the daily(ish)

Although the area is pretty obnoxious with hordes of people and cheap tourist shops, I don’t think anyone can walk through Piccadilly Circus and not appreciate the beauty, especially at night…

the daily(ish)

I took this picture on our way into London…

I had taken it with the plans to talk about how much I love the taxis here.  Not only are they all cute and British-y, but they are roomy enough to take all our luggage on and still be a comfortable ride.  I can’t tell you how often we ride with suitcases in our laps. 

I failed to take the picture off my camera and saw it today.  Now it’s a farewell photo for my beloved Toms. 

I’ve lost my favorite pair of shoes!  My most comfortable pair!!  In a city where I walk about 3 miles a day!!  How did this happen?  Well, I don’t know.   I really don’t.  I can’t imagine anyone would have taken the ragged things and in truth I found a hole forming on the back edge of the left one the last time I wore them. 

Not that a hole would stop me from wearing them.  I’m a total hobo these days and own very few things that don’t have at least a few pinholes in them from laundry tags.  I’m tired of replacing what hotels and constant wearing and re-wearing (we’ve been in fall weather allllllll year this year) destroys. 

I’m already really missing my Toms and hate the fact that they’ll be my very last pair since I recently found out that their founder supports and donates to a bigoted “straight families are the only families that count” organization.

Goodbye, Toms.  I’ll remember you fondly.* 

 

*Except for the whole “I gave money to a company that supports and organization that thinks I’m a second class citizen’ thing.  Hopefully, the whole “I bought a pair of shoes which in turn provided  a pair of shoes to a needy kid” cancels it out. 

the daily(ish)

I went to the Natural History museum yesterday and was quickly reminded I’m not really a fan of Natural History museums. I don’t like seeing stuffed animals and I hate replicas of just about anything. I want to see the real thing! They did, however, have a fascinating exhibit going on though that I really enjoyed. It was about sex in nature.

Now, I know some of my American readers are thinking--- OMG- did she say sex was fascinating on her blog?!?! I know they are because that’s how we roll in America. We’re total prudes! Please note that I say “we” because I, too, am a prude. I just didn’t realize I was until I left the good ol’ U S of A and found myself with mouth agape clutching my heart at people making out (read- practically doing it) on park benches, up against buildings and just about anywhere in public throughout Europe and South America. That is NOT okay in the U.S. and although I think my mind has broadened considerably with travel, I’m perfectly okay with clinging to my own culture on this one.

The exhibit was really very enlightening though. It was so interesting to learn about the different mating rituals of different species as well as the technical aspects.

Nature is truly freaking amazing- like a female mallard is routinely forced by males to mate, she can’t fight them off, but to ensure her offspring are getting the genes she deems the best she literally controls a number of internal passages and opens the real one that leads to the eggs only to the one duck she wants to have little ducklings with. Or how about that male guppies hand (fin?) over a sack of sperm to the females that they use at their own discretion to fertilize their eggs. Ooh or that there are 450 species that are known to have homosexual relationships. I guess that whole “it isn’t natural” argument is really out the window now isn’t it?

Aside from all the interesting facts, I’d say the very best part of the exhibit were these Green Porno clips starring Isabella Rossellini…

Absolutely hilarious, even for a prude like me.

the daily(ish)

These signs were everywhere in the cable car and train stations in Chamonix-Mont Blanc…

Translation- hold your ice pick in your hand so you don’t gouge someone’s eyes out with it hanging on your backpack in a crowded cable car or train.

We actually saw people who didn’t heed these signs and can’t tell you how dangerous it was as they pushed their way through the crowds.  Le idiots.

Geneve

Save the nightmarish 3 hours it took to get home last night, we had a great weekend!  Just like on our honeymoon, I’m going to pretend the UK border control wasn’t acting like you were trying to enter the pearly gates and remember only the wonderful parts of the weekend.* 

So…

Friday night we arrived in Geneva.  Aside from one very rude train worker guy who treated me like an idiot for not seeing the fine print on a sign, it was incredibly easy to get into the city.  6 minutes from the airport to the city center and our hotel was about a  2 minute walk from there.  Oh, and the ticket was free!  Actually, when you visit Geneva all your public transportation is free.  Which is awesome in itself, but even more so in a city where everything is apparently made of gold, or at least you’d think so with the prices.  Seriously, my jaw is sore from dropping at the prices of everything all weekend.

We hit the hay early that night because we had an early tour Saturday morning.  After a quick breakfast and 5 minute walk to the bus station, we were off to the French Alps.  We stopped in Chamonix, a ridiculously quaint  little French ski village.  Chamonix is famous for being the site of the very first winter Olympics and being at the base of Mont Blanc, the tallest peak in Europe. 

