12th Jan - Barbershopera II
I won two tickets to the Barbershopera II. We went to watch the musical comedy, with the very least expectations. To our surprise, it was really good; very original, delightful and certainly entertaining.
17th Jan - A guided tour at the National Gallery
This event was organized by the All Souls church and we've managed to register for two places. F, a very knowledgable tour guide, gave us an impressive and detailed explanation on each of the Christians and Secular paintings. It was really interesting at least for me, as I believe that should I have just gone alone without a guide, I would never have appreciated the paintings like I did on that day.
22nd Jan - Cirque de Soleil- "Varikei" at Royal Albert Hall
My company has extra tickets for this event. K and I wanted the tickets, and somehow, throughout the discussions, the PA to the CEO left the tickets to me. It was a nice treat for us. I have heard about the event, but not until I have researched and watched the trailer online, did I really know what it was all about. It was a modern version of a circus. When I was a kid, my mum used to bring us to an outdoor circus. I would say it was in a medium tent with some clowns, acrobats, animals performing some acts. Now, " Varikei", the 21st century circus is held in a pretigious place i.e the Royal Albert Hall made it a very classy event.
The performers were in colourful costumes and the exotic 'Georgian' music never failed to impress me. The acrobats were very flexible which actually proved their genuine talent. However, some of the performances were a bit overwhelming, for instance the stunt at the end of the performance which made our heart beat faster than we anticipated. Or perhaps we are getting older. ;)) Either way, overall it was a good performance and exposure. I would say that perhaps it is a once in a lifetime kinda experience in one's checklist, if you know what I mean.
23rd Jan - John Madejski Fine Rooms Gallery Tour
We felt really privilege to be able to join this tour. The tour guide was very informative as he is a very seasoned and experienced Royal Academy of Arts academician, who actually took some time out to give us a good 1.5 hours tour. We were given a brief explanation about the Burlington House coutyard, Royal Academy of Arts and its influential academicians. The highlights of the tour in my opinion is actually the John Medejski Fine Rooms and the paintings in the rooms per se. The rooms are not usually open for the public, but only for guided tours which are held once a day. Hence, we felt fortunate to be able to join this tour.
The original sculpture by Michaelangelo of the Virgin Mary, John the Baptist and Baby Jesus capped the tour memorably. The unfinished sculpture left me leaving the venue with thoughts and desire to learn more. As recommended by the tour guide himself, it would be really interesting to go for the same tour but run by another tour guide, just to have another perspective of looking at the same things. I earnestly second that.
Sunday, 24 January 2010
Friday, 1 January 2010
Farewell to The Noughties
11th Dec 2009- Flair Christmas Do
I had a great time celebrating one of the most memorable Christmas parties in Europe with my colleagues. The company organized the party so that we can get together, have a nice chat while savoring the delicious three course dinner in a luxury mansion with disco and free flow of alcoholic drinks. It was no wonder almost none of my colleagues drove to the event as they were expecting to get drunk. As a matter of fact, cabs were arranged by our nice office manager to take us home! What a treat!
12th-23rd Dec 2009 – Countdown to the festive holidays
In the midst of our busy work schedule, we have tried to squeeze some time enjoying the London Christmas Lights at the city high streets namely Oxford, Regent and Carnaby Street. Additionally, the visits to the Christmas markets at the Oxford Street and South bank, the views of the white snow settling peacefully on the roofs and roads out of my office and train windows, getting presents from Secret Santa, the flickering Christmas tree on the below right corner of my PC, the visit to the ice skating rink ; all these have nonetheless brought up the festive mood deliberately and splendidly. We felt Christmassy! Woo hoo…
24th Dec 2009 – Christmas Home Party
A day after the start of my long holiday break, we went to A’s place in North London for a Christmas party. We met some of her friends and her bf’s friends. It was quite a cool gathering. A couple with their very even tempered baby caught my attention. The Americans who served the States came all the way to London for their baby birth. I reckon with their experiences in Algeria, somehow their appreciation of (family) life thriftiness and wisdom has left me with much thoughts and admiration.
25th Dec 2009 – A relaxing day
It’s Christmas day! Despite the many shutdowns of the shops,restaurants and businesses in London, the Christmas day was well spent while staying at home, cooking and watching good movies.
