Posts will come later, I'm rushing out to a late dinner at a Brazilian restaurant.
Mmm tummy rumbling.
Showing posts with label travel. Show all posts
Showing posts with label travel. Show all posts
Saturday, May 16, 2009
"American" dream
After the art museum and a climb up the Grossmünster for a nice view of the city, I wandered the streets of the old town in search for a place to eat. I ended up enjoying a cheese fondue and a glass of Swiss wine (not great fyi) at an outside table of Alder's Swiss Chuchi Restaurant.
Sitting at the table, I couldn't help but overhear the conversation of a middle aged American couple with their daughter (who's apparently currently living in Bosnia, teaching English). The daughter was very obviously disappointed with the fact that her English students were creatively challenged. She'd asked them to brainstorm 'What do you do when you are feeling down' and as an example answered 'I wear my favorite t-shirt'. The responses she got were all of the form 'I wear my favorite ____.' Thus the conclusion - children in Bosnia are programmed with answers.
The whole experience of being in Zürich by myself was very liberating. No cell phone. No internet access (the G1 has spoiled me). No friends in the city. No one can contact me unless I want to be contacted. No responsibilities, just wandering the streets, doing what I want. The quaintness of the city, the plethora of little modern art galleries made me dream of some day moving to Europe and opening up a little gallery of my own. Hence, my 'American dream' which has nothing to do with America except its sentiment.
A fantasy dream in a fantasy land.
On art
Sorry about that... it's been a busy week catching up with work. Let's rewind to the Sunday two weeks ago in Zürich.
I went to the Kunstmuseum and realized that I love going to museums on my own, which is a far way to go for a girl who used to hate going to museums in general. The museum building itself wasn't that great and several paintings are framed in very ugly frames and put behind glass, which creates a lot of glare.
I went to the Kunstmuseum and realized that I love going to museums on my own, which is a far way to go for a girl who used to hate going to museums in general. The museum building itself wasn't that great and several paintings are framed in very ugly frames and put behind glass, which creates a lot of glare.
There were obviously a lot of works by Giacometti. I do enjoy his sculptures, but maybe it's because I am not very educated on sculpting that I prefer his paintings. Though I do find that his sculpting and painting have a lot in common, but I feel like his painting is more expressive. There was also a very interesting exhibitions of works by Giacometti in dialogue with ancient Egyptian sculptures (Giacometti's art work was influenced by Egyptian art).
- Doug Wheeler
With the exception of some paintings, I'm generally not a big fan of modern art. However, Doug Wheeler's installation in the 'Hot Spots' exhibit was very trippy. You put on overshoes and enter an all white room with a glowing square:
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| From Zürich und Uetliberg |
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| From Zürich und Uetliberg |
The room is bordering on oval shape rather than rectangular. All the corners have been rounded out. The shape of the room and the lighting and shadows was very disorienting to the sense of balance.
The 'Hot Spots' exhibition itself was very interesting. It included works Milan/Torino, L.A. and Rio de Janeiro from 1956-1969.
Monday, May 04, 2009
Just photos
More photos posted to the album from the previous post. Take a look, since it looks like I won't be able to post legitimately for a while.
Preview:
- I think I have an "American dream".
Lessons learned in my leadership workshop today:
- Being a technical lead of engineers is like being a cat herder.
- Some engineers are people too.
Saturday, May 02, 2009
In der Schweiz
Grüzi from Zurich!
Today I walked from my hotel in Sihlcity to Bahnhof Straße. Then up and down Bahnhof Straße with all it's expensive watch and jewelry stores. Then to Fraumünster and across the bridge to Grossmünster where I explored the church and the dungeon (I'll climb to the top tomorrow). Then all the way down along the lake shore to the Chinese garden, though I didn't go into the garden itself. Then back up by the churches to a restaurant called Zeughauskeller by Paradeplatz. And afterward all the way back to the hotel. I'm so tired that I'm going to go to sleep once I finish this post.
The lakeside I imagine is much prettier on a sunny day, but it was still a very enjoyable walk. It was fun observing the people around: groups of teens hanging out, lots of couples walking hand in hand, young people enjoying a bottle of champagne, two teenage girls smoking a joint (yup, still in Zürich) and of course plenty of Russian conversations...
(Nick - I failed to find the teacup fountain, so you'll have to come back here with me to track it down.)
Zeughauskeller restaurant is decorated like an armory, which was fun. I had a dark beer called Dunkle Perle and beef in cream of mushroom sauce with rösti (which are basically hashbrowns). It was very Swiss and yummy.
