Blowin' in the Wind

Home At Last

2011-08-03T12:48:00.001-04:00

Greetings all!

After several jam-packed weeks of travel we are finally home. Of course, that does not mean this blog will end anytime soon, as we still need to fill everyone in on the past few weeks in terms of posts and photo sets, which Farrell has already begun to sort. Besides, we intend to travel more in the future (though probably not years at a time) and this blog allows us space to record and share our experiences. In the next few days you can expect to read about our initial bus trip from Amsterdam to Rome, our stay in Rome, and stories from our various stops in Italy, Greece, Croatia, and the arduous trip home.

Until next time,
Jessica and Farrell

So, What Now?

2011-07-10T17:30:00.004-04:00

Hello everyone!

So, we have visited the beaches at Scheveningen (see here for pronunciation) and stuck our feet in the North Sea. We have also toured around Utrecht one last time, a very beautiful canal city with a fairly famous cathedral tower, which we actually climbed all the way to the top this time. Now, we are making our final plans for our last trip to Amsterdam today after a weekend spent packing and organizing -- so far so good. Pictures from our trips should be up soon, but (as usual) no promises, especially considering all we are trying to cram into these past few days...including printing off traveling information (maps, tickets, etc.) and ensuring all our grades have been collected (because apparently the system is not automated). Anyway, we're in the final stretch, so wish us luck!

Until next time,
Jessica

(Not) Lazing on a Sunday Afternoon

2011-07-02T19:12:00.009-04:00

Hello all!

Today will be the start of the cleaning and packing process. In my experiences with moving, I have come to realize it is always better to start as soon as possible, that is to say: I would like to avoid any possible moving disasters that could throw off the schedule too much. So while Farrell studies today, I am packing up some of my winter clothes and other things that aren't routinely needed and doing some cleaning. All in all, it should be a relaxing, but productive Sunday -- especially with this as my theme song!

We'll keep you posted on the packing process and the events of our final days in Nijmegen. Take care!

Until next time,

Jessica

Independence Day Weekend

2011-07-02T15:00:00.006-04:00

Hello again!

Well, once again we lapsed in our posting, for the same reason as usual -- too much work! June was a very busy month with the ending of classes and the start of exams, which Farrell will finally conclude on Monday (not the best way to celebrate the 4th). We have yet to decide how we will actually spend Independence Day, after Farrell's exams of course, so we're open to suggestions! In other news we have officially bought our plane tickets home and we will be arriving back on American soil on August 1, and will be officially home on August 2. However, we will be leaving the Netherlands on July 13 for a fun trip in Italy with Farrell's family, which we are really looking forward to. In between then and now, aside from all the packing that needs to be done (eeek!), we hope to squeeze in a few more day trips in the Netherlands as well as visit all our favorite spots in Nijmegen one last time. With at least one more friets speciaal, yum...

We'll try and keep you posted on our final week and upcoming travels, as well as catch up on all the photo sorting and posting that got pushed aside during this hectic month. Wish us luck!

Until next time,

Jessica (and Farrell)

A Tour and a Tasting

2011-05-26T11:46:00.001-04:00

Greetings!

Last Wednesday we were given the opportunity to tour a dairy farm and their cheese-making facilities and, as two avid cheese lovers, it was an offer we couldn't refuse. Located in Nijmegen, De Diervoort was only a short bike ride away and a pretty one at that. Once there, the cheese-making process was explained to us before touring the factory (though much smaller than the term usually indicates) and the farm. Naturally, the tour ended with a cheese tasting. Of course, the farm produces more than its own milk and cheese also making yogurts, ice creams, vla (pudding of sorts), and chocolate milk. It was a really interesting (and tasty) experience and some place we will definitely be biking to again. Plus, in addition to everything else, the farm has several public trails that we are looking forward to exploring. View the photos from this fun outing here and take a glance at the cheese-making process.

Until next time,

Jessica

Updated Photo Sets

2011-05-25T14:11:00.009-04:00

Hello all!

We have recently updated a few photo sets with pictures we have either found or recently taken. The updated sets are listed below along with a description of the added photos.

1. Radboud Walk-Around

To this set Farrell has added pictures from a spring walk we had around campus. It covers a slightly different area of campus, including some pictures from the top floor of the Erasmus building (the tallest in Nijmegen), and shows the crocus in bloom.

