Portland, Oregon-August 2009

I just love to travel and be on vacation and, once again, I had a great time in Oregon. There are quality restaurants, cultural sites, nature parks, and lots of artsy things to see. My favorite thing was that within an hour, give or take, you can be hiking at Multinomah Falls, Mt. Hood, and Mt. St. Helens, or just taking it easy at Cannon Beach or elsewhere on the coast. I felt like there was way too much to see in a week. I'll just have to go back!

My "base camp" was in Portland at the Red Lion, Janzen Beach (still not sure where the "beach" was...) on the Columbia River. A good hotel not a bad location if you will be renting a car. It is about 20 minutes to downtown Portland via car. Now that I'm more familiar with the area, next time I would stay at a neighborhood B&B. There are some cool hotels downtown but they are not for those traveling on a budget. If you opt to stay downtown, make sure the hotel has free parking. Every street has fee based parking usually with a 1hr limit. It's a bummer.


Highlights:

Washington Park: International Rose Test Garden/Japanese Garden/Hoyt Arboretum-I didn't go but there is also the Zoo, Forestry Center, Holocaust Memorial and other attractions in this nature-lovers haven. Tons of tall evergreens everywhere. All together, the area covers about 130 acres. There are plenty of walking paths and much of it is free. There is a fee for the Japanese Garden but it was a very peaceful stroll through this traditional garden. You may consider parking by the zoo and taking a bus to the top where the gardens are because parking can be tricky here.

Multinomah Falls-This is one of the tallest year round falls in the US. Mesmerizing liquid drops over 600ft from the top of the cliff. You can also follow it's path above the falls and into the mountains. There is a steep trail from the bottom of the falls to the top. I also continued hiking past the top of the falls to follow the stream bed upward. It is strenuous going up and you need good shoes for the way down as it's steep. If I saw one more person wearing flip flops on the way down, I was going to yell at them for their poor foot atire. This place gets packed so get there early.

Mt. Hood-We drove from Multinomah Falls, through the Columbia Gorge, and around Mt. Hood. You can spend days alone exploring the scenic beauty of this area and hiking opportunities are in abundance.

Mt. St. Helen's-It is amazing to see the destruction made by the eruption of Mt. St. Helens almost 30 years ago. However, new life is covering the mud and ash. Planted noble fir trees and wildflowers and grasses have covered most of the landscape. I was just able to make out the rim, crater, and cone from Johnston Ridge as it was rainy and cloudy that day. Don't forget to watch out for Bigfoot and stop at the gift shop where he stands tall.

Cannon Beach-At least stop there to see the "Haystack". It is one of the most well known geological features of the Pacific Northwest plus it is just plain beautiful and mysterious. The town itself is very touristy with expensive shops and galleries. I suggest checking out other beaches along the coast if you want to just relax or check out one of the many hiking trails. The coast is stunning and a must see. And make sure your gas tank is full! No gas station at Cannon Beach so we had to drive on and almost ran out.

Portland Classical Chinese Garden-Imagine gardens and ponds scattered with traditional Chinese-style buildings surrounded by 4 walls. It is a peaceful oasis in downtown Portland. If you have the chance to visit, make sure to have tea and a snack at the teahouse. The building is beautiful an you can challenge yourself by drinking a cup of fine tea the Chinese way!

Mother's Bistro and Bar-You must try this place for some gourmet, home-style cooking. I wish we had a chance to go back for dinner as their breakfast was phenomenal. My friend had the Stuffed Frittata and I had the Wild Salmon Hash. Check out their online menu.

Kennedy School-Those McMenamin brothers really have some great ideas having opened up several hotels and breweries around the vicinity of Portland. This particular jewel is an old school transformed into a hotel and brewery with banquet rooms, restaurants, a movie theater, and a great beer garden where I enjoyed sampling their fine assortment of micro brews. The food was good and our waiter was quite a character.

Portland Saturday Market: If you want a souvenir, don't get a "I heart Portland" t-shirt. Instead, go to the Saturday Market and pick out something unique from one of the 100+ local artists and craftspeople. You can get original artwork, jewelry, glassware, ceramics, clothing, etc. Most of the wares are hand crafted and some are even made from recycled materials. Oh, and tie dye doesn't appear to be dead in Portland! It also has a festive air with street performers and an impressive variety of healthy fair type food. I had a delicious falafel pita.

