Welcome back! I last left you as we approached Munich by car from Dachau Concentration Camp. After dropping off the car, we made our way to Central Munich by underground to get our train tickets to Salzburg and spend a couple hours around town.
Pics Here: http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/bbergey/SalzburgWithMom?feat=directlink
We strolled around central Munich for a short while, admiring the large cathedral and noticing that absolutely everything was closed for the Easter Holiday. We did manage to find the same brewhouse and beergarden that I had enjoyed the last time I was in Munich. No trip to Munich is complete without devouring the large meat and cheese platter served at Der Pschorr. We then boarded our train for a surprisingly quick ride to Salzburg.
The weather for our final few days of the trip couldn't have been better. We enjoyed endless sunshine and temperatures around 25-30 degrees (around 80). It couldn't have been more fitting for our final destination of Salzburg. If someone told me I had to move to Salzburg tomorrow, I would gladly pick up and move without hesitation. It is truly the only place I've visited so far in Europe where I could see myself living; and wanting to live. With a population of only 150,000, it is a stunning city that somehow feels unspoiled and easy to get around. It is known for it's alpine setting, surrounded by the Alps, and is the birthplace of Mozart and the setting for The Sound of Music. Salzburg's Old Town with its world famous baroque architecture is one of the best preserved city centres north of the Alps. With all of that said, I could have easily spent weeks here rather than a couple days, and every turn provided another beautiful building, open square, a hilltop castle surrounding the city, or the majestic Alps. It really is a great place!
After catching a bus from the train station to our hotel, we set out to find some dinner. Our hotel had an excellent location in the Old Town and we had a great view from our room. We discussed the plan for the next two days over dinner. Since Munich had entirely been shut for Easter, we were worried that Salzburg would be the same. We were happily surprised to find all shops open and the streets crowded with people enjoying the sun and the beautiful city. We also read that there would be a large Easter Market set up in one of the open squares for the weekend which would provide all sorts of food, produce, and gifts.
The next morning, we woke up and strolled through the streets some more and visited the Easter Market where we checked out all of the stands and got some lunch. We then went to board our bus for the Sound of Music coach tour offered a few times each day. Before you make your judgments, the tour lasts 4 hours and spends most of it's time outside of the city. So although we were forced to listen to the soundtrack the entire time and were surrounded by too many people who knew way too much about the stupid movie, we saw a lot of the surrounding area. We were taken around the outskirts of Salzburg to see some of the filming locations and then taken up into the Lake District in the Alps to Hohensee, Lake Gilgen and Mondsee. All of the areas were absolutely beautiful and well worth a few hours of annoying music. I also realized that mom knows far more about the Sound of Music than any human being should ever know.
Our flight left the next day (Easter) in the evening, which meant we had another entire day to spend in the city. After breakfast, we visited the market again to grab some meats and cheeses for lunch, and then headed up to the Hohensalzburg castle nestled atop a large hill dominating the city. After construction began in 1077, it is now one of the biggest castles in Europe. It houses a couple museums and a great tour that takes you through many of the rooms and up one of the towers. The castle is part of a large hill that stretches along the entire length of the Old Town. We walked along the top of the hill enjoying views of the city, castle and the mountains and enjoyed our lunch in one of the parks. We then spent the rest of the afternoon strolling through the streets of Salzburg and chilling out on the banks of the River that flows directly through town.
Please take some time to take a look at the pics...and if you ever make a trip to Europe, make sure you include a visit to Salzburg!!
4.26.2009
Germany Part 1 - Cologne, Heidelberg and the Romantic Road
Gruss Gott! My mom recently visited me in London and we took an 8 day adventure through southern Germany and part of Austria. This post covers the first 3/4ths of our trip which includes Cologne, Heidelberg and a journey down Germany's beautiful Romantic Road into the Alps. Stay tuned to hear about Munich and Salzburg!
See Pics Here: Click Here
Facebook Pics (less formal) here:
Facebook Album 1 and
Facebook Album 2
Our journey began on an early Sunday morning as we made our way to Heathrow to catch our flight to Dusseldorf. After getting moved up in the enormously long and inefficient line, we made our flight which landed us approximately 30 miles from Cologne, our destination for the first night. We caught a train to Cologne and easily found our hotel which was located just a few blocks from the train station. The hotel was surprisingly nice and had an excellent location with only a 10 minute walk to the center of town, the Dom Cathedral and the Aldstadt (or old town).
Cologne is a large city that sprawls from the massive Rhine River which flows directly through it. The banks of the river provide nice running/walking/biking paths and excellent views. The main site to see in Cologne is the giant Dom Cathedral, one of the best-known architectural monuments in Germany. Construction of the Gothic church began in 1248 and wasn't finished until 1880. It is 144.5 meters long, 86.5 m wide and its two towers are 157 m tall. It was hit 70 times by aerial bombs in WWII, yet never collapsed. It is an absolutely amazing site and definitely worth a visit both inside and out. The highlight was the climb up one of the giant towers; 533 steps up a steep spiral staircase that provided a close look at the gigantic church bells and excellent views of the city. After the climb, we picked up a snack at a nearby bakery and meandered through the shopping district before heading to dinner. Our host at the hotel told us about a local Brewhouse a bit out of the way, so we went there for dinner and it was absolutely incredible! I enjoyed pork with homemade sauerkraut and plenty of the in-house brewed beer!
The next morning, I went for a run along the Rhine before a huge breakfast at the hotel. After rushing to the train station, we then had to wait in line forever to buy our tickets which means we missed our planned train and had to wait a couple hours. We picked up some lunch and headed down to the river to enjoy the sunny day. We then took the 2+ hour train ride to Heidelberg which was a surprisingly beautiful journey that followed the Rhine valley. After our arrival in Heidelberg, we figured out the correct bus route to the Old City area to find our hotel. I was pleasantly surprised with the excellent location of our pension (hotel). In the heart of old town, it was basically on one of the main squares bordering a massive cathedral. We took the suggestion of our host for dinner and enjoyed an excellent dinner at another local brewhouse. A German couple also sat at our table outside during dinner and we talked to them for quite a while before leaving. It was a really nice evening and we were able to sit outside and enjoy the company.
Heidelberg is an amazing old city. The town spreads along the river with beautiful bridges that cross. A large castle is perched atop the hill overlooking the entire valley and city and every turn provides another narrow cobblestone road or an amazing view. Cars are generally not allowed anywhere in the old town which makes walking and sitting outside really pleasant. On our second day, we got an early start on a walk up to the castle. Unfortunately for mom, it meant more climbing, but the climb was definitely worth it. The grounds around the castle were absolutely amazing and the views of the city were unbeatable. We spent a few hours exploring the castle and it's grounds and enjoying the perfect weather. After our walk back down to the old town, we grabbed some lunch and then crossed the river to the Philosophers Way trail. The trail climbs from the river up along the other side of the valley and follows it above the old city. It is surrounded by gardens and forest and again provides amazing views of the city and the valley. After our long and active day, we grabbed a beer and pretzel at a local beergarden and then made our way to dinner.
