editor's note: written on Thursday, Sep 9
After our crazy time in London, I felt that anything would have been a disappointment but boy was I wrong when we got to Ireland. Sure Dublin seems like another large British city since the architecture and building heights feel quite like London, but that’s where the similarities end. Filled with incredibly friendly people (and HORDES of American tourists), Dublin is a now a major European Capital city that is experiencing incredible growth and a hungry economy that is surging faster than the Guiness can be poured.
In an attempt to Create Value™ (Dublin is one helluva expensive city) we decided to give the Back-Packer’s thing a go. The first time Gavin visited Europe after college, he did what most recent college American college graduates do and got a rail pass and stayed in hostels along the way. I didn’t get a chance to do the whole Europe thing after I graduated, so I figured this would be my first time at it and boy was I in for a shocker. Some say that I’m a coddled and spoiled brat, but I’ve really gotten accustomed to having my own living space and privacy and it was quite a rude awakening when I found out that we had to share a 6 bedroom closet with a middle aged German couple and two young Aussie girls. (I figured it would be all male or female or trans-gendered or something, but that’s not how it works in Ireland! So much for the conservative Catholics!) Let’s just say that after a few beers to calm my nerves and some well needed ear-plugs and a face mask, I was ready to have quite a nice sleep. If you can get over the smell of feet, then staying in a European Hostel is quite the way to Create ValueÔ.
Thursday, September 14, 2006
Wednesday, September 13, 2006
Ryanair and the £1 Fare
For those of you who aren’t In-The-Know, Ryanair is Europe’s leading low-fare carrier. Patterned after Southwest in the US, Ryanair flies an entire fleet of Boeing 737s and are as bare-bones as you can get. For example, their seats don’t recline, the safety cards are printed right on the back of the seat in front of you, there are no seat pouches and they charge you for just about everything (drinks, snackies, checked luggage, and other amenities). If you have a flexible schedule and know how to work the system, Ryanair can be the absolute cheapest way to get around Europe. For example, Gav and I got £1 (equivalent to $1.89USD) airfares from Nottingham East Midlands, England to Dublin and again from Dublin to Brussels. Now that’s seriously hard to beat! Of course, we had to pay the taxes imposed by the British and Irish governments, but you can’t escape that stuff.
Cricket
editor's note: This blog was originally written and meant to be posted on Aug 30.
In addition to Creating Value™ , we've also been on the look out for Cutural Experiences. These could be as simple as trying a new dish (soul food in the south, fish and chips in London) or learning new slang.
While in London, Gav and I got introduced to cricket. I always thought cricket was some obscure game that was played in England and the rest of the commonwealth and that it was boring, and I was right. People are quick to bash baseball, but let me tell you ... cricket is boring stuff.
On a sunny Wednesday afternoon, we were treated to an intra-office match of cricket played by Her Majesty's Treasury. We met up with Ryan (who's Aussie) at his office and went
Ryan & Gav on the way to the cricket match.
Ryan, the batman, striking a bowled ball and successfully defending the wickets (he also scored a few runs).
In addition to Creating Value™ , we've also been on the look out for Cutural Experiences. These could be as simple as trying a new dish (soul food in the south, fish and chips in London) or learning new slang.
While in London, Gav and I got introduced to cricket. I always thought cricket was some obscure game that was played in England and the rest of the commonwealth and that it was boring, and I was right. People are quick to bash baseball, but let me tell you ... cricket is boring stuff.
On a sunny Wednesday afternoon, we were treated to an intra-office match of cricket played by Her Majesty's Treasury. We met up with Ryan (who's Aussie) at his office and went
Ryan & Gav on the way to the cricket match.
Ryan, the batman, striking a bowled ball and successfully defending the wickets (he also scored a few runs).
Loving The Lounge Life
editor's note: This entry was originally written and meant to be posted on Aug 31.