Recommended Books: 60 hikes in 60 Miles, Secret Portland

The Race to Mackinac-July 18, 2009

I have to say that Lake Michigan makes Chicago. It is the 3rd largest freshwater lake in the world and supplies our drinking water. It can be treacherous (as many ships sitting on the lake bed could tell you) with heavy seas from severe storms that sweep across her waters. Storms can create dangerous rip currents on the opposite side of the lake and can be deadly to swimmers. Severe storms don't only happen in the summer. A "November Gale" in 1913 produced 90 mph winds, waves over 35 feet high, and whiteout snow squalls. And in the winter, ice sheets migrate around the lake. "Lake effect" dumps tons of snow on the folks across the lake in Michigan and sometimes Chicago. But in the summer, Chicagoans enjoy gazing at her clear, deep, blue waters or boating, fishing, and swimming opportunities. It can also be a 10-20 degree reprieve from 90+ degree inland temperatures

There are many harbors and events around the lake and the summer months draw mariners from around the country. One such event that attracts hundreds of participants and spectators, is the annual Race to Mackinac. This year, 350 boats participated. This 333 mile freshwater race has been going on for 101 years. The trek from Chicago, IL to Mackinac Island, MI is one of the longest in the world.

Quirky weather in the Midwest? Of course! There were no storms but sailors were afflicted with calm winds on Sunday afternoon. One boat actually had to anchor for a few hours to keep from moving backwards! The race typically lasts around 48 hours (fastest boats) but due to the lack of wind, the first boat to cross the finish line was Monday after around 60 hours of sailing.

There are many opportunities to get yourself in a boat and out on the lake. Check the local park districts (Chicago, Evanston, Wilmette, Lake Bluff, etc.) and marinas for classes in sailing, windsurfing, kayaking, etc. The Discovery Center offers sailing lessons. There are architectural boat tours along the Chicago River that also do shoreline cruises. You can catch a lunch or dinner cruise off of Navy Pier too. See my link list to the right under "Chicago Area Stuff" for ideas. If anyone has any tours or classes that they enjoy, please let me know!

Creativity Fair at the Wild Tree Cafe-Evanston, IL

The Wild Tree Cafe in Evanston hosted several artists, including myself, at this summer's Creativity Fair. It was my very first public appearance showing my artwork. I appreciate the overwhelming turnout of my family and friends who stopped by to show their support. I also enjoyed speaking to all the passerby's who commented on my work or just came to look. Thanks to Ivy and the folks at Wild Tree for having us!

Moraine Hills St. Park-Bike Trails

Summer is finally here, sort of...Chicago has been unusually cool and rainy. Luckily I caught one of the few days in which the weather was decent to do a little riding at Moraine Hills State Park. The park is located in McHenry, IL about a 1 hr cruise northwest of Chicago.

Unlike most state parks, there is no camping here. There are however, several miles of scenic, hilly bike trails. There is a nice mix of open prairie and oak woodlands. You can also picnic or throw a line in at Lake Defiance. There is a concession stand there for worms and things. Also, a little further down the road you can ride or drive your vehicle to fish at McHenry Dam along the Fox River. Although, I'm not sure if I'd want to eat anything that came out of the Fox River anymore, but...maybe I'm just fussy :-).

There are people (mainly from Wisconsin) that call Chicagoans "flatlanders". Yes, because Wisconsin is so mountainous (ha ha)...Well the reason most of Illinois is flat and Chicago is only about 579 feet above sea level is glaciation. To put it simply, about 10,000 years ago, the last of the glaciers receded from this area. They literally carved and flattened the landscape leaving behind deposits of boulders, rock, and gravel as they receded. These deposits are called moraines and kames. That is how we have this wonderfully hilly area in an otherwise "flat as a board" landscape.

