I cross all the seas, it's fine by me...

Scriu de pe mobil, asa ca o sa fiu 'saraca' in cuvinte.
Am vazut ieri meciul Anglia - Germania, in aer liber, noi si alte zeci de mii de oameni. Nu va imaginati ce nebunie a fost la fiecare gol si cum se stropea cu bere in toate partile (deh, Germania). Nu cred ca o sa mai fie aceeasi atmosfera sambata, cand se va juca impotriva Argentinei. Tin in continuare cu germanii, dar sincer argentinienii au echipa puternica.
Am mai vazut niste apartamente, dar pe unul deja il tai de pe lista, din mai multe considerente. Sa spunem doar ca e dragut ca doi caini sa te linga si sa lase par pe tine, dar doar pt o zi; nu as putea trai asa timp de sase luni. Mai am de vazut si alte camere, un chiar in seara asta, deci nu e panica.
Este atat de cald aici, nu ma asteptam - ce-i drept, nu se compara cu verile toride din Romania. Probabil ca maine, dupa ce mai vad alte doua apartamente o sa merg la un 'strand' (vorba vine, aici totul e amenajat pe lacuri ori pe piscine enorme), ca sa nu imi fi luat degeaba costumul de baie cu mine.

Acum mananc ceva de pranz si plec prin oras apoi.

V-am pupat!


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

Live from Berlin! II

I can't really translate this post, as I am writing from my phone, but please feel free to use Google Translate if you want to make sense of what is written above :)

Am reusit sa indes totul intr-o singura geanta (fetelor, puteti sa treceti cu o penseta in bagajul de mana, va spun eu), sa supravietuiesc unei nopti de nesomn (caci am calatorit din nou noaptea) si sa ajung in Berlin!!! Unde se lucreaza de zor pe la diverse linii de metrou/tren, deci nu e asa cum l-am lasat, ci in continua schimbare...

Aici e foarte cald, calculatorul arata 25 de grade acum, dar se simte mai mult cand mergi pe strada, mai ales in soare. Orasul asta este extraodinar vara, desi mi se pare extrem de zgomotos si aglomerat - poate datorita turistilor, poate din cauza faptului ca vin din Coventry acum...

Am vazut cateva apartamente, inca nu dau 'pronosticuri', diger doar, caci oricum mai sunt altele de vazut in zilele urmatoare. M-am dezobisnuit total de traficul din Europa continentala: nici nu puteti inchipui ce provocare este sa traversez strada acum!

M-am tuns, dar nu va arat inca poze si va tin inca in suspans. Va spun doar ca sunt foarte multumita de rezultat (noroc ca am vorbit in engleza cu tipa care m-a tuns :P). M-am plimbat o groaza zilele astea (am fost inclusiv la East Side Galerry, din nou, sa vad noile desene de pe Zid, caci nu erau toate terminate in noimebrie), pt ca nici nu prea am altceva de facut in afara de vazut apartamente si intalnit cu lumea cunoscuta (care, din pacate, nu e asa numeroasa). Pt ca nu am reusit sa stau in Berlin pe timpul verii, acum incerc sa recuperez si sa ma plimb peste tot posibil...Ah, da, azi am fost si la Institutul unde o sa fac practica, voiam sa vad exact unde e, ca apoi sa imi dau seama si in ce zona ar fi mai bine sa stau.

Miercuri a fost meciul Germaniei in Campionatul Mondial, nici nu va puteti imagina ce nebunie a fost in oras (inainte si dupa)! Duminica joaca din nou, cu Anglia, si chiar daca acum sunt rezidenta in Albion, o sa tin cu Germania (pe considerente de "imi place mai mult Germania"). Cred ca o sa imi cumpar si un steag nemtesc :)

Acum sunt destul de obosita, ma dor picioarele, ma doare spatele (se resimt plimbarile de zilele astea) si vreau sa ma intind putin.

Ne "auzim" data viitoare :)



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

Live from Berlin!

I managed to tuck everything in a bag (ladies, I'm telling you, you can get with a tweezers in your hand luggage), to survive a sleepless night (I travelled by night once more) and to arrive safe an sound in Berlin!!! Where there are many constructions going on, for the tube/train lines, so I can't actually say it's the same way I left it, but rather changing...

It's very warm here, the computer shows 25 degrees now, but it feels much hotter in the sun. This city is extraordinary in the summer time, although now I find it somehow noisy and crowded - perhaps because of all the tourists, perhaps due tot the fact that I'm coming from Coventry...I'm totally dishabituated with the traffic in continental Europe: it's such a challenge for me to cross the street now!