2. Happenings of the Flat

In keeping with the spring motif, this set includes some pictures from the spring redecorating I gave the flat, as well as a few portraits of each of us. There are even a few random photos that I took, other than the ones of Farrell. (See if you can guess which!)

3. Nijmegen with Visitors

This nice, little set has been updated with a few more pictures we uncovered from when our friends visited from the U.S.

Feel free to take a peek! Enjoy!

Until next time,

Jessica

CouchSurfing in Cologne

2011-05-24T17:13:00.001-04:00

Hello everyone!

I am glad to report that our trip to Cologne turned out great! The city was beautiful and we had an excellent host, which made our very first CouchSurfing experience very enjoyable. For those of you who have never heard of CouchSurfing, it is an online community of travelers who are interested in making new friends by hosting and visiting other community members. So, rather than staying in a hostel, this allows you a chance to stay with a local resident who is interested and excited to talk to you about their city and (if you are lucky like we were) show you around as well. It is a really great experience that I strongly recommend. And, don't worry, it really is safe: there is a verification system and you can view feedback and reviews from people that have hosted or been hosted by that individual.

As for the city itself, as the fourth largest city in Germany, Cologne has a lot to offer. Sometimes referred to as "Italy's northernmost city," Cologne is historically Catholic with beautiful cathedrals, a fun, relaxed atmosphere, and, of course, their famous Kölsch (or Koelsch) beer. What's more, Cologne has a lot of museums and on-going archaeological projects, which makes since given that Cologne is such an old city, nevertheless we were surprised by what we found. We walked along the Rhine, tagged along with a Danish tour group we bumped into, and explored all over the city. Take a look at the photos and see for yourself!

Until next time,

Jessica and Farrell

Germany for the Weekend

2011-05-20T02:25:00.004-04:00

Hello everyone!

Well, we are off to Cologne and Bonn Germany for a few days! Look for an update on Sunday.

Quick update: The trip was great and we are back safe and sound, but a bit later then expected. Look for a post and pictures soon, but not today.

Until next time,

Farrell and Jessica

Potluck Dinner

2011-05-19T06:38:00.001-04:00

Hello there!

A few weeks back, in part to celebrate the beginning of May break, we had a potluck dinner with a few friends that turned out to be quite the cultural experience. Our friend Maria made pelmeni, a Russian dumpling dish, while Carlota prepared some authentic Argentine empanadas and (being from Spain) some typical sangria as well. Expectedly, we brought a big, taste-packed salad and Olivier baked his usual chocolate tart, which was a perfectly delicious compliment. View the photo set here for a glimpse of our tasty experience!

Until next time,

Jessica

Mentor Group Picnic in the Park

2011-05-16T18:00:00.001-04:00

Hello again!

When we first arrived, the International Office at Radboud University assigned each exchange student to a mentor group for the two weeks of orientation. But, as usually happens, friendships are made and it is no longer just a "mentor group," but the usual and anticipated meeting of friends. However, this afternoon picnic in Kronenburgerpark had a few unexpected surprises. Take a look at our afternoon spent relaxing, people watching, and listening to an impromptu performance from an interesting acquaintance with a borrowed hat and guitar. [photo set here]

Until next time,

Jessica

Amsterdam III: Farrell's Belated Birthday Trip

2011-05-15T17:13:00.001-04:00

Greetings all!

Farrell's birthday was back in April and, as mentioned in the "Fast Forward" post, we took another trip to Amsterdam. We walked around our favorite parts of the city (along the canals) and explored Vondelpark, but we spent the majority of the day visiting the Stedelijk Museum and the Rijksmuseum. Unfortunately, neither of these museums allowed photography, so we do not have quite as many photos as usual. Nonetheless, feel free to take a tour of the sites on the way from the Central Station to the museum and back again. Enjoy!

Until next time,

Jessica

Saturday Travels Part II: Haarlem

2011-05-13T20:06:00.001-04:00

Hello there!

