From There to Here

Part II: O Canada, Our Home and Native Land

noreply@blogger.com (Jay) — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 10:30:00 +0000

Since moving abroad, it's become blatantly obvious how little people know about our vast and awesome country.

The international community often assumes that we must be just like the United States and while we gladly share more than just a border, nothing makes a Canadian angrier than being told we're practically American. (After all, you wouldn't tell a Norwegian they're no different than a Swede or a Scot that they have no culture apart from England.) We know that we don't do a great job of shouting our accomplishments out to the rest of the world but don't let our quietness fool you, we are fiercely proud of our country.

Over the next few weeks, I've teamed up with some of my favourite Canadian bloggers, expats and travellers to share with you some things that are distinctly Canadian.

You can check out Part One here!

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From me...
Performing at this year's Coachella, Canadian sisters Tegan & Sara have been respected Canadian artists for years. Born in Calgary, Alberta, their first album was released in 1999 and their 7th album hit the waves this year. They've toured with Jack Johnson, The Black Keys, Death Cab for Cutie, The Killers and fellow Canadians, Brian Adams, Rufus Wainwright and City and Colour. In recent history, their music was featured on Glee and HBO's Girls and they performed on The Ellen Degeneres Show after having just earned their first Grammy nomination. We are proud to have these twin sisters representing Canadian music.

From Melissa...

While most people know of Australia’s Aborigine people and Native Americans in the USA they are less so aware of Canada’s Aboriginal people also know as First Nations.

Canada is a young country by European standards but First Nations people settled across Canada by 40000 – 10000 BC. Their history is long, complicated and often contentious but the richness of their culture gives a richness to the fabric of Canada.

First Nations’s art, music, food, and dress is quite distinctive and so quintessentially Canadian but not well known abroad. If you are visiting Ontario, there is an annual Aboriginal festival in Toronto where one can go to learn more of the culture. It is also a good opportunity to watch a pow wow and see all the different styles of dance.

Freda Diessing (1925-2002)

Eagle with Salmon

via The Parliament of Canada Site

From Jess...

I’m delighted to be sharing a few fun facts about my home country with you today. I’m currently studying towards two (yes, I must be crazy) postgraduate degrees in marketing and I’m living, eating, and breathing cool brands. And I bet you didn’t know a lot of those cool brands hail from Canada! (Yes, we do export more than maple syrup and friendly expats.)

RIM (Blackberry): Although it seems to be dying a slow death (sorry, BB’ers!) Research in Motion (RIM) and Blackberry are proud Canadian brands.

McCain: You’re probably familiar with McCain French fries, but you may not know that McCain Foods was established in 1957 by four brothers in Florenceville, New Brunswick (that’s on Canada’s East Coast). Today McCain produces a mind-boggling one-third of the world’s frozen French fry products, consumed in more than 110 countries!

Bombardier (Ski-Doo!): You might have guessed that Ski Doo’s were born in Canada, country of eternal winter. But wait, there’s more! Joseph Bombardier, inventor of the Ski-Doo, and his namesake company also make many of the trains, planes and automobiles that many of you probably rode to work this morning.

Lululemon: When you think of Canadian sports and sport apparel you probably conjure up images of hockey players, snowsuits, and skis. But famous yoga brand Lululemon was born here too, in Vancouver, British Columbia, in 1998.

Joe Fresh: Joe Fresh is a fashion brand created by designer Joe Mimran. Joe recently packed up and moved this brand to America, with pop-up shops in NYC and a flagship store on Fifth Avenue. Joe also recently opened over 680 stores within JC Penney outlets throughout America. Not bad for a brand that is still based in grocery stores across Canada!

More brands to come from Jess later in the series!

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Melissa is a current Canadian expat in London. Born in Jamaica, growing up in Toronto and travelling from a young age, she's constantly exploring the world and inspiring wanderlust amongst her readers as well as sharing some cool, lesser-known things to do in the UK.

Jess, of Mike and Jess in Malta fame, moved from Halifax on the East coast of Canada to Malta in 2010. She just completed a double Masters degree, already having finished a degree in Art History and can often be found revelling in clever branding. If that didn't make her busy enough, she's planning an über-cool wedding to her counterpart, Mike, this year. (She also designed that awesome graphic above!)

Copenhagen

noreply@blogger.com (Jay) — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 10:30:00 +0000

Joe and I have flown through Copenhagen a few times enroute to other destinations. Usually it's a brief stop, disembarking from one flight and walking a few gates down and boarding the next however, returning from Greece, we had a few hours to kill. As we descended into the city, the pilot announced that the city was sitting at a lovely 15ºC and we figured we should take advantage of it!

Copenhagen airport is 8 kilometres from the city centre which is practically unheard of in many European capitals and the Metro connects directly to the airport making it super easy to slip into town for a few hours.

Denmark, like many other European countries, was enjoying a public holiday so while the shops were closed, the restaurants were plum full of people enjoying the Spring weather. Street musicians were out in full force and I couldn't help feel wooed as 'Moon River' floated down the streets courtesy of a clarinet. The city certainly has the same Scandinavian feel we've become accustomed to yet it seemed a little edgier. If anything, our few hours in town put Copenhagen back on our radar and it will be on our list of weekend trips in the future.

Notes:
-The Metro is located in Terminal 3 of the airport. A return ticket cost 72 kr ($12.50 USD) for the 15 minute journey into city centre.
-The Kongens Nytrov stop is the perfect location to explore central Copenhagen with many shops, restaurants and sites nearby.
-We ditched Joe's backpack in a storage locker before heading into town. To be honest, it was a bit of a hassle as the lockers are found in the parkade directly across from T3 and while the automated machine could be changed to English, it immediately switched back to Danish as we tried to make the transaction. It was a little confusing, we may have inadvertently charged ourselves twice but it worked out in the end.

O Canada, Our Home and Native Land

noreply@blogger.com (Jay) — Wed, 12 Jun 2013 10:30:00 +0000

When we left Canada and moved abroad, it was inevitable that we were going to be spending the vast majority of our time with people from other countries and cultures which always proves to be fascinating. When we're feeling homesick or nostalgic, we reminisce with our friends about our homelands. It's enlightening hearing so many firsthand accounts of life all over this world and I love being able to share my love for Canada. What I didn't expect was just how little my friends knew of my country. Often times, simple things like discussing our wine country or our Prime Minister (no, it's not a President) would be met with looks of surprise and bewilderment, even from our close neighbours to the South.

I think people assume that we must be just like the United States. They're right below us on the map, their presence is loud all over the world, we're both known as English speakers & North Americans and we share a rather large border but even with all of those commonalities, we are very different. Part of this lack of international understanding is our own fault - we're quiet and often hesitant to toot our own horn. We have a difficult time summing up our national identity and we're known to err on the side of caution, never wanting to come across as arrogant or impolite. But, don't let our quietness fool you, we are fiercely proud of our country.

Over the next few weeks, I've teamed up with some of my favourite Canadian bloggers, expats and travellers to share with you some things that are distinctly Canadian.

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From Me...
Covered by John Cale, Alexandra Burke, Canadian Rufus Wainwright and most notably, Jeff Buckley, the song Hallelujah actually is the product of Canadian Leonard Cohen. To date, the song has been used in movies and television including Shrek, The OC, House, Cold Case, ER and on several talent shows including The Voice and American Idol as well as performed countless times live by many big name artists from Bon Jovi to Il Divo to Willie Nelson to Bob Dylan to Justin Timberlake. Currently, it holds a spot on the Rolling Stones 500 Greatest Songs of all time and it is proudly, Canadian.

From Rika...

“A large double-double and Boston Cream, please.”

If you’re Canadian, you know exactly what this means. (If you’re not, it means a large coffee with two creams, two sugars, and a Boston Cream doughnut.) This is the lingo at one of our quintessentially Canadian chains – Tim Hortons.

Tim Hortons is Canada’s answer to Dunkin’ Donuts. It’s a coffee and casual food chain that was founded in 1964 in Ontario by the famous hockey player Tim Horton. It now operates as a franchise and has thousands of stores in Canada, as well as a few that have spread to the US and some on military bases in places like Afghanistan (soldiers need their coffee too!) and far-flung locations such as the United Arab Emirates and even a small outlet at the Dublin Zoo!

Timmy’s, or Timmy Ho’s as it is often affectionately known in the great white north, started out by serving only coffee and doughnuts. Over the years the menu has expanded to include muffins, cookies, teas, blended drinks, smoothies, bagels, soups, sandwiches and a variety of other quick-food items. Its focus is on friendly service that is quick and convenient.