The Chicago Botanic Garden-Spring

Finally! The brown, muted, dismal remnants of winter have passed and everything is bursting forth with new life. A great place to view the arrival of spring is the Chicago Botanic Garden. It is the beginning of the season so not all of the gardens are in full swing. However, it is a pleasure to see the colorful spring flowers after months of snow and gray. There were very impressive displays of tulips, the magnolia trees were blooming, and I enjoyed the Japanese gardens filled with various flowers and conifers.

The Chicago Horticultural Society, who assisted in lakeshore and park improvements, was given 300 acres of land in 1963. For several years they worked on the Gardens and opened to the public in 1972. Today the Garden is 365 acres featuring 23 display gardens and 3 native habitats. They have held true to their mission which focuses on collections, education, and research. They also have several volunteer, community, and educational programs.

The Gardens are essentially islands surrounded by the Skokie Lagoon waterway. By damming up the Skokie river to control flooding, the lagoons were created in the 30's, I believe. Today many people canoe, kayak, and fish in these waters. There is an extensive bike trail that runs around it as well. Twice I road from Caldwell woods to the lagoons (as a child with my father and last year). It is about 12 miles each way. It is also $20 to get into the Gardens with a car but free if you ride in and lock up your bike. I suggest parking at the main recreation area of the Skokie Lagoons and ride your bike to the Gardens. Everyone needs to save some cash these days!

Day 10: Hampton Court Palace, London Night Life

It was back home the next day with my final day spent at Hampton Court Palace and the evening spent with Rupesh, my local guide.

I hopped on the train from Waterloo (London) station to Hampton Court. It took about 40 minutes. Once there, I wandered through the palace. It has 2 different architectural styles: Tudor and Baroque. You can see the transition, as they added wings throughout the centuries, while moving through the three main "squares" of the palace. I chuckled while standing inside the "Queens Closet". This was actually a parlor (twice the size of my apartment!) in which the queen's most trusted relations would have tea. There are many wonderful paintings and tapestries inside the palace as well. But again, no photography (I wouldn't have used a flash!). Sigh...

There are acres of gardens surrounding the palace with rose gardens, formal gardens, mazes, you name it. If only I was there in the summer (another sigh). I imagine it is quite spectacular. Check out their website for summer flower show dates. I bet they are wonderful.

I arrived back in London in time to meet Rupesh at Leicester Square. Our first stop was Waxy O'Connor's which was (still is) the coolest pub I've ever been in (and I've been to a few :-)). It is a maze of wood-carved finery with several floors and half floors, bars, and lofts to sit in including a room with a tree in the middle. How cool is that! If you enjoy good beer and conversation, this is the place as it wasn't too loud. Check out the virtual tour of this pub under my travel links. It's hard to put into words but stepping into the past comes to mind. Tell me about you favorite pubs.

After a few pints, we headed off to a swanky Indian restaurant where I had only my 2nd best meal of the entire trip (the first being when Rupesh took me to a Thai place at the beginning of my trip). The food was served tapas-style so I just had him pick whatever he thought was good while I sipped a Cobra. I have to say, everything was so delicious and tasty. It beat fish and chips any day!

Well I had to say "Ta Ta" to London but I'm sure I'll be back to check out other parts of England in the future. It was fun and challenging travelling alone to a foreign country. Some people thought I was odd to do so. But I really believe it is very important to get out and see the world if you have the opportunity. It will enrich your life and help you see things in a new way. You may have heard or seen these words before: Dream it, Plan it, Do it! I believe in these words. Give it a try!

Day 9: Back to London/The Globe Theater

I took the train from Bournemouth back to London and checked in at the Westminster Hotel. Didn't have the charm of a nice B&B but it was clean and in London, not the outskirts. There was also a nice view of a city garden. I'm not sure what they are called there but it is a fenced-in, private area with flowers and trees for the tenants of that specific building/property.

Being that it was my 2nd to last full day in England, I had to hit The Globe Theater. It is a must see for enthusiasts of the Elizabethan/Shakespearean age. This is a replica Globe built by hand with Elizabethan tools using documentation, drawings, and the archaeological remains of the Rose Theater. It took 10 years to complete and is the only structure, in London, that has and is licensed to have a thatched roof (it does have a hidden sprinkler system).