The next day, we took the bus to the rental car office where we picked up our car for the next few days. We received a sweet Audi SLine 6 speed, and it went fast. Very fast. At one point I reached around 110mph on the Autobahn, but then mom noticed and I had to slow down. From Heidelberg, we drove toward Rothenberg ob der Tauer, an old fortress town well known for it's well-preserved medieval old town. We stayed at a very nice B&B just outside the city wall with a quick 10 minute walk to the center of the old town. We spent the afternoon exploring the shops, which included a few famous German Christmas shops, and I climbed a sketchy clock tower in the middle of town. We also walked around the majority of the fortress wall that surrounds the old town and provides excellent views of the town and nearby countryside. Rothenberg truly is an amazing place and you could walk the winding streets and explore the nooks and crannys for days. We rested for a quick beer and then went to dinner at a restaurant recommended to us by our host. Dinner was quite an experience! As we entered, we realized that all of the tables were either taken or reserved with the exception of one large table in the corner. We were told by the waitress that there was an "English Conversation" table available if we'd like to sit there. Having no idea what that meant, we decided to take a seat next to a couple from Florida and a few older men/locals. We learned that every Wednesday, the conversation club meets at the same table to speak English. They welcome anyone to join them and different members of the club show up each week. We were joined by a few other tourists that came and went throughout the night along with 4 old German war veterans. They had some excellent stories, newspaper clippings and pictures about their lives and it was a really cool experience. The food was also excellent and it was very nice having someone help us order and recommend items.
The next morning, I went for a run around the entire fortress before eating breakfast and packing up the car to our next destination. We traveled down the Romantic Road through small villages and winding countryside until eventually the massive Alps emerged along the German/Austrian border. We arrived at the southern end of the scenic route at Neuschwanstein Castle, a 19th century Bavarian palace on a rugged hill. We were able to get tickets to the last tour of the day, but it also meant a 30 minute walk up the rugged hill for mom. We did make it and it was well worth it. The castle is enormous and surrounded by snow-capped peaks and alpine waterfalls. It was also the inspiration for the main Disney castle seen in their parks. The drive to Garmisch, our destination for the evening, was spectacular. We drove through snowy mountains and quaint, mountain villages, finally arriving after dark. Our host for the evening, Frau Lily, was a rather old woman who I'm not sure actually expected us regardless of my reservation. After we arrived, she showed us through the dining room and kitchen and began walking us to our room. As she reached for the light switch in the dark hallway, she tripped over a lip on the floor and began falling forward. It felt like her fall lasted about 15 seconds as I saw the start of it out of the corner of my eye, but suddenly she was on the floor moaning weird noises and German words. Since her fall seemed to have happened so slowly, I didn't think it would be very serious, but to my surprise there was an immediate puddle of blood on the floor. As she turned her head toward my mom and I, awkwardly standing in the hallway wondering if what really occurred actually just happened, blood streamed down her forehead and face. She remained on the floor moaning German things as I ran to the kitchen trying to find a rag, which I never found. She eventually got up and we helped her to the kitchen where she cleaned her wound and asked mom to put a large bandage on her head. After asking many times if she needed a doctor or anything else, we hopped over the blood as she showed us to our room and that was that. Holding a laugh the entire time, I began laughing the minute our door closed. My mom and I looked at each other, both secretly thinking that we wanted to go somewhere else but we ended up staying the night and had a nice meal in town. My biggest worry is that she wouldn't live through the night and we wouldn't get breakfast. But she was up before us, making a fresh Easter Bunny cake and an omelet for breakfast! Along with rolls heated on the radiator and some meat that had probably been in her fridge for approximately 8 days. I ate it though.
Needing to return the car by noon in Munich, we got an early start on our 1.5 hour drive and headed toward Dachau Concentration Camp before going into the city. Opened in March 1933, Dachau was the first regular concentration camp established by the Nazi party. Over 200,000 prisoners from more than 30 countries were housed in Dachau and 25,613 prisoners are believed to have died in the camp. I found the camp oddly surreal. Overall, it just seemed like a shut-down prison. However, I was very surprised by how blunt and descriptive many of the museum and informative exhibits were. They were not shy at all about describing what happened in the camp in a very detailed and straight-forward way. I was also surprised to find how well the American Army was regarded when referring to the liberation of the camp by US army forces on 29 April 1945. The most disturbing part of the visit were the gas chambers and crematorium. It is incredible to think that a group of people could even think to do such cruel things, let alone build facilities that can carry it out so efficiently and blatantly. It was definitely an eye-opener and a good experience to have.
The remainer of our trip includes a short afternoon in Munich before spending our final days in Salzburg. Stay tuned for the next post!
See Pics Here: Click Here
Facebook Pics (less formal) here:
Facebook Album 1 and
Facebook Album 2
Our journey began on an early Sunday morning as we made our way to Heathrow to catch our flight to Dusseldorf. After getting moved up in the enormously long and inefficient line, we made our flight which landed us approximately 30 miles from Cologne, our destination for the first night. We caught a train to Cologne and easily found our hotel which was located just a few blocks from the train station. The hotel was surprisingly nice and had an excellent location with only a 10 minute walk to the center of town, the Dom Cathedral and the Aldstadt (or old town).
Cologne is a large city that sprawls from the massive Rhine River which flows directly through it. The banks of the river provide nice running/walking/biking paths and excellent views. The main site to see in Cologne is the giant Dom Cathedral, one of the best-known architectural monuments in Germany. Construction of the Gothic church began in 1248 and wasn't finished until 1880. It is 144.5 meters long, 86.5 m wide and its two towers are 157 m tall. It was hit 70 times by aerial bombs in WWII, yet never collapsed. It is an absolutely amazing site and definitely worth a visit both inside and out. The highlight was the climb up one of the giant towers; 533 steps up a steep spiral staircase that provided a close look at the gigantic church bells and excellent views of the city. After the climb, we picked up a snack at a nearby bakery and meandered through the shopping district before heading to dinner. Our host at the hotel told us about a local Brewhouse a bit out of the way, so we went there for dinner and it was absolutely incredible! I enjoyed pork with homemade sauerkraut and plenty of the in-house brewed beer!
The next morning, I went for a run along the Rhine before a huge breakfast at the hotel. After rushing to the train station, we then had to wait in line forever to buy our tickets which means we missed our planned train and had to wait a couple hours. We picked up some lunch and headed down to the river to enjoy the sunny day. We then took the 2+ hour train ride to Heidelberg which was a surprisingly beautiful journey that followed the Rhine valley. After our arrival in Heidelberg, we figured out the correct bus route to the Old City area to find our hotel. I was pleasantly surprised with the excellent location of our pension (hotel). In the heart of old town, it was basically on one of the main squares bordering a massive cathedral. We took the suggestion of our host for dinner and enjoyed an excellent dinner at another local brewhouse. A German couple also sat at our table outside during dinner and we talked to them for quite a while before leaving. It was a really nice evening and we were able to sit outside and enjoy the company.
Heidelberg is an amazing old city. The town spreads along the river with beautiful bridges that cross. A large castle is perched atop the hill overlooking the entire valley and city and every turn provides another narrow cobblestone road or an amazing view. Cars are generally not allowed anywhere in the old town which makes walking and sitting outside really pleasant. On our second day, we got an early start on a walk up to the castle. Unfortunately for mom, it meant more climbing, but the climb was definitely worth it. The grounds around the castle were absolutely amazing and the views of the city were unbeatable. We spent a few hours exploring the castle and it's grounds and enjoying the perfect weather. After our walk back down to the old town, we grabbed some lunch and then crossed the river to the Philosophers Way trail. The trail climbs from the river up along the other side of the valley and follows it above the old city. It is surrounded by gardens and forest and again provides amazing views of the city and the valley. After our long and active day, we grabbed a beer and pretzel at a local beergarden and then made our way to dinner.
