits can embrace, and have fun with, a bit of their history.</div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">7½. Public Transportation</b></div>
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I’m only counting this one as half because it wasn’t really a surprise in the way the others were. Even though there are delays sometimes, and the <a href="http://soulfodder.blogspot.com/2012/03/incident-with-lady-on-elevator.html" target="_blank">occasionally delusional fellow passenger,</a> I think the public transaportation system in London is magnificent. <br />
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Not only does the London transportation system cover all areas of the city, but it is cheap!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think this is fantastic, especially considering that in Sacramento I used to spend more for my parking pass every month than I did on my car insurance. I <strike>almost </strike>don't even miss having a car here.</div>
</div>Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04917172384441849242noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6819955532267234243.post-73905349552646644872012-04-04T14:11:00.001+01:002012-04-04T14:11:00.875+01:00Wordless Wednesday - The Clock<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgEtuB3c_F2x8oGR3kd1DOv46ZsIeyvLSrTX-84wZxoxQyrHc8BRzTT3uEm4KefPrGWN6-CQxzY9kXMFCBsteSDUExLXf2uAKT5eewQS5MBKFMQBFKvD18L5LvZQ6zwjB0Vp2sZNWvMHmh/s1600/DSC_0040_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="582" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgEtuB3c_F2x8oGR3kd1DOv46ZsIeyvLSrTX-84wZxoxQyrHc8BRzTT3uEm4KefPrGWN6-CQxzY9kXMFCBsteSDUExLXf2uAKT5eewQS5MBKFMQBFKvD18L5LvZQ6zwjB0Vp2sZNWvMHmh/s640/DSC_0040_edited-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
</div>Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04917172384441849242noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6819955532267234243.post-83949236111130938922012-04-03T17:59:00.002+01:002012-04-20T12:35:14.532+01:004 Things The Hunger Games Taught Me About Traveling<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Unless you have been living under a rock, you have probably heard of the The Hunger Games trilogy in both book and movie form. While most of us will never have to fight to the death with 23 others, there are still several themes in The Hunger Games that are applicable to those of us that love to travel (and live). Besides the scathing indictment of reality TV (which I wholeheartedly agree with), these are some of the lessons that directly apply to those of us with wanderlust in our hearts and perennially itchy feet.</div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">If it feels wrong, run</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJIObv1ne-Js8MN_94rMySRuN6Pz5wEvDxFON4GYQjte9PVctvv_N_roXhJGtZo85iyJ_FQ3Obir-IEU5nQzkZ-mR2qmZPRW4WabSCMioFA5P2yGCZ6xCNv-zRWR2sX3shu91k5ORmw3BS/s1600/HG.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" dea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJIObv1ne-Js8MN_94rMySRuN6Pz5wEvDxFON4GYQjte9PVctvv_N_roXhJGtZo85iyJ_FQ3Obir-IEU5nQzkZ-mR2qmZPRW4WabSCMioFA5P2yGCZ6xCNv-zRWR2sX3shu91k5ORmw3BS/s1600/HG.jpg" /></a>Ok, running may not always be the answer, but you should definitely trust your gut. If something feels off about a place or a person, it probably is. <b>Chances are that the feeling of unease is your survival instinct</b>, and not your paranoia, that is telling you it’s time to be moving on. Unlike the actual Hunger Games, travellers don’t need to put themselves into dangerous situations to “win”. A traveller wins by enjoying the experience, trying something new and making it home safe and sound. </div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Team up for survival</b></div>
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Being self-sufficient and traveling independently doesn’t mean that you can’t interact with others. Whether they are locals or fellow travellers, w<b>e can all gain something through our interactions</b>. It can be something as simple as a recommendation for a great restaurant or site that is off the beaten track or something deeper like a shared meal or experience. These kinds of interactions serve to enhance the travel experience and (hopefully) lead to more meaningful interactions with the destinations you visit.<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Expect the unexpected</b></div>
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In traveling, as in life, things never go exactly according to plan. I think of it like planning a wedding – no matter how hard you try, something is destined to go wrong. </div>
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If you prepare yourself for things to go wrong beforehand, it will be much easier to take issues in stride when they pop up. And remember, if everything went perfectly it probably wouldn’t be much fun anyways.</div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">When all else fails, adapt</b></div>
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When your allies are killed off, your flights are cancelled and things generally go to hell, it is easy to throw up your hands and give in to self-pity or anger. Instead, try to concentrate on the unique opportunity you are presented with. </div>
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Just like a knife only becomes sharp when it is rubbed against the side of a stone,<b> we only grow as people and adventurers when we are challenged.</b></div>
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Lost in a city? Enjoy seeing a side of the town that most travellers don’t have a chance to see. </div>
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Encountering delays or difficulties? Roll with the punches and enjoy the extra time you have in a location. A lot of people will never have the opportunity to be where you are. <br />
