Tuesday, November 30, 2010

At last :)

This was written Sunday night upon my arrival:


Tonight I landed in Tehran and what a great feeling it is. I had a bit of anxiety flying in only because this is my first time coming here by myself and I was unsure how strict customs would be or what questions they would ask. Either way the flight is was great, easy, comfortable, the plane was nice and there was a lady next to me that reminded me of my aunt. Once I saw the lights of the city a rush of excitement came over me. I haven’t been back to Iran in six years, so much has change, my family has moved and grown. Some of my cousins are now married others no longer married, life has happened and I wasn’t here to see it.

It was interesting to see how much times have changed. I remember when I was young and we were flying into Iran they would announce that all the ladies now have to cover their hair because we have entered the country. Now they don’t even tell you, once you land and are coming off the plane all the ladies put their scarfs on and walk out. I of course was nervous and covered my entire head and didn’t let any hair show but you should see the girls. They are ready to defy the laws and show that they will do as they please. Some of the ladies just wore hats, others had scarfs only covering the back of their heads. I hope to see the day when we can walk the streets of Iran free of such things.

As I walked off the plane I could hear Persian music playing, people greeting each other in farsi and the smell of Iran...I knew I finally made it! I had a smile ear to ear...which now looking back I bet people were wondering why. I made it through customs with no problems, grabbed my bags and headed towards the exit. I saw my cousins on the other side of the glass waving happily and hurried to hug them. It was a wonderful arrival as my uncle, two cousins and one of their wife’s came to welcome me. It’s crazy that I haven’t had any communication with them over the last few years, I just hear from my dad all the news and send my hello’s. I feel as though I have to get to know everyone again.

The drive home was easy, I called my parents and let them know that I was safe and sound. Now here I am, at last I am here and I can’t believe it. I have been so excited to come to Iran and it’s funny I don’t understand why it is so hard to come more often. It is expensive and you need at least two weeks for a trip but how hard is that once every 2 or 3 years? This is some place that I should come and more often than not.

Anyway, I am so excited to wake up, have a nice breakfast, see my cousins and the city.

The Place I Love!

Lots of people have asked me which place am I most excited to visit; it is such a hard question to answer, each place has it’s own excitement. Scotland is a place I have dreamt of going and I knew I would love. Ireland has beauty that you can’t describe, London...well London is just a great city. I am excited about Iran and Sydney because I am seeing family after so long. So each place has something to look forward to and an excitement of its own.

However, when I really think about it deep down I can’t help but be thrilled to go to Iran. I just can’t wait to be there, to see family, to eat the food, to see the people and hear the music. I love going there, I love the culture, the history and I love that this is part of my life.

People say I am an old soul in a young heart. I appreciate the culture of Iran, the music that is so rich and it reminds me of my childhood, I love the pride that the people have regardless of their religious beliefs or the political views. I love the richness of the food, even the fruits taste different there, they have real taste. I love the way the cab driver tells you it’s no charge because it is courteous, even though there is a charge. It is the little things that make the people and the country so wonderful.

Even though I was not born there I feel more a part of Iran at times that I do America. I love traditions and I feel the need to carry them on. I love how much the culture has made my life different. My parents raised us with a very strong sense of culture and they made sure we understood where we come from and who we are. From the age of one I have been traveling to Iran and have spent summers there with my family. I never realized the impact that these times had, but now I see. Some of my fondest memories take place in Iran and I hope that my family and children to will have this as well.

Monday, November 29, 2010

C'est la vie

Today I am leaving Paris and flying to Iran. This trip was suppose to be with my mom but I think I can manage flying into Iran without her. If anything this is a good experience for me to go by myself. There isn’t any real threat or problem going to Iran but I just feel better having someone there with me. I get nervous if they begin asking me questions, but I am assured that if I can fly to Paris and get a train to my hotel not speaking any French, then Iran is a breeze.


I know this sounds terrible but I am quite happy to be leaving Paris. After a while the city wore on me and as beautiful as it is there are many things that I can’t stand . Paris is by far one of the dirtiest places I have ever been and I have been to a lot of places. The people have no regard to take care of the city, keep in clean and take pride in it. They pollute everywhere, the metro stations are a disaster and the worst part is the toilets. The bathrooms are so gross that you walk in a forget you need to go. People don’t wash their hands after using the restrooms, I have seen more people peeing in the streets than I ever want to and although I have meet lots of nice people, the ones that are not nice are extremely rude. To top it all off the food in this city is a disaster. I was willing to spend about 20-30 euros for a nice dinner, that should get you decent food and it was the biggest waste of money. The food is so bad that I was tiered of eating and would only have one or two meals at the most. Sometimes that one meal was just a combo meal from McDonnalds. I am sure there are places that you can go and spend a good chunk of money and get a great meal but for the average person good luck. To be honest 20-30 Euros is not a cheap dinner and I would expect a nice meal. I can’t wait to get some good old Persian food!