The lakeside I imagine is much prettier on a sunny day, but it was still a very enjoyable walk. It was fun observing the people around: groups of teens hanging out, lots of couples walking hand in hand, young people enjoying a bottle of champagne, two teenage girls smoking a joint (yup, still in Zürich) and of course plenty of Russian conversations...
(Nick - I failed to find the teacup fountain, so you'll have to come back here with me to track it down.)
Zeughauskeller restaurant is decorated like an armory, which was fun. I had a dark beer called Dunkle Perle and beef in cream of mushroom sauce with rösti (which are basically hashbrowns). It was very Swiss and yummy.
I find it a little disturbing how used to NYC I am. First of all with the exception of Bahnhof Straße there are very few people on the street. Second of all lots of stores start closing around 4pm on Saturday. Third of all in parts the city is uncomfortably clean. Overall Zürich reminds me of Prague, but more Swiss :).
"A happy fantasy land" indeed.
Friday, May 01, 2009
in the Amsterdam airport
Flight went by quickly enough. I slept through most of it and had some really bizarre dreams of the pilot flying the plane upside down really close to the ground and taking down treetops. I think these dreams were instigated by my hearing the pilot announcing a turbulence zone while I was half asleep.
Off to Zurich in a couple of hours.
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Real hot chocolate!
Or maybe hot, real chocolate is more appropriate. Melted goodness!
And I'm back...
The 10 hour 50 minute flight was a breeze. I managed to completely pass out before take off and was very surprise to be woken up and be offered drinks. I slept most of the way home, which was probably a bad idea. Guess we'll see tonight :).
New York's the same as when I left. Back to normal life tomorrow.
And I'm back...
The 10 hour 50 minute flight was a breeze. I managed to completely pass out before take off and was very surprise to be woken up and be offered drinks. I slept most of the way home, which was probably a bad idea. Guess we'll see tonight :).
New York's the same as when I left. Back to normal life tomorrow.
Good bye Moscow
I must say Siberia treated be nicer than Moscow though we did get some sunshine yesterday. It's "dubak" here, which apparently doesn't have a good English translation, but as Julia so elegantly put it: "It means really REALLY cold!" :)
Yesterday we spent the day walking around Tsaritsino, took some beautiful photos (which I'll hopefully be able to get off of Julia's camera today), then ate some borsht as a Ukranian restaurant (the same one we went to on my first day Moscow - it's coming full circle). At 7:30pm we took a nap for 4 hours, then hung out with Julia's friends. :)
Now I must run, finish up some last minute errands and get ready for my 10 hours flight back to NYC. Miscellaneous Moscow photos will be up soon after I'm back in the states. Be home soon!
Yesterday we spent the day walking around Tsaritsino, took some beautiful photos (which I'll hopefully be able to get off of Julia's camera today), then ate some borsht as a Ukranian restaurant (the same one we went to on my first day Moscow - it's coming full circle). At 7:30pm we took a nap for 4 hours, then hung out with Julia's friends. :)
Now I must run, finish up some last minute errands and get ready for my 10 hours flight back to NYC. Miscellaneous Moscow photos will be up soon after I'm back in the states. Be home soon!
Saturday, January 10, 2009
Moscow impressions
I'm liking Moscow a lot more this time around, obviously having a car and an apartment to live in helps. The city has a really old and spacious feel to it, very different from NYC. At night, I love driving down the wide six lane boulevards that are lined with street lamps. (Partially, because we've been sleeping during the day :).) These boulevards still have Christmas lights strung across them that shimmer as you drive under them. There's a Christmas tree on every little square in the city. The beautiful old churches with golden cupolas. The Kremlin with the ruby stars on top of its most intricate towers. The Red Square at night.
It's weird hearing phrases like "This is the shortest way to the restaurant, because you have to drive around the Kremlin." taken for granted.
Drinking magical tea in Il Patio:
On the Red Square:
P.S. Seems like the drivers in Moscow are getting better - have yet to see someone driving on the sidewalk.
It's weird hearing phrases like "This is the shortest way to the restaurant, because you have to drive around the Kremlin." taken for granted.
Drinking magical tea in Il Patio:
On the Red Square:
P.S. Seems like the drivers in Moscow are getting better - have yet to see someone driving on the sidewalk.
Good bye Siberia
I had the luckiest spot during preparations for the birthday dinner. I was cutting vegetables on the counter next to my uncle who was frying up scallops. He was feeding them to me with bread and wine, deliciousness!!!
The evening was nice, a little bitter sweet, sad to leave, but in a way nice to start my trip home.
We got up at 4:00am on the 8th and went to the airport. -6C (21F) seemed warm.
