Koukla's Space

 

The second long weekend in May, Gen and I decided to take a trip to Rome.

I had previously been to Rome when I was 16 as a exchange student. Back then we were 4 sixteen year old girls traveling from Ferrara to Rome for the May 1rst long weekend.Here I was coming back to this place as an adult and discovering its beauty with different eyes.

We arrived in Rome early saturday morning and made our way to our hostel. We dropped our bags off and headed straight to the Colosseum (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colosseum). We walked throught the Roman Forum (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_Forum). Arrived at the Boccha della verita square (http://www.activitaly.it/inglese/monument/bocverit.htm) then made our way through the Circus Maximus (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Circus_Maximus) which lead us back to the Colloseum.

We then decided to have an apero on a terrasse facing the coloseum. As we were enjoying looking at all the pictures we have just taken of this wonderous city, a few children approached our tables trying to sell us postcards. We shooed them away and continued our glass of wine. As we were leaving to make our way to a nice retaurant for dinner, I discovered that I no longer had my camera. It seems that I left it on the table and those choldren took it without me knowing. I then had to share Gen's camera for the rest of the trip.

We had our first supper at a quaint restaurant. The ambiance was good and I was able to get by with my rusty Italian.

Sunday we started as a beautiful day. we made ou way to the Vittorio Emanuelle II monument (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monument_of_Vittorio_Emanuele_II) in the Piazza Venezia where we stopped to have a coffee latte. Then we proceded to the Pantheon (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pantheon%2C_Rome) where we sat out on terrasse. Then we made it to the Piazza Novano, the spanish steps (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanish_Steps) and the fountain di Trevi (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fontana_di_trevi)and ended the day in Piazza Poppola.

Monday, we decided to head to the Vatican city (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vatican_city). We stood in line for 2 hours outside under a really hot sun. However we it was worth seeing the Vatican museum which included the sistine chapel (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sistine_Chapel).

Tuesday morning, we walked to the Baths of Caracalla but again they were closed. They were closed on my first trip to Rome as well. Must mean that I need to return again. We had lunch on second floor terrasse overlooking the Colliseum, then it we were to return to reality!! Back to work on Wed. 

 

The weekend of April 12th, Nadia, Gen and I decided to head to London to enjoy a girl weekend. Since Nadia had never been there we did all the major site. A girls weekend to London would not be complete without a little bit of shopping on Regent Street at our favoriate store Next (http://next.co.uk/).

 

We stayed, naturally, at Mike, as he is always so happy to have us. It is always nice to hang out and party with Mike. Our first night, we, of course, made it to the King's head. The only way to start off a London weekend.

 

Saturday, we ventured the city by starting at Tower bridge, Tower of London, London Bridge, the Globe, Millenium bridge, St. Peter Basilica, Leicester Square, Trafalgar square, Regent Street, etc. That evening, we had l'apero at Mike and headed to great mediterranean restaurant. The food was great! We then went out dancing and we started at the Favella chic ( http://www.londontown.com/LondonInformation/Nightlife/Favela_Chic/4e8e/ - also one in Paris).

 

Sunday, we started our day with a great breakfast at our favorite restaurant by Mike's place. We then took a tour of Buckingham palace, the gardens, Big Ben, etc. It was then time to head back home!!

 

Can't wait for my next London weekend!

 

As you can see by the pictures, there are 3 nights of celebrating!

 

My official birthday evening was just a quite one with my closest friends. I didn't want to do a lot as I was not in the best of spirits since I'm getting older again. That said, it was a perfect evening. We started by having an apero at the foot of Sacre Coeur. As we sat there, the lights came on and the view was so very breathtaking. A moment like that are times when you just soak it up and you are thankful for having got here and accomplished so much. Afterward, Audrey insisted that we all walk up the stairs to Sacre Coeur. I had previously explained to my friends that getting older felt like climbing up a mountain. You struggle to get there. Some parts are easy and some are hard but you get there. You are so excited and proud to reach the top, that when you look down to see how far you have come, you get scared. So her purpose of this exercise was to show me that climbing a hill like Sacre Coeur is not that scary cause once you get to the top, you see all of Paris...

 

Friday night, there was a big party for all us celebrating our birthdays around the same time (Manon, Anja , as well as Piere and I share the same day). I had taken the day off and pampered myself with a facial, pedicure and haircut that was sponsored by mom and Joan. I met my work colleagues and we all went together to the apero at the Cafe de la Ville. I think they got a kick out of meeting my Quebecois friend cause they got to see other french accents. Later in the evening, we made our way to Memphis where there were two levels with a variety of different music which pleased everyone. I danced so much and had a blast.

