Sometimes, I find that parts of life can be summed up in an episode of Scrubs. We all know the best part of each episode is the end, when they play the soundtrack and everything in the episode comes together. It's the best part because it allows you to be reflective and realize what everything was all about.
Exactly 2 years ago I arrived in the UK with the opportunity of a lifetime. I took advantage of my surroundings as if every month was my last, and now I leave Europe with no regrets or shortcomings, but many trips and experiences I will never forget. Among the countless steps I have taken, times I have put on my backpack, or devoured a local food when I wasn't even hungry, I have realized that I enjoyed sharing these experiences with you throughout my 54 blog posts.
I have learned that no matter what, everything always works out. I have learned that 800 euros is too much to put on a deposit on a scooter. I have learned that my love for food has turned into an addiction and I don't care. I have learned that Africa is really hot. I have learned that everything is better when it's shared with someone you love. I have also learned that no matter where you are or how much fun you're having, you miss your roots and your family & friends. And during those times that may not be easy, you learn what is most important to you in life and what you need to be happy.
And now it's time to say goodbye to Europe and move on. Will it be the last time I'm ever in London? No. But regardless it's goodbye for now, and that is enough to realize how remarkable my life in London was and what it led to. Thanks to everyone who was part of my life, whether at home, work or beyond. You made my experiences what they were.
With that, I invite all of you to my next chapter in life...Singapore.
2.08.2010
Zurich
I guess you know you are getting used to traveling when you show up in a new Swiss city and don't take one picture. Well, scratch that. I did take a picture of a hotel that we were meant to stay at but didn't. Instead we used their computer to find us cheaper accommodation. So I guess that pretty much sums up the randomness of my recent trip to Zurich. A random business trip turned snowboard weekend with three guys that wouldn't ordinarily be in the same place.
A side note...due to my broken camera, all pics were taken with my new BlackBerry cell phone.
Pictures: http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/bribergey/Zurich?feat=directlink
The culprits involved were myself, an American mountain boy transplanted in the metropolis of London for work; Eric, an east coast turned Coloradan visiting the London office for a week; and Anthony, an English sales manager in our London office. The purpose was a trip to Zurich to present our software to a premier financial organization looking for a worldwide solution to event management. The other purpose, a quick weekend trip to get some turns in the Alps for a day before heading back to London. The three of us now sit on a train on our way to the slopes. The snow covered landscape getting thicker and whiter as we climb along Zurich Lake out of Zurich and into the alpine countryside. The peaks making themselves visible through the thinning fog and blue mountain streams cutting through the white surroundings. Quaint Swiss villages pass by in a matter of seconds, displaying their classic Swiss architecture, and the buzz of the other skiers who got up at 6am to get on one of many mountain trains is abound.
Yesterday was a long day. A weird day. In fact, a pretty surreal day. Normally when I depart for a trip abroad, I have some details arranged. I know how I will get from the airport to my destination. But I guess in order for that to happen, I also need to know my destination which I didn't. Eric and I arrived in Zurich at 10am and had an 11am meeting with Anthony and the prospect at their offices. Anthony was meeting us there as he was already in town, so Eric and I quickly got through the airport and got in a cab. Unsure of our destination, Eric showed the driver an address on his phone which he thought to be the address. Fortunately he was right. We got there just before 11am, met up with Anthony, and went to check in. Long story short, our meeting was actually scheduled for noon so we walked to a small cafe in the pouring
rain and spent 25 Swiss francs on 4 cokes. Sweet.
I think what I got out of the meeting was an accurate impression on Swiss-German culture. We had a very nice woman who lead the meeting and got us all together, yet stayed quiet for pretty much the entire time. But she gave us sandwiches and smiled a lot, so I liked her. Then there was the procurement guy, which prob explains enough, but he spent the two hours not listening to a word we said until his lecture about how they want to make us rich, but not too rich, so we better offer a good deal. And then there was the man wearing a conservative black suit with a bright orange tie, who seemed to show interest in every topic for about 2 minutes before he asked us to move on. The end result? Probably us voluntarily dropping out because we don't
want to deal with them.
After the meeting, we took a cab to the hotel where Anthony stayed the night before, planning to get some rooms for ourselves. We proceeded to find out that the rooms were 250 francs per night which seemed a bit pricey for our budget. So we used their computer in the lobby to hotwire a deal for us which ended up being at the Holiday Inn. It was brand new, near a train and tram station and had a surprisingly good, yet random, restaurant. The first order of business was to eat, and then we spent the rest of the afternoon hanging in our hotel rooms and figuring out where we were going to ski.
As u can imagine, skiing in Switzerland is very easy. The trains from Zurich offer a number of train ticket/ski pass packages. Flumserberg, one of the closer resorts, was recommended to us by a couple of people, so we went to the train station and booked our tickets for the next day. As it had been raining heavily in Zurich all day, we had high hopes for the snow conditions in the mountains.
The next morning we caught our 7:25am train and headed up to Flumserburg. We got our rental equipment, although I did bring my own boots, and headed up the hill. The train dropped us off in a small resort town on a huge lake at an elevation of only 400 meters. There wasn't much snow there, but the mountains jetted up from the lake and topped out at about 2500 meters, so u can imagine the stunning and stark difference seen by looking straight up. Although there was no skiing all the way down to the town, there was a gondola lift that takes you up to the ski area. As we travelled up the steep, unskiiable terrain in the gondola, the conditions quickly transformed into a winter wonderland with over a foot of fresh powder. The sun was even peaking out and at that point we knew it was going to be a great day.
And a great day it was! For some reason, the skiers at this resort liked to stay on piste; this means they stayed within the lane of each run and rarely went off piste to enjoy the untracked deep powder. What this meant for us was fresh tracks all day! Even the last run of the day provided some exceptional snow conditions and we were shocked all day at how amazing the snow remained since no one would ski the good stuff.
