English Lunch

John told me on Saturday that we were invited to go eat lunch at Erik’s house.  He plays Dr. Bartolo in the opera.  I was excited for this because John said it was going to be a traditional English lunch complete with a walk afterwards.  So, we went to the bus stop to get picked up by 12:45pm.  As it turned out, two others were there as well, Tim and Giles.  Tim is in the opera- can’t remember the name of who he is, but he has a white face and a scraggly ponytail down to his butt- and Giles is the director.  I must admit I was a little nervous at first; meeting new people is not exactly one of my specialties, but as soon as I met these people, it really didn’t matter.  Everyone was so nice.  Erik picked us up in his car; I was delighted to finally get a chance to speed along in one of those tiny cars that drive on the opposite side of the road.  Since I was the smallest, I got to sit in the middle of the back with John and Tim on either side of me.  The car ride was about 15-20 minutes.  It went by fast because there were so many twists, turns, tiny roads where only one car fits, and roundabouts that I was mesmerized the entire time.

        On the way to his house we stopped at Castle Coch.  John took a bunch of pictures, which I hope to borrow and post with mine.  The castle was complete with different bedrooms beautifully painted and furnished, a kitchen, a keep, and one of those heavy wooden/metal criss-crossed things that you lower down in front of the door to keep intruders out. We paid to go inside and walk around.  I really don’t have words for it and so I’ll let the pictures do the describing. 

       After the castle we continued on to Erik’s house.  We suddenly stopped at the top of this hill on a curve in the road.  He pulled off next to this brick building and everyone got out and then we proceeded to go inside the building.  It was his home! It used to be an old welsh pub and as soon as I got inside I fell in love with it.  It was big, yet small, spacious and yet very cramped.  It had small curved doorways and little wooden doors.  Stone and wood floors and big glass windows that opened out onto a spectacular view from the back porch/patio.  The backyard dropped down away from the house in levels and it held many flowers and a little stone pathway that weaved back and forth till you came to more even land that housed a pond with bright orange fish swimming around.  This house also came with two little dogs, Molly and Mimi, and a black cat that kept to itself.  Dinner wasn’t ready yet, so we got busy with the wine, cheese, crackers, and grapes.  Even though this isn’t an unusual appetizer in the states, for some reason today it tasted even better.

        Now comes the best part, the meal!  For our main dish, we had roast beef (from the local butcher), carrots, broccoli, fried crispy potatoes, and regular baked potatoes, which are so common here (they are about the size and look of an egg), gravy, and my favorite- these unbelievably crisp, light and fluffy bread/pastry type things called Yorkshire pudding.  I thought they were filled with pudding, based on the name, but when you bite into them all they are filled with is air.  They were the best things and I think I had four of them. MMMM!!!  This meal lasted maybe an hour or so of slowly eating and talking.  Most of the talk I just sat there and listened, as I had nothing to contribute to the conversation. It mostly hinged on singing and music and the like.  I found it interesting- which was a little surprising. 

         Next came dessert.  This I have to say is one of thee best desserts I have had in a long time.  Of course I always say that, but this was REALLY good.  It was homemade apple crumble.  Which is just like our apple crisp.  On top of this bowl of gooey steaming crumble, you pour some fresh cream, and then we had ice cream from the local dairy to top it off.  This ice cream didn’t really have a flavor that I could tell, it was just white and creamy and what every ice cream should taste like. I enjoyed a second helping that was almost as big as my first. 

        And then last, of course, came the homebrewed tea and coffee.  The coffee came in the biggest French press that I have ever seen.  I had a cup of that with the fresh cream and a small spoonful of sugar.  The sugar alone is delightful.  It’s the brown, raw, really big granular kind- my favorite!   This could have quite possibly have been the best cup of coffee I have had yet while being here.  Of course, it could just have been that everything tasted so good because of where I was having it and who I was having it with, but who knows. 