I saw some apartments, but I'm not drawing any conclusions yet, just digesting what I've seen (there are more to visit anyway).
I've got a new haircut, but I'm not showing you any photos for now. I'll just say that I'm very happy with the result (Luckily I spoke English to the hairdresser). I walked a LOT these day, I even got to the East Side Gallery, to see the new drawings (not all were ready in November last year). That's because I haven't got much to do here, except for visiting apartments and meeting people (unfortunately there aren't too many familiar faces left). And since I haven't experienced Berlin during the summer, now I want to see as much as possible...Oh, yeah, I also went to see where I'm going to do the internship,to check the distances to different areas where I might live.

On Wednesday Germany played in the World Cup, you can't imagine the craziness in the city (before and after)! On Sunday there are playing again, against England. Although I live in the Albion now, I'm going to support Germany (I like better this country). I might buy a German flag as well :)

I'm pretty tired now, my legs are paining a lot, so is my back (due to all these long walk) so I really need to rest my body for a bit.


Till next time!

...dar foarte putin timp. Asa ca o sa o las pe alta data!
Acum sunt ocupata cu ultimele pregatiri pt plecatul la Berlin (in vreo 2 ore plec spre statia de autocar), unde o sa stau pana pe 30 (ma rog, ajung inapoi in Coventry pe 1 iulie propriu-zis).

Merg sa caut apartament, caci mi s-a confirmat internship-ul. Initial credeam ca spatamana asta la Berlin o sa fie un esec din punctul asta de vedere, caci trimisesem o groaza de e-mailuri si primisem doar 2 raspunsuri. Astfel ca am renuntat sa mai scriu ca sunt romanca sau ca vorbesc romaneste si iata ca am primit mult mai multe raspunsuri. Nu stiu daca asta sa fi fost de vina, dar nu se stie niciodata...
O sa vad cam 10 apartamente (sper eu, pt unele trebuie sa mai dau cate un telefon de confirmare) si apoi, in functie de ce imi place (si de cum ma plac si ceilalti), o sa iau o decizie.

Gata! Nu mai am timp de pierdut!
Pe curand!


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

I've Got Stories to Tell...

...but just a bit of time, so these will be told some other time...

Now I'm making the last preparation for my trip to Berlin, where I'll be going tonight (in a few hours i have to be in the coach station). I'll be coming back on the 30th (actually I'll reach Coventry on the 1st of July).

I'm going to see some apartments, since my internship is officially confirmed. Initially I though that this trip will be a waist of time and money - I had sent loads of e-mails and received only 2 answers. So I stopped saying that I'm Romanian or that I speak Romanian and thus I started getting more replies. I don't know if that's to balme, but you never know...

I'll be viewing about 10 rooms (I hope, I still have to give some confirmation calls) and the, depending on what I like (and if the others like me too), I'll take a decision.


OK, I'm running out of time now!
See you soon!

3 destinatii diferite in mai putin de o saptamana...Nu e rau, nu?

Dupa Cardiff am continuat sa ma prefac ca am o viata cosmopolita si martea imedia urmatoare am mers in Leamington Spa (nu este un spa!!!), un orasel la o ora distanta de Coventry, sub pretexul unei vizite gratuite la un oftalmolog (uite cu ce te poti alege cand pierzi vremea aiurea pe internet).
Stiam ca pot sa iau autobuzul nr. 12 ca sa ajung acolo, stiam deci si cat timp dureaza calatoria, asa ca am mers la statia centrala, Pool Meadow, mi-am cumparat bilet de o zi si am asteptat putin pana soferul s-a contrat (nu certat) cu un pusti de vreo 16 ani caruia ii expirase abonamentul cu o zi in urma si care pretindea ca nu stia in ce data este. Eu i-as fi sugerat sa mearga la scoala sa invete sa citeasca in calendar, dar aici nu se face mare 'tam-tam' in situatii ca astea; doar niste batranele i-au spus ca e obraznic si ca ar trebui sa coboare, ca ne tine in loc.

Nu imi amintesc cand si daca am mai ajuns prin zonele din Coventry pe unde a trecut autobuzul, cert este ca am mers destul de mult pana am iesit din oras (prin sud-vest), iar cand eram prin zona Universitatii Warwick (adica fix la marginea orasului), masina a inceput sa tiuie ingrozitor. Degeaba a incercat soferul sa opreasca motorul si sa stationeze ceva mai mult de cate ori a avut ocazia, zgomotul nu a incetat si pace! Cum sunt zero la mecanica (si la masini & condus in general), nu as putea sa ma dau cu parerea legat de cauzele tiuitului, poate doar sa il fi pus pe seama supraincalzirii motorului...