The next day, we took the bus to the rental car office where we picked up our car for the next few days. We received a sweet Audi SLine 6 speed, and it went fast. Very fast. At one point I reached around 110mph on the Autobahn, but then mom noticed and I had to slow down. From Heidelberg, we drove toward Rothenberg ob der Tauer, an old fortress town well known for it's well-preserved medieval old town. We stayed at a very nice B&B just outside the city wall with a quick 10 minute walk to the center of the old town. We spent the afternoon exploring the shops, which included a few famous German Christmas shops, and I climbed a sketchy clock tower in the middle of town. We also walked around the majority of the fortress wall that surrounds the old town and provides excellent views of the town and nearby countryside. Rothenberg truly is an amazing place and you could walk the winding streets and explore the nooks and crannys for days. We rested for a quick beer and then went to dinner at a restaurant recommended to us by our host. Dinner was quite an experience! As we entered, we realized that all of the tables were either taken or reserved with the exception of one large table in the corner. We were told by the waitress that there was an "English Conversation" table available if we'd like to sit there. Having no idea what that meant, we decided to take a seat next to a couple from Florida and a few older men/locals. We learned that every Wednesday, the conversation club meets at the same table to speak English. They welcome anyone to join them and different members of the club show up each week. We were joined by a few other tourists that came and went throughout the night along with 4 old German war veterans. They had some excellent stories, newspaper clippings and pictures about their lives and it was a really cool experience. The food was also excellent and it was very nice having someone help us order and recommend items.
The next morning, I went for a run around the entire fortress before eating breakfast and packing up the car to our next destination. We traveled down the Romantic Road through small villages and winding countryside until eventually the massive Alps emerged along the German/Austrian border. We arrived at the southern end of the scenic route at Neuschwanstein Castle, a 19th century Bavarian palace on a rugged hill. We were able to get tickets to the last tour of the day, but it also meant a 30 minute walk up the rugged hill for mom. We did make it and it was well worth it. The castle is enormous and surrounded by snow-capped peaks and alpine waterfalls. It was also the inspiration for the main Disney castle seen in their parks. The drive to Garmisch, our destination for the evening, was spectacular. We drove through snowy mountains and quaint, mountain villages, finally arriving after dark. Our host for the evening, Frau Lily, was a rather old woman who I'm not sure actually expected us regardless of my reservation. After we arrived, she showed us through the dining room and kitchen and began walking us to our room. As she reached for the light switch in the dark hallway, she tripped over a lip on the floor and began falling forward. It felt like her fall lasted about 15 seconds as I saw the start of it out of the corner of my eye, but suddenly she was on the floor moaning weird noises and German words. Since her fall seemed to have happened so slowly, I didn't think it would be very serious, but to my surprise there was an immediate puddle of blood on the floor. As she turned her head toward my mom and I, awkwardly standing in the hallway wondering if what really occurred actually just happened, blood streamed down her forehead and face. She remained on the floor moaning German things as I ran to the kitchen trying to find a rag, which I never found. She eventually got up and we helped her to the kitchen where she cleaned her wound and asked mom to put a large bandage on her head. After asking many times if she needed a doctor or anything else, we hopped over the blood as she showed us to our room and that was that. Holding a laugh the entire time, I began laughing the minute our door closed. My mom and I looked at each other, both secretly thinking that we wanted to go somewhere else but we ended up staying the night and had a nice meal in town. My biggest worry is that she wouldn't live through the night and we wouldn't get breakfast. But she was up before us, making a fresh Easter Bunny cake and an omelet for breakfast! Along with rolls heated on the radiator and some meat that had probably been in her fridge for approximately 8 days. I ate it though.
Needing to return the car by noon in Munich, we got an early start on our 1.5 hour drive and headed toward Dachau Concentration Camp before going into the city. Opened in March 1933, Dachau was the first regular concentration camp established by the Nazi party. Over 200,000 prisoners from more than 30 countries were housed in Dachau and 25,613 prisoners are believed to have died in the camp. I found the camp oddly surreal. Overall, it just seemed like a shut-down prison. However, I was very surprised by how blunt and descriptive many of the museum and informative exhibits were. They were not shy at all about describing what happened in the camp in a very detailed and straight-forward way. I was also surprised to find how well the American Army was regarded when referring to the liberation of the camp by US army forces on 29 April 1945. The most disturbing part of the visit were the gas chambers and crematorium. It is incredible to think that a group of people could even think to do such cruel things, let alone build facilities that can carry it out so efficiently and blatantly. It was definitely an eye-opener and a good experience to have.
The remainer of our trip includes a short afternoon in Munich before spending our final days in Salzburg. Stay tuned for the next post!
4.14.2009
Run Brian, Run!
Well it's been a long and drawn out road full of highs & lows, injuries & personal bests, and health kicks and nights on the town, but I finally completed my first half marathon. As many of you know, I started training for one over a year ago and did very well until I injured my knee. I slowly nursed it back to health and started training again in January. I recently traveled to Northern Ireland for a long weekend to run the Larne Half Marathon, a small coastal town approximately 20 miles northeast of Belfast and ran a great race!
I'm going to try and make this post fairly short so you will all look at these pictures: http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/bbergey/HalfMarathonTrip?feat=directlink
Let me start first with my thoughts on Northern Ireland. WOW! Definitely one of the most beautiful areas I have seen so far in Europe. Breathtaking scenery, rugged coastlines, rolling countryside, green farmlands, alpine peaks, deep forests, winding roads that are steeper and curvier than should be allowed. And that just gets us started. After landing in Belfast, I got my rental car and started driving up the coast toward Larne. My destination for the day was a small town on the Northern tip of Ireland called Bushmills. On my way, I drove the Coastal Causeway Scenic Route which followed the amazing coastline and often gave options for sidetrips into the Glens (or mountains) of the area. The highlight of the drive was a lesser driven section of the highway to Torr Head. It was a small, one-lane road that climbed at amazing steepness and curved around constant corners. It climbed to provide amazing views of the coastline and countryside, and dropped to small harbour villages. The weather over my entire trip provided strong winds which made the water rough and the waves wild and and huge. I also visited the famous Giant's Causeway; a wonderful area of beauty that I'm sure many of you have heard of and scene pictures of. I stayed at a nice hostel in Bushmills, home to the oldest whiskey distillery in the world (apparently).
My 2nd day included a visit to the best ruined castle I have ever seen: Dunlace Castle. I then visited nearby White Rocks Beach and also drove inland a bit to the Glens and Forest Park. It was raining off and on and there were still very strong winds, so I didn't get out as much. I also visited an amazing area along the coast that had a rope suspension bridge from a clifftop to a small island just across a chasm of the sea. Due to winds, I was not able to cross the bridge, but it still allowed for some amazing views and photo opportunities. I ended the day in Larne, where I had booked a bed and breakfast for the night so I could get some good rest before my race. Of course, I had to drive into town to get a nice big pasta dinner to prepare for the run the next day!
