Sunday, April 29, 2007
Beautiful moments
It's bright and sunny outside. A temperature of 15+ degrees. All of sudden, it's begin to rain fat raindrops. It smells great and the sound of it is heavenly. I wish I could cut Europe out of the map and plop it next to my friends and family back at home.
Saturday, April 28, 2007
St. Petersburg, Russia (March 17th-24th, 2007)
BIG expectations of Russia before getting there. It did not disappoint.
Apparently this is the ship that started the Revolution.
Our first day in St. Petersburg was a whirlwind tour of the city. We drove by every single major sight, and stopped at a couple must-sees.
We went to the Hermitage Museum, and I guess after the Louvre, I wasn't as impressed as I should be. I think I was expecting more stereotypical Russian pieces, but I would have to wait until we went to the Russian Museum a little later in the trip.
You might notice that there are some blank frames. That's because they died in the war and their bodies couldn't be found so they couldn't make a portrait of them.
Photos from a performance by a local folk group. I loved the huge triangular guitar and the costumes were so colourful. It was what I had imagined Russian folk dancing to be like - courtesy of RAD character dancing! So many of the steps I'd done myself...
One night, we ate dinner Nikolayevsky Palace. It was a beautiful room, complete with a pianist seranading us in the background. Outside, there was an ensemble and dressed up dancers (such a tourist trap this was) - you could easily imagine yourself back in time dressing in a ballgown walking down the staircase.
The Church of Spilled Blood. This was the type of church I was waiting for. It's what you would stereotypically think of for a Russian Orthodox church (with the onion shaped domed roofs). This one was really colourful...moreso than the ones that I saw in Helsinki and Tallinn last year. So cool.
There are chandeliers in the subway station! Actually, each station had a different theme. Now, I like subways. A lot. I don't know why, but I do. And I don't find them confusing. Even if there are lots of different lines and stuff. I guess it's a whole different story when you're in a city where the language is written in characters that you don't know how to read and don't sound like what you'd assume them to sound like. It was the first time that I can remember (so that doesn't mean too much) that I felt completely lost. I had to ask people where I was going. It was kind fun though, I just went with the flow and luckily ended up where I wanted to go. But it was a ride, that's for sure.
This is where Alexei Mishin and company are based. Some serious history with this rink...I desperately wanted to go inside and just take a look at the place and hopefully be lucky enough to see a session and probably some 4 year olds landing quads or something, but I was too scared that I would go in, and someone would accuse me of being a spy and deport me out of the country. I'm not kidding. At least I've seen it from the outside!
More sights from around the city...
Clockwise from right:
- the Bronze Horseman
- exterior of the Hermitage Museum
- Smolny Cathedral
- rostral column
You need a visa to get into Russia, and a reason to get such a visa. This job that I have has too many perks. We were actually in St. Petersburg attending an MUN. I just got to come along for the ride while the little ones were hard at work.
The MUN was taking place at school No. 157 (how communist). Look at the classroom. That would be a great room to teach in. So much character.
While students were trying to solve world problems, teachers could see more of the city. This really was a different kind of trip. Most of the time we're herding and stressed out. Here are the
Russian pieces of art (at the Russian Museum) that I was waiting for. After seeing a lot of old art in the past three years, it's interesting to compare the different styles from different time periods and parts of the world.
Nice old school Lada.
I couldn't take any pictures/videos of it, but one night we were treated to a ballet performance. I was hoping that it was the Kirov, because people who had been on the trip before were saying how amazing the performance was. I should have known that they were catering to teenagers and tourists whom they assumed knew nothing about ballet and of course the people whom I talked to also didn't know very much about ballet. It was SO horrible. I really really wish I could have taped it, because it was laughable. The performance was a collection of excerpts from famous ballets and other pieces danced to music by Russian composers. I tried not to cover my eyes when one dancer was doing her string of fouettes. I thought she was going to twirl right off the stage, she was travelling so much. Another dancer was barely capable of getting on her full pointe. If was really really scary. I thought she was going to break an ankle or something. I thought all Russian ballet dancers were amazing. I guess I was wrong. One thing that I did enjoy was a piece that I swear I danced myself back in day as a character dance for the old Royal Academy of Dancing grades examinations. I don't remember the grade, but I remember the steps. at that moment, I wanted to call up my old dance teacher and tell her about what I was watching. It was so neat.
After the conference was over, we went to the town of Novgorod.
On the way, we stopped in Pushkin and visited Catherine Palace.
