Missing my family at Christmas - Dec 2014

My sister Ashley and I Christmas Eve

Tomorrow is Christmas Eve.  My family will be gathered together at Papas house eating, drinking, laughing, opening gifts, bonfires, fireworks, and I will not be a part of it.  This will not be the first Christmas I have missed.  When I was living in Vancouver I usually made it home after the holidays when flights were cheaper and I could weasel my way out of work for a couple weeks.  When I was out west though even when I couldn't make it home for the holidays I had all my friends and I was still home. 

Myself, Papa, Aunt Linda, Dad and Ashley 

This year is very different for me, for us. We are together and as Ross has said many times we are our own family, we have each other and really that is enough.  We are taking a great trip and will make new memories in exciting places.  I am not ungrateful nor do I regret being here instead of there but it doesn't make the sad feelings of missing family during the holidays disappear.  When I made the choice to move away I knew I would not always be home for important events and holidays. 

Ross and I Christmas 2013

My favourite part of Christmas is waking up at a ridiculous hour on Christmas morning when it is still dark and the hallway is illuminated by twinkling lights on the tree.  I run into my little sisters bedroom and jump on top of her yelling its Christmas!  Wake up! Santa came! (Yes I still do this in my thirties) And we laugh and snuggle and run into the living room to see what treasures lay waiting. 

Ashley and I enjoying the holidays

My parents know how to make the morning special and magical, they have done it since we were little and continue to do it now that we are adults and I always appreciate the effort they put in.  There is always a trail of sparkles and shinny fake snow leading from the door to the tree (We do not nor have we ever really had a chimney) the presents are also covered in these magic sparkles because that is how Santa rolls.  The presents are always rearranged from the night before to make it look as full and exciting as possible and of course there is usually at least one gift still left from Santa (Which I love since I have known the truth since I was 7).  I should also add the Santa gifts are always signed by Dad, it would have been too obvious if Mom wrote those ones too.

Christmas morning 

Ashley (my sister) and I will poke around through the presents getting all worked up and then sometimes (not every year, but most years) we will pull stuff out of our stockings and check out the goods before putting it back together and going to wake up our parents.  It is important to have coffee on the go because you know they are not getting out of bed without it.  They grumble about it being too early and why do we do this every year?  For a brief moment I feel a little guilty for waking them up at 6 am, but then I see my Dads face and as much as he tries to scowl at me I see the twinkle in his eye and I know he is having fun too.

Lestat

Jake (RIP)

Charlie

We all sit around the tree drinking our tea and coffee, Christmas carols play quietly and we all open our gifts.  We have never been greedy or gone too over the top.  I love that my family really makes the holiday about family and not about the gifts.  We love giving and of course receiving but we all know that isn't what it’s about so its makes the gifts that much more special.  We all know each other well and get presents that we know will be appreciated.  And every year without fail Mom gets her Opium (perfume) and Dad gets a box of new socks.  They act all surprised but we all know its coming.  It’s what they like.

Myself, Ashley and Ross Christmas Morning 

By 8 am we are all just sitting around working on second and third coffees and thinking about breakfast.  There is such love in the air and smiles through our now sleepy eyes.  We take our time getting ready and enjoying the morning before heading off to Aunt Carols for another dinner and more family time.  I missed Aunt Carols the last Christmas I was home though because it was the first time Ross had been home with me for the holidays and we drove three hours to his parents place in the afternoon to celebrate with them.

 Mom and I 

Ashley, Dad and I

I always try to convince myself, unsuccessfully, that missing Christmas isn't a big deal and I will see my family soon but this year is especially hard.  I knew moving here that I might not be going home until the contract was up.  It is an expensive trip and Ross just does not have enough holiday days to make it worth it.  There is so much travelling time needed to get there and go back and forth between our families it would end up being more of a tease and very stressful.  We also feel like we are only here in Europe for two years and there is a great deal we wish to see while we have the chance so we should spend our time off travelling and exploring.  We do not know if we will ever be back to Europe once we leave so we need to enjoy it now.

I will be thinking of family and missing that togetherness during this next week.  Luckily Ross and I have each other, and he is right, we are each others family and he is the person I am most grateful to be spending not only my holidays but my life with.  We will have an amazing adventure and experience some great new places together.  Plus we can get as drunk as we want and not have to worry about embarrassing the parents (but seriously mom and dad would be drunk right along with me).