Day 3 was the race. It wasn't until 1pm, so it gave me plenty of time to eat the full Irish breakfast provided for me at the B&B and get into town to warm up and prepare. The course followed one of the most scenic coastal routes in the world. Fortunately, it was one of the flatter sections. It left Larne and followed the road about 5 miles up the coast to Ballygally where it turned inland and climbed gently for a mile or so. This provided close-up views of the local Glens and also sweeping views of the countryside and sea. The we went back down into Ballygally and followed the same route back. I started very well and kept my pace, fighting the gale force winds head on and finishing mile four at under 32 minutes. I even tackled the hills well and used the downhill sections as some active recovery. However, the last 2ish miles are a blur. I remember looking at my watch but don't remember what it said. All I know is that I slowed down. Way down! I had to force myself to keep going the last mile, but I made it. My final time was 1 hour and 49 minutes, so I definitely have some room for improvement. I would love to beat that by 10 minutes as I increase my training and try again.
I spent the evening eating a couple dinners, a load of candy and went to a movie since i was pretty beat. I stayed in a Belfast hostel that night and explored the city the next day before my flight left. Unfortunately, I got really sick on Sunday during my travels home which wiped me out the following week. Better training and better recovery next time should help me out.
Please take an opportunity to look at the pictures this time...they are great!
I'm going to try and make this post fairly short so you will all look at these pictures: http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/bbergey/HalfMarathonTrip?feat=directlink
Let me start first with my thoughts on Northern Ireland. WOW! Definitely one of the most beautiful areas I have seen so far in Europe. Breathtaking scenery, rugged coastlines, rolling countryside, green farmlands, alpine peaks, deep forests, winding roads that are steeper and curvier than should be allowed. And that just gets us started. After landing in Belfast, I got my rental car and started driving up the coast toward Larne. My destination for the day was a small town on the Northern tip of Ireland called Bushmills. On my way, I drove the Coastal Causeway Scenic Route which followed the amazing coastline and often gave options for sidetrips into the Glens (or mountains) of the area. The highlight of the drive was a lesser driven section of the highway to Torr Head. It was a small, one-lane road that climbed at amazing steepness and curved around constant corners. It climbed to provide amazing views of the coastline and countryside, and dropped to small harbour villages. The weather over my entire trip provided strong winds which made the water rough and the waves wild and and huge. I also visited the famous Giant's Causeway; a wonderful area of beauty that I'm sure many of you have heard of and scene pictures of. I stayed at a nice hostel in Bushmills, home to the oldest whiskey distillery in the world (apparently).
My 2nd day included a visit to the best ruined castle I have ever seen: Dunlace Castle. I then visited nearby White Rocks Beach and also drove inland a bit to the Glens and Forest Park. It was raining off and on and there were still very strong winds, so I didn't get out as much. I also visited an amazing area along the coast that had a rope suspension bridge from a clifftop to a small island just across a chasm of the sea. Due to winds, I was not able to cross the bridge, but it still allowed for some amazing views and photo opportunities. I ended the day in Larne, where I had booked a bed and breakfast for the night so I could get some good rest before my race. Of course, I had to drive into town to get a nice big pasta dinner to prepare for the run the next day!
Day 3 was the race. It wasn't until 1pm, so it gave me plenty of time to eat the full Irish breakfast provided for me at the B&B and get into town to warm up and prepare. The course followed one of the most scenic coastal routes in the world. Fortunately, it was one of the flatter sections. It left Larne and followed the road about 5 miles up the coast to Ballygally where it turned inland and climbed gently for a mile or so. This provided close-up views of the local Glens and also sweeping views of the countryside and sea. The we went back down into Ballygally and followed the same route back. I started very well and kept my pace, fighting the gale force winds head on and finishing mile four at under 32 minutes. I even tackled the hills well and used the downhill sections as some active recovery. However, the last 2ish miles are a blur. I remember looking at my watch but don't remember what it said. All I know is that I slowed down. Way down! I had to force myself to keep going the last mile, but I made it. My final time was 1 hour and 49 minutes, so I definitely have some room for improvement. I would love to beat that by 10 minutes as I increase my training and try again.
I spent the evening eating a couple dinners, a load of candy and went to a movie since i was pretty beat. I stayed in a Belfast hostel that night and explored the city the next day before my flight left. Unfortunately, I got really sick on Sunday during my travels home which wiped me out the following week. Better training and better recovery next time should help me out.
Please take an opportunity to look at the pictures this time...they are great!
3.22.2009
Riding in Austria
Guten Tag! I recently took a short trip to the Austrian province of Styria, the second largest province in Austria. The landscape is dotted by the spectacular peaks of the alps, fast flowing alpine rivers and large carved valleys holding thermal areas. I flew in and out of the city of Graz, Austria's second largest city (behind Vienna), which almost has more of a Mediterranean feel than it does German. My first couple days were spent in the ski resort town of Schladming, enjoying the vast slopes covered in fresh snow. I spent my final days in Graz, exploring the narrow streets, the riverside path and the iconic Schlossberg in the center of town.
Pics here: http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/bbergey/AustriaRiding?feat=directlink
My journey started by train. After landing in Graz, I caught a train toward the resort of Schladming. The direct train took about 2.5 hours and made a few stops along the way. Unfortunately, it was cloudy and rained the entire time, so I didn't really get to see the mountains or any nice views. But it also meant that I saw the snow line get closer and closer and by the time I got to Schladming I could see the slopes covered in new snow. I had made a reservation at a small guesthouse just outside the resort town, and the guesthouse owner's son was the only one there that spoke English. He had offered to pick me up from the train station and was there shortly after my train arrived. He then drove me to the guesthouse, gave me the tour, and showed me to my room. Without much to do and a lack in English television programming, I went to sleep pretty early.
I woke up to some fresh snow outside, but I had no idea how significant the amounts were on the mountain. Before getting ready, I went downstairs to get breakfast, which was definitely the best part about staying at the guesthouse. The owner prepared a wonderful spread of traditional Austrian staples that included rolls, jam, a wide variety of meats and cheeses, yogurt, muesli, boiled eggs, and juice. I ate as much as I could each morning which gave me tons of energy to hit the slopes. After getting all of my gear, I walked outside to catch a bus to the slopes that picked me up just outside the guesthouse.
The difference between the town and the top of the mountain is over 1000 meters, which is approximately over 3000 feet. That meant the snow conditions at the top vs. the bottom were very different. As I went up the mountain in the gondola, I realized that around 8-10 inches of fresh snow had fallen the night before and I was immediately in heaven carving fresh lines in the powder. It continued snowing all day which made for excellent conditions. But it also made for poor visibility and absolutely no views at all. I was too preoccupied with the snow to care though. The resort itself includes 9 local ski areas, four of which are connected by lifts. I decided to explore as much as the mountain as I could so I would know where to spend my time the next day. I found that the runs covering the resorts were quite varied. I also experienced a breakthrough ski lift invention called "The Bubble." It is a plastic shell that can be pulled down in front of you while riding a lift to protect you from the elements. It's amazing. I stopped for lunch to enjoy some Goulash stew and some fresh bread and pushed myself to enjoy a long day of boarding. Before getting the bus back, I found a grocery store where I got a lot of items to prepare dinner with that night since I had use of the kitchen in the guesthouse.