Plecasem de acasa destul de devreme, si imi rezervasem cam o ora si jumatate pt drum. Dar stateam in autobuz, intre Coventry si Kenilworth (caci abia apoi urmeaza Leamington Spa) si imi dadeam seama ca drumul va dura mai mult de o ora (care se cam scursese deja) si va fi aproape imposibil sa ajung la programarea de la ora 13:00, mai ales ca imi uitasem pelerina de zbor acasa!

Cum, necum, autobuzul s-a mai 'tarat' putin (la un moment dat zgomotul s-a oprit, pt scurt timp insa), a trecut chiar si de Kenilworth (frumos orasel!) si chiar cand eram la intrarea in Leamington Spa (aveam sa imi dau seama mai tarziu) s-a oprit si soferul a decis ca e mai bine sa asteptam urmatorul autobuz, care urma sa soseasca in 10 minute. S-a inecat precum tiganul la mal! Dupa ce aproape ca ne-a omorat urechile, nici macar nu a fost in stare sa ne surzeasca pana la capat. Mda...trebuia sa cer banii inapoi, ca vad ca tot se obisnuieste asta aici, pt absolut orice prostie...Nu m-ati crezut cand v-am spus de karma proasta pe care o am cu autobuzele/autocarele, nu? Si au mai fost situatii, nu's "incepatoare"...

In fine, am ajuns in centrul orasului, caci acolo te lasa autobuzul, am mers jumatate de minut si am dat de cabinet, am completat o fisa, am stat de vorba cu asistentii de pe acolo (mama unuia era chiar romanca, din Curtea de Arges), apoi cu doctorul bla bla bla, nimic interesant...Pentru ca totul s-a terminat destul de repede, m-am plimbat apoi un pic prin oras, ar fi fost si pacat sa plec direct! O sa va spun cateva impresii despre locurile pe care l-am vazut in ziua respectiva, apoi va las sa va delectati cu poze.

Leamington Spa este un orasel tare sic si dichisit, chiar daca este mic (aici are statutul de 'town', nu 'city' - nu pot sa fac distinctia in romana), cu vreo 45 000 locuitori. A fost (si este) intr-adevar un oras de bai (spa), probabil echivalentul Bailor Felix/Herculane la noi, dar nu bag mana in fc. Cand am ajuns era foarte aglomerat, multi tineri pe strazi, unii pareau de varsta mea (ma intreb de ce nu erau la facultate), dar si multi pensionari, foarte eleganti. Cladirile au o arhitectura clasica, in stil victorian si georgian (inca o data mi-am spus ca am nimerit in cel mai urat loc din Anglia) si se vede ca orasul nu este unul de studenti, este mult mai ingrijit. Totusi, cand m-am indepartat putin de centru parea ca nu mai arata asa bine. Dar am traversat un parc/o gradina care arata pur si simplu superb (am aflat acum ca se numeste Gradina Jephson), avea si un fel de sera, legata, pe de o parte, de un restaurant si, pe de alta parte, un fel de sala de seminarii pt un colegiu. Per total, din ceea ce am vazut, pot spune ca mi-ar fi placut sa stau intr-un oras ca Leamington Spa.
Se facuse cam ora 16:00, imi era foame si chiar daca erau destule locuri unde as fi putut lua pranzul, detest sa mananc singura, asa ca m-am gandit ca puteam sa mai rezist o ora, pana in acasa. M-am postat, deci, in statia de autobuz si am plecat, fara sa cumpar (caci nu am vazut pe nicaieri) 2 vederi, cum fac de obicei - una o trimit in Bucuresti, alta o pastrez pt mine...Nu-i nimic, se gasesc in Coventry :)

Pe drum am trecut din nou prin Kenilworth, as fi putut sa cobor si sa ma plimb putin prin oras, caci arata foarte frumos, cum spuneam, dar e foarte plictisitor sa fcai asta singur. Poate o sa ma intorc intr-o zi sa vizitez castelul de acolo, ma rog, ruinele. Apoi am trecut iar pe langa Universitatea Warwick, care era foarte populata la ora respectiva, probabil ca se terminau cursuri. Universitatea asta este literalmente in mijlocul pustietatii, dar campusul (zona universitara, ca sa definesc mai precis) este extreeeem de mare, cred ca mai mare decat toate cladirile/locatiile Universitatii din Coventry puse in acelasi loc, desi noi avem Parcul Tehnologic, laboratorul aerospatial si chiar acum se construiesc doua noi campusuri (dintre care unul va fi cam cel mai performant din UK pe domeniul IT), plus ca au deschis si unul in Londra (pt programe de licenta pe business&marketing + MBA). Practic, Universitatea din Warwick este un orasel in sine, cu magazine, cafenele si baruri, exact cum vezi prin filme. Au un teren mare de sport si multe facilitatitati de gen, multe dormitoare studentesti, rasfirate peste tot. Cred ca ambele universitati au cam acelasi nr. de studenti (dar ai lor par mai desteptin:P), dar la Warwick parea asa de 'aglomerat', poate pt ca la noi nu prea exista un punct central al campusului si ne amestecam si cu locuitorii din oras...