 Christmas Party Dad, Ashley, Mom and I

Ashley and I at the Christmas Party

My family (minus Justin)

Ashley and Justin

I hope everyone out there reading this is having a lovely time this holiday season whatever you celebrate Yule, Christmas, Hanukkah, festivus etc. Appreciate the people who surround you, enjoy their company even when they drive you crazy.  Get lots of Christmas hugs for me and I will drink lots of mulled wine for you!  Enjoy the snow if you have some where you are!  I'm from Ontario there is nothing I love more than a snowy Christmas.  It is raining here.  Not Christmassy. 

 I am lucky to have an Aunt who is also my best friend

Went to the cemetery to visit Nana and we built her a snowman.

Surprise we are going to Zurich, Switzerland! - December 2014

Zurich in the evening

In the mornings I always wake up with Ross and make him breakfast before he has to trudge off to work for the day.  I do not tend to sleep well so I am usually quite tired so imagine my surprise when on Thursday morning (two weeks ago now) Ross surprised me with the news we were going to Switzerland for a couple days!  Not only was I caught very off guard but then he said we were leaving on Sunday! He told me he wanted to wait to tell me until the night before but figured I would be mad because I would have no time to prepare (he was right).  Even having three days to make sure everything was in order was tough!  But finding out about a secret trip was very romantic.

The company Ross works for is in collaboration with a company in Zurich so there was to be a business meeting there on the Tuesday.  Ross worked it out so I could go as well and we would just head there a couple days early so we could explore together.  Sneaky bugger had known for almost two months and he never let it slip.  I am impressed with his secret keeping ability. 

It is quite the journey for us to get places from Valladolid.  The flight itself was short but to get to the airport we must take a train to Madrid for 1.5 hours (that is the high speed, we have taken the longer route which is 3.5 hours) once in Madrid we have to take a subway from the train station to the airport and then had to take a bus from terminal 4 to terminal 2!  Then of course reverse all that on the way home!  I do not know prices of airfare or hotels as Ross handled it all but I can say be prepared to spend a pretty penny if you are ever visiting this amazing city.  We flew Swiss Air and the flight there was great.  We had cherry Danishes and as much juice, water, tea, beer etc as we wanted.  The flight was only an hour and forty five minutes so by the time we were in the air we were basically there which is great because I am not a huge fan of flying. 

I do not even know where to begin about Zurich!  It was one of the most gorgeous and interesting cities I have ever had the privilege of exploring.  Many of the buildings are very Gothic and fairy tale like with pointed roofs and interesting colour schemes – lots of pastel pink, blue and yellow and of course a lot of white.  Also the buildings had a lot of old wooden shutters which I am a huge fan of.  The city seemed exceptionally clean and well maintained.  There was little to no graffiti (I personally saw none so I can assume there is very little), no dog poop on the sidewalks (something that I have huge issue with here in Spain), there was the odd empty bottle of Jagermeister laying around but otherwise no real trash laying around and it smelled like Christmas!

There were so many Christmas displays, market booths and lights down most of the streets in the downtown area.  It was beautiful and really the first time I have felt like it was the holiday season this year.  The restaurants were very warm and inviting with wreaths and tiny twinkle lights and just felt like places you would want to spend time dinning with friends and family.  There was a giant Christmas market at the Train station full of sweets, delicious cuisine from Germany, India and France, many little festive trinkets and mulled wine.  We spent a lot of time wandering through the market and enjoying the sights and smells. 

Ermahgerd Deep fried apple ring pastry deliciousness

The official languages in Switzerland are German and French (also Italian but far less so) and there is a Swiss German as well (not that I would no the difference) but basically everyone can also speak English!  It was nice to be able to go into any store or restaurant and be able to talk to people.  Also I must admit I love the way German sounds, so walking down the streets hearing people speaking it just made my day.  At one point Ross said “Don’t you just want them to read you a story?  I don’t even care what they are saying I just like listening to them talk” I agree fully!  It was also really interesting to walk down streets and see the incredibly long German names.  It just puts a smile on my face.  I do not think I could ever learn to speak it but I think I would sound really cool if I could.

Throughout our wanders we were always noticing the beauty of the buildings, the interesting shops, cobblestone streets and how green the city was.  There were so many trees and plants.  Here is this amazing city full of nature and to top it off a huge gorgeous lake.  How could we not fall in love?  Lake Zurich (Zurichsee) is very clean and if it were a warmer time of year I would have jumped in!  The best part is that about 30 km across the water are the Alps.  What a perfect lovely place to be.  Apparently you can take toured boat rides for up to 7 hours across the lake where I imagine you would get a pretty sick view of the Alps. 