26th-27th Dec 2009 - Shopping
The bargains during the Boxing Day in London were surprisingly good. We went shopping for the whole day on the 26th but the day was just too short and we’ve decided to go for another day on the 27th. We have bought a dress, some Christmas presents and were still hunting for shoes. We’ll just have to leave that for another time. We then went to the Carol Service at the All Souls and met N & J. Although tired, we ended the day with much satisfaction.
28th Dec 2009 – Tango Duo & Landscape Photographer ’09
We went for a stroll at the South bank with the intention of watching the Tango Duo concert at the National Theatre. As the name clearly states Tango-Duo; it is a performance of the voice and piano ensemble of tango songs. The performance was led by the Columbian singer, Monica Acosta. Both the singer and pianist were really talented. The whole concert with the tango dancers below the stage was brilliant!
Prior and after the performance, we left to appreciate the stunning natural beauty and diversity of Britain's landscapes culminated through the spectacular photographs exhibited at the same venue. The annual Landscape Photograher of the Year 2009 Awards was simply splendid. Some of the photos were so good beyond words, continuously reminding us of our responsibilities as humankind to preserve these precious treasures. We left the National Theatre, feeling artistically contended.
29th Dec 2009 – Books and Food
We went to explore a new library near our place and borrow some good books for the holidays. Despite being caught in the heavy rain, we went to the Borough Market for some fresh vegetables and food to last us till this decade.
30th Dec 2009 – Muffins baking
I have made my very first attempt of baking muffins. The first round was the blackcurrant muffin, although we have actually googgled for the blackberry muffin recipe. The thing was that we did not have fresh blackberries or fresh grapes. We’d used blackcurrant jam instead.:) To our surprise, the muffins turned out good and guess what? We ended up with not only blackcurrant muffins but also banana and prune muffins; all slightly tailored to our own recipes and taste.:)
31st Dec 2009 – Ballet, Dumpling and Fireworks
We wanted to end the decade with good memories. I’ve booked us tickets to ‘The Nutcracker’ ballet in London. It was really good- delightful and fun. A definitely good entertainment for the holiday season and a different way of ending the decade.
After shopping for awhile, we went home to indulge ourselves with hot dumpling soup and peanut dessert; getting ourselves warmed up before the fireworks at the London Eye.
Half an a hour before the clock strike twelve, we headed to the Southbank, squeezed among the crowd to get a good spot for the final countdown.
3,2,1...Voila!!! Fireworks light up the skyline. People were singing, dancing, drinking, hugging, laughing and wishing each other a great new year. Out of the blue, for a few minutes, it was snowing . There was an air of excitement, perhaps also amazement. The atmosphere was pleasing and merry. A full moon lighten up the sky as we walked home, grinning happily. Ahhh, what a pleasant way to usher the new year!
Have a blessed 2010, everyone!!!
I had a great time celebrating one of the most memorable Christmas parties in Europe with my colleagues. The company organized the party so that we can get together, have a nice chat while savoring the delicious three course dinner in a luxury mansion with disco and free flow of alcoholic drinks. It was no wonder almost none of my colleagues drove to the event as they were expecting to get drunk. As a matter of fact, cabs were arranged by our nice office manager to take us home! What a treat!
12th-23rd Dec 2009 – Countdown to the festive holidays
In the midst of our busy work schedule, we have tried to squeeze some time enjoying the London Christmas Lights at the city high streets namely Oxford, Regent and Carnaby Street. Additionally, the visits to the Christmas markets at the Oxford Street and South bank, the views of the white snow settling peacefully on the roofs and roads out of my office and train windows, getting presents from Secret Santa, the flickering Christmas tree on the below right corner of my PC, the visit to the ice skating rink ; all these have nonetheless brought up the festive mood deliberately and splendidly. We felt Christmassy! Woo hoo…
24th Dec 2009 – Christmas Home Party
A day after the start of my long holiday break, we went to A’s place in North London for a Christmas party. We met some of her friends and her bf’s friends. It was quite a cool gathering. A couple with their very even tempered baby caught my attention. The Americans who served the States came all the way to London for their baby birth. I reckon with their experiences in Algeria, somehow their appreciation of (family) life thriftiness and wisdom has left me with much thoughts and admiration.