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And besides, things are good because no one is trying to kill you (hopefully).</div>
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So next time you are travelling, remember The Hunger Games.<br />
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And may the odds be ever in your favor.</div>
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</div>Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04917172384441849242noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6819955532267234243.post-66303515436452370552012-03-28T14:08:00.001+01:002012-03-28T14:08:00.084+01:00Wordless Wednesday - When spring comes early<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxCSLEXe2aeFoFD6arrFtCXuVcLVwvWdnHiYY3HOgHDA9Vo5DGD8iUU6Rz8Q8KvoWgQ5-dzLxXObPMqcbS6sSXU5EMIzHqmJflhibpdIdh3tOfXW7CCClucx66bE3gyu4FlxaKpGGfsG3F/s1600/DSC_0151.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxCSLEXe2aeFoFD6arrFtCXuVcLVwvWdnHiYY3HOgHDA9Vo5DGD8iUU6Rz8Q8KvoWgQ5-dzLxXObPMqcbS6sSXU5EMIzHqmJflhibpdIdh3tOfXW7CCClucx66bE3gyu4FlxaKpGGfsG3F/s640/DSC_0151.JPG" width="424" /></a></div><br />
</div>Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04917172384441849242noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6819955532267234243.post-45391767592093215472012-03-26T12:25:00.001+01:002012-03-26T13:38:33.611+01:00The best little bakery in Paris<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "inherit", "serif";">To be fair, I may not be 100% qualified to make that judgement. However, Boulangerie Bazin was my absolute favorite bakery in Paris. And based on the constant line - out the door and up the street - the local Parisians agree with me.</span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "inherit", "serif";">The croissants were, in one word, AMAZING: light as air, crispy on the outside, fluffy on the inside.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "inherit", "serif";">Ooh la la!</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "inherit", "serif";">The only thing that would have made them better was if they were just out of the oven, and still warm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Although considering that I didn’t purchase them until 11 AM that might be asking a little much. </span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_RyENBoTq-FKLkMwn8GhF5MXF0gOj5t6zDBvcSM4QQqL3Yr-fTJVRcCc0rzC86weFMjzTd8lZ6NMT5JAel9JwNjxbU3NmriHU9bAfKwTHAJUTLq1g2oulihkGcp06K01bCFwexe2qv8W4/s1600/bakery1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="237" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_RyENBoTq-FKLkMwn8GhF5MXF0gOj5t6zDBvcSM4QQqL3Yr-fTJVRcCc0rzC86weFMjzTd8lZ6NMT5JAel9JwNjxbU3NmriHU9bAfKwTHAJUTLq1g2oulihkGcp06K01bCFwexe2qv8W4/s320/bakery1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "inherit", "serif";">Everything else looked top notch too. If I had a better command of French - which is currently limited to "croissant, s'il vous plaît"- <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">I may have ordered half of the shop</b>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As it was, the extra croissants, pan au chocolat and brioche I picked up barely lasted the day.</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFERENlrh3Usrq8mfq_CcgiHo_pJMO-YCdc2y-RgQfFJfiQLDTq4JbrMZL8p4gHpxeyN0o1RRWOFC3qyQUimdA5Iw89ui4LppGcm-yrGRAsdMTVluN920r3Dh8CgrR3jONsCA92AKwnnvi/s1600/bakery2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="234" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFERENlrh3Usrq8mfq_CcgiHo_pJMO-YCdc2y-RgQfFJfiQLDTq4JbrMZL8p4gHpxeyN0o1RRWOFC3qyQUimdA5Iw89ui4LppGcm-yrGRAsdMTVluN920r3Dh8CgrR3jONsCA92AKwnnvi/s320/bakery2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "inherit", "serif";">Boulangerie Bazin specializes in </span><b><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #202122; font-family: "Verdana", "sans-serif"; font-size: 9pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Bazinette aux Graines </span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #202122; font-family: "Verdana", "sans-serif"; font-size: 9pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">and</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "inherit", "serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "inherit", "serif";">is just a block from the Marché d'Aligre market in the 12th arrondissement (district) of Paris.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Bazinette is named after the proprietor of the shop, Jacques Bazin, and contains flax seeds, sesame seeds and poppy seeds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmrIln7IAmEZdUhx8iFZak9-ZYgchPD9F8HYlPLtD46lnWvJKsfc2u2KqKszUhGZSUxhYkFanaBIC5eyt6QLDMBfMic3riIeEpStwexaIerD5Sarqw9drysP38uT2i1qkwQW-Q1FQ8Tygk/s1600/bakery4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmrIln7IAmEZdUhx8iFZak9-ZYgchPD9F8HYlPLtD46lnWvJKsfc2u2KqKszUhGZSUxhYkFanaBIC5eyt6QLDMBfMic3riIeEpStwexaIerD5Sarqw9drysP38uT2i1qkwQW-Q1FQ8Tygk/s320/bakery4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-family: "Lucida Grande", Verdana, "Bitstream Vera Sans", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 19px;"><div class="separator" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "inherit", "serif";">However, if you want to try one of these beauties, make sure to get there early.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or else all of the locals who are in the know will snatch them all up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So make sure to stop there on your way to Marché d'Aligre (which is also definitely worth a visit) and stock up on all of your favorites.</span></span></span></div><div align="center" class="separator" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;">Bon appetit!</span></span></span><br />
