May 19th, 2013
23 notes ·

London!

I’m always a little nervous doing these types of things, but I’ve got a couple of requests for a London catchup, and as I would love-love-love to meet some new people, I thought, yessssssss, let’s do this.

So, would any & all of you Londoners, want to meet me for a quick little, casual coffee/drink? Perhaps tomorrow night? Which is awfully short notice (so sorry!), but I fly home Wednesday.

I was thinking around 7pm, and somewhere central - perhaps a Starbucks (I know, so original)? My Internet skills just failed me at finding a place, so suggestions are welcome. Shoot me a private message, email me, or leave a comment.

Gah. Okay. That’s all. Thanks! Oh, but wait - I’ll be the most awkward person there, so do not worry about that, I got that covered. :)

Update: We’re meeting at the Starbucks in Kingsway at 7pm - all are welcome! :)

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May 18th, 2013
68 notes ·

I went to the most beautiful wedding today. Really, and truly, it was wonderful. It was a wedding filled with love, friends, & the English countryside. It was small; 33 people to be exact; actually, it was perfect…

Except.

Except I missed Matt. I haven’t written much about this, because I suppose what’s the point? I’m here. He’s there. And that’s that. But it hurts. A lot. Matt was my best friend for nearly a year and half. He was a huge part of my life, and my friend. And then I said goodbye to him, and suddenly all communication stopped. It’s hard. I miss him. More than I should admit.

And I kept seeing couples tonight sneaking kisses, or reaching for the other’s hand, and I wanted that. I missed that. But I shouldn’t tell you this, I shouldn’t tell anyone this, because what’s the point? I’ll just have to wait for time to do its thing; wait till I don’t hurt this much; wait till I stop feeling the desire to share my day with him, or hear about his. Wait till this pain stops.

dating matt
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May 17th, 2013
79 notes ·
Zoom And lame photo of the day award goes to… BUT I DON’T EVEN CARE. I am now in the south of England for a friend from university’s wedding and I have my *own* room, with my *own* bathroom. I can’t even begin to explain what a luxury this is after staying in eight people hostel dorms the past two weeks. OH! also-also, I am surrounded by my good, strong, friend, Mr. Internet (finally!! because I hate being behind on blogging. I know, I know I’m so cool) and, well, I head home to Toronto next week and despite feeling SUPER nervous about this (because the end is sooooooo near!!!!!), I am also quite excited. I like routines, I do well with routines, and I am welcoming with open arms a full time job, CrossFit, Running, and just living in the every day life of Toronto. But now, as the clock strikes 1am in England, I must snooze, because beauty sleep is a must in my old age.

And lame photo of the day award goes to… BUT I DON’T EVEN CARE.

I am now in the south of England for a friend from university’s wedding and I have my *own* room, with my *own* bathroom. I can’t even begin to explain what a luxury this is after staying in eight people hostel dorms the past two weeks.

OH! also-also, I am surrounded by my good, strong, friend, Mr. Internet (finally!! because I hate being behind on blogging. I know, I know I’m so cool) and, well, I head home to Toronto next week and despite feeling SUPER nervous about this (because the end is sooooooo near!!!!!), I am also quite excited. I like routines, I do well with routines, and I am welcoming with open arms a full time job, CrossFit, Running, and just living in the every day life of Toronto.

But now, as the clock strikes 1am in England, I must snooze, because beauty sleep is a must in my old age.

london
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May 17th, 2013
52 notes ·

The Red Light District. What to say about the red light district? It’s hard to really get a grasp of it until you walk the streets and see it for yourself.

But first, some history - because am I the only person who finds this so fascinating? (below’s source).

  • Amsterdam’s “red light district” began in earnest in the 14th century, according to the country’s official website (Holland.com). By the end of the 17th century, high-class brothels flourished.
  • When Napoleon ruled Holland in the early 19th century, prostitutes had to have health checks twice a week to ensure they didn’t pass syphilis to soldiers.
  • In 1911, the Netherlands banned brothels, but prostitution continued using businesses like massage parlors as “fronts,” according to Amsterdam Red Light (amsterdamredlight.com). Soon after this, it became apparent that laws couldn’t banish prostitution. Local authorities allowed prostitutes to ply their trade as long as they didn’t solicit in doorways. This is how the “window trade” began, as girls now beckoned customers from behind openings in curtained windows.
  • By the 1960s, Amsterdam authorities tolerated red-light district prostitution, and the sex trade in the area became a tourist attraction.

But despite having seen it before, I really wasn’t prepared to see the women in the glass windows trying to lure in the men walking by. The women were hardly wearing anything, and standing behind glass windows of fake, little, staged bedrooms, waiting for any man to knock on her door.

