This is just about the best thing I have ever seen. I teared up a little bit and smiled throughout. Right now is not the right time to be getting a dog, but sheesh do I ever want one.
Thursday, March 4
Tuesday, March 2
What I ate for dinner last night
There is a restaurant in Vancouver called Nuba that serves delicious Lebanese food including something called "Najib's Special". It's a cauliflower dish and it's simple: crispy cauliflower with lemon and sea salt. I'll be honest, I've never actually eaten it. I usually get the Mjadra because I can't get past the deliciousness of lentils, avocado and caramelized onions. However, I've always meant to try Najib's Special having been recommended it by many folks whose tastebuds I trust.
Last week I bought a small organic cauliflower and a lemon with the intention of creating something similar to what I had heard about this dish. I did some searching online for roasted cauliflower recipes and gleaned what I could. I didn't find any one in particular and I didn't note which ones I was inspired by, but I will say they were all very similar and led me to develop my own list of preferred ingredients based on what I read here and there.
I took photos, but they're still on my camera. However, it's not the most spectacular looking dish so you aren't missing out on too much! It's the taste that counts and what this dish lacks in looks it makes up for with bold, yet simple flavours. On its own and served with a grain of your choice it makes a light, but filling meal. It would also make a great side dish. Here's my recipe and instructions if you want to give it a try. And you should.
Roasted Cauliflower and Potatoes
One head cauliflower, broken into bite-sized pieces
Three potatoes, peeled and chopped into bite-sized pieces
4-6 cloves garlic, chopped
1 lemon, cut into quarters
olive oil
salt and pepper
Combine cauliflower, potato and garlic in a large bowl. Drizzle olive oil over top. Squeeze three quarters of the lemon over top. Sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste. Toss all ingredients together in bowl.
Pour mixture into a roasting pan. Bake at about 200 C (about 400 F) for about 20-25 minutes, stirring every ten minute or so. After 20 minutes take a peek. Cauliflower and potatoes should be golden brown and soft when they're ready.
Remove from oven and squeeze the remaining lemon over top. Stir to coat.
Serve with barley (or rice or quinoa, etc) and sprinkle with feta cheese (if you'd like).
Enjoy!
Last week I bought a small organic cauliflower and a lemon with the intention of creating something similar to what I had heard about this dish. I did some searching online for roasted cauliflower recipes and gleaned what I could. I didn't find any one in particular and I didn't note which ones I was inspired by, but I will say they were all very similar and led me to develop my own list of preferred ingredients based on what I read here and there.
I took photos, but they're still on my camera. However, it's not the most spectacular looking dish so you aren't missing out on too much! It's the taste that counts and what this dish lacks in looks it makes up for with bold, yet simple flavours. On its own and served with a grain of your choice it makes a light, but filling meal. It would also make a great side dish. Here's my recipe and instructions if you want to give it a try. And you should.
Roasted Cauliflower and Potatoes
One head cauliflower, broken into bite-sized pieces
Three potatoes, peeled and chopped into bite-sized pieces
4-6 cloves garlic, chopped
1 lemon, cut into quarters
olive oil
salt and pepper
Combine cauliflower, potato and garlic in a large bowl. Drizzle olive oil over top. Squeeze three quarters of the lemon over top. Sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste. Toss all ingredients together in bowl.
Pour mixture into a roasting pan. Bake at about 200 C (about 400 F) for about 20-25 minutes, stirring every ten minute or so. After 20 minutes take a peek. Cauliflower and potatoes should be golden brown and soft when they're ready.
Remove from oven and squeeze the remaining lemon over top. Stir to coat.
Serve with barley (or rice or quinoa, etc) and sprinkle with feta cheese (if you'd like).
Enjoy!
Monday, March 1
Deep fried chicken legs for the soul
The issues with the sporadic wi-fi signal continue and often the only way I can get a solid connection is by perching my netbook on my knees and typing very, very carefully. It's quite a trivial thing to complain about all things considered, so I'm just going to stop. Instead of complaining I'm going to use this next sentence to suggest you consider making a donation to the Red Cross' relief efforts in Chile, where there was a massive earthquake this weekend.
So, no more complaining. I have it pretty freaking good and despite a few minor bouts of homesickness I'm feeling increasingly settled back into my life here in Geneva. I haven't taken many pictures, nor have I gathered many stories to tell you except to say that I like this city, I like my job and I'm feeling pretty grateful.
I'm going to step into my time machine for a minute and whisk you back a month to February 1st when Sean and I travelled to Portland for some belated-birthday celebrations and a little mini-break. I'm pretty sure I've mentioned that I love Portland here on this blog more than once. Let me say it again : I LOVE PORTLAND!
I love its neighborhoods, neon, restaurants, small arthouse theatre chains, Powells!, record stores and flexible street parking. I'm always at ease when I visit this city and I feel like I could settle down and make a life there. Fortunately Sean shares this sentiment and should a dream job ever appear there I would definitely consider the move. Until then (if ever) I will just keep visiting and lapping it up.
We ate at some of our favourite places, The Original Pancake House and Cha Cha Cha Taqueria. We also ate huge deli sandwiches with Sailor at Kenny & Zuke's.
And we were introduced to Miss Delta by our friend Torrence, who went from being awesome to being super awesome for suggesting southern food for dinner.