We ended up in a park around sunset on our second day there and from this park there was the most wonderful view of the city, the canals, the houses rising up on the hillsides and the old beautiful cathedrals.  For us the best part however, was that you could look to the right and have the most magnificent view of the Alps across the lake. Like I said they are about 30 km away so they appear much smaller than they are but they are perfect!  They were covered in snow and looking all majestic and powerful yet with the sun setting on them they glowed pink and orange and had a softness that took your breath away.  It was a moment I will always treasure.  I hope to be able to return to Switzerland someday and actually drive through the Alps and see them up close. 

No big deal Just the Alps in the background

View from the park

Another thing that really stood out about the city was how high tech and modern it was.  I mean this city has been around for thousands of years and has not only been able to keep its heritage and old world charm but has advanced along as well.  The transportation is all very fast, efficient and clean.  There are electric trams that run throughout the city which are surprisingly quiet.

Both Ross and I agreed that if we could move there we absolutely would the only issue would be money.  I have never been in such an expensive city and I come from Vancouver!  I was astounded by the prices; 5 fr for a Starbucks tea! (don't care getting it anyway!)  Also going out for dinner was quite pricey.  It didn't seem to matter where you went be it burgers and fries or fancy pastas you were looking at spending around 20 fr each for just your meal, no extra salad or even water never mind alcohol.  We were told that people do make a lot more money there then most places and they would have too or they couldn't afford to live there.  Even in the grocery stores we were surprised at the cost.  We found some things were two to three times what we would be used to paying. 

So happy to have Starbucks in my hands

The cost of living and higher salaries showed in the people who lived there as well.  Most people seemed to be dressed very stylish and possibly just having stepped out of a magazine and they drive very nice cars as well.  I suppose it seemed posh but certainly not stuck up.  All the people we encountered were incredibly friendly and outgoing.  People were always smiling and looked to just be enjoying the days.  Everyone we met was very helpful and didn't seem to mind that we spoke English at all.  I only encountered one guy at the train station who didn't speak enough English to answer my question but he quickly showed me someone who could.  Honestly he probably could have answered me if my question wasn't so silly but I was alone and trying to get to the airport to meet Ross and I panic easily.  I am certain he didn't understand me because the question made no sense not because he couldn't speak proper English.

View from the canal

It was a bit of a quick trip with arriving Sunday late in the afternoon and then flying out Tuesday afternoon but it made it more romantic and exciting!  I wish we had more time to spend here but I am so grateful to even have had this experience.  What a wonderful surprise from my wonderful man.  

My love and I 

Leon, Spain - December 2014

Streets of Leon

As I have mentioned the first time we went to Leon we really did not get to explore the city other than for some tapas in the evening so we decided it was time to go back.  We grabbed a train from Valladolid for around 14 euros and it took close to two hours to get there.  We started out around noon since it was a Sunday and we wanted to sleep in.  We also bought our tickets home which were only 10 euros which we thought was pretty awesome but then discovered it was also another half hour on the train.

Train rides

Once arriving in Leon we wandered the streets for a while just looking at all the old buildings and interesting walkways.  There was one street in particular we thought was neat because it was sort of a tunnel with these super high walls on either side.  Then we got a little concerned because in the event of a zombie attack that is not where you would want to be so we got out of there pretty quickly.

You do not want to be caught here during zombie attacks...The doors are locked and the walls are higher then they appear.

There was also a pretty huge gypsy market that we walked through for a while.  Sometimes these markets are full of nothing but garbage but occasionally there are markets with actual good stuff.  They sell anything from clothes, to beauty products, toys, garlic, electronics and really just anything you could think of. I ended up getting some face cream from one booth.  The cream was brand new and the brand I like but for less than it costs me in the store.  I don't know where they get this stuff, maybe its stolen, maybe it fell off a truck, either way I was happy especially since it was Sunday so all the shops are closed.  Although on that note we did find Leon had a few shops open which we thought was pretty great.  Seems the people of Leon realize this isn't the stone ages and some people actually like to do things on the weekend.

It was a chilly day so it didn't take long before we decided hot drinks were necessary to warm our hands. We ended up at this really interesting bar/cafe in the main touristy area downtown.  It was fairly large with a big screen tv playing a futbol match (typical) and many assorted small meats in the snack display.  We just had some coffee and watched the futbol players take dives for a bit as we warmed up with our drinks.