25th Dec 2009 – A relaxing day
It’s Christmas day! Despite the many shutdowns of the shops,restaurants and businesses in London, the Christmas day was well spent while staying at home, cooking and watching good movies.
26th-27th Dec 2009 - Shopping
The bargains during the Boxing Day in London were surprisingly good. We went shopping for the whole day on the 26th but the day was just too short and we’ve decided to go for another day on the 27th. We have bought a dress, some Christmas presents and were still hunting for shoes. We’ll just have to leave that for another time. We then went to the Carol Service at the All Souls and met N & J. Although tired, we ended the day with much satisfaction.
28th Dec 2009 – Tango Duo & Landscape Photographer ’09
We went for a stroll at the South bank with the intention of watching the Tango Duo concert at the National Theatre. As the name clearly states Tango-Duo; it is a performance of the voice and piano ensemble of tango songs. The performance was led by the Columbian singer, Monica Acosta. Both the singer and pianist were really talented. The whole concert with the tango dancers below the stage was brilliant!
Prior and after the performance, we left to appreciate the stunning natural beauty and diversity of Britain's landscapes culminated through the spectacular photographs exhibited at the same venue. The annual Landscape Photograher of the Year 2009 Awards was simply splendid. Some of the photos were so good beyond words, continuously reminding us of our responsibilities as humankind to preserve these precious treasures. We left the National Theatre, feeling artistically contended.
29th Dec 2009 – Books and Food
We went to explore a new library near our place and borrow some good books for the holidays. Despite being caught in the heavy rain, we went to the Borough Market for some fresh vegetables and food to last us till this decade.
30th Dec 2009 – Muffins baking
I have made my very first attempt of baking muffins. The first round was the blackcurrant muffin, although we have actually googgled for the blackberry muffin recipe. The thing was that we did not have fresh blackberries or fresh grapes. We’d used blackcurrant jam instead.:) To our surprise, the muffins turned out good and guess what? We ended up with not only blackcurrant muffins but also banana and prune muffins; all slightly tailored to our own recipes and taste.:)
31st Dec 2009 – Ballet, Dumpling and Fireworks
We wanted to end the decade with good memories. I’ve booked us tickets to ‘The Nutcracker’ ballet in London. It was really good- delightful and fun. A definitely good entertainment for the holiday season and a different way of ending the decade.
After shopping for awhile, we went home to indulge ourselves with hot dumpling soup and peanut dessert; getting ourselves warmed up before the fireworks at the London Eye.
Half an a hour before the clock strike twelve, we headed to the Southbank, squeezed among the crowd to get a good spot for the final countdown.
3,2,1...Voila!!! Fireworks light up the skyline. People were singing, dancing, drinking, hugging, laughing and wishing each other a great new year. Out of the blue, for a few minutes, it was snowing . There was an air of excitement, perhaps also amazement. The atmosphere was pleasing and merry. A full moon lighten up the sky as we walked home, grinning happily. Ahhh, what a pleasant way to usher the new year!
Have a blessed 2010, everyone!!!
Tuesday, 29 December 2009
The Journey (by David Whyte)
Above the mountains
the Geese turn into
the light again
painting their
black silhouettes
on an open sky.
Sometimes everything
has to be
enscribed across
the heavens
so you can find
the one line
already written
inside you.
Sometimes it takes
a great sky
to find that
small, bright
and indescribable
wedge of freedom
in your own heart
Sometimes with
the bones of the black
sticks left when the fire
has gone out
someone has written
something new
in the ashes
of your life.
You are not leaving
you are arriving.
the Geese turn into
the light again
painting their
black silhouettes
on an open sky.
Sometimes everything
has to be
enscribed across
the heavens
so you can find
the one line
already written
inside you.
Sometimes it takes
a great sky
to find that
small, bright
and indescribable
wedge of freedom
in your own heart
Sometimes with
the bones of the black
sticks left when the fire
has gone out
someone has written
something new
in the ashes
of your life.
You are not leaving
you are arriving.
