Belfast

Model of Dublin (probably current day Temple Bar)

I left on Tuesday. Got in a taxi to the airport, from where I took a plane to Oslo. I waited a few hours and then took a plane to Dublin. From Dublin Airport I took a bus into town. Unfortunately I hadn't remembered to write down the trainstation I needed and wound up at the wrong one. So, I took the bus back to the one I needed. 

No trainstation in sight! I wandered about for five minutes before I asked. 'Well, it's just over the road!' I walked and walked and finally yes, there it was. I was about three meters in front of it. But I had made it. The train to the North went once every hour and a half/two hours or so. And of course I had just missed the other one by my travels through town. So, lunch it was!

The wishing tree at Navan Centre

After lunch I made my way to the platform. Had to show my ticket twice, for some weird reason. Then we drove for about an hour and a half towards the North. Had to show my ticket once more to the ticket controller. When I got off the train, I had to show my ticket again to get out of the station! Hm. But, at the station my sister was waiting with her car to drive me to her home. 

Later she drove to Belfast Airport to pick up my friend Pepperfly. We were ready to go and have a lovely holiday. Well, you read about our first day at the pottery. We didn't spend the whole day there, only the morning and in the afternoon we went for a little walk. Day two was going to be spent in Belfast. We would do some shopping and we would see the sights. Because even though I have been in Northern Ireland before, I have yet to see Belfast!

Part of a mural close the restaurant we ate in.

So, after a lazy breakfast we made our way to Belfast. Parked the car, walked into town and hit the shops. First off was a souvenir shop, where I bought a lovely Irish flag (and a British one as well, they were so cheap). After that it was bookshops. A book about the Muppets and some books I have wanted for quite some time now. I wasn't feeling happy though. 

I had woken up with a slight headache and during the day that headache had become worse and worse. But I still wanted to see Belfast! So, we decided to go back to the car to get rid of the shopping, then go back into town for some lunch and then do the sightseeing. In the end, we skipped the sightseeing and went back home. I slept in the car, I slept on the couch. 

And guess what? I have yet to see Belfast!!

This is my haul so far. Most bought, some gotten (like the Belleek and the small orange topped tin with 'stroopwafels'). Good thing I brought my big suitcase. Although missing in the photo is the knitting work my sister wants me to do (a very big bag) and the little bag containing the last of the items for my May 17th outfit. 

Sweden is really beautiful!

Our massive plane! Ahem...

I had been to Sweden once before. Two years ago the World Jamboree (scouting) was held near Kristianstad in the South East of Sweden and me and 24 other Dutch buses made our way over the Bridge from Denmark to Sweden to drop our scouts of and pick them up again a week later. I loved the countryside and it was actually the first time I wondered whether I was making the right move in moving to Canada (which was still my goal at that time). Because it was so beautiful there and I guessed (correctly) that Norway would be equally and more beautiful. 

Well, it's a bus wouldn't you know!

So, when I was invited to come to Sweden with my new-found Norwegian friends, I said yes. Even though it would be a stretch financially. Once in a while you have to be a bit reckless after all! I allocated an amount I could spend according to the other expenditures coming up and on September 25th the five of us flew to Kopenhagen. Which is in Denmark. From there we took a train to Malmö (Sweden), another train to Simrishamn and then the last bus to Kivik. 

Church in Simrishamn

Thursday was a bit of a lazy day. Exploring the small village of Kivik, getting the first round of shopping in, seeing some of the many apples. Friday we headed back by bus to Simrishamn to do more shopping and in my case also sightseeing. The weather was great, the town was quaint and picturesque and I took lots and lots of photos. 

Kivik is located at the Östersund
The sea between Sweden in the North and Germany/Poland in the South

Saturday we stayed in Kivik. Saw the unveiling of the tableau (see last Sunday's post), did more shopping at the market and I took more photos. Sunday was another lazy day, although I did go for a lovely long walk, coming back with some real nice chocolates. Monday was another bustour, this time to Kristianstad. More shopping, more sightseeing, more photos. Tuesday was yet another town: Ystad. A town I loved for its... well... everything really. The shops, the buildings, everything! More books, more knick-knacks and more photos. 