Yum! I especially enjoyed the macaroni and cheese. We drank Old Fashioneds with our meals and they were a pleasant accompaniment indeed. We visited Powells locations around the city, making purchases that were necessary and probably not so necessary.
While record shopping in the Hawthorne area we were tipped off to an in-store by Pierced Arrows to celebrate the launch of their new album. I haven't listened to them much, but Sean is a big fan of that band and its many incarnations so we hopped in the car and went to check them out. The sight-lines weren't the best, but it was unexpected and fun. We also managed to pick up some records while we were there.
I'm so glad that we had a chance to visit Portland together before I had to head back to Geneva. It was a fun trip and a good excuse to relax and have fun just me and Sean. I'm looking forward to getting back there again at some point in the future---who knows when---and eating some of that macaroni!
So, no more complaining. I have it pretty freaking good and despite a few minor bouts of homesickness I'm feeling increasingly settled back into my life here in Geneva. I haven't taken many pictures, nor have I gathered many stories to tell you except to say that I like this city, I like my job and I'm feeling pretty grateful.
I'm going to step into my time machine for a minute and whisk you back a month to February 1st when Sean and I travelled to Portland for some belated-birthday celebrations and a little mini-break. I'm pretty sure I've mentioned that I love Portland here on this blog more than once. Let me say it again : I LOVE PORTLAND!
I love its neighborhoods, neon, restaurants, small arthouse theatre chains, Powells!, record stores and flexible street parking. I'm always at ease when I visit this city and I feel like I could settle down and make a life there. Fortunately Sean shares this sentiment and should a dream job ever appear there I would definitely consider the move. Until then (if ever) I will just keep visiting and lapping it up.
We ate at some of our favourite places, The Original Pancake House and Cha Cha Cha Taqueria. We also ate huge deli sandwiches with Sailor at Kenny & Zuke's.
And we were introduced to Miss Delta by our friend Torrence, who went from being awesome to being super awesome for suggesting southern food for dinner.
Yum! I especially enjoyed the macaroni and cheese. We drank Old Fashioneds with our meals and they were a pleasant accompaniment indeed. We visited Powells locations around the city, making purchases that were necessary and probably not so necessary.
While record shopping in the Hawthorne area we were tipped off to an in-store by Pierced Arrows to celebrate the launch of their new album. I haven't listened to them much, but Sean is a big fan of that band and its many incarnations so we hopped in the car and went to check them out. The sight-lines weren't the best, but it was unexpected and fun. We also managed to pick up some records while we were there.
I'm so glad that we had a chance to visit Portland together before I had to head back to Geneva. It was a fun trip and a good excuse to relax and have fun just me and Sean. I'm looking forward to getting back there again at some point in the future---who knows when---and eating some of that macaroni!
Monday, February 22
Not a great excuse.
Excuses, excuses. My excuses for not updating my blog aren't the best, but I'm sticking with them. The one that is really keeping me from posting much is that my current apartment in Geneva doesn't have a reliable internet connection. Right now I'm using a free wireless connection that is, at best, sporadic so doing things like uploading photos from my adventures when I was back in Vancouver is practically impossible. At one point the only way I could get an e-mail to send was by holding my computer over my head. It was at that point that I turned my laptop off and read a book, but not before cursing and stomping my feet a whole bunch.
I'm glad to be back in Geneva and now, after just about two weeks, I'm feeling like myself again. I had really bad jetlag. It wasn't like I normally experience jetlag with a few days of being really sleepy and then snapping out of it. This time things were really out of wack and by "things" I mean my digestive tract. I'm not sure if it's because (guys cover your eyes) got my period the day after landing or what, but I had horrible stomach cramps and practically no appetite for almost my first week here. Thankfully, all that has passed (pun intended) and I'm feeling much better. But, gah, digestive problems as a symptom of jet lag---I had no idea!!! I also had overwhelming fits of sleepyness to battle through, but those were nothing in comparison.
Right now I'm living in a temporary sublet with a friend of a friend, who is pretty awesome I might add. It's really convenient for getting to work, but I don't feel entirely settled. I move again at the end of next month and I can't wait to organize all my stuff and really get comfortable. Also, I'm pretty sure the internet connection will be better, but hopefully I won't have to wait too long to post some photos and something more exciting than this filler-type post.
Oh yeah, I finally started watching "Mad Men" and I'm loving it. I didn't ever suspect that I wouldn't love it, mind you. I think I would enjoy it just as much without sound as I do with the dialogue. There is so much going on visually and my eyes are enjoying taking it all in. The late-50s and early-60s are probably my favourite eras for fashion and graphic design, so I'm pretty much in heaven. It doesn't hurt that there are some really attractive people on that show, too! And the writing is magnificent. I'm looking forward to making my way through the rest of the series so far. Mmmm-hmmm.
I'm glad to be back in Geneva and now, after just about two weeks, I'm feeling like myself again. I had really bad jetlag. It wasn't like I normally experience jetlag with a few days of being really sleepy and then snapping out of it. This time things were really out of wack and by "things" I mean my digestive tract. I'm not sure if it's because (guys cover your eyes) got my period the day after landing or what, but I had horrible stomach cramps and practically no appetite for almost my first week here. Thankfully, all that has passed (pun intended) and I'm feeling much better. But, gah, digestive problems as a symptom of jet lag---I had no idea!!! I also had overwhelming fits of sleepyness to battle through, but those were nothing in comparison.