Don’t get me wrong, it is a great place to visit for a few days but anything more is not for me. I was ready to leave days ago and was super happy this morning when I got on the bus. So bye bye Paris and hello Iran.

Saturday, November 27, 2010

Love

It’s interesting being in the city of love when your not in love. I wonder how the city would look to me if I came with a lover? I walk around and see couples everywhere, some so in love, others that need to be reminded they are in love. One my first days here I was walking back from the Eiffel Tower and walked through a cute little park. There was a young couple walking though; at first glance I looked at them and thought I wish I had someone here with me, someone I loved. The couple looked fine but after a few minutes I noticed they were arguing and not even wanting to look at one another. I instantly remembered that feeling when you are in a relationship and get upset. At the time you are so angry and heated. You get upset like something major has happened and I am sure that whatever the argument is about, it isn’t really that bad.


It’s so different to see things now, as I have been single for two years since my last relationship. Now things aren’t so serious for me, I looked at the young couple and thought it isn’t that big of a deal, enjoy being in pairs after all life is to short to make such a big fuss. Even if you are upset just talk about it and get over it. The fact is that whatever the argument, there is always a solution and if you are willing to talk about it, then talk about it and move on.


I remember my boyfriend in college always told me that one of the worst qualities I had was that I never let go of things. We used to get in arguments and like a fool I would bring things up from the month before. I never changed when we were together but it was one of the greatest criticisms I got, because after we broke up I realized that more than anyone I was just hurting myself by holding things in. It is a hard characteristic to change, but once you see that letting go is so easy, you hate hanging on. Now when I get heated or upset I deal with whatever it is and once it is over I can go back to being happy and not letting it ruin the rest of my day.


I wonder what the couple in the park was arguing about, I wonder if they will ever realize how lucky they are to have someone? I realize now more than ever how difficult it is to meet someone that you love and that loves you back. Someone that you think or are willing to try to spend the rest of your life with. Sure it’s easy to meet people but nearly impossible to meet someone you want to spend your life with.


At times, like every “single” person I get disappointed and think it will never happen and maybe it never will. I have come to except that and have learned to be happy either way. My mom is such a character, she always tells me so what if you don’t meet anyone then you can live your life with no trouble and do whatever you want. As much as she loves my dad she knows how hard a marriage can be and speaks about it’s difficulties. However, she forgets that in times of great happiness or great sadness the one thing you want is the person you love; this is the greatest comfort.


I always say that it isn’t marriage that I am looking for, I am not the girl that dreams of her huge wedding and has it all planned. To be honest I don’t even know what colors I would pick or if I would have a wedding. It isn’t kids that I am looking for, even though I do want them one day. What I am looking for is just the person that I can share my heart with, the person I can talk to and spend time with. I feel as though I have so much I want to share and can’t wait to share it with someone special. Someone I can go for a run with or travel different places. Someone that enjoys life and appreciates every bit of it. Someone that wants to share their life with me!

I wonder if what I want is to much?

Paris Pics

The Louvre

My first day in Paris

Notre-Dame

This guy was amazing

Sacre-Coeur

Friday, November 26, 2010

The Louvre, Notre-Dame and more!

My week in Paris has been nice. Once I found out that my mom is ok and I decided very hard to make the best out of my stay here, after all I am in Paris. I have to say that 10 days in Paris is by far enough, if I were to redo my visit I think I would max out at 5 to 6 days and go somewhere else. Now I could live here for a period of about year or so but a quick visit should be quick.


The city is small so all that you want to see is right here. I have the metro system down and can get anywhere around the city, which helps after walking all day and just wanting to get home. I usually start my day by saying I will walk, because it’s good exercise and well I get to see the city even if it is the same sights, they are beautiful. By the end of the day I am usually ready to just catch the metro and get home.


Today I did walk down a few different streets and got to see all new things which I am glad I did. One thing that having a lot of time here has done, is that I have gotten a bit lazy with going to different sights, I keep thinking that I can see it tomorrow and today I can just relax and go to a cafe. So now that I have only two days left I realize there are still a few places to go. I will, however, leave somethings for next time and that next time will be with my mom. I want to have somethings that I haven’t seen so it’s exciting for both of us and I know this way I am promising to come back to Paris.