The mountain itself was fairly small, with 16 lifts, but provided plenty of excellent terrain. The majority of our day was spent on one side of the mountain which peaked at 2222 meters and included some excellent off piste, powder, and black runs which kept us going all day. A highlight was our stop for lunch at the Graube Hutte (nicknamed the Grub Hut). After we walked in, we were surprised to find a traditional Swiss restaurant instead of the normal self service chalet you generally find on the slopes. After we waited for a table, we found that the menu was entirely in German. After we asked for some recommendations, the waitress brought us the chef who was the only one who spoke enough English to help us. He gave us some recommendations and I decided to get the rippli, smoked and then boiled pork served with sauerkraut and bread. When it was served, I found two gigantically thick slices of pork served on a large bed of sauerkraut. The meal was so amazing that we all decided to order dessert as well. I chose a deep fried apple dish covered in cinnamon sugar in a pool of warm custard. The entire meal was absolutely amazing and definitely goes down as one of the best meals I can remember. It was truly incredible in every way from presentation to uniqueness to flavor to ambiance. A great surprise to find on the slopes of a small ski resort.
I think each of us fell asleep at one point on the train ride home, and we arrived back in Zurich absolutely beat and dreading our early start the next morning. We had some dinner at the hotel and got some sleep before meeting downstairs at 5am the next morning to head back to the airport. The trip was quite a bit different from my normal trip, probably because I had a lot of added convenience (like taxis) due to work. It was also strange that I didn't really see any of Zurich at all. It seemed like a beautiful place, so maybe some day I'll be back!
A side note...due to my broken camera, all pics were taken with my new BlackBerry cell phone.
Pictures: http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/bribergey/Zurich?feat=directlink
The culprits involved were myself, an American mountain boy transplanted in the metropolis of London for work; Eric, an east coast turned Coloradan visiting the London office for a week; and Anthony, an English sales manager in our London office. The purpose was a trip to Zurich to present our software to a premier financial organization looking for a worldwide solution to event management. The other purpose, a quick weekend trip to get some turns in the Alps for a day before heading back to London. The three of us now sit on a train on our way to the slopes. The snow covered landscape getting thicker and whiter as we climb along Zurich Lake out of Zurich and into the alpine countryside. The peaks making themselves visible through the thinning fog and blue mountain streams cutting through the white surroundings. Quaint Swiss villages pass by in a matter of seconds, displaying their classic Swiss architecture, and the buzz of the other skiers who got up at 6am to get on one of many mountain trains is abound.
Yesterday was a long day. A weird day. In fact, a pretty surreal day. Normally when I depart for a trip abroad, I have some details arranged. I know how I will get from the airport to my destination. But I guess in order for that to happen, I also need to know my destination which I didn't. Eric and I arrived in Zurich at 10am and had an 11am meeting with Anthony and the prospect at their offices. Anthony was meeting us there as he was already in town, so Eric and I quickly got through the airport and got in a cab. Unsure of our destination, Eric showed the driver an address on his phone which he thought to be the address. Fortunately he was right. We got there just before 11am, met up with Anthony, and went to check in. Long story short, our meeting was actually scheduled for noon so we walked to a small cafe in the pouring
rain and spent 25 Swiss francs on 4 cokes. Sweet.
I think what I got out of the meeting was an accurate impression on Swiss-German culture. We had a very nice woman who lead the meeting and got us all together, yet stayed quiet for pretty much the entire time. But she gave us sandwiches and smiled a lot, so I liked her. Then there was the procurement guy, which prob explains enough, but he spent the two hours not listening to a word we said until his lecture about how they want to make us rich, but not too rich, so we better offer a good deal. And then there was the man wearing a conservative black suit with a bright orange tie, who seemed to show interest in every topic for about 2 minutes before he asked us to move on. The end result? Probably us voluntarily dropping out because we don't
want to deal with them.
After the meeting, we took a cab to the hotel where Anthony stayed the night before, planning to get some rooms for ourselves. We proceeded to find out that the rooms were 250 francs per night which seemed a bit pricey for our budget. So we used their computer in the lobby to hotwire a deal for us which ended up being at the Holiday Inn. It was brand new, near a train and tram station and had a surprisingly good, yet random, restaurant. The first order of business was to eat, and then we spent the rest of the afternoon hanging in our hotel rooms and figuring out where we were going to ski.
As u can imagine, skiing in Switzerland is very easy. The trains from Zurich offer a number of train ticket/ski pass packages. Flumserberg, one of the closer resorts, was recommended to us by a couple of people, so we went to the train station and booked our tickets for the next day. As it had been raining heavily in Zurich all day, we had high hopes for the snow conditions in the mountains.
The next morning we caught our 7:25am train and headed up to Flumserburg. We got our rental equipment, although I did bring my own boots, and headed up the hill. The train dropped us off in a small resort town on a huge lake at an elevation of only 400 meters. There wasn't much snow there, but the mountains jetted up from the lake and topped out at about 2500 meters, so u can imagine the stunning and stark difference seen by looking straight up. Although there was no skiing all the way down to the town, there was a gondola lift that takes you up to the ski area. As we travelled up the steep, unskiiable terrain in the gondola, the conditions quickly transformed into a winter wonderland with over a foot of fresh powder. The sun was even peaking out and at that point we knew it was going to be a great day.
And a great day it was! For some reason, the skiers at this resort liked to stay on piste; this means they stayed within the lane of each run and rarely went off piste to enjoy the untracked deep powder. What this meant for us was fresh tracks all day! Even the last run of the day provided some exceptional snow conditions and we were shocked all day at how amazing the snow remained since no one would ski the good stuff.
The mountain itself was fairly small, with 16 lifts, but provided plenty of excellent terrain. The majority of our day was spent on one side of the mountain which peaked at 2222 meters and included some excellent off piste, powder, and black runs which kept us going all day. A highlight was our stop for lunch at the Graube Hutte (nicknamed the Grub Hut). After we walked in, we were surprised to find a traditional Swiss restaurant instead of the normal self service chalet you generally find on the slopes. After we waited for a table, we found that the menu was entirely in German. After we asked for some recommendations, the waitress brought us the chef who was the only one who spoke enough English to help us. He gave us some recommendations and I decided to get the rippli, smoked and then boiled pork served with sauerkraut and bread. When it was served, I found two gigantically thick slices of pork served on a large bed of sauerkraut. The meal was so amazing that we all decided to order dessert as well. I chose a deep fried apple dish covered in cinnamon sugar in a pool of warm custard. The entire meal was absolutely amazing and definitely goes down as one of the best meals I can remember. It was truly incredible in every way from presentation to uniqueness to flavor to ambiance. A great surprise to find on the slopes of a small ski resort.