Saturday, 21 November 2009
Classical Spectacular 2009
Presented by: Raymond Gubbay
Date: 20th Nov 2009
Venue: Royal Albert Hall, London
Time : 7.30pm
Conductor: John Rigby
Tenor: John Hudson
Baritone: David Kempster
Yesterday, we were one of the fortunate patrons at the Royal Albert Hall, witnessing one of the very best classical performances we have ever witnessed. It was the Classical Spectacular! As the name clearly said it, the performance was indeed spectacular. Not only were the music pieces well thought and chosen, the sets of the musicians from the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, choir, opera singers, conductor and the whole production with the laser lights effect, props and costumes brought out the whole show splendidly!
It was really awe-striking with the rare injections of some sense of humour and the good showman from the conductor, along with the sportsmanship of the audiences who sang happily along the choirs in the two typical British songs ‘Rule Britannia’ and the ‘Land of Hope and Glory’ while waving the British flags proudly. These made the event even more fun and enjoyable!
As if the performance was not good enough, the thundering cannons and the Moscow militia muskets which played along the Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture with the incredible indoor fireworks capped the night in style and elegance!
We just love every seconds of the performance. It was first class.
(The music played during the event can be found at the link : http://www.raymondgubbay.co.uk/displayEvent.asp?eventid=1574&sd=1580)
PS: As we were not allowed to take photographs in the Royal Albert Hall, the images taken to illustrate the performance are from the link below:
http://www.royalalberthall.com/tickets/classical-spectacular/default.aspx
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Classical_spectacular_laser_effects.jpg
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/offertypeshub/article-1212039/Classical-Spectacular-79-95.html
Date: 20th Nov 2009
Venue: Royal Albert Hall, London
Time : 7.30pm
Conductor: John Rigby
Tenor: John Hudson
Baritone: David Kempster
Yesterday, we were one of the fortunate patrons at the Royal Albert Hall, witnessing one of the very best classical performances we have ever witnessed. It was the Classical Spectacular! As the name clearly said it, the performance was indeed spectacular. Not only were the music pieces well thought and chosen, the sets of the musicians from the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, choir, opera singers, conductor and the whole production with the laser lights effect, props and costumes brought out the whole show splendidly!
It was really awe-striking with the rare injections of some sense of humour and the good showman from the conductor, along with the sportsmanship of the audiences who sang happily along the choirs in the two typical British songs ‘Rule Britannia’ and the ‘Land of Hope and Glory’ while waving the British flags proudly. These made the event even more fun and enjoyable!
As if the performance was not good enough, the thundering cannons and the Moscow militia muskets which played along the Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture with the incredible indoor fireworks capped the night in style and elegance!
We just love every seconds of the performance. It was first class.
(The music played during the event can be found at the link : http://www.raymondgubbay.co.uk/displayEvent.asp?eventid=1574&sd=1580)
PS: As we were not allowed to take photographs in the Royal Albert Hall, the images taken to illustrate the performance are from the link below:
http://www.royalalberthall.com/tickets/classical-spectacular/default.aspx
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Classical_spectacular_laser_effects.jpg
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/offertypeshub/article-1212039/Classical-Spectacular-79-95.html
Friday, 30 October 2009
"Goodbye Summer, Hello Autumn"
I am a woman with little words
Let the pictures do the talking
The impressions and feelings
I have within me
on a sunny autumn in Regents Park
As I glaze at the blazing leaves
and bid farewell to the summer leaves
I whisper...
"Goodbye summer, hello autumn"
Let the pictures do the talking
The impressions and feelings
I have within me
on a sunny autumn in Regents Park
As I glaze at the blazing leaves
and bid farewell to the summer leaves
I whisper...
"Goodbye summer, hello autumn"
Tuesday, 27 October 2009
The other side of Catalunya: Barcelona
Normally a visitor will spend about 3 to 4 days for a vibrant city like Barcelona. Initially I thought two days would be sufficient to cover Barcelona. But somehow, if a friend would ask me, I would recommend at least 3-5 days to really experience the different facets of this city. Nonetheless, we have managed to compact all the major attractions during our short two days visit. Here is our adventure:
3rd Oct 2009 (Sat), Barcelona : The first arrival
The 1.5 hour train journey from Girona went by swiftly. By the time we’ve arrived Plaza Catalunya, near La Rambles where the Barcelona’s very own ‘Oxford Street’, it was almost 8pm. After choosing a Hard Rock Café t-shirt, A & I walked around the city amidst the large crowd in search for our hostel. After about 20 mins walk, we found and checked into our little home. We left our bags and headed in search for some 'tapas' in one of the restaurants nearby. We chatted till about 9-10pm, and then we walked to the beach with a quest for the Baja Beach Club, a pub which my manager recommended before I left.