Streetart in Kristianstad

Our last full day was another day spent lazying about. I went for a long walk in the afternoon, saw more apples, ate some blackberries, photographed a snail and in the evening I tried to pack my suitcases. We left at ten on Thursday to make our way back to Kopenhagen to catch our direct flight to Haugesund. Normally they would have a bit of a stop in Malmö to get some more shopping done, but this time they decided to do that at the airport. Where I had had enough, grabbed some lunch, plugged my ears and got out my new book about a hundred year old who climbed out of the window. 

Monastery in Ystad

It was a lovely holiday, but I must admit I was glad to be home again. On my own. To rest my brain before going back to work again on Monday. 

Retail therapy

I love those types of signs!
This one found in Ystad

Don't get me wrong: I love shopping. Put me in a bookstore and pick me up a couple of hours later and you will probably have to search for me and my pile of books. Artsy, knick-knacky shops are great too. But I am not too fond of clothes shopping. Two reasons: I have enough clothes and I need larger clothes which most shops don't have. 

And yes, they did sell hats!

So, when I was on holiday with four other women and we were going places, I got bored real soon by going in and out of clothes shops and shoe shops. Especially when it was almost the same shops in every town! I went ahead, looking at other shops. Bookshops, artsy, knick-knacky shops. I was tempted to buy more copies of Pride and Prejudice (I think I have four), but resisted. I was tempted to buy beautiful artsy things, but resisted. 

It's water and bread (with home-made jam) for a few months now!

Not always though. I actually had to buy another suitcase to get everything home! I think I got 8 books, a milk jug and sugar bowl, lovely red coral and silver earrings, two small serving trays and a host of other small things I don't need (although books are something a person needs. Always). 

Meeting up with my friends for tea/coffee, lunch/dinner
This was not one we went to, but I liked the sign

The average town does not consist of lots of bookshops (two if you are lucky in a smallish town) and artsy, k-k shops. Which meant that my shopping was fairly limited. Which in turn led me to use my camera. On the buildings, on the art, on the surroundings. I walked lots, saw more and in the end came back from my holiday with over 500 photos! I promise I won't show all...

Haraldshaugen

Probably the most well-know monument in Haugesund is Haraldshaugen. A 17 meter tall granite obelisk surrounded by 29 stones. I cheated a bit here with the explanation, because it's a transcript from the information table. Forgive me...

In 1872 an obelisk was raised at the Gard Church ruins to commemorate the battle of Hafrsjord 1000 years earlier. The elegant spike symbolises the unification of Norway and the surrounding stones represent the Norwegian counties that Harald (see Monday) brought together. The commemoration obelisk can be seen as a product of the National Romanticism that raged in the late 1830's. It was a period when the country's ancient history was being tapped to cultivate a new, national self-esteem. 

One of the 29 surrounding stones

The monument was the brainchild of Haugesund's Ludolf Eide, who put forth the idea in 1863 and won country-wide support. All towns and cities, many communites and even private people helped to raise the necessary funds to raise the obelisk. 

The national monument was unveiled on 18 July 1872 by Crown Prince Oscar, later King Oscar II. Representatives of the royal family, the national assembly (Storting), goverment and county dignitaries attended this "1000 Year Jubilee", which occasioned much popular celebration and merrymaking. It was a holiday all over the country and about 40,000 traveled to Haugesund to see the unveiling!

Walk

Last week I had been told that it would be good for me to eat less and move more. So, when the weather was quite nice yesterday, I decided I would finally do my walking tour of Haugesund. I had wanted to do it for ages, but had always found excuses not to do it. Yesterday I waved all excuses away and told myself quite sternly to get a grip, get my shoes and get going! And I even listened to myself!!

The first two photos are of Harald Hårfagre (Harald Fairhair). It's a statue that has recently been re-erected at the viewpoint where it stands. He was a Viking king who lived in the 9th and 10th century and strived to unite all the provinces of Norway. Which he did as far as I know. In the top photo you can see that he is holding a helmet. Contrary to popular belief, Vikings didn't have horns on their helmets! And his hair certainly looks great. 

Perhaps that's why there are so many hairdressers in Haugesund!

I got out!

The beginning. As you can see I wear a hat and my hoodie.
It was too cold otherwise!

Of the house that is. And I went into the backyard. Of Haugesund. Which is basically a large nature reserve with lakes and mountains. But I will start at the beginning. First I walked down-hill to the busstation. From there I took a ten-minute ride on the bus. And then I walked. Uphill. For two and a half hours! 

