Paris, Je t'aime!

While Jenny was visiting last week we took the train over to Paris for a night.  We had to get up at 3:30 in the morning to catch the first train out to Paris.  We tried to hit up everything that we could.  We went to the top of the Arc de Triomphe (300 steps), Champs-Elysees, and the Eiffel Tower.  The Eiffel Tower is like Disneyland.  Lots of hype and really long lines, but the view is unbeatable.  We also made it to Notre Dame where we saw people get attacked by pigeons and harassed by gypsies.  Unfortunately we didn't read the fine print that told us the Louvre was closed on Tuesdays.  Other than that we spent the time eating crepes and walking around Montmartre.

View of the Arc de Triomphe from the Eiffel Tower

All 300 stairs

On top of the Eiffel Tower

Notre Dame

You'd hate to be that guy!  It's good to know the US isn't special and there are meter maids everywhere!

Here's Jenny checking out the dead animals at Borough Market in London

The Beautiful Adriatic

One of the best things about the international schools is break schedule.  Heath and I just returned from a week in Croatia for the midterm break.  Croatia is amazing!  It has a really interesting blend of cultures due to being constantly conquered by the surrounding countries.  We started our trip in Rovinj in the north near the border with Italy.  Rovinj is a pretty seaside town on a small peninsula dominated by a 19th century church.  It was first settled in the Roman times and the stone in the streets dates to 700AD.  Really treacherous with stilettos!  The cappuccinos and gelato were amazing.  We enjoyed sitting outside in the warm sun after chilly England.  The old streets all wind up to the church and there's lots of hidden architectural treasures to be found.  One of my favorite was a tiny church perched right on the cliff.  

This was an abandoned hotel on a little island near Rovinj.

Yes the water is that clear!

From Rovinj we traveled onto the island of Rab.  Rab was absolutely beautiful with four towers in the old town and multiple churches.  It was also empty being the off season.  At one point we were the only people walking around town.  The second day, although warm, a wind picked up that made beach activities out of the question.  We decided to head inland to Zagreb instead.

Looks like Santa Barbara!

We had also been offered a job at the school in Zagreb so it was exciting to get to go check it out.  Zagreb is a really accessible city that gets overlooked sometimes.  The school was in a really nice area.  It is much smaller and not nearly as fancy as Cobham, but it has a very relaxed feeling.  I think we spent most of our time eating because the food was really good and really cheap!  Zagreb has more of an Eastern European feel to it but the cafe culture is universal in Croatia.  Everywhere we went people spent hours sitting out at cafes.  Zagreb felt like a very livable city.

The cemetery in Zagreb decorated for All Souls Night

Our last day was spent in Pula which has one of the largest and best preserved Roman Amphitheaters.  Heath was thrilled!  We also checked out an old Greek theater and a Temple to Augustus.

Heath just isn't sure what he thinks about this shrimp salad!

Cork

I know I'm really behind posting these pictures!

We went to Cork, Ireland for a weekend in September for my birthday.  We saw the Jameson Distillery and got to sample lots of Whiskey.  It was about 10:30 in the morning and we weren't quite ready for it but what can you do if you only have two days.  We also went to see Blarney Castle which is famous for having the Blarney Stone.  Legend has it that if you lean backwards over the edge and kiss the stone you will be gifted with the gift of gab.  Apparently Churchill did it, as have we.  I can't say that my persuasive writing has improved though.

These Barrels show the different stages the whiskey goes through when it ages.

This reminded me of the painting by Millais of Ophelia

York

York is the second most important city in England. There has been a town there since Roman times. In fact in many places you can see where they built on top of the previous walls. The city has a very cute little downtown with lots of shopping and restaurants. Heath and I took the free tour of the city to learn some of it's history and walked the walls that still surround the city. We also visited the York Minster which is the second largest Medieval church (second only to the one in Seville). First of all it is beautiful! The stained glass is absolutely exquisite. We climbed the very steep 200 step staircase. The view is incredible! We also explored the crypt which had a really fascinating display on the various layers of the Minster. To be a called a minster the church has to have a Saxon background. There was a Roman building on this site and then a Saxon church and finally a Norman Minster. When they were doing repairs they found the remains of the previous structures and created an exhibit. You can actually see parts of each of the buildings. We also went to the York Dungeon which was recommended to us. It's like a really well done haunted house. The actors there were really fun. Lastly we had dinner at Cafe Concerto maybe the best meal we've had our whole trip! I have to add that in case anyone gets to York. You have to eat there! It was so good we ate there twice!

York Minster










Scary Staircase! They actually didn't' allow some people
up! They definitely wouldn't have let you go up in the US!


York Skyline

Goathland

One of our day trips from Whitby was to Goathland. Goathland is a tiny little town on the Yorkshire moors. More popularly known as Hogsmeade station in Harry Potter! Heath and I bought a little book on walks around Goathland and set out to see the moors. Visiting the moors was the reason we choose Yorkshire for I wanted to see the landscape that inspired the Brontes. Heath and I started our walk with a short one around the town. Our book proved to be less than acurrate as we got lost multiple times and were forced to forge our own way. The ferns and farms were beautiful though. Our second walk onto the moors proved to be more difficult. We must have missed our path right from the start and probably ended walking 8 miles roundtrip without ever reaching the roman road! In our defense the directions were– go until you've crossed two ditches, pass the second pile of rocks and go left. The moors were beautiful though. Windswept and covered by heather that was beginning to turn purple. They stretch on forever dotted by rocks and broken down stone walls. There's a very exposed and isolated feeling to them. Seeing the landscape really makes you appreciate the moors as a character. It's not hard to imagine Heathcliff riding through the empty landscape to Wuthering Heights. Heath suffered through me reciting my favorite passages to him as we waited for the bus back to Whitby!

"Catherine Earnshaw, may you not rest as long as I am living! You said I killed you– haunt me then! The murdered do haunt their murderers. I believe– I know that ghosts have wondered on earth. Be with me always– take any form– drive me mad! Only do not leave me in the abyss, where I cannot find you! Oh God! It is unutterable! I cannot live without my life! I cannot live without my soul!"

Hogsmeade




Heidi this one's for you!


A common sight


The Moors






Heather Blooming


Heath Conquers the Moors

Whitby

Heath and I traveled to Yorkshire at the beginning of last month before moving into our flat. The first place we visited was Whitby. Whitby is the quintessential English fishing village that has been partially taken over by tourism. It's fame comes partly from being the landing point for Dracula in Stoker's novel. Between fish and chips shops and curios stores you get Dracula inspired goth stores and a rather sad looking Dracula fun house. Whitby does offer a beautiful view of the sea and an amazing Abbey. Heath and I spent most of our days venturing out beyond Whitby, but we did enjoy a wonderful dinner of take away fish and chips overlooking the harbor and music at the local pub later. The fish and chips were the best we've ever had, which only serves to remind you that the best meal is made from fresh ingredients eaten in good company. Our last day we ventured up the 250 stairs to the Abbey. I cannot even begin to describe the beauty of the Abbey. It feel into disrepair after the reformation like so many of England's churches. It sits alone overlooking the harbor and creates a feeling of utter tranquility. I had a very hard time leaving for I could have sat there for hours. Do to this we almost missed our train to York causing Heath much anxiety!

Whitby

Whitby Harbor


Yummy Fish and Chips!


Whitby Abbey