        Okay so after our meal, and dessert, and coffee, and all that wine we kept on drinking through the entire three hours of our meal- it is tradition to go on a walk. So we set off- Giles, Tim, Erik, Erik’s wife (who was lovely in all ways), John and myself, and of course Molly and Mimi.  We start walking into the forests and immediately find ourselves at the ruin of a castle. I wish this happened in the US!!  Anyways, we walk for about an hour all along the forest, over open grassland, along ridges, and end up being a mile above sea level with the most wonderful view.  I hope to post some pics John took because -again- words can’t describe.  One of the delights of the walk was finding sticks for Molly and Mimi to catch.  They are hunting dogs and it was so much fun to watch them bound and leap through the grass in search of a stick.  Oh and I can’t forget! We ran into both cows and sheep.  They were just wandering about everywhere along the trail and open grass, minding their own business.  I was bummed because they didn’t really let us get too close.  Maybe next time!  It was a great way to work off that overly stuffed feeling in my stomach from the delicious meal. 

        We got dropped back off at the bus station in front of the Millennium Center and walked home.  It was a great way to spend a Sunday- in the company of some of the nicest people, eating some of the tastiest food, and then walking and enjoying the loveliest of views.  Let’s hope this keeps up!

My Saturday

  I’m sitting inside the Millennium Center, the place of John’s work, enjoying listening to a quartet of musicians.  There is a piano, bass guitar, flute, and some mix between a guitar and banjo.  A lady in a flowing skirt is dancing off to the side.  The music is very relaxing yet invigorating at the same time.  It makes me want to close my eyes and shake my hips in a gypsy sort of way.  

            This is my first weekend here in Cardiff, and as usual it starts off in Mermaid Quay.  And lets just say that I LOVE Saturdays!  People are everywhere; markets and stands with fresh produce, cheese, and olives are now on the boardwalk by the bay.  I saw a booth with bags of cotton candy swaying in the breeze.  I may have to indulge in one at some point.  All this excites me and I will go venture over that way after I finish writing.

             It is now 1:47pm.  John and I parted at 12:40 as he went into dress rehearsal and I stayed outside once again to enjoy the beautiful day. After I dropped him off at the Millennium Center, I went and sat down by the carousel because there I could people and dog watch.  This one dog was quite entertaining with his tennis ball.  He would pick it up in his mouth, find people walking, get in their line of view, and drop the ball so they would either kick it or pick it up to throw.  He was very smart and earlier while John and I were watching; he came up from behind and dropped the ball so it rolled between John’s feet.  It was quite entertaining. I kicked the ball whenever he happened to drop it my way; this kept my attention for about 15 minutes.  Then I walked around a little bit, found a sunny spot in the center of Road Dalh’s Pass, sat down and started to read.  I sat there until I could feel my skin burning and now find myself seated at this café inside listening to this most unique music.   

            Yesterday we had the whole day to play and took off walking North toward the center of Cardiff.  We walked into the shopping centre area and Cardiff Castle.  We never really bothered to find out much information on the Castle, so I don’t have any info to pass on to you, other than I found it beautiful.  It, of course, looked just like the storybooks, with it’s round spirals and iron gates.  We walked around inside for a while, it reminded me of central park except trees, flowers, bushes, etc. were everywhere and paths really didn’t seem to matter.  This place was made for you to go off and discover all the secret hidden places.  We found the museum and spent time looking at how our planet evolved throughout the millions of years- from the formation of the planet through the Precambrian times, dinosaurs, and finally onto modern humans. All very interesting and the best part about it- FREE.  It’s one of those places where you could spend a few hours every weekend and still not see everything.  

            The shopping centre was huge and most of it outdoors, which I like very much.  I have not bought anything yet, nor spent any of my own money so far.  This is good, although I have only been here a week.  I think my going to Africa after this is good because otherwise it would be very tempting to purchase some of this fashion that is so pleasing to the eye.  But then I stop to think, does it really matter what you look like?  With my few clothes, I should be able to mix and match and come up with some intriguing outfits.  I think I already have, using some of John’s sweaters in the process. 