I'm typically not one for tours as I like to wander at my own pace but I am glad I decided to take one of the Globe. The guides were very animated, knowledgeable, and entertaining. I learned tons of "fun facts" about the theater-goers of Shakespeare's day. If you weren't able to afford a bench seat, you were standing on the main floor at the foot of the stage in the center of all the seats around you. Let's call it the pit. Apparently the pit was also the loo. Yes folks, that means the toilet. There was much drinking and rowdyness at these productions that lasted for several hours. If you had to go out of theater to relieve yourself, then you had to pay another admission fee to get back in. Well many people could barely afford to get in as it was and others didn't want to miss anything and there was this nice dirt floor...you get the picture.

Imagine the stench wafting around from the pit coupled with the fact that most people only bathed at Christmas and Easter (it's said the Queen bathed monthly). Additionally, people would chew on gloves of garlic to "ward of illness". Yuuuuck! No wonder Queen Elizabeth remained a virgin!

The Hiking Map

Pretty simple but it really helped. I had no problem finding my way. Thanks Mark!

Day 8: Bournemouth-Studland and Old Harry

Remember I nixed my plans to visit Cornwall? Well I still felt the desire to visit the coast (any coast at this point) . I decided that Bournebouth looked like a good place as I was able to find a direct train ride to there from Salisbury. It wasn't too far from Salisbury either plus there was a direct route back to London. I was hoping for some solitude and nature time.

I took a cab from the train to my abode for the night at the Urban Beach Hotel. I made a reservation while I was in Salisbury. I had no clue what to expect but this place was great and the staff welcoming. Even the resident cat was friendly and stopped by for a drink. I explained to one of the owners, Mark, that I needed a bit of nature time. He was very helpful and drew me a map, gave me bus navigation directions, and sent me on my way to visit "Old Harry".

After about 45 minutes of bus travel, I took the ferry across Poole Harbor to Studland. The ferry dumped me off on a desolate strip of sand. The cars went off and there I was...all alone. It was great! I began walking along the empty beach and waaaay in the distance, I saw a couple of
disembodied lumps of land. Must be Old Harry.

Along the shore, over some hills, and through quaint farmsteads and thatched cottages, I reached the end of the road. About 100 feet straight down was the sea (be very careful here, near the edge, especially in high wind). Along the coast, you can see the exposed chalk. Old Harry is a grassy-haired rock formation that separated from the mainland as water found a fissure and eroded the rock.

I could have explored farther along the shore but it was getting late and I wasn't quite sure how I was getting back. If I haven't said so before, everyone that I asked directions for in England was very helpful. I found and older man and his cute lab who directed me to a bus stop that would take me back to the ferry. I longingly looked at the cozy Banker's Arms Inn which had it's own micro brewery and sullenly headed to the bus stop. Good thing too because the last bus was at 6 and it was about 5:50 when I got there!

It was already dark, sometime after 7, when I finally walked through the front door of the Urban Beach Hotel. Mark was there and asked me if I was "nackered". I thought he said "naked"! Gotta love the language barrier! Yes, I was extremely nackered and in need of a meal and a beer! It was a great day though and one of my favorite of the whole trip.

Days 6&7: Salisbury and Stonehenge

I left Glastonbury and hopped a bus and a train to get to Salisbury. I made a reservation in advance for the Rokeby Guest House in Salisbury. Another very nice hotel with a wonderful breakfast! The main, historic part of town was only about a 15 minute walk from the hotel.

Since it was a travel day, my plan was to check out town and go to Stonehenge the following day. It was rather gloomy, cold, and it seemed to be reflected in the town of Salisbury that day. I wasn't very impressed with it. I stress that it could have just been my mood. The real reason I was there was to see Stonehenge. Plus, I think I was getting a bit lonely, one of the cons of traveling alone and with no iPod! Must have music...

The Salisbury Cathedral is the tallest (still standing) in the UK. The outside of the church is pretty impressive, sporting a spire of 404 feet. Unfortunately, I missed the tour that took you to the top of the spire via stairs. An example of why not to "wing it". The inside has it's moments but...it was no Westminster or Cologne Cathedral (Germany). I found it disappointing that many of the sculptures and sarcophagi where defaced. I felt that the cathedral was unkempt and had a run-down feel.