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</div><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "inherit", "serif";">Boulangerie Bazin</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "inherit", "serif";"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;">85, bis rue de Charenton (12th arrondissement)</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "inherit", "serif";"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;">Métro: Ledru-Rollin</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "inherit", "serif";"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;">Tel: 01 43 07 75 21</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "inherit", "serif";"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;">(Closed Wednesday and Thursday) </span></span></span><br />
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Do you know of any fantastic bakeries in Paris (or anywhere else for that matter) that I have to check out on my next visit?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Tell me about them!</span></span></span></i><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"></div></span></div>Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04917172384441849242noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6819955532267234243.post-28634887248801070332012-03-23T14:37:00.018+00:002012-03-23T14:37:00.788+00:00Travel Lust - Sucky posts, tourism boards and crazy people<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Travel Lust is a weekly compilation of my favorite travel related articles from the previous week.<br />
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<a href="http://www.successfulblogging.com/blog-post-writing-tip/" target="_blank">Are you afraid that your blog posts suck?</a> - I think all bloggers are afraid of this, but the author gives you reasons why you don't have to be a perfectionist to write good blog posts.<br />
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<a href="http://www.dangerous-business.com/2012/02/how-to-work-with-tourism-boards/" target="_blank">How to Work with Tourism Boards</a> - One day I hope to have the guts and the following to attempt making pitches to Tourism Boards. In the meantime, it's good to learn from an insiders perspective.<br />
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<a href="http://www.pret-a-voyager.com/2012/03/stuff-parisians-like-say.html" target="_blank">Stuff Parisians Like to Say</a> - Ah Paris, I may never understand you.<br />
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<a href="http://anotherpassportstamp.blogspot.com/2009/11/tipper.html" target="_blank">Tipper</a> - I'm not even going to try to deny it. I am going to be one of those crazy old people.<br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Have you seen something you think I might like?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Tell me about it!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m always looking to discover interesting new articles and other fun stuff.</span></i></div></div>Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04917172384441849242noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6819955532267234243.post-44574966575458189062012-03-21T14:45:00.000+00:002012-03-21T14:45:00.328+00:00Wordless Wednesday - Sunset in Canary Wharf<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLskqIf2ZkySpFnh49BKj_6S2cpZRq8UpXn9SvN9SfazIfrflcuIZ78GQb31op2YKYRqE_LvmLebEgF_w1qNgNmEozXexk2hJ3hd5bsgatcQnCsG2FKaTJUjKrnuKHRh3VAaYYL5vZxGxa/s1600/Sunset+Skyline+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLskqIf2ZkySpFnh49BKj_6S2cpZRq8UpXn9SvN9SfazIfrflcuIZ78GQb31op2YKYRqE_LvmLebEgF_w1qNgNmEozXexk2hJ3hd5bsgatcQnCsG2FKaTJUjKrnuKHRh3VAaYYL5vZxGxa/s640/Sunset+Skyline+2.jpg" width="528" /></a></div></div>Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04917172384441849242noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6819955532267234243.post-47242655218810697142012-03-20T20:36:00.000+00:002012-03-20T20:36:15.819+00:00Paris and Performance Art<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">I have a confession to make. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Everything I know about performance art I learned from Sex and the City. You know the episode I mean - where Carrie meets Aleksandr at a performance art show and they return at 3am to make sure the artist isn't sleeping or eating a Big Mac. Yeah, that one.<br />
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My take away from that episode? I don't get performance art. <br />
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Now, I'll be the first one to tell you that avant-garde and progressive artists, both in the art and the fashion world, go over my head. Their pieces just aren't my style, and I can live with that. <br />
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However, performance art perplexes me. <br />
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This weekend, I was walking around the Centre Pompidou in Paris and I entered an exhibit and immediately saw a gentleman writhing on the floor. In the half second that I hesitated before rushing to his aid - thank god I hesitated - I realized he had a crowd. I was witnessing my very first, live-and-in-person performance art piece. And it was kind of a let-down.<br />
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I'm not sure who this artist was, or what point he was supposed to be making, but all he did was slowly roll around on the floor of the gallery. It was actually quite bizarre.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I watched him for a while until I became vaguely uncomfortable and moved on.<br />
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The rest of the exhibit shared the theme of performance art, but instead of live viewings, these were all recordings projected onto makeshift screens.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most seemed to involve dance - and I can understand that. Even the sailors-dancing-with-giant-robots kind of dance. <br />