4th Oct (Sun)- Barcelona’s main attractions
We woke up in the morning and geared with small bags, excited to begin our real exploration of Barcelona, a city with bustling activities.
During out almost 12 hours exploration, these are the places which we have visited:
Cathedral
Located right behind our hostel, this cathedral proves not only a convenient but worthwhile stop over. The ongoing mass during the morning made our visit even more enriching.
Casa Bastlo –An impressive masterpiece of Gaudi with the organic theme. I really like the architecture and design in and out of the house. I felt as if I was in an undersea world, being ‘lost’ inside the bluish architecture. Even the aged lift left me in awe.
Casa Mila- Another astounding architecture of Gaudi. This brownie building gave me an impression of huge mushrooms from the outside.
Sagrada Familia – This church was never completed up to today. Nonetheless, monies are invested in maintaining and restoring the original design of Gaudi. The inside of the building with the very unique pillars resemble trees with brances in a massive forest. It was indeed a brilliant masterpiece. Hence it is no wonder that until today, it was never finished because the building requires many talents and planning from many facets of skills including engineers, architects and renowned designers.
Park Guelle-This is an impressive open park with many Gaudi’s sculptures and architectures with the frog being the icon of Barcelona as you can see in many postcards. We walked around the park , visited the Gaudi museum, listened intensively to a pair of passionate and talented violin and keyboard players in the square, and finally climbed to the top of a hill, where we witnessed the bird view of the true Barcelona. It was amazing!
La Ramblas - We came back to La Ramblas with an attempt to visit another Gaudi building but it was closed for construction. Nonetheless, we overcome our disappointment with another Spanish specialty, 'paella' a.k.a seafood rice.
Musical Fountain - We took the metro to Espanya to have a taste of the quieter and romantic side of Barcelona- the musical fountain. We waited until 10pm, but somehow, the show never materialized. We have no choice but to leave with disappointment. It also means that we left with another reason to come back. :)
Beach near the Olympic City - Despite the disappointment and exhaustion, we left for the beach at the Olympic City with a final attempt to search for Baya Beach Club, but to no avail. Instead, we visited some other pubs nearby, but later decided that we were simply too tired and instead return to the hostel.
5th Oct (Mon) –Barcelona – Final Call
We woke up pretty early with a last attempt of getting a sneak preview of Barcelona’s other gems. We dropped by at some places and took quick snapshots before heading to the bus stop to catch our bus to Girona. Here are some of our final destinations:
Musuem Picasso - We walked passed the museum which could be easily missed as it was located at a very small lane, dwarfed by this big city. As it was Monday, musuems here are mostly closed- another tip worth mentioning to anyone who wish to visit these places in Barcelona.
Arch of Triumph (AOT) – The arch simply reminds me of Paris and India where their very own AOT attract tourists like honey and bees. It makes me think that perhaps if Malaysia or UK could have build their very own AOT, many tourists would come flooded to the place. Ahh, sometimes, life can be just so superficial!
Plaza Citta Musical - The bulding was not as impressive as I have expected, at least during this short visit. It is supposed to be an old building but somehow, it looks more like a modern architecture, which appear to be an ordinary piece of work. Or perhaps I have expected more after appreciating Gaudi's work in comparison.
Finally,before we hopped on to our bus for the Girona airport, we've managed a brief , but satisfying 30 mins visit to the ‘Gaudi Cascada’ located just 15 mins walk at a park nearby. We took a quick snapshot and ran back to the Nord bus station, grinning with much contentment.