One of Canadians favourite (yes, with a “u”, that’s how we spell it up here!) things about Tim Hortons is their infamous “Roll Up the Rim to Win!” promotion. Every year they have a marketing campaign that sees over 31 million lucky winners each year (however, in my experience, about 30,999,990 of these winners are just a free coffee or doughnut). Every Canadian knows the excitement of finishing a coffee or tea as fast as their can to roll up the rim of the special red cups and see if they’ve won something!

As it grew exponentially in the 1990s and 2000s, Tim Hortons has become a cultural icon for Canada, and some would even say a national symbol. Famous Canadian author Pierre Berton once wrote: "In so many ways the story of Tim Hortons is the essential Canadian story. It is a story of success and tragedy, of big dreams and small towns, of old-fashioned values and tough-fisted business, of hard work and of hockey." As a Canadian expat, I always look forward to heading to Tim Hortons when I get home. It’s not the best coffee in the world, but I know it will always be the same no matter if I’m in Toronto, Vancouver or Moose Jaw.

So if it’s not the best coffee in the world, why do we love Tim Hortons so much? I think mostly because it’s ours. It’s something that started here by Canadians, flourished here due to Canadians, and still is mostly found just here. We don’t have much to call our own in Canada as a lot of the stuff in our daily lives comes from the States, so when we get something that’s all our own we hang onto it fiercely with pride! It’s a tangible symbol in a country where, when we are asked about our Canadian identity, we often have little to offer up besides hockey (although did you know our national sport is actually lacrosse?), poutine, maple syrup, speaking French and polar bears. There is a Tim Hortons in every single province and territory in this country. It might just be coffee and doughnuts, but it’s ours and we love it.

via Engagement Labs

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Rika is a Canadian expat who is currently calling Honduras home. She decided she'd had enough of her Vancouver cubicle so she left her corporate job to spend her days under the sea as a dive instructor. A self-proclaimed bad-ass, this Canadian has a pretty cool life in Central America.

Stay Tuned ---- I've got more Canadian goodness coming your way from a few of my fellow countrywomen.

Final Thoughts on a Dreamy Grecian Vacation

noreply@blogger.com (Jay) — Mon, 10 Jun 2013 10:30:00 +0000

I feel like I could go on and on about Santorini. It was just one of those trips that was perfect - perfectly beautiful, perfectly relaxing, perfectly everything. The people were some of the friendliest we've ever encountered while traveling and the food quite literally, scrumptious. From day one until day eight, I couldn't help but grab my camera, trying to capture every corner of the island. I never tired of the views.

There is something so magical about Santorini. A delicate fog enveloped the island even on the clearest of days. As we watched the ships sail away from Santorini, it looked like they might just sail into an abyss. I kept trying to put it into words when we were there but it just seemed impossible. Today, it's still impossible and it feels positively dreamlike. Perhaps that's exactly what it is - dreamlike.

I'll leave you with a random collection of photos that I just couldn't help but share.

Restaurant Recommendations:
+Ambrosia - If you're going to choose one night to splurge on a romantic dinner in Oia, this should be it. Make reservations (it's small) and try to get one of the tables right on the edge for a more private dinner.
+Vanilia - Located between Fira & Imerovigli right along the walking path, this was a great little garden to stop for lunch in. There's also seating on the roof for sunset dinners.
+Cafe Galini - Also located on the walk between Fira and Imerovigli, the terrace overlooking the caldera was stunning. The sandwiches and salads were great for a light lunch.
+Imerovigli Tavern - A casual setting with amazing Greek food, we ate here twice and it was delicious both times. The service was always good and the view is pretty nice too!
+Anogi - The food at Anogi was really, really good and the pricing was so reasonable! Every night it was packed (definitely reserve a table unless you plan on eating early!) It's not a restaurant with a view but the food makes up for it and it's a great place for a casual meal.
+Selene- This restaurant is located on the other side of the island at Pyrgos but it was certainly one of our better meals. It's the perfect place to get away from the crowds on the popular caldera side of the island and the food is so wonderful that it's been recognized internationally.
+Kapari Wine Restaurant - Found in Imerovigli, not far from Absolute Bliss, this restaurant is a gem. It's in one of the fancier hotels and it might be a bit of a splurge but the food and service was impeccable.

Other Santorini Posts

A First Glimpse | Absolute Bliss | Santorini Island | Santorini Sunsets | Akrotiri

The Ancient Village of Akrotiri

noreply@blogger.com (Jay) — Fri, 07 Jun 2013 10:30:00 +0000

The purpose of our trip to Santorini was to relax and soak in some sun. We knew we'd do a little exploring but we were also aware that this trip probably wouldn't be the cultural peak of our 2013 travels. I was prepared to spend the majority of our time on the terrace, reading a book from a sun lounger but was quite excited when we stumbled upon Ancient Akrotiri while exploring the island.

Part of the grade 6 Social Studies curriculum in Alberta featured Ancient Greece. In fact, up until recent years, it accounted for one third of the entire year's program. I spent a lot of time talking about Greece and the many, many ways our society has benefited from that ancient and advanced civilization (*ahem, democracy.)

While they've traced settlements back to 4000 BCE, it was around 3000 BCE when a more substantial settlement was founded on Santorini Island. It continued to grow and essentially became one of the main hubs of the Aegean sea. At the end of the 17th century, a major volcanic eruption covered the entire settlement preserving the town below the new island surface for thousands of years. Speculation says the entire event may have been the inspiration for Plato's Atlantis.

In the 1960s, the site was discovered and excavation began. The absence of human remains have lead researchers to believe that an evacuation must have happened before the volcanic eruption and the amazingly well-preserved site has been compared to Pompeii. It's stated that only 3% of the site has actually been excavated meaning that there will most certainly be more to see and learn in years to come.

The city itself is quite literally, fascinating. Multiple story homes, a pretty clear grid system, an advanced drainage system, pottery & furniture all provide insight into the ancient civilization. While it's a little difficult to see in the photos, it was quite clear onsite that this was a fully functioning and advanced city. I was amazed to see well preserved artifacts sitting in rooms like nothing had happened - designs and paintings still fairly evident.

The majority of the smaller items have since been moved to a museum located right in Fira including enormous and elaborate wall paintings. Tea cups and frying pans look almost exactly as they do today and dainty and intricate appliances survived the thousands of years below all of that sediment. It really was quite an amazing site to experience.

Notes:

+The archaeological site of Ancient Akrotiri is located at Akrotiri near the Red Beach. The site costs 5€. The man at the gate didn't give us any information when we arrived and we had wished to either join a guided tour or at the very least, use the audio guide as signs inside are few and far between.

+The museum housing the majority of artifacts found at the site is located in Fira. The entrance fee is 3€ and can quite easily be done in 1-1.5 hours, reading at all of the exhibits.

+All of the photos above are mine except the wall mural which was borrowed from Wikipedia.

Recent Reads II

noreply@blogger.com (Jay) — Wed, 05 Jun 2013 10:30:00 +0000

The Unbearable Lightness of Being by Milan Kundera
-Set in Communist Czechoslovakia, we follow the lives of a few characters who clumsily navigate life and relationships. Kundera's writing makes you feel like you are a fly on the wall, watching the highs and lows of real life. There are some really profound and brilliant thoughts in this book and it occasionally straddles between fiction and philosophy. It wasn't an easy read for me but it was certainly good. I'm taking a bit of time away from it but I want to re-read it, this time with a highlighter and sticky notes in hand because there are some awfully thought-provoking moments that I just didn't give enough time to while reading in bed.

The Round House by Louise Erdrich
-This novel follows a young boy on a Native reserve in the Northern United States who deals with a horrific attack on his mother. A Native American herself, Erdrich uses real-life stats and stories of rape on reserves as inspiration for the story which is eye-opening and heartbreaking. There are many First Nations Reservations in my home province and adopted province of Alberta and having spent a lot of my elementary school career learning about Aboriginal culture, this novel was particularly interesting to me but the story itself is full of mystery and it's easy to find yourself frantically turning pages as you become more and more attached to the Coutts family.

The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky
-A YA work of fiction, this book is actually quite brilliant. Written through the form of letters to an imaginary friend, the plot follows Charlie's life as a highly intellectual teenager who has struggled to find his place in the world. It's sad and funny and charming . Immediately after finishing, I watched the movie which is never a good idea. I was disappointed in it and strongly advocate reading the book even if you liked the film. The words are fantastic.