We have finished sorting and Farrell has now finished labeling our pictures from Haarlem, Saturday's second trip following our visit to the Keukenhof Gardens, the largest flower gardens in the world. Described by locals as "a village in a city," Haarlem is a beautiful city filled with gorgeous old buildings, canals, looming cathedrals, windmills, and a rich history to accompany it all. Needless to say we had a great time, so we encourage you to take a look for yourself! Begin viewing the complete photo set here and see what it is like to walk the streets of Haarlem!

Until next time,

Jessica and Farrell

The Keukenhof Gardens

2011-05-10T14:39:00.000-04:00

Hello there,

As mentioned in the last post, we took a trip to the famous Keukenhof Gardens, the largest flower garden in the world. Certainly, the gardens did not disappoint. Take a tour of "the Gardens of Europe," by looking at the finished photo set. Posted only two days after, consider this a belated Mother's Day post. Enjoy!

Until next time,

Jessica and Farrell

The Groninger in Groningen

2011-05-08T20:32:00.002-04:00

Greetings!

We have been doing some traveling the past two days: Friday we went to Groningen, followed by a trip to the famous Keukenhof Gardens and Haarlem. Both days were a lot of fun, but very tiring, involving several solid hours of traveling each day. Take a look at the first set of pictures from our recent travels, here. This set focuses on our first day of traveling in Groningen, which began with a visit to the Groninger Museum (of art) and a walk all around this city, the capital of the province of Groningen. Look for pictures from Keukenhof and Haarlem in the coming days.

Note: I spent most of today sorting, describing, researching and tagging this photo-set and the two yet-to-be-launched sets of Keukenhof and Haarlem. However, as it takes quite a bit of time to write researched and externally linked descriptions for all of my photos, I haven't quite finished with this set. If you want to go ahead and take a look, go for it - I will post again when I've finished adding descriptions, tags and geotags to this set, for everyone else who wants the fully connected experience.

Until next time,

Jessica and Farrell

Queen's Day

2011-05-05T06:04:00.000-04:00

Hello again!

Last Saturday was Queen's Day, which is a big holiday for the Netherlands, though some of its festivities seem a bit odd to outsiders. Everyone dresses in orange (an homage to the William of Orange family dynasty), participates in the open air market (the one day where anyone is allowed to sell anything), and enjoys classic Dutch food (oliebollen), all mixed in with concerts and the occasional samba band -- at least, that's what Nijmegen's celebrations were like. The biggest celebrations occur in the larger cities, which includes Amsterdam, of course. To read more about Queen's Day and its associated celebrations, you can read the Wikipedia page by clicking here. For images from our day in Nijmegen, take a look at the photoset here, or start a slideshow of large images here.

Until next time,

Jessica and Farrell

Spring Walks and Fresh Cuts

2011-05-03T06:22:00.000-04:00

Hello all!

Take a look at our new haircuts, which I did myself, and at some scenes from our walk to Goffertpark on a beautiful spring day.

You can find the set of photos here, or start a slideshow of large images (recommended) here.

Warm wishes until next time,

Jessica

Fast Forward

2011-04-22T06:14:00.003-04:00

In case you had not guessed, March and April have been exceptionally busy months, hence the complete (pitiful) dearth of blog posts over the past month or so. Hopefully, we can start to change that, but no promises, since we will likely begin travelling more, even if only in small doses. In order to encourage more posting, we will try and do smaller posts more often, as opposed to larger, less frequent updates. Regardless, let me briefly catch everyone up on what has happened since our last post way back in February.

March was a difficult month as we had a great deal of work, with exams beginning at the end of the month, including a massive research paper I had for my Europe: A Political Profile class (a comparative analysis of recent political developments in Switzerland and Czechia -- no, they do not have much in common). Also this month we had a some-what surprise visit from some friends from the US who stayed with us for about a week (photos here). It was a lot of fun visitng and site-seeing some with them. Especially since it was during Carnival, which is more or less a family-friendly Dutch version of Mardi Gras. Take a look at the picture set to see for yourself!