Ma gandeam ca, daca ar fi sa o iau de la capat (cu un Master, in nici un caz licenta), mi-ar placea ori sa merg intr-un oras mare ori la o astfel de universitate, unde sa fie spritul asta de studentime, caci aici nu prea am simtit eu ca am dus o viata asa grozava din punctul asta de vedere (era mai misto pana si in Bucuresti). Sigur, aici fac un master, deci am mai putine cursuri pe saptamana, am mai putini colegi, dar nici o clipa nu au existat "excese" de prietene sau macar idei de genul "Haideti la o bere" dupa ultimul curs dintr-o zi si nici eu nu mi-am dat silinta, caci sunt genul de persoana care se descurajeaza repede cand da de obstacole de genul asta...In fine, spuneam ca mi-ar placea sa experimentez si traiul intr-un campus exclusiv studentesc, desi categoric asta spun doar momentan, m-as plictisi enorm sa fiu izolata, deja ma plctisesc acum, iar centrul este la doar 15 minute de mers pe jos (deci nici macar nu sunt rupta de lume). Si, bineinteles, nu as mai alege o universitate britanica decat daca ar fi moca si m-ar mai si plati...

Chiar ascultam (nu ma puteam abtine) conversatia a doi tipi in autobuz, aflati cateva randuri in spatele meu, unul parea asiatic dupa voce si accent, altul nu imi amintesc...Din cate mi-am dat seama, caci imi mai zburau si mie gandurile admirand peisajul, studiau ceva legat de matematica sau fizica, stiinte exacte oricum. Tot vorbeau de examene si cursuri, iar unul dintre ei (asiaticul) a inceput sa se planga la un moment dat ca nu este multumit de facultate, de nivelul studiilor etc. Si eu care credeam ca asta se intampla doar la Coventry!!! Celalalt l-a intrebat de ce nu a mers in alta parte, iar raspunsul a fost ceva de genul: "Pt ca nu am intrat la Oxford si nu am primit un raspuns in timp util de la Imperial College". Mi-a picat fata: Warwick, o universitate aflata constant in Top 5 in UK, sa intre in categoria "nu am avut o optiune mai buna"!? Pt mine Warwick ar fi fost o universitate prea buna (si prea scumpa - un master in domeniu ar fi costat cel putin 5000 de lire). Atunci cred ca eu ar trebui sa spun numele universitatii si sa bag repede capul sub nisip, precum strutii, cand ma intreaba cineva unde invat...Ma rog, ma bucur sa aud pareri si de la alte universitati, venite din partea unor studenti straini, caci pana acum nu stiam daca ar trebui sau nu sa pun toate nemultumirile legate de universitatea mea pe principiul "cat dai atata face".

Cred ca ar fi cazul sa nu mai deviez de la subiect si sa trag concluziile: Leamington Spa & Kenilworth = frumoase & cochete; Warwick Uni = aer de studentime.
Acum pozele!

Memorialul Jephson, comemorand bravura parasutistilor armatei eliberate a Cehoslovaciei, aflati in exil in Warwickshire, care au participat in Operatiunea Anthropid, menita sa il asasineze pe Generalul nazist Reinhard Heydrich.

Jephson Memorial, honouring the bravery of the parachutists of the Free Army of Czechoslovakia, exiled in Warwickshire, who took part of the Operation Anthropoid, designed to assassinate the Nazi general Reinhard Heydrich.

In Jephson Garden

Primaria (stanga, cladirea rosie), avand in fata statuia Reginei Victoria + Biserica Tuturor Sfintilor

The Town Hall (left side, the red bricked building), with Queen Victoria's statue in front + All Saints Church

Ultimele 3 poze sunt de la Universitatea din Warwick

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

Around the Albion: Leamington Spa

3 destinations in less than a week...Not bad, huh?
After returning from Cardiff I continued to pretend I have a cosmopolitan life and the following Tuesday I went to Leamington Spa (it's not a real spa!!!), a little town just a hour away from Coventry, under the pretence of a free visit to an eye doctor (look what you can get when you're waisting your time on the Internet).