            I am pretty sure John has the day off tomorrow and we are throwing around ideas of how to spend our evening.  We are meeting up again at 5pm and I am going to join him for the evening rehearsal.  I’m excited to watch him in action!  After that we may check out the casino nearby *hehe* or just hang out by the bay.  Last time he met me after his first afternoon dress rehearsal, we dined outside at a café, with him in full hair and makeup.  It was hard for me to look at him and not smile.  His makeup gives him a white face, dark eyes and eyebrows, and a mustache.  He had a scruffy beard when I saw him in the morning, but they made him shave all but the stache. I wasn’t really a fan and asked if he would have to keep that for the rest of the time.  He said, “No, they are going to paint it on for the show”.   I was glad to hear that J.   His curly hair was covered in a wig of sparse, long and short hair and tied up in a little hat/scarf type thing.  I’m not sure I would have gone out in public looking like that, but it’s John.  He didn’t care. 

       One thing I have noticed, which I do not like, is that a lot of the children are put on leashes here.  I think I have seen more kids on a leash than dogs.  I know there are a lot of people around, but really? ? 

            The musicians are done and I’m going to go get some food at a stand by the bay.  Goodbye for now and thanks to all to take the time to read about my days.  I’m thinking of you all very much!  

The Toilets

The thing I seem to have the most trouble with is flushing the toilets.  The pressure system here is different than in the US and in order for the toilet to flush, there must be a certain amount of water in it.  Very little water starts in it to begin with, and so I find myself pushing the lever down about four different times in order to get some water in there and then maybe on the fifth time or so it will finally flush.  I know there must be a different way to do it, but I can't bring myself to ask anyone.  I've already gotten funny looks when I asked someone if they knew where a public restroom was.  Apparently everyone calls it the toilet and he acted like he didn't know what a restroom was.  

Anyways......last night John and I walked around the Bay.  We walked a good half hour to get around one side of it and then across the Barrage.  The barrage is what controls the water going in and out of the bay.  We went over that and down around the point where we walked along the shore and searched for fossils.  Of course this turned into a competition to see who could find the best one, and sad to say I believe he won since he managed to find a complete one.  I'm not a fan when he wins :).  The tide was out at this point in time and it was neat to see the little piles of sand scattered around from the tube worms.  They pushed the sand up from their little hole in order to let in oxygen.   I wanted to dig one up but decided to just let them be.   

I was planning on going with John to his dress rehearsal today but then decided I was not going to sit inside for 4 hours on the first day it was actually sunny outside. I've taken up residence in a cafe along the Bay where there is free internet, comfy chairs and lots of sunlight.  Sweet Home Alabama just came on the radio and a little kid is defiantly telling his mother he does not feel the need to wear his sweater.  The children here are adorable and all sound just like the kid from the "Charlie bit me" YouTube video.  I smile every time I hear them speak!  The gentleman sitting next to me is drinking a shot of expresso from one of the smallest cups of coffee I've ever seen.  I have now seen both the largest and smallest- oh the choices.  

Tonight I'm planning on going running on the trail that we took around the bay last night.  Many runners passed us last night therefore I think I will feel safe going on my own while John has his second dress rehearsal of the day.  I'm glad I'm not him! And yes mother, I will be in before it gets dark, don't you worry.  

All for now, I hope everyone is doing good back at home!

Day One of Cardiff

I must say that even though I have only been here for a day and half, I like it.  I don’t think anyone will find that surprising.  I made it here smoothly and am getting used to the time difference.  Yesterday I slept in till noon, which I haven’t done for a long time and I think it helped.  The weather right now is about 52 and cloudy.  It looks like rain and no one here gives it a second thought.  I’m hoping to see maybe one sunny day all the while I am here.  I’m sitting here at Starbucks drinking from the biggest mug that I have ever seen, only John’s cup is of course bigger than mine.  I can wrap my hands around it with plenty of room to spare.  John’s work place is right next to what is called Mermaid Quay.  It is a place that reminds me of South Street Seaport in NY and Navy Pier in Chicago, except not.  It has the telltale signs of European architecture, which I find beautiful. 

