Au Revoir!

Today was my last day in France. I spend yesterday in Toulouse and day-tripped to Carcassonne today.  Tomorrow I leave on my last trip before returning home to Vancouver.

With all the goodbyes I've said in the last few days, I've been thinking a lot about goodbye vs. au revoir. To me, goodbye can sound so final as it does not imply the possibility of seeing one another again. Conversely, au revoir literally means, "see you again" or "until we see each other again." Au revoir is more optimistic vis-à-vis the prospect of another meeting. In my case, I'm not leaving never to return again. Even after eight months, I still feel there's so much of this beautiful country to see. Au revoir leaves me the possibility of coming back, either on vacation or otherwise.

Au revoir la France!

Nine Months Ago

Nine months plus one day ago, I bought my one-way ticket to France. Now today is my last day in SaintÉ before I leave on my last trip before going home to Vancouver.

Yesterday, I took some time out of my week of packing and wrapping up loose ends to go to a beach on the Loire River with friends. It was the perfect way to spend my second to last day in my small French town.

London Calling

Just as I did exactly five years ago on April 22nd, I boarded a plane to London. This time, however, I was leaving from France, not Vancouver. Flying across the Channel, I was just as excited as five years ago because this time I was meeting my mom in London and it was her first time in Europe.

Walking down into the Tube on my way to the hotel after the better part of a year not taking public transit, I felt like I was facing David Shrigley's Underground knot. Fortunately I made it, and as an expert transit rider the knot quickly unravelled.

It was really good to be in London again, and it was such a great city to visit with my mom. Over the weekend we were there we had such lovely summer-like weather that we walked nearly everywhere we went and enjoyed London's many parks. We saw all the essential London sights, like Big Ben and the Tower of London. Passing by Westminster Abbey and Buckingham Palace we saw the camera crews setting up for the royal wedding.

Where the camera crews were across from Buckingham Palace
If you followed my London postcard challenge, you know that I was in London twice (because my mom flew in and out of London). My second trip to London consisted of seeing the friends I have in the city and visiting several of the great museums here, including the National Gallery and Tate Modern.

London is a great city. I find London to have a very similar feel to Vancouver, partially because of its Asian influences and similar weather. I felt at home away from home. I can't wait to go back, hopefully as part of a trip including Scotland and Ireland.

Music Map

I love maps and music. So how cool is this map of New York made out of Regina Spektor lyrics made by artist Francesca Pasini? Read more about its creation here.

You might also like:

• Typographic Maps
• Map Quilts

Where Am I? Berlin & Prague

You guessed it: I was in Berlin and Prague!

Berlin, formerly divided into East and West Berlin, could be said to have a split personality. Evidence of the divisions is still evident and some say there are still two Germanys.

Prague was once part of Czechoslovakia, which ceased to exist after the revolutions of 1989 when it underwent the “Velvet Divorce” in 1993. Prague’s Spring 1968 marked an uprising of the people against the government, which was violently put down.

For this contest I have a postcard for each city. Congratulations to Andrew and Mandy and Ali! Email me your address and I will send your postcard along.

The last postcard challenge of my European trip will be next week so stay tuned for your last chance to win snail mail from me before I go so stay tuned!

The World Going by my Window

This is the view from the window of the train between Chartres and Paris. The luxury of travelling by train is the scenery. Fittingly, the Beatle’s lyrics “Keeping an eye on the world go by my window” (I’m only Sleeping) always pops into my head when I’m gazing out the train window.

On a different note, I’ve noticed that these fields of yellow flowers are growing all over France and Europe. I saw fields of them again tonight en route from city 1 to city 2. I have no idea what they are, but they seem to be grown as a crop. Any guesses?

Where Am I? Postcard Challenge #11

Tomorrow I’m leaving on a trip in which I’ll visit two cities over six days. Here are the clues for this second to last postcard challenge:

1. The first city could be said to have a split personality, East and West.

2. Only fragments of the "dividing line" remain in this first city. Bonus: What is the dividing line?

3. "Eich ben ein..." Bonus: Complete the phrase and who spoke it?

4. The second city was formerly part of a country that ceased to exist in 1989.

5. Spring 1968 had particular importance in this second city. Bonus: Why?

6. Good King Wenceslas was a resident of this second city.

Think you know where I am going? Leave your answer in the comments below! To add a new twist to this challenge, I’ll add your name to the draw an extra time for each bonus you answer correctly (i.e. you have the opportunity to have your name in the draw 3 times). You have until May 14 at 5:00pm (CEST) to guess.

Good luck!

Where Am I? London!

You guessed it: I was in London!

1. William the Conqueror vanquished London in 1066.

2. Six-hundred years later the city nearly burnt down in the Great Fire of London of 1666.

3. The knot is a reference to the London Underground, art by David Shrigley that adorned a map of the Tube.

4. Big Ben is actually the name of the bell, not the clock tower. Nevertheless it is a big deal as one of London's main attractions.

5. The royal wedding, which I’m sure was referred to by media as a fairy tale, was the event I missed both times I was in London.

Congratulations to Rachelle! Email me your mailing address and I'll send your postcard! Thank you to everyone who played!

I can’t wait to tell you about my two trips to London, but I’m leaving on my next trip tomorrow, so I have my second to last postcard challenge for you!

Juggling Suitcases

I recently re-watched Wes Anderson's The Darjeeling Limited. One thing that amazed me was that despite travelling with several suitcases, the Whitman brothers managed to avoid losing a single one; that is, until the end when they decide to throw away their cares and abandon their excess baggage (now how's that for a metaphor)?

I have been travelling with my mom around France for the past week while running the extended postcard challenge. We have been travelling with two large, heavy suitcases (one of which my mom is kindly bringing back home for me) and a small suitcase. At times, managing three suitcases has left me feeling kind of felt like the Whitman brothers, only I wish it was as easy as it looked for them.

All of this is to say that I can't wait to fill you in on my three weeks of travels.

If you haven't already, you can still play in postcard challenge #10. The second to last postcard challenge will follow immediately afterward next week. With the postcard challenge coming up on a dozen, I'm wondering about how to keep it fresh. Any suggestions? What if I told you where I'm going and asked you to tell me an interesting fact about that city? What do you think? I'd love feedback.

(image via imDb)