I knew that bus no. 12 would've got me there, I knew the duration of the journey, so I went to the central bus station, Pool Meadow, I bought an one-day ticket and I've waited a bit for the driver had an argument (not a big fight) with a 16 year old kid, whose monthly ticked had expired the previous day and who was complaining that he didn't know what's the date. I would've suggested him to go to school and learn how to 'read' the calendar, but people tend not to overreact; just two old ladies told him he's being cheeky and he should get off, he's keeping us on the spot.

I don't remember exactly when and if I had ever reached some areas of Coventry which the bus had passed, but it surely took a lot of time until we got out of the city (south-west) and when we where just in the zone of Warwick Uni (so at the outskirts of Coventry), the bus begun screeching. The driver tried to stop the engine and to take advantage of every moment when we were stationed, but it was all in vain. As I am crap when it comes to mechanics (and cars & driving generally speaking), I couldn't tell what was the cause of that terrible sound, perhaps the overheated engine...

I left home quite early and I reserved 1 and a half hours for the journey. But I was there, sitting in the bus, somewhere between Coventry and Kenilworth (only after that it comes Leamington Spa) , realising that it will take more than an hour to reach my destination and it will be impossible to get to my 13 o'clock appointment, especially since I had forgotten my flying cape at home!

One way or another, the bus 'crowled' a bit (at some point the screech actually stopped, but only for a short period of time), managed to pass Kenilworth (beautiful town) and right at the entrance in Leamington Spa it had stopped and the driver decided it can't go any further and we should wait for the next bus, which was due to arrive in 10 minutes. Well, I should ask for a refund since this is such a common practise here, for absolutely anything. And you didn't believe me when I told you I have a bad karma in relationship with buses/coaches, did you? And there have been more situations, I'm not a "rookie"...

However, I got into the town centre, where the bus dropped me off, I walked for a half a minute and I reached the clinic, I filled in a form, I chatted a bit with the consultants over there (one of them was half Romanian), then with the doctor bla bla bla, nothing unusual...Since everything ended quite rapidly, I walked a bit around the town, it would've been a pity not to!

Leamington Spa is a very chic and posh town, even if it's small, with around 45 000 inhabitants. It was (and still is) a spa and when I reached it it was pretty crowded, loads of youngsters on the streets, some of them my age (so I was wondering why weren't they at Uni), but also many pensioners, very tastefully dressed. The buildings have a classic architecture, Victorian style (one again I told myself I got to live in the ugliest place in England) and you can see it's not a student place, it's neat. Although when I got a bit further of the town centre I could've seen that it doesn't look that good anymore. But I crossed through a park/garden which looked just superb (I just found out it's called Jephson Garden) , it had also a kind of greenhouse, connected on one side to a resaurant and on the other side to a sort of a seminar room. Per totally, from what I've seen, I can say that I would've liked to live in a place like Leamington Spa.

It was already around 16:00 so I was getting hungry and although there are many places where I could've had a decent lunch, I hate eating alone so I decided that I can handle my hunger for another hour, until I'd be getting back home. Therefore I left, without buying 2 postcards, as I always do - one to be sent to Bucharest (not to Coventry hahaha) and one to keep it for myself...But that's OK, there are plenty of postcard with Leamington Spa in Coventry :)

On my way back I passed again through Kenilworth, I could've stopped to visit it a bit, but it's really boring to do that when you're alone. Perhaps I'll return one day and visit the castle over there (well, the ruins, to be more precise). Then it came again the University of Warwick, which was very populated at that time, probably some lectures where finishing. This Uni is literally in the middle of nowhere, but the campus (the university area, to be more accurate) is extremeeeely big, perhaps bigger that all the buildings of Coventry Uni put all together, although we have the Technological Park, the aerospace lab and now they're building 2 other campuses (one of which will be kind of the most innovative IT campus in the UK) and, in addition, they've just opened one in London (for Business & Marketing Bachelors and for MBAs). However, the Uni of Warwick is practically a town of its own, with bars, cafes, shops, pubs, as you'd see in the movies. They have a huge sport fields and many adjacent facilities, lots of student residences, spread around the area. I believe both Unis have more or less the same number of students (their looked smarter :D), but at Warwick it seemed more crowded there, probably because we lack a kind of central point of the campus and we get mixed up with the inhabitants of Coventry...