            The people here are also quite beautiful. Both the women and men are so uniquely dressed and it makes for easy looking J.  These are the type of people who, from behind, all look to be in their mid twenties until they turn around and you realize you are looking at a very fashionably dressed 70 yr old couple. Pretty much anything goes in fashion here.  It is an open doorway and experimentation is the key.  

            I’m getting used to the difference in money; to me everything seems cheap.  Last night we got some groceries that included spinach, pasta, a tomato, ciabatta bread, carrots, and some other things I can’t remember, and the cost was 4.60 pounds.  Nice huh!

            Pigeons are everywhere; ducks and swans abound in the bay.  The water is quite polluted with bottles and has the sheen of oil/gas over the top.  Before I left, I had asked John if people went swimming in the Bay, looking at it now I don’t think I would even it was possible.  

            Last night we went walking through a marshland right by the bay.  There were three-inch slugs scattered all over the walkway and of course I had to pick up the first one I saw and investigate.  Then I felt it was necessary to bring it to a place of water because the bottom of it was covered with rocks getting caught up in the slime.  I guess I’m practicing my animal saving skills for Africa, although I’m pretty sure the slug knew what it was doing because after seeing that first one I noticed about 20 more along the walkway.  Needless to say I only tried to save the first one.  John was patient with me, as always. 

                        

M13

I am sitting here at the International Terminal 5 in Chicago.  I’ve been sitting here watching CNN bash the presidential candidates and chatting with a very nice gal from Arkansas who is traveling to Bristol to study Environmental Sciences.  I am proud of myself to think of blogging now and not saving it for later. This is a good start and I hope to make you all proud!! Most of the people, well women, around me are dressed in the traditional Indian garb in the gorgeous saris and leather sandals.  The lady sitting next to me, at my best guess, is probably pushing 80 and continues burping out loud, much to my delight.  Sara, the gal going to Bristol, and me find ourselves desperately trying to hide our laughter, as no one else around us seems to pay it much mind.  Lets just say it’s making the hours before I board go by quickly. 

I must admit that I am surprised at my lack of sadness in leaving.  I have no cried yet in all my goodbyes to friends, family, Eden, and my country.  It’s hard to be sad when I’m so excited to be leaving.  Usually this isn’t the case and so I am going to bask in every happy moment that I have.  The atmosphere in the international terminal is one of anticipation.  I love hearing the different languages being spoken, as most people are not using English.  These languages are much more pleasing to the ear although I must admit I am happy to be flying into an airport where English is the main language. 

Soon we will board and I will be on my way.  The plane is HUGE, it is in fact two stories; I had no idea they actually made planes with two stories.  It would be fun to be able to explore the entire plane but I have a feeling the upper level is for those who can afford to fly a little more comfortable than I can.   That is fine with me.  I was asked where I would like to sit and I am pleased to fine myself with a window seat although I realize now that most of my flight will be in the dark and therefore the window will be useless.  Oh well, I hope to wake up for the dawn and seeing the sun rise on top of the clouds.  

 I’m going to sign off now- next time I write it will hopefully be from Cardiff! 

 

This is how I see it

I found this quote by Henry Beston and it pretty much sums up what I think and feel about the Animal Kingdom. To me, animals are so much more than just a cute, fuzzy pet to cuddle up to or someone to go running with; animals are their own beings and deserve (in my opinion) much more respect and rights than (some) people. Animals live in their own world and survive by their own instincts. Since most of the time we cannot understand their voices- we humans are the ones who mess up their schedules.

Please read slowly and carefully to grasp the full meaning of his words.

"We need another and a wiser and perhaps a more mystical concept of animals. Remote from universal nature, and living by complicated artifice, man in civilization surveys the creature through the glass of his knowledge and sees thereby the feather magnified and the whole image in distortion. We patronize them for their incompleteness, for their tragic fate of having taken a form so far below ourselves. And therein we err, and greatly err. For the animal shall not be measured by man. In a world older and more complete than ours they move finished and complete, gifted with extensions of the senses we have lost or never attained, living by voices we shall never hear. They are not brethren, they are not underlings; they are other nations, caught with ourselves in the net of life and time, fellow prisoners of the splendour and travail of the earth."