Religion

We visited or passed by a plethora of churches and synagogues in our travels last weekend. As it was Easter weekend there was a lot of activity. Here are some photos.

A church or temple (we never were sure of the name) on Buda in Budapest.

Lighted candles in Vienna. Can you spot the decoration?


Mass starting at the church in Vienna's main square, named St Stephen's (they loved this guy). It smelled outside from all the horses who pulled tourists carried in their carriages. They are doing a major restoration on the building and as Belen said, it looked like a huge undertaking.


A church by one of the Castle's in Budapest, so intricate. the castle was also amazing.


Mass at the most beautiful church, (another) St Stephen's in Budapest. This was truely the most beautiful church I've been to (REALLY!).


One of the stain glass windows inside St Stephen's. I then ran outside to listen to the bells of this church ringing and ringing, calling the people to mass.

Budapest and Vienna

Belen taking a rest in front of the Royal Opera house.


A hello from it's most famous castle. We were a bit too hungary to walk the journey up to see it.


The parliament building of Budapest. It's massive and just needs a little TLC.


With Schubert

Bratislavia, Slovakia

Now with the Euro!

Beefs with Vienna

Overall Vienna is a clean European city; its palaces and museums impressive, its avenues wide (although not heavily crowded) and its tram and metro system far reaching and fairly efficient. However out of the three places I went to on my mini Easter trip Vienna was my least favourite. I might even say it's one of my least favourite places I’ve been to while living in London. Besides it’s grandeur and it’s historical significance with the arts, I have two main 'beefs' with Wien.

1. Having to pay for ketchup and mayonnaise. Vienna is expensive, but it’s a low blow to charge one Euro for EACH condiment that should be everyone’s good given right, in my opinion, when ordering at a restaurant. Come on you Austrians, mayonnaise is not that expensive!

2. The opera. I made such an effort to see the opera or a classical concert while in Vienna and it was such a barbaric experience and an utter disappointment. We arrived one hour before it started because this was when five dollar tickets for the day were up for sale. We qued and entered to find people pushing there way back and forth front and center in the standing area. We asked someone what was going on and found that people who were the first to arrive attached lace or clothing or even a newspaper around an area sectioning off their space and then went and sat until it started. Those, like ourselves, that weren’t regulars stood around dumbfounded as people fought about spaces and tried to explain what was happening. The rudeness and aggressiveness started 10 minutes before when everyone returned to their places. Three Italian women argued saying they were there first and weren’t moving even though they didn’t leave their mark and there was a ribbon in front of them. An Austrian called them a bad name. Belen and I were forced in the middle of the aisle balancing oh so uncomfortably. Someone tried to get through and with this Belen moved to the left and was elbowed by a very large rude woman yelling at her, ‘hey, this is my spot what are you doing, what are you doing’. Belen at this point had had enough (she hadn’t even wanted to go in the first place). She said, 'it’s just the F***** opera, you are an animal.' The woman retaliated back with, 'Please watch your language, this is no place for that’ which I thought rich coming from her (she was a shusher and shhhhhd people throughout the whole opera too) It got a bit worse as more people came, but I will spare you the gritty details. When the opera finally started, I had images of the real drama playing out in the standing area with me tugging at someone’s hair (embarrassingly yes I thought it because I was SO heated up). After about ten minutes our feet and legs ached from our days walk around Vienna and the fact that we had stood already for an hour to reserve our spot that we wanted to leave. I told Belen we would be killed and we suffered on…needless to say, it was torture! By the time it was over we needed a chair and a nice stiff drink.

Things I don't like

Police officers manhandling peaceful protesters at the G20 summit.

Blogalicious

My friends are doing it too!

A few of my mates have recently sent me their very own blogs. I know there are so many out there now but these are two very special ones that I recommend.

Anna works with me.
Originally from NZ, her blog touches on London living at its best or worst or however she feels on the day:
wordpress


Manuela or Manu or Maria as she is known by different people, is now in Brazil via Portugal via London. I met her in San Francisco and plan to visit her where she now resides in Minas Gerais.
She is probably one of the smartest women I know!
Take a look at her (always political) commentary:
dastenras

Springtime comes to London

Pictures to follow....

Light changes the buildings. Where once they stood crusting over with time, paint chipped and loathing life, they stand artful and purposeful. The dust and decay filled with freshness and emenation.