Wonder by R. J. Palacio
-On a bit of a YA kick, I downloaded this novel after it was recommended by someone in my book club. It tells the story of a young boy who was born with a horribly disfigured face. Home-schooled for most of his life, the decision is made to send him to Middle School. We follow the plot through the eyes of several characters. I think this would be a great read for Middle School kids - while I enjoyed the story, it was a bit juvenile for me. (Teachers, this would be a great read-aloud.)

The Secret Keeper by Kate Morton
-I've read quite a few of Kate Morton's other stories (The Forgotten Garden being my favourite so far) and knew that her new novel would be perfect Santorini reading. The author has a talent for weaving together a story through multiple perspectives and characters which create an element of suspense and keeps it more intriguing than if she had just written it straight through. 'The Secret Keeper' is a good, easy read and if you're looking for something to keep your interest this summer without being too heavy, this is a good choice.

Currently reading...

Speaking From Among the Bones by Alan Bradley
-This is the fifth book in Bradley's series and there's something about the precocious, child prodigy Flavia de Luce that keeps me coming back. A mystery in the English countryside makes for a perfect summer read - it's smart, the writing is good but it's fun.

Next up...
Rules of Civility
The Aviator's Wife
Everything is Perfect When You're a Liar
All Over But The Shoutin'

What are you reading? Any recommendations?

{PS. Why I Read? and Recent Reads I }

Santorini Sunsets

noreply@blogger.com (Jay) — Mon, 03 Jun 2013 10:23:00 +0000

It's a little bit difficult to sum up the Santorini sunsets. They're a big deal on the island and as that golden hour approaches, the excitement and anticipation in the air is palpable. The cameras come out while visitors document the descent of the sun into the Aegean sea until it finally disappears into the horizon.

Oia has long been pegged the place to view one of the most beautiful sunsets in the world. Taking advantage of our rental car, we spent 2 nights in Oia. The first, we went armed with a list of recommended restaurants and the hope to stumble into one of them before the sun disappeared. We ended up with a great table and uninterrupted views and the sun set just as it was supposed to. It was nice but it didn't feel special. For me, the beauty of the sunset lies not just in the sun melting away for the night but within the colours it casts on everything else. The second night in Oia, we found that beauty ... with plenty of others.

Beautiful it was but it was also crowded. The small, cobblestone paths were lined with tourists, occasionally 3 or 4 deep. Photographers had tripods set up and everyone was searching and fighting for a spot to watch. It was pretty and I was fascinated by the changing colours cast over the white, concrete buildings but it was busy and while the anticipation of the crowd was something in itself, I preferred a quieter, more relaxed setting.

The rest of our Santorini sunsets were spent in Imerovigli. Occasionally we were out for dinner but more often than not, we were on our terrace pouring a glass of wine and stepping into the jacuzzi. It was peaceful and just the two of us.

Six Hours in One of the World's Oldest Cities

noreply@blogger.com (Jay) — Fri, 31 May 2013 10:30:00 +0000

While there are several flights a day from Athens to Santorini, the connection with our carrier left us with a lengthy layover. We had talked about heading into the city but with our 3:40 am wake up call, I wasn't sure we'd be up for much so we decided to play it by ear. Upon arrival in Athens and one quick look around the airport, we knew 6 hours was going to be far too long to do nothing so we picked up the pace and put the plan to action.

At the end of the Arrivals hall, we checked our carry-on bag for 3€ with Pacific Baggage Services and then followed the signs to the Metro where we bought 2 tickets to Central Athens (Syntagma Square) for 14€. The train departs every 30 minutes and it takes about 40 minutes to the centre.

Originally, we talked about immediately walking to the Acropolis in hopes of taking in one of Athens most famous sites but by the time we got everything sorted and into town, we knew we'd be too rushed for time. Instead, we perused the streets and stopped in awe every time the Parthenon & Acropolis came into view, perched high above the city. We stumbled upon other Ancient ruins scattered throughout the city centre and after a late lunch, we returned to the airport to catch our final flight.

A few hours definitely wasn't enough to take in one of the world's oldest cities and the birthplace of democracy.

Santorini Island

noreply@blogger.com (Jay) — Wed, 29 May 2013 10:30:00 +0000

Map of Santorini via About.com & James Martin

Greece is one of those places where there seems to be several names for everything and it can be a little confusing. Santorini is generally how the tourism industry refers to the island however officially, it's actually called Thira. (Sometimes we see the classical name of Thera as well.) The actual island is the product of an enormous volcanic eruption which created the Caldera that we see today. The volcano rests under water in the centre (Nea Kameni above) and theories suggest that it's eruption was the source of Plato's Atlantis.

The island itself is bigger than I had expected with quite a few little towns dotted all over the place. The Caldera view (the interior) tends to be the most popular sites for tourists to visit because, let's face it, it is pretty stunning.

Fira is the landing spot for the majority of cruise tourists and it's a busy little town full of your typical tourist shops and restaurants. There are plenty of hotels and plenty of tiny alleyways to explore and spend your money. It was probably our least favourite site on the island - just a bit too crowded and a bit too touristy for us.

Imerovigli was where we stayed at Absolute Bliss. My masseuse explained to me that because it's the tallest point on the caldera, the guards used to keep watch for pirates approaching the bay. The village is tiny and much, much quieter than it's counterparts, Fira & Oia but it's also home to a handful of hotels & restaurants. It was our favourite spot to take in the sunset.

Imerovigli just after sunset with Oia in the distance

Oia, known as Ia (Ee-ya) to the locals, is most famous for it's gorgeous sunsets. Literally, hordes and hordes of people line the streets of Oia every night to watch the sun dip into the Aegean sea. The town itself almost felt like a bit of a cross between Fira and Imerovigli with quite a few hotels, restaurants and shops but we felt it to be a bit more charming than Fira.

Looking at Oia from Imerovigli

A couple of days into our stay, rain was in the forecast and it gave us the perfect excuse to rent a car and explore the other side of the island. The terrain plateaus behind the steep hills of the caldera to make way for wineries, fields & beaches and it's beautiful in a completely different way.

We stopped by Kamari, known for it's black beach. There were several restaurants and hotels lining the shoreline and we were told on hot days, it's packed full of people who rent sun loungers and swim in the sea.

We also visited the Red Beach near Akrotiri which was quite stunning to see the deep, red juxtaposed against the bright, blue sea. We stopped for a beer nearby and sat right along the water and watched the waves crash over the seawall, splattering the tables.

Touring the majority of the island can easily be done in one day and while we chose to rent a car, many others decided to rent Quads or scooters to zip around. There are quite a few wineries to visit as well as the site of Ancient Akrotiri, which we returned to the following morning. Both evenings, we took advantage of the car and had dinner and viewed the sunset in Oia, which was a bit too far to walk to at night from Imerovigli.

In the end, I was quite happy to have the time to explore Santorini further - had it been hot and sunny, I'm not sure Joe could have convinced me to leave the terrace.

Notes:
+Car/Quad/Scooter rentals are a dime a dozen on the island. Our hotel arranged for our car - it cost 30€/day (certainly much cheaper than a taxi) and it was dropped off and picked up directly from our accommodation.
+Parking lots are found all over the island and the majority are free of charge.
+While the island is small, traffic can be a bit slow due to extremely large tourist buses navigating narrow roads and corners.
+After touring the majority of the island, we were so happy to have chosen a hotel in Imerovigli and if we returned, we'd stay there again!

{PS. Our Stay at Absolute Bliss & First Glimpses of Santorini}

Summer Travel

noreply@blogger.com (Jay) — Mon, 27 May 2013 10:30:00 +0000

Instagram Lately (@cjstjohn)

The summer always seems to bring on a flurry of activity. The weather warms, the leaves turn green and people are ecstatic to leave their houses and enjoy the season. It also tends to be the peak travel season for much of the Northern hemisphere - everyone hoping to take advantage of the long, warm days and summer holidays. The same rings true for us.

The winter seemed to drag on and on - not that it was particularly cold but it just took ages to warm up and turn green. Joe was busy at work and aside from our inner Norway trips (Oslo, Bergen & Flåm) we stayed put until our recent travels to London & Santorini but now, things are getting busy.

Just a couple of weeks after our return from Greece, I'm due to turn 30 and we'll be off to France to celebrate. We've booked a super, swanky hotel and I plan on sipping champagne and strolling palace grounds. (If anything takes the edge off another decade come & gone, it must be that!)

Afterwards, Joe and I part ways. He to Texas for a business trip and me to Canada where I'll spend almost the entire month of June. Most of my time will be spent in Saskatchewan with a couple of trips to Alberta. After Joe's week in the US, he'll jump back on a plane for Stavanger for one week before traversing the Atlantic again. We'll meet up in Northern British Columbia, attend a wedding and then fly back to Norway together.

