Merry Little Christmas

It might be wandering up the Champs-Élysées with Vin Chaud or browsing the Cologne Christmas markets with reindeer gingerbread, but Christmas in Europe is definatly different to back home. This month has been full of endless Christmas (and Thanksgiving) lunches, wandering through Christmas markets, present buying and giving and of course, Christmas themed Starbucks drinks.

The season started with an amazing Thanksgiving lunch cooked by my lovely American friends, then a traditional British Christmas lunch complete with the parsnip course and Secret Santa present giving. Last weekend I went to Cologne for the day to have a look around. I met with two more friends and we spend a cold day wandering through the Christmas markets under the incredible Cologne Cathedral.

In the past weeks I have realised how different Christmas is when you don't work in retail! Like everywhere in the world, the shops in Paris are crazily busy but the Christmas lights and displays in the windows make it more bearable.

On Thursday I am going to London to spend Christmas with family and am keeping my fingers crossed that I will see snow before Christmas. No luck yet.

Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas!
Sarah
xx

No News is Good News

Sorry for being so MIA for the past months. To be honest, it is because I have been too bus
y enjoying myself!

Now I realise I should have written more often because it is impossible to put into words everything I have done and experienced in the past few months. Re-reading my last post, I can't believe how much has changed in such a short time.

I am so lucky to be getting along well with my Aupair family. I love my kids and now they have

gotten to know me everything is a thousand

times easier. Zoe is a typical 12yr old girl with all the good and bad points that come with being one, Irene is a little tomboyish but always has something funny to say and Tobie is the cutest chatterbox 4yr old, although I can only play so much lego at a time.

In short, throughout the last two or so months I have passed a birthday under the Eiffel tower, became a child again at Paris Disneyland, spent a weekend in Amsterdam with great friends and been swimming and hiking in Corsica. And those are just the major things. I have been exploring the different Arrondissements with new friends and have been learning and improving my french. Yes, this is spaced between hours of colouring badly drawn cars with Tobie and arguing with children to sit at the table, but I wouldn't give it up for anything.

I can't believe it is almost Christmas already. Christmas decorations and markets are going up and the days are starting to get colder. I have so much planned for the next few months and am so excited! Time really does fly when you are having fun, and I only have 2 and a bit months until I will be home in the hot Australian summer. It's nowhere near enough time to see all the thinks in Paris left on my list but I will make the most of it while it lasts.

A bientôt, mes amis

Love Sarah

xx

Les hauts et les bas.

Who would have thought that moving to the other side of the world to a country where you can't speak the language with a family and children you have never met would be difficult? This week has had a few ups and downs. It has been a week of firsts, and hopefully lasts. I have attempted to solve my first problem in French (and failed, finding someone who spoke English) and have already got lost coming out of the metro so many times! I have reluctantly discovered how to use the late night bus service but have already met many new people along the way.
There are so many Aupairs in Paris and we seem to be able to recognise each other from a mile away! It is reassuring to get together and swap stories of attemps to bath screaming children and tips on making them do what you say, although it is scary hearing some horror stories about some families.
Although it has been stressful at times I have had already some amazing experiences in Paris. On Saturday I somehow managed to convince myself to get up early and go for a morning run. It's slightly less painful when you are in Paris along the Seine running past Notre-Dam Cathedral and back again.In the afternoon, Lucinda, Jess and I discovered the Marais district and spent hours chatting in a park avoiding children with water pistols soaking up the 29C French sun. I ate my first macaroon on the Champs-Elysee and we spent the warm Parisian night chatting and laughing under the Arch de Triomphe. On Sunday the true Paris showed itself and the weather changed for the worse. Apparently Paris is a very wet city and this held true on the day a group of Aupairs had organised to do a walking tour. We tramped around the beautiful city under the safety of our umbrellas and all took overpriced hot chocolates in just one of the many quaint cafes in the city.

After working this afternoon I organised to meet with Jess and we tried and succeeded in finding a Parisian China town. We ordered our food in a combination of Chinese, English and French and I am proud to say the first meal I have eaten entirely in chopsticks was in Paris. Sitting in the restaurant chatting away with my good friend from home, we lost ourselves in conversation and I could have been anywhere in the world. I was shocked to be spoken to in French and it took a moment to remember that we were in France.