Arriving in Moscow was the first time I really felt chilled at -12C (10F). Except my feet were nice and warm :)! Why is it colder here than in Siberia?!?
The evening was nice, a little bitter sweet, sad to leave, but in a way nice to start my trip home.
We got up at 4:00am on the 8th and went to the airport. -6C (21F) seemed warm.
Arriving in Moscow was the first time I really felt chilled at -12C (10F). Except my feet were nice and warm :)! Why is it colder here than in Siberia?!?
Wednesday, January 07, 2009
Last night in Novosibirsk
We're off to Moscow first thing tomorrow, but tonight we celebrate Julia's grandpa's birthday and Christmas.
Here are a few more random photos, including two photos of the sauna that we went to on the 5th. My uncle rented the sauna from 6pm - 10pm. It was absolutely gorgeous! There was a Turkish sauna room, a regular sauna room, a pool, palm trees, a barrel of ice cold water to dip yourself in after the sauna, a bathroom, a changing room, two bed rooms, a bar and a dining table. We ordered sushi for dinner.
This sauna experience was a lot less extreme and physically exhausting than the banya the night before!
Here are a few more random photos, including two photos of the sauna that we went to on the 5th. My uncle rented the sauna from 6pm - 10pm. It was absolutely gorgeous! There was a Turkish sauna room, a regular sauna room, a pool, palm trees, a barrel of ice cold water to dip yourself in after the sauna, a bathroom, a changing room, two bed rooms, a bar and a dining table. We ordered sushi for dinner.
This sauna experience was a lot less extreme and physically exhausting than the banya the night before!
Russian banya
Still at the dacha...
After driving around on the river, Julia, her boyfriend and I decided to go to the banya. We wrapped ourselves up in bedsheets and went into the sauna room, which wasn't as hot as it can get, but definitely hot enough. My uncle's friend, Andrey, came in to hit us with a bunch of birch branches, which is first soaked in water or snow, to improve circulation. After a session with Andrey, each of us was running out of the sauna room through the whole banya outside to roll around in the snow. Barefoot and all.
It was AMAZING! The steam from the sauna, the smell of birch trees, the fresh country air, the cold snow.
It was so thoroughly relaxing that after we had dinner, I took a nap on the couch and then when we got home, I went right to sleep at 10:30pm and slept through the night for the first time.
After driving around on the river, Julia, her boyfriend and I decided to go to the banya. We wrapped ourselves up in bedsheets and went into the sauna room, which wasn't as hot as it can get, but definitely hot enough. My uncle's friend, Andrey, came in to hit us with a bunch of birch branches, which is first soaked in water or snow, to improve circulation. After a session with Andrey, each of us was running out of the sauna room through the whole banya outside to roll around in the snow. Barefoot and all.
It was AMAZING! The steam from the sauna, the smell of birch trees, the fresh country air, the cold snow.
It was so thoroughly relaxing that after we had dinner, I took a nap on the couch and then when we got home, I went right to sleep at 10:30pm and slept through the night for the first time.
Walking on water
... which is covered with ice, which is covered with snow :)
Let's rewind back to January the 4rd, which was so much fun that as some of you have pointed out I didn't even have the energy to blog about it until now! You're so demanding!
We got up early that day at 9:30am and went to my aunt and uncle's friend's dacha for the day. It's about 1 and a half hours out of the city. A cute little house, a banya and a big yard that leads right into the river.
Given that there have been two months of freezing weather, the river is completely frozen over. The first thing we did was go out for a one hour walk on the river. The weather was perfect - the sun was shinning, the snow was shimmering - just beautiful! We rolled around in the snow, not forgetting to fill Julia's pants with it :). In huge letter, we stomped out 'Happy New Year!' in the snow for the aliens to see!
Fresh air can be almost intoxicating after the city. Thoroughly aired out, we went inside for lunch (pelmeni - delicious). After lunch, my younger cousin Genya took his quadcycle out so we could ride around on the frozen river (having previously thoroughly tested it on foot). We took turns on the bike, which had some trouble getting through the snow, but was still a ton of fun.
(Before I go on, I just want to make sure everyone realizes there was drinking during lunch.)
So what's the next step for testing the frozen river after the quadcycle? How about driving on it in a car! And that's just what my uncle did. To tell the truth, riding around in the car on the river was much more comfortable than on the quadcycle :).
In conclusion the river is frozen over good and well.
Photos here
Let's rewind back to January the 4rd, which was so much fun that as some of you have pointed out I didn't even have the energy to blog about it until now! You're so demanding!
We got up early that day at 9:30am and went to my aunt and uncle's friend's dacha for the day. It's about 1 and a half hours out of the city. A cute little house, a banya and a big yard that leads right into the river.