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But one projection stopped me in my tracks.<br />
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There she was, naked from head to toe. Not even veiled in the thinnest layer of modesty.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG79znj6Pe3NFpvkunXmqX6wj94DV-6OPr8aBGzcSKyy5HoG7WjucsGc42Vifizck-cY7_kVAueA4GGyDnbBRe479tS6_9lSyyMcY_efHPFrVlOO7xHrnoSsLz-9IfqDnGPwG7ocfjlb_a/s1600/DSC_0141_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG79znj6Pe3NFpvkunXmqX6wj94DV-6OPr8aBGzcSKyy5HoG7WjucsGc42Vifizck-cY7_kVAueA4GGyDnbBRe479tS6_9lSyyMcY_efHPFrVlOO7xHrnoSsLz-9IfqDnGPwG7ocfjlb_a/s320/DSC_0141_edited-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div align="center" style="text-align: center;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Performance artist in Paris’s Centre Pompidou</span></i></div><br />
She <span style="display: none; mso-hide: all;">nal optimist, ort stamps, ket! travels, meet likeminded individuals and placate my constant wanderlust recordings projected </span>was rolling around a stage that had two dozen bottles suspended over it, slowly dripping olive oil. The stage was slick with the liquid and caused a certain amount of slide to occur with every movement and gesticulation. But the kicker? She was naked, so every third second or so she flashed her gumbo pot at the camera without the slightest hesitation or ounce of shyness. And all that was before she started stroking herself.<br />
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When making a ruling on pornography, Justice Potter Stewart of the US Supreme Court once said that he was not be able to define pornography, but “[he knew] it when [he saw] it". And this friends, was pornography.<br />
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I will be honest; I did spend a bit of time watching this projection. But how could I not? Maybe that's all performance art is about - shock value. <br />
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But if it is, I'm afraid I'm still missing the point. Maybe I really can learn all I need to know about some things from Sex and the City.</div>Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04917172384441849242noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6819955532267234243.post-64643883876022737762012-03-16T22:49:00.021+00:002012-03-19T20:38:30.700+00:00Travel Lust - Backpacks, Bulgaria, Bloggers and Kony<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Travel Lust is a weekly compilation of my favorite travel related articles from the previous week.<br />
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<a href="http://tuckjoetuck.blogspot.com/2012/01/places-to-see-in-2012-extended-edition.html" target="_blank">Places to See in 2012 - Extended Edition</a> - I am seriously considering a trip to Bulgaria after reading this.<br />
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<a href="http://travelllll.com/2012/02/15/network-with-travel-bloggers/" target="_blank">5 Reasons to Network Regularly with Your Fellow Travel Bloggers</a> - Something for me to keep in mind.<br />
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<a href="http://glimpse.matadornetwork.com/on-backpacks-and-babies-an-auto-cartography/" target="_blank">On Backpacks and Babies - An Auto-Cartography</a> - One of the most well written travel stories I have ever read. Inspiration in both content and technique.<br />
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<a href="http://dignityinpoverty.blogspot.com/2012/03/i-am-visible-child-from-northern-uganda.html" target="_blank">I am a Visible Child from Northern Uganda</a> - Invisible Children's video about Kony has been all over the place lately. This is a response from someone who grew up in the shadow of Kony's legacy and is worth reading to get a better sense of how Ugandans feel about this video.<br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Have you seen something you think I might like?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Tell me about it!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m always looking to discover interesting new articles and other fun stuff.</span></i></div></div>Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04917172384441849242noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6819955532267234243.post-40412823810119288712012-03-15T12:30:00.000+00:002012-03-15T12:30:48.748+00:00Its a banner year - Why you Should Head to London During the 2012 Olympics<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;"></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Mention the upcoming Olympic Games and most Londoners won’t bother to conceal their groan. Between the soaring costs, delays to daily commuters and general over-crowding there is no shortage of topics to complain about. However few Londoners mention any of the myriad of benefits and opportunities that come with being in London year's Olympic Games.</span><br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Cultural Events</span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">London is a bustling metropolis that hosts countless events every day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To mark the occasion of London hosting its third set of Olympic Games (previous Games were hosted in both 1908 and 1948), 2012 will be a year of sponsored cultural events.</span><br />
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<div style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Billed to be the largest free celebration of the 2012 Olympic Games, London Live 2012 will be taking place at three of the most quintessentially London locations: Hyde Park, Victoria Park and Trafalgar Square. Large state-of-the-art screens will be erected in all three of the locations that will be broadcasting all of the medal events.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There will also be live music, outdoor arts and opportunities to try out a number of Olympic and Paralympic sports.</span><span lang="EN" style="color: #4c4c4c; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;"><br />