I think each of us fell asleep at one point on the train ride home, and we arrived back in Zurich absolutely beat and dreading our early start the next morning. We had some dinner at the hotel and got some sleep before meeting downstairs at 5am the next morning to head back to the airport. The trip was quite a bit different from my normal trip, probably because I had a lot of added convenience (like taxis) due to work. It was also strange that I didn't really see any of Zurich at all. It seemed like a beautiful place, so maybe some day I'll be back!
Snowboarding the French Alps
Bonjour! I recently took a trip to France to ski one of the premier resorts in the French Alps. Weeks before, I found an incredibly cheap flight to Grenoble which I knew to be a gateway to many ski resorts. I booked it without having any other plans, and waited until just days before my departure to finally figure out where I was going to go. After some advice from a French colleague, I was lucky enough to find a place to stay in one of many villages that make up the ski area of Tignes and Val d'Isere.
Pics Here: http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/bribergey/Tignes?feat=directlink
This was a solo trip for me, which is always good and bad. I don't mind travelling on my own, especially when skiing, because it means I can do what I like at my own pace. However, it also makes you realize how tired of yourself you can get after a short period of time. It is relaxing in a way, and after landing in Grenoble I made my way through Grenoble and towards the higher peaks in my rental car. My introduction to Grenoble was a tiny airport that comprised of a glorified shed. We actually had to queue outside, in the freezing flurries, to get through Passport control. However, I did luck out with a rental car that had only 5km on it!
Tignes is not the closest ski area from Grenoble, but since I had the flexibility of a rental car and the entire afternoon, I didn't mind the 2.5 hour drive up the mountains. I passed through a number of towns and villages (and typical French toll-booths) until the winding one-lane road abruptly switch-backed up the side of a cliff until we reach a narrow canyon cutting through the jagged peaks. The canyon eventually opened up to a large lake and the staggered villages that were part of the ski area. The village where I stayed, Les Breviers, was the first of these villages.
The village itself was very small; it was basically one road with a parking lot on either end. A number of chalets and cabins surrounded the village and everything in the town was within a 5 minute walk or less. I stayed in a small Chalet that was completely English-run, although I did not know this when I booked it, and found that all of it's guests were either English or Australian. The accommodations were rather hostel-like, but I did have my own room and breakfast and dinner were served each day and included in the very affordable rate. This social environment made it really nice as I was on my own. I spent the late afternoon taking care of my stuff and hung out in my room until dinner, which was served each night at 7pm. Dinner was always served with a starter, a main and a dessert; and although it wasn't gourmet, it definitely did the job!
The next morning I was up and ready to go to get on the first lift of the day after a hearty breakfast of oatmeal. I could see the lift outside my window, which was about a 2 minute walk from the Chalet. The weather was cloudy, but the sun would peak through at times. There hadn't been any fresh snow for a few days, so I wasn't sure what I wanted more...a nice sunny day or a dumping of snow. Unfortunately, the first part of the day didn't bring either. Visibibility was pretty bad since the low clouds and fog made for very flat light. When skiing, this means that you pretty much can't see a thing...even a bump in front of you! But it did make for a decent day of exploring the mountain. I made my way across the mountain to one of the furthest points opposite where I started, and then slowly made my way back. I was happy to discover that I found the best part of the mountain to be the area closest to where I was staying. As the day went on, the temperature slowly dropped and snow showers started building. I had heard rumors of heavy snow that night and it was shaping up to be true! I took a lunch break at a chalet on the mountain and pushed myself as long as I could and finally stopped around 4pm. I spent the evening relaxing and enjoying dinner with the other guests in my chalet before watching a movie and hitting the hay!
When I went to bed, it had been snowing heavily for hours. When I woke up, I saw that it hadn't let up all night. Anywhere between 6-12 inches of fresh snow fell over night depending on where you were on the mountain and it was incredible! So incredible that the lifts actually opened about 45 minutes late in order for them to do some avalanche control and prepare the lifts. I did some laps on the drag lift that was operating until the main gondola opened and I headed up. I spent pretty much the entire day doing laps on one lift, and somehow I had fresh tracks in places all the way through the last run of the day. The snow was incredible and no matter where I went, I found stashes hidden off-piste and was pretty happy with myself when I found a great route down through pockets of trees and off-piste areas. I ventured up to the very top a couple times, but the weather was so cold that I didn't find it worth it. However, the second half of the day cleared up and provided a bluebell sunny day. I honestly could not have asked for better snow conditions or weather. It was one of those days you just don't forget! I breaked for lunch at my chalet before heading back out on the slopes for as long as my legs would carry me.
I had a similar night as the night before knowing that I had an early morning the next day. I was also a bit worried about the drive back due to all the snow we had that day. I got up and left by around 6am hoping to spend a few hours in Grenoble before catching my flight. Fortunately, the road was pretty clear and the drive went quick. I arrived in Grenoble and had about 3 hours before I needed to get to the airport. Since it was Sunday, I found that pretty much everything was closed, as always in Europe. However, I enjoyed walking the empty streets, crossing the many bridges over the river and visiting a number of markets that were open in some of the squares. I bought some fresh croissants to bring back for Nat and took plenty of pictures of the city and the nearby mountain views. Although I didn't really get a good feel for what Grenoble was like, it was a beautiful city in a stunning surrounding. I enjoyed walking around for a while, but was happy to leave since it was fairly boring and freezing cold.
Overall, it was an excellent trip. Although I'm not the biggest fan of France, mostly because I don't understand the language at all, it was a great place to go for a ski trip. I lucked out with a good place to stay and people to talk to even though I was in the middle of the French Alps, and I was lucky to find great deals on a flight and car rental which made the trip pretty affordable. Another succesful trip in Europe!