Right now I'm living in a temporary sublet with a friend of a friend, who is pretty awesome I might add. It's really convenient for getting to work, but I don't feel entirely settled. I move again at the end of next month and I can't wait to organize all my stuff and really get comfortable. Also, I'm pretty sure the internet connection will be better, but hopefully I won't have to wait too long to post some photos and something more exciting than this filler-type post.
Oh yeah, I finally started watching "Mad Men" and I'm loving it. I didn't ever suspect that I wouldn't love it, mind you. I think I would enjoy it just as much without sound as I do with the dialogue. There is so much going on visually and my eyes are enjoying taking it all in. The late-50s and early-60s are probably my favourite eras for fashion and graphic design, so I'm pretty much in heaven. It doesn't hurt that there are some really attractive people on that show, too! And the writing is magnificent. I'm looking forward to making my way through the rest of the series so far. Mmmm-hmmm.
Sunday, February 14
Here I am again!
I have returned to Geneva. My time in Vancouver went by in a flash! It was like a friend and family filled hurricane blasting through my life far too quickly.
I have a lot to write about, but I just haven't had time. Now that I'm nearly settled I can take some time to select some pictures and stories to share, but you will have to wait a few more days. In the meantime, I thought I would share some things that I have enjoyed recently.
Leanne Shapton's book: Important Artifacts and Personal Property from the Collection of Lenore Doolan and Harold Morris.
I can't remember where I read a review of this book, but I'm pretty sure that I put a "request for purchase" in for it at the public library soon after. I really enjoyed reading this story. Basically, the book is organized as an auction catalogue and the items up for auction present a chronological view of a couple's relationship from the beginning through to its break-up. Apparently they're turning it into a movie, which seems weird to me. I don't quite see how the charm of this story could be captured on film as the format (auction catalogue) is so integral to how its told. Basically, you get to glimpse the relationship of Lenore and Harold via their possessions. It's an interesting way to tell two people's story. I had never heard of Leanne Shapton prior to this, but I think I'm becoming a fan. One of the reviews on the jacket comes from Amy Sedaris and Shapton's illustrations were featured in the February issue of Glamour!
Portland!
Sean's birthday was at the end of January and because I was pretty sure the only way we would be able to spend some actual one-on-one time together was if we went away, I took him to Portland. We both agree that if we were to move somewhere in North America it would probably be Portland. Dudes, this city has charm and delicious restaurants coming out the ying-yang. We had a lot of fun just hanging out together and doing stuff like meeting friends for meals, looking at books at Powell's and catching a movie at the Living Room Theater. Plus, I got a super deal through Hotwire and we stayed at the only five-star hotel in Portland, The Nines. It was tops!
Aziz Ansari's live comedy album "Intimate Moments for a Sensual Evening"
I really enjoy Aziz Ansari on "Parks and Recreation" and thought he seemed pretty funny in various other things, so I bought the CD of his Comedy Central special while we were in Portland. I listened to two tracks while we were at Jackpot Records and was instantly sold. Also, the cover of the album is really hilarious and sort of adorable. Sean and I laughed our asses off while listening to it on the drive back. There are some great moments, but my favourites have to be the jokes about gay rights, R. Kelly and his cousin's online class. Also, because I totally have a crush on him, I was looking at his blog and came across this playlist he put together. The instructions for things to do while listening to his top ten songs are pretty funny. Awww, sheeeet, just noticed it's going to be released on vinyl. I'll have to trade in the CD and pick that up.
My engagement ring
Whoops, how did I slip that in there? Yup. You read it correctly: engagement ring. After over eleven years together, Sean popped the question at the beginning of January and surprised me with a beautiful ring. Unfortunately, it had to be shipped back to the jewelry designer for a minor repair so I couldn't wear it on my return to Geneva. But I will have it back soon. I love it. And I love Sean so, so much. I don't have a photograph, so you'll just have to trust me that it is beautiful and perfect.
Adrian Mole: The Prostrate Years by Sue Townsend.
When I got back to Vancouver one of the first things that I did was leave. I went to Vancouver Island to visit my parents, my cousin Becca and Erin and Michael. While in Victoria, I made an obligatory stop in at Munro's Books where I discovered a new Adrian Mole book! I have been reading this series since I was probably about 11 or 12 years old and I adore these books despite how annoying and frustrating their protagonist can be. In this book, Adrian is nearly 40 and diagnosed with prostate cancer. While the book retains much of the same humor as the previous titles, this one is far more emotionally jarring as Adrian's cancer treatment progresses and his life seemingly falls apart. The cliffhanger ending leaves hope for the future as his cancer is in remission and Pandora Braithwaite appears in his driveway! I can't wait for the next installment.
Finally, My Sister.
