Being in a different country means different memorials. Things that meant nothing to me before and had no clue that it existed - are huge in other countries. It really makes you feel like you know nothing.
Today, it was the 50th anniversary of the Munich crash. Summing it up - in 1958, a plane took off from Munich with a whole bunch of the Manchester United team aka the Busby babes and crashed. The babes were considered the best (think the Edmonton Oilers in their heyday). 23 out of the 44 passengers died in the crash and it apparently 'rocked' the nation. The memorial services, tributes, and Man U big thing today really showed me the way that people rally around their sports heroes and teams. And how much certain sports teams affect nations in different ways. I don't think Canada would have been rocked the same way with our soccer team. But any Canadian hockey team. You would see the candles lit everywhere.
06/02/2008
Pancake Day
Yesterday was the deliciousness of pancake day. Despite other plans, my flatmate convinced me to drop all of them come home and make dessert for dinner. And by pancakes I mean crepes. And by dessert, I really do mean dessert. Raspberries, blueberries, chocolate sauce and caramelized banana was the filler.
It was a great way to kick off Lent as I gave up chocolate this year. About two years ago, I gave up chocolate for Lent and only cheated once. I also lost about half a stone doing it (7ish lbs). I figure as I have lost half a stone in the last five weeks, this would be a great way to cut out something else that was keeping the pounds on. I'm also attempting to add one more day at the gym. The pilates and ballet combo has proven more frustrating than rewarding. Ballet because the old women don't challenge me enough, and the pilates because my inner core hates to be stregthened.
It was a great way to kick off Lent as I gave up chocolate this year. About two years ago, I gave up chocolate for Lent and only cheated once. I also lost about half a stone doing it (7ish lbs). I figure as I have lost half a stone in the last five weeks, this would be a great way to cut out something else that was keeping the pounds on. I'm also attempting to add one more day at the gym. The pilates and ballet combo has proven more frustrating than rewarding. Ballet because the old women don't challenge me enough, and the pilates because my inner core hates to be stregthened.
04/02/2008
French hotels
I scored on my hotel this trip. It was totally parisian despite being a best western. Not sure how that was swung but I was supremely happy. It had the big windows & the boucherie, the patisserie, the boulangerie and french brasserie all next door. It was pink and fitting. But yet the bathroom was considerably modern despite the eons old elevator. i was deeply in love and its hard to love a hotel ever. Below - the third floor 'sitting' room. Below that - me in the teeny tiny elevator (fit two small people very tightly)
Non, je ne regrette rien
Ah Paris! This weekend my friend and I did a lovely city break into Paris. 2 1/4 hours on the eurostar on Saturday morning equalled Paris before noon. I was a bit surprised at the minimal cultural difference between London and Paris. There was one, don't get me wrong - but not as big a difference as I was expecting.
Maybe because I'm not as shocked anymore to hear French. I even tried to speak it constantly. It was horrible but I did get across to an only french metro clerk that my ticket that I purchased that day said it was invalid when I had bought a one- day ticket and should be completely valid. I also fooled a patisserie clerk until I said the chocolate cake and he brought me back a weird version of a tarte.
Obvious highlights: venus di milo at the louvre, apollo gallery at the louvre, eiffel tower at night, notre dame inside and the flying buttresses. I'm a sucker for flying buttresses. patisseries. great parisian dinner. buying a purse at longchamp. having sun the whole weekend and gleaming on the concord and grand opera house. patisseries again. accordian player on the metro - he was good and played la vie en rose.
Maybe because I'm not as shocked anymore to hear French. I even tried to speak it constantly. It was horrible but I did get across to an only french metro clerk that my ticket that I purchased that day said it was invalid when I had bought a one- day ticket and should be completely valid. I also fooled a patisserie clerk until I said the chocolate cake and he brought me back a weird version of a tarte.
Obvious highlights: venus di milo at the louvre, apollo gallery at the louvre, eiffel tower at night, notre dame inside and the flying buttresses. I'm a sucker for flying buttresses. patisseries. great parisian dinner. buying a purse at longchamp. having sun the whole weekend and gleaming on the concord and grand opera house. patisseries again. accordian player on the metro - he was good and played la vie en rose.
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