From there, we'll both have a week to recover before we welcome my parents to our Norwegian home. We'll spend their 2 weeks here exploring Rogaland but I'll also be taking them up to Bergen & on the Norway in a Nutshell tour.

August slows down a bit with a quick, weekend trip to Stockholm and a potential meet up somewhere in Europe with a couple of my Gabon girlfriends.

How are your summer plans shaping up?

Absolute Bliss - Imerovigli, Santorini

noreply@blogger.com (Jay) — Fri, 24 May 2013 10:30:00 +0000

I'm known to be quite particular when it comes to hotels. Some people will choose to save money in accommodation because 'they only sleep there' but I'm not one of them. I like to surround myself with nice things and having a well-designed, comfortable room to return to after a busy day exploring is important to me. Good design also inspires me and fantastic service can most definitely enhance a trip.

When planning a holiday, as opposed to a short stay in a city hotel, I think a great hotel is even more important because you will certainly do more than sleep there. While there is always the option of spending your days out and about, there will be days where you'll want to stay put and the better the hotel, the more enjoyable the day.

When it came to planning our stay in Santorini, I immediately thought back to Liz's posts about her trip last year. I remember her raving about the entire vacation and particularly, her hotel. I did my due diligence and researched further, pricing other options but after a few emails and the glowing review increasing, I knew we had to heed Liz's advice and book Absolute Bliss.

It did not disappoint.

Located in Imerovigli, Absolute Bliss is found away from the crowds in Fira & Oia in it's own picturesque caldera setting. I loved how quiet and peaceful it was and it was perfect to return to after visiting the more popular towns on the island. The hotel itself is small - just over a dozen rooms - and personal. Guests are made to feel special and welcomed without any sort of pretentious undertones making a very comfortable stay.

Our room was simple with white washed walls, crisp, white linens and great windows to take advantage of the gorgeous views. The terrace was the selling point. It was massive and where we spent the majority of our waking hours. A small table for breakfast, 2 sun loungers for midday reading and sunbathing and a hot tub for sunset viewing kept us occupied throughout the day.

What set Absolute Bliss apart from an average holiday was by far the staff. The manager, Sofia, was seriously amazing. She had the taxi driver phone her ahead of time as we made our way from the airport to the hotel to make sure she was waiting at the door to our suite when we arrived. Upon hearing that we didn't have bags, she offered to bring a few clothes with her in the morning just in case I needed something and she left us with her mobile number directing us to call, even at 3 am, if we needed anything at all despite the reception being open 24 hours a day.

Every morning, our pre-ordered breakfast arrived on the dot, the housekeeping staff kept our room immaculate and 2 gentlemen climbed those steep stairs every day delivering food and drinks to us as we soaked up the sun on the terrace. We were practically forbidden to lift a finger. When the weather looked less pleasant one day, Sofia hired us a car and had it delivered within half an hour but while we waited, she drew out a map for us directing us to the best sites on the island. At every little stop, she'd jot down a few recommended restaurants (very much appreciated and resulted in not one single episode of hanger) and both Sofia and her assistant handled making dinner reservations for us whenever we requested it. Not once did we feel like we weren't being taken care of and everything was always done with a smile.

Staying at Absolute Bliss completely reinforced why we love to stay in small, boutique hotels. The service is so personal, never having to use a room number or even our name and feeling genuinely well taken care of the entire stay. As we reluctantly prepared to depart, Sofia asked Joe how he enjoyed the local, craft beer they just began carrying at the hotel and before we knew it, she'd slipped to the back and brought out 1 litre of his favourite brew to take with us telling us she'd even arrange to ship it to us if we wanted.

While the island itself is gorgeous no matter where you stay, Absolute Bliss most definitely contributed to this dreamy vacation.

{Last week, while on vacation, I was featured on Diane's new Expat Chitchat series. You can check it out here.}

A First Glimpse of Santorini

noreply@blogger.com (Jay) — Wed, 22 May 2013 10:08:00 +0000

Our alarm was set for 3:40am, taxi ordered for 4:30 in order to catch our 6 am flight. We flew from Stavanger to Copenhagen to Athens to Santorini which spanned just over 13 hours - the same amount of time and nearly the same cost as it is for us to fly to Canada.

We were due to land around 8 pm, just before the famed Santorini sunset and I had hopes of grabbing our bags quickly and jumping in our pre-arranged taxi to take in the last moments of daylight from our terrace but as we stood around the luggage belt, the other travellers slowly dispersing with their bags until the belt stopped, it was apparent that our bags were not arriving and I knew we'd miss that sunset. By the time the report was filed and we wearily climbed into our taxi, there wasn't a shred of light left in the sky as we drove through the darkness to our hotel.

We were welcomed by our lovely host who was waiting with a bottle of wine in our candlelit room and while we were certainly happy to have finally arrived, we were exhausted and a little deflated after the luggage debacle. We poured a glass of wine, ordered a bit of food and gazed out into the darkness before finally collapsing into bed.

The following morning we woke to this...

Within an hour, our bags were delivered to our room with our breakfast and the pain of yesterdays travel quickly faded as we prepared to drink in Santorini.
(Joe just pointed out the double entendre that I apparently missed when I wrote this post but we literally did both!)

Our days were filled with long, slow walks, leisurely lunches, and stops along the way for local beer and wine. The island was at its best in late afternoon when the cruise ship passengers would head back to their boats slowing everything down to it's quiet and easy charm. The sun would be warm, the wind calmed and we'd make our way to our terrace to watch them sail off into the Aegean sea, happy to have the Santorini back to ourselves. We read books, revelled in the warm sun and reconnected over gorgeous scenery. We dined on delicious Greek food every night and would end the days in our jacuzzi on our terrace. I'm certain that Santorini must be one of the most romantic places on earth.

It was 8 days of bliss - pure bliss.

{Tonight, May 22, I'm co-hosting the #SeeTheWorld twitter chat with the lovely @thecultureur & @rovingaltruist as we talk about my homeland - Canada! Join us at 3 pm EST / 9 pm CET!}

A Look at Bergen

noreply@blogger.com (Jay) — Fri, 17 May 2013 10:30:00 +0000

Bergen is Norway's second largest city with a population of 268 900 which puts it behind Oslo but ahead of Stavanger. It's also known as the 'Gateway to the Fjords' which is precisely why we visited as we started and finished our Norway in a Nutshell tour from Bergen.

Bergen is located on the Western coast of Norway and while it's only about 210 kilometres from Stavanger, the journey via car takes close to 5 hours and requires 2 ferries. The city itself is reminiscent of Stavanger - located right on the water with the same coloured, wooden buildings dotting the central harbour and it exudes that small town charm but is indeed bigger and seemingly more mountainous.

Founded in 1070, Bergen was Norway's largest town until the 1830s. Today, tourism, fishing and oil & gas are the major industries but it's also home to a leading University. Visitors have a wide range of museums to peruse (I'm particularly interested to get back and explore the Leprosy Museum,) endless outdoor activities to try and of course, can explore the surrounding fjords.

Our visit was short as it was really only a starting off and ending point for our Norwegian excursion and as we arrived over Easter long weekend, much of the city remained closed. We made the most of our time though and explored what we could of the area.

A highlight was the trip up the Fløibanen funicular, a cable railway that takes visitors up the side of the mountain with fantastic views of the city. We lucked out with beautiful weather and clear skies and because we weren't in the thick of high season, it was relatively calm at the top.

May 17 just happens to be Norway's Constitution Day. Back in 1814 Norway signed its constitution declaring it an independent state. The celebration is a big deal all over the country and unfortunately, we're missing out on it this year but we will certainly raise a glass to our adopted home while abroad!

It's also my dear Dad's birthday - Happy Birthday Dad! Joe and I will have a drink in your honour - now that I think about it, we'll be having a lot of drinks today, all in the name of celebration :)

{With the imminent disappearance of Google Reader, you can find me on BlogLovin.}

Down Memory Lane

noreply@blogger.com (Jay) — Mon, 13 May 2013 10:30:00 +0000

I get a lot of emails from people inquiring about Gabon. Most of the time, they're potential expats who are wondering about life in that little, equatorial nation. You see, there isn't much about Gabon on the internet. No one goes there and out of the couple thousand expats who call it home every year, very few of us blog. When we found out we were moving to Port Gentil, I literally scoured the internet for information. It turned up practically nothing (especially in terms of real life in the country.) However, there was one blog by an American woman, her French husband and their 3 children and I read it from post #1 multiple times just to try and get a sense of what my life might be like there. While the majority of the posts were about her children, it helped me realize that I could make a life in Port Gentil. (Side note: Less than a year into my stay, I met her and felt so weird that I knew all of her children's names. I never told her that I read her blog out of embarrassment but in hindsight, I should have let her know how helpful it was to me.)