After some pretty difficult times, it is moments like my first macaroon in Paris and chatting with friends under the Arch de Triomphe which remind me why I chose to move away and go on such a big adventure. I can't wait until my french classes start and I can improve my language and get to know more people and have more nights like tonight.

Until then
Love Sarah
xx

Paris, Finalement!

 

After only three nights in hostel dorms I was already so excited to see a huge queen bed in my own room at my relatives place in Cardiff. I was offered tea every half hour and spent two days lazily relaxing in the calm city. I spent one day with a my cousin and aunty (who are actually my mums cousin and my mums cousins daughter, eh, too complicated) and another in the lovely English town of Hay-on-Wye which is know as the "town of books" since its home to so many second hand bookshops. I spent the day browsing books and antiques before an amazing curry dinner.

Next I headed east to Bath and met some hilarious Australian girls before I had even checked it. I swear we are everywhere. We spent the evening chatting and drinking coffee, since Bath is full of old people on holiday and doesn't have much of a nightlife. 

In the morning I did another free walking tour (thank god for the inventor of free walking tours, I owe them my life, or at least several hundred dollars) and saw all the amazing architecture of Bath. I was almost getting sick of being told about the architecture but there was something really cool about Bath. Most of the buildings have a beautiful facade making them look uniform, but behind everyone created the house however they wanted. I love that from the front it is beautiful but behind is a shamble. 

After a long debate as to weather we should go get pampered at the thermal spa or go see the ancient roman baths, I decided since I was in Bath I should probably see the famous baths. So after the tour and an amazing 3 pound picnic lunch I headed to the famous Roman Baths. They were interesting but not unlike a lot of other really old things I have seen in Europe. The most interesting part was the tour guide who kept making snide comments about how the council didn't pay him enough. It was strange to try the warm spring water afterwards, although I only had a sip.

The next day, in absolutely perfect weather, I took a bus to Stonehenge and back. Despite all the people, Stonehenge was an amazing sight and I proceeded to ask 5 different people to take photos of me at different angles (the worst thing about travelling alone is not being able to be in your photos!)

I spent the weekend back in London seeing friends from home and discovering the hip areas of London with my cousin. It was the best way to end the travelling leg of my European adventure

Early Monday morning I took the Eurostar and arrived in Paris after so many months of planning and anticipation. I had a mixture of nerves and excitement meeting my new family. They are super nice but it will take a bit of getting used to, three days in and I am already feeling more comfortable. The language barrier is quite difficult, especially when you have a screaming 4 year old who doesn't want to take a bath and doesn't understand much of what you say. However, I am already starting to meet lots of new people and it helps to have Luey here going through the same thing as me. I think I will like it here.

Maintenant, je suis fatiguee, donc, bonsoir mes amis.

A demain.

bisoux

xxx

It's just near the huge castle

After a painless train ride from Kings Cross in London I arrived in Edinburgh. The first thing you notice about the city is the massive castle on top of the massive rocky hill. It's kinda hard to miss. Now that a rain coat and umbrella are staple items in my bag, the amazing view makes up for walking around in the rain.

On my first night in Scotland I went out to dinner to try Haggis, which was actually quite nice. I also spent a day seeing the tourist sights including the Castle and school which JK Rowling based Hogwarts on, and the cafe where she wrote the first two books.

The rest of my time has been spent drifting between street performances and from one free fringe show to another (The Edinburgh Fringe is like the Adelaide Fringe but bigger, and with more castles). After meeting with Jess we staked out the best free shows and avoided the hecklers with flyers. The shows were mainly comedy but we found an amazing magic show with Dave, the ginger ninja magician. I also thought it was obligatory to see Macbeth while in Scotland.

The city has had an amazing atmosphere because of the Fringe Festival but tomorrow I will head back down south to Cardiff and Bath.

It's been just over a month since I left home and not long now until I settle down in Paris. I wish I had more time to see more of Europe, but I guess it just means I'll have to come back again!

From Scotland

xxxx

Another cup of tea?

Londoners really do drink a lot of tea. Which only begins to be a problem when you don't have a British Bladder, and have to catch the tube everywhere. Over my travels I have become increasingly aware of how bad the Adelaide Metro system is, and the London public transport makes this super clear. All you need is a multicoloured tube map and you are on your way to discovering the massive city.

