730 days

Saturday, November 27, 2010

Christmas is coming..

Had my first taste of Christmas markets last weekend. Did a girls road trip up to Manchester, actually in a car this time - luxury! Stopped off in Oxford on the way up for brunch and a wander round, walked past Christ church which was a massive complex, and where they filmed the hall scenes for Harry Potter. Very pretty. Then headed up the country, quite a nice drive, except you couldn't see much through all the low cloud! The Christmas markets are in the centre of the town, and are a mixture of stalls German and french, food, mulled wine and drinks and all sorts of crafts. There was a great atmosphere, filled with people, lights along the stalls and trees and mandatory mulled wine to stay warm! quite potent but very nice. There were far too many sweet treats to tempt me! Strudel, chocolate fruit sticks, fudge, the list goes on...

Have been working at my new job in Windsor for almost a month now. It is a little private hospital, with a team of about 12 physios both inpatients and outpatients. The team is really lovely and I am enjoying being in one place for a bit! The weather is now getting colder and colder, there was lots of snow up north this week. And we have had a high of two! haha. thankfully it is warm indoors wherever you go, you just have to survive getting from A to B! The social calender is filling up on the way to Christmas it will be here before you know it! Have booked in a trip to Belgium over the holidays, very excited! Bring on the chocolate, flavoured beer and exploring their cute cities :)

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

Anna and Jens Fabulous Uk Adventure

Well Jen made it back to the UK in one piece with many a story to tell! haha. I gave her one nights rest and enough time to repack and then we hit the road. Our first stop was Bath, which is a gorgeous town. I feel in love with it. Spent the afternoon wandering around the town, and went to the Jane Austin museum which was really good. They had a really interesting guide who gave a good run down on her life and stay in Bath. The next day we joined a free walking tour round the city ( I think we pulled the average age down a bit!), and then went and saw the roman baths which were amazing! Incredible to think how long ago they were established. Wednesday took us to Bristol in miserable weather, so we had a fairly quiet day. Wandered the city, saw the beautiful cathedral, then saw 'Winters Bone' at a cute independent theatre in the evening (recommended if you haven't seen it). Jen introduced me to Dr Pepper which she is now addicted to from America - have to say I'm not the biggest fan! On Thursday we jumped the border into Wales and went to Cardiff. Very cool city. Did the castle which was awesome. The interior of the buildings was incredible woodwork. The Rider Cup was on while we were there (some big golf tournament) so they were setting up to have a big reception there with Prince Charles - who we missed seeing (such a shame). The city has gorgeous little shopping arcades with cute boutique shops - dangerous! (Promise we didn't spend too much Dad ) Went out for drinks that night and found a cool wee cocktail bar, and some locals, apparently hardly anyone can speak Welsh which is a crazy looking language! It poured with rain all night, so we didn't move very far!
Friday we headed back into England and up to Stratford-upon -Avon, unfortunately the weather didn't improve. So we got soaked getting from the train station to our B&B, but was nice when we finally arrived and snuggled up for a hot drink and dried out before braving the weather again. Didn't help much that Jen had no waterproof shoes! haha. Went to Shakespeare's house - very good exhibition, amazing that the original house is still standing! The town is beautiful with lots of old wooden buildings, little lanes and big old tress full of autumn colours. We then hit a cute pub to dry out and warm up.
Saturday was an early start to get the train all the way up to Edinburgh. Spent the afternoon there checking out the main town, walked down to Holyrood Palace, had a nosy in Parliament and then scoured all the tourist shops for Maxwell souvenirs and proceeded to buy them out! haha. Headed out Saturday night for a classic pub dinner and tried some haggis - not so bad. Also found Crabbies (which is an alcoholic ginger beer) very yummy!
Sunday we went up to Edinburgh Castle in the drizzle and fog, very cool. It houses a number of exhibits and museums including the war museum, dragoons, crown jewels and the stone of destiny (a big rock pretty much!). The interior of the buildings were beautiful. It has one of the oldest churches dating back to the 1100s. Also checked out the national gallery and then jumped the train down to the lakes district.
The next day we were in Windermere, walked down to the lake front and saw the Beatrix Potter museum - very well set up of all her characters. Then took the ferry across the lake and walked up to the village to Hill Top. The house is persevered just as she left it when she went to get married and has amazing art work by all her family - they were all very artistic! Then we went up to Ambleside at the head of the lake for that night. The next day the weather was wet again, so we did a little walk up to a cute wee waterfall and then walked to the lakeside for some lunch, by then the weather had fined up, yay! So we walked up the valley to Wordsworth's house along a river path - very pretty. That night got the train down to the Peek district and had a bit of an adventure! Arrived at 9.30pm a bit later than would have liked as plans changed last minute, but then had to get to the YHA which ended up being a half an hour walk along a country road! haha. We made it, though our suitcase was none to impressed, and our arms definitely got a work out!
Wednesday we spent in Edale in the peek district which is pretty much in the country, we walked up the hill in the local area, and there were amazing views across the valley. Everything was so green! In the afternoon we headed to York. Arrived in the evening and the river looked beautiful ( we were later to discover it is not such a nice colour in daylight!). Thursday we wandered down through the city past the minster, and through the shambles which are little lanes of old houses which grow closer together as the storeys go up. Took a boat ride up the river, the weather had turned around and it was beautiful and sunny. Next day we went to Jorvik museum which was really cool, its all about the early vikings who founded the city. They have a ride which takes you though a recreated old town - very well done. In the afternoon wandered the city walls and chilled out in the park. Then went for an early tea before catching the train back to London.
hmm..