Last week, a young, American teenager reached out to me via my first blog. He had been assigned a project on Gabon and had also been scouring the internet for information. He wrote that he was looking for pictures to match certain topics in his project and in his words, "Google images surprisingly doesn't have these things (that was sarcasm), I'm wondering if you could help?"

The teacher in me LOVED this. First of all, here's a kid actually doing his homework. Secondly, he took the time to write me to ask for help and third, he didn't just steal everything off my page and call it a day.

I spent an hour the next morning sorting through some photos trying to find a few that would help him which led me to think about our time there. It's funny - I feel like our time in Gabon was ages ago yet I remember it so vividly. I remember that wall of humidity that hit me every time I stepped out the door. I remember the taxis incessantly honking outside my window. I remember the smells so clearly that my nose recoils mid-thought. I can drive myself down the streets to certain stores and picture my friend's guards from memory. The nostalgia surprises me.

The tiny village of Omboué

An Easter walk to the Catholic Church behind our house

Offshore Platforms stacked off the coast of Port Gentil

While I know that time will fade these memories, I hope I don't forget the little things.

{And for those of you who stumble across this blog while scouring for information on Gabon, I'm happy to help. I've been there and I know that your search has turned up practically nothing and all you want to know is if you'll be able to live there.}

PS. I'm on BlogLovin

A Year

noreply@blogger.com (Jay) — Fri, 10 May 2013 10:30:00 +0000

Sverd i Fjell at sunset

Exactly one year ago today, From There To Here went live. Those of you that have been around for awhile know that I'd been blogging 2 years prior on a little WordPress blog but in anticipation of moving out of Africa and the choice to make this space more of a dedicated hobby, this blog was born.

In 2010, I started blogging as we prepared to embark on this life overseas and like many expat bloggers, I didn't actually expect anyone other than our immediate friends and family to read it. Every once in awhile, generally after explaining it to non-bloggers or after having been sucked into the black hole of giveaways and followers, I wonder why I do this --- that is, blog. It's such a weird thing this blogging - writing, photo taking and sharing our life online. It takes a lot of time and effort and there are times where it feels like more of a chore than anything but I persevere through those difficult patches in hopes that one day in the future when we're settled into an average Canadian home, I'll look back through this space and think, "Wow, I can't believe we did all of that!"

And of course, there's you. Those who keep coming back, reading, commenting, sending emails and connecting over our common love for travel, books and life abroad. I don't say it enough but, Thank You. Thank you for keeping me inspired to write and thank you for the community you've helped to create here.

If you're up to it, I'd love to hear a bit more about you - who are you, where are you, how'd you find your way here & where would you travel to if you could pack your bags tonight?

{It also seemed fitting that the week of my one year blog anniversary, I hit 100 000 page visits. That baffles me!}

Working Culture in Norway

noreply@blogger.com (Jay) — Wed, 08 May 2013 10:30:00 +0000

I think when people move overseas they expect there to be cultural differences - different foods, languages, holidays & customs - but they don't always anticipate those cultural differences spilling over into the working environment. Work seems like it would just be 'work' everywhere when in fact, it can be vastly different from what you are used to.

It's fairly evident in Norwegian society that family is of the utmost priority in practically all aspects of life. We see this in the year long, fully paid maternity/paternity leave. We see it in the cafes with nursing rooms and/or stroller parking. It's obvious in the free education scheme and on the streets in daily life. It's also pretty blatant in the working environment.

In short, Norwegians often work short days - 7:30-3:30 is common. In fact, rush hour here is usually between 3 and 4 pm. They take a half hour lunch break where food is often provided at an in house cafeteria subsidized for employees. They are privy to 5 weeks of vacation every year and are encouraged to take several weeks together over summer for a break. The working week for office jobs is Monday through Friday and it's generally frowned upon to work on evenings and weekends. This includes answering emails or telephone calls unless of course, you are on call. They leave work at work. If you are sick, you stay home and you are not expected to work while recovering. If your child has a special event, you're expected to leave work to attend.

Much of Norway is highly unionized meaning workers have a union advocating for their rights. It's quite difficult to lose your job once you have it (or to fire someone if they aren't performing like you'd expect.) The working responsibilities are generally quite specific and there are usually several people working in one area where there might only be one employee covering it all in North America. It's not uncommon for an employee to say "No" if they're asked to do something they feel is outside of their duties and that is accepted. People often dress down for work wearing jeans and a collared shirt or blouse throughout the week. You'll also notice employees shifting their working hours on Fridays (particularly in the summer) to enable them to duck out early for the weekend. CEO's in Norway tend to be the lowest paid in the world whereas the average employee tends to have higher salaries than their counterparts in other countries.

Foreigners often hear of these conditions and immediately express that they'd love to work in Norway however, they'll notice some drawbacks. It can often feel like it will take ages to get something done simply because the working hours are short. At 3:30 everyone stops what they are doing and heads home even if right in the middle of something. There's a lack of urgency. Those in managerial positions find the adjustment more difficult having to work their way through the heavy union protocol. There can often be 'too many cooks in the kitchen' so to speak making decisions drawn out and if you happen to need something outside of normal business hours, you're generally out of luck. The summer can feel particularly difficult too as more than half of all employees will be on vacation and they will definitely not be checking emails so your file may well sit on their desk for a month with nothing happening.

Now, Norway sits in a pretty special position allowing them such generous working benefits. Before they uncovered the massive amounts of oil in the North Sea in the 60's, the country itself was actually quite poor relying on farming and fishing as their main sources of survival. Of course all of that has since changed with the mounds of money that came with their oil discovery. Currently, Norway comes second only to Luxembourg as the highest GDP per capita and their government pension fund is sitting at a cool $654 billion dollars. This obviously puts them in a pretty comfortable position financially and allows it's citizens many benefits and security.

The working culture can be a massive adjustment for those who come from North America where work and career are often at the forefront of our lives. We feel so much pressure to work well past normal office hours and can be expected to do the work of several people because we know that if we don't do it, someone else will and we'll be out of a job. Many people will look at Norway's working culture and wish they had a similar environment yet when they arrive feel the pendulum swings a bit too far the other way for them.

It's easy for me to say, as I'm not working in Norway, but I find it refreshing. Norwegians clearly have their priorities set and it's obvious that work is not at the forefront. Family and life come first and they are not willing to jeopardize that in any way. I admire that they are uncompromising in their beliefs and find much more to life than work and career. As foreigners arrive and step into the working culture of Norway, it'll be easy to feel frustrated while learning the ropes but they must remember the working culture of Norway has been made by and for Norwegians, not the expatriates.

Will their economy be able to keep up with the arrangement they've set for themselves? No one can say for sure but they have made it work for them under the current conditions and they appear to be content with the choices they've made.

[And before you comment as to how lucky Joe is to be reaping the benefits of the Norwegian working climate... he's here on an expat contract out of Dubai as opposed to a local contract which puts him in a grey area. Technically, he's supposed to follow the rules in the country he's living in however, he works for an American company and the expectations for an American company abroad are the same as an American company in the USA. That coupled with the fact that all of his superiors are expats generally means that he picks up the slack when everyone else leaves at half three. It sucks for him and it sucks for me but that's the way things tend to happen on these expat contracts.]

*Obviously, I'm making some generalizations here and different industries and positions will show different characteristics.

{EXPATRIATED] Bethany from Rinse Repeat

noreply@blogger.com (Jay) — Mon, 06 May 2013 10:30:00 +0000

Sometimes I get the impression that people think we are crazy for leaving all that we are familiar with behind for a life overseas but we aren't the only ones that have chosen this lifestyle. In fact, there are a lot of us and many of us blog about it. Expatriated is a series to introduce you to other expat bloggers.

............................................................

I am so honoured to have Bethany from Rinse Repeat on the blog today. I had been silently following along Bethany's journey in the Middle East for awhile, but not long ago she posted a lovely, heartfelt and honest post about her expat life which urged me to connect with her. I love that she's honest about her experiences on her blog in a world of blogs that sugarcoat life yet she doesn't come across negative or ungrateful. It's refreshing.

So, without further ado...

Where are you from and where do you live now?

I grew up and lived my entire life in Eau Claire, Wisconsin... but now I live in Kuwait City, Kuwait.