I have been here 5 days (4 if you don't count one spent sick in bed) and I feel like I have only just scratched the surface. I have caught a ferry up the Thames all the way east to Grenwich, which would have been beautiful, if not for the dreary British summer weather. Have taken the tube out west to Richmond and zipped around in a red mini with a childhood television star (who happens to be a second cousin) passed Mick Jagger's house, Pete Townshend's house and various deer and squirrels. I have walked across the heath and had Sunday morning breakfast in Hampstead; been shopping along Oxford Circus and seen some of the major attractions and monuments.

Yet, I feel as though I need another week to see all London has to offer; Notting hill, Camden Markets, Portobello Road, the Churchill war rooms, Brick Lane, the London eye, Abbey Rd just to name a few. Needless to say, I will be coming back to London in the near future.

I have found Londoners to be the most helpful people and I have been taking full advantage of being in my first English speaking country, asking questions at every opportunity. They also happen to have particularly cute children, and dress very well, especially the teenage boys.

Tomorrow I head up to Edinburgh for the Fringe festival, then Cardiff and Bath.

Adios Amigos

Sarah

xx

Chorus of Coughs

Last night was the end of the Topdeck tour and I am already missing it! I met so many cool people and saw so many amazing places. Even if everyone was sick and coughing like they had the black lung.

From our tour of Auswitch we moved on towards Prague for a slightly less depressing evening.

After an unwanted encounter with Czech authorities for apparently invalid metro tickets, the group headed into town to party. We headed to the famous 5 story club and spent most of the time breaking it down to golden oldies before attempting to find a taxi home as dawn broke over Prague. Two hours of sleep later, we somehow managed to get out of bed and wander the beautiful city before dinner and a quiet night.

On Sunday we drove to Berlin with a stop in Dresden. Because the city had been flattened in W

WII, it is a gorgeous mix between modern and reconstructed old buildings. We arrived in Berlin to a hostel that had no light globes, but bunny rabbits in the garden; which is clearly a fair trade. Monday was spent exploring Berlin, going to the National Museum and taking a walking tour of the famous sights. It is incredible how rich in history the city is, and how recent all of the events took place. The night was full of white t-shirts, permanent markers, free drinks and loud music.

Moving on to Amsterdam, a gorgeous city where no two buildings are the same and where I have never seen so many bikes in my life! We did a bike tour, visited the Van Gough Museum, got lost several times and generally experienced the local culture. It was the last dinner together as the Topdeck group so as usual, we all went out again to celebrate.

From Amsterdam we had an early start, stopped in Brugge, Belgium, to stock up on the best chocolate in the world, and caught the ferry to England.

I arrived in London to meet my mums cousin and a warm bed, so much better than the hostel beds! Unfortunately, I spent most of today in bed nursing my cough and head cold, but I managed to get out for an hour or two.

I am currently sipping on ginger tea with honey in an attempt to cure my cough.

I can't wait until I am back to full health!

Until Then

Sarah

xoxo

Three currencies in as many days

After a long drive and a huge schnitzel we arrived in Vienna on another day of my tour ( I have lost track of days something terrible). First stop was the 'summer house' of the Hutsberg royal family, complete with their own zoo, then the next morning was free to explore the beautiful city which included castles, the natural history museum and, of course, sachetort with ice cream and coff

ee for morning tea. It's always essential to try the local cuisine! Hence, morning tea was followed by a tour of the original schnapps museum, taste testing included. After a quick change and a struggle finding dinner in the rain, we had a taste of Opera and classical music to top off the evening.

Everyone on the bus has some sort of cold, and if you don't you will soon. So at our stop in Slovakia on the

way from Vienna to Buapest, we decided lunch should be Chinese hot and sour soup to clear the nose. Sniffing all the way, we arrived in beautiful Budapest. I immediately knew that I

love the city and I can't wait for the chance to go back and explore it properly. After the biggest meal I have ever had (and that's a big call from me) the group caught cabs to one of the big bars in the city. As usual, youths in Europe clearly have nowhere to be in the morning and party well into the night. The next day was spent wandering the castle district and streets of Budapest trying to understand their currency, where a chocolate bar costs 300forents.

Next came Krakow, Poland (with another currency, this time easier to understand). We did a somber tour of the Jewish ghettos and Schindlers list followed by more street wandering.