Just like with Sean, I knew that the only way I would get some quality time with my sis was if we left Vancouver together. So, I booked us a room via Hotwire and we ended up on the 38th floor of the Westin in downtown Seattle...during the official Twilight Convention! Just to be clear, we weren't actually there for the convention though we did share the elevator with many of the conventioneers. We just spent time together hanging out, bra shopping, eating fancy hot dogs and seeing "Precious". I'm so glad that we went away because I was so overwhelmed with visiting and preparing and working while I was actually in Vancouver that I barely had time to do much of anything else. I did see her a few more times (thank goodness), but I don't think I could ever get enough of hanging out with her! I love my sister! Also, she picked me up from the airport and was holding a sign that said "SISTER" surrounded by hearts. Give it up for Janna, the best sister a sister could have.
And with that, I must retire to bed. My first day back at work is tomorrow and I don't want to be groggy.
I have a lot to write about, but I just haven't had time. Now that I'm nearly settled I can take some time to select some pictures and stories to share, but you will have to wait a few more days. In the meantime, I thought I would share some things that I have enjoyed recently.
Leanne Shapton's book: Important Artifacts and Personal Property from the Collection of Lenore Doolan and Harold Morris.
I can't remember where I read a review of this book, but I'm pretty sure that I put a "request for purchase" in for it at the public library soon after. I really enjoyed reading this story. Basically, the book is organized as an auction catalogue and the items up for auction present a chronological view of a couple's relationship from the beginning through to its break-up. Apparently they're turning it into a movie, which seems weird to me. I don't quite see how the charm of this story could be captured on film as the format (auction catalogue) is so integral to how its told. Basically, you get to glimpse the relationship of Lenore and Harold via their possessions. It's an interesting way to tell two people's story. I had never heard of Leanne Shapton prior to this, but I think I'm becoming a fan. One of the reviews on the jacket comes from Amy Sedaris and Shapton's illustrations were featured in the February issue of Glamour!
Portland!
Sean's birthday was at the end of January and because I was pretty sure the only way we would be able to spend some actual one-on-one time together was if we went away, I took him to Portland. We both agree that if we were to move somewhere in North America it would probably be Portland. Dudes, this city has charm and delicious restaurants coming out the ying-yang. We had a lot of fun just hanging out together and doing stuff like meeting friends for meals, looking at books at Powell's and catching a movie at the Living Room Theater. Plus, I got a super deal through Hotwire and we stayed at the only five-star hotel in Portland, The Nines. It was tops!
Aziz Ansari's live comedy album "Intimate Moments for a Sensual Evening"
I really enjoy Aziz Ansari on "Parks and Recreation" and thought he seemed pretty funny in various other things, so I bought the CD of his Comedy Central special while we were in Portland. I listened to two tracks while we were at Jackpot Records and was instantly sold. Also, the cover of the album is really hilarious and sort of adorable. Sean and I laughed our asses off while listening to it on the drive back. There are some great moments, but my favourites have to be the jokes about gay rights, R. Kelly and his cousin's online class. Also, because I totally have a crush on him, I was looking at his blog and came across this playlist he put together. The instructions for things to do while listening to his top ten songs are pretty funny. Awww, sheeeet, just noticed it's going to be released on vinyl. I'll have to trade in the CD and pick that up.
My engagement ring
Whoops, how did I slip that in there? Yup. You read it correctly: engagement ring. After over eleven years together, Sean popped the question at the beginning of January and surprised me with a beautiful ring. Unfortunately, it had to be shipped back to the jewelry designer for a minor repair so I couldn't wear it on my return to Geneva. But I will have it back soon. I love it. And I love Sean so, so much. I don't have a photograph, so you'll just have to trust me that it is beautiful and perfect.
Adrian Mole: The Prostrate Years by Sue Townsend.
When I got back to Vancouver one of the first things that I did was leave. I went to Vancouver Island to visit my parents, my cousin Becca and Erin and Michael. While in Victoria, I made an obligatory stop in at Munro's Books where I discovered a new Adrian Mole book! I have been reading this series since I was probably about 11 or 12 years old and I adore these books despite how annoying and frustrating their protagonist can be. In this book, Adrian is nearly 40 and diagnosed with prostate cancer. While the book retains much of the same humor as the previous titles, this one is far more emotionally jarring as Adrian's cancer treatment progresses and his life seemingly falls apart. The cliffhanger ending leaves hope for the future as his cancer is in remission and Pandora Braithwaite appears in his driveway! I can't wait for the next installment.
Finally, My Sister.
Just like with Sean, I knew that the only way I would get some quality time with my sis was if we left Vancouver together. So, I booked us a room via Hotwire and we ended up on the 38th floor of the Westin in downtown Seattle...during the official Twilight Convention! Just to be clear, we weren't actually there for the convention though we did share the elevator with many of the conventioneers. We just spent time together hanging out, bra shopping, eating fancy hot dogs and seeing "Precious". I'm so glad that we went away because I was so overwhelmed with visiting and preparing and working while I was actually in Vancouver that I barely had time to do much of anything else. I did see her a few more times (thank goodness), but I don't think I could ever get enough of hanging out with her! I love my sister! Also, she picked me up from the airport and was holding a sign that said "SISTER" surrounded by hearts. Give it up for Janna, the best sister a sister could have.
And with that, I must retire to bed. My first day back at work is tomorrow and I don't want to be groggy.
Friday, January 29
Celebrity Look-A-Likes : 2010 Edition!