How did you end up in Kuwait and what inspired you to make the move?

Shortly after getting married, my husband was offered a position in Kuwait. Although Kuwait wasn't our ideal location, we thought moving abroad would give us the opportunity to travel and see another culture!

What is the best part of living overseas?

I love the diversity in a place like Kuwait. I grew up in a smaller town in America and for 20+ years was surrounded by people exactly like me. I love that right now while peeking out my window, I can see Indian women in saris, Arab women in hijabs or abayas and Western women in jeans and J. Crew sweaters. We dress differently; we pray to different gods; we each carry a unique culture and traditions that are so special to us. And yet for the most part, we all peacefully exist here.

What do you miss most about home?

It's hard to sum up in one word, but it would have to be equality. That's strange for me to say in Kuwait, because as a Westerner I'm usually treated quite well. But, people of other races and ethnicities don't receive the same fair treatment. I miss the general understanding that we're all equal regardless of race, income or sex...I miss the way people band together when someone acts contrary to this.

And for the small stuff: I miss people forming orderly lines. I miss wine... it's prohibited here. And I really, really, really miss Target.

What was the most difficult thing to adjust to in Kuwait?

The heat. In the summer, it can get up to 130 degrees... and it is not a dry heat. As a woman, you must keep your shoulders and legs covered. It's horrifyingly uncomfortable, and after just a few minutes outside, I need a shower + change of clothes. The hottest season also coincides with Ramadan, a 1 month period of daytime fasting. All restaurants are closed from sun up to sundown, and even drinking water in public (in any visible place including your car) can result in jail time or heavy fines. Last year, I became a hermit during Ramadan, because I just couldn't handle it.

Any funny 'whoopsies' while adjusting to your new life?

Absolutely! When we moved in, our apartment had the ugliest mural on the living room wall. My husband bribed the landlord to get it painted. When the painter showed up, my husband was at work but I welcomed the painter inside. He left the front door open behind him. Because our kitty likes to escape, I quickly closed the door. He opened it, I closed it. He opened it again, I closed it. We played this game for a while, neither of us speaking the other's language. Then he left, returned with a friend and finally closed the door. The friend just sat on a bucket while he painted for three hours.

I was SO confused.

Later, I learned that it's frowned upon for a man to be with a married woman behind closed doors...lest others think that something, um, inappropriate is happening. Since I had insisted that the front door remain closed, he was likely so uncomfortable that he recruited a friend to sit in my living room...simply to serve as a witness that nothing shady happened between us.

Cue 37 shades of blushing over my lack of cultural awareness.

Saving graces?

In Kuwait, expats make up more than half the population. So, one of the biggest saving graces is knowing that the lady ringing up my groceries, the man driving my taxi to the mall and the guy delivering my dinner are likely all missing their family and country... just like me. There's a bit of camaraderie to be found with anyone who is homesick, and I love the way others light up when they talk about home.

Everyone has a story. Often those stories remind me that although I desperately miss the Target $1 bin, I don't have it that bad after all.

What is the biggest lesson you've learned from your time in Kuwait?

I used to stress about having a "perfect" life, and spent my first few months in Kuwait trying to rebuild the life I left behind. I beat myself up for not having an adorable home, a perfect wardrobe, and beautiful parties in my new life overseas. But finally, I realized that it's simply not possible to recreate one's old life 7 000 miles away from where that lifestyle ended.

And while I ache for the pretty things that I used to have, I also know they don't matter. Life isn't about being perfect. It's about having experiences, and holding on tight to the people you love.

If you had the chance to move elsewhere in the world, where would you go and why?

Italy, France or the Czech Republic would be high on the list. I've loved traveling in Europe, and find each country so inspiring. The social culture in Europe is closer to my own, so when I leave Kuwait and visit Europe, it's a bit like breathing again. But it also offers the awe of experience new sights, food and people. Plus I've got a thing for old buildings, outdoor cafes and cobblestone streets. Check, check and check. :)

Any advice for the newly expatriated?

Leaving home behind is such a multi-faceted emotional experience...be kind to yourself in the process. Also, it's okay if you're not head-over-heels with your new home. (I'll be brave and say that I'm not.) In time you'll cry a little less, and you'll find things that you really do love. You'll make a few friends and life will begin to feel normal.

I promise. Cross my heart.

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I LOVE this interview.

Bethany has such a way with words that is honest and thought provoking yet makes you feel at ease. You can read more from her on Rinse Repeat.

And, thank you Bethany!

If you're looking for other editions of "Expatriated," check out...

Jess in Brussels

Britta in Costa Rica

Edna in Paris

Chelsea in South Korea

Kristina in Melbourne

Melissa in London

Jenna in South Africa

Jeanie in Singapore

Kisha in India

A Weekend in London

noreply@blogger.com (Jay) — Fri, 03 May 2013 10:30:00 +0000

Our time in London was at a premium. With only 2 full days, a long shopping list and sights to see we knew we'd be busy. We didn't expect to see everything but I think we made a pretty good start. We watched the changing of the guards at Buckingham Palace, walked along Hyde Park, fought the crowds on Oxford Street, met Sarah for a quick coffee, checked out the Tower Bridge, stopped for English ales in pubs and strolled Portobello Road in Notting Hill. We hardly scratched the surface of all there was to do in London but it solidified that we would most certainly visit again.

For now, I'll let the pictures do the talking.

London Called

noreply@blogger.com (Jay) — Wed, 01 May 2013 10:30:00 +0000

For the last few months I've been scanning for quick, direct flights out of Norway in hopes to do a little Spring shopping. I moved here with a wardrobe fit for the tropics, purchased new things for Winter yet really needed some clothes that would be appropriate for a Norwegian Spring & Summer (i.e. not hot.) Shopping isn't fantastic in Stavanger and while I can certainly find what I need, it's so expensive here and doesn't seem worth it to pay a lot of money for a mediocre selection. (There's also a 25% import tax on anything shipped in thus that was not a feasible option.) So, I scanned for flights to Copenhagen, Stockholm, Amsterdam, London, Edinburgh, etc. Flights to any of those destinations for a weekend were expensive and after continually checking back for deals, it became apparent that we just weren't going to get somewhere cheap so we bit the bullet and booked a trip to London.

London has never been high on our list of places to visit. It's not that we didn't think it would be a good city to travel to - we just figured we'd get there eventually whether we really planned it or not. Well, London, you exceeded my expectations. I can't quite put my finger on it... perhaps it has to do with coming from a Commonwealth country and growing up looking at so many iconic London images or perhaps it was just entering a bustling city after months in our quiet, Norwegian town, but London won us over pretty quickly. Also, it was pretty darn nice travelling to another English speaking country and I cannot discredit how smooth and easy everything was just because we could read the signs.

Shopping was semi-successful, as my credit card can attest to, but I didn't get everything I was looking for. There was just too much to do and as happy as I would have been perusing the shops day-in and day-out, I'm sure Joe wouldn't have appreciated it. Perhaps next time I'll schedule a mid-week trip by myself so I'm not dragging my husband around and can avoid the sheer craziness that is Oxford Street on a nice, dry, Spring Saturday afternoon.

The Particulars...
+We flew via Norwegian direct to Gatwick. They offered the most reasonable flights and had great timing with a 19:40 Friday night - 21:05 Sunday night return ticket.
+From Gatwick, we hopped on the Gatwick Express which took us right to Victoria Station near Central London in about 30 minutes. Do note, there isn't much space for luggage on that train so if you're travelling with a lot, you may want to hire a taxi. The train departs every 15 minutes (30 minutes on Sundays) and costs £19.90 for an Anytime Single ticket although you can save £2 by pre-purchasing on the internet.
+I found us a great deal on a swanky London hotel in Covent Garden. St Martin's Lane Hotel was in an amazing location which made it easy for us to walk to practically every sight we visited. It's also a really hip hotel that has some super cool features that play with coloured light. Even with the deal, it wasn't cheap but as compared to other London hotels in the centre, it was worth the extra few £'s for the location and funky room. (The deal is valid until May 16 so if you're looking for London accommodation and don't mind splurging a bit, you can check it out here.)
+We arrived quite late Friday night and decided to eat in the hotel restaurant, Asia de Cuba. An Asian-Cuban fusion restaurant sounds like a bizarre pairing yet it was oh-so-good. The crab croquetas were delicious as were our main courses of pan-seared ahi tuna and Cuban BBQ'd chicken. They also have a very extensive cocktail list (I enjoyed the Chilli-Passionfruit Caipirinha.)