On our last night in London , Ryan took Gavin and I to one of the swankiest cocktail bars that I have ever been to, Lounge Lover. We were joined by his two friends Jesse & David. It was quite the way to celebrate the end of what was a great week and a half in my favorite city. We enjoyed wonderful concoctions and each of us shared stories from our travels around the world. Two Yanks and three Aussies in a foreign land, linked by a common language and all from former colonies of the British Empire.
On our last night in London , Ryan took Gavin and I to one of the swankiest cocktail bars that I have ever been to, Lounge Lover. We were joined by his two friends Jesse & David. It was quite the way to celebrate the end of what was a great week and a half in my favorite city. We enjoyed wonderful concoctions and each of us shared stories from our travels around the world. Two Yanks and three Aussies in a foreign land, linked by a common language and all from former colonies of the British Empire.
Party Party Party! That’s our Image!
editor's note: This blog was originally written and meant to be posted on Aug 29.
For those of you who might not know this, Gavin and I love ourselves a big-ass gay dance party and London has one of the best parties in the known world: DTPM. Happening every Sunday at the usually straight and very posh club, Fabric, DTPM combines the best dance music and the absolute hottest guys I have ever seen in one location (and let me tell you, I’ve gone to some great parties in my time!)
On three day weekends, or Bank Holiday Weekends as they are known to the British, DTPM turns into the crème dele crème of parties.
Gav, JL (who was visiting from Seattle/New York) and I met up with a few of our new London BFF’s and danced the night away. Good Times were had by all!
If you’re ever in London for a Bank Holiday weekend, I highly suggest you make DTPM part of your itinerary.
For those of you who might not know this, Gavin and I love ourselves a big-ass gay dance party and London has one of the best parties in the known world: DTPM. Happening every Sunday at the usually straight and very posh club, Fabric, DTPM combines the best dance music and the absolute hottest guys I have ever seen in one location (and let me tell you, I’ve gone to some great parties in my time!)
On three day weekends, or Bank Holiday Weekends as they are known to the British, DTPM turns into the crème dele crème of parties.
Gav, JL (who was visiting from Seattle/New York) and I met up with a few of our new London BFF’s and danced the night away. Good Times were had by all!
If you’re ever in London for a Bank Holiday weekend, I highly suggest you make DTPM part of your itinerary.
A trip to the British Museum
editor's note: this post was originally written and meant to be posted on August 29
If there has been one thing on our trip that I have enjoyed the most, I have to say that it’s drinking. J Secondly, I love going to museums. In each city that we make a stop in, we try to do something educational and visit an art gallery or do something cultural. (Gavin says that we pick the gems of each location, which I’d have to agree with.) We visited the Getty in Los Angeles, the Field Museum in Chicago, The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, The Smithsonian in Washington DC and in London we had to check out the British Museum and National Gallery. The United States has some of the world’s premier museums, but there’s something to be said about a collection that dates back hundreds of years. I mean, you can’t even think of acquiring some of the antiquities that the British have in their collection. I’m not condoning how many of these items had come to rest in their hands, but I am happy that I can see them … for free. Talk about massively Creating Value™.
The most stunning thing about both the British Museum and the National Gallery is that they have entire collections of artifacts or paintings from a classic artist or time period. When most museums would be happy to have ONE mummy, the British Museum has about a dozen. When some galleries would be glad to possess a painting Well the British Museum has about a dozen. No joke!
Probably the most popular of all items in the collection would be the Rosetta Stone. If you’re not familiar with this very important artifact, it allowed linguists to translate ancient Egyptian writing into English (or French or some other modern language). For more detailed info, I suggest you look it up.