Pics Here: http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/bribergey/Tignes?feat=directlink
This was a solo trip for me, which is always good and bad. I don't mind travelling on my own, especially when skiing, because it means I can do what I like at my own pace. However, it also makes you realize how tired of yourself you can get after a short period of time. It is relaxing in a way, and after landing in Grenoble I made my way through Grenoble and towards the higher peaks in my rental car. My introduction to Grenoble was a tiny airport that comprised of a glorified shed. We actually had to queue outside, in the freezing flurries, to get through Passport control. However, I did luck out with a rental car that had only 5km on it!
Tignes is not the closest ski area from Grenoble, but since I had the flexibility of a rental car and the entire afternoon, I didn't mind the 2.5 hour drive up the mountains. I passed through a number of towns and villages (and typical French toll-booths) until the winding one-lane road abruptly switch-backed up the side of a cliff until we reach a narrow canyon cutting through the jagged peaks. The canyon eventually opened up to a large lake and the staggered villages that were part of the ski area. The village where I stayed, Les Breviers, was the first of these villages.
The village itself was very small; it was basically one road with a parking lot on either end. A number of chalets and cabins surrounded the village and everything in the town was within a 5 minute walk or less. I stayed in a small Chalet that was completely English-run, although I did not know this when I booked it, and found that all of it's guests were either English or Australian. The accommodations were rather hostel-like, but I did have my own room and breakfast and dinner were served each day and included in the very affordable rate. This social environment made it really nice as I was on my own. I spent the late afternoon taking care of my stuff and hung out in my room until dinner, which was served each night at 7pm. Dinner was always served with a starter, a main and a dessert; and although it wasn't gourmet, it definitely did the job!
The next morning I was up and ready to go to get on the first lift of the day after a hearty breakfast of oatmeal. I could see the lift outside my window, which was about a 2 minute walk from the Chalet. The weather was cloudy, but the sun would peak through at times. There hadn't been any fresh snow for a few days, so I wasn't sure what I wanted more...a nice sunny day or a dumping of snow. Unfortunately, the first part of the day didn't bring either. Visibibility was pretty bad since the low clouds and fog made for very flat light. When skiing, this means that you pretty much can't see a thing...even a bump in front of you! But it did make for a decent day of exploring the mountain. I made my way across the mountain to one of the furthest points opposite where I started, and then slowly made my way back. I was happy to discover that I found the best part of the mountain to be the area closest to where I was staying. As the day went on, the temperature slowly dropped and snow showers started building. I had heard rumors of heavy snow that night and it was shaping up to be true! I took a lunch break at a chalet on the mountain and pushed myself as long as I could and finally stopped around 4pm. I spent the evening relaxing and enjoying dinner with the other guests in my chalet before watching a movie and hitting the hay!
When I went to bed, it had been snowing heavily for hours. When I woke up, I saw that it hadn't let up all night. Anywhere between 6-12 inches of fresh snow fell over night depending on where you were on the mountain and it was incredible! So incredible that the lifts actually opened about 45 minutes late in order for them to do some avalanche control and prepare the lifts. I did some laps on the drag lift that was operating until the main gondola opened and I headed up. I spent pretty much the entire day doing laps on one lift, and somehow I had fresh tracks in places all the way through the last run of the day. The snow was incredible and no matter where I went, I found stashes hidden off-piste and was pretty happy with myself when I found a great route down through pockets of trees and off-piste areas. I ventured up to the very top a couple times, but the weather was so cold that I didn't find it worth it. However, the second half of the day cleared up and provided a bluebell sunny day. I honestly could not have asked for better snow conditions or weather. It was one of those days you just don't forget! I breaked for lunch at my chalet before heading back out on the slopes for as long as my legs would carry me.
I had a similar night as the night before knowing that I had an early morning the next day. I was also a bit worried about the drive back due to all the snow we had that day. I got up and left by around 6am hoping to spend a few hours in Grenoble before catching my flight. Fortunately, the road was pretty clear and the drive went quick. I arrived in Grenoble and had about 3 hours before I needed to get to the airport. Since it was Sunday, I found that pretty much everything was closed, as always in Europe. However, I enjoyed walking the empty streets, crossing the many bridges over the river and visiting a number of markets that were open in some of the squares. I bought some fresh croissants to bring back for Nat and took plenty of pictures of the city and the nearby mountain views. Although I didn't really get a good feel for what Grenoble was like, it was a beautiful city in a stunning surrounding. I enjoyed walking around for a while, but was happy to leave since it was fairly boring and freezing cold.
Overall, it was an excellent trip. Although I'm not the biggest fan of France, mostly because I don't understand the language at all, it was a great place to go for a ski trip. I lucked out with a good place to stay and people to talk to even though I was in the middle of the French Alps, and I was lucky to find great deals on a flight and car rental which made the trip pretty affordable. Another succesful trip in Europe!
Down in Dover
Dover is generally known in the UK as an industrial port town. It is the departing point for ferries to France as it lies on the narrowest gap across the English Channel. Due to it's proximity to France, it's always been an important strategic location. It also has one of the oldest and most well-preserved castles in England that dates back to 1050.
Pics Here: http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/bribergey/DoverCastle?feat=directlink
The main reason for our visit to Dover was to visit the Dover Castle. The castle was originally founded by Romans, and later played a part in Saxon, Norman and Napoleonic times. It originally had two 80 foot Roman lighthouses, one of which still exists.
The most interesting part about the castle was it's purpose during the last 150-200 years. The castle has a series of underground tunnels, originally built to hide soldiers during the height of the Napoleonic Wars. They could shelter over 2000 men and were the only underground barracks ever built in Britain. During the second world war, they were upgraded with a military telephone exchange room. The switchboards were constantly in use and were used both as direct communication with navy vessels and direct air-sea rescue aircraft to pick up pilots shot down in the Channel. Later, the tunnels were used for government officials as an emergency shelter in case of a nuclear attack. It was soon discovered, however, that the chalk cliffs would not be strong enough to protect anyone from nuclear radiation.
Unfortunately, the tours of the underground tunnels were booked for the day, but we still spent the chilly afternoon exploring the castle grounds and the many buildings you can enter. The highlight was the main tower you can climb and the outstanding landscape that was created in order to protect the castle grounds.