As we were pulling into town I realized I had to start facing the fact that I had booked a tour which I knew included very high cable car rides.  Very high, as in over 12,000 feet high. 

I was pretty nervous when we got on…

It was actually two separate cable cars, but I ended up doing very well, thank you very much…

See, I totally did it without any tears or freaking out.  Although if you look closely you can see my kung fu grip on the rail.

Once up top we were blown away by the scenery…

Can we just note how gorgeous my Wife’s eyes are in the snow? 

We felt like we were on top of the world, high above the clouds and amid the gorgeous Alps.  It was just absolutely breathtaking and I took a million pictures so be sure to check out the album. 

Afterwards we had a delicious lunch in Chamonix and then took a little mountain train to the Mer de Glace glacier.  There we took yet another cable car and then descended 400 steps to the glacier.  Each year they tunnel out an ice cave in the glacier where you can walk through and look at ice sculptures…

We walked inside a glacier!  Unbelievably cool, both literally and figuratively.

It was actually very disheartening to see how the cable car used to take you to the glacier, but thanks to global warming they’ve had to add all the stairs to get you lower and lower. 

400 steps is no joke on the way up, but the views were really beautiful and we thankfully got a seat on the little train on the way back to Chamonix.

We were totally wiped by the end of the day…

A couple hours later and we were back in Geneva where we both took a much needed nap before heading out in search of dinner. 

Sunday was spent walking around Geneva…

The old town part of the city is really lovely, full of narrow winding streets and beautiful old buildings.  And of course the jet d’eau was very impressive.

We strolled around, visited St. Peter’s Cathedral, found some lunch and eventually headed out to the airport. 

Then we arrived in London and breezed through immigration.  We didn’t have to walk the back 40 to get to the train station only to find out we had to wait 25 minutes for the right train.  We didn’t choke down food at Victoria Station because it was already so late when we got into the city and we so didn’t want to cry when we finally collapsed onto the bed 3 hours after arriving.** 

All the pics from the weekend…

 

*Although I would like to state for the record- UK, you are not heaven. Far from it, my friends.  You have separate hot and cold faucets, a horrible health care system and an exorbitant amount of tax money goes to furnishing a lifestyle for a queen and her offspring.  Helloooo, it is 2011.  I assure you, I do not want to illegally (or legally for that matter) want to stay in your country indefinitely, so no need for the 3rd degree.  Also, maybe you should have more than 3 people working at the border when 3 flights are arriving at Gatwick.

**Or that’s how I’m going to remember it.

A change for the better

Just to update those who care and especially to update my friend who is coming and I know reads the blog- we have a great room now!  It’s large, totally not creepy and there is no sign of this guy…

anywhere!

They even promised us we could have this exact room each week.  Thank goodness.

Hope everyone has a great weekend!!  We’re off to Geneva and to take a peak at Mont Blanc!

the daily(ish)

The tents at Oktoberfest are insanely crowded. The beer maids (I’ve totally made that term up for them. I have no idea what they call them, but waitress sounds wrong) blow whistles as they plow through the crowds with their liters of beer and food…

If you don’t heed the warning be ready to be pushed pretty aggressively out of their way. I saw more than a few elbows thrown. I pray I don’t hear a whistle in public anytime soon, because I’ll likely throw myself to the ground. I’m still a bit shell-shocked.

Refreshing

For my American readers…

Why isn’t this woman president?  How refreshing is it to hear some common sense coming from a politician these days?

the daily(ish)

I think I’ve mentioned before how I have a hard time at museums because I want to touch stuff. And by that I mean, I really want to touch stuff. I have a tough time being able to appreciate it without putting my hands on it.  If we’re touring some castle or church or temple or what have you, I’ll inevitably touch walls and door handles as we walk through. (Note to self- maybe this is why you’re always sick?!?!)  Anyway, I want to touch things and if it’s a book, I’ll want to smell it as well.  

Victoria and Albert Museum, you are awesome…

Ming vase from the 16th century and I got to touch it!  Legally. 

There aren’t a ton of things in the museum you’re allowed to touch, which yes, I realize makes a lot of sense, but there were a few and it was enough to make this museum-goer a very happy one.

It also made me realize that I’m not the only weirdo who wants to touch things at museums.

the daily(ish)

Oh, how I wish this was the fashion now…

Sure, you’d have to turn sideways to go through any doors and I guess sitting would be quite the challenge, but my Latin hips would be ever so grateful.