If there has been one thing on our trip that I have enjoyed the most, I have to say that it’s drinking. J Secondly, I love going to museums. In each city that we make a stop in, we try to do something educational and visit an art gallery or do something cultural. (Gavin says that we pick the gems of each location, which I’d have to agree with.) We visited the Getty in Los Angeles, the Field Museum in Chicago, The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, The Smithsonian in Washington DC and in London we had to check out the British Museum and National Gallery. The United States has some of the world’s premier museums, but there’s something to be said about a collection that dates back hundreds of years. I mean, you can’t even think of acquiring some of the antiquities that the British have in their collection. I’m not condoning how many of these items had come to rest in their hands, but I am happy that I can see them … for free. Talk about massively Creating Value™.
The most stunning thing about both the British Museum and the National Gallery is that they have entire collections of artifacts or paintings from a classic artist or time period. When most museums would be happy to have ONE mummy, the British Museum has about a dozen. When some galleries would be glad to possess a painting Well the British Museum has about a dozen. No joke!
Probably the most popular of all items in the collection would be the Rosetta Stone. If you’re not familiar with this very important artifact, it allowed linguists to translate ancient Egyptian writing into English (or French or some other modern language). For more detailed info, I suggest you look it up.
A Boy Named Ryan Robertson
It was a year ago when I got the call from Seattle that a dear friend has passed. How could someone who meant so much to me and also someone who I really looked up to suddenly be gone at such a young age? Now I stand here one year later and I am still filled with the same questions and feelings which still linger. I miss you now just as much as I ever did and wonder how you were always able to cast your spell on me and leave me just as (if not more) bewildered than I ever have been before.
Saturday, September 09, 2006
I Love London
London has always been my favourite (notice the spelling?) city in the entire world. From my first visit back in 2000 until now, I have continued to fall deeper in love with this cosmopolitian metropolis.
I believe in Love at First Sight (re: G MacElwee) and I subscribe to the fact that you you really don't get a second chance to make a first impression. The point I am trying to make is that London is my kind of place and don't be surprised if I somehow manage to live here sometime in the near future.
So back to our trip to London.
It all started out with a fabulous flight from Washington DC to London Heathrow on United Airlines. We were lucky enough to get upgraded to business class, and honey, let me tell you that there are not better ways to jump the pond than sitting in the front of a Boeing 777. From the get-go, we were poppin the bubbly and wondering how our lives could get any better (my head is getting very big now!).
In my opinion, London is one of the few truly cosmopolitan cities (New York being another, but after 6 weeks of the Big Apple, I realized that I couldn't live there). London has a way of making me feel urban without all the hustle and bustle of a big US city. I'm not sure if it's the near-constant cloud cover or the open acceptance of social drinking, but London has cast her spell on me and I am her's for the taking!
Check out my picture album from our trip to London and hopefully you will understand why I love this city so.
I believe in Love at First Sight (re: G MacElwee) and I subscribe to the fact that you you really don't get a second chance to make a first impression. The point I am trying to make is that London is my kind of place and don't be surprised if I somehow manage to live here sometime in the near future.
So back to our trip to London.
It all started out with a fabulous flight from Washington DC to London Heathrow on United Airlines. We were lucky enough to get upgraded to business class, and honey, let me tell you that there are not better ways to jump the pond than sitting in the front of a Boeing 777. From the get-go, we were poppin the bubbly and wondering how our lives could get any better (my head is getting very big now!).
In my opinion, London is one of the few truly cosmopolitan cities (New York being another, but after 6 weeks of the Big Apple, I realized that I couldn't live there). London has a way of making me feel urban without all the hustle and bustle of a big US city. I'm not sure if it's the near-constant cloud cover or the open acceptance of social drinking, but London has cast her spell on me and I am her's for the taking!
Check out my picture album from our trip to London and hopefully you will understand why I love this city so.
3 England Blogs Combined into One!
Manchester. United.
After 10 amazing days in the city of London, Gavin and I said good-bye and made the journey north to England’s second city, Manchester. We watched London get smaller as we got further away from the city and got to experience the beautiful English countryside. Once in Manchester, we were met by my friend Steve who I have known since 2000. We met when both of us had made plans to visit Sydney and had stayed in touch since. I was quite excited to finally get the chance to visit him in his hometown and to see another part of England, since this was the fourth time that I have been to London but never have I been outside of the city.