And... a very happy May Day to you all. It's one of our many public holidays in May here in Norway, celebrated as Labour Day. Unfortunately, Joe's boss didn't get the memo and scheduled a very important, not to be missed meeting for noon.

The Norwegian Printing Museum

noreply@blogger.com (Jay) — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 10:30:00 +0000

Lately, I've been making the museum rounds throughout Stavanger and have been pleasantly surprised at the variety in our little city. When the PWC sent an email out organizing a trip to the Norwegian Printing Museum, I'll admit, I had no idea it existed but I was intrigued. The benefit of visiting with the PWC is the admission is usually discounted and they often arrange for a private, guided tour which in this case, was quite essential to really appreciate the exhibition.

As we arrived, we were greeted by an older Norwegian gentleman who explained, "Us old guys all used to work in the printing business. Now we're retired but we'll show you around." He won me over quite quickly. There was something so endearing about these men who had long moved on from the printing press yet still came around to maintain the equipment, work on a few pieces as a hobby and impart their knowledge to those who visited.

The building itself was beautiful in it's industrial glory. Old wooden floors combined with steel supports enveloped the enormous iron machines and the smell of ink permeated the air. The windows on the far wall peered right out onto the water and sent rays of light through the entire space. It's almost hard to believe that it was once a simple storage space for the canneries in the early 1900s.

Stavanger had a very lively printing industry due to the abundance of canneries in the area (of course, the cans needed labels.) Lithography was the trade of choice for labels. The pictures and text were drawn by hand on large and heavy pieces of limestone. Multi-coloured labels followed a careful process - each colour was hand sketched on the limestone, pressed, dried and then the next colour, on a separate lithograph, was applied. In total, over 30 000 lithographs were made in Stavanger for the canning industry alone.

The rest of the museum was dedicated mainly to letterpress which honestly, was quite fascinating. Up until the 1980s, letterpress was the main method of newspaper printing in the area and what an intricate and I imagine, strenuous, process. Typesetting was done completely by hand, letter by letter, word by word almost as if arranging a puzzle daily in order to put the newspaper to press. In 1900, the first typesetting machine came to Norway which basically works like a computer keyboard except working manually to put a cast together shaping a line of text in metal.

We were lucky enough to watch it all come together as the machine clunked and the metals tinged eventually forming a phrase. The gentleman was kind enough to make a souvenir of sorts for us as we oohed and ahhed at the process.

The Handmade Typecast

It was really quite amazing to see the precision and effort that went into printing and while I love how technology has opened up so many opportunities for us, it made me sad to think of this massive industry and art that is practically extinct with the use of the computer taking it's place.

The Handmade Print of the Norwegian Alphabet I bought at the end of the tour.

The tour was really quite eye opening for me and as a lover of the written word, I couldn't help but be mesmerized by the letters surrounding me, each of them being created with so much time, effort & care.

Our Travel Plague

noreply@blogger.com (Jay) — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 09:49:00 +0000

Dining in Granada, Spain

Joe and I compliment each other well when it comes to travel. I do the planning and researching but when we're in country, he'll take care of the logistics. I keep a list of sites to visit, he'll figure out the public transit. He's more budget friendly which keeps my expensive eye in check. Joe prefers to go, go, go checking off every attraction on his mental checklist whereas I like to slow down, enjoy a coffee and take it all in. He's the ying to my yang.

Regardless of how well we balance each other out, we still have our own little travel plague.

The exploring, learning, sightseeing and walking makes us hungry and both of us can be pretty indecisive when it comes to food. When the time comes, I want to find that little gem of a place where we can rest our feet, taste something delicious and refuel. It doesn't have to be fancy, it just has to be good. This is often easier said than done.

Usually, I start to feel hungry. (Joe never feels hungry until we actually sit down in a restaurant.) I casually bring up that we should probably start trying to find somewhere to eat and Joe usually agrees however isn't super motivated to get to it. An hour will pass as we continue our 5 km jaunt from one location to the next and my hunger increases. I remind Joe again that I'm getting quite hungry and we should probably stop somewhere and he'll casually agree. We'll take a look around but everything will look like a tourist trap or not quite what we're looking for. We agree to walk on. This process repeats a couple of times as neither of us will make a decision. Eventually my h-anger sets in (hunger + anger.)

I'm well aware of it and will often warn, "Joe, I'm starting to get grumpy. I really need to eat now." He'll often offer an exasperated response along the lines of, "Fine. Let's just go there," pointing to the dive across the street to which I balk. We walk on, h-anger increasing exponentially. Joe will continue to point out any and every place on the street that sells food which really only makes me angrier as they're usually not valid options for me. We keep walking in hopes of stumbling across THE place.

Eventually, I'll hit a breaking point. The h-anger will capsize me and I'll rant that we should have ate 2 hours and several kilometres ago. Joe will note that he's pointed out a billion restaurants but I won't go in any of them. I'll roll my eyes because suggesting 7-11 is not a reasonable 'restaurant' and provides no help to our situation. Out of sheer desperation to end the situation, we'll stalk off into the nearest restaurant. Rarely does it happen to be that gem I had so hoped for but we'll eat, the h-anger will subside and we move on.

I try to be proactive and many times it helps. I'll take a list of restaurant recommendations from friends and readers. I'll do a little research, read a few TripAdvisor reviews and take note of this place or that place. Sometimes we'll ask the concierge or a local that we happened to be chatting to and many times, we successfully eat a lovely meal sans problem. But, sometimes it just doesn't work out. We'll end up in a different neighbourhood than expected or we'll make our way to a recommended place only to find it full or the menu not quite what we wanted. Sometimes we just want a little spontaneity and preplanning doesn't allow for it.

In any case, while it may look like travel is glamourous from all angles, I can assure you that it's not. Somewhere during the course of our weekend trip to some European city, I will be standing on the street ranting to my husband while taken over by h-anger.

Do you get hangry?

{Please tell me I'm not the only one!}

A Look At Stavanger's Museums

noreply@blogger.com (Jay) — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 10:30:00 +0000

Museums are something we tend to visit when we're away from home and they often slip from our minds when we're looking for things to do when we're not travelling. Despite it's small size, Stavanger has a pretty great array of museums to visit. With Jeanie's visit and the PWC, I've been able to check quite a few out but I look forward to exploring them all while we're here.

*Stavanger Museum - Housing both cultural and natural history, the Stavanger Museum has been open to the public since 1893. Here we can learn the history of our city and see what life was like here hundreds of years ago. It's also home to the Children's Museum.
Tuesday-Sunday 11:00-16:00

*Stavanger Art Museum - The art museum has a really great location on the edge of the Mosvannet, a lake not far from the centre of town. The museum showcases a few Norwegian artists but it also welcomes smaller exhibitions from other artists.
Tuesday-Sunday 11:00-16:00
*Stavanger Maritime Museum - Currently closed until May 15, 2013 for renovations, this museum is next on my list to visit. It's home to many maritime related artifacts and 2 sailing ships dating back to 1848 and 1897.
Tuesday-Saturday 11:00-16:00
*The Norwegian Canning Museum - This is a favourite to most who visit. Before oil, canning was a major industry in Stavanger which was home to some 130 canneries. The museum is located in Gamle Stavanger and housed in a former cannery. Many of the machines are still in working condition and visiting is really like stepping back in time. Guided tours are offered and they are essential to really experience the exhibit at its best. The first Sunday of the month they fire up the sardine smoking as it would have been done in the early 1900s.
Tuesday-Saturday 11:00-16:00
*Utstein Monastery - Norway's only preserved monastery is located about a 30 minute drive from Stavanger. Historical records date the site back to the 9th century although construction of the main building began in 1260.
The museum closes during the winter, reopening in March on Sundays and at peak times is open daily. Check the hours here.
*Ledaal - Ledaal is a mansion and royal residence built in 1799. Originally built as a summer residence, it's now a museum as well as a royal residence and is occasionally used for official functions. This is set to be our next field trip with the PWC.
Open Sundays mid-August to mid-June 11:00-16:00
Open daily June 15-August 15 11:00-16:00
*Breidablikk- Often visited when touring Ledaal because of their close proximity, this is a former shipowner's residence. Apparently quite well-preserved it provides insight into home life in Norway in the 1800s.
Closed January-June 15
Open daily June 15-August 15 11:00-16:00
Open Sundays August 16-December 31 11:00-16:00