The following day, I caught the bus, in the main part of town, to Stonehenge. It was only about a 1/2 hour ride. How weird to see Stonehenge in the distance. It was almost surreal. I mean it's one of the 7 Wonders of the Medieval World erected over 4500 years ago (about 2500 BC) and many people in the world have seen pictures or at least heard of it.

Walking around the stones, I was filled with wonder and awe at the mystery of the place. It's hard to describe but I sensed a deep quiet, stillness from the circle of stones. Another moment when I wished I could go back in time and see why, how, and to what purpose it was built. I also need to go back again when I can sit and absorb what I'm seeing-the wind was terribly cold (surprise)! I was so mad for not bringing a winter jacket. Don't ever rely on weather.com! Keep in mind and plan ahead: you can't walk into the circle of stones without an appointment (and about 40 bucks). I definitely recommend visiting this historic site.

Day 5: Glastonbury (Glastonbury Abbey/Chalice Well)

Imagine walking along in a small English town, surrounded by farms and rolling hills, and coming upon a walled park with the ruins of medieval structures jutting up from the grass. Glastonbury Abbey is a Historic Site and takes up several acres in the middle of town. The Abbey is shrouded in mystery: Were King Arthur and Queen Guinevere buried here? Did Joseph of Arimathea bring Jesus here? Was the Tor (seen from the Abbey) part of the mystical Avalon? Hmmm...unless Dr. Who whisks me away in the Tardis, I guess we'll never know for sure.

In the afternoon, I just made it in time to visit another historic site attached to the legend of King Arthur: Chalice Well. It is said that the well was around for two thousand years and is a place of healing. Rumor has it the Holy Grail was buried here. You can pay a couple pounds for a souvenir bottle and fill it up with water from the well. I have my little bottle in the fridge still. It is a tranquil place place with gardens, orchards, fountains, and of course, the Well itself.

Glastonbury is a very interesting, diverse place with a twist of goth, dash of hippie, and a pinch of religious zealotry to make it a just a little creepy. The main part of town itself is only a few blocks long. The shops are a mix of religious, metaphysical, occult, and other odds and ends including little green men. The best part was that most people seemed to be laid back and accepting of the eclectic mix of folks inhabiting the town. I loved it! I can't wait to go back someday, but in warmer weather!

Day 4: Glastonbury (Glastonbury Tor)

Over the hills (via British rail to Bristol) and through the woods (via the #376 bus) to Glastonbury I went...By the way, make sure to use the luggage racks on the buses going through the country. It's a bit hilly and luggage tends to "dance around". I amused other travelers by chasing mine down a couple of times.

I arrived in Glastonbury in the midst of a downpour. I wandered around in the rain a bit searching for the B&B I made reservations for. Upon asking directions in a pub, I found the
"No 1 Park Terrace". And let me tell you this place is #1 in my book. It was like heaven. The owners were very friendly, the room was cozy and spotless, the breakfast was great (made to order) and it was nice and quiet. I was relieved!

After I settled my things in my room, I decided to hit the pavement and walk up to the Glastonbury Tor. It was about 1-2 miles from my hotel to the top of the Tor. The wind was picking up and the temperature dropped significantly from when I arrived just an hour before. I began to get pelted with ice as the wind whipped sleet into my face. I couldn't help but smile despite the weather because I was in Glastonbury one of the legendary places of King Arthur.

A "tor" is a weathered rock outcrop or a top of a hill/high point of a landscape. The Glastonbury Tor would have been a strategic military position because you really can see for miles and miles and miles from all angles. It was quite a site because the sun broke through the clouds as I reached the top of the Tor. I could see rain/snow shafts and dark clouds in some areas while rays of sunlight shone through other clouds. Water droplets shone like diamonds in the afternoon sun and the grass was so very green. I could have stayed there all day if it wasn't for the cold and the wind was threatening to tear me off the hill!

