Kat's Ethio-Blog

Friday, 8 November 2013

Three B's: Brighton, Birthday and Bath, with B'day shining Brightest!

The UK trip allowed me to be there for Allison's birthday October 28th. We travelled back from London and arrived back in Southampton around 3, Oct 28th. It seemed fitting that this date also marked the beginning of half term at school so both Kat and Al were free from any teaching obligations. We browsed around Southampton, West Quay and then settled at an Italian restaurant for a late lunch. I had been in contact with Kat who was planning a surprise for Allison's birthday which would include a mini-scavenger hunt, dinner at their favourite Thai restaurant, presents, cake and candles. For those of you who know Allison you will appreciate how difficult it is to surprise her. Let's just say there were a few glitches, but nevertheless the outcome was a huge success as we ushered in Al's 24th year with laughs, wine, Thai, presents and cheese cake! This being Allison's 3rd B'Day Dinner, all in all, she had had 3 days of birthday cheer.

Waiting for the B'day Girl

Your favourite eating spot, Schweet Girl.

Surprise!

Come on in.

A little red dress! Perfect.

Make a wish!

So the week before B'Day Al and I explored the sights and happenings of Brighton. UK has a patent on quaint cities and Brighton is no exception. I can well imagine that Brighton in the summer must be a really happening spot, but even in the fall it is busy and a pleasure to explore. The Brighton Pier is huge and house everything from a small amusement park, a games arcade, including slot machines, an aquarium, places to eat , souvenir shops and complimentary deck chairs to sit along the pier to enjoy the view. It was so windy that day that there were no brave souls lounging on the pier. There are many shops to tempt you, including a interesting section called The Lanes. Main street has an array of bigger name stores, yet they blend so nicely in with the stone and elaborate architecture that defines so much of the UK's appeal. We wondered into a pub where I had the first of many fish and chips meals I would enjoy during my three week stay.

View of the Pavilion

Street View

Check out the facade

Al: Nice backdrop

Al: EVEN more impressive backdrop

If there's a tree, Al will find it!

Who makes buildings like this?

Front of the Pavilion

It's fall, but check out the greenery of the walkway

Windy caution sign, but I'm still standing.!

No comment on some of the B&B's we stayed at....:)

Brighton Beach

Brighton Beach with ferris wheel

Home of my 1st fish and chips. Yummie!

The Lanes

Narrow path, but shopping mecca nonetheless!

The day after B'day we went to Bath. If you're tired of seeing quaint, historical and amazing stone structures then STOP reading! The problem is that when you're in the UK, every town, city or parish offers you photo ops worth taking. I took close to 1000 pics, but rest assured I have applied some restraint in providing you with the Cole's Notes version of my UK adventure. I really don't want to be "that" person who says, "Hey, ready to see my vacation slides?"

Bath is considered one of the most picturesque cities in England. We travelled by train for 1.5 hr from Southampton to Bath. Upon arriving we signed up for a Hop On, Hop Off Bus Tour. Well worth taking as the audio commentary is quite informative and if you push and elbow you can secure a front row seat on the upper level of the double decker bus. Kidding, but yeah, we sat front row. Did you know that Jane Austen lived in Bath? Okay, so maybe you need to be a Jane Austen fan to be amazed, but I was thrilled to snap a pic or 12 of the front door of the flat she use to live in. Call me a literary nerd!! The Bath Abbey was worth walking through. Stunning stain glass windows and woodwork and the ceiling was stunning in its intricacy. Al and I chose not to walk through the Roman Baths as we were in search of a stuffed rabbit Jelly Cat. (Yeah, don't ask) Adam, using my camera captured some nice pictures of the interior of the baths for me so you too can take a view. It was a great day and here are pics to prove it!

Let the tour begin

Upclose and personal in our front row seats.

Bus tour view

Low crime rate; small cars only!

Avon Canal visible when you first come into town

Street View

View from the bus

Jane AUSTEN'S front door

Bath Abbey

Ceiling of the Abbey

Roman Baths

Royal Crescent constructed in 1767 -1774 by John Wood

Al sitting on the Tree Hugger Bench

Bath Abbey

Thursday, 7 November 2013

Loving Life in London!

My visit to the UK was ostensibly to see Allison in her new living and work environment, however, a trip to London was also high on the priority list. We decided that we would celebrate Al's birthday weekend in London. We were not disappointed. Kat ordered a taxi service and bright and early Saturday morning, Oct 26th Al, Kat, Steph and I headed to London. The last time I was in London I was younger than Al so this was very special for me to reconnect with older memories and share new ones with my daughter. Once we had dropped off our baggage at our Bed & Breakfast, we headed via the Tube to Piccadilly Circus. The Tube is such an amazing transportation system and it will take you anywhere from the airport to all the major hot spots. London is such a touristy city as throngs of people, cameras in hand, vie for shots of London's famous attractions. All those years ago I remember the never ending presence of scaffolding and construction. Time hasn't changed that reality. Piccadilly Circus was surrounded by fencing and the fountain wasn't working. We just had to pick a "under construction" day!!

Piccadilly Circus

As you gaze down from Piccadilly Circus you view Regent Street, which is the beginning of Soho and very fine and expensive shopping. Shops like Burberry, Coach, UGG, Hugo Boss to name a few, are made more fascinating because of the architecture that contain them. The street and side walks are wide and despite the throngs of people you never feel "too" crowded. Also, considering the number of people the city is so clean and well kept. I was a bit surprised, however, as we walked down the street to see all the USA and NFL banners spanning the street. Wouldn't you know it that we'd be in town while there was a NFL pep rally happening, with a game to follow. Trafalgar Square was difficult to see because of all the banners, kiosks, marching bands and rabid fans. I overheard one Londoner speaking on his phone moaning about all "the bloody American football!". Tee hee, in this case it really was Football and not soccer as the Brits refer to it!