<span style="background-color: white;">Special Celebration Concerts will be held in Hyde Park and timed to coincide with the Opening and Closing Olympic Ceremonies. Ticket prices and headline acts for these concerts are still TBA.<span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;"></span></span></span></div><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="background-color: white;">One of the more innovative happenings this summer in London is the River of Music.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Along both side of the Thames</span> in central London, groups representing all of the Olympic countries will be performing music native to their homelands.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can only imagine how they will represent the USA…country music perhaps?</span><br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Coinciding Events</span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Those more interested in the literary world than that of athletics should note that 2012 marks the 200<sup>th</sup> anniversary of the birth of Charles Dickens.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This anniversary is being marked by museum exhibitions across the city.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Fans of the author may want to check out the Dickens and London exhibit at the Museum of London. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">If Shakespeare is more you style you might check out the World Shakespeare festival which runs from April through September.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The festival will encompass almost 70 productions, along with supporting exhibitions and events, and will take place in seven different locations around England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Not to be outdone by any mere authors, 2012 marks the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is the celebration of Queen Elizabeth II’s 60 years as monarch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To mark the occasion, the country’s second longest reigning monarch is touring the country to see her people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee is being celebrated throughout the Commonwealth countries this year, the event will culminate in Great Britain with a four day holiday that coincides with the Queen’s birthday in early June.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Additionally, a number of museums and historical sites are hosting special exhibits in honour of the Queen’s reign – including a special display of the Queen’s diamonds and jewellery in Buckingham Palace.</span><br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">The Games</span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Of course, one of the best reasons to be in London this summer is for the Olympic Games themselves. Even without event tickets, opportunities abound to enjoy the games first-hand. Various events from the torch run through the city men’s and women’s marathons, and the triathlon cycling and running will present opportunities to cheer on competitors for free as these courses traverse the city.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Not interested in dealing with the crowds in London?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That doesn’t preclude you from catching sight of an Olympic Event.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Road Cycling races are taking place in the Surrey countryside and will present a picturesque setting in which to enjoy this year’s games.</span><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">For more information on the London 2012 Olympics and the various events that are happening, check out </span><a href="http://www.london2012.com/"><span style="color: purple; font-family: Times New Roman;">http://www.london2012.com/</span></a><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">, </span><a href="http://www.worldshakespearefestival.org.uk/"><span style="color: purple; font-family: Times New Roman;">http://www.worldshakespearefestival.org.uk</span></a><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> and <span class="MsoHyperlink"><a href="http://www.direct.gov.uk/diamondjubilee"><span style="color: purple;">www.direct.gov.uk/diamondjubilee</span></a></span><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><u> .</u></span></span></span></span></i></div><br />
</div></div>Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04917172384441849242noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6819955532267234243.post-14622005440977124872012-03-14T10:16:00.000+00:002012-03-14T10:16:00.399+00:00Wordless Wednesday - Chichen Itza<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhagp5wWli1ljhq2jFr564QcYU8OR8KoHrUmGoyk1JbsFCJ34wOey-rUnseWAVpmtI5CZwzfAWbwuepVjXgeLfxQg9a2riVozBaZ59ZHqXlnEMA7XepUAQnoSeurS138ajW7NxJZDg_kubX/s1600/DSC_0056_edited-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhagp5wWli1ljhq2jFr564QcYU8OR8KoHrUmGoyk1JbsFCJ34wOey-rUnseWAVpmtI5CZwzfAWbwuepVjXgeLfxQg9a2riVozBaZ59ZHqXlnEMA7XepUAQnoSeurS138ajW7NxJZDg_kubX/s400/DSC_0056_edited-3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjawbl7r4XsOv2TJt_kNQ55miXwnvLKC9PcGzJbRIPPwGc8iGW_r7pRt1Z7wiKY6y1Esnr-ikYYdUt1FUgzjajkIX7miJmUhiDNa2swJc0cs0rz3QXgmQaZv2gaE-8R07ZLUK9F71Ju8v-7/s1600/DSC_0085_edited-1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjawbl7r4XsOv2TJt_kNQ55miXwnvLKC9PcGzJbRIPPwGc8iGW_r7pRt1Z7wiKY6y1Esnr-ikYYdUt1FUgzjajkIX7miJmUhiDNa2swJc0cs0rz3QXgmQaZv2gaE-8R07ZLUK9F71Ju8v-7/s400/DSC_0085_edited-1.JPG" width="265" /></a></div></div>Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04917172384441849242noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6819955532267234243.post-5602934953121538712012-03-09T15:10:00.028+00:002012-03-12T14:42:13.073+00:00Travel Lust - Making friends in Nepal, throwing down in the Lego store and enough books to keep me reading for years<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Travel Lust is a weekly compilation of my favorite travel related articles from the previous week.<br />