After our friends left, we went into work mode, which lasted into the first week in April. Then we had a little bit of a break, but not really. Two of our classes were on break, and some had ended (though half of mine continue), but Farrell had several new classes start up (so he did not get a real break). Plus, we both are in American Foreign Policy and have rough draft versions of our reserch papers for that class due next Wednesday. On top of all this, we have had to say goodbye (though not permanently, of course) to several of our friends here -- all masters students that had to go off to the Phillipines or Brussels or Germany (though soon to be in Kenya) for their graduate research -- so, understandably we had been trying to fit in extra time with our friends since they will not be back until July (hopefully before we leave). Oh, and I almost forgot! Farrell's birthday was April 14th, so we also took a few days to celebrate that with our time divided between a trip to Amsterdam (visiting parks, two more museums, and other sites we had not visited) and time simply relaxing, watching movies, and trying new Dutch foods like kebab and Turkish pizza (Lahmacun), which is actually a wrap, not pizza.

So, that's the past two months in brief. Now to finish this American Foreign Policy paper and, hopefully, enjoy this beautiful Dutch spring day!

Until Next Time,
Jessica

Football, or Something Like That

2011-02-28T15:36:00.007-05:00

It was rainy and cold, nevertheless, yesterday we attended our first European soccer game, which coincidentally was also our first ever. Naturally we were cheering for N.E.C. (the home team) as we sat in a semi-covered (seating is covered, but the field is open) 12,500-seat stadium watching them do battle against the visiting team F.C. Utrecht. Lasting 90 minutes, it was a solid game that ended with a tie.

The whole event was a great deal of fun and is something we will surely repeat. Afterall, tickets are affordable, the park is just a short bike ride away, and, as this was only the first game of the season, there will be plenty of other opportunities. Plus, as a point of comparison, stadium food or sport food at (least at) Goffertstadion (Gofferts stadium), is extremely reasonable, with prices ranging from 1-3 euros on a variety of drinks, sides, and an assortment of sandwiches, some of which looked extremely appetizing. Furthermore, now that we know the stadium has covered seating, Farrell will be sure and take a few pictures at the next game. Let us know if there is anything else you would like to know. If you would like some general information on our local footbal club, browse the wikipedia page here.

Until Next Time,
Jessica

Edinburgh Concert Photos

2011-02-27T21:27:00.000-05:00

Hello all!

I just finished sorting, uploading, describing, tagging and geotagging three new sets of photos. All three are from a concert Dad, Jessica and I attended together in Edinburgh, Scotland on New Year's Day. Although six bands played during the "One Day" (1.1.11) Hogmanay celebrations, I have only finished processing half of them so far (my three favorites).

If you are interested, take a look at the sets for the bands below. I was quite happy with the quality of some of these photos, and will be updating or supplementing the Wikipedia pages of all three bands with these (Creative Commons licensed) pictures.

Lau - A three-piece rockin' Scottish folk band. They have a great level of energy on stage, and are clearly passionate. In some regards, they remind me of the Avett Brothers, especially on stage. [set] [slideshow]

Julie Fowlis - Gaelic Singer Of The Year appointed "Scotland's Gaelic Ambassador" by the Scottish Parliament. [set] [slideshow]

Daniel Thorpe - 2010 BBC Young Traditional Musician of the Year with a good sense of humor and a comfortable stage presence. [set] [slideshow]

Farrell

Photos -- Arnhem and the Water Museum

2011-02-26T21:48:00.003-05:00

Greetings!

We thought we would take a break from processing the holiday pictures to allow for something a bit more recent (or, in this case, much more recent). Anyway, as mentioned last week, these are pictures from our trip to Arnhem last Friday (February 18th) in which we visited a local museum and outdoor park. Enjoy!

You can find the full set here, or start viewing a slideshow of large photos here.

Until Next Time,

Jessica and Farrell

Edinburgh New Year's Photos

2011-02-20T06:14:00.000-05:00

Hello all!

I found enough time on Jessica's laptop today to finish adding descriptions to another set of pictures. This set starts off with our initial exploration of Edinburgh during the day, and again on the Royal Mile at night. We greet the new year at Edinburgh's Hogmamay celebration, with 80,000+ other Scotts and party-goers from around the world. I managed to get fairly close and photographed 3 of the 4 primary stages, of the 6 total stages playing at any given time. Overall it was a great night, with some exceptional modern Scottish music of a traditional style to top it off, and a good start to 2011.

You can find the set here, or start viewing a full-sized slideshow from the top here.

Farrell

The Ides of...February?