So, apparently it's been celebrity doppelganger week on Facebook or something and a bunch of friends have been posting who they look like. I did the MyHeritage look-a-like collage thing a few years ago. I posted it to Facebook and several friends used the photo-face-match-up-thinger, so I decided to do an updated version. Good news is that I still apparently resemble Scarlett Johansson! I "blame" my Scandinavian roots. I also look like one of the two guys off "Supernatural." I'm pretty sure that people have crushes on those boys, so I will take it as a compliment. Also, Marissa Cooper! And Sporty Spice. Not too bad!
Friday, January 22
Prance!
I'm very excited about DJ-ing at Prance tonight! I haven't DJ'ed since leaving Vancouver for Geneva last Spring and I'm so thrilled to be part of this event. I'm copying and pasting the info about this dance party from the Prance blog, so you can read all about it:
Copied from the Prance blog
Copied from the Prance blog
Why Art
2010 January 20
General Idea, from the Imagevirus series
So why is Prance doing an art-themed party? Because we want to celebrate the contribution of queer artists in our community, both now and in the past. Queer artists are activists and community-builders, and they have had a huge impact on the way contemporary art has developed. We think more queers should know about it!
The (nonprofit) art world is the only place where queer people get funding make queer culture on our own terms, to represent ourselves in the way that we want to be represented, and to take the means of production of images into our own hands. This has resulted in some amazing work. One that we want to highlight is the collective General Idea.
General Idea (from whom we stole the poodle image we used to promote this party) was SO VERY important in raising consciousness around the AIDS crisis in Canada. 2 of the 3 members of General Idea died of AIDS-related illnesses. They not only worked on bringing awareness of these issues to a Canadian audience, they also represented Canada in international venues. But many queers don’t know about them today.
The art world is a field where queer people are recognized by straight colleagues as important innovators, rather than also-rans. A queer person can make photos of queer sex (kinky and poly), tour them around the world, and get a job BECAUSE of that, rather than IN SPITE of that. Like Susan Stewart of Kiss & Tell.
Cuts to BC arts funding (cut by 90%!!!) are going to harm the production of queer culture in BC, and the livelihood of a disproportionately-queer group of people. The art that is axed first will be the low-budget, community-driven, activist and dirty queer art, and the spaces which show that sort of thing. The excuse that has driven the cuts is that art is elitist, and things like hockey and the Olympics are not. But how are free (queer and political) events more elitist than events which cost hundreds and hundreds of dollars to attend (and are often homophobic)?
So what can you do? Write a letter to the province. Support the wonderful Spencer Herbert, who is a strong voice for arts & culture & queers. Go out to arts events, many of which are free and rely on attendance numbers for funding. AND OF COURSE make art and show it to people!
At Prance we will have performances by:
Francisco-Fernando Granados (bio below)
Kate Lamothe (bio below)
Emilio Rojas (bio below)
Heidi Nagtegaal
Sam Rudolph
and more!
Here are some artists we think are awesome, a mix of international and Canadian, right now and historical. Check it out:
Lesbian National Parks & Services
Kiss & Tell
General Idea (here’s another site)
Felix Gonzalez-Torres
Terence Koh (wikipedia) (his site)
Ryan Trecartin (wikipedia) (youtube)
Kalup Linzy (wikipedia) (videos)
Devil Bunny in Bondage
2fik
ACT-UP & Keith Haring (wikipedia) (essay on AIDS activism)
Geurilla Girls (wikipedia) (their site)
Claude Cahun
Tom of Finland
and locals:
Performers at the upcoming Prance:
Francisco-Fernando Granados is a Guatemalan-born, Vancouver-based artist and writer currently working in Performance, sculptural intervention and cultural criticism. Through his practice, he aims to create ephemeral spaces where larger socio-political contexts can collude and co-exist with personal narratives.
Kate Lamothe is a Vancouver based, transsexual performance artist and writer. When she’s not pissing off the gaygeousie or getting naked on stage she can be found making mix tapes, getting tattooed, DJing, writing trans erotica, and just generally fucking shit up!
Emilio Rojas was born in Mexico City in 1988. He is a multimedia and performance artist whose works explore the relation between the artist and his audience, interacting and exchanging roles. The intrinsic relation with the body has been both his subject matter and medium. Exploring the mental and physical limits of his being, Emilio revaluates standards of beauty, activism, gender, and sexuality. He is currently living in Vancouver, B.C., and enrolled at Emily Carr University.
Tuesday, January 12
Quickly...
I'm back in Vancouver after a bit of a delay. My flight from Geneva to London was canceled. I got to London the next day, but then my flight to Vancouver from London was canceled. Fortunately, British Airways put me up in a hotel and got me on a flight back on Friday. I also had ample opportunity to explore the malls of Geneva and London in search of clean shirts and underwear.
I will write more soon. I have a cold and I'm off to visit my parents for a couple of days. But stay tuned, I still have lots to share from my last month or so in Europe!
I will write more soon. I have a cold and I'm off to visit my parents for a couple of days. But stay tuned, I still have lots to share from my last month or so in Europe!
Wednesday, January 6
Canada Dry!