And the most shocking thing? actually seeing men go into the little rooms with the woman. I’m not exactly sure why I was so shocked, as obviously this has happened for centuries… actually, I suppose it was how normal & young the guys were. How guys my age or younger were going in. Guys in big groups of friends who were in Amsterdam to party. I guess I was just naive to this, but it really shocked me - watching regular guys step in, and the curtain be drawn.

I was also stunned (like mouth open stunned) when I found out the women were selling their bodies for a mere $50 for 20 minutes. I don’t want to make a judgement, because there is no way to know why each of those women ended up hardly dressed behind a glass window, but I felt sadness for them, and I felt fortunate and lucky I had never been put in a position where I felt that was my only way out (although, I should note I heard lots of women choose to do it).

So yup. That was Amsterdam. I had a lot of fun with the group I traveled with (hi guys!) and drank & ate a little too much (hushhhh), and slept too little, which of course is the equation for a very good trip.

Amsterdam
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May 17th, 2013
104 notes ·

I had never planned to head to Amsterdam, but then somehow, someway, I was convinced (cough tulips cough) when I was walking the streets of Paris with people friends I had met from my hostel. 

I find Amsterdam an interesting city. Visually it is beautiful, and quite unique too as it’s a canal based city, with a ton of history… but then, of course, marijuana and prostitution are legal.

This was my second time heading to Amsterdam, and I’m so pleased I returned. Why? because I think Amsterdam’s red light district overshadows a lot of really amazing things about the city, and last time I was there (when I was 18), I never really took the time to explore the awesomeness Amsterdam offers outside of it’s city centre. But this time? this time around I went for long walks through parks & down alley ways, and really got to see how amazing Amsterdam is.

Oh! And if you ever find yourself in this city, the Heineken Experience tour, Anne Frank’s House, and the Van Gogh museum are definitely must dos. As well as a canal tour, and a night walk of the history of the red light district.

Amsterdam
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May 17th, 2013
132 notes ·

After Paris I made my way north to Amsterdam with a bunch of people I had met at my hostel.  They were heading to Amsterdam for reasons, umm, unknown (ha), but I wanted to head there for the tulips!

Every world coffee table book shows the spectacular photos of the Netherlands’ tulip fields, so when I realized I would be there during peak, bloom time, I just had to detour to go see them. And see them I did!

Keukenhof, also known as the Garden of Europe, is the world’s largest flower garden and according to their official website, they plant over 7 million bulbs each year.  The garden was established in 1989 by the mayor of Lisse and the idea was to present a garden exhibit where flower-growers from all over the world could show of their hybrids - and help the Netherlands’ export industry (the Netherlands are the world’s largest exporters of flowers).

The Keukenhof Gardens was well worth the visit, and if you’re in this area of the world during late April, or early May, I highly recommend the detour.

Netherlands
Amsrerdam
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May 16th, 2013
53 notes ·

It’s a weird thing to complain about traveling, because I am so aware that those (myself included) who travel are very, very lucky, but I need a moment to complain. Apologies in advance.

Today was the worst. THE WORST. I want to tell you the details about the insane number of unfortunate events, little and big, that went down, but my mind seems to have blocked out the details from this travel day from hell. But what I do know is this: I took eight trains today. I had to pay for a second ticket from from Amsterdam to London, because I missed my previously booked train, even though I was there & ready, but EuroStar doesn’t accept electronic tickets. I know my 55 pound suitcase’s wheel broke. Oh! And I broke my flats - I don’t even know how one does that, but I did. I got trapped in a packed train for 45 minutes because the doors wouldn’t open. I discovered Europe has hardly any elevators in train stations. And I had a million and two moments where I wished with everything I am, that I was back in my childhood bedroom, laying on my bed, looking at my ceiling, all warm and happy in bed (especially when the British customs guy refused me entry into England).

Traveling is filled with ups & downs, and downs & ups, I know that, but today? Today wins for the worst of the worst days I’ve ever had.

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May 14th, 2013
122 notes ·
Zoom Au revoir Paris! A sneaky-deaky photo on the train from Paris to… Amsterdam!

Au revoir Paris! A sneaky-deaky photo on the train from Paris to… Amsterdam!

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May 13th, 2013
64 notes ·

A quick look at any Paris tourist map or book will tell you to head to the Arc de Triomphe, a monumental arch in Paris’s downtown area that sits at the western end of the Champs-Élysées (Paris’s famous shopping/rich avenue).