The path started off smooth and nice and there were even streetlights. And then the streetlights stopped and the path got progressively worse and pebbly and stony. And as I said, it was uphill. Now, I wasn't really sure where I was going. I figured if there was something at the other end of the path I would see it and then go back the same way. Or, I would find a name that was familiar and go there. Which was what happened in the end. I walked to the end of the path to Kroken Lake (I think), turned back and headed up to Steinsfjellet. Which is where I wanted to go anyway, even if I did know it was uphill. 

Plus robins, black birds and a woodpecker!

The surroundings were beautiful though. Not a sound to be heard, other than the occasional bird or the whistling of the wind. Oh, and the water of course. Because even though the brooks and creeks were all frozen over, you could still hear the water running and babbling beneath the ice. The path was quite tricky at times, especially the bit up Steinsfjellet. I had to cross a bridge and from there on, there wasn't so much a path as a way up I suppose. At times I wasn't sure where I was supposed to go, but I just had to follow the tracks made by others. 

This was the pathway up! And yes, it was pure
ice!

The way up was made even more difficult by the water. Because that has a habit of running down. And of freezing when the temperatures are below zero. And I had to go up. I managed to stick mostly to the rocks and stones though and made it safely to Steinsfjellet. From where I had an amazing view over Haugesund and its surroundings. This time in the bright sun. 

The view from Steinsfjellet

From there however it was another 2,5 km hike. Granted, the road was a proper road and it was all downhill, but I think I will sleep very soundly tonight. And I guess I am lucky I am a busdriver: I sit down for a living...

Running downhill? He must be mad!
He wasn't the only one though...

The top of Steinsfjellet

I just had to!

I just loved this cowboy dino inside the largest dino in the world!

Yes, I've been away for a whole day(!), but don't worry, I am not lying in a ditch somewhere, unseen by any of the three cars that pass in one hour. Nor did I have to be taken by a Canadian ambulance to a Canadian hospital where they diagnosed me with Dutch Rickets (whatever that may be) which required isolation from the the computer. However, I did get back to the hotel at 1am in the morning and was tired enough to head straight for bed.

See, I was inside!

So, what did I do? Well, as I said in the title: I just had to go back to Drumheller and the Badlands (Kay, stop whooping). I didn't think I had seen nearly enough and the other choice (Dinosaur Provincial Park) was just too far away and wouldn't leave me with a lot of time to look around. Since I had to be back quite early because I had an appointment with some Dutch immigrants. Anyway...

A stegasaurus?

I went back to Drumheller and even with the threat and later the reality of rain it was as beautiful as the first time around. This time I did get the chance to get into the largest dinosaur of the world (at the cost of $3) and I climbed the 106 steps to the top. The inside had been decorated with dinosaurs and a spider and other things related to the Badlands. After that I headed out for the Royal Tyrrell Museum, which was worth every penny I would normally have paid: $11. However, I didn't pay a cent (or dime or whatever the expression is), since it was free! Yippee.

Hoodoos

Now, the RTM is a museum about dinosaurs, since those are found a lot in the Alberta Badlands (hence the Provincial Park as well) and it was stuffed to the ceiling with a lot of different dinosaurs. It was absolutely fantastic and I took tons of photos. After walking around for about two hours and marvelling at all those bones, I grabbed something to eat before heading out and doing a 1km loop around the badlands. It came with information boards which told me a lot more than I already knew.

Me in the Badlands

At 3pm I left the museum and headed back. I was meeting up with Jacky and her husband. They immigrated with their two sons a few years ago and I was keen to hear about the hows whys and whats. Well, we talked before during and after dinner and I finally left at midnight. In that time though I had heard about the good differences, the bad differences, the same things and a lot more. They showed me their house and we wondered at some of the Canadianism which we find pretty weird, strange or downright hilarious (don't worry, that will be a post of its own).

By the side of the road

And today I had to leave Airdrie and head back to Edmonton. But not before I got myself a cell phone! The first one I ever owned (I don't own a cell phone in the Netherlands, I use my company phone). Of course I am completely digitally challenged and when I went to get my top-up, they offered to get it set up for me and all. I then noticed it actually had a camera as well! The joys of a new phone...

Grain silos by the railtracks

Right now I am in the hotel in Edmonton, with a tv that actually has sound and my suitcase is unpacked. I will get something to eat in a minute and then decide what to do tomorrow. My agent will get in touch with me tomorrow as well to make some appointments, either for interviews or for meetings with other immigrants. Exciting!!!

