Trying to Avoid Cliches

You might be interested in my thoughts on where I've traveled and what I'd recommend. Welp, you've probably heard and seen enough from this blog on the matter so far, but what about an overall ranking?

Instead of being cliche and giving stars or thumbs up when considering things like the people, culture, food, sites, history or scenery, I've decided to rank places on something much more useful: the toilets.

I have a more granular level of detail for cities I've visited, if you may be interested, but here are my thoughts on some major regions. I'm pretty sure that even if I make it around the world, North America will be the best. (Though at country level, I am guessing Japan would top them all by a long shot based on what I've heard).

Please don't glorify nationalized health care

I don't really want to turn this into a political blog, but having lived in London for about a year, I can tell you one thing: health care sucks here, and if you want to actually be treated, you buy supplimental insurance anyway.

Example:
Me: "I've been sick for three weeks. Coughing up flem, sinus pressure/headaches, stuffy nose, sore throat...I'm pretty sure it's a sinus infection."

NHS doctor: [After testing for fluid in my lungs] "Well, you don't have fluid in your lungs. You should get some Vapo rub and put that on your chest at night."

Me: "This has been going on for 3 weeks. This isn't just a cold."

NHS doctor: "But you don't have fluid in your lungs."

Me thinking: Since when does no fluid in your lungs means no sinus infection? I'm not a doctor, but my sinuses are NOT in my lungs!!!

Me: "Can I please just get some antibiotics?

NHS doctor: [Bitterly and skeptically writing prescription]: "Okaaay."

PS I have an even better example of the crap care you get here (which no one in the states would receive if they walked into an ER as I had done), but that requires a video reenactment which I have yet to do.

I am not a tour guide.

Nor do I run a hostel, hotel or restaurant. If I do not know you, I will not be taking off work to tour you around London, house you while you're here and/or feed you.

That is why there are tour guides, hostels, hotels and restaurants: to take care of people who don't have immediate family they can automatically mooch off of where they are traveling.

Can you tell my patience has really run thin? I have gotten far too many requests to do such for complete strangers.

That is all.

I saw Don Giovanni for $5

at the National Opera House in Vienna (THE place in the city with over 300 performance a year, and hosts world famous international guest performers frequently. Can you tell the tour we took that afternoon sold me on the prestigious-ness of it?) We were standing, and we only stayed for the first half, but it was really cool. The little screen with translated the opera really helped since I'd forgotten to brush up on my German before we left.

Backing up a bit, I went to Vienna and Prague with my dear friend Dre Filio when she was here back in January. It was cold, and I was sick, thus I made for one annoying companion. Sorry Dre. But looking back, it was lots of fun!

We hit a lot of sites in Vienna, though I don't have too many pictures.

One major highlight in Vienna was touring the Hofburg Palace, including the Royal apartments and their kitchen stuff.

How much would it suck to polish all this stuff? Me thinks it would suck a lot.

They had tons of china on display. This one's for you mom, thought you' like the pattern. I considered buying a piece for you, but then the guards gawked at the idea. Mentioned something in broken English about "priceless collection." Whatever.


The royals would have on average 35 courses per supper (back in their hay-day in the 1700s-1800s) and it looks like 20 glasses of wines/drinks per meal. Here's my interpretation of the use of said glasses today for the average Mormon:

A shot outside the steps of the National University. Yep, someone had lined the steps with wine bottles. Clearly, lots of studying going on there.

Nutella + banana + crepe = deliciousness

This was the old beauty salon used by the famous Queen Elizabeth (aka "Sisi"). She had hair to her knees which her maids groomed for 2-3 hours a day. First part isn't true....second part is!!!

Another building

Overall, highly recommend the place!

Prague

After Vienna, we took a train over to Prague. It was cold, but beautiful.

The old clock in the middle of the square. There was a Starbucks about 50 feet from this, which we frequented a few times to stand in and thaw ourselves out.

Streets in Prague. I love the colors!

The cathedral in the middle of the old fort area. It's super old, and super cool.

Other side of the cathedral, I kept my scarf wrapped like this most of the time. Burrrr!

Inside of the cathedral. The colors were amazing.

Inside of the cathedral 2:

View from the top

All in all, if you haven't been to Europe, you should go. And while you're here, definitely visit Prague.

You Missed Out

What's better than a Gold track-suit wearing, break dancing 7-year old girl, who you might confuse from a distance as a "little person" (PC term for midget)? Not much.

