Oxford, England: Pick Up Your Oxford Blues... and Alice Trinkets

Oxford, England. Home to more esteemed British academia.

Visiting Oxford in October 2008 was quite the trip. Literally. I had injured myself in Montpellier only a few days before leaving so I was obliged to awkwardly hobble about towns during my UK getaway.

I managed to snap a pathetic amount of photos due to the pain I was in. The one below is of an Oxford Blues shop. One of many stores in which visitors and students alike could purchase their very own Oxford blues. I, of course, couldn't leave this town with such a rich academic history without at least picking up a classic Oxford University tee-shirt.

Alice shop and Oxford Blues shop in Oxford, England.

Can't leave Oxford without an official University of Oxford tee shirt.

Alice in Wonderland fans may also be familiar with Oxford. The author, Lewis Carroll, was inspired by many aspects of the university, which he attended, and incorporated these aspects in his stories. A rowboat trip beginning at Folly Bridge served as the inspiration for the tale of Alice, a girl who created her own adventure.

So, as an homage (?) to Carroll and his wildly popular tales of Alice, her mementos can also be purchased about town.

Montpellier, FR: An aqueduct runs through it

Sunny Mediterranean Montpellier, located in southern France, is the capital of the Languedoc-Roussillon region. 

Its 17th century Saint-Clément aqueduct spans the "Les Arceaux" (The Arches) neighborhood and it was used to direct water to the city from the Saint Clément spring located 8.6 miles away.

The aqueduct has (obviously) become a staple of the city's geography over the centuries and is an integral architectural feature in the lives of Montpellier's citizens. It is dressed up with classy lighting showing off its characteristic features, while also serving as shelter for many local pétanque playing fields.

Massive 17th century aqueduct in Montpellier lit up at night

A little beauty lighting for the aqueduct

Live An Adventure: This is what backpacking through Luxembourg looks like

Luxembourg. Tucked in between France, Belgium and Germany is a little (literally) gem rich (literally) in history and culture. 

Luxembourg on the map. Nestled between France, Germany and Belgium.

My friend, Ieva, once shared this brilliant quote with me,  “The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page.” – St. Augustine

And so, this is what backpacking through Luxembourg (and beyond) at age 21 looks like. We're exploring the history of walled Luxembourg City.

Welcome to Luxembourg City. Rich in history.

My awesome travel partner Alaina, and me.

Now grab your backpack and explore the world! What's truly stopping you?

Brussels' 'Little Man Pee' or as locals know him, Mannekin Pis

Located just some hundreds of feet from the Brussels' central square, at the intersection of Rue de l'Étuve/Stoofstraat and Rue du Chêne/Eikstraat, is a small, 2-foot tall statue of a little boy urinating in a fountain. A Belgian landmark.

Know in Dutch as Mannekin Pis and in French as le Petit Julien, the little boy is one of legends. One of the many and most famous legends regarding his existence involves Duke Godfrey III of Leuven. It states that "in 1142, the troops of this two-year-old lord were battling against the troops of the Berthouts, the lords of Grimbergen, in Ransbeke (now Neder-over-Heembeek). The troops put the infant lord in a basket and hung the basket in a tree to encourage them. From there, the boy urinated on the troops of the Berthouts, who eventually lost the battle."

Our little boy wonder is known for his ever-changing attire. He's quite the trendy little fellow. His costume is changed several times each week and his wardrobe is cared for by a local non-profit, The Friends of Mannekin Pis. 

In October 2009, Alaina and I happen to catch him in his seemingly Arab-inspired wardrobe.

Little Mannekin Pis is so trendy.

Little boy legend. Literally. This one is to show scale of size.

Considering he's been standing around, peeing, since 1618, his closet must be gigantic.

I think he should dress as Mickey Mouse one day. What do you think?

Dublin Castle, or what's left of it

Here is Dublin Castle, a major player in Irish government and stronghold in British rule. In the center is Record Tower, the sole surviving medieval part of this structure. Not bad for living through history since 1204.

Care to visit?

Dublin Castle. Pieces of it at least.

Copenhagen, DK: Home of the Little Mermaid, A Part of Your World

The Little Mermaid. Not Ariel. I'm talking about the Hans Christian Andersen variety here. This Andersen-inspired mermaid statue calls the edges of Copenhagen's Lagenlinie harbor home.

The mermaid is a young woman who is "willing to give up her life in the sea and her identity as a mermaid to gain a human soul and the love of a human prince." She now welcomes throngs of visitors to Copenhagen's harbor.

The little mermaid, at home in Copenhagen, Denmark.

Perhaps she "still" longs to be a part of our world, as she did in Disney's retelling of her story.


