Paris!

Bonjour!

Yesterday morning we left London, took the ferry across the English Channel from Dover to a port in France and from there drove to Paris. Along the way, we passed the Canadian National Vimy Ridge Memorial, which is stunningly magnificent not only because of it's size but also because of the solemness I felt just looking at it. 

After arriving in Paris in the afternoon, we toured all the most notable sights by coach. We then stopped at a little french restaurant near the Orsay museum for some escargot, along with champagne and a selection of french cheeses. This was my first time having escargot and I say it tastes kinda like garlic! Even though I love garlic, I don't think I could willingly eat an entire plate of them, knowing that I'm actually eating snails. In this case, it's matter over mind!

This morning the group went to the Palace of Versailles but I didn't have much interest to go there since I've seen the palace's replica in Vienna - Schönnbrunn. Instead I caught a bus into the city and then took the RER train and got off near the Notre Dame cathedral. This is such a beautiful cathedral that I could spend hours starring in front of it just trying to interpret all the illustrations around the doorways and what they might symbolize.

I wandered down from the Cathedral along the Seine river to the Louvre museum. I've been inside the museum before and would've liked to go inside again to see some of the other exhibitions I didn't get to see before, but the line ups were seriously hours-long and I didn't not have a lot of free time in Paris. 

From there though, I walked through the Tuileries, past the Egyptian Concorde, and finally onto the infamous Champs-Elysees taking a ton of pictures along the way! All together, this walk took me about 4 hours, but this was a rather leisurely walk with quite a few stops along the way to take in some of the smaller treasures that Paris and it's people have to offer.

Tomorrow I plan on walking up the Eiffel Tower (approx 600 stairs), which can only be done up to the 2nd level and from there I must take the elevator. Hopefully I'll have some good weather tomorrow like I did today!

Anyways, I'm going to go continue wandering...

Au revoir!

Beware of German Trains (some are not foreigner friendly)

I had to take a train from the Munich train station to Munich's airport. I had gotten on one that claimed to take me to the airport - the S1 train. However it came to my surprise that the train I was on, actually split into 2 parts and each went in separate directions (1 to the airport and 1 to well, basically the middle of nowhere). After wondering where the heck I was and noticing the airport was nowhere in sight, I realized the train had broke up, and I ended up on the wrong half of the train that went elsewhere. I then had to hop on the train going the opposite direction and 20 minutes later I was back at the main Munich train station and went back to the S1 train platform, but this time I sat on the opposite end of the train! I can laugh at it now but it was not so funny then! Especially when you're in a time crunch to make your plane on time! This is what I meant by the title - German Trains are not foreigner friendly - there was no English (or any other languages for that matter) sign or announcement stating only one part of the train actually goes to the airport. Not the most helpful!

I ended up making my flight on time nonetheless, and flew to Heathrow, London, where I  caught the 'tube' for the first time; taking the Picadilly Line to Russell Square where my hotel is, and which is the starting point of my Contiki tour. Our tour leaves here at 6am tomorrow and we head onwards to Dover and then Paris!

I'll post again asap...

Onwards to London

Peter's house - where I have been staying the last few days in Austria is pretty much paradise, seriously, it's absolutely gorgeous. It looks just like a mini Canada! Everything is very green with every shade possible and really lush.

The last 2 days Peter took me on some trails around Styria which were really beautiful! Trails up and around in the mountains, one of which led to a really stunning cascading waterfall called the Riesach Waterfall. I haven't seen any wildlife, just a lot of cows! 

Peters mom made me my first schnitzel, chicken schnitzel topped off with cranberry sauce. This has now got to be one of my most favourite dishes of all time! Danke mom!

I also tried for the first time Pumpkin Oil. Something Peter has been telling me about for a very long time! It has a very strong nutty taste and is a thick dark green consistency. After trying it over some salad and veggies, I love it! Styria, the province where Peter lives, is actually known for it's Pumpkin Oil as it is quite a culinary speciality... even sometimes known as "Green-Gold".

Right now, I am sitting inside Starbucks at the Munich train station, before I take another train to the airport to catch my flight to London to begin my tour with Contiki tomorrow morning!

My stay in Austria was great, but I will be back in September after my tour, for some more schnitzel! 

Time to go grab some lunch before my next train!

Ciao!

I'm Here!

12 hours later and Guten Morgen from Europe! I am definitely feeling the difference of being 9 hours ahead of my usual time, since right now it's 11am here and for back in BC it would be 2am!

I was picked up in Munich by Peter yesterday evening, and from there we drove to Salzburg in Austria. In true Austrian culture we stopped to have a beer in the city centre! We then continued driving to Peters home in Rohrmoos-Schladming (Austria), to find mom had made us a delicious vegetable soup and an apricot pastry dessert, which was a ball of dough baked with an apricot inside, then cut open and drizzled with butter and icing sugar powder! So so good!

Today's my first full day here, and while Peter is at work... I am touring around the city of Salzburg! I've been here once before (4 years ago now) so I remember my way around the city a bit. I am currently on the famous street of Getreidegasse, sitting inside a McDonalds using the free WI-FI.

Well since it's still early I have the whole day now to venture around and find some Salzburg treasures!

Take Care!