Uk Pics

Mr Lion

Raaa! they were all around the City of Bath

Me and Jane

'I wish to be acquainted'

'follow me'

Breathe in!

Just fitted thro the door!

Roman Baths

Stratford - Upon - Avon at 7.00am

Shakespares's House

Window view (artistic aye!)

Outside cute pub - it stopped raining!

Stratford at dusk - pretty

Welsh Dragon - Baaa!

Cardiff Castle

Edinburgh

Edinburgh Castle

Crabbies are yum

Cocktails also yummy

Windermere Lake

Beatrix Potter House

Walk in the country

Hill Top (Beatrix Potter's House)

Autumn leaves!

At top of waterfall - bit wet

house on a bridge! Ambleside

Very cute bridge, Lakes

Edale Valley

Made it to the top of the Hill!

York Minster

York City Wall

York bridge

Cutest shop in York Shambles

Friday, September 17, 2010

Milan

Finally jumped the ditch to Europe last weekend, very exciting! Amazing views of the ?Swiss alps as we were flying in, and landed in gorgeous sunshine - good start :) Managed to navigate our way into town and then got a bit lost finding the hotel as my reference point was a bit off - whoops - But on the up side had a bit of a walking tour of north Milan haha. First day spent wandering around the city. The Duomo Cathedral was incredible, made of marble, with over 130 spires all with life size statues on top, was started in round 1300 and not finished until 1850s by Napoleon - crazy! But its beautiful. Further down the road is the Costello (castle) which is also amazing, has bit of a Spanish feel to it. Through the other side is a lovely park with a kind of replica to Arc du triumph. Saturday I did some window shopping through the fashion district which was full of all the big names in fashion, gorgeous looking clothes but was too scarred to go inside cause the door men were massive and scary looking! haha. (I will send you some pics bec) Then headed to the public gardens which were pretty. In the afternoon went on a tour of some of the main attractions, and also got to see 'The last supper' painting by Di Vinci, which is in a little church, covering the back wall. It was really interesting to hear all the symbolism behind it. Also went to La Scala - the opera theatre where many of the big name operas were first performed, the theatre has 7 levels of boxes! Sunday I channeled my inner racer and hit the Monza F1, which was very cool. We were sitting at the first turn so got to see some excitement. In the evenings I enjoyed the local cuisine - pizza, pasta, wine and gelato! yum! All in outdoor seating in the lovely warm evenings. I think I could easily live in Italy! Monday headed just south of town to the Navigli district which is made up of a number of canals, was quite cute, but sadly full of graffiti. Was meant to be home Monday night, but the plane was delayed then cancelled, ah well guess you get what you pay for with budget airlines! So had an extra day soaking up the sunshine as had to wait for the following night for a flight home. But a great weekend :)
Still currently unemployed, Jen is back in a week and then we head off on our UK tour for two weeks which will be great fun. And hopefully will have a job sorted for when I come back, cause will need to start earning some money again!