3rd Oct 2009 (Sat), Barcelona : The first arrival
The 1.5 hour train journey from Girona went by swiftly. By the time we’ve arrived Plaza Catalunya, near La Rambles where the Barcelona’s very own ‘Oxford Street’, it was almost 8pm. After choosing a Hard Rock Café t-shirt, A & I walked around the city amidst the large crowd in search for our hostel. After about 20 mins walk, we found and checked into our little home. We left our bags and headed in search for some 'tapas' in one of the restaurants nearby. We chatted till about 9-10pm, and then we walked to the beach with a quest for the Baja Beach Club, a pub which my manager recommended before I left.
4th Oct (Sun)- Barcelona’s main attractions
We woke up in the morning and geared with small bags, excited to begin our real exploration of Barcelona, a city with bustling activities.
During out almost 12 hours exploration, these are the places which we have visited:
CathedralLocated right behind our hostel, this cathedral proves not only a convenient but worthwhile stop over. The ongoing mass during the morning made our visit even more enriching.
Casa Bastlo –An impressive masterpiece of Gaudi with the organic theme. I really like the architecture and design in and out of the house. I felt as if I was in an undersea world, being ‘lost’ inside the bluish architecture. Even the aged lift left me in awe.
Casa Mila- Another astounding architecture of Gaudi. This brownie building gave me an impression of huge mushrooms from the outside.
Sagrada Familia – This church was never completed up to today. Nonetheless, monies are invested in maintaining and restoring the original design of Gaudi. The inside of the building with the very unique pillars resemble trees with brances in a massive forest. It was indeed a brilliant masterpiece. Hence it is no wonder that until today, it was never finished because the building requires many talents and planning from many facets of skills including engineers, architects and renowned designers.
Park Guelle-This is an impressive open park with many Gaudi’s sculptures and architectures with the frog being the icon of Barcelona as you can see in many postcards. We walked around the park , visited the Gaudi museum, listened intensively to a pair of passionate and talented violin and keyboard players in the square, and finally climbed to the top of a hill, where we witnessed the bird view of the true Barcelona. It was amazing!
La Ramblas - We came back to La Ramblas with an attempt to visit another Gaudi building but it was closed for construction. Nonetheless, we overcome our disappointment with another Spanish specialty, 'paella' a.k.a seafood rice.Musical Fountain - We took the metro to Espanya to have a taste of the quieter and romantic side of Barcelona- the musical fountain. We waited until 10pm, but somehow, the show never materialized. We have no choice but to leave with disappointment. It also means that we left with another reason to come back. :)
Beach near the Olympic City - Despite the disappointment and exhaustion, we left for the beach at the Olympic City with a final attempt to search for Baya Beach Club, but to no avail. Instead, we visited some other pubs nearby, but later decided that we were simply too tired and instead return to the hostel.
5th Oct (Mon) –Barcelona – Final Call
We woke up pretty early with a last attempt of getting a sneak preview of Barcelona’s other gems. We dropped by at some places and took quick snapshots before heading to the bus stop to catch our bus to Girona. Here are some of our final destinations:
Musuem Picasso - We walked passed the museum which could be easily missed as it was located at a very small lane, dwarfed by this big city. As it was Monday, musuems here are mostly closed- another tip worth mentioning to anyone who wish to visit these places in Barcelona.
Arch of Triumph (AOT) – The arch simply reminds me of Paris and India where their very own AOT attract tourists like honey and bees. It makes me think that perhaps if Malaysia or UK could have build their very own AOT, many tourists would come flooded to the place. Ahh, sometimes, life can be just so superficial!
Plaza Citta Musical - The bulding was not as impressive as I have expected, at least during this short visit. It is supposed to be an old building but somehow, it looks more like a modern architecture, which appear to be an ordinary piece of work. Or perhaps I have expected more after appreciating Gaudi's work in comparison.
Finally,before we hopped on to our bus for the Girona airport, we've managed a brief , but satisfying 30 mins visit to the ‘Gaudi Cascada’ located just 15 mins walk at a park nearby. We took a quick snapshot and ran back to the Nord bus station, grinning with much contentment.
