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Europe Trip 2008

Itinerary

Photos

Randonee in the Parc National des Ecrins

Fri 1 August 2008

I'm leaving tomorrow from Bourg d'Oisans by bus to Grenoble, spending some time with friends from camp, then taking the train to Paris. First, here are some photos from our overnight hike in the Parc National des Ecrins.

Destination

Destination: Col d'Arsine.

Shannon and I

A nice view of two ladies and surrounding glaciers.

Crossing

Everyone had to ford the stream and try not to get their boots wet.

Alpine Flora

Alpine flora.

Supper

Supper was dried vegetable or chicken noodle soup and purée (mashed potatoes).

Camp

No beef for supper. The beef was still mooing. This is what we woke up to. One of the cows ate somebody's M&M's, which had been carefully saved from the previous day's bag lunch. Another slobbered on my nice new gore-tex jacket and on the package of sausage I carried for the group lunch.

Lunch

Lunch was—let me guess—bread? We eat French bread with every meal here. Breakfast is bread with jam, and a big bowl of coffee or hot chocolate. Note that my orikaso cup and bowl were put into service as cutting boards. MEC saves the day, even in France!

Silt

Really silty rivers from glacier runoff were a gorgeous blue.

Escalade Via Ferrata de S. Christophe

Tuesday, July 29, 2008

Here I am at Camp des Cimes, chopping green peppers and washing lettuce! I'm a member of the service team for the adult English camp. It is a bit strange not to be a part of the program and worship music and just in general getting to know the campers and other staff. But I have three great bunkmates in the "dortoir," ground level right side room. I've also had some good chances to get to know some people and was on the overnight hike in the Parc National des Ecrins. A big highlight was climbing the Via Ferrata de S.Christophe. Via ferrata means "iron way," and indicates that there are iron bars anchored to the rock to aid the climber.

Never Say Never

Sunday, July 13, 2008

The hostel was offering a day out sailing. They said it was happening the following day. They said some other women had signed up. They said there would be snorkelling.

They said sailing was cancelled. They said there were other activities. They said newbies were welcome.

They said to find the boat behind the plastic palm tree. They said the ones working on certification would go first. They said to put on the wetsuit legs before the arms. They said not to swim too deep. They said there are hand signals for "ok" and "not ok."

They said there are interesting fish and sea plants below. They were right.

La Suisse!

Wednesday 2 July 2008

I've been soaking up the Swiss sun and mountains. Here are some highlights.

Gruyeres

The village of Gruyères. Really quaint, with an extremely comfy chateau and excellent cheese!

John Calvin

Me as Calvin at the Museum of the Reformation in Geneva.

Being Swiss

Some people in France heard my French asked me if I was Swiss. I'm trying to play the part.

Hiking

Hiking with a new friend, Karen from Chicago.

Cow

Moooooo. Clang clang clang.

Sunset

Swiss sunset at l'Abri, founded by Francis Schaeffer, at Huemoz in the canton of Vaud.

A Day Out at Whitby

Thur 19 June 2008

Took the Coastliner bus to Whitby today—home of Hilda's abbey, of Caedmon fame,and also of excellent fish and chips!

Whitby Abbey

Whitby Abbey

Whitby Seaside

The seaside!

Tidbits

Wed 18 June 2008

I have been terribly remiss in keeping up this blog. Here are some tidbits from my trip so far.

"This train is ready to depart. Stand clear of the doors, please. Mind the closing doors. Stand clear of the doors! Mind the closing doors! MINDTHEDOORS!"- Recording on the Northern line of the London Underground during rush hour.

"I couldn't even speak English." - Overheard mobile phone conversation. Spoken by a British man on the top of a double decker bus, to a new girlfriend.

"My mates know when I'm drunk because my left eye freezes in its socket." - Same person as previous quote.

"It wasn't fit for pig swill." - Businessman in a suit walking along the south bank of the Thames.

"Hello sheep! Hello sheep! Hello sheep!"- A nearly 2-year-old Abbey, spoken to sheep, horses, and nothing in particular.

"It's as if they want to take care of us for some reason."- Friend in a hostel, as we entertained each other with stories of Londoners bending over backwards to make sure we were okay (carrying dropped bag up an escalator for Dina (Egypt), victim apologizing in concerned tones to me when I ran into him—totally my fault—Camilla (Chile) being asked, "Are you all right, miss?" when she was gazing into the sky, daydreaming.

Lessons

Wed 18 June 2008

1] In London, do everything in a queue. Stand in a queue with utmost patience. Walk in a queue; do not go for the empty space, but follow the back of the head in front of you. Keep the same pace as the queue. Don't make any sudden movements (unless, of course, the queue does—then follow precisely). Live in harmony with the queue.

2] PJ's Smoothies are really, really good, but you should keep them in the refrigerator.

3] Tesco is cheaper than Marks and Spencer, but not better.

4] When airplanes fly from Vancouver to London in June, it gets brighter as midnight approaches instead of darker.

5] Don't insult a European's home football team.

6] It is possible to escape from a tower prison by smuggling in a barrell of wine with a rope in it, getting the guards drunk, and climbing down the rope. It is not a good idea to try to escape if you are using bedsheets tied together and you are fat.

7] Believers have an amazing heritage of evidence in the British Museum.

Tue 10 June 2008

No Time! No Time!

I'm in London. It's amazing. I have to go to the British Museum now.

Buckingham Palace Guard

Buckingham Palace Guard