Tomorrow we have an early start to go to Aushwich and Birkenau on the way to Prague.

Sorry about the lack of pictures, hostel Internet is unreliable. I'll try and add some more soon.

Managed to get some internet that works!

Until then

Love

Sarah

Non Stop

Busy busy busy! So mush has been happening since I last wrote. I spent many an hour wandering the streets of Rome. My goodness, those Romans were a smart bunch. Just wandering past Gucci and Prada and there was just a 2000 year old ruin on the side of the road. No big deal ...

So I went to the Vatican and St Peters Basilica which were both beautiful. Suprisingly there was a big section about Aboriginal culture in the Vatican Museum. Then with some new friends, we went back o see the Trevi fountain, the Spanish steps and the Colosseum lit up at night. They were all gorgeous, but we did have an hour long adventure on the bus ride home (which should have only taken 10)

On Wesnesday I started my Topdeck tour. Getting there was an adventure in itself, getting off at the wrong bus stop with a friend who happened to be in the same room as me in Rome. We bused to Verona and saw Juliets balcony before heading to Venice.

Today was spen catching Gondolas around the watery city and eating pizza and gelato, as you must in Italy.

I'm currently relaxing in the sun by the pool and tomorrow will head to Vienna for Schnapps and Classical music.

Sarah

Xxx

Lizzie McGuire Eat Your Heart Out

My last days in Barcelona were just as good as the first. Luey and I wandered from coffee shop to coffee shop, through the markets, and back again, before we decided a siesta was needed. We spoiled ourselves with the free dinner that we had won where we started talking to two Parisian girls and spent the evening eating ice cream and speaking in broken french. We then moved on to a backpackers pub crawl where we met many new people and experienced the crazy Spanish party scene. Friday was spent in a tired haze but we managed to drag ourselves out of bed to go to Parc Guell. Expecting a lush park where we could relax after a busy night, we got off the metro to the steepest street I had ever seen, numerous flights of stairs and a Parc which was made entirely of dusty hills. Of course the Gaudi architecture was amazing, but a little difficult to enjoy after 2 hours sleep. After another siesta, we ended up taking our two new french friends on a wild goose chase but were eventually able to find Paella for dinner. On Saturday we had breakfast with Lucy and I headed to Rome.

Today I wandered to the ancient area of Rome. It's bizarre to think I was walking the same streets as people who lived there over 2000 years ago. The Palatino and the Colosseum were just as impressive as I expected. I was lucky with the lines of tourists today but am worried about the 2 hour wait to get into the Vatican tomorrow!

Arrivederci

Sarah

xoxo

I want to be the King of Spain

After a lovely weekend spent in Melbourne with Dylan I finally made my way to the airport to start the trip I had been working hard for and planning for so long. The plane was slightly delayed but still got to Qatar on time for me to get my connecting flight. Three planes, two buses and a train later I arrived at my hostel without any major dramas. Arriving red in the face from cold Melbourne carrying a jumper, a jacket and a huge scarf (which were clearly not needed in the 30+ humid Barcelona weather) I was immediately welcomed by a girl from Brazil, two girls from Paris, and four girls from Amsterdam. I had truly arrived in Europe.

After an early night and a few hiccups on the Spanish metro (accidentally buying the most expensive ticket and going two stops in the wrong direction) I finally made it to the main center of Barcelona. Walking with my mouth open looking up at the rambling terrace apartments I wandered through the city before ending up at the end of La Ramblas. I sat in the shade watching the crazy Spanish drivers and finally listened to my favourite song King of Spain. In Spain, which I had been waiting so long to do. I arrived at the hostel to a big hug from Luey and we spent the rest of the night attempting and failing to make a cheap backpackers omelette for dinner.

Wednesday was spent travelling 2000 years back in time through Barcelona and the ancient ruins of the Roman city. We got (slightly) lost through the rambling streets but stumbled across the best coffee I have ever had and an amazing art museum with the best complementary champagne I have ever tasted. We discovered the markets and had a colourful feast of fresh fruit and bread and have spent the rest of the evening swapping stories with Irish and Norwegian backpackers.

It's so surreal that I am suddenly on the other side of the world but 2 days in and I can't wait to see what happens next.

Until then

Sarah x

^Ordering coffee in Spanish with Luey