Sunday, 18 October 2009
The Catalunya Experience - Girona
2nd Oct 2009 (Fri) – Girona
I took the 8.50pm plane from London and arrived at the Girona airport at about 12 mid night. I met A, who flew from Paris for our weekend rendezvous. After getting lost for a while or making the dawn discoveries of the town in our very own way, we’ve managed to reach the hostel at about 1.30-2.00am. :)
3rd Oct 2009 (Sat) - Girona
After barely a few hours but sufficient sleep, we headed to the broken wall on the east side of the town to start our very own discoveries. The central location of the hostel and the accessible size of Girona allowed us to visit the attractions by foot without much hassle. During our 7-8 hours exploration, we have managed to visit two Cathedrals and even witnessed a local wedding. We had our brunch in a cafeteria at the square in front of one of the Cathedrals. We took our time slowly, enjoying every moment of the medieval city views, while savoring the toasted sandwich and a hot cup of cappuccino.
Hah, for a moment I felt life is beautiful! Beautiful weather, nice company, great medieval environment (always my cup of tea) and most importantly I am on holiday, away from the busy lifestyle for a moment! :) A good catch up with a friend from faraway in a place I want to be with the sunny weather made the trip even more enjoyable. What more could I ask?
We walked up the remains of the medieval walls and towers towards the Arabian bath, John Lennon garden, and headed back to the opposite directions to the medieval town itself. Girona itself is a nice place for shopping whilst strolling through the small lanes which brings out the locals' culture and life. The architecture of the buildings resembles some of the smaller cities in Italy and they have equally fascinated me. Strolling through the labyrinth of the Jewish quarters also brought back the imagination where, when and how the Jews once lived many thousand years ago. Throughout all the strolls, I have never once felt without the mystical aura of the medieval town.
On the bridge, we were trapped in between the Onyar River which separates the city from the old and new.. Being the usual artistic and sentimental me, I can’t help imagining myself in a time clock. Over to my right were the modern office buildings where our train station is situated. Over to my left were the historical sites, buildings and the colourful old houses and the ever impressive small lanes in between the medieval buildings. The lanes, lamp posts, doors and old architecture of the aged buildings never failed to amazed me. Like many old medieval towns, filled with priceless thousand years of histories and hidden (untold) stories, I’ve grown accustomed to Girona.
I took the 8.50pm plane from London and arrived at the Girona airport at about 12 mid night. I met A, who flew from Paris for our weekend rendezvous. After getting lost for a while or making the dawn discoveries of the town in our very own way, we’ve managed to reach the hostel at about 1.30-2.00am. :)
3rd Oct 2009 (Sat) - Girona
After barely a few hours but sufficient sleep, we headed to the broken wall on the east side of the town to start our very own discoveries. The central location of the hostel and the accessible size of Girona allowed us to visit the attractions by foot without much hassle. During our 7-8 hours exploration, we have managed to visit two Cathedrals and even witnessed a local wedding. We had our brunch in a cafeteria at the square in front of one of the Cathedrals. We took our time slowly, enjoying every moment of the medieval city views, while savoring the toasted sandwich and a hot cup of cappuccino. 
Hah, for a moment I felt life is beautiful! Beautiful weather, nice company, great medieval environment (always my cup of tea) and most importantly I am on holiday, away from the busy lifestyle for a moment! :) A good catch up with a friend from faraway in a place I want to be with the sunny weather made the trip even more enjoyable. What more could I ask?
We walked up the remains of the medieval walls and towers towards the Arabian bath, John Lennon garden, and headed back to the opposite directions to the medieval town itself. Girona itself is a nice place for shopping whilst strolling through the small lanes which brings out the locals' culture and life. The architecture of the buildings resembles some of the smaller cities in Italy and they have equally fascinated me. Strolling through the labyrinth of the Jewish quarters also brought back the imagination where, when and how the Jews once lived many thousand years ago. Throughout all the strolls, I have never once felt without the mystical aura of the medieval town.
On the bridge, we were trapped in between the Onyar River which separates the city from the old and new.. Being the usual artistic and sentimental me, I can’t help imagining myself in a time clock. Over to my right were the modern office buildings where our train station is situated. Over to my left were the historical sites, buildings and the colourful old houses and the ever impressive small lanes in between the medieval buildings. The lanes, lamp posts, doors and old architecture of the aged buildings never failed to amazed me. Like many old medieval towns, filled with priceless thousand years of histories and hidden (untold) stories, I’ve grown accustomed to Girona.
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