Day 2 of boarding was crazy. I woke up to rain, and I didn't realize how hard it was coming down until I went out to catch the bus. I was pretty much soaked on the outside after 10 minutes. But I knew, or at least was hoping, that this meant it was dumping snow on the mountain. And it was, big time. The gondola ride took me from slushy rain to a winter paradise in about 10 minutes. It was incredible and I'm not sure I've seen so much fresh snow on any slope. After the previous day's fresh snow, we probably had another 18-24 inches, depending on where you were on the mountain. My first run, however, ended up being surprisingly frustrating. From the top, I headed left toward a lift I had discovered the previous day. I started heading down the massive piste and realized, by looking at tracks, that only a few people had gone that way. Further, the piste had not been groomed and wasn't overly steep. Excited, I strapped in and headed down. Slowly. And then I stopped and fell over. The heavier weight of the snow made it very hard to move and even harder to get up. All I did was sink and continually stop. I decided to continue past the lift as I saw a groomed run below and realized that this was my style. It only had about 8 inches of snow to deal with since it had been groomed. I also realized that most pistes had actually only been half groomed, so whenever I got up enough speed, I would shift into the half that hadn't been groomed and float through the knee deep powder.
With access to other areas closed due to the conditions, things started getting tracked out and busier, which left me longing for the tree runs we find in the Colorado resorts. But Europeans don't seem to like trees as much. Actually, they don't seem to like them at all and as hard as I looked I couldn't find any tree runs. I could have tried anyway, but I was afraid I would have just got buried in snow and unable to get out and didn't think it was worth the risk. So instead I got as close as I could find: a route under a lift that was unpopular, steep and allowed for the occasional dip in and out of the trees. And it was amazing. I was able to get fresh tracks all morning and my legs were dead by lunch time, but it didn't keep me from going back a couple more times after the break. When I needed a break, the normal pistes were still amazing; long cruisers split with some newly formed moguls made a fun and challenging way down the mountain.
I did notice a few differences in Europe vs North American resorts. First, everyone always lowers the foot rest on the lift. They put it down immediately and keep it down until the last second. Also, they don't really have any tree runs, which sucks. Third, they have a lot more surface lifts which usually intimidate me but I've got pretty good at using them. Fourth, they aren't as organized in the lift lines. It wasn't an issue because it was never really busy, but it was still fairly frustrating without being able to speak the language. They also don't seem to care if the on and off ramps are a pure sheet of ice. They just sit and watch everyone fall. Also, all of the lodges, or huts, are privately owned and therefore all different. And there are a lot of them. They make great, home cooked food and of course it's German/Austrian which I love! After the second day, I explored the town a little before heading back to the guesthouse to make dinner and get some rest.
The next morning, the son gave me a ride down to the train station with plenty of time to spare. He told me the night before that a portion of the railway was actually closed due to avalanche danger, so at some point it would let all of us off and buses would be waiting to take us around the dangerous area. He also told me that a friend of his works on the mountain and that they were unable to get an official reading on how much new snow there had been the last few days because their 15 foot measuring stick was completely buried in snow. Incredible! The train ride did take longer than expected, but the clearer day allowed me to see some of the mountains and the bus ride traveled through a few small villages which was quite nice as well. I arrived in Graz around 2 in the afternoon and made my way to the hotel I had booked.
The weather in Graz was very nice...sunny and warm enough for me to wear jeans and a t-shirt. I explored the better part of central Graz that afternoon. My first stop was the Schlossberg, a giant hill with an explosion of trees, historic buildings and endless places for people to enjoy the amazing views it provided. I had read about the historic clock tower that dominates the city from the berg, but unfortunately it was under repair and was completely covered up. From there, I explored the Rathaus area and the small, narrow streets that were filled with shops and restaurants. I had also done some internet research on the best restaurants in the city and found in particular that I had heard about. I took a picture of the menu so I could study it in my room before heading out for dinner later that night. Before dinner, I had to fit in a run since my half marathon was only two weeks away. The Mur river flows directly through town, and where there is a river there is always a path that follows. Before I knew it I was running next to riverside parks and then random fields before turning back into town. It was a perfect evening for a run!
I don't usually go to restaurants on my own. I always feel a little awkward and out of place, but I decided I would give it a try this time. I showed up at the restaurant I had seen earlier and soon realized that every table was reserved. The waiter thought he could find me a place to sit, but every corner was already taken and they were booked solid all night. I asked if I was able to sit at the bar and order food, and I could, so it was the perfect compromise. The waiter talked to me when he was at the bar making drinks for his table and was intrigued by my story on why I was in Graz. I had done some research about the local specialties, and one of them was pumpkin seed oil. It made my starter course an easy decision; a green salad with a pumpkin seed oil dressing. It was very nice and had a sweet, nutty taste. For my main, I ordered roast pork with homemade sauerkraut and potato dumplings. It was amazing. The pork melted in my mouth and even the sauerkraut was savory and pleasant. I washed it down with a local beer and left completely stuffed. Although it didn't stop me from wandering the streets a bit more before turning in. I was really looking for an ice cream place, but I couldn't find any still open.
I woke up on Sunday to roam around the city a little more before heading back to the airport. Unfortunately, the city followed normal European procedures and pretty much everything was closed. Even grocery stores and many restaurants were closed, so it made for a slightly boring final tour of the city. However, I did run in to the University district and a number of large cathedrals and churches with their bells ringing. It was a very nice, and very quiet, morning in Graz and it was awkwardly peaceful. I eventually checked out of my hotel and drug my backpack and snowboard to the train station where I waited for the next train to the airport. Of course I couldn't leave Austria with one last pretzel purchase, and some haribo gummies just for fun!
Pics here: http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/bbergey/AustriaRiding?feat=directlink
My journey started by train. After landing in Graz, I caught a train toward the resort of Schladming. The direct train took about 2.5 hours and made a few stops along the way. Unfortunately, it was cloudy and rained the entire time, so I didn't really get to see the mountains or any nice views. But it also meant that I saw the snow line get closer and closer and by the time I got to Schladming I could see the slopes covered in new snow. I had made a reservation at a small guesthouse just outside the resort town, and the guesthouse owner's son was the only one there that spoke English. He had offered to pick me up from the train station and was there shortly after my train arrived. He then drove me to the guesthouse, gave me the tour, and showed me to my room. Without much to do and a lack in English television programming, I went to sleep pretty early.
I woke up to some fresh snow outside, but I had no idea how significant the amounts were on the mountain. Before getting ready, I went downstairs to get breakfast, which was definitely the best part about staying at the guesthouse. The owner prepared a wonderful spread of traditional Austrian staples that included rolls, jam, a wide variety of meats and cheeses, yogurt, muesli, boiled eggs, and juice. I ate as much as I could each morning which gave me tons of energy to hit the slopes. After getting all of my gear, I walked outside to catch a bus to the slopes that picked me up just outside the guesthouse.
