[Contiki Euro Discovery] Florence Group Picture

The great experience we had with Contiki would not have been possible if not for the awesome group we were with for 12 days. Here's our group pic, taken in Florence, right in front of the Basilica di Santa Croce. It was nice getting to know each and everyone of these guys.

[Contiki Euro Discovery] Preview

Since I'm blogging anyway, here are some of my favorite pics from our 12-Day Contiki trip. I'm hoping I'll have the blogging energy to post an entry for each day of our tour.

Back to Reality

Today was my first day back in the office. I've been away for officially 25 days. Left on the 3rd and went back to the office today, the 28th. So what was it like?

First of all, I was a tad bit excited to see my projectmates after a month. I haven't heard from them since my vacay started, which leads me to believe they've been doing well (and my transition was pretty ok). I was surprised to find different people in different seats and a slew of fresh new faces. We have expats visiting this week. Mr. Expat distributed his goodies to everyone in the project (all 38 kilos of them), and I shyly put mine away. Haha. They were a lot compared of what I had.

I couldn't help but feel sad, being back. I've quickly gone over and archived my 351 emails. Yas noticed how quiet I've been throughout the day (considerably quiet). Later, we shared some of our sentiments. Right now I guess, my general feeling is sadness. I have that heavy feeling in my heart again (that oh-so-familiar feeling I had left on the 2nd of April, but which quickly came to visit me on one of the days we were on the road to Austria). It's just so much easy to turn my back on this emotional baggage, never to look back, and start anew. A fresh slate. A clean, new start. Perhaps this is what attracts people to immigrate elsewhere. Yas is saying that I'll prolly get my work groove back and will cease feeling this way in a few weeks. This sadness is most likely post-vacay-depression (which I had last 2004, when our Uh_huh2004 trip ended).

This trip has most definitely opened my eyes to the possibilities outside my little world here in Manila. There is sooo much more to see out there. So many more people to meet. But this I have to say. Filipino guys are pretty awesome (generally). Hahaha. They treat girls like ladies and they take care of them (typically, haha!).

I said a prayer at the Notre Dame Cathedral, and Bawani vouched for its likelihood to become true. I've been praying for the same thing for years and years now. Karina said that perhaps in God's time. I've had a thought that maybe it's been right in front of me all this time, and I just haven't seized it. Oh well. I think I'll know it when I see it.

Back from the tour

Bonjour! We just got back from our 12 day Contiki tour. OMG. Where to begin?? Words just fail me. It was an awesome, awesome experience. Thanks to the great sights and the wonderful people we met. I will be posting my pictures. I honestly thought I wouldn't be able to fill out the 2GB SD card on my digicam. But no. I was mistaken. Anyway, will post pics soon. I honestly don't feel like going home yet (and going back to work/reality).

Prego!

Edinburgh, Scotland Part 3

On our last day in Edinburgh, we relished the breakfast which came with our B&B. We again ordered the full Scottish breakfast which consisted of sausage, eggs, and toast. I love our B&B. It was uber homey, exactly how I'd imagined B&Bs to be. Joanna, the owner has been really helpful and warm.






I mailed my postcard to Miss Bausas!



Just before we got on the National Railway train back to London, Rommel and I stopped by the Royal Galleries of Scotland, where they showcased several great pieces of art.




Right outside the gallery, we took our last pictures with the castle on the hill, Edinburgh Castle.



We also ran into a Scotsman, merrily playing his bagpipes.



Bye bye Scotland. It was lovely to have met you in Edinburgh (pronounced as Edin-bur-roh).

Edinburgh, Scotland Part 2

On our second day in Scotland, we went to High Street, on the Old Town, close to the Royal Mile, to meet up with our tour group for the day. The Rabbies Trail Burners. We were a much smaller group (about 16). Our first stop was Stirling Castle. And on the way, our tour guide (a Scot whose name I think is Colin), shared sooo many Scottish stories! He debunked a lot of the Braveheart movie myths.

So here we are with the real Braveheart, Robert the Bruce, in front of Stirling Castle.




Here's me taking a peek. And while Rommel was taking this picture,a group of tourists (who were a little older), were staring at me in amusement. What's so special about these drapes anyway?