To protect the floor, we had to wear these slippers (reminded me of those Sleep Country Canada commercials). This palace was quite bling-ing.
My favorite was the Amber Room (shhh...we weren't supposed to take pictures in there). Look at the huge furnace thingamabobber. And all those paintings. The facing wall was like a mirror image (on purpose). Another big heating device and a wall full of paintings. Different paintings and of differing sizes, but the content of the painting(s) directly facing were similar in content/character. Neat huh?
Some sights of Novgorod:
My favorite of Novgorod was this little wooden village. There was an artisan there selling some beautiful object that he'd made. Yes, I bought some along with some other things along the way, including a petrushka doll.
Another dream come true. Can't wait to have the chance to go back.
Apparently this is the ship that started the Revolution.
Our first day in St. Petersburg was a whirlwind tour of the city. We drove by every single major sight, and stopped at a couple must-sees.
We went to the Hermitage Museum, and I guess after the Louvre, I wasn't as impressed as I should be. I think I was expecting more stereotypical Russian pieces, but I would have to wait until we went to the Russian Museum a little later in the trip.
You might notice that there are some blank frames. That's because they died in the war and their bodies couldn't be found so they couldn't make a portrait of them.
Photos from a performance by a local folk group. I loved the huge triangular guitar and the costumes were so colourful. It was what I had imagined Russian folk dancing to be like - courtesy of RAD character dancing! So many of the steps I'd done myself...
One night, we ate dinner Nikolayevsky Palace. It was a beautiful room, complete with a pianist seranading us in the background. Outside, there was an ensemble and dressed up dancers (such a tourist trap this was) - you could easily imagine yourself back in time dressing in a ballgown walking down the staircase.
The Church of Spilled Blood. This was the type of church I was waiting for. It's what you would stereotypically think of for a Russian Orthodox church (with the onion shaped domed roofs). This one was really colourful...moreso than the ones that I saw in Helsinki and Tallinn last year. So cool.
There are chandeliers in the subway station! Actually, each station had a different theme. Now, I like subways. A lot. I don't know why, but I do. And I don't find them confusing. Even if there are lots of different lines and stuff. I guess it's a whole different story when you're in a city where the language is written in characters that you don't know how to read and don't sound like what you'd assume them to sound like. It was the first time that I can remember (so that doesn't mean too much) that I felt completely lost. I had to ask people where I was going. It was kind fun though, I just went with the flow and luckily ended up where I wanted to go. But it was a ride, that's for sure.
This is where Alexei Mishin and company are based. Some serious history with this rink...I desperately wanted to go inside and just take a look at the place and hopefully be lucky enough to see a session and probably some 4 year olds landing quads or something, but I was too scared that I would go in, and someone would accuse me of being a spy and deport me out of the country. I'm not kidding. At least I've seen it from the outside!
More sights from around the city...
Clockwise from right:
- the Bronze Horseman
- exterior of the Hermitage Museum
- Smolny Cathedral
- rostral column
You need a visa to get into Russia, and a reason to get such a visa. This job that I have has too many perks. We were actually in St. Petersburg attending an MUN. I just got to come along for the ride while the little ones were hard at work.
The MUN was taking place at school No. 157 (how communist). Look at the classroom. That would be a great room to teach in. So much character.
While students were trying to solve world problems, teachers could see more of the city. This really was a different kind of trip. Most of the time we're herding and stressed out. Here are the 
Russian pieces of art (at the Russian Museum) that I was waiting for. After seeing a lot of old art in the past three years, it's interesting to compare the different styles from different time periods and parts of the world. 
Nice old school Lada.
I couldn't take any pictures/videos of it, but one night we were treated to a ballet performance. I was hoping that it was the Kirov, because people who had been on the trip before were saying how amazing the performance was. I should have known that they were catering to teenagers and tourists whom they assumed knew nothing about ballet and of course the people whom I talked to also didn't know very much about ballet. It was SO horrible. I really really wish I could have taped it, because it was laughable. The performance was a collection of excerpts from famous ballets and other pieces danced to music by Russian composers. I tried not to cover my eyes when one dancer was doing her string of fouettes. I thought she was going to twirl right off the stage, she was travelling so much. Another dancer was barely capable of getting on her full pointe. If was really really scary. I thought she was going to break an ankle or something. I thought all Russian ballet dancers were amazing. I guess I was wrong. One thing that I did enjoy was a piece that I swear I danced myself back in day as a character dance for the old Royal Academy of Dancing grades examinations. I don't remember the grade, but I remember the steps. at that moment, I wanted to call up my old dance teacher and tell her about what I was watching. It was so neat.