Well, my flight home was canceled due to snow in London where I was supposed to connect. The plus side of that is that I finally saw "Whip It," which I completely loved. I also used my extra time in Geneva to buy a pair of sequined hot pants (on sale), a new bra and eat the best Mexican food I have had in Switzerland so far. Also, it's given me a chance to put together another post about my trip to Egypt last month with Simone. The title of this post was inspired by what was yelled at us nearly every time we said we were from Canada...
After our short trip to Alexandria we returned to Cairo to visit the Pyramids and do some shopping. Had we done a bit more research we probably wouldn't have spent two nights in Giza. If you didn't already know this, the pyramids are on the outskirts of Cairo and tower over urban Giza. For some people this might be a disappointment, but I thought it was pretty cool to be surprised by their grandeur as we drove towards our hotel, The Oasis. The main reason NOT to stay in Giza is that there is nothing around. You can't really walk anywhere because where the hotels are is fairly isolated. That meant we had some pretty mediocre food at our hotel for dinner that night. One thing that baffled me in many of the places we stayed was the lack of Egyptian food. Some places featured a selection of "oriental" items like kebab and hommous, but for the most part things were pretty bland and Western. If I were to do this trip over, I think I would have maybe spent one night in Giza to be close to the pyramids for touring and then the rest of the time in Cairo proper. The only redeeming feature of our hotel was its lush gardens, which I'm sure are a beautiful place to relax in warmer weather.
The pyramids were magnificent. The site was teeming with tourists and souvenir merchants, but that was to be expected. However, it was easy to look past that because the pyramids are vast, enormous and wonderful. Simone and I were escorted to the pyramids by our guide, Abdul aka "Big Abs." He gave us a brief introduction to the three pyramids on the site and then let us roam. We walked around the great pyramid, the Pyramid of Cheops, periodically pausing to look upward and say insightful things like, "Woah!" and "Cool!" They really are something to behold.
After our walk we hopped back into our van and drove to the second and third pyramids. The third pyramid was my favourite, not because it was particularly wonderful but because that is where I met Mickey Mouse, my camel for 15 minutes or so. My guide, a boy of about eleven, took me out past the pyramid so I could see the edge of the Sahara Desert. I had so much fun. I would love to pack up a day's worth of supplies and go on a camel trip. It was really fun and really high! Camels are much taller than I would have ever expected.
Simone wasn't too keen on riding a camel, but Big Abs convinced her to get on Mickey Mouse for a picture. That led to her riding over to the van.
I don't know if she liked it as much as me, but I can assure you that I loved it. Thanks Mickey Mouse and Mustaffah!
Next up was a trip to the Sphinx, which is situated just below the site of the pyramids. Again, wow. After seeing so many images of the sphinx it was pretty amazing to see it practically up close. There is some restoration work going on, so you can't walk right up to it. We took pictures of us totally making out with the sphinx because apparently that's what you're supposed to do when you visit him.
After the Great Pyramids and the Sphinx in Giza we drove to Saqqara to see the step pyramid. While not as grandiose as the Great Pyramids, it was still pretty amazing. I can't get over the fact that these structures are thousands of years old. Also, they're still being excavated which just shows how prolific and busy the ancient Egyptians were! After years and years of digging and exploring there is still a ton to discover.
While at Saqqara we visited another set of smaller pyramids. This time we went inside to see the hieroglyphics. To get inside one of them, and to see the tomb, we had to go down a passageway by basically bending over to a 90 degree angle and walking quickly downwards. Once inside our guide showed us some of the hieroglyphics and decorations carved into the wall. Part of the sarcophagus remained, but the mummy had been removed and taken to the Egyptian Museum (I think). He asked for baksheesh and said we could take pictures, but Big Abs had warned us that pictures are not allowed and it's not a good idea to take them even if the opportunity arises. So, we declined and headed back up and out of the pyramid. The next place we visited was a tomb. It was at ground level, so there was no crouch-walking required. Inside the hieroglyphics were amazing. While some of them had worn away over the years many were still vibrantly coloured. The tomb was like a maze and had many rooms and passageways. It was pretty great.
At the end of our tour we briefly visited the Khan Al Khalili market and had a late lunch at Egyptian Pancakes aka fiteer. I had a cheese blend and Simone had a sweet one. Both were delicious! Big Abs was not keen to stay in this area of Cairo because earlier in 2009 there was a terrorist attack at the plaza at one end of the market. A bomb went off and some people were killed. I couldn't blame him for feeling uneasy and we agreed to leave after finishing our food.
The next day we travelled from Giza to our next hotel in Heliopolis. On our last day in Cairo we went back to Khan al Khalili to do some shopping.
After a week in Egypt, Simone, admittedly, wasn't bartering very well so I took the reigns. It's kind of fun to barter, but also a bit exhausting. At this point in my life I don't have a problem with accepting what is on the price tag and just paying it (or not). However, that's not the way things are done in Egypt and I did my best to not get completely ripped off. Also, it's part of the culture and I wanted to participate as best as I could. So, we went to find some scarves and blouses. According to my Lonely Planet book the idea is to counteroffer with about half of what the seller initially says. From there you go back and forth until you settle on a price. There is usually a lot of sweet talk on the part of the seller, I suppose it's an attempt to charm you into paying more. But you have to be tough. I think I did alright overall, but I couldn't help but always feel like as soon as I left the shop they were counting the money I gave them and laughing their heads off. Oh well.