After lunch at Aberfoyle, we headed up to Loch Lomond. The scenery was just fantastic. Something out of a story book. The Loch (which is Gaelic for "Lake") was serene. The tour guide said, "So, to those of you with some energy, do join the hike up to Rob Roy's view. It's a tad muddy so be careful of your shoes."

I figured, what the hey? I was stuffed from lunch and a good walk might do me good.



So now, I ask you. Can you put long, nature walks and Schmenten in one sentence? Haha. Not really. So I trudged up the path, my feet eventually getting soaked from the mud. Panted and panted... Until I was at the Rob Roy's view. It was breathtaking. Literally.



In fairness, the walk down was easier because our driver, this super friendly Scottish guy who's toured the world, joined us. He asked us, "Is where you live in the Philippines a city or a country?" Hehe.

On the drive back to Edinburgh, we passed by this stunning view of some of Scotland's Highlands.



Syempre, I didn't pass up this chance to take a pic with our guide in a kilt (not a skirt, haha). These Scots are actually manly men. Even though they're in kilts. Hehe. Our guide was a great story teller! I could have wiki-ed all the info he shared I'm sure. But he told the stories really well.



Back in Edinburgh, Rommel and I checked out the pub scene. At the corner of Rose st. and Castle st. is Hogshead! In Harry Potter, there's a pub with the same name.



In the evening, we settled for dinner at Dirty Dick's (there's even a pub close to this one called "Filthy McNasty's"). We each had a pint of ale and we shared a plate of Haggis, a traditional Scottish dish which I think is pretty similar to our Sisig.




Bottom's up!

Edinburgh, Scotland Part 1

Early Monday morning, Rommel and I went to King's Cross Train station to catch the 7am train to Edinburgh, Scotland.



First on our list was to see the famous Platform 9 3/4 (Hehe! Hanapin ang Harry Potter fan). The train ride was long, but it was not so bad! I was half-wishing I brought my laptop (or A laptop) with me (free Wifi on board!). I also took in the English country side whizzing past us. So many cute sheep and baby sheep. Hehe.




We arrived in Edinburgh a little past 12. After settling in Castle View Guest House (our great B&B), we went straight to Waverly Bridge to catch the Edinburgh Bus Tour. We braved the cold weather and rode on top of the double decker bus. Hehe. We hopped off Edinburgh Castle first.

We took the audio tour and it was uber informative. Of the castles we've seen so far, this one's the best. I think what made it doubly interesting was the castle's link to Robert the Bruce, the real Braveheart. And there's Mary Queen of Scots!

The castle erected on top of a volcano, and has never been taken over!






After Edinburgh Castle, we went straight to Holyrood Palace, the Queen's residence in Scotland. Amazing Race Scotland edition kami ni Rommel because we went around the Palace just before it closed.




Rommel and I hit the sack very early that day! 8AM! We savored the homey feeling of the B&B. Zzz...

UK Baby Part 4

Last Sunday, our feet took us out of London. To Warwick Castle, Stratford-upon-Avon, and Oxford. We took a Golden Tours package with Moie.

Weather forecast that day was a day with snow. Irene and I walked from Park Inn hotel, where Sam was staying, and not a few minutes later, it started to snow. The single word that came to mind as I was walking the cold, cold streets of Tavistock Square: "Insane!"

We arrived just in time for the call time of the tour, but because of the weather, the pick up times were screwed. Anyway, we had a long day ahead of us.

First stop, Warwick Castle. Now maintained by Tussauds, our guide shared this is the best maintained castle in England. This was our first castle of this trip. Castles are huge... and pretty cold. Hehe. Here are my favorite pictures...







Next stop was Stratford-upon-Avon, William Shakepeare' birthplace. It was a small pretty town. Shakespeare's home was pretty big, for the olden times. I liked how one of the guides explained the origins of the expression 'sleep tight'. The small model of a theater during Shakespeare's time is pretty close to how the movie "Shakespeare in Love" depicted it.








Last stop was Oxford. My oh my. I didn't realize how prestigous this uni was. Bill Clinton is an alumni and was a Rhode scholar! Oxford's a university town, and it's home to several greats like C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien, Tony Blair, and Margaret Thatcher.

Too bad the Great Hall where they shot some of the Harry Potter scenes was closed for that day. I was sooo looking forward to seeing that.






After our tiring day, the girls (Sam and Irene) and I took a last picture (trying to mimic the last one we had from 8 years back).



Next stop, Scotland!