Given that there have been two months of freezing weather, the river is completely frozen over. The first thing we did was go out for a one hour walk on the river. The weather was perfect - the sun was shinning, the snow was shimmering - just beautiful! We rolled around in the snow, not forgetting to fill Julia's pants with it :). In huge letter, we stomped out 'Happy New Year!' in the snow for the aliens to see!
Fresh air can be almost intoxicating after the city. Thoroughly aired out, we went inside for lunch (pelmeni - delicious). After lunch, my younger cousin Genya took his quadcycle out so we could ride around on the frozen river (having previously thoroughly tested it on foot). We took turns on the bike, which had some trouble getting through the snow, but was still a ton of fun.
(Before I go on, I just want to make sure everyone realizes there was drinking during lunch.)
So what's the next step for testing the frozen river after the quadcycle? How about driving on it in a car! And that's just what my uncle did. To tell the truth, riding around in the car on the river was much more comfortable than on the quadcycle :).
In conclusion the river is frozen over good and well.
Photos here
Monday, January 05, 2009
Sleepy time
Haven't been around the internet when I wasn't falling asleep lately, so sorry for the silence. I would post more photos, but they can't be posted without a blog post. And now it's 3:47am, I just got home and I need sleep. Will post first thing tomorrow...
Preview of tomorrows blog post:
The title will be "Walking on water".
Preview of tomorrows blog post:
The title will be "Walking on water".
Saturday, January 03, 2009
Real Siberian winter
Fine, I'll show you the real Siberian winter, just stop asking me about it! :)
Thing I love:
Thing I love:
- Pine nuts
- Heated tile floors in bathrooms and kitchens
- Fire places
- Bathrooms the size of my NY apartment
- Tangerines the size of golf balls
- Birch forests
- Snow to my knees
- Ice sculptures and slides
- A city covered in snow
- Opera houses
Friday, January 02, 2009
I hate jetlag
So time for another very appropriate joke from my uncle from this morning around the breakfast table:
Julia: "Papa, can you take us to the cemetery after breakfast?"
My uncle: "One way?"
Julia: "Papa, can you take us to the cemetery after breakfast?"
My uncle: "One way?"
Thursday, January 01, 2009
Highlights from last night (part 2)
Our decorated "New Year's tree":
January 1st (continues)
6:00am
I try calling Julia, but the money for the SIM card I have ran out, which means that Julia's ran out as well. Genya calls Julia, but instead of getting through to her Julia's friend, Taya, answers and says that Julia's asleep on the couch, refuses to wake up and answer the phone. Genya tells Taya that we'll be heading over soon.
6:30am
Genya's brother Oleg comes home. Great to see him too! He's really grown up a lot as well (he's 17 now) but has not changed much in his looks or personality.
7:00am
Genya and I start heading back to Julia's friend's.
--around the same time--
Julia wakes up on the couch and starts looking for her boyfriend and I. Luckily she finds the former sleeping on the couch next to her. Remembering that Genya and I'd left earlier, she tries calling Genya as she doesn't have my number, but we don't hear his phone go off. So she calls her brother, her mom and dad and finally gets through to her dad, explains to him that she'd lost me and he gives her Genya's house address. At this point Taya decides to tell Julia that actually Genya and I had just called and are heading over.
7:30am
Taya had managed to find a taxi to take us back to the city from the Academic town.
8:00am
We got back home and went to sleep!
And that's how I started the New Year... AMAZING!
January 1st (continues)
6:00am
I try calling Julia, but the money for the SIM card I have ran out, which means that Julia's ran out as well. Genya calls Julia, but instead of getting through to her Julia's friend, Taya, answers and says that Julia's asleep on the couch, refuses to wake up and answer the phone. Genya tells Taya that we'll be heading over soon.
6:30am
Genya's brother Oleg comes home. Great to see him too! He's really grown up a lot as well (he's 17 now) but has not changed much in his looks or personality.
7:00am
Genya and I start heading back to Julia's friend's.
Julia wakes up on the couch and starts looking for her boyfriend and I. Luckily she finds the former sleeping on the couch next to her. Remembering that Genya and I'd left earlier, she tries calling Genya as she doesn't have my number, but we don't hear his phone go off. So she calls her brother, her mom and dad and finally gets through to her dad, explains to him that she'd lost me and he gives her Genya's house address. At this point Taya decides to tell Julia that actually Genya and I had just called and are heading over.
7:30am
Taya had managed to find a taxi to take us back to the city from the Academic town.
8:00am
We got back home and went to sleep!
And that's how I started the New Year... AMAZING!