The difference between the town and the top of the mountain is over 1000 meters, which is approximately over 3000 feet. That meant the snow conditions at the top vs. the bottom were very different. As I went up the mountain in the gondola, I realized that around 8-10 inches of fresh snow had fallen the night before and I was immediately in heaven carving fresh lines in the powder. It continued snowing all day which made for excellent conditions. But it also made for poor visibility and absolutely no views at all. I was too preoccupied with the snow to care though. The resort itself includes 9 local ski areas, four of which are connected by lifts. I decided to explore as much as the mountain as I could so I would know where to spend my time the next day. I found that the runs covering the resorts were quite varied. I also experienced a breakthrough ski lift invention called "The Bubble." It is a plastic shell that can be pulled down in front of you while riding a lift to protect you from the elements. It's amazing. I stopped for lunch to enjoy some Goulash stew and some fresh bread and pushed myself to enjoy a long day of boarding. Before getting the bus back, I found a grocery store where I got a lot of items to prepare dinner with that night since I had use of the kitchen in the guesthouse.
Day 2 of boarding was crazy. I woke up to rain, and I didn't realize how hard it was coming down until I went out to catch the bus. I was pretty much soaked on the outside after 10 minutes. But I knew, or at least was hoping, that this meant it was dumping snow on the mountain. And it was, big time. The gondola ride took me from slushy rain to a winter paradise in about 10 minutes. It was incredible and I'm not sure I've seen so much fresh snow on any slope. After the previous day's fresh snow, we probably had another 18-24 inches, depending on where you were on the mountain. My first run, however, ended up being surprisingly frustrating. From the top, I headed left toward a lift I had discovered the previous day. I started heading down the massive piste and realized, by looking at tracks, that only a few people had gone that way. Further, the piste had not been groomed and wasn't overly steep. Excited, I strapped in and headed down. Slowly. And then I stopped and fell over. The heavier weight of the snow made it very hard to move and even harder to get up. All I did was sink and continually stop. I decided to continue past the lift as I saw a groomed run below and realized that this was my style. It only had about 8 inches of snow to deal with since it had been groomed. I also realized that most pistes had actually only been half groomed, so whenever I got up enough speed, I would shift into the half that hadn't been groomed and float through the knee deep powder.
With access to other areas closed due to the conditions, things started getting tracked out and busier, which left me longing for the tree runs we find in the Colorado resorts. But Europeans don't seem to like trees as much. Actually, they don't seem to like them at all and as hard as I looked I couldn't find any tree runs. I could have tried anyway, but I was afraid I would have just got buried in snow and unable to get out and didn't think it was worth the risk. So instead I got as close as I could find: a route under a lift that was unpopular, steep and allowed for the occasional dip in and out of the trees. And it was amazing. I was able to get fresh tracks all morning and my legs were dead by lunch time, but it didn't keep me from going back a couple more times after the break. When I needed a break, the normal pistes were still amazing; long cruisers split with some newly formed moguls made a fun and challenging way down the mountain.
I did notice a few differences in Europe vs North American resorts. First, everyone always lowers the foot rest on the lift. They put it down immediately and keep it down until the last second. Also, they don't really have any tree runs, which sucks. Third, they have a lot more surface lifts which usually intimidate me but I've got pretty good at using them. Fourth, they aren't as organized in the lift lines. It wasn't an issue because it was never really busy, but it was still fairly frustrating without being able to speak the language. They also don't seem to care if the on and off ramps are a pure sheet of ice. They just sit and watch everyone fall. Also, all of the lodges, or huts, are privately owned and therefore all different. And there are a lot of them. They make great, home cooked food and of course it's German/Austrian which I love! After the second day, I explored the town a little before heading back to the guesthouse to make dinner and get some rest.
The next morning, the son gave me a ride down to the train station with plenty of time to spare. He told me the night before that a portion of the railway was actually closed due to avalanche danger, so at some point it would let all of us off and buses would be waiting to take us around the dangerous area. He also told me that a friend of his works on the mountain and that they were unable to get an official reading on how much new snow there had been the last few days because their 15 foot measuring stick was completely buried in snow. Incredible! The train ride did take longer than expected, but the clearer day allowed me to see some of the mountains and the bus ride traveled through a few small villages which was quite nice as well. I arrived in Graz around 2 in the afternoon and made my way to the hotel I had booked.
The weather in Graz was very nice...sunny and warm enough for me to wear jeans and a t-shirt. I explored the better part of central Graz that afternoon. My first stop was the Schlossberg, a giant hill with an explosion of trees, historic buildings and endless places for people to enjoy the amazing views it provided. I had read about the historic clock tower that dominates the city from the berg, but unfortunately it was under repair and was completely covered up. From there, I explored the Rathaus area and the small, narrow streets that were filled with shops and restaurants. I had also done some internet research on the best restaurants in the city and found in particular that I had heard about. I took a picture of the menu so I could study it in my room before heading out for dinner later that night. Before dinner, I had to fit in a run since my half marathon was only two weeks away. The Mur river flows directly through town, and where there is a river there is always a path that follows. Before I knew it I was running next to riverside parks and then random fields before turning back into town. It was a perfect evening for a run!
I don't usually go to restaurants on my own. I always feel a little awkward and out of place, but I decided I would give it a try this time. I showed up at the restaurant I had seen earlier and soon realized that every table was reserved. The waiter thought he could find me a place to sit, but every corner was already taken and they were booked solid all night. I asked if I was able to sit at the bar and order food, and I could, so it was the perfect compromise. The waiter talked to me when he was at the bar making drinks for his table and was intrigued by my story on why I was in Graz. I had done some research about the local specialties, and one of them was pumpkin seed oil. It made my starter course an easy decision; a green salad with a pumpkin seed oil dressing. It was very nice and had a sweet, nutty taste. For my main, I ordered roast pork with homemade sauerkraut and potato dumplings. It was amazing. The pork melted in my mouth and even the sauerkraut was savory and pleasant. I washed it down with a local beer and left completely stuffed. Although it didn't stop me from wandering the streets a bit more before turning in. I was really looking for an ice cream place, but I couldn't find any still open.
I woke up on Sunday to roam around the city a little more before heading back to the airport. Unfortunately, the city followed normal European procedures and pretty much everything was closed. Even grocery stores and many restaurants were closed, so it made for a slightly boring final tour of the city. However, I did run in to the University district and a number of large cathedrals and churches with their bells ringing. It was a very nice, and very quiet, morning in Graz and it was awkwardly peaceful. I eventually checked out of my hotel and drug my backpack and snowboard to the train station where I waited for the next train to the airport. Of course I couldn't leave Austria with one last pretzel purchase, and some haribo gummies just for fun!
3.07.2009
Friday the 13th
Did you know that since February has 28 days (well, most years), that the dates in March are identical? This means that we'll have another Friday the 13th this month! Speaking of February, I haven't written much lately so I thought I would give a quick update. I haven't written because I haven't really been doing a whole lot. Due to the quick move, I had some double rent to pay last month. I also have three trips planned in March so I wanted to keep a little quieter than usual to save some money.
One of the trips I have planned this month is to Northern Ireland to run my first half marathon. I've been training since New Years and it seems to be going pretty well. I haven't been quite as disciplined as I was last year, but I also feel healthier and haven't hurt my knee yet so I'm hoping everything goes well. I'll be running the Larne half marathon, which is located about 30 miles northeast of Belfast on the coast. I'll be running along one of the most scenic coastlines in the world and I'll spend a few days exploring the area before and after the run. I've been doing a lot of training in the gym, and doing my weekly long run along the Thames river near my flat. I'm surprised how nice it is along the Thames, especially as I run away from the center of London. I guess I'm surprised because I'm in the middle of one of the world's biggest cities, but the paths along the river are very park-like and often you wouldn't even know you are surrounded by city life. Some of the paths aren't even paved which makes it easier on the knees. My longest run so far has been 10 miles. Wish me luck!