Yesterday I decided I needed some retail therapy so I went shopping and did very well. Since I have been gone I have done amazing, I have not bought myself anything, except a hat that I needed for Scotland. I made a promise to myself that this trip is not for shopping but to enjoy the places I go. I would rather spend money on an amazing meal in Paris rather than a pair of shoes (this is rare and only for this trip). It’s just after all the bad news I needed a pick me up and I also never got anything for my birthday, so I figure I was justified. I went to a local store and found two cute and fairly inexpensive pieces and then I remembered exactly what I wanted. I saw a leather jacket in Munich that I really wanted to buy but didn’t have room in my luggage so I left it, but didn’t forget it. I was lucky enough to have my brother and Nina take some things back for me when they left the other day so I realized I have a few kilos to spare. I found the closest Mango to me and tracked down my jacket!


It’s a perfect fit and exactly what I wanted. I really love it and was excited to come home and show my mom what I got on skype. Even though she couldn’t make it here I wanted to share all that I could with her. Of course she loved it and was happy for me. I told her I couldn’t wait to show her in person. Her health is good and she is in recovery after her surgery. She seems to be doing very well and yesterday was walking a bit. Today I spoke with her and she said that she is doing good and the pain is bad, but tolerable. Everyday she looks better and better.


It’s funny that I have visited many churches through this trip and previous trips and although I have prayed for those that are sick or need help I have never pray so much. Every church here has a candle light for my mom and all those in our lives that are sick. In a time of uncertainty this gives people hope and a sense of doing something, however little it may be. I have always lit a candle and made a prayer for someone at that particular time that I knew needed a prayer. I do this now not just to pray, but for all those that prayed for my brother around the world years ago. Even though we didn’t see them, we felt it. Knowing that people are thinking about you is what gives you strength and the will to carry on.


It was nice that my brother and Nina were here for the first part of the week especially once I got the bad news. I was happy to have two more minds here to help me figure out anything if I needed it, plus it was just nice to see family and have a good time together. We had a nice time and saw the Louvre and a few other sights, we were relaxed and took our time instead of trying to fit too much in and getting tiered. I was sad to see them go, their stay here was very short and we were just starting to have fun ;)


I have to say one of my favorite places so far has been Sacre-Coeur and the walk there. This church sits at the highest point in Paris and once you have reached the top, you turn around and see the entire city. It is a beautiful sight and the church itself is amazing. As you walk up there are people the entire way trying to sell you anything they can; people are singing, dancing and even performing tricks with soccer balls. All this adds to the fun and you can’t help but stop along the way and look around. The area around the church is like it’s own little town, which it used to be. All the artists are from here and when you reach the square you see painters everywhere being inspired and painting. Who knows who these painters are, they could be the relatives of artists we know or they could one day have their paintings hanging in one of Paris’s fine museums.


On my way back home I stopped and saw Moulin Rouge, I have to say that was a huge disappointment. It is on a crappy street that is like the red light district and the building is so much smaller than what I had in my mind. Either way I got to see it and kept on moving.


Today I went to Musse D’Orsay, it was lovely and I spent a few hours there. The building is an old train station that was going to be knocked down, but then it was decided to make it into a museum since it had height they could hang large paintings there. When you walk in and look at the grand station you immediately fall in love. After the museum I walked around a bit and right as I was passing Norte-Dame it started snowing and very heavy. This was enough to make me come home and snuggle up!

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Taking all that comes my way

It’s funny how fast things can change and change the way you feel about something. I feel as though for some reason, I have earned the right to have life take it easy on me. I know that doesn’t make any sense but its just that I have put in my time and I just want to take it easy. I know that this is what everyone wants and it is not something that will ever be granted but this is the way I feel and I can’t change that.

I was expecting my mom to arrive tomorrow morning, which by my tone you can probably guess that she isn’t coming. Not by her choice but just as luck would have it she had a medical emergency and could not fly. Of course my first concern is her health and well being and after that is the fact I feel so sad that she can’t make it to Paris. I was super excited to share this with her and couldn’t wait to show her everything. And I know that she was super excited to be here and was ready to see Paris.

Once I found out that she can’t make it, I started making is sound like Paris is not all that great and to be honest when you are not in the mood to be here it really does suck. I have to always remember that things happen for a reason and that something good will come out of this all. I know life throws curve balls at you and you just have to be ready and go with whatever it is, but I just feel like I have had a lot of curve balls and I want things to go right. I never take life for granted and I am always thankful for everything yet I am reminded through life’s events again and again that shit happens.

People tell me, God only gives you what you can handle, so I guess he thinks that I can handle a lot. Either way the important thing is that my mother is ok and if I need to be there I am only a plane ride away. If all goes well, my mom will still be able to meet me in Iran but just a few days after I arrive. All I can do now is pray that she is ok and she can come. I was so looking forward to seeing her and giving her the biggest hug, it’s like a recharge and I need it.