We walked down Khan al Khalili amongst the locals. There wasn't much to see because it was so packed. There was lots to hear though. Mostly it was "Where are your from?" and kissing sounds. Blah. There was a brief reprieve when prayer time began and the passageway cleared somewhat. On the way back up we stopped in a spice shop where I bought a few things and we drank hibiscus tea. We were quickly escorted to the seller's "cousin's" perfume shop where I repeatedly insisted that I had no more money (which was true) and it wasn't until I laid down a 5 Egyptian Pound note that the perfume seller said, "Okay, enjoy your stay in Cairo" and let us leave his shop.
We were supposed to be taken to a restaurant that I had read about in my guidebook, Felfela. Our driver that day told us that it was too busy downtown and that he would take us to another Egyptian restaurant. We ended up at the same "special bazaar" as we had on our first day in Cairo, a typical tourist trap where the driver makes a commission based on how much the tourists spend at the shop. There was a resataurant close by, but as soon as we walked in it was quite clear that it was another one of these special tourist places and I was fed up with being shuttled around to buffets filled with tourists. I told Simone that I wasn't eating there. We told the driver we wanted real Egyptian food and he said he would take us to another restaurant. This time we went to a restaurant on the Nile and it was, not surprisingly, another buffet that had just been visited by a busload of tourists. I would have argued, but at that point I was tired. We asked for the menu and I'm pretty sure that the food we ordered was just reheated buffet food. Disappointing, but not completely terrible. In retrospect I wish I had been more assertive about where we went for dinner. We had ordered our cab to specifically take us to a specific restaurant and I should have stuck my guns. Oh well, if I ever go back I know not to take any bullshit!
After dinner we went back to our hotel in Heliopolis. We decided to stay there because it was close to the airport and Simone had a 4AM flight. We decided to go sit in the whirlpool and steam room. Unfortunately both were closed for renovations, so we went to the Oriental Cafe to smoke sheesha. It was kind of hilarious. I'm not a smoker, so there was a lot of sputtering and coughing on my part. Simone had a much easier time. It turned out a bit too easy because she smoked too much and had to go back to the room to throw up. I stayed at the table and continued to take a little puff and watch planes fly over by while feeling like the caterpillar in Alice In Wonderland. Sheesh is flavoured tobacco, for the record. It's nothing "funny" or "wacky," but it is strong!
We stayed up until it was time for Simmy to head to the airport. I went to sleep shortly after sending her off with hugs and kisses and thanks. It was really a good trip in terms of spending time together and catching up. We saw some amazing things and while some of the trip was incredibly exhausting, it was also fulfilling in so many other ways. I'm planning on putting together a little list of tips and lessons learned, so that if you're thinking of traveling to Egypt you can be at least somewhat prepared.
After our short trip to Alexandria we returned to Cairo to visit the Pyramids and do some shopping. Had we done a bit more research we probably wouldn't have spent two nights in Giza. If you didn't already know this, the pyramids are on the outskirts of Cairo and tower over urban Giza. For some people this might be a disappointment, but I thought it was pretty cool to be surprised by their grandeur as we drove towards our hotel, The Oasis. The main reason NOT to stay in Giza is that there is nothing around. You can't really walk anywhere because where the hotels are is fairly isolated. That meant we had some pretty mediocre food at our hotel for dinner that night. One thing that baffled me in many of the places we stayed was the lack of Egyptian food. Some places featured a selection of "oriental" items like kebab and hommous, but for the most part things were pretty bland and Western. If I were to do this trip over, I think I would have maybe spent one night in Giza to be close to the pyramids for touring and then the rest of the time in Cairo proper. The only redeeming feature of our hotel was its lush gardens, which I'm sure are a beautiful place to relax in warmer weather.
The pyramids were magnificent. The site was teeming with tourists and souvenir merchants, but that was to be expected. However, it was easy to look past that because the pyramids are vast, enormous and wonderful. Simone and I were escorted to the pyramids by our guide, Abdul aka "Big Abs." He gave us a brief introduction to the three pyramids on the site and then let us roam. We walked around the great pyramid, the Pyramid of Cheops, periodically pausing to look upward and say insightful things like, "Woah!" and "Cool!" They really are something to behold.
After our walk we hopped back into our van and drove to the second and third pyramids. The third pyramid was my favourite, not because it was particularly wonderful but because that is where I met Mickey Mouse, my camel for 15 minutes or so. My guide, a boy of about eleven, took me out past the pyramid so I could see the edge of the Sahara Desert. I had so much fun. I would love to pack up a day's worth of supplies and go on a camel trip. It was really fun and really high! Camels are much taller than I would have ever expected.
Simone wasn't too keen on riding a camel, but Big Abs convinced her to get on Mickey Mouse for a picture. That led to her riding over to the van.
I don't know if she liked it as much as me, but I can assure you that I loved it. Thanks Mickey Mouse and Mustaffah!
Next up was a trip to the Sphinx, which is situated just below the site of the pyramids. Again, wow. After seeing so many images of the sphinx it was pretty amazing to see it practically up close. There is some restoration work going on, so you can't walk right up to it. We took pictures of us totally making out with the sphinx because apparently that's what you're supposed to do when you visit him.