Highlights from last night (part 1)
December 31st
11:00pm
We gathered at the dinner table. I was of course the last to sit down, since I was still blow drying and curling my hair at quarter till. Julia's grandma proposed that everyone toasts to the best thing about 2008. When it got to Julia's grandpa's turn he said:
11:55pm
The President of the Russian Federation (that's Medvedev) came on TV. He said a few inspiring words (I assume they were inspiring, but honestly we weren't paying attention), then the Kremlin clocks rang 12 times and it was the New Year. (I thought it was weird without the countdown.) The Russian anthem came next - at which point everyone started singing it, but the older generations was singing the USSR version while the young generation were singing the Russian version (the melody is the same for both). Needless to say, the older generations out sang us. :)
January 1st
12:30am
We went out into the street to set off fireworks. (To go out into the Siberian winter, I put on my Uggs and snow pants under my skirt - it was real classy.) Real fireworks: in the midst of others setting off fireworks in just about every yard in the city. Our fireworks were the most beautiful and loud; they made our dog bark, the parked cars alarms go off and the people driving by honk!
1:20am
Julia, her boyfriend and I changed into warmer street clothes and filed into a taxi to go into the Academic town to see their friends.
2:00am
We arrive by the shopping center in Academic town where there's a slide made of ice and a Santa Clause made of snow! (Yes, I went down the slide and yes, my butt is OK!)
2:30am
We're off to one of Julia's friend apartment. It's quite tricky to walk around on the snow because it's all padded down and very slippery.
4:30am
Genya S. shows up at Julia's friend's! His hair is longer and he shaved off his mustache, so it took some staring to fully accept that it was really him. Genya's family and my family lived in the same 2 room (2 bedrooms and 1 kitchen) apartment when I was 2 yrs old. This is the boy that I saw being brought home from the hospital on the day he was born; the boy I used to take baths with! Genya's family are the type of friends that are really like family to us.
5:00am
Genya and I head out to meet up with his parents at their friend's apartment. It was amazing to see them. We reminisced about our favorite stories from when we lived together. The classic being that Genya and I and our dads used to run around the apartment pretend shooting at each other from wooden guns. Yes, I grew up playing war! :)
11:00pm
We gathered at the dinner table. I was of course the last to sit down, since I was still blow drying and curling my hair at quarter till. Julia's grandma proposed that everyone toasts to the best thing about 2008. When it got to Julia's grandpa's turn he said:
I don't know about everyone else, but I am very happy that both of our granddaughters are still single!
11:55pmThe President of the Russian Federation (that's Medvedev) came on TV. He said a few inspiring words (I assume they were inspiring, but honestly we weren't paying attention), then the Kremlin clocks rang 12 times and it was the New Year. (I thought it was weird without the countdown.) The Russian anthem came next - at which point everyone started singing it, but the older generations was singing the USSR version while the young generation were singing the Russian version (the melody is the same for both). Needless to say, the older generations out sang us. :)
January 1st
12:30am
We went out into the street to set off fireworks. (To go out into the Siberian winter, I put on my Uggs and snow pants under my skirt - it was real classy.) Real fireworks: in the midst of others setting off fireworks in just about every yard in the city. Our fireworks were the most beautiful and loud; they made our dog bark, the parked cars alarms go off and the people driving by honk!
1:20am
Julia, her boyfriend and I changed into warmer street clothes and filed into a taxi to go into the Academic town to see their friends.
2:00am
We arrive by the shopping center in Academic town where there's a slide made of ice and a Santa Clause made of snow! (Yes, I went down the slide and yes, my butt is OK!)
2:30am
We're off to one of Julia's friend apartment. It's quite tricky to walk around on the snow because it's all padded down and very slippery.
4:30am
Genya S. shows up at Julia's friend's! His hair is longer and he shaved off his mustache, so it took some staring to fully accept that it was really him. Genya's family and my family lived in the same 2 room (2 bedrooms and 1 kitchen) apartment when I was 2 yrs old. This is the boy that I saw being brought home from the hospital on the day he was born; the boy I used to take baths with! Genya's family are the type of friends that are really like family to us.
5:00am
Genya and I head out to meet up with his parents at their friend's apartment. It was amazing to see them. We reminisced about our favorite stories from when we lived together. The classic being that Genya and I and our dads used to run around the apartment pretend shooting at each other from wooden guns. Yes, I grew up playing war! :)
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!
I know it's not the New Year for most of you, but I've been enjoying 2009 for 8.5 hours now and it's been amazing! Don't forget to make a wish and I hope that wish comes true for you in the new year. And enjoy the extra second :).
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