The arch was commissioned in 1806 after Napoleon declared to his soldiers, “you will march home through arches of victory,” and construction finished in 1836. The history is long, and the monument has endured the ups and downs of political upheaval (Wikipedia article here). In 1921, the Unknown Solider was buried below, and the flame of remembrance was lit on November 11, 1923 which has never gone out. 

Yesterday morning, I climbed to the top of the Arc de Triomphe, and got to see the 360 degree panoramic views the arch offers, and get a sense of the way Paris was built. As you can see, Paris is a very low city, and has had government restrictions on the height of their buildings since the 16th century (you’ll note none of the cliche French buildings are higher than seven stories). 

If you’re lucky enough to find yourself in Paris, I would highly recommend heading up the Arc de Triomphe to get a beautiful view of Paris with the Eiffel tower in it (personally, I’ve never had a desire to head up the Eiffel Tower, because why would you want views of Paris without the Eiffel Tower in it? Exactly. So head of the Arc).

(Source from the pamphlet I received at the Arc de Triomphe)

Paris
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May 12th, 2013
103 notes ·

Moments in Paris

imageSNAILS (Escargots)

I can’t believe I’m writing this, but… when in Rome! I went into the dinner with an oh-hell-no attitude, and then what do you know? I tried a single snail (after *a lot* of pressure from not only my table, but also the locals). And? And it was, ummm… well, I will never-ever-ever eat one again, but I admit it was more my mind messing with me, because “omg it’s a snail!!” All I really tasted was the pesto, butter sauce, but then afterwards I couldn’t stop thinking the little thing was crawling around in my tummy (ewwwww).

image

FOOD

Paris’s food is delicious (minus the snails): cheese, bread, fondue, crepes, souffle, creme brulee, croissants, French fries, macarons, French toast, baguettes & wine? YES PLEASE.  Really, it’s amazing everyone (and I mean everyone) is skinny here… but of course, all in moderation. I’ve actually been been super-duper good, and dessert-wise, only eaten the lemon tart (above) and a creme brulee, because as Amelie says, “cracking creme brulee with a teaspoon” is one of life’s simple pleasures. 

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WALKS

This city is made for taking walks in. The architecture, the flowers, the cobble walkways? I am in love and have added “Run the Paris Marathon” to my bucket list. Why? Because I lose track of time and my thoughts when I’m wandering the streets admiring everything I see. When I was on the subway yesterday I saw this lovely French girl, and I thought what a shame we (humans) don’t get more than one life. I would love-love-love to live out a life start, to finish in Paris (and Melbourne) (and Toronto) (and NYC).

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MOULIN ROUGE

Because we had to! When I was 18 and partied my way across Europe (side note: I LOVE travelling at 28; I appreciate & understand everything so much more) I headed to the actual show, so this time around I just went to see the bright lights & windmill.

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HOSTEL DRINKING

I lucked out (and for Australians, that means I got lucky) with the fine folks in my dorm room, which means I actually had a good group of friends this time around in Paris to talk to, and do things with, including drinking the nights away (oh hai there Kings Cup) and heading to cliche Paris jazz bars.

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THE EIFFEL TOWER

I can’t even put into words my love for the Eiffel Tower. It’s so beautiful, and big, and seeing the thing in real life is up there on my favourite-things-to-do-in-life list. This, of course, means I’ve gone to admire it several times this week. So, story time: two nights ago I was sitting on the Eiffel Tower’s look-out steps waiting for the lights to turn on, when a French man (about 45) ended up chatting me up. I wasn’t interested at all, y’know, given his age, and this, but we ended up talking for a few hours and get this, turns out he’s the CEO (and LinkedIn verified this) of a very big luxury car company, and wanted to take me for dinner and drinks here (I know, whoa) and invited me to his house in the south of France, which his iPhone verified is unbelievable. I politely declined, but I felt like it was an ‘only in Paris’ moment.

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SACRE-COEUR BASILICA (The Sacred Heart of Paris)

Sacré-Cœur Basilica is a Roman Catholic church perched up on a hill just outside Paris’s city centre, and is a “must do” if you ever find yourself here. (I’m actually staying in this area, and would def recommend it). The church was built in 1919, which makes it the youngest church in Paris, and it boasts some of the most spectacular views of the city.

Okay. Okay. I think I’m done. I’m actually writing this from a beautiful, little cafe in Paris, as I watched the locals go about their Sunday afternoons. Paris, you beautiful city, you; I like you.

paris
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Welcome! I'm Liz, the girl relieved the Internet has 0 calories. I'm a Canadian in Melbourne. A marathoner. CrossFitter. Paleo (somewhat) eater. Traveler. Cheese lover. And I think you're great!

F | 28 | 5'4"
Highest Weight: 203
Current Weight: 172
Goal Weight: 125(!)

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