It’s funny because ever since I have gotten to Paris I was just not that happy and I couldn’t figure out why. I know that I am alone but I don’t mind that so much and it was only for a few days. There was something else and even when I was at a restrauant my second night here; the owner asked me why I was sad, I had no answer for him. I mean who knows if I had a sense of something going on or if I was just sad because of some other reason. Either way it all came together on Monday when my parents called with the bad news. The good news is that Paris is not going anywhere and my mom and I can always come back.

So now I have another 4 days here, which I should still be thankful for and I am going to try VERY hard to make the best of it!

Sunday, November 21, 2010

Everything I thought Paris would be!

My first full day Paris was everything I hoped it would be. Paris is everything that you think of; it’s the woman dressed perfectly walking her little white dog, it’s the lovers sitting in the window of a restaurant holding hands, it’s the French man dressed like he is about to get into a Porsche but is just going to his job at the local cafe, yet it is all this together that what makes this place so wonderful.

I was unsure of wether I could handle the streets and navigation here. I generally have a good sense of direction and feel fine while traveling, but when I got to Paris and saw the roads I was a bit concerned. Each road looks like the one before and the buildings are so high on both sides that you can’t see further than a quarter mile ahead of you. Regardless I had no choice, I knew the address of my hotel so if at the worst case I got lost I could get a cab ride back.

I decided after talking to a gentleman last night that I should see the one thing that makes me think of Paris first; the Eiffel Tower. Once I see this then I know that I will realize that I am really here. So I set out and went towards the Opera House, I had seen it at night but it does the beautiful building no justice. Once in the day light the Opera is amazing, so grand and stunning. I then made my way through the beautiful streets of Paris, half of which is not on a map, but you can guess your way through. Once I made it to Rue Royale I could feel that something good was coming. You have to realize that I had no clue how far anything was from me, I just knew that the sun was out and I wanted to walk and see all that I could. I got to Place De La Concorde and my eyes weren’t sure where to look. Everything was just so huge and in every direction you look there is something amazing. I began walking straight unsure of which way to go and then as I looked up towards my right I saw my first view of the Eiffel Tower. It was a sight to see and my eyes were glued. I began making my way towards the tower and then I realized that I was at the end of the Champs-Elysees. I got so excited that I was there I started walking down towards the Arch De Triomphe and looking at all the little shops. After about ten minutes I realized that I was not going in the direction of the tower and I needed to stay focused.

I got back on track and after a pretty long walk I finally made it to my destination. There I was, my 5 foot frame was looking up 1,063 feet at a masterpiece! I was so excited to be seeing the Eiffel Tower and it was such a beautiful day. I walked all around and under the tower and took picture after picture. I was in the mist of hundreds of people doing the exact same thing but who can blame them. I was so excited I called my mom and told her where I was standing and how amazing it feels to just be in Paris.

I walked across the street and ordered at chocolate and banana crepe, even through it was a rip off due to the area, but I sat in front of the Eiffel Tower and ate smiling the entire time. It was wonderful and I was happy!

I decided to start walking back but maybe catching the metro at some point because it was getting cold and I was super tiered of walking. On my way back I noticed a young man looking at me as we walked a few blocks, then at one intersection he crossed and I stayed back to look at my map. When I turned around he was standing right there asking me where I was trying to get to. I really didn’t have an answer because I was just walking, but I was thinking to go to the Louis Vuitton store so that is what I said. So he said to come with him and he will show me. Now, I know most of you are thinking that this is not so safe but we were in broad daylight and surrounded by people. He led me to the Champs-Elysees and said to have a coffee then he would take me. So I had a nice warm coffee and then he did exactly what he said and he took me to LV. He was a nice guy, young, dressed great and I wasn’t sure what he did but it is so easy to not care because they all look so good. Turns out that he was working at the cafe he took me to...I just don’t get it. I mean these men are super cute and looking so good and then they end up working at a cafe! Anyway, I now see where the reputation of French men comes from. They are very cute and suave. He put me in line at LV, kissed my hand and said bye. The only thing that could have made it any better was if he actually walked in and bought me my favorite bag ;)

I waited in line for about 20 minutes but once the wait was up I walked into the largest Louis Vuitton store in the WORLD. It was....AMAZING! There were bags, wallets, shoes, clothes, jewelry and more. It was 5 stories of heaven and I spent my time in there. Although I walked out empty handed I was a happy gal.

The rest of my night was pretty quiet, I went for pizza and a movie in the evening. Then I hurried to sleep so Sunday could come and I would see my brother and Nina who are coming for a few days.