*The Norwegian Printing Museum - Stay tuned for a blog post on this one - it's tied for a favourite with the Canning Museum. This is a must for anyone interested in typography and printing presses. Many of the machines are in working order and it's quite amazing to see the intricacies that made a newspaper and labels early in the 20th century. Retired printing professionals keep the machines in working conditions and if you're lucky to catch them on special occasions or tours, they'll demonstrate how they work.
Open Sundays January 1-June 14 11:00-16:00
Open daily June 15-August 15
Closed August 16-December 31
*Stavanger School Museum - This one is only open under special arrangements but is located in a former school and focuses on, you guessed it, school history.
Rogaland War Historical Museum - Originally a privately owned collection of World War II memorabilia, it's now a museum housed in former Nazi camp near Sola airport. The exhibit is in Norwegian but it's worth it to try to arrange a guided tour in English to see Stavanger's role in WWII as well as life under the occupation.
Open Sundays 12:00-16:00 May-November

Via Visit Norway

Norwegian Petroleum Museum - This is probably Stavanger's most popular museum. It sits right on the water downtown and is really quite an impressive exhibit. Beginning with general history as to where oil comes from, it goes on to show Norway's oil & gas history, then breaking down the process of offshore drilling and finally, it looks at environmental impacts. The best part of this museum is how interactive it is - to scale offshore platforms allow you a close up look, interactive touch screen displays, a 3D movie theatre and you can try your hand at a few drilling tasks. There's also a really great restaurant housed right in the museum building but it can get busy, particularly for dinner.
Open daily 10:00-19:00 June 1-August 31
Monday-Saturday 10:00-16:00 September 1-May 31
Sunday 10:00-18:00 September 1-May 31
Museum of Archaeology - As one might guess, the museum of archaeology has some really, really old artifacts in it. It traces back life in Rogaland to the Bronze Age and really offers a glimpse into how Norway has progressed into the modern world.
September 1- May 31 Tuesdays 11:00-20:00, Wednesday-Saturday 11:00-15:00, Sunday 11:00-16:00
June 1- August 31 Monday-Friday 10:00-17:00, Saturday-Sunday 11:00-17:00

Joe has been a bit jealous as of late because I seem to do all of the exploring while he's at work so I've started going back to the museums with him on the weekends. It's something we need to remind ourselves to do on those rainy days.

Tips
+Those marked with an * are part of the MUST group. You can buy yearly passes which are worth the cost if you plan on visiting most of the museums.
+Tourists can also purchase the Fjord Pass which offers discounts on many museums all over Norway (in addition to discounts on hotels, rental cars and other activities.)
+Operating hours are drastically reduced outside of high season here so it's in your best interest to double check before you plan your trip.
+The Canning Museum & Printing Museum are best seen on a guided tour - check out when they're scheduled and if it's during low season, ask at the counter as sometimes they're happy to take you around on your own.

The Tiny Village of Flåm

noreply@blogger.com (Jay) — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 10:30:00 +0000

After completing the first half of our Norway in a Nutshell tour, we stopped off for the night in Flåm. The tiny village of Flåm is found at the end of the Aurlandsfjord which is one of the legs of the Sognefjord, the world's largest fjord at 212 kilometres. It sits amongst the sea and the mountains and is quintessentially Norwegian beauty.

At the end of the 19th century, German and English tourists came to know Flåm as a stop on their Norwegian fjord cruise and the village continues to woo visitors from all over the world. There isn't a whole lot there - a few hotels, a few cabins, a railway museum, a couple of cafés and tourist shops & a brewery. From the town, one can plan a number of excursions or hikes to pass their time there but we chose just to sit back and enjoy the scenery with a beer in hand.

We stayed at the Flåmsbrygga Hotel. The rooms were basic but comfortable and every single one had a gorgeous view and a balcony. The three of us spent the majority of our time parked in the sun, with a beer in hand breathing in that fresh mountain air. That evening we wandered next door for a Norwegian Easter buffet followed by live music & beer at the local brewery, Ægir.

It was a quiet 24 hours in Flåm but I liked it that way. When the high season kicks into gear, the cruise ships start pulling in and while I hear it's quite the sight to see those enormous floating buildings pull up to this tiny village, I liked that we sort of had it to ourselves.

Snakker du engelsk? Speaking English in Norway

noreply@blogger.com (Jay) — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 10:30:00 +0000

One of the 23 iron sculptures that make up "Broken Column." The sculptures can be found all over Stavanger creating an imaginary column from the Stavanger Art Gallery to the harbour.

When we arrive in a new country that will be our home for the foreseeable future, we have all sorts of expectations, goals & hopes outlining what we want our stay to look like. We have an idea as to how we'll spend our time, what we'd like to learn and where we'll travel. Some of those things come to fruition while others do not.

When I arrived in Norway, I was motivated to start learning Norwegian. I'm in a new country with a completely foreign (to me) language and out of respect & interest in the culture, I figured it would be in my best interest to take a few lessons. Once we found out we were staying, I made a few calls in hopes of securing a tutor for Joe and I at our company's expense. (Side note: Our company will pay a certain amount for Joe's lessons however not for mine.) I waited and waited for Joe to settle into his new position and find some time to track down the information and paperwork needed before starting lessons. It took forever and with that, my interest and motivation started to wane. When we finally did secure everything we needed, our travel schedule picked up and the tutor advised us to wait until we had a more consistent schedule.

In the meantime, it became evident that most everyone in Norway speaks English.

Norwegians start learning English as early as Kindergarten and they continue throughout their entire schooling career. By the time they graduate, most Norwegians will speak excellent English. (The teacher in me finds this fascinating particularly coming from Canada where our commitment to French language instruction has failed miserably to produce a bilingual country.) Obviously, in larger cities with more exposure to foreigners, English is more widely used and there is a bit of a generation gap but even in the rural areas, most Norwegians will have a working knowledge of the language.

Of course, the official language of Norway is Norsk thus signs, advertisements, labels and the first language most people will speak in day to day life will be Norwegian. Movies & TV shows (with the exception of cartoons) that come from North America and the UK are left in English with the addition of Norwegian subtitles and are very rarely dubbed. Official government documents for visas, taxes & healthcare are generally in Norwegian although with an influx or immigrants and expatriates, it's not hard to find an English version. It's pretty common to hear Norwegians move between English and Norsk seamlessly even within one conversation amongst themselves. It really is quite impressive.

In the beginning, I faced some challenges with the language. As opposed to Gabon where I had a lot of French vocabulary to assist me, I didn't know a single word in Norwegian and the language looked and sounded completely foreign to me. There were moments in the grocery store where I was guessing when buying 1%, 2% or skim milk and a bit of difficulty when researching mobile phone carriers as the websites were all in Norwegian. However, when someone speaks to me in Norwegian and I apologize, "I'm sorry, I speak English," they immediately switch over without hesitation or judgement.

To date, I've picked up a few words. I can do the checkout at the grocery store without English, as long as they stick to the script. I know that "kylling" means chicken and "jordbær" means strawberry. I can "hei, hei" in greeting and "ha det" in closing with the best of them. I've nailed "tusen takk" and "ja" and "nei" and I now know that although "pose" and "pølse" sound similar they don't mean the same thing (bag and hot dog respectively.) I still sound ridiculous when sounding out words as I often try to impose English sounds on Norwegian words and I keep my home address written in my wallet because no one seems to understand my street name no matter how hard I try to say it correctly.

It appears that English has once again allowed us to get by without learning another language. This always feels like a blessing and a curse. It certainly is convenient but it also allows us to lazily take a backseat in the language learning department. I haven't fully abandoned the idea of taking Norwegian lessons as I do still consider it important to learn and to make an effort but I'm just not exactly sure how that will look for us.

Somebody Got A Makeover

noreply@blogger.com (Jay) — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 03:00:00 +0000

Mere months after my last blog design (May 2012) I started craving something different. I'm not sure if it was the move to Norway and being surrounded by Scandinavian design but I wanted something simpler in colour and feel. I held out as long as I could before I asked Ana from BlogMilkShop to whip up this custom new look for me and I must say, I'm feeling at home in my new abode.

Take a look around and make yourself at home. If your reading this post via email or reader, click on over. There are some updated & new pages added which you can find in the sidebar under my photo. (I'll be working on the Voyages page in the weeks to come making it easier to navigate our travel posts.) With the new design, there may be a couple of quirks particularly while we try out different elements on different browsers. We'll be trying to get everything working seamlessly but if you happen to notice something not quite right, please let me know!

And finally,

Thank you for your continued support. I'm honoured that you keep coming back, commenting and following along as Joe and I navigate life abroad.

{I feel like this is probably a good time to tell you, in case you didn't already know, I'm on bloglovin so with the imminent disappearance of Google Reader, you can follow me here.}