2011-02-19T10:43:00.004-05:00

As the title suggests, February has turned out to be a particularly busy (annoying) month, with perhaps too many unexpected complications. Oh, don't worry! It's nothing too serious, but rather all the little annoying things that could go wrong did.

Aside from having to finish up exams while our new classes were starting, Farrell's bike broke. So, we shared my bike, and if we had anywhere to go together then Farrell had to hop on the back and I biked the two of us. However, soon after someone accidentally injured my tire in the bike parking lot (apparently someone dominoed the bikes and my tire was scraped with a kickstand), but it still worked! That is until the next time Farrell hoped on the back, which prompted the tire to blowout (explode). At that point we were down to zero bikes, and it is also around this point that Farrell's laptop died.

It was expected. His laptop was old and had been thoroughly (continuously?) used over the years, especially if you consider that he is a computer science major and likely uses his laptop even more than the average 20-something individual. So, we have been sharing my laptop, which would not be such a problem if we did not have all of our class readings on the computer. Fortunately he'll have a new laptop soon...hopefully. :)

Now, as for more fun things, we visited our Latvian friend Sandra in Ede (the Netherlands) and had dinner with her family. Ede was a small, but interesting little town near the "Heather fields," which as their name suggests are huge open fields filled with heather. It was pretty in the cold grey, but it is supposed to be just beautiful in the spring/summer. Interestingly, the fields are near a Dutch military base and they use the fields for practice. Needless to say we cannot wait to go back when it's warmer.

For more recent fun, yesterday we went to Arnhem and, using our museum cards Frank got us (they allow us free entrance to some 400 museums in the Netherlands), we visited the Water Museum there. It's kind of hard to describe, but it was a lot of fun. Plus, it was situated in this large park/woods, so of course we walked around on the trails for a few hours. It was pretty cold though and is now turning colder, despite the comparatively mild weather we have had over the past few weeks. There is even supposed to be some snow Sunday, though not much. Hopefully it will warm up by next Sunday though -- that's when we are going to our first "football" game. It's Nijmegen vs. FC Utrecht and we are excited! We will try and take pictures of course, assuming it is allowed and not raining.

Anyway, we will continue to keep you posted. And as for the photos, we ask for your patience once more, since that has been permanently put on hold. (Farrell does not have a laptop, remember?) Still, we will do what we can. :)

Until Next Time,
Jessica

Manchester Recap!

2011-01-23T17:39:00.001-05:00

Hello again,

As you can see, we (Farrell) are making some progress in sorting these photos. These are from our very long day of travelling from Amsterdam to Manchester by train, plane, bus, and foot. Described by George Orwell as the 'belly and guts of the Nation," Manchester is in many ways exactly what you would expect from an industrial dinosaur -- dirty, gritty, bleak -- but, despite first impressions, Manchester boasts a lively music scene, a well-reputed university, and some really well-done museums. But don't take us at our words, have a look for yourself!

Find the Manchester photo set here, or start viewing a slideshow here.

Until Next Time,

Jessica and Farrell

New Photos: Amsterdam II

2011-01-22T16:14:00.000-05:00

Hello everyone!

Here is the next set of our holiday series, this time from Amsterdam. This short day trip took us all through the city, from our hostel at one end to the Anne Frank Museum at the other. Take a look and let us know if you have any questions!

As far as Nijmegen, everything is going pretty well, but we are still in the midst of exams, so there is not too much to say. Fortunately it will all be over January 31, or possibly sooner if I finish my essays early...of course, that might be hoping for too much. Regardless, we should be able to get back to a more routine posting schedule within the next few weeks or so.

You can find the set of photos here, or start viewing a slideshow here.

Until Next Time,

Jessica and Farrell

New Photos: The Hague

2011-01-21T10:31:00.000-05:00

Since I finished my last exam Wednesday, my workload has been more reasonable. As a result, I have had time to get a set of pictures sorted, uploaded and described. I will be going through my photos chronologically, starting with this one in Den Haag, followed by Amsterdam, Manchester England, Edinburgh Scotland, St. Andrews Scotland, and Dublin Ireland. Check back regularly over the next week or two for more more photo sets!

You can find the my newest set of photos here, or start viewing a slideshow here.

Farrell