Since I don't have a camera when I run, I can't don't have any pics to show of how nice the path really is. But I can show you the route I have been running!
Another highlight last month was my first driving experience in the UK! That's right. A friend of mine needed to move and I said I would be happy to drive a rental car if she needed to get one. Due to availability, we had to pick the car up in Wembley, which is about a 10-15 minute drive from where I live. I was surprised how easy it was to adjust to driving on the wrong side of the car, the wrong side of the road, and shifting with the left hand. I only made one major mistake when I instinctly pulled out onto the right side of the road. Ellen was quick to correct me and we survived to tell the tale. I also got to use the car to stop at Ikea to pick up some items for my new room. I don't have everything I want yet, but it's getting close! I do have a few pics of the driving on facebook, but there aren't many so you're not missing much.
This month I'll be heading to Austria for a long weekend to do some snowboarding, the Peak District to visit a friend I met up north last summer and do some hiking, and then to Ireland for the half marathon. My mom arrives the first week of April and we'll be exploring London and heading to Germany and Austria for 7 days. So stay tuned...there is a lot coming up!
One of the trips I have planned this month is to Northern Ireland to run my first half marathon. I've been training since New Years and it seems to be going pretty well. I haven't been quite as disciplined as I was last year, but I also feel healthier and haven't hurt my knee yet so I'm hoping everything goes well. I'll be running the Larne half marathon, which is located about 30 miles northeast of Belfast on the coast. I'll be running along one of the most scenic coastlines in the world and I'll spend a few days exploring the area before and after the run. I've been doing a lot of training in the gym, and doing my weekly long run along the Thames river near my flat. I'm surprised how nice it is along the Thames, especially as I run away from the center of London. I guess I'm surprised because I'm in the middle of one of the world's biggest cities, but the paths along the river are very park-like and often you wouldn't even know you are surrounded by city life. Some of the paths aren't even paved which makes it easier on the knees. My longest run so far has been 10 miles. Wish me luck!
Since I don't have a camera when I run, I can't don't have any pics to show of how nice the path really is. But I can show you the route I have been running!
Another highlight last month was my first driving experience in the UK! That's right. A friend of mine needed to move and I said I would be happy to drive a rental car if she needed to get one. Due to availability, we had to pick the car up in Wembley, which is about a 10-15 minute drive from where I live. I was surprised how easy it was to adjust to driving on the wrong side of the car, the wrong side of the road, and shifting with the left hand. I only made one major mistake when I instinctly pulled out onto the right side of the road. Ellen was quick to correct me and we survived to tell the tale. I also got to use the car to stop at Ikea to pick up some items for my new room. I don't have everything I want yet, but it's getting close! I do have a few pics of the driving on facebook, but there aren't many so you're not missing much.
This month I'll be heading to Austria for a long weekend to do some snowboarding, the Peak District to visit a friend I met up north last summer and do some hiking, and then to Ireland for the half marathon. My mom arrives the first week of April and we'll be exploring London and heading to Germany and Austria for 7 days. So stay tuned...there is a lot coming up!
2.21.2009
I Have Moved!
Shortly after arriving in London, I went on a mission to find an outdoor store to stock up on some gear for a backpacking trip I was planning to the Lake District. I decided to head to the closest shops I could find to the office during my lunch hour. I was headed toward Chiswick, a 20 minute walk down the road from work, and I was more worried about getting back quickly than I was about exploring a new area. As I walked toward Chiswick, however, I was pleasantly surprised. It became much nicer (and cleaner), the sidewalks significantly widened, trees suddenly lined all of the streets, and a number of quaint stores, coffee shops, restaurants, and pubs could be found everywhere. When I got back to the office to inform everyone where I had been, they told me that it was one of those areas that everyone wants to live. That was after they all had a long laugh at me for mispronouncing the area (I'm not going to tell you how to say it correctly!). Since then I knew it was a place I would like and I went back every chance I got, which wasn't that often to be honest. But guess what? Now I live there!
See pics: http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/bbergey/24CranbrookRoad?feat=directlink
Since I'm going to be in London a while longer, I decided it was time to find a better flat. Mine was adequate, but it wasn't big enough and it wasn't in the best area. So I decided to start searching. I didn't try terribly hard knowing that I could stay in my current flat as long as I needed. I thought I would wait for the perfect place and if it came along then great! If not, I was happy staying where I was. After about a month, I finally found it. Nestled on a quiet street just behind Chiswick High Street(high street is another name for main street), my flat is what Londoners would call a house. It's three stories and four bedrooms. It has a large common room, a great kitchen, a dining/sun room, and even a small garden (or yard) in the back. My bedroom is about 4 times as big as my previous room and it's nice to have a common room and space to enjoy other than just my bedroom. Now I just need to get a desk and maybe a bookshelf and I'll be set!
I have three new flatmates, two guys and one girl. I know a lot of you are probably thinking that is strange since I usually live with girls. But I guess things can change. They are all really nice people in their mid twenties and I look forward to having them as friends. One of them works in a recording studio and is also in an up and coming London band. Another works for one of London's biggest banks in their corporate office. The third is a mathematics phd student.
The area near my flat is absolutely amazing. Within a 3 minute walk I have everything I could ever need plus a lot more. Within a 5-10 minute walk there is more than I will ever have time to explore. It's great. Already, I have a few local favorites. They include a board shop, two outdoor gear shops, a number of local pubs, the 2nd best natural food store I have found in London (first being Whole Foods), a great bread shop/bakery, a NORMAL LARGE SUPERMARKET (this is in all caps because it is incredible that I live less than a 10 minute walk to a normal sized grocery store...I am very excited about this), and one coffee shop/restaurant in particular with cozy indoor and outdoor seating. Of course there is are about 8 other grocery stores, a McDonalds, a great looking Kebab shop for the late nights, and around 83 Starbucks. The streets are also lined with trendy clothing shops and countless restaurants catering to all types of food and tastes. It's seriously a wonderful place to be. I'm also about the same distance as I was to the Thames River, less than a 10 minutes walk.
The best news? I have plenty of room for visitors! Multiple visitors at the same time even!
Overall, I'm not sure what I'm most excited about. The flat itself, the flatmates, or the location. I'm sure I'll have many more thoughts and experiences around my new flat as time goes on, so stay tuned!
See pics: http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/bbergey/24CranbrookRoad?feat=directlink
Since I'm going to be in London a while longer, I decided it was time to find a better flat. Mine was adequate, but it wasn't big enough and it wasn't in the best area. So I decided to start searching. I didn't try terribly hard knowing that I could stay in my current flat as long as I needed. I thought I would wait for the perfect place and if it came along then great! If not, I was happy staying where I was. After about a month, I finally found it. Nestled on a quiet street just behind Chiswick High Street(high street is another name for main street), my flat is what Londoners would call a house. It's three stories and four bedrooms. It has a large common room, a great kitchen, a dining/sun room, and even a small garden (or yard) in the back. My bedroom is about 4 times as big as my previous room and it's nice to have a common room and space to enjoy other than just my bedroom. Now I just need to get a desk and maybe a bookshelf and I'll be set!