Part of Your World (Reprise)

What would I give to live where you are?
What would I pay to stay here beside you?
What would I do to see you smiling at me?

Where would we walk?
Where would we run?
If we could stay all day in the sun
Just you and me, and I could be
Part of your world

I don't know when, I don't know how
But I know something's starting right now
Watch and you'll see, someday I'll be
Part of your world

Mr. Reagan, Meet Mr. Gorbachev: The Reykjavik Summit of 1986

No more Cold War, please.

The Reykjavik Summit of 1986 is the event at which then-president, Mr. Ronald Reagan sat down with the Soviet Union's Mikhael Gorbachev to discuss ballistic missile usage. Although the talks fell apart at the last minute, certain agreements were still reached, promoting future changes regarding stances on and uses of nuclear weapons.

The home in which this meeting took place, pictured below, is named Höfði

Reagan and Gorbachev met here in 1986 for The Reykjavik Summit

Mr. Wikipedia states,

Despite the unexpected proximity to the potential elimination of all nuclear weapons, the meeting adjourned with no agreement; however, both sides discovered the extent of the concessions the other side was willing to make.^[3] Human rights became a subject of productive discussion for the first time. An agreement by Gorbachev to on-site inspections, a continuing American demand which had not been achieved in the Partial Test Ban Treaty of 1963 or the ABM and SALT I pacts of 1972, constituted a significant step forward, and foreshadowed Russian openness to such testing in future talks.Despite its apparent failure, participants and observers have referred to the summit as an enormous breakthrough which eventually facilitated the INF Treaty (Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty), signed in Washington on December 8, 1987.

The US and Russia putting Iceland on the map, once again.

Bienvenidos al Park Güell! I heart Gaudi.

Bienvenidos al Park Güell! This place looks like it was taken from a storybook! Gaudi's work is all over Barcelona. Park Güell is one of my favorite examples of his work.

The park is situated on Barcelona's el Carmel hill. It is a UNESCO World Heritage site, built between the years of 1900-1914. It is a feast of exploration for the ears, eyes and mind.

It is whimsy that welcomes visitors to the park. It is imagination that creates and appreciates the intricacies of the park.

I want need to go back. Barcelona, te amo.

Gaudi's art. Entrance to Park Güell. 

Yours truly enjoying the colonnaded foot path at Park Guell

 

Bienvenidos, todos! 

Gaudi's multi-color mosaic dragon fountain 

#FranceFriday: Sète, the Venice of southern France

Bienvenue à Sète. 

It is a port and seaside community overlooking the gorgeous Mediterranean sea. It is built on and around Mont St. Clair, from which visitors can stare in awe over the amazing views of the  quaint city and seemingly never-ending sea located beneath them. 

The city's bassin de Thau, an enclosed salt-water lake, has a primary function for oyster and mussel harvesting. The city undoubtedly serves excellent seafood; pulled from the waters regularly and served on dinner tables only a few short hours later. Can it get any fresher than this?

Take in the beauty of this seaside village. Don't forget to explore and learn about Mont St. Clair at the Chapelle de la Salette while you're up there enjoying the views as well.

Sete, FR as seeing from Mont St. Clair

Fun Fact: French crooner, Georges Brassens and poet and philosopher, Paul Valéry were both born in Sète.

Hallo, Amsterdam Centraal

Amsterdam's Centraal train station isn't just another point of entry or exit to and from the city, it's also a piece of neo-Renaissance art. The reliefs in between the two clock towers attest to hope and prosperity for the city and its citizens.

Hallo, Amsterdam.

• The station serves 25,000 passengers per day.
• This station has been welcoming citizens to Amsterdam since October 1889.
• There are 11 platforms which whisk visitors off to exciting new travel adventures.
• The station is paired with Liverpool Street station in London. This serves as the terminus for the Dutchflyer rail-ferry service.

Happy travels!

Explore Portugalia: Exotic Pena Palace in Sintra, PT

Home of past Portuguese kings.

The tiled, colorful, Arab-influenced, Romantic and exoctic Pena National Palace, located in Sintra, Portugal is a UNESCO World Heritage and one of the Seven Wonders of Portugal (of which I have visited three. Hooray!).

Pena Palace with its colorful tiled exterior and elaborately rounded archways, should be easily identified as being influenced by Islamic architecture and Portugal's Moorish invasion, circa the year 711 and beyond.

Being a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the Seven Wonders of Portugal, I think visiting the town of Sintra, PT and its many historically rich and diverse sites should definitely be on your to-do list. I am very glad it was on mine.

Pena Palace in Sintra, Portugal. Part 1.

Pena Palace in Sintra, Portugal. Part 2. 

Pena Palace in Sintra, Portugal. Part 3.