Friday, November 19, 2010

Catching up...Munich and more!

Today I left Munich, my stay here went by to fast. The week was nice and filled with walking the city, visiting a few museums and spending time with my cousins. In the evenings we would get together for dinner and drinks. Both my cousins had to work during the day so usually by 6pm we would meet up and spend a few hours together, after all most people do have to work, I am the old ball in this category.

Because I didn’t have internet I was not as disciplined to keep up with my blog. I have one entry that I will post from my first weekend in Germany, but the rest of the time I can summarize in this post.

On Monday one of my cousins was off so he picked me up in the morning and we went for a fabulous breakfast. We caught up with each others lives and talked about everything. Then we went to the city center and walked around, looking at all the shops and beautiful buildings. In the evening we decided to cook some spaghetti and relax at home.

Tuesday was my birthday and I had to be up and ready early because of all things, I had a doctors appointment for a cough that I have not been able to get rid of. I walked to the city and went to the doctor, ends up that I have had bronchitis and a little sinus infection...good thing I was having a hard time breathing and decided a doctor was needed ;) I was happy that there was an end to my misery and I went straight to the pharmacy for my meds. I spent the rest of my birthday relaxing. I walked the city looking desperately for something to buy, but surprisingly I found nothing. In the evening my cousins and I popped some bubbly and went to eat some sushi. Most of you know that sushi has become my birthday tradition so we had to keep that going. We went to a great restaurant and ate tons of food followed by some sake.

Wednesday I went to a few of Munich’s museums and spent the day looking at beautiful art. I packed my lunch and ate it at a small park and afterwards headed home to rest. On my last day I decided to cook some food and just be home in order to do laundry, shower and pack. I went to the store for some groceries and on the way home decided to treat myself to a Thai massage. It was my first time experiencing this and it was quite nice. Once I was nice and relaxed I hit the kitchen and cooked up a storm. I was craving some Persian food..surprise surprise...so I made rice with eggplant. The guys came home and we chowed down. Then we reminisced and looked at some old reunion pictures from a few years before and had some cocktails. It was a relaxing evening and I enjoyed my time with my cousins! They were great hosts and so kind to have me!

This leads me to today! I left Munich early in the morning and came to Paris. I have to say that after all that I have heard and it being my first time here, I was a bit nervous to be here on my own. I just didn’t know what to expect and everyone has warned me to be careful. I grabbed my bags and easily found the metro to the city. Once I arrived at the right station I had no clue where I was with respect to my hotel. One lady at the airport had told me that I could walk and it was only 5 minutes. Thank God I didn’t listen to her because it was about a 10 minute cab ride! Once I arrived I was starving so I went to a local cafe and ordered my first French meal with a glass of red wine :) It was nice to have reached my destination with no problems and to be sitting in the heart of Paris relaxing! All my nerves went away and I was smiling ear to ear.

My impression of Paris is great so far, I hope I am not cursing myself by saying this. After lunch, I went back to the hotel to freshen up and then decided to explore the area. People here are nice, it’s not the typical French stereo type that I have so ofter heard. At one point, I had my map out and looked a bit lost and a kind gentleman stopped and helped me. He ended up talking my ear off and I didn’t understand 50% of what he was saying, but he was nice. Then I went the opera house, then La Fayette Galleries. They are so beautiful and so grand. Lots of sparkling lights and I was like a bug going towards them. I walked a lot and eventually found a cute place for dinner. Its weird to eat alone in a city that you don’t know. It’s a lot lonelier than I expected and I think thats because I love being with people on trips. At the same time this is what this whole trip is about...being on my own and exploring the world!

So I had my dinner and as I was getting up the owner of the restaurant came over and began speaking French. Of course after seeing my face he asked where I was visiting from and the minute he found out I was from the states he quickly began talking about Miami and how much he loves it. So we instantly have something in common. He asked if I was ok because I looked sad while I was eating and I said I was fine just tiered and didn’t really know what to do on my own. So he kindly invited me to the bar for a coffee and began drawing me a map. He wrote all the places I should see and gave me some great advice. He was very nice, and he also lectured me about being a lady in Paris on my own. He said that this was not very safe at night and to be super careful. When I was saying bye he said to stop by if I needed anything and then gave me the number to the place in case I needed help. The conversation ended with him welcoming me to one of the greatest places!

I was so happy to have met him and just to have a great experience like that. It made my night and even though I am sure I will not see or run into him again it’s nice to know that I can stop by for a friendly conversation and some coffee!

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

My 20's....oh my 20's...where did you go?