England’s second city, Manchester is a vastly different from London. I compare to London to New York for its vast size and multi-ethnic and cosmopolitan feel, where Manchester is a lot like Chicago. It’s large in size, it played a large role in industrial development of the country and now has changed direction and focus in keeping up with the times.
With a great public transport and a ton of new buildings (the IRA blew out a huge chunk of the city center in 1996), Manchester has a very different feel from other English cities. It’s city center was easily walkable and as long as you have your umbrella handy (it rains a LOT here), you’re ready to see the sights. The city’s gay district, The Village, and specifically Canal Street (as seen in the UK version of Queer as Folk) welcome you with open arms and a large selection of restaurants, bars and clubs to choose from.
Overall, I found the city of Manchester and it’s people to be very laid back and welcoming. The boys were a bit reserved compared to those in London, but also eager to meet visitors to their beautiful city.
I’m so Lucky, but I don’t even truly realize it.
For my 20th birthday, my father flew up to Seattle, where I was living at the time, and took me to Memphis, Tennessee to pay homage to the King of Rock and Roll, Elvis Presley. Any true fan of the King would give their left arm for this opportunity, but I have to say that it was almost entirely lost on me. Yes, I was blown away by the lavish lifestyle in which he lived and by the over-the-top style in which Graceland was decorated, but other than that … nil.
Yesterday, Gavin and I took the train from Manchester to the beautiful English port town of Liverpool as part of the rock and roll pilgrimage that I have been so lucky to be part of, yet not truly appreciate. Sure, I know who the Beatles were and how could I not know a handful of their songs, but you have to admit that any true Beatle fan would be beside him or herself for the opportunity to have a beer at the Cavern (where the Beatles played 287 gigs before making it big) or for the chance to walk down the same streets that they Fab 4 sang about.
If someone out there is reading this and beating their head against their monitor out of frustration, please do send me an email and let me know how big of a fan you really are.
The Merry Men
On Tuesday afternoon, Gavin and I said good-bye to Manchester and boarded our two car train and headed east towards Nottingham. Made famous from the tales of Robin Hood, Nottingham is a quaint English city that has managed to keep up quite nicely with the changing times. A light-rail tram easily navigates through the city’s narrow streets and the architecture is a lovely blend of old and new (Nottingham got bombed a total of 11 times in five years during WWII, which is a lot less than other cities in England.) Unlike London and Manchester, Nottingham has a few hills which makes for an entirely different feel. Modern pubs and coffee shops dot the easily navigated city centre and we were blessed with two days of sunshine and summer-like temperatures.
Obviously a tourist destination, Nottingham has many attractions which try to get would-be tourists to spend their cash to learn more about Robin Hood and his band of Merry Men. As loyal readers of my blog would know, Gavin and I continue to Create ValueÔ and find alternative ways to not pay the admission fee and still have a proper Nottingham experience. This means, we stood outside of Nottingham Castle and peered through the fence or giving what we thought was fare for us to see the churches instead of giving the “suggested donation”. Call us cheap, but we are on a mission to see as much of this world as possible and the exchange rate between the US Dollar and the GB Pound is at an all time high.
The one attraction that we did spring for and pay the full price was the City of Caves which is located under the local Westfield Shopping Mall (damn Aussies!). For £4.50 we got a tour and history lesson for a few of the caves that lie beneath Nottingham. We found out that over the past millennium these caves were used for tanning leather to cesspools for human waste to bomb shelters during WWII. Gavin and I give this tour Four Thumbs Up and recommend it to anyone who visits Nottingham.
View The Pics!