I was thinking then that if it were to start again (another master, definitely not a Bachelors), I'd like to go to a big city or to a Uni like Warwick, where you get that lovely student spirit, because I haven't quite felt I had such a great life here, in this respect (even in Bucharest it was better). Sure, I'm on a Master, so I have less lectures a week, less colleagues, but there weren't any friendship "excesses" by far, or not even ideas like "Let's go for a drink" after the last class of the day. I didn't do much about this myself, because I'm that kind of person who gets discouraged when facing these type of situations...Oh, well, as I was saying, I would like to experiment the life in a student campus as I've seen in Warwick Uni, although I'm positive that I'd get bored rapidly, especially in such isolation - I'm already bored now, and I'm only 15 minutes away from the city centre (so I'm not that remote). And, plus, I wouldn't start over at an English Uni, perhaps only if it would not cost me a dime and they'd also pay me to study there...

In the bus, I was actually listening (cuz I couldn't help it) the conversation of two lads a few seats behind me. One of them seemed Asian, judging by it's voice and accent and the other one, well, I can't remember...As far as I came to notice, they were studying something like maths or physics, science-related anyhow. They we're talking about exams and lectures and one of them (the Asian chap) started complaining about the fact that he's not satisfied with the Uni, the level of the modules etc. And I thought that was happening only at Coventry University!!! The other asked him why didn't he go somewhere else and the answer was something like: "Oh, I didn't get into Oxford and I didn't receive a response on time from the Imperial College". My jaw dropped in that very instance: Warwick, a constant presence in Top 5 British universities rankings, was just a I-had-no-better-option university!? To me, it would have been a too good option 9and too expensive - a master in my field would've costed at least 5000 GBP). I guess that in this case I should say the name of my Uni and bury my head in the sand, like an ostrich, when someone asks about where I study...Oh, well, I'm glad to hear opinions about other Unis, coming from foreign students, because until now I had doubts if my negative feed-back is all related to the tuition fees (or "you only get what you're paying for").

I think it's about time to stop straying from topic and to conclude: Leamington Spa & Kenilworth = beautiful & chic places; Warwick Uni = student vibe.

Enjoy the photos!

Cum declaram cu muuult timp in urma, dupa ziua petrecuta in Londra nu am apucat sa stau decat o zi acasa, caci, asa cum spuneam, Pauline s-a intors cu sora ei si o prietena, si ne-au propus o alta destinatie: Cardiff. La inceput ezitam, eram destul de obosita, dar m-am gandit apoi ca nu se stie cand voi mai avea ocazia sa calatoresc, mai ales cu fetele, iar Cardiff era o destinatie pe care imi propusesem sa o bifez in timpul anului petrecut aici.

Asadar, am rezervat bilete prin Megabus cu o zi inainte (sambata), am pregatit sandvisurile, am dormit putin (din nou), caci autocarul pleca destul de devreme din Coventry (pe la 06:45). Cum nu eram decat noi in autocar, cel putin pana in Birmingham, ne-am permis sa ne intindem care pe unde am apucat si sa dormim. Nu ca nu am fi facut asta si cu "public", caci si cei care s-au urcat la opririle ulterioare au facut acelasi lucru. M-am trezit la un moment dat si mi-am dat seama ca nu mai suntem in Anglia, ci deja in Tara Galilor (Wales). Primul reper a fost peisajul minunat, ce nu il gasesti prea des in Anglia, cel putin nu in Midlands. Apoi, indicatoarele de pe marginea drumului erau bilingve si am constatat cu stupoare ca galeza nu seamna absolut deloc cu engleza si ca nici macar anumite cuvinte de baza, care sunt cat-de-cat universale in diverse limbi, precum 'student', 'centru', nu sunt comune. Nu mai spun ca pana si denumirea tinutului este total diferita - Cymru in galeza...

Am ajuns pe la 10:00 in Cardiff, era pustiu pe strazi si ne-a luat ceva vreme sa gasim un loc unde sa putem dejuna, caci ba nu erau inca deschise, ba nu functiona ceva esential in bucatarie. Am aterizat, intr-un final, intr-un local foarte dischisit, cu bar/bistro la parter si club la subsol. Localul era de gay, deci va imaginati ca era mult mai stilat decat multe altele din zona. Micul dejun a fost mare si bunicel, dar carnatii nu mi-au placut de nici o culoare, deh, cred ca erau englezesti, Richmond. In timp ce mancam si inclusiv cand am iesit din bistro a plouat, intr-un mod tare ciudat, dar eu am fost pregatita, venisem cu umbrela de acasa.

