Week in Review x 2: Paris and London

It's been quite busy the past two weeks across the pond. The weekend of the 20th was spent in Paris, enjoying some sight seeing, French cuisine, and nightlife. The rest of the time, I've been in London - working hard and relaxing when I'm not. Here are a few highlights from the past two weeks:

• Hosting more guests - Lizzy and Rachel stayed with me for a couple days as they begin a European tour. Lizzy is my brother's girlfriend's sister.
  
• Hosting another guest - Frank Cardinale, a friend I met working in Milwaukee, visited from May 17-29. While in Europe, Frank visited Paris and family back in Turino, Italy.

• Weekend trip to Paris. Visit included a trip to the Musee d'Orsay (think Renior, Monet, Manet, Matisse, Picasso, etc) - http://www.musee-orsay.fr/en/home.html;

• Visiting the grave site of legendary pop icon Jim Morrison in Père-Lachaise cemetary (http://www.pere-lachaise.com/perelachaise.php?lang=enlachaise.com/perelachaise.php?lang=en);


• Eating steak tartare at a restaurant near the Eiffel Tower;
  
• Getting into see a French rapper at a posh hip hop club.
  

• Buying tickets to the IRB Sevens World Rugby Series at Twickenham last Saturday. I'd be lying if I didn't admit to having a few too many drinks. http://www.irbsevens.com/EN/England/News/070423+SL+eng+draw.htm

That should get us all caught back up. It's been quite busy at work the past couple weeks, with some major deadlines fast approaching. To see some sights through my eyes, be sure to check out my photos at http://public.fotki.com/raggett/.

It would never happen to you...

It would never happen to you. You're too American. You're too old. You're too set in your ways. Nonsense, things like that only happen to children that don't know any better.

It would never happen to you. It's too British, too foreign, and far too cliche.

Then, one day, you catch yourself in the act - a slip of the tonge, a Freudian slip, must be a joke. Then again... and again. It's in your words, the way you speak, your clothes, your food, your drink, your think. You catch yourself more and more often in ways you never thought imaginable. Before you know it, the exception becomes the norm. You're off to grab your kit for some footie, then out for a few pints with your mates, getting proper pissed, and, eventually, you're just knackered.

Make fun if you want. Honestly, though, it's so tough to avoid. The trip home is going to be an interesting one...

London Calling - Brent's last day

This morning, Mr. Behrens checked out of Hotel Brian en route to Kansas City. I'm happy to say his last day in London was a memorable one, though. We spent the majority of the day sightseeing, before a night on the town. We made three stops, Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey and the Tower of London. The changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace is quite the spectacle. I'd never realized just how involved the whole process is. In all, probably 100 British military were involved in the daily ceremony. My only suggestion - get there early if you want good pictures. We arrived about 10:45 for the 11:30 changing of the guard and still didn't get very good pics of the whole ordeal.

Westminster Abbey, home to every British coronation since the 11th century, was good to see. I won't tell you it's the most exciting place to visit, but definitely full of history. The tombs of Geoffrey Chaucer, Henry III, Edward I, Elizabeth I, and Mary Queen of Scots all lie in the Abbey. Beyond the history, the priests and monks there continue to run the active church and monastery.

Last, I hereby declare the Tower of London the best London museum I've been to so far. The fortress can claim it houses the infamous Crown Jewels, is guarded by real English Beefeaters, and jailed some of England's most famous inmates through the Middle Ages. The jewels are amazing, but the torture museum and armory are quite impressive as well. My favorite part has to be the Yeoman (Beefeaters) and actors in midieval garb.

Trip to Dublin and Wicklow County, Ireland

Hello again - This post is long overdue, and will be immediately followed by another. Last weekend, Brent and I headed west for Ireland. The idea was to make a quick tour of Dublin and some of the surrounding area. Upon arriving on Saturday morning, we quickly found what Dublin has to offer - pubs, pubs, the occasional Irishman, and more pubs. We stayed near Temple Bar (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temple_Bar,_Dublin), Dublin's notorious bar district chock full of tourists, stag parties, crowds, and street vendors. We spent the day touring Dublin, including a trip to Trinity College and the Book of Kells (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Book_of_Kells). Although Dublin seemed wonderful, we were left wanting more.

Enter Sunday, we took a day tour through Wicklow County, the Wicklow mountains, and Glendalough (http://www.wicklow.com/glendalough/). The Irish mountains, countryside, and rural hospitality was everything I dreamnt it would be. The beauty of the landscape lived up to the hype, and proved greener than anywhere I'd ever seen before. The lakes, mountains, rural roads, streams, and tiny towns were amazing. It was good to get out of over-crowded Dublin for a day of fresh air. Rural Ireland seemed the type of place you live for a long time. The last stop on our tour was Glendalough (Glen - da - lock), home of a monastery dating to the 11th century.

So, back in Dublin on Monday for one last day. We did the only logical thing to do - tour the infamous Guiness Storehouse. We encountered a few obstacles on our Monday morning quest for Guiness. The first was waking up. Our Sunday night was spent in an authentic Irish pub (off the beaten path of Temple Bar). Being the only Americans in the pub, we were quickly inundated with Irish hospitality, song, and the pints of drink that go with it. That said, it took some time to find the Guiness Storehouse. The tour was good, but the best part was the 360 degree view and pint of fresh Guiness at the top. To my surprise, the beer was cold and tasted exactly as it does in London, Kansas City, and everywhere else I've had one.

For pictures, check my Fotki site - http://public.fotki.com/raggett/.

Now Open: Hotel Brian

I'm happy to announce the first in a series of guests to stay at Hotel Brian. Brent Behrens, hailing from Mission, Kansas arrived at about 7:30 on Thursday, the 3rd of May. He's made a 12 day reservation at Hotel Brian and will visit London, Dublin, and Paris in that timeframe.

Brent and I traveled to Dublin and Wicklow county, Ireland this past weekend (Dublin post to follow shortly). Be sure to check the photos of the country side when you get a chance. http://public.fotki.com/raggett/