After 10 amazing days in the city of London, Gavin and I said good-bye and made the journey north to England’s second city, Manchester. We watched London get smaller as we got further away from the city and got to experience the beautiful English countryside. Once in Manchester, we were met by my friend Steve who I have known since 2000. We met when both of us had made plans to visit Sydney and had stayed in touch since. I was quite excited to finally get the chance to visit him in his hometown and to see another part of England, since this was the fourth time that I have been to London but never have I been outside of the city.
England’s second city, Manchester is a vastly different from London. I compare to London to New York for its vast size and multi-ethnic and cosmopolitan feel, where Manchester is a lot like Chicago. It’s large in size, it played a large role in industrial development of the country and now has changed direction and focus in keeping up with the times.
With a great public transport and a ton of new buildings (the IRA blew out a huge chunk of the city center in 1996), Manchester has a very different feel from other English cities. It’s city center was easily walkable and as long as you have your umbrella handy (it rains a LOT here), you’re ready to see the sights. The city’s gay district, The Village, and specifically Canal Street (as seen in the UK version of Queer as Folk) welcome you with open arms and a large selection of restaurants, bars and clubs to choose from.
Overall, I found the city of Manchester and it’s people to be very laid back and welcoming. The boys were a bit reserved compared to those in London, but also eager to meet visitors to their beautiful city.
I’m so Lucky, but I don’t even truly realize it.
For my 20th birthday, my father flew up to Seattle, where I was living at the time, and took me to Memphis, Tennessee to pay homage to the King of Rock and Roll, Elvis Presley. Any true fan of the King would give their left arm for this opportunity, but I have to say that it was almost entirely lost on me. Yes, I was blown away by the lavish lifestyle in which he lived and by the over-the-top style in which Graceland was decorated, but other than that … nil.
Yesterday, Gavin and I took the train from Manchester to the beautiful English port town of Liverpool as part of the rock and roll pilgrimage that I have been so lucky to be part of, yet not truly appreciate. Sure, I know who the Beatles were and how could I not know a handful of their songs, but you have to admit that any true Beatle fan would be beside him or herself for the opportunity to have a beer at the Cavern (where the Beatles played 287 gigs before making it big) or for the chance to walk down the same streets that they Fab 4 sang about.
If someone out there is reading this and beating their head against their monitor out of frustration, please do send me an email and let me know how big of a fan you really are.
The Merry Men
On Tuesday afternoon, Gavin and I said good-bye to Manchester and boarded our two car train and headed east towards Nottingham. Made famous from the tales of Robin Hood, Nottingham is a quaint English city that has managed to keep up quite nicely with the changing times. A light-rail tram easily navigates through the city’s narrow streets and the architecture is a lovely blend of old and new (Nottingham got bombed a total of 11 times in five years during WWII, which is a lot less than other cities in England.) Unlike London and Manchester, Nottingham has a few hills which makes for an entirely different feel. Modern pubs and coffee shops dot the easily navigated city centre and we were blessed with two days of sunshine and summer-like temperatures.
Obviously a tourist destination, Nottingham has many attractions which try to get would-be tourists to spend their cash to learn more about Robin Hood and his band of Merry Men. As loyal readers of my blog would know, Gavin and I continue to Create ValueÔ and find alternative ways to not pay the admission fee and still have a proper Nottingham experience. This means, we stood outside of Nottingham Castle and peered through the fence or giving what we thought was fare for us to see the churches instead of giving the “suggested donation”. Call us cheap, but we are on a mission to see as much of this world as possible and the exchange rate between the US Dollar and the GB Pound is at an all time high.
The one attraction that we did spring for and pay the full price was the City of Caves which is located under the local Westfield Shopping Mall (damn Aussies!). For £4.50 we got a tour and history lesson for a few of the caves that lie beneath Nottingham. We found out that over the past millennium these caves were used for tanning leather to cesspools for human waste to bomb shelters during WWII. Gavin and I give this tour Four Thumbs Up and recommend it to anyone who visits Nottingham.
View The Pics!
Trying Something New
If you have the bandwidth and the curiosity to see a few pics ...
check this shit out!
check this shit out!
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