Chicago: St. Paddy's Weekend 2009

St. Patrick's Day (Saturday 3/14) in Chicago: Watch the Plumbers Union dye the Chicago River green (er...greener), enjoy the Northside St. Patrick's Day Parade on Saturday (The Southside parade is on Sunday), and hang out with friends at an Irish pub in the evening. There are plenty of good Irish Pubs in Chicago where you can enjoy good food and a pint any time of year.

Things are starting to happen in Chicago as everyone is awakening from hibernation. After a long, drawn-out, miserable, cold, winter, St. Paddy's Day is a true marker that spring is on it's way. So whether or not you are Irish, it is a good thing to celebrate this holiday and the coming of spring!

Slainte!

Stay tuned for the rest of my 2007 journey in England.

Day 3: St. Paddy's Day

I actually have no pictures from this day so here are a couple from the previous day. I suppose I wore myself out the first couple of days and was perhaps a bit jet-lagged because I slept until about 10am. I wandered over to a local grocery store (great way to save money) to pick up some lunch. On the way, I stopped in at an internet cafe (you can find many throughout London) that was more of a shack. I think it was about 2 pounds for a 1/2 hour so not bad. I wanted to make sure I new where I was going to catch the train to Glastonbury the next morning.

Being that it was St. Paddy's Day, one of my favorite holidays, I just had to go out and celebrate a bit. There were some parades and things during the day which I sadly missed. But I did have my own personal guide for the evening, a Londoner that my friend had met on one of her business trips.

I was to meet my guide in Leicester Square at Starbucks (don't try and order an iced tea). I had time to kill so I wandered around the square which is considered the theater district: movie theaters, playhouses, and tons of souvenir shops. I got lost in what I thought was a mall (I was looking for a warmer jacket: English springs are like Chicago, unpredictable). It turned out to be a multi-level arcade that was loud and packed with boisterous teens and kids running around.

Finally it was time to meet my guide. Let me tell you how great it is to know a local when you visit another country. He knew where all the good pubs were. Unfortunately, many of the Irish pubs were packed (lines out the door) so we didn't get to hear any live traditional Irish music as I had hoped. Most of the places where playing American music, stuff I would never listen to (Bryan Adams, the Village People, and bad 80's pop). That part was horribly disappointing. I mean all the great bands that came out of England and I was stuck with this junk (no offense to anyone who likes it)...But completely overshadowing that was a wonderful evening filled with great conversation, much laughter (especially poking at each other's accents), and good beer.

The final pub of the night was Porterhouse. Really cool atmosphere. It was like being inside a ship of sorts with brass piping and wood. They had tons of different beers but was a bit packed. We ended the evening at a Thai restaurant (pubs close by 11PM!). I have to say it was the best meal I had so far. As you may have heard, the English are not renowned for their food. On my first night, being the American that I am, I ordered a cheeseburger. It was barely cooked, grisly, with grease oozing out of it. Yum!

Day 2: Buckingham Palace, Big Ben/Westminster Palace, Westminster Abbey

If you like to walk, you will enjoy this little tour I made up by "winging it". I'm sure it is listed in a walking guide too. From Buckingham Palace to Parliament, it will take all day at a leisurely pace.

I exited the tube at Green Park. Nice walk through there: tall sycamore trees bordered on one end by mansions. Upon leaving the park, you are greeted with a huge fountain: Victoria Monument. Beyond that, Buckingham Palace. I spent a good hour taking photos of the fountain's many statues and reliefs. The changing of the guard at the Palace was canceled that day so you may want to check ahead before planning your outing.

I moved on across the road to St. James Park. It was a nice, sunny spring day. The trees where in bloom with spring flowers and red-billed ducks were swimming in the lagoon. This is a great place to sit, eat lunch, and reflect upon your visit to London (or whatever). I brought some food with me. There is a cafe on the far end but it was expensive and packed.

You can see the London Eye (Millennium Wheel) and the dome of St. Paul's Cathedral from St. James Park. I figured that would be a good place to head off to. It was so exciting to be wandering around London, I have to say. Everything is so well marked. As I was walking I happened upon signs pointing which way to go to Westminster Abbey. Great! Because that is where I wanted to end up. It is also a good idea to have a map with you at all times though. It's easy to get turned around especially after exiting the tube.