Ne-am plimbat putin pe strazi, am ajuns la Castelul Cardiff, am vrut sa il vizitam, dar am decis ca e prea scump (nu mai stiu cat costa, tin minte doar ca ni s-a parut prea scump), asa ca ne-am intreptat spre mare, oprindu-ne, pe drum, in Catedrala.

Stadionul

Nu era soare, dar era totusi multa lumina. Normal ca ne-am luat ochelarii de soare! :)

Am mai pierdut apoi vremea plimbandu-ne prin zona, care era destul de animata, banuiesc ca majoritatea oamenilor erau tot turisti si, la un moment dat ne-am hotarat sa luam un vaporas ca sa ajungem in Port...banuiesc ca ala era port, oricum, eram intr-un loc din care nu mai vedeai pamant daca te uitai in larg, doar o groaza de pescari in jur (neamatori, judecand dupa echipamentele detinte). Am stat un pic pe acolo, pana ni s-a facut frig si foame; plus ca nu puteam ramane mai tarziu de ora 16:00, cand vaporasul cu care am traversat facea ultima cursa inapoi (caci altfel banuiesc ca trebuie sa mergi destul de mult pe jos ca se te reintorci in golf). Realizez acum ca nu prea am ideea pe unde am fost exact, doar am ramas deschisa sugestiilor fetelor, fara sa fiu 'la carma' si chiar e minunat asa, doar sa te relaxezi si doar sa te lasi purtata de situatie...

La intoarcere, dupa cele 30 de minute de mers pe jos pana in centrul orasului, ne-am oprit intr-un bar sa bem ceva, iar apoi am decis ca ar fi cazul sa mergem spre autocar, sa nu avem vreo surpriza si sa nu ajungem la timp, mai ales ca nu stiam exact unde e statia de plecare. Surpriza a existat, dar nu din partea noastra: autocarul a intarziat cam jumatate de ora, caci venea din Londra, unde se desfasura un maraton, timp in care noi voiam sa mergem la toaleta (ne bazasem pe cea din autocar). Dar, ce sa vezi, era defecta! Am crezut ca facem atatc de panica! Noroc ca sofetita a fost draguta, caci eram multi in aceeasi situatie, barbati si femei deopotriva, si la prima ocazie (dupa vreo 2 ore, totusi!!!) a oprit intr-o parcare ce avea si toalete publice, moment in care a inceput o competitie - cine ajunge mai repede la baie.

Sigur eu sunt de vina, va spun eu, am o karma proasta in ceea ce priveste autocarele! Si bine ca a oprit atunci, caci traficul a fost extrem de aglomerat in zona Birmingham-ului, astfel ca am ajuns in Coventry cu cel putin o ora intarziere. Pun pariu ca in Romania nu ar fi dat doi bani pe faptul ca aveai tu nevoie la toaleta, desi gasesti benzinarii pe toate drumurile...

In cazul in care v-ati intrebat ce inseamna dragonul, cand v-am dat indiciul referitor la destinatie: este simbolul Tarii Galilor!

Si ca sa vedeti cum suna/arata limba galeza...

De la stanga la dreapa: sora Paulinei (Lou); Fiona; Pauline;
prietena Pauline (Margot) si eu.

Si gata, c'est fini la comedi! Cand am inceput sa scriu postarea, mi-am dat seama ca am uitat sa imi cumpar un magnet din Cardiff, pt colectia din Bucuresti :( Eh, data viitoare!



Realizez ca nu reusesc sa scriu de mai mult de 2, maxim 3 ori pe luna pe blog. De multe ori e vorba de lipsa de timp, alteori de inspiratie, cateodata simt ca scriu degeaba...Mai am cateva (multe) lucruri de povestit, am ramas mult in urma si ar fi pacat sa nu vedeti unele poze (cei care nu le vad pe Facebook), iar apoi o sa hotarasc 'soarta' blogului. O sa urmeze si o perioada monotona la un moment dat, deci sigur nu voi avea chestii interesante de scris.
Acum trebuie sa inchei postarea, caci sunt enorm de multe lucruri pe care trebuie sa le finalizez in perioada asta (pana vineri).
Revin!


PS: La multi ani, copiilor! Se presupune ca a venit vara, nu? Nu si in Anglia - azi a fost vreme foarte ploioasa...

Later Edit: Soarele s-a intors in Coventry! Yeeey! O sa ma bronzez! Din nou! :D


........................
Around the Albion: Cardiff!

As I was saying a looong time ago, after the trip to London I only spent one day home since Pauline proposed us to go to another destination: Cardiff. I was hesitating a bit at the beginning, but the I thought that I might not get the chance to travel there and surely not with the girlies. Plus, I actually planned to see Cardiff this year.