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<a href="http://twenty-somethingtravel.com/2011/05/american-dream-holding/" target="_blank">Is the American Dream holding you back?</a> - I really like this blog and this article in particular. It really makes me think about what I am doing now and if working for one of the largest financial institutions in the world is really how I want to be spending my time.<br />
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<a href="http://www.thisbatteredsuitcase.com/2012/02/how-to-make-friends-in-nepal.html" target="_blank">How to Make Friends in Nepal</a> - As someone who is naturally shy, I find that this is excellent advice on meeting people while traveling and while at home.<br />
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<a href="http://matadornetwork.com/bnt/the-50-greatest-travel-books-of-all-time/" target="_blank">The 50 Greatest Travel Books of all Time</a> - I love to read. I love to travel. 'Nough said.<br />
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<a href="http://www.europeupclose.com/article/tourists-and-travelers-a-different-outlook/" target="_blank">Tourists and Travelers - A- Different Outlook</a> - This distinction is something that I have been thinking a lot about lately and it is nice to see that I'm not the only one.<br />
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<a href="http://www.everywhereist.com/dick-move-lego-store-lady-and-thank-you-new-york/" target="_blank">Dick Move Lego Store Lady and Thank You New York</a> - The continuing adventures of the Everwhereist!<br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Have you seen something you think I might like?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Tell me about it!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m always looking to discover interesting new articles and other fun stuff.</span></i></div></div>Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04917172384441849242noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6819955532267234243.post-27601743344194829582012-03-07T20:47:00.008+00:002012-03-07T20:47:00.403+00:00Wordless Wednesday - The Builder<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilufRUoWpbZISnzLV7Ex4l6XfVASYv8ljDRgYLhESm7IB8YZjh_-r8uM4FEWb8Sml9Il5ZHDFZAlWoyqNl3zCtwlBiDggfjkkkFnnctUqia4YLp6tQAVLTnhvtBGXMjQy-4NNO5GYUR8o_/s1600/roof+3_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="377" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilufRUoWpbZISnzLV7Ex4l6XfVASYv8ljDRgYLhESm7IB8YZjh_-r8uM4FEWb8Sml9Il5ZHDFZAlWoyqNl3zCtwlBiDggfjkkkFnnctUqia4YLp6tQAVLTnhvtBGXMjQy-4NNO5GYUR8o_/s400/roof+3_edited-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Building a house in Guyana with Habitat for Humanity</div>Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04917172384441849242noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6819955532267234243.post-37502179709301112292012-03-03T18:13:00.015+00:002012-03-27T19:40:27.319+01:00The Incident with the Lady on the Escalator<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I had a car before I moved to London from Sacramento. I went wherever I wanted to, whenever I wanted. Even if that meant just driving around endlessly when I was pissed off and needed to think – a gas guzzling habit that I picked up from my dad. To be honest though, I was excited about the prospect of selling my vehicle and relying on public transportation in the UK. In fact, I thought it would be fun and somewhat glamorous to take the tube every day and leave the navigation up to someone else. Now instead of fighting my way through traffic and dealing with other peoples' road rage, I get to read on my way to work.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The aspect of public transportation that I never gave much thought to was other commuters. To my pleasant surprise, I find it endlessly entertaining to watch people on the tube being themselves. Sometimes it is inspirational - like the teenager who gave up her seat for the old man with the cane and severe limp. Sometimes it is thought provoking - what happened to that girl to make her sit alone and cry through the last ten stops? But sometimes I see something that makes me stop in my tracks.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The London Underground has some of the longest escalators I have ever seen. Some seem to travel several stories to bring people either down into the depths of the earth or back up to the surface. With these long rides, certain etiquette has been developed (and it always surprises me how well it is observed). Those who step onto the escalators and stand there, enjoying the ride, stay on the right hand side. Those who wish to charge up or down the escalator so they can reach their destination a minute or two faster pass on the left. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">And that is how I ended up witnessing what will now be referred to only as “the incident”.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I was standing on an escalator, admiring the colourful ads and waiting to be deposited on the train platform. A number of people were walking down the steps on the left hand side, including a twenty-something Asian girl. She made it two steps past where I was standing when her pencil thin stiletto landed awkwardly on the ridged edge of the escalator stair. Immediately her ankle crumbled and her body began twisting forward. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I barely had time to gasp at the possibility she was in for a very painful (and long) header down the stairs, when the young man who happened to be walking behind her grabbed her by the shoulders and pulled her backwards. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">“Ahhhhhhh. Ahhhhhhhhh. Ahhhhhhhhh.” She began to scream as she landed roughly in a seated position. These were the shrieks of someone who thought her life was in danger, not someone who had been helped by a Good Samaritan. She confirmed my thought when she turned around a half second later. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">“What do <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">you</i> think you are doing,” she spat. If looks could kill, this would have been acid in the face.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">“You were falling…” he trailed off shakily. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Mouth agape, I watched the woman huff loudly, stand and hurry down the escalator before any further harm could be inflicted on her person. Shortly after the young man followed, a bewildered expression on his face.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I wish I had said something to the young man. It upsets me that someone who was honestly trying to do a good deed would encounter a reaction like that. I would be surprised if this guy doesn’t have second thoughts before trying to assist someone in the future.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">But what really bothers me is the girl. Really? You fall down and are shocked that someone puts their hands on you to assist. In some ways I want to feel badly for her. I mean, what must have happened in her life to make her so suspicious of strangers?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I would like to say that this would never have happened at home. I would like to think that I come from a place that has people who are more understanding. Except that I know it could have happened. Maybe not in the exact same way, but with its own unique California twist. Oh well. The only thing I know for certain is that I will never understand people. But I do </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">have a lot more time to watch them than I used to.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I also know that karma is a bitch.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div></div>Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04917172384441849242noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6819955532267234243.post-7031576235287696912012-03-02T16:00:00.018+00:002012-03-02T16:00:12.114+00:00Travel Lust - Obscene Gestures, Awesome Words and Surprising Tokyo<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Travel Lust is a weekly compilation of my favorite travel related articles from the previous week.<br />
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<a href="http://pinterest.com/" target="_blank">Pinterest</a> - Not an article per se, but my newest adidiction. I love the possibilities that exist within Pinterest to create pin boards with travel ideas, photography tips and hundreds of other things I haven't even thought of yet.<br />
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<a href="http://matadornetwork.com/abroad/20-awesomely-untranslatable-words-from-around-the-world/" target="_blank">20 Awesomely Untranslatable Words from Around the World</a> - A list of words that have no direct translation into English. My personal favorite it cafuné, what a perfectly lovely word. It makes me want to learn Portuguese.<br />
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<a href="http://uk.travel.yahoo.com/p-promo-3361594" target="_blank">Things Not to do Abroad</a> - Good advice for the frequent traveller.<br />
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<a href="http://traveljunkette.com/seven-things-that-surprised-me-about-tokyo/" target="_blank">Seven Things That Surprised Me About Tokyo</a> - I was in Japan once....kinda...well, my airplane landed there, but I didn't actually make it onto terra firma. Once day I will though, and I will be armed with these fun facts.<br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Have you seen something you think I might like?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Tell me about it!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m always looking to discover interesting new articles and other fun stuff.</span></i></div></div>Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04917172384441849242noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6819955532267234243.post-59162657243529873872012-03-01T00:46:00.004+00:002012-03-02T17:14:13.572+00:00Wordless Wednesday - The Night Bus<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiBGxHVWGqdecU0dkihNWqITDYJacgyXRxX-fGRzKKW8wVFSr0ET8sLBtJDXTl5RCDn9OnqpFugUBYqn0-EnBjD_Rvau5MvuvwnYJpJunQu8xRvzB5dNVc-StR7yPYY6TE11q0xI3ZVp8x/s1600/DSC_0053_edited-1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiBGxHVWGqdecU0dkihNWqITDYJacgyXRxX-fGRzKKW8wVFSr0ET8sLBtJDXTl5RCDn9OnqpFugUBYqn0-EnBjD_Rvau5MvuvwnYJpJunQu8xRvzB5dNVc-StR7yPYY6TE11q0xI3ZVp8x/s640/DSC_0053_edited-1.JPG" width="640" /></a></div></div>Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04917172384441849242noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6819955532267234243.post-10195331231825145532012-02-27T17:29:00.001+00:002012-03-05T14:35:24.433+00:00Mind the Gap! Navigating and Surviving the London Tube System<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Navigating London public transportation can be a daunting task for the uninitiated. One of the brilliant things about <city w:st="on"><place w:st="on">London</place></city> is the extensive network of public transportation that can cheaply and easily deliver you to destinations all over the city.