Today I enter my 29th year of life...oh boy! I can not beleive that I am turning 29, I certainly do not feel it. I know that most people don't feel their age, but I really don't. I am sad that this is my last year in my 20's and I can not beleive it, where did time go? Most people have told me that your 30's are the best, you are comfortable in your own skin, you know who you are and what you are doing and you are happy. Well I say good to all of you and I hope that I feel this way when I enter my 30's, but I still love my 20's!
I look back and every year of my 20's has been pretty amazing. I have some wonderful memories and life experiences from last 9 years and I have had the time of my life! Even the bad times have turned out to be good in the end and for this I am thankful.
So I have one last year to top my 20's off and I think I should make this year the best! It is already starting out pretty amazing with me traveling around the world and who knows what will come next. There are so many things that can happen, I don't know where I will end up or what I will be doing for work, I don't know if I will end up with someone or just living a single life. My options are open and the great thing is that I really have no expectations.
So here is to my last year in my 20's...the best year!

Saturday, November 13, 2010

Edinburgh...time to have some fun!

We returned from our three day tour on Thursday and quickly settled into our apartment. I will tell you, traveling out of a suitcase for a month will get on your nerves after a while. Both my cousin and I were ready to have a place we call home even if it was only for 6 days. We completely unpacked our bags and filled the drawers! We went to the grocery store and stocked our mini frig with all sorts of fruits and veggies. We were so ready for a healthy home cooked meal. I am so sick of fried pub food or crapy sandwiches. We decided on three home cooked dinners and with luck we would have left overs for lunch. We also bought lots of milk...for those of you who know me, know that I LOVE my milk. I swear I could drink a gallon right now.

I cooked the first night, our meal was Persian kabob made over the stove with rice and tomatoes. We got some yogurt that was to die for and we ate ourselves stupid. The second night we made tacos and the third night my cousin cooked yummy chicken pesto pasta and a huge salad, we also had a good bottle of wine. The other nights we ate out but treated ourselves to some better restaurants.

The days we were in Edinburgh went by fast. We decided to be lazy one day and do some shopping and walking through the city. Friday night we partied until the wee hours of the morning. We went to a place called Lulu, which is the hot club of the city, we certainly liked it ;) Saturday night we went out as well, but I think we were hoping for another amazing night like we had on Friday and; well everyone knows when you want a great night it never happens. The place we went to was just not as good as Lulu, the people were a bit younger and the fact is that we were worn out from the night before. We stayed until we could and headed home. The days following we saw the city and went to a few parks. We walked down Grassmarket, which is a fun street and well known. We went to Edinburgh Castle and the buildings around it and we saw Holyrood Palace (this is where the royal family stays when they visit). One night we took a ghost tour, Edinburgh is supposed to be pretty hunted so we figured we would get the crap scared out of us. Sadly we were very disappointed and not scared at all. Even 3 stores underground with no lights, didn’t get us scared...and there were apparently ghosts all around us!

My cousin and I decided that on Tuesday night we would go out because it was our last night together before we parted ways. We also thought it would be fun to celebrate my birthday together, even though it is still a week away. We went and ate some great Thai food and then hit up Lulu like it was no ones business. We went out and danced our happy butts off. We didn’t care if people talked to us or not, we went to the dance floor and never left. The next morning was a different story...I was not a happy camper. I had a hangover from hell; the worst headache which I deserve because I didn’t specify my vodka and I couldn’t move. Thank God we didn’t have to check out early because it took me a good 3 hours to shower, eat, and get ready to leave. I finally revived after the 20 minute bus ride and mini nap on the way to the airport. For a second there I didn’t think I would make it ;)

I was very sad to part ways with my cousin, we are like two peas in a pod. Not once in the course of the last month did we fight or get on each others nerves. We like the same music, eat the same foods, both hate the mornings and are night owls. More than anything we were just in sync. We both liked the same bars/clubs, same hotel preferences and we even like sightseeing the same things. It was a gift to have this time with her and we got even closer than before. On our last full day together we went to a park and walked around, then we decided to sit a cute place and have lunch and some wine. We ended up sitting and talking for a few hours. All great conversations, about life, love and family. We talked about each other and towards the end we teared up a bit because we are so far away from one another and wish we weren’t.

I can’t imagine how much fun it would be to live close to one another. To be able to say, “‘I’ll cook dinner tonight and we can watch our shows together.” It is gut wrenching sometimes because we are so far and know we would have a blast together. However, we can only deal with what has been given to us and make the best out of it. If only there was a way to get Australia and Georgia closer together!