I missed my sister

A lovely and quaint hotel in Beiseker

In the past I have been on several holidays with my sister. We went to Belgium and Luxembourg, we went to Ireland, we went cycling in the Netherlands. We think very much alike, we like a lot of the same things and we know each other quite well. And I missed her today. Because I knew she would have just loved what I got to see courtesy of Kay! It was absolutely stunning! I had heard about the Alberta Badlands, but hadn't really seen any photographs, so didn't really know what to expect. Which of course was right up to Kay's street, since she was watching me closely to see how I would react when I saw the Badlands.

A coulee

We started off driving through farmland. Mile after mile of corn grain (which had been harvested by the way): yellow fields that stretched as far as the eye could see. And after a while those coulees started to appear. Hollows between the fields where nothing was planted or harvested. Probably because it would flood during the spring when all the snow would melt and it would take a while to drain away again (this is purely what I am thinking, not what I know). And I thought those coulees were beautiful and tried to take photo after photo.

The Badlands

But I was quite stunned when I saw the badlands. It was like driving in the mountains but completely different. Because where the mountains push up from the earth, the badlands are basically below the earth. Over tens of thousands of years of rivers flowing and eating away at the sides and natural erosion eating away from the top, the prairie that once was had great wide valleys running in it. You could see the layers that make up the earth, you could see the coal (coal mining was very prominent during the early and middle part of the 20th century) and it was so unlike anything I had ever seen.

A hoodoo

Part of that erosion had also created the hoodoos. Basically it's the outside that is being eaten away by rain, snow, wind and unfortunately in more recent years humans, while at the same time, the top which is made of rock stays. Until the whole hoodoo has been eroded and the rock falls off. The ones we saw were a lot bigger a century ago and I guess that if people were to come back in a hundred years time the would be gone altogether. However, we also saw new hoodoos being formed! So, it's not all bad.

Me holding on tightly on that supsension bridge

Another thing we did was go and see and pass some bridges. The first bridge was a suspension bridge. I had never crossed one before and I can't say whether it was a success or not. It was very windy and even though I was all alone on that bridge, I held on tight with both hands because it was moving and swaying! And then we went to see the eleven bridges towards Wayne (a small village). They are actually in the Guinness Book of World Records for some reason (the most bridges on the shortest stretch of road covering the same river?), so we had to go and see them. As we were nearing the 9th bridge I happened to see a Dutch flag! The odds...

I might even get to work here some day!

After having crossed all eleven bridges we decided to go and have a bite to eat at the Last Chance Saloon. And when I asked who lived in the house with the Dutch flag, it turned out to be the owner of the Last Chance Saloon, whose mother had come over from the Netherlands in 1926! Anyway, we had a nice meal (buffalo burger) and a nice chat, I left my details and got some details back and then we drove back to Airdrie because Kay had to drive home again as well.

From its mouth it was supposed to be a great view of the Badlands!

There was only one little drawback to the day: I couldn't get into the largest dinosaur in the world (in Drumheller), because the stairs had just been painted and weren't dry yet! So, I will have to come back some day...

Dora in the rain

The little mermaid

For some strange reason part of the kids on board has decided to call me Dora. Either because they couldn't remember my real name, or because they think it's a better name (which I don't agree with by the by). Anyway...

Today was Kopenhagen and it rained. All morning it came down, rain, rain and more rain. I was getting quite fed up with it all, but I wanted to see the town, so me and two colleagues hopped on one of those hop on/hop off buses and did the tour. We got off at a castle, walked around that for a while and then decided we would walk to the mermaid, since the bus was really hot and muggy and it had stopped raining. Well, for ten minutes anyway, because then it started again and we nearly got soaked. We sheltered somewhere and when I tried to take a photo of my two colleagues, I tripped and fell flat on my face. Fortunately the only thing that got bruised was my ego, but I felt quite silly with my face down in the street!

One of the many elephants dotted around town.

After about four more showers we finally managed to get to the mermaid and guess what: the sun came out for just a second! I took photos from nearly all angles (it's situated in the water, so I wasn't going in there to take more photos). We then hopped on the bus again and got off at the 'new harbour' which was basically one massive bar! It looked really festive and fun and by then the rain had ceased completely as well. A quick and very expensive drink later we hopped on again and took the last part of the tour.