People come out into the street and they sit or stand outside the pubs. It looks like something is going on at the end of the street. I question the mob until I get up close and it's only people drinking pints, trying to grab the light when they can.

I got lost on my way home from a jaunt in the park yesterday. A neighborhood similar to my own, but disorienting because it wasn't. Through one passage and there were beautiful classic London Victorians and then further down the street, council flats with their colourful doors and gray architectual dullness loomed ahead with their inhabitants running around and chilling out in public. For awhile I walked feeling no cold, enjoying my lostness and the budding cherry blossom trees (always the first to bloom). Then I got frustrated, became tired of walking and at this point I realised where I was and jumped on a bus I knew would take me home.

Things I like

People in the park on a nice day (like yesterday on the Heath), dogs in the park, and now yes I admit, I like jumpsuits like this one from http://www.asos.com

Things I don't like

When you let a pregnant woman cut in front of you in a long line and she inappropriately berates her young daughter.

Home sweet home

Weddings are joyful, beautiful and ritualistic. One is able to dance, to eat (in this case eat great food) and the champagne/wine is constantly flowing. One gets to be with their 'people' and catch up with old friends, what more could one really ask for? I had the best time at my friend Miceala's wedding, she's an old high school friend that I've so happily kept in touch with over the years. Miceala looked so beautiful in her dress and Chris, her beau took his brother's toast, I mean ROAST, pretty well. The bridesmaids did a dance with the bride that we practiced over and over and that I had to learn in two days, but it went really well.

Not only did I have a smashing time at the wedding, the week after and before were definitely worth the plane ride. One day alone I spent quality time, albiet a bit too short of time, with six different people. It was nice to see my grandparents although my grandmother was ill in the hospital, but I think it made her feel better when I showed her my crazy high heels for the wedding. And because she was ill my father had stuck around to make sure she was alright before heading off to China so I was able to have dinner with him. It was also good to see one of my cousins, whom I haven't seen for years and his sister and I spent a nice time on a walk by the lake.

I enjoyed driving in Cali, seeing spring pass me by through my window. I was actually a bit nervous since it had been 9 months since I was behind the wheel as I walk everywhere in London. Walking for leisure is lovely around my neighborhood in Cali; at Lake Chabot and in Lafeyette where I met my friend Joanne. She told me she is becoming a shaman, she wants to be a healer. I told her she was already one in my book as she does hair and makes everyone feel good.

I love Cali. I miss friends and family already, but the good thing is I know I can always go home!

An Update

It's been a blazer of a few weeks and for the first time here in London, I feel settled and content. I've got a few more friends, I am busier at work and my home is homey again. That being said, I am off to San Fran in three days and with the thoughts of driving and just being with people who feel like HOME I am feeling the that excited BUZZ of a feeling.

The weekend before last, I visited some amazing flats, mine paled in comparison. I've always hated Victoria tube station, but my friend's flats who are located near there are so large and SO central. We went from one gals house to the others, Belen told me after I said, 'Victoria, blah', 'just you wait and see'.....and she was right, I became quite envious and I think it might be time to move.

It was also nice to have people who live in your neighborhood or a short bus ride away....like one of my coworkers who so generously made pancakes for eight of us on pancake day, a time honored tradition here in Britain. The combos were new to me, but good ol fashion lemon and sugar hit the spot. (Guinness and pancakes...yum)



My other girlfriend is so close she pops over and calls us when she's down the street at our local and we had dinner at hers last night. Last week we celebrated her birthday at a Moroccan resto. Even though the music player was currently out of commission, they still made her stand up on her chair and do a little birthday dance.




Two weekends ago Belen and I took a trip to the seaside. What a weird town Bournemouth is, but the beach was nice and so was all of the greenery we got lost in. The place we stayed had a nice sauna and jacuzzi. It was great to leave London for a break, but also nice to return. It made me appreciate London more.





As an aside, sorry I know this post is random, after seeing Vicky Cristina Barcelona a few days ago, I have a new found appreciation for Penelope Cruz. I loved the movie and it was so beautiful! I've been checking out restaurants too in my neighborhood and I now have a few more favorites.

It might be the light change, the glimmer of hope at the end of the day when you leave work and it actually hasn't yet fallen dark, but my attitude has changed to wild wonderment (and that's a good thing).