I came upon Big Ben and Westminster Palace where Parliament is held. Wow! It was a jaw dropper. The place is so historical and massive plus you see Big Ben all the time associated with London. I walked the length of it, staring with my mouth open.

As great as this whole England trip was, I can say with certainty that this day was one of the trip's highlights. And of this day's highlights, Westminster Abbey shined the brightest. You have to see this place! You don't have to be a Christian or even remotely spiritual to enjoy and revere the beauty of this structure. From Queen Elizabeth's tomb, to the cathedral ceilings that went up at least 100' (outside towers about 225'), to the fact that they started building this thing almost 1000 years ago, gave me the chills. This place was built all by hand: every nook and cranny, piece of wood and stone, was carved by hand. With our modern technology and machines, nothing like this has been built. To me, it's simply stunning!

My first day in London: Tower of London, Beefeater, Tower Bridge

My first stop was the Tower of London. I walked up and out of the tube station (Tower Hill stop) and there it was: This medieval, walled city surrounded by modern day London and bordered by the Thames.

There is plenty to see here: The White Tower, The Crown Jewels, The Ravens, Medieval Palace, etc. They also have an armory, "The Royal Armories", which has a separate admission. I had no idea until I was getting ready to leave. I had been up for almost 24 hours and had not eaten since breakfast. I just couldn't go on without some grub. If anyone has been to the armory, I'd like to hear what I missed and what you liked about it.

Also, don't forget to take a tour with one of the Beefeaters! You pay a bit extra for a tour at the time of admission. They know the history of the tower like the back of their hand and they are pretty entertaining too!

This is my room?

I booked this room before I left for London because it was only 44 pounds a night. Do NOT stay at the Amhurst Hotel. Not only is it a good 30-40 minute tube ride from the main part of London (say Covent Gardens) plus a 10 minute bus ride, it was dumpy, and the safety of the neighborhood was questionable. Luckily I had only booked 3 nights there as I was moving on to Glastonbury.

I can deal with using a communal privy and shower (that was relatively clean except for the hairy tub incident) but when you give me a blanket that has the consistency of sandpaper and is coated with coarse dark hairs of some sort and questionable brown stains, we got problems...
I got a "cleaner" blanket from the guy who I paid who looked at me like I was insane when I asked for a new one. Maybe I am slightly nuts but I slept in my clothes every night just to be sure I wouldn't get any weird rashes!

If you need to book a room in advance, my advice is to be thorough in researching where you stay. I've read mixed reviews on this place and the pics do not match up with my room. Frankly, I would have been happier in a tent!

My Adventures in England

My very first solo trip ever was to England in March 2007. To share and commemorate the 2 year anniversary of my trip, I will post tidbits from my journey through the end of March.

I was fascinated with England since I was a kid. From Stonehenge to tales of King Arthur to Shakespeare and the Renaissance, I was hooked on the mystery of what was "across the pond".

So with a proverbial "kick in the rear" from a very close friend, I purchased a plane ticket and that was that! With less than three months to plan, I was a bit uncertain with what my sudden burst of spontaneity had gotten me into. But there was no turning back now...

My same friend, after spending several months there, advised me on places to see in London. This was extremely helpful. Planning any trip overseas takes a lot of time. Oddly though, everything seemed to fall into place. Other than London, I new I wanted to go to Glastonbury, Stonehenge, and see some coastline.

I also planned on going to Cornwall which I had to abandon after I got there. I discovered it was a trip on it's own and 10 days was not enough. I then adopted the "wing it" approach. Which I would not suggest doing during tourist season. It was March after all so I figured I could get away with it and luckily...I did!

Dragonfly

I made this dragonfly in a children's book illustration class. This piece was made from carving out a linoleum block and can be classified as block printing. Blocks come in various sizes and are carved out using sharp Speedball tips. The tips come in round or v-shaped sizes. Once your image is carved, you roll out the ink with a brayer and press on to paper. For more step by step info, check out http://www.ehow.com/how_11981_carve-linoleum-block.html.