Dover is also known for it's White Cliffs. Immediately outside of the city limits, the countryside opens to rolling fields that abruptly end at cliffs directly above the sea. Due to the fact that they are literally made of chalk, they shine white with accented lines of black flint. They cliffs are up to 350 feet high and they really do form a dramatic background to the sea and tiny pebble beaches formed in small coves below.
After dark, we decided to take the short drive up to Canterbury for dinner. We had visited Canterbury in June for a night, and we enjoyed the old center of the medieval town then and now. We found a very nice pub called The Dolphin due to a friend's recommendation and had some excellent food before driving back to London.
Pics Here: http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/bribergey/DoverCastle?feat=directlink
The main reason for our visit to Dover was to visit the Dover Castle. The castle was originally founded by Romans, and later played a part in Saxon, Norman and Napoleonic times. It originally had two 80 foot Roman lighthouses, one of which still exists.
The most interesting part about the castle was it's purpose during the last 150-200 years. The castle has a series of underground tunnels, originally built to hide soldiers during the height of the Napoleonic Wars. They could shelter over 2000 men and were the only underground barracks ever built in Britain. During the second world war, they were upgraded with a military telephone exchange room. The switchboards were constantly in use and were used both as direct communication with navy vessels and direct air-sea rescue aircraft to pick up pilots shot down in the Channel. Later, the tunnels were used for government officials as an emergency shelter in case of a nuclear attack. It was soon discovered, however, that the chalk cliffs would not be strong enough to protect anyone from nuclear radiation.
Unfortunately, the tours of the underground tunnels were booked for the day, but we still spent the chilly afternoon exploring the castle grounds and the many buildings you can enter. The highlight was the main tower you can climb and the outstanding landscape that was created in order to protect the castle grounds.
Dover is also known for it's White Cliffs. Immediately outside of the city limits, the countryside opens to rolling fields that abruptly end at cliffs directly above the sea. Due to the fact that they are literally made of chalk, they shine white with accented lines of black flint. They cliffs are up to 350 feet high and they really do form a dramatic background to the sea and tiny pebble beaches formed in small coves below.
After dark, we decided to take the short drive up to Canterbury for dinner. We had visited Canterbury in June for a night, and we enjoyed the old center of the medieval town then and now. We found a very nice pub called The Dolphin due to a friend's recommendation and had some excellent food before driving back to London.
Amsterdam in Black & White
Ok, so I'm two months late to wish you a Happy New Year. I'm sorry about that, but I hope all of you had an excellent New Year. Which really doesn't make any sense because what does that even mean? Am I wishing you a happy New Year day? Because the only thing that really matters is the Eve to New Year day. Am I wishing you a happy entire year? Because if I was I don't think I would say New Year. So let me re-phrase. I hope all of you had an excellent New Years Eve and here's to a happy 2010!
I spent my New Year's Eve in Holland. Technically, it started the States and then I landed in Holland mid-morning.
Pictures Here: http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/bribergey/Amsterdam?feat=directlink
To give some background, Nat's uncle (mom's sister's husband) is Dutch, and his parents still live in Holland. They have a nice house in the village of Hilversum, a rather posh area about 30 minutes outside of Amsterdam. So they generally spend the New Years in Holland visiting the family and lighting fireworks. You think I joke when I mention lighting fireworks, but in fact the Dutch have an oddly strong affinity for fireworks. Not only could you possibly hear them at any time of day or night for the week surrounding January 1st, but the stroke of midnight itself was like being in the middle of World War III. We spent the evening indoors due to the freezing temperatures outside, and enjoyed ourselves with lots of Wii, food and drink. We even built a large fire outside to prepare for the stroke of midnight. After the countdown on TV, I walked outside and honestly could not believe what I heard or saw. Literally every single person in the entire country must have been outside lighting a dozen fireworks at the same time repeatedly for about 15 minutes. The sky lit up as if it was dawn and the sound thundered louder than thunder itself. The Dutch know their fireworks and know how to have a good time. It was awesome.
Unfortunately, the Dutch are also slightly crazy...and I mean that literally. I was warned about the antics that would likely happen that night, and I have to admit I enjoyed it. It basically went like this. We heard loud fireworks. We lit loud fireworks. We lit a lot more fireworks. We saw a lot more fireworks. Someone threw a stack of firecrackers at my feet. A bottle rocket whizzed by my head. I lit a roman candle and pointed at the culprit, making sure to hit them at least once. Another stack of firecrackers were thrown at someone. Roman candles came at me. And so it went until the 4 dozen roman candles, literally thousands of firecrackers, and everything else was gone. I woke up to some burn marks in my jacket, and a bruised ear twice it's normal size. It was an awesome night.
As most New Year Days go, we spent it sleeping in, having a huge breakfast, and chilling out for the day. All of the family came over that night and we enjoyed a lot more food. I even got to watch the Ducks play in the Rose Bowl on the internet!
The highlight of the trip was our day spent in Amsterdam. Unfortunately, my camera has been having it's problems lately and I haven't been happy with the pictures that it produces. However, I found that if I took pictures in black & white, they turned out surprisingly nice! Since I had been to Amsterdam before, I thought it would be fun to take the entire days worth of pictures in black & white.
Despite it's obvious inappropriateness and extreme tackiness, Amsterdam really is a nice city. I once described Amsterdam as Europe's version of Vegas, but was corrected and told that Vegas is America's version of Amsterdam. A lot happens in this city, but no matter who you are, you'll find something you like. We spent most of the day walking the streets and then getting something warm to drink when we were too cold. We visited some of our favorite spots from last time, and when Nat's uncle and family joined us in the afternoon, he showed us some new spots. The streets were still littered with piles of firework debree, and we enjoyed a really chill day exploring the city and enjoying ourselves.
Nat and I decided to stay for dinner while the others went back, and we chose a cozy looking resturaunt that had some Dutch food on the menu. After we ordered our drinks, we were told that they only had two items left on the menu: the burger or the chicken satay. Although we were hoping for some more traditional food, I got the burger and Nat got the Satay and we were both very happy with the meal. I started the day with a classic Dutch breakfast of toast topped with ham, cheese and a few eggs over easy and was still reveling in it's goodness.