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The <city w:st="on"><place w:st="on">London</place></city> Underground – which is playfully referred to as “the tube” – tends to be the most well known of the various transport systems.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Don’t be put off by the complexity of the system, the trains access all areas of <city w:st="on"><place w:st="on">London</place></city> and in most cases are cheaper and faster than taking a cab.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With these tips, even newbies will soon be navigating their way through <city w:st="on"><place w:st="on">London</place></city> like a pro.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi84ZAM799UMwkBCLoi_mzphH-EzdThdq2S4x5MdSCnlIrg9gZ73h1pwF0qUJklyYNdjkQo_kpwh42NQ3_mqv0s6Qie8b1K1uiWoVNUrOjq9_aaN-n6HMs8DgCKXhS2WUnklLE80T2t5UXm/s1600/The+underground.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi84ZAM799UMwkBCLoi_mzphH-EzdThdq2S4x5MdSCnlIrg9gZ73h1pwF0qUJklyYNdjkQo_kpwh42NQ3_mqv0s6Qie8b1K1uiWoVNUrOjq9_aaN-n6HMs8DgCKXhS2WUnklLE80T2t5UXm/s320/The+underground.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<strong>Vigilance is Rewarded</strong><br />
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Some of the trains are fantastic - they nicely announce every stop, they let you know what connecting lines come into each station and they inform you if some of the doors won't be opening (which usually effects the first two sets and last two sets of doors when long trains enter short underground stations). Other trains are, well, silent. A little bit of vigilance will go along way towards making sure you don't miss your station and have to waste time retracing your steps.<br />
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Additionally, don't make the assumption that just because you plan to stay out late that the trains will still be running. Avoid an unpleasant late night surprise and know when the last train will be leaving on your line. Armed with this knowledge, you can either cut your evening short or be sure to have enough cash on hand for a cab.<br />
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<strong>Maps are not to Scale</strong><br />
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The secret that no one mentions is that the Underground maps are not to scale.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The first incarnation of the modern London Underground map was designed by Harry Beck in 1931. Beck straightened the railroad lines and adjusted the position of stations to limit crowding on the map and maximize its ease of use.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This trend has continued to the present date, and while the map is now very user friendly, it can be misleading at times. Traveling from Bank to Mansion House? Don't take the Central Line to the Circle Line - just walk down the block and you are there. Fancy a trip from Regents Park to Great Portland Street? Forget riding the Bakerloo to the Metropolitan, you are practically right there already. The lesson here - just because you can take the tube doesn't mean that you have to.<br />
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<strong>Personal Space is Scarce</strong><br />
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Be prepared to get up close and personal with your fellow commuters on the Tube. Trains can often be packed to the brim (take my advice, do whatever you can to avoid the Jubilee line at rush hour). People can, and will, look over your shoulder to see the games you are playing on your phone, or to share the novel you are reading. As such, Tube rides are inopportune times to read or write dirty text messages or death threats. It is best to leave these kinds of tasks until you have a little more elbow room. Besides, it’s best to keep your plan to take over the world a secret until you are ready for your big reveal.<br />
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Also, make sure to keep an eye on your belongings. Pickpockets can and will steal from those who are not paying attention. This is especially true during the busy periods. When you have strangers pressed up against you on all sides, it can be tricky to identify if someone’s hands begin to wander towards the expensive smart phone hanging out of your pocket.<br />
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<strong>Never Eat Soggy Waffles</strong><br />
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Considering all of the years I spent in school, there are very few things that I learned and still put into use on a frequent basis.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One is a little song I learned in first grade that helps me remember how to spell “because”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The other is Never Eat Soggy Waffles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Besides being excellent gastronomic advice, this is a </span>mnemonic school children are taught to remember to what each point on a compass refers (North, East, South and West). I find that using this tool to determine the direction I'm traveling is a huge help for when I get to a crowded intersection that splits off to the East and Westbound trains. I never want to be the inconsiderate doofus that is blocking traffic while they try to consult their map to determine which direction they need to go.<br />
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Still intimidated? Try using an App to map out your journey. My personal favorite is Tube Deluxe and my be the best 99 cents I've ever spent.<br />
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<em>For more information on the London Underground, ticket prices and train schedules, see </em><a href="http://tlf.gov.uk./"><em>TLF.gov.uk.</em></a><br />
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