I have three new flatmates, two guys and one girl. I know a lot of you are probably thinking that is strange since I usually live with girls. But I guess things can change. They are all really nice people in their mid twenties and I look forward to having them as friends. One of them works in a recording studio and is also in an up and coming London band. Another works for one of London's biggest banks in their corporate office. The third is a mathematics phd student.
The area near my flat is absolutely amazing. Within a 3 minute walk I have everything I could ever need plus a lot more. Within a 5-10 minute walk there is more than I will ever have time to explore. It's great. Already, I have a few local favorites. They include a board shop, two outdoor gear shops, a number of local pubs, the 2nd best natural food store I have found in London (first being Whole Foods), a great bread shop/bakery, a NORMAL LARGE SUPERMARKET (this is in all caps because it is incredible that I live less than a 10 minute walk to a normal sized grocery store...I am very excited about this), and one coffee shop/restaurant in particular with cozy indoor and outdoor seating. Of course there is are about 8 other grocery stores, a McDonalds, a great looking Kebab shop for the late nights, and around 83 Starbucks. The streets are also lined with trendy clothing shops and countless restaurants catering to all types of food and tastes. It's seriously a wonderful place to be. I'm also about the same distance as I was to the Thames River, less than a 10 minutes walk.
The best news? I have plenty of room for visitors! Multiple visitors at the same time even!
Overall, I'm not sure what I'm most excited about. The flat itself, the flatmates, or the location. I'm sure I'll have many more thoughts and experiences around my new flat as time goes on, so stay tuned!
2.15.2009
Food, Whole Foods, A Museum, and More Food
If you couldn't guess by the title, this post is going to be mostly about food. Last month we celebrated Hayley's birthday Mexican style! Ellen and I came up with a menu including enchiladas, rice, beans, guacamole, black bean salad, and of course chips and salsa. Throw in way too many batches of my famous margaritas and it was a great night!
You can see way too many food pics here: http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/bbergey/WholeFoodsFoodFoodAndAMuseum?feat=directlink
I've recently decided to start expanding my cooking abilities to include traditional English fare. After visiting Whole Foods London a few more times over the past month, I've decided that it's by far my favorite place in the city. Most of you are probably assuming that it's just full of American stuff, since it is an American store. But wrong you are! Whole Food's specializes in organic and high quality foods. Most importantly, they focus on local products; whether it be produce, cheese, meat, dairy, etc. So as I browse the the endless rows of amazingness, I am more and more intrigued by local cheeses, real Spanish chorizo, freshly baked breads, and the traditional goodness that Whole Foods always offers. Of course, they do have their own selection of American items, along with other hard-to-find foods like Mexican, and one entire floor dedicated to a cafe that offers fresh sushi, burritos, salads, sandwiches, meat pies, gelato, soup, pasta, antipastas, and many more. It's great!
The point of my whole foods rant is that it makes it easy for me to find quality, local products for me to cook with. Certain names, like Dorset, Somerset, and somethingrandomShire, are everywhere. And here it means that the products actually came from these familiar places. So my first goal was simple; a traditional English breakfast bap (or sandwich). It included a freshly baked bap, English back bacon, and an organic egg. Add a side of beans and some fresh fruit and it made for an excellent after work-out brunch.
I also decided to finally check out the London Natural History Museum. Although I had seen the stunning building many times from the outside, I had never been inside the free museum. I had heard it wasn't really that spectacular, but there is currently a temporary Outdoor Photography of the Year exhibit that I wanted to check out. The museum itself was pretty lame. It included a lot of "stuffed animals," some dinosaur fossils, and a huge room filled with rocks. My brother would have loved it. The photography exhibit was well worth it though.
Last weekend we celebrated Ellen's birthday with a traditional English roast dinner. Hayley did most of the cooking, but I volunteered to make dessert. I purchased some apples and blackberries at the local market near work and decided to make Apple Crumble. It turned out pretty good, but I already have some ideas on how I'll change it next time. The roast dinner itself included roast lamb, roast potatoes, and lots of veggies. I was able able to try a couple of new things like mint jelly (for the lamb) and my favorite, Yorkshire Puddings (which are kinda like rolls). It was absolutely amazing!
Finally, this weekend my flatmate and I had a small going away dinner for myself. That's right, I have decided to move flats and more on that will come shortly. We started dinner with some french Foie gras on toast. Then my French roommate offered to make pancakes (crepes), and we had a great time making way too many of them and filling them with a variety of different toppings. Mine included ham and cheddar, tomato and brie, jam, butter and brown sugar, and lots of nutella and fruit varieties. It was great!
You can see way too many food pics here: http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/bbergey/WholeFoodsFoodFoodAndAMuseum?feat=directlink
I've recently decided to start expanding my cooking abilities to include traditional English fare. After visiting Whole Foods London a few more times over the past month, I've decided that it's by far my favorite place in the city. Most of you are probably assuming that it's just full of American stuff, since it is an American store. But wrong you are! Whole Food's specializes in organic and high quality foods. Most importantly, they focus on local products; whether it be produce, cheese, meat, dairy, etc. So as I browse the the endless rows of amazingness, I am more and more intrigued by local cheeses, real Spanish chorizo, freshly baked breads, and the traditional goodness that Whole Foods always offers. Of course, they do have their own selection of American items, along with other hard-to-find foods like Mexican, and one entire floor dedicated to a cafe that offers fresh sushi, burritos, salads, sandwiches, meat pies, gelato, soup, pasta, antipastas, and many more. It's great!
The point of my whole foods rant is that it makes it easy for me to find quality, local products for me to cook with. Certain names, like Dorset, Somerset, and somethingrandomShire, are everywhere. And here it means that the products actually came from these familiar places. So my first goal was simple; a traditional English breakfast bap (or sandwich). It included a freshly baked bap, English back bacon, and an organic egg. Add a side of beans and some fresh fruit and it made for an excellent after work-out brunch.
I also decided to finally check out the London Natural History Museum. Although I had seen the stunning building many times from the outside, I had never been inside the free museum. I had heard it wasn't really that spectacular, but there is currently a temporary Outdoor Photography of the Year exhibit that I wanted to check out. The museum itself was pretty lame. It included a lot of "stuffed animals," some dinosaur fossils, and a huge room filled with rocks. My brother would have loved it. The photography exhibit was well worth it though.
Last weekend we celebrated Ellen's birthday with a traditional English roast dinner. Hayley did most of the cooking, but I volunteered to make dessert. I purchased some apples and blackberries at the local market near work and decided to make Apple Crumble. It turned out pretty good, but I already have some ideas on how I'll change it next time. The roast dinner itself included roast lamb, roast potatoes, and lots of veggies. I was able able to try a couple of new things like mint jelly (for the lamb) and my favorite, Yorkshire Puddings (which are kinda like rolls). It was absolutely amazing!
Finally, this weekend my flatmate and I had a small going away dinner for myself. That's right, I have decided to move flats and more on that will come shortly. We started dinner with some french Foie gras on toast. Then my French roommate offered to make pancakes (crepes), and we had a great time making way too many of them and filling them with a variety of different toppings. Mine included ham and cheddar, tomato and brie, jam, butter and brown sugar, and lots of nutella and fruit varieties. It was great!
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