The rest of our trip was spent in Hilversum visiting the shops and having a nice meal in one of the local pubs/resturaunts. We had a really nice time, and as always it was dissapointing to leave. Although I should mention that to make room for Nat and I, we were put in a transformed garage where a bed had been placed. I should point out that this was a real garage, however it was made up very well for us and I was quite impressed. It wasn't even too cold...after the space heater was on for a while. I took the ferry back with Nat's family as they had taken the ferry there with their cars. The ferry was overnight and lasted about 8 hours, which was a bit weird but we slept during most of it. And as always, there is never any rest; we went straight in to work the morning we arrived back in London.
I hope you enjoy the black & white for something different. I'd love to hear your thoughts!
I spent my New Year's Eve in Holland. Technically, it started the States and then I landed in Holland mid-morning.
Pictures Here: http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/bribergey/Amsterdam?feat=directlink
To give some background, Nat's uncle (mom's sister's husband) is Dutch, and his parents still live in Holland. They have a nice house in the village of Hilversum, a rather posh area about 30 minutes outside of Amsterdam. So they generally spend the New Years in Holland visiting the family and lighting fireworks. You think I joke when I mention lighting fireworks, but in fact the Dutch have an oddly strong affinity for fireworks. Not only could you possibly hear them at any time of day or night for the week surrounding January 1st, but the stroke of midnight itself was like being in the middle of World War III. We spent the evening indoors due to the freezing temperatures outside, and enjoyed ourselves with lots of Wii, food and drink. We even built a large fire outside to prepare for the stroke of midnight. After the countdown on TV, I walked outside and honestly could not believe what I heard or saw. Literally every single person in the entire country must have been outside lighting a dozen fireworks at the same time repeatedly for about 15 minutes. The sky lit up as if it was dawn and the sound thundered louder than thunder itself. The Dutch know their fireworks and know how to have a good time. It was awesome.
Unfortunately, the Dutch are also slightly crazy...and I mean that literally. I was warned about the antics that would likely happen that night, and I have to admit I enjoyed it. It basically went like this. We heard loud fireworks. We lit loud fireworks. We lit a lot more fireworks. We saw a lot more fireworks. Someone threw a stack of firecrackers at my feet. A bottle rocket whizzed by my head. I lit a roman candle and pointed at the culprit, making sure to hit them at least once. Another stack of firecrackers were thrown at someone. Roman candles came at me. And so it went until the 4 dozen roman candles, literally thousands of firecrackers, and everything else was gone. I woke up to some burn marks in my jacket, and a bruised ear twice it's normal size. It was an awesome night.
As most New Year Days go, we spent it sleeping in, having a huge breakfast, and chilling out for the day. All of the family came over that night and we enjoyed a lot more food. I even got to watch the Ducks play in the Rose Bowl on the internet!
The highlight of the trip was our day spent in Amsterdam. Unfortunately, my camera has been having it's problems lately and I haven't been happy with the pictures that it produces. However, I found that if I took pictures in black & white, they turned out surprisingly nice! Since I had been to Amsterdam before, I thought it would be fun to take the entire days worth of pictures in black & white.
Despite it's obvious inappropriateness and extreme tackiness, Amsterdam really is a nice city. I once described Amsterdam as Europe's version of Vegas, but was corrected and told that Vegas is America's version of Amsterdam. A lot happens in this city, but no matter who you are, you'll find something you like. We spent most of the day walking the streets and then getting something warm to drink when we were too cold. We visited some of our favorite spots from last time, and when Nat's uncle and family joined us in the afternoon, he showed us some new spots. The streets were still littered with piles of firework debree, and we enjoyed a really chill day exploring the city and enjoying ourselves.
Nat and I decided to stay for dinner while the others went back, and we chose a cozy looking resturaunt that had some Dutch food on the menu. After we ordered our drinks, we were told that they only had two items left on the menu: the burger or the chicken satay. Although we were hoping for some more traditional food, I got the burger and Nat got the Satay and we were both very happy with the meal. I started the day with a classic Dutch breakfast of toast topped with ham, cheese and a few eggs over easy and was still reveling in it's goodness.
The rest of our trip was spent in Hilversum visiting the shops and having a nice meal in one of the local pubs/resturaunts. We had a really nice time, and as always it was dissapointing to leave. Although I should mention that to make room for Nat and I, we were put in a transformed garage where a bed had been placed. I should point out that this was a real garage, however it was made up very well for us and I was quite impressed. It wasn't even too cold...after the space heater was on for a while. I took the ferry back with Nat's family as they had taken the ferry there with their cars. The ferry was overnight and lasted about 8 hours, which was a bit weird but we slept during most of it. And as always, there is never any rest; we went straight in to work the morning we arrived back in London.
I hope you enjoy the black & white for something different. I'd love to hear your thoughts!
1.12.2010
The Weekend That Shouldn't Have Happened
Wow, well yet again, it's been a while since I've posted a blog. But just so you all know, I have been working on a few blog posts so there will be plenty to come! I started writing this one over a month ago, so I guess I'll begin there...
The holiday season is an easy benchmark to step back and reflect on the previous year. I’ve been fortunate enough to spend the past year in Europe taking advantage of the opportunity I have been given. I’ve been in London for 19 months now and it’s beginning to feel like more of a home than a vacation. Regardless, it’s always important to take advantage of your surroundings instead of take it for granted. This last month has been an excellent time to explore what London has to offer. With that said, Nat and I planned to take a weekend break to Brugge before we went our separate ways for Christmas. Unfortunately, Eurostar (the train provider for all trains through the chunnel to Europe) had a different plan...
Pics Here: http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/bribergey/Wales?feat=directlink
Amidst the constant barrage of mince pies and holiday parties, Nat and I spent some time in London during the past month exploring the Christmas festivities. Our stops included the lively Borough Market, a Cologne-style Christmas market on the Southbank, Trafalgar Square, Leicester Square, and the classy shopping district of Oxford Street. I could write a separate blog just about these, but have decided to focus this blog on the final weekend I spent in the UK during 2009.