After the Great Pyramids and the Sphinx in Giza we drove to Saqqara to see the step pyramid. While not as grandiose as the Great Pyramids, it was still pretty amazing. I can't get over the fact that these structures are thousands of years old. Also, they're still being excavated which just shows how prolific and busy the ancient Egyptians were! After years and years of digging and exploring there is still a ton to discover.
While at Saqqara we visited another set of smaller pyramids. This time we went inside to see the hieroglyphics. To get inside one of them, and to see the tomb, we had to go down a passageway by basically bending over to a 90 degree angle and walking quickly downwards. Once inside our guide showed us some of the hieroglyphics and decorations carved into the wall. Part of the sarcophagus remained, but the mummy had been removed and taken to the Egyptian Museum (I think). He asked for baksheesh and said we could take pictures, but Big Abs had warned us that pictures are not allowed and it's not a good idea to take them even if the opportunity arises. So, we declined and headed back up and out of the pyramid. The next place we visited was a tomb. It was at ground level, so there was no crouch-walking required. Inside the hieroglyphics were amazing. While some of them had worn away over the years many were still vibrantly coloured. The tomb was like a maze and had many rooms and passageways. It was pretty great.
At the end of our tour we briefly visited the Khan Al Khalili market and had a late lunch at Egyptian Pancakes aka fiteer. I had a cheese blend and Simone had a sweet one. Both were delicious! Big Abs was not keen to stay in this area of Cairo because earlier in 2009 there was a terrorist attack at the plaza at one end of the market. A bomb went off and some people were killed. I couldn't blame him for feeling uneasy and we agreed to leave after finishing our food.
The next day we travelled from Giza to our next hotel in Heliopolis. On our last day in Cairo we went back to Khan al Khalili to do some shopping.
After a week in Egypt, Simone, admittedly, wasn't bartering very well so I took the reigns. It's kind of fun to barter, but also a bit exhausting. At this point in my life I don't have a problem with accepting what is on the price tag and just paying it (or not). However, that's not the way things are done in Egypt and I did my best to not get completely ripped off. Also, it's part of the culture and I wanted to participate as best as I could. So, we went to find some scarves and blouses. According to my Lonely Planet book the idea is to counteroffer with about half of what the seller initially says. From there you go back and forth until you settle on a price. There is usually a lot of sweet talk on the part of the seller, I suppose it's an attempt to charm you into paying more. But you have to be tough. I think I did alright overall, but I couldn't help but always feel like as soon as I left the shop they were counting the money I gave them and laughing their heads off. Oh well.
We walked down Khan al Khalili amongst the locals. There wasn't much to see because it was so packed. There was lots to hear though. Mostly it was "Where are your from?" and kissing sounds. Blah. There was a brief reprieve when prayer time began and the passageway cleared somewhat. On the way back up we stopped in a spice shop where I bought a few things and we drank hibiscus tea. We were quickly escorted to the seller's "cousin's" perfume shop where I repeatedly insisted that I had no more money (which was true) and it wasn't until I laid down a 5 Egyptian Pound note that the perfume seller said, "Okay, enjoy your stay in Cairo" and let us leave his shop.
We were supposed to be taken to a restaurant that I had read about in my guidebook, Felfela. Our driver that day told us that it was too busy downtown and that he would take us to another Egyptian restaurant. We ended up at the same "special bazaar" as we had on our first day in Cairo, a typical tourist trap where the driver makes a commission based on how much the tourists spend at the shop. There was a resataurant close by, but as soon as we walked in it was quite clear that it was another one of these special tourist places and I was fed up with being shuttled around to buffets filled with tourists. I told Simone that I wasn't eating there. We told the driver we wanted real Egyptian food and he said he would take us to another restaurant. This time we went to a restaurant on the Nile and it was, not surprisingly, another buffet that had just been visited by a busload of tourists. I would have argued, but at that point I was tired. We asked for the menu and I'm pretty sure that the food we ordered was just reheated buffet food. Disappointing, but not completely terrible. In retrospect I wish I had been more assertive about where we went for dinner. We had ordered our cab to specifically take us to a specific restaurant and I should have stuck my guns. Oh well, if I ever go back I know not to take any bullshit!
After dinner we went back to our hotel in Heliopolis. We decided to stay there because it was close to the airport and Simone had a 4AM flight. We decided to go sit in the whirlpool and steam room. Unfortunately both were closed for renovations, so we went to the Oriental Cafe to smoke sheesha. It was kind of hilarious. I'm not a smoker, so there was a lot of sputtering and coughing on my part. Simone had a much easier time. It turned out a bit too easy because she smoked too much and had to go back to the room to throw up. I stayed at the table and continued to take a little puff and watch planes fly over by while feeling like the caterpillar in Alice In Wonderland. Sheesh is flavoured tobacco, for the record. It's nothing "funny" or "wacky," but it is strong!
We stayed up until it was time for Simmy to head to the airport. I went to sleep shortly after sending her off with hugs and kisses and thanks. It was really a good trip in terms of spending time together and catching up. We saw some amazing things and while some of the trip was incredibly exhausting, it was also fulfilling in so many other ways. I'm planning on putting together a little list of tips and lessons learned, so that if you're thinking of traveling to Egypt you can be at least somewhat prepared.
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