Streets of Soho

Burberry: So chic, so out of my price range

Red Double Decker Bus. Only in Britain despite the USA flag

Allison come back!

Hey Ma! Carnaby Y'all

Disappointing that all the NFL paraphernalia prevented any good photo ops

Entrance way into Trafalgar Square

We stopped off at a pub to enjoy a pint along with fish and chips before continuing towards Parliament, Big Ben, 10 Downing Street , Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace and London Tower. Even though I've seen it all before, I snapped picture after picture as though it was the first time. It's hard to shake the significance and the feeling of awe of actually standing before these famous structures.

Thirsty after all our walking and sightseeing

What, no cell phones ladies?

Mr. PM, could I have a word?

See that black door way at the back? Yeah, I guess the PM isn't receiving today

First peak at Big Ben

Parliament in all its glory

Spires of Westminster Abbey

Crowded entrance

Another angle

Approaching Buckingham Palace from St James Park.

Famous Balcony Scene

London Eye

Canada Gate

Allison: holds symbols of Canadian pride!

Green Park adjacent to Buckingham Palace

London Tower

London Bridge still standing

View from London Tower

Roommates to the end!

Through the course of 2 days in London we took in the sights and had a blast doing it. Saturday night we went out for dinner to celebrate Allison's birthday. The Girls decided to hit the town after dinner, while I pulled the age and sore feet cards. Sunday, after sightseeing Allison and I went for Thai (what else you ask) followed by attending the production of Dirty Dancing. It was a fitting end to a busy two days. Our plan for Monday was to do some shopping, but a heavy wind storm had blown through the UK and it severely crippled the rail system. We ended up taking a Coach Bus back to Southampton since all trains had been cancelled.

London is really a must see among historical cities. I have visual proof of that statement given the number of tourists that roamed the streets when we were there. Hats off to Londoners for providing such an amazing and welcoming city. The Tube gives you economical access to everything and if you get confused (seriously) there are many helpful attendants. We witnessed numerous examples of people going out of their way to be nice. As we stepped out at Piccadilly Circus (our 1st stop) and we were snapping pics a young girl approached and asked if we wanted a group picture. No. What? I witnessed a man who had fallen and look dazed and confused and immediately 2 young Brits were asking him, with those amazing accents, "Do you need any help? Can you stand?" We came out of a small convenience store near our B & B and we were momentarily disoriented, but this man walking by stopped and asked if he could help. But the single most notable act of kindness came about when Allison and I were at Leicester Square purchasing our Dirty Dancing tickets. I was in line when I looked over at Allison who had the look of sheer panic on her face. Oh, oh, "I've lost my iPhone. I don't have it!" Even though she was beyond upset, Al said "let's still get the tickets and not let this ruin our day." We found Kat and Steph who were shopping along Regent St (a miracle in itself) and Kat began to call and message Al's phone. I wasn't holding out much faith considering the size of the city and the likelihood that the phone had dropped out on the Tube; a seriously busy, busy transportation system. Imagine our joy when Kat squealed, "Gabel, your phone is calling me!!" Yes, some amazing Good Londoner Samaritan had found Al's phone and left it with the Tube Supervisor at Gloucester Square.

Our journeys to Brighton, Bath, and Scotland are to follow.

Wednesday, 6 November 2013

What's the meaning of Stonehenge?

Ylvis, the comedy brother duo from Norway are not the first to ask or in this case sing, "What's the meaning of Stonehenge?" Give it a listen and a look and join the millions who seek the meaning behind the most famous henge. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mbyzgeee2mg

From Allison's location in Southampton, Stonehenge is a short (30 minute) train ride to Salisbury, where we caught the Stonehenge bus. Salisbury is yet another quaint English town and as we rode through I snapped pictures from our front row seats in the double decker bus. As you leave Salisbury you travel along narrow tree lined roads that at times are barely able to accommodate two vehicles, let along a double decker bus. Drivers are exceedingly polite (or perhaps just very wise), because in a game of chicken there's no doubt who would win. As we drew closer to the site I was amazed that Stonehenge quite literally rises up in all its glory in the middle of a field. Sheep wander and eat contentedly throughout the beautiful Wiltshire countryside. A visitor centre is being constructed and should be open in December 2013. The bus passed the construction area and we were dropped off to begin the short trek towards Stonehenge; a ring of standing stones set within earthworks. The word henge refers to a particular type of earthwork which consists of a circular or oval-shaped bank with an internal ditch surrounding a central flat area. Stonehenge actually is the reverse of this since its bank is inside its ditch (7). Regardless of this inconsistency, it's 24 ft tall trilithons (two large vertical stones), supporting lintels (load bearing stone) weighing as much as 50 tons, standing in a circle make this phenomenon quite simply Amazing. It is truly a unique experience standing before Stonehenge because of all the history and mystery surrounding this cluster of stones. As I gazed at them I was struck with how surreal the whole experience felt. I mean these stones have been in existence since 3100 BC and no one can explain how it was constructed considering the weight and the lack of technology. It has stood the test of time. You no longer can approach the stones and touch them as in the past people came with pick axes to take some of the mystery away with them. But even gazing from a far fills you with wonder. Stonehenge is now owned by the Crown and managed by English Heritage, while the surrounding land where the sheep graze is owned by the National Trust.