I must say, Kopenhagen is a lovely town and I would love to go there again to see it properly. In the sun preferably! Another one on my list of 'must-sees'...

Paris 3

Hall of Mirrors at the Chateau de Versailles

On Thursday we handed our open tour tickets to my brother and sister-in-law, since we were planning to go to Versailles. I wanted to visit the chateau there. It took us over two hours to get there by train so by the time we were in Versailles it was lunchtime. After our nuggets we headed towards the Chateau de Versailles. The room I most wanted to see was the Hall of Mirrors and I was not dissappointed. It was absolutely stunning. Now, if it had only been empty... But after we had seen opulent room after more opulent room we decided it was enough and went outside to visit the gardens. We took a tractor-trainride towards the Hamlet of Marie-Antoinette and I guess that was the highlight of the day. Those royals definitely had more money than sense, but that Hamlet (Hameau) was really pretty! Little houses and even a small 'farm', none of which had anything to do with real life.

One of the cottages in the 'Hameau de Marie-Antoinette'

On Friday my brother and his family went home again. The cold, the lack of playthings on the campsite and the fact my youngest niece (1 1/2) was feeling a bit under the weather all contributed. My parents, my sister and I went back to Disneyland. We had only seen about half the things on Monday! However, the first thing my sister and I headed to was 'It's a small world' and my sister graciously allowed me to go twice in a row! (Isn't she the best?) We were haunted in the phantom house, we nearly got pirated by Captain Hook and we saw the parade again. This time from a perfect spot though, so no waving hands on the photos!

Snow White and her prince during the Parade

After another long day we had our first proper French meal. My sister and I had stuck to burgers and ribs all week and my parents had cooked pasta several times. The restaurant wasn't of Michelin star quality, but the people were friendly, the food was plenty and good and French! We had salade aux crevettes et asperges (shrimp and asparagus salad), agneau (lamb), canard (duck), brie and crème brulées. Yum yum!

I love 'barbe à papa' (cotton candy)

Saturday saw us all cleaning the caravan again. Packing our suitcases and my dad packing everything in the car. We would take my sister to the airport first, so it was a bit tight for the first hour. We dropped her at Charles de Gaulle about six hours before her flight was due, but she had a book with her! The traffic was easy on our way back home and just after five in the afternoon I dropped my parents off at their home. I then drove home myself (my parents are leaving on another holiday in a few days and I am allowed to use their car in the mean time).

I had a great time and have taken a lot of photos. I took about 1,000 but deleted about half of those and ended up with 482! I am however also very glad to be home again. With my own stuff, enough blankets and with my own little felines!

Paris 2

The old signs for the underground stations in Paris

On Tuesday my sister and I made our way to the trainstation to catch the train to Paris. We missed the first one due to the line in front of the ticket machine (nobody understood what to do), but we finally managed to get a ticket each and we caught the next train. On arrival in Paris, we grabbed some lunch and then made our way to the metro station. The system is similar to the London system, but I still found it confusing. It was a good thing my sister was with me! We finally alighted properly at the Louvre and from there we took one of those open double decker buses. It was a two hour + ride through Paris and the temperatures weren't much better than the day before: at the end we both were freezing yet again! But Paris is loaded with souvenir shops and I managed to find a nice fitting sweater.

Photo taken from the Trocadero, the highest natural point from which to see the Eiffel Tower

After our dinner we walked back to the Louvre for some more photos, then we walked to the Place de la Concorde, where we took another metro. This time we were heading towards the Trocadero so we could get some great photos of the Eiffeltower! There were loads of people there, including lots and lots of African souvenir sellers. They were a bit in your face, but ignoring them worked well enough. After that it was back home again.

Some of the graves in 'La Cimétière Montmartre'

The next day we went back to Paris. This time to visit Montmartre. However we were already feeling three days of walking (remember I am a busdriver: I don't walk, I drive) and our pace had slowed down considerably! Especially in hilly surroundings. But we managed to get to the Sacré Coeur and even went inside. After our Starbucks coffees we visited a massive cemetery in Montmartre. I had never seen anything like that before. There were several famous people buried there as well, but we only saw one of them: Alexandre Dumas (the Three Musketeers). After a shortened trip on the River Seine (it might have been better at night with all the lights twinkling away) we headed towards the Hard Rock Café where we had our dinner.

To be continued...