 

The following night, I had made plans with my friends from Clichy. Sophie was celebrating her birthday as well and Karine and Celine were just getting back from there vacation in Senegal. We partied all night!!

 

I was such a great birthday that it made me forget that I was getting older! :>

 

The weekend before my birthday, Gen and I decided to take a trip to Vienna. It would be a worldwind tour but very much worth the while.

 

We left on the first plan out Saturday morning. We had only taken a backpack cause we would spend the whole day touring the town and would check into our hotel in the evening. The first thing we do in the a new town is that we find a tourist information centre to decide what to see. We then have a coffee and sit down with all the information and decide what we should see.

 

The first thing we saw was St. Stephen Cathedral (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Stephen's_Cathedral,_Vienna) . It was quite beautiful and the amount of people was quite impressive. We proceeded down a pedestrian street where most of the shopping is done. We then briefly passed the Albertina Museum and the Hofburg, imperial Palace (http://www.aboutvienna.org/sights/hofburg.htm) while passing the Museum Quarter. We then decided to have lunch at nice restaurant in the Vienna Schmarkt. We discovered that Austria had some really good wines. Not as good as France but very nice. We then walked around the market while taking in all the desserts (ApfelStrudel), flowers, Easter eggs and so much more.

 

Since Mozart made a mark here, we decided that we should learn more about him. So we decided to visit his house ( http://www.wien.info/article.asp?IDArticle=12231 ). As he lived in a lot of different houses around Vienna, this is the only remaining house. We visited the museum and fell in love with how interesting it would have been to live there at that time. Imagine music, theatre, concerts, etc..

 

Afterwards, we decided to have an apero at the Sky cafe (http://www.skybar.at/ ). It has one of the most amazing views of Vienna. We enjoyed another Austrian wine while enjoying the classical music played for us on the piano. Afterward, we caught a fast supper and proceeded to our night tour of Vienna. It took us around the circle boulevard (http://www.aboutvienna.org/sights/ring.htm)and to the Danube tower (Danauturn - http://www.aboutvienna.org/sights/donauturm.htm). We then ended the tour at a local pub where we could eat and drink the local cuisine. We were very fortunate that the tour bus brought us back to our hotel as it was late and I think it might have been a little confusing to get to at night.

 

Sund morning, after the best buffet breakfast, we headed back in to town to visit the palace, well actually Epress Elizabth's (Sisi - http://www.aboutvienna.org/personalities/wittelsbach.htm) appartments. Just as Marie-Antoinette felt rather out of place at Versaille, so did Sisi. She was disliked when she was alive but is now the most honoured and celebrate royal figure. After our visit, we sat in Marie-Theresa's square (Marie-Theresa is Marie-Antoinnette mother) where we snacked our sandwiched which we made from our breakfast buffet. :> We then walked and even caught a glimse at some St. Patrick day celebrations. We then finished our day, before heading to the airport, having a fabulous lunch by the Palace's garden restaurant.

 

 

In January, we decided to take another ski trip but this time, we wanted to try a new location. Why not the swiss alps? Matt, Gen, Nadia and I took Matt's rental car and drove about 6 hrs. We left at 3am so we can be on the ski hills early saturday morning. When we got to Lausanne, we picked up Manon (she was already there visiting with friends). We finally got to Verbier (http://www.verbierswitzerland.com/) about 10am and hit the hills. I must say that the ski equipement is very up to date. You would only find maybe last year's model and not the ones from 10 years ago.

 

So we enjoyed our day on top of the hill in the clouds. It does take about 4 lifts up to the top so takes a while. But you were literally in the clouds. We had lunch almost all the way to the top, where I enjoyed my spaghetti with a small bottle of rose outside soaking up the sun. The view was fabulous and you could touch the cloud. The closest I have ever been to heaven.

 

After our day of skiing, we headed to our youth hostel which happened to be a bunker. Around the WWII, the swiss governement made it a law that all new houses our building had to have a bunker in case of a nuclear war. The sport centre had one and turned it into a hostel. It was an adventure. It really looked like something you would see in the movies. There was about 20 to a room (girls and guys). When Nadia and I went to set up our beds, a guy next to us gave us some earplugs cause the guy below us snoared... so much that it would shake our beds.

 

Before heading to bed, we decided to have a typical swiss dinner where we had fondue and raqulette. It was to die for!! We ate so much that we pretty much had to roll ourselves back to the hostel.

 

The next day, we slept in a bit (that would be about 9am) and then headed to check out the town of Verbier. We walked this small town and fell in love with how beautifully situated it is between the alps. The houses are something I would love to own!!

 

We had an lunch and then headed back to Paris. We had such amazing weather and wonderful skiing conditions that it really made our weekend!!