A Wee Bit of Scotland

Scotland is like reaching the summit of a mountain, every direction you look you are in awe of the what you are seeing. As we drove north from Edinburgh my eyes were glued to the window. Now I have to say this, while we were in Ireland everyone told us that if we love it there then we will be blown away by Scotland. So I had very high expectations of Scotland and I was waiting to see this extreme beauty. At first I was not so impressed but in a matter of about 30minutes that changed quickly. Scotland is stunning, as we drove we passed all types of terrain. There were mountains covered with beautiful vegetation and others that were rocky cliffs.

One of the attractions that the Scottish pride themselves on are their lochs (this is the name of all their lakes). There are four major lochs all connected by man made canals. From end to end one can actually go straight through Scotland from the North Sea to the Atlantic Ocean. The biggest of these lochs is Loch Ness. Some of you may have hear of this lake mainly because of Nessy (a mythical creature that lives in Loch Ness and has generated millions of dollars from tourists).

As pretty as these lochs are they are the main attraction here and to me they resemble lakes in north Georgia or NC. Don’t get me wrong, they are beautiful but that is not what makes this area stunning. Its the mountains that surround the lochs filled with luscious trees all changing colors, the streams or falls that are pouring into the lochs and the over abundance of water that fill the lochs to the rim, making them look as though they are level with the road. On one side of the road you see the loch right next to you and on the other side you have a mountain with water flowing through and creating a path to pour into the loch. These are the beauties of the area.

On the second day of our tour we traveled around the Isle of Skye. This was my favorite day for many reasons; we got the explore a bit on our own, it was sunny and clear skies and we were by the ocean. I actually loved the vastness of the ocean with the cliffs along side much better than the lochs. As you stand on the edge of a cliff you look out at the vast ocean, the water is so blue and the cliffs are covered with green grass. Again there are waterfalls that are stories high pouring into the ocean. This was stunning. It is hard to explain such beauty, I wonder if the million pictures I took will show what I was looking at.

We also visited an area called Fairy’s Glenn. This was super cute, we drove up a small one lane windy road and when we reach the top we saw the greenest grass, a cute cobble stone wall and an area that feels much like a movie scene. They say you may see fairies running around, but we had no such luck ;)

As we drove around that day and I saw the Isle of Skye, I couldn’t help but think about how lucky and blessed I am to be seeing all this. Not only am I lucky to see one place of such beauty but multiple places. This is truly a once in a lifetime experience. As I have met people along the way they have all told me how lucky I am to be doing this and that they could never travel like this. My response to them has been yes I am lucky but I made this happen, I planned for it and created this opportunity and I stuck with what I really wanted to do. At the end of my life I don’t want to regret not doing something I have dreamt about. However, I now realize that I am lucky in a sense that some people don’t even have the opportunity to take advantage of and I realize that now more than ever. I am so thankful and from the bottom of my heart I thank God and my parents for their amazing support and for standing behind me with every decision that I have made. Having support is the greatest feeling and with it you know you can get through anything!

Monday, November 8, 2010

Yummy Yummy!

My Cousin order the Lamb...Julie, I know you will like these pics so I took them for you!

I went for the Sea Bass...yummy

I love my wine :)

The inside of Tiger Lily

Hello Scotland!

I wasn’t really sure of what to expect when I arrived in Edinburgh but I had heard lots of amazing things. My cousin and I arrived in the afternoon and we checked into the Old Waverly Hotel, right in the heart of the city. We, of course were not aware of our location but once we saw it we were quite pleased.

We quickly went to a tourist info store and got all the information we needed to plan our stay here. We decided on not renting a car, mainly because my cousin was the only one driving and she was reasonably tired. So we booked a three day tour going to the Highlands, Isle of Skye, and Loch Ness. We were pleased with this and figured once we returned we could do some day trips but, have a place to call home for about 6 nights in Edinburgh. We found a really cute apartment right on the Royal mile and booked it! One advantage to coming here in November is that we are here during off season so the prices have been better than what we expected.

Once we found a home we set out to get some food. I have to explain, up until now we have been pretty good with our money and how much we are spending on each meal. But we have been eating pretty much what it feels like the same foods. I can say this about the UK and Ireland, they don’t know what good food is! Every thing here is pub food, you can go to a restaurant and order lasagna and they will give you fries with your pasta!!! This has been horrible and the fries are not even good. So what we stared doing was ordering veggies instead and you should see some of the looks we got. People think we are crazy or that we want the veggies and the fries! As if the pasta was not enough.

Anyway, we were desperate for a really great meal, so we got a good recommendation and went to eat at the Tiger Lily. It was great indeed, both my cousin and I were in a food comma after that. We got a bottle of wine, some apps, main entrees, and dessert! The food was very good, healthy (except for the dessert) and not so expensive. Full and happy we went to bed :)

Sunday, November 7, 2010

Saying bye to Ireland!