To top the excitement we all had after our final Friday in the office, Nat and I had planned a 3 day trip to Belgium to see the sights of Brugge and Belgium. We hoped to explore the Christmas Markets and feast on endless amounts of chocolate, waffles, beer, and Brussel Sprouts. Unfortunately, for the first time in it's existence, Eurostar shut down for 4 days due to a number of trains that got stuck in the tunnel under the English Channel. Apparently the final cause was that the extreme contrast of the bitter cold above ground and the warmer temperatures in the chunnel caused an engineering malfunction, which at one point trapped a train and it's passengers in the tunnel for over 10 hours without food, water or decent air. Luckily we weren't on that train, but regardless we found out our trip was canceled only hours before we were supposed to leave. Therefore, we had three entire days to kill before I left for the States and Nat left for Wales to meet her family.
Nat's family rents a house in Wales for a week each Christmas so they all have a nice large place to spend some time together outside of London. Although Nat wasn't planning on arriving until Christmas Eve, her family was leaving the Sunday before. So we decided to do the same and stay for one night before heading back to London to catch my flight. Nat and I left Sunday morning and took a slight detour on our way through what's called the Cotswolds.
The Cotswolds is a large area of small, quaint villages. When you think of classic and traditional England, this is what you have in mind. Villages full of thatched roofs, small one-laned roads winding through the rolling countryside, and friendly people having an afternoon stroll. Getting out in the "wild" is a bit different in England than it would be in Colorado or Oregon, but it doesn't mean it's any worse. Here, it means that you wind through a country lane for 10 minutes before you run in to the next village, which may only consist of a few houses and a small stream. It means seeing sheep grazing on a hillside and a red telephone booth sitting in a turnout on the road. It means waving at the drivers who stop to make room on the road and smoking chimneys filling the cold air with winter. It's a really nice area to see and every turn brings in a new sight to see.
We made our way through a few villages highlighted in a book I had, and wound our way through the countryside between each of them, eventually making our way to the Welsh border and towards the house Nat's family had rented. We eventually made our way through a one-laned dirt track to the house after dark, and I was immediately impressed by the old, stone house that looked like it could have stood centuries ago. I didn't realize how amazing it was until the next morning. Surprisingly, we woke up to a few inches of snow which covered the countryside and the large valley that sat in full view in front of the house. There was a small, ancient church that incorporated itself into the view as if it were built for that purpose. The house itself was amazing; a large two story house framed and sided entirely with stone. We spent the morning walking around the small-laned roads and visiting the church and it's small grounds which is open at all times. It was really something to be in the true Welsh countryside where a church hundreds of years old is left open and neighbors wheel around gravel to shovel on the snowy roads. It's as if traditions from ages ago are still practiced today.
Since Nat and I had to head back to London, we left later that morning, picked up some food in the nearby town, and headed toward Brecon Beacons National Park nearby. I had read about the park in some of my hiking magazines and have been wanting to check it out for quite a while. Unfortunately, the daylight quickly slipped by us and the conditions in the "mountains" were very snowy, but we did get out and walk around the highest trailhead in the area. Although it was foggy and snowy, I was very impressed by the ruggedness and size of the beacons as they rise from the valleys below. Some of the pictures are quite impressive!
After dark we finally headed back to London, and what a journey it was! What should have been a drive under three hours took nearly 8 due to the snow along the way. To make matters worse, we tried our luck off of the motorway and soon learned it was a complete mistake. We passed roads that were impassable and traffic even worse than what was on the motorway. An hour later, we joined the highway only one exit past where we got off. We eventually made it in to London and my flight left the next morning for the States, although it was delayed.
We have rebooked our trip to Brugge for Valentines weekend, so stay tuned to hear about that!
The holiday season is an easy benchmark to step back and reflect on the previous year. I’ve been fortunate enough to spend the past year in Europe taking advantage of the opportunity I have been given. I’ve been in London for 19 months now and it’s beginning to feel like more of a home than a vacation. Regardless, it’s always important to take advantage of your surroundings instead of take it for granted. This last month has been an excellent time to explore what London has to offer. With that said, Nat and I planned to take a weekend break to Brugge before we went our separate ways for Christmas. Unfortunately, Eurostar (the train provider for all trains through the chunnel to Europe) had a different plan...
Pics Here: http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/bribergey/Wales?feat=directlink
Amidst the constant barrage of mince pies and holiday parties, Nat and I spent some time in London during the past month exploring the Christmas festivities. Our stops included the lively Borough Market, a Cologne-style Christmas market on the Southbank, Trafalgar Square, Leicester Square, and the classy shopping district of Oxford Street. I could write a separate blog just about these, but have decided to focus this blog on the final weekend I spent in the UK during 2009.
To top the excitement we all had after our final Friday in the office, Nat and I had planned a 3 day trip to Belgium to see the sights of Brugge and Belgium. We hoped to explore the Christmas Markets and feast on endless amounts of chocolate, waffles, beer, and Brussel Sprouts. Unfortunately, for the first time in it's existence, Eurostar shut down for 4 days due to a number of trains that got stuck in the tunnel under the English Channel. Apparently the final cause was that the extreme contrast of the bitter cold above ground and the warmer temperatures in the chunnel caused an engineering malfunction, which at one point trapped a train and it's passengers in the tunnel for over 10 hours without food, water or decent air. Luckily we weren't on that train, but regardless we found out our trip was canceled only hours before we were supposed to leave. Therefore, we had three entire days to kill before I left for the States and Nat left for Wales to meet her family.
Nat's family rents a house in Wales for a week each Christmas so they all have a nice large place to spend some time together outside of London. Although Nat wasn't planning on arriving until Christmas Eve, her family was leaving the Sunday before. So we decided to do the same and stay for one night before heading back to London to catch my flight. Nat and I left Sunday morning and took a slight detour on our way through what's called the Cotswolds.