So we booked Megabus tickets the evening before (on Saturday), we prepared some sandwiches, we slept just a bit (again) because the bus was leaving Coventry very early (06:45 a.m.). At least until we reach B'ham we were alone in the coach so we took the best seats and tried to sleep. I woke up at some point and I realised we're not in England anymore, but already in Wales. The first hint was the beautiful landscape, the type that you can rarely see in in England, or at least in the Midlands. Then the traffic signs were bilingual and I was astonished to see that the Welsh language has absolutely nothing to do with English. Not even some basic words that are similar in different languages ('student', 'centre') do not sound alike. Even the name of the region is totally distinct in Welsh - Cymru...

We arrived in Cardiff at around 10:00 a.m., the streets were quite empty and it took us some time to find a place to have breakfast - some were not opened yet, some had malfunctions in the kitchen. We finally ended up in a quite posh place, with a bar/bistro at the ground floor and a club below. It was a gay venue, so you can imagine it looked far more stylish than anything around. The breakfast was pretty big and good, though I didn't like the sausages at all, I guess they were English, Richmond. While we were eating and even when we got out a very weird rain started, but I was prepared, I had an umbrella in my bag.

We wandered a bit on the street, we got in front of the Cardiff Castle, we thought about visiting it, but we decided it was too expensive (don't remember now how much, just that it seemed a rip-off), so we headed to the sea, with a pit stop at the Cathedral.

Though it wasn't sunny, we were lucky it stopped raining and the wind as strong as we expected. After a pretty long walk (around 30 minutes) in the middle of nowhere we reached the SEA. Oh, how I missed it! Well, not really the sea, to be honest, it was rather a bay. Right there it was the Millennium Centre, a place I really wanted to see (because it was the only sightseeing thing I knew in Cardiff, it was all I got to read on the Internet before leaving). I though it's something like an exhibit place, but it's just a show venue. In the same area there is this cathedral (I think), the oldest building in the city, if i remember correctly (the red-bricked building in the photos). Just a bit further there is the Norwegian Church, a museum now, but we didn't get the time to go and see it.

Then we waisted some time walking around the quite animated area. I assume most of the persons there were tourists...At some point we decided to take a barge to get to the Harbour...I think that was the harbour. Anyhow, it was a place from where you could only see the sea and nothing else. There were A LOT of fishermen there, professional ones, judging by their gears. We stayed there until we got cold and hungry; plus we couldn't have stayed later than 16:00, because that's the time when the last barge can take you back (otherwise I assume you have to walk a lot to get to the bay). I actually realise now that I don't have a clue of what I've visited exactly, I was just saying 'yes' to the girls' suggestion. I wasn't in charge of the sightseeing and it was great just to relax and go with the flow...

On our way back, after the 30-minutes walk to the city centre, we stopped by for a drink in a bar, then we thought it's wiser to head to the bus stop, in order to avoid any unwanted surprises, especially since we had no idea were the stop was exactly. There was a surprise, but not from our side: the coach was a half a hour late, because it was coming from London, where there was a marathon that day. Meanwhile, we really wanted to go to the loo - we didn't go it the bar just before leaving, we were counting on the one in the coach. But, what do you know, that one was out of order!!! We thought we'll be having a panic attack! Luckily we had a nice driver and since we were many persons in the same situation (both women and men) and she pulled over as soon as possible (2 hours later, though!!!), in a parking line where there was a toilet facility.

I'm sure it's me to blame, I'm telling you, I have a bad karma when it comes to buses/coaches! And thankfully she stopped then, the traffic was hectic around B'ham, so we arrived in Cov at least one hour late. I bet in Romania they wouldn't have bothered that you need to go to the toilet in a similar situation, although you come across with gas stations (and consequently toilets) on every road...

I can see now that i only manage to write on the blog twice, maximum trice a month. Most of the times it's because I'm very busy or I lack inspiration and sometimes just because I feel I'm writing in vain (I don't think this blog reaches the persons it's supposed to)...I still have (many) things to tell you about, I'm way behind and it would be a pity not to show you some photos (if you can't see them on my Facebook account) and then I'll decide the future of this blog. There is a very dull period coming up next, so probably I won't have much novelty to share anyway.
Now I've done the translation, me going to bed!
But I'll be back soon!

PS: Happy Children's Day to all the kids out there! It's supposed to be a summery time now, right? Well, not in England, where it rained the whole day...

Later Edit: Sun is back on track here in Cov! Yuppy, going to get tanned! Again! :D