Our last stop in Ireland was in Galway. We saved Galway for the end for a few reasons; we wanted to be in a fun city for Halloween, We wanted to be in a big city for the weekend and we couldn’t wait to stay in a hotel. Although our B&B’s have been wonderful they are out in the country with nothing to really do, no internet or TV and not the best food.

Before reaching Galway we made a quick stop to see the Cliffs of Moher. We were a bit unsure of whether we should stop due to the rainy weather but we figured we would go for it. Thank God we did because the Cliff of Moher are unbelievable. We spirited in the rain to the lookout point and the rain slowed down just enough for us to see. The view was unreal and we stood there as long as we could taking it all in while trying to keep dry. They are trying to vote and make the Cliffs one of the natural wonders of the world. After seeing them I would definitely vote yes!

My cousin and I were very excited to check in our hotel. She jumped in bed for a nap and I jumped in the gym for a quick workout. Since I have been in Ireland I have not been able to go running or workout, mainly due to the rain and no one here seems to exercise, they all just drink! The rest of the weekend consisted of us hanging out during the day and going out in the evenings. Halloween night we got dressed up...we tried to spend minimal $ and buy something easy. I was Lucifer and my cousin was a Gothic bunny. I have to say we looked cute for making our costumes an hour before going out.

We went out to a few pubs. Lots of people were dressed up and we took tons of pictures. We left one pub and went to a bar that was supposed to be one of the busiest. People were out the door and the party was in the streets. We managed to squeeze into the bar and met a group of fun guys there and ended up spending the rest of the night with them. We had a great time, oh and we went to Supermac’s! Apparently that is like our Stake ‘n Shake, but after going I have to say this place was a zoo! There was no line just a ton of drunk people gathered in one building, laughing, talking and trying to order food. You had to fight for a seat and most people were so drunk they just sat on the floor. It was an experience for sure.

We left Ireland Monday morning and headed out to Scotland! I have to add that we had nothing planned for Scotland. My poor cousin has been kind enough to plan everything so far but Scotland we had no clue about. We didn’t know what cities to visit, where to stay, whether we should rent a car or not. Basically we were hoping a miracle would happen and it would all plan itself but that didn’t happen either. We booked a hotel for one night in Edinburgh and figured we would ask around and plan the rest.

Friday, November 5, 2010

Moo Moo

Feeding the babies

Le Duck Dainty

This was a VERY messy job!

Doesn't she look excited?

David told me to pet her, but I was really wiping the crap off of her...gross!

Le Duck Dainty

I feel as though I have so much to catch up on. My goal with the blog/journal was to write at least once every other day, but that proves to be a lot harder when you are jumping around from location to location. Anyway we left Kells and finished our amazing drive around the Ring of Kerry. I was really heart set on milking a cow or doing some other farm chores while being in Ireland. Mainly due to the fact that there are farms all around you and well I figured I would embrace every situation. So for one night my cousin and I reserved a room at a B&B that is a working dairy farm. I was way more excited about this that she was, but my patient cousin was happy to go along.

We found the farm and settled in around 6pm and I let our host know that I was excited to milk the cows and she looked at me with a panicked look and said that I better hurry because they are milking them now. I rushed for a change of clothes, having no clue what to expect and ran to the farm house. May I remind you that I was still in no attire to milk cows, but the picture I had in my mind was me sitting on a cute stool milking a pretty clean cow. The reality was, me pinching my nose, in a room full of cow crap and about 20 cows around me. There was no stool, not a single clean cow and there were machines that milk the cows for you. All this being said I was still not going to let this change my mind, so I put on some gloves and got my hands dirty. First, David the farmer, showed me how to milk a cow by hand and then we did it the 2010 way using the machines. It was quite an experience and I got to milk the #1 cow in Ireland, Le Duck Dainty! She was HUGE and I have to say cows are a lot bonnier than I thought. Anyway after milking the cows we went into another farm house where all the calves were and I got to bottle feed a two week old. This was much cleaner and cuter. The baby calves have to drink special milk from their mother which contains all the nutrients that they need.

After our smelly experience we went to town for some food but you know, I just couldn’t get that smell out of my nose! Anyway, we also met some great folks from the farm and they were kind enough to let us in their home for us to use the Internet. People here are so friendly and trustworthy. I was joking with my cousin and said that if this situation was in Atlanta you would have called the police before letting strangers in your home or you would question why these folks are so nice to let you in. We had a great time chatting and they were so kind to give us tons of places to go and what to do. In exchange we offered a free tour if they ever visit our home towns!