The Cotswolds is a large area of small, quaint villages. When you think of classic and traditional England, this is what you have in mind. Villages full of thatched roofs, small one-laned roads winding through the rolling countryside, and friendly people having an afternoon stroll. Getting out in the "wild" is a bit different in England than it would be in Colorado or Oregon, but it doesn't mean it's any worse. Here, it means that you wind through a country lane for 10 minutes before you run in to the next village, which may only consist of a few houses and a small stream. It means seeing sheep grazing on a hillside and a red telephone booth sitting in a turnout on the road. It means waving at the drivers who stop to make room on the road and smoking chimneys filling the cold air with winter. It's a really nice area to see and every turn brings in a new sight to see.
We made our way through a few villages highlighted in a book I had, and wound our way through the countryside between each of them, eventually making our way to the Welsh border and towards the house Nat's family had rented. We eventually made our way through a one-laned dirt track to the house after dark, and I was immediately impressed by the old, stone house that looked like it could have stood centuries ago. I didn't realize how amazing it was until the next morning. Surprisingly, we woke up to a few inches of snow which covered the countryside and the large valley that sat in full view in front of the house. There was a small, ancient church that incorporated itself into the view as if it were built for that purpose. The house itself was amazing; a large two story house framed and sided entirely with stone. We spent the morning walking around the small-laned roads and visiting the church and it's small grounds which is open at all times. It was really something to be in the true Welsh countryside where a church hundreds of years old is left open and neighbors wheel around gravel to shovel on the snowy roads. It's as if traditions from ages ago are still practiced today.
Since Nat and I had to head back to London, we left later that morning, picked up some food in the nearby town, and headed toward Brecon Beacons National Park nearby. I had read about the park in some of my hiking magazines and have been wanting to check it out for quite a while. Unfortunately, the daylight quickly slipped by us and the conditions in the "mountains" were very snowy, but we did get out and walk around the highest trailhead in the area. Although it was foggy and snowy, I was very impressed by the ruggedness and size of the beacons as they rise from the valleys below. Some of the pictures are quite impressive!
After dark we finally headed back to London, and what a journey it was! What should have been a drive under three hours took nearly 8 due to the snow along the way. To make matters worse, we tried our luck off of the motorway and soon learned it was a complete mistake. We passed roads that were impassable and traffic even worse than what was on the motorway. An hour later, we joined the highway only one exit past where we got off. We eventually made it in to London and my flight left the next morning for the States, although it was delayed.
We have rebooked our trip to Brugge for Valentines weekend, so stay tuned to hear about that!
12.04.2009
Another year, Another Holiday Season
That's right...my second Thanksgiving in the UK has now passed, and it was certainly one to remember. In similar fashion to last year, some American buddies and I cooked up a huge feast for our friends. We built on our theme last year of strictly traditional American food by stepping it up a bit. With a slightly smaller group, we were able to be less overwhelmed with the quantity of food and focused more on the recipes.
Pics Here: http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/bribergey/Thanksgiving2009?feat=directlink
I decided to host the event this year, which was great as my flat has room to entertain and a large kitchen space to cook in. My colleague Ellen and I worked from home, which allowed us to start cooking around noon until the guests showed up around 6. Even though the dinner wasn't ready until after 8pm, everyone had a great time eating snacks and drinks that we asked everyone to bring. The night's menu consisted of the following:
- 22 lb Turkey roasted in sage, thyme & rosemary butter and root vegetables
- Big B's Mashed Potatoes
- Homemade Creamed Corn with fresh cream and parmesan cheese
- Candied Yam & Apple Bake
- Sausage and Mushroom Stuffing
- Green Bean Casserole with french fried onions
- Brussel Sprouts with cream and bacon
- Cranberry Sauce with fresh cranberries, pecans and peaches
- Turkey Gravy made from giblets
- Dinner Rolls
- 2 Pumpkin Pies
- 2 Pecan Pies
We had about 15 people to feed and the best part was that we didn't run out of anything!
Without the Thanksgiving holiday, there is really no boundary for Christmas cheer in Londontown. Street decorations, shops and commercials have been in full swing for weeks already. I'll be spending these last couple weeks trying to enjoy the sights and sounds that provide the Christmas cheer around London. Stay tuned to see them yourself!
Finally, with the holidays approaching, I'll be doing some traveling to spend time with family and friends. First, I'll be heading to Brugge, Belgium for a long weekend with Nat. The day after our return to London, I'll leave for Oregon and will be there the 22nd until the 30th of December. Then I'll be in Amsterdam/Holland to celebrate the New Year with some of Nat's family. I hope everyone has a safe and happy holiday season and eats a lot of food. Merry Christmas!
Pics Here: http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/bribergey/Thanksgiving2009?feat=directlink
I decided to host the event this year, which was great as my flat has room to entertain and a large kitchen space to cook in. My colleague Ellen and I worked from home, which allowed us to start cooking around noon until the guests showed up around 6. Even though the dinner wasn't ready until after 8pm, everyone had a great time eating snacks and drinks that we asked everyone to bring. The night's menu consisted of the following:
- 22 lb Turkey roasted in sage, thyme & rosemary butter and root vegetables
- Big B's Mashed Potatoes
- Homemade Creamed Corn with fresh cream and parmesan cheese
- Candied Yam & Apple Bake
- Sausage and Mushroom Stuffing
- Green Bean Casserole with french fried onions
- Brussel Sprouts with cream and bacon
- Cranberry Sauce with fresh cranberries, pecans and peaches
- Turkey Gravy made from giblets
- Dinner Rolls
- 2 Pumpkin Pies
- 2 Pecan Pies
We had about 15 people to feed and the best part was that we didn't run out of anything!
Without the Thanksgiving holiday, there is really no boundary for Christmas cheer in Londontown. Street decorations, shops and commercials have been in full swing for weeks already. I'll be spending these last couple weeks trying to enjoy the sights and sounds that provide the Christmas cheer around London. Stay tuned to see them yourself!
Finally, with the holidays approaching, I'll be doing some traveling to spend time with family and friends. First, I'll be heading to Brugge, Belgium for a long weekend with Nat. The day after our return to London, I'll leave for Oregon and will be there the 22nd until the 30th of December. Then I'll be in Amsterdam/Holland to celebrate the New Year with some of Nat's family. I hope everyone has a safe and happy holiday season and eats a lot of food. Merry Christmas!
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