After the conference was over, we went to the town of Novgorod.
On the way, we stopped in Pushkin and visited Catherine Palace.To protect the floor, we had to wear these slippers (reminded me of those Sleep Country Canada commercials). This palace was quite bling-ing.
My favorite was the Amber Room (shhh...we weren't supposed to take pictures in there). Look at the huge furnace thingamabobber. And all those paintings. The facing wall was like a mirror image (on purpose). Another big heating device and a wall full of paintings. Different paintings and of differing sizes, but the content of the painting(s) directly facing were similar in content/character. Neat huh?
Some sights of Novgorod:
My favorite of Novgorod was this little wooden village. There was an artisan there selling some beautiful object that he'd made. Yes, I bought some along with some other things along the way, including a petrushka doll.
Another dream come true. Can't wait to have the chance to go back.
Monday, April 23, 2007
Lisbon, Portugal (February 28th-March 4th, 2007)
When I went to Boston a couple summers ago, I was blown away by the aquarium and huge tank in the middle that showed the different layers of aquatic dwellers. Imagine my excitement when I came to Lisbon and found out that there was something similar here!
There was room for you to sit and just watch the creatures go by. I have to admit that I sat there for a really really long time in complete awe of it all. I was reminded of how much I love animals and dreamed once again that I would get to work with them in the future. The wheels are turning, don't you worry.
I chatted with the keeper for a little while about the otters and what they were up to, their habits and other nerdy things. 
Keepers really do love their charges and take great pride in getting to know them and take care of them. Just standing there watching him in action and observing the couple happily waiting for their food made me so incredibly jealous that I couldn't jump the barrier and hang out with them as well.
Such pretty colours.
Masters of camouflage, that's for sure. How many can you find?
Jellyfish are mesmerizing.
Malls aren't a common occurrence in Europe, but I guess they're popping up more and more with the American influence. The best part about the malls in Lisbon (I was sort of in shopping withdrawl, so this was perfect) was that they were open until midnight...yes, I said midnight. Remember, I have to contend with Neuch, which closes its stores (the few that there are) at 6:30pm and obviously don't even dream of opening on a Sunday. So, I could use up my daytime with touristy things, and then after a dinner break, walk off the poundage at the mall and shop, shop, shop! In a 24 hour day, not a moment goes to waste! And I just like to walk. I don't care where, but walking is good. A nice, brisk walk to keep me in motion. Walking around a mall just before midnight is much more comfortable than the dark streets (remember my crappy night vision) of an unfamiliar city. I did some good shopping while in Lisbon. Stuff was much cheaper than a lot of places in Europe and there were quite a lot of stores that I liked.
During my shopping, I stumbled upon the following tees:
I was SOOOOOOO tempted, but then I considered the fact that I probably wouldn't wear them much and actually had a moment where I analysed my wardrobe (issues about wearing black surfaced of course), and decided that these tees would not suit the type of dresser I want to be. I was very close to getting them though. Really.
Massimo Dutti on the other hand...love it.
These old-school streetcars were great!
Seriously?!?
Word to the wise...forget the monuments in Belem, go for the custard tarts! They're delicious.
The monuments do look pretty cool though. Obviously the area is all proud of the conquests and stuff.
Stumbled upon the Coach Museum, and didn't really know if it would be worth it to go inside. Boy, it sure was! How crazy cool are these? Cinderella anyone?
Took a train to the nearby town of Sintra. It was described as a fairytale town and for awhile I couldn't figure out why. It seemed like any other European town.
Beautiful artisanal ceramic stuff for sale.
It was great fun to play on the Moorish ruins. I can't imagine what it looked like a long time ago, but going up and down the stair, climbing in the towers and looking at the town down below was a great time!
The view from the ruins.
This is the fairytale part. This is a friggin palace that someone used to live in. Tee hee!
Back in Lisbon and getting more views of the city. Everytime I ask locals what I should see and do when I'm traveling, they ask what my interests are. It's hard to say, but I think I'm starting to narrow it down. I like to walk. I like to shop. I like to get to lookout points. I like to 
sample yum-yums. I like scenery and different types of buildings. Sometimes museums, but they've got to be pretty darn good.I love walking and being amongst the people. I had a lot of *sigh* moments on this trip. I was so content and happy to be there.
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