I'm talking about "Into the Hoods" folks. It was a street dancing show, which tried to have a plot tying in several fairy tales. Including that of Spinderella and her Godmother, Fairy Gee (the aforementioned Gold track-suit wearing little girl).

It was a delight. Show closed in January (we saw it one of the last nights), so sorry to all who missed the fun.

Here are pics of me and my crew (Monica Hubrich and Melanie Bean) outside the venue, showing off our stuff.

At first glance, we might seem like conservative white girls from the suburbs, but we're not. We're hard core, from the hood yo.

Monica and Bean showin' off their Ah-MAZ-ing breakdancing skills

It'll make you want to scream

I hate small spaces, especially small spaces that are crowded to the brim with people and/or merchandise.

You might ask why I would choose to go shopping on Oxford street in London on Saturday. Apparently, it's because I like sales. However, after this past Saturday, I think I may be done with shopping. That's right shopping. You have to accept it: our relationship is over forever (at least for the next couple months).

This is a view of Oxford Street. Seriously.

I won a bet.

Not going to mention what is was (I promise it wasn't that interesting), but my co-worker Jaideep was the solid loser.

Thus, I got to make him this t-shirt, and he got to buy me dinner at BJs when my work crew went there for a night out. Booooyah!

I like peaches

and I bruise like one. I know, I've already shown off my battered feet from the Muse concert, but these photos must be shared as they are proof I'm super hard core...or I'm very pale skinned.

This are both completely separate wounds, both from volleyball. Hey, I'm too cool to wear knee pads but still love diving around the floor. I especially like wearing skirts so show these suckers off, throughout their entire colorful life from grey to purple to blue to brown to yellow and back to pasty white.

Merry Belated Christmas

and a happy belated New Year. We threw a little shindig at our flat December 11th. Why do I remember the date? Because it was also my 25th birthday. A birthday full of self-discovery. Mostly, I realized how ridiculous one can look at an ugly jumper (British for sweater) party, taking some classic awkward family portrait Christmas photos. Oh yeah.

Monica's thought "Wait, you figured out that my vest is really a table runner??? Oh no..."

My thought "Hold up, I'm not 24 anymore?!? Crap. I don't like odd numbers." True thought.

HO HO HO! We're full of joy.

I have yet to look at this picture and NOT laugh. And trust me, I've looked at it a LOT. These are the roommates. Left to right, me, Kim, Leanne and Monica. I'm pushing to frame this sucker and put it as the crowning jewel on the wall in our family room.

A gem of a city

Monica and I spent a weekend back in November last year (the 28-29th to be exact) in Porto, Portugal. Why did we chose that city? 'Cause RyanAir had a cheap flight. And I will say, it's a gem! Recommended to all.

Highlights of the trip:

1. A little girl singing the whole ride into the city from the airport. No particular song, tune or words, but it was particularly sweet.
2. Our hotel, which supposedly had a hot tub, in fact just had a deal with the Virgin American gym down the street. Unfortunately said hot tub closed before 6 pm. Boooooo.
3. The desolate streets. Even though we were in a city, it felt like a ghost town. Apparently, there were some important soccer games happening that weekend.
4. Our trip to the coast. Found a lovely little cafe right on the sand, with a fabulous view of the ocean/waves/water/rainbows and other said picturesque things.
5. A trip down a funicular (aka really slow roller coaster).
6. A trip in an ancient tram, like the ones you see at Old Spaghetti Factory (and the old man in his 80s listening to rock 'n roll on his tape player while sitting next to his wife).
7. A HUGE bridge that made me dizzy and nervous just walking across it.
8. Shoe stores right and left.
9. Pastry shops right and left.
10. Colored/decorated tiles on buildings right and left.
11. A steak lunch that cost <$10.
12. A journey home that took us about 6 hours...arriving home at 3:30am. What a difference arriving 30 minutes late makes!

Here are some photos from the weekend.

Atop some tower we climbed. Totally worth the 2 Euros.

The old tram:


Some square next to a cathedral


Striking a pose next to some building


The funicular, with a view of the bridge


The city, view from the fabulous bridge


Walking across said scary bridge.

I had a fling. It may or may not have been with a bronze statue. The secret will die with me.

Another view of the gorgeous streets.


My personal favorite. Might have something to do with the weather, but the city looked great in black and white.