After coffee we had a bit of a picnic lunch in a cute little park we found.  We ate some bread, cheese and apples while we watched the people wander down the streets.  I have always loved bread and cheese but since moving here I have eaten more than I would like to admit.  Probably why my tummy is expanding so rapidly.  Cheese is just so cheap here that it is hard to resist buying it.   My fellow Canadians let me tell you Canada is screwing us in the cheese department!  Think about how much a triangle of brie costs, maybe 6 to 10 dollars, well here it is 1 euro.  I used to think making a lasagna was expensive because of the cheese part but here it is a fairly inexpensive dinner to make (which is awesome because we love lasagna).

Park life

Anyhow enough cheese talk.  We went to the cathedral next because it was really the main reason we wanted to come back.  I don't know if you remember me saying that the cathedral in Palencia was the most beautiful but I may have jumped the gun on that one.  Leon has perhaps not the biggest, although it is still huge, but the most beautiful and interesting cathedral we have seen yet.  One of the best parts of visiting this cathedral is that they give you a recording device that plays in whatever language you need and tells you the story of the entire building.  They had these in Burgos as well.  It is so great to have these since otherwise everything is in Spanish so we do not end up learning much about the places we visit.

The cathedral was built between the late 13th and early 14 centuries and is a Gothic masterpiece.  It has more than 100 stained glass windows which cover over 19000 square feet.  This was such an amazing sight.  The detail that goes into each piece is stunning.  There was a period where the cathedral was going through major renovations and the windows all had to be taken down.  All of the piece were stored in boxes and reassembled afterwards.  I cant imagine making it in the first place let alone taking it down and putting it back up.  Such delicate and intricate pieces of coloured glass.

If you ever have the chance to visit Leon do not pass up the opportunity to visit this gorgeous building.  We spent over an hour just staring at the windows and breathtaking carvings which surround the main alter.  We both agree that this was like something out of a dream.  It amazes me how much time and effort was once put into construction in these places of worship.

After leaving the cathedral we went for beers and pimientos de padron (roasted peppers).  What is fun about these peppers though is that you get a large plate of them and they all look the same but some are really spicy and some are just mild so you do not know which ones are which.  Unfortunately we were disappointed with these as not one was spicy.  We did drop one on the floor though so we assume that was the only hot one.

Cerveza

We then decided to wander along the river for a bit before getting our train home.  The river is called The Rio Bergnesga.  It is a nice waterfront with many paths and trees surrounding it.  It was dark and cold though so we didn't wander too far.  It was quiet and was a nice way to escape the busy city streets where everyone was gathered for tapas and drinks.

Leon is a lovely city.  It was lively and seemed to have a more youthful vibe to it.  We feel like living in Valladolid we live in a retirement community so it is nice to be a a more lively city for a change. It is not a large city; the population is only 150,000, so half the size of Valladolid but there were many tourists there as well as the actual population.  We do not get a lot of tourists in Valladolid (not surprisingly).

Leon has an interesting history and is worth looking into and reading up on for those of you who have the desire.  The period beginning in 910 was one of Leons  most prominent historical periods.  Leon became the capital of the Kingdom of Leon and had a very active role in the Reconquista against the Moors. 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reconquista

Burgos, Spain - November 2014

Lunch time

Our latest outing took us to Burgos.  It was about an hour train ride from Valladolid for maybe 7 euros each.  Be warned however once you get to the train station you must then catch a bus that will take you to the city center which is another half hour trip.  It isn't too bad but when you are working within a certain time limit it would be good to calculate this in.  Obviously you need to do the same thing on the way back to the train station as well so just account for an extra hour of travel time when planning.  The bus is only 1 euro each so it is totally reasonable.

Burgos was one of our favourite cities.  It was charming and full of gorgeous buildings, interesting hidden alleyways, a beautiful river and of course one of the most impressive cathedrals we have seen.  Oh and did I mention there is also a castle!   We of course did not get to go in the castle because the hours are quite poor.  It seems to only be open from 11-3 and not every day.  I wish I could remember which days but I do know that Saturday is one of them.  We arrived at the gates at 330 and left disappointed. 

However on our wander up the hill to the castle we found an amazing view point where you could see the whole city and it was spectacular!  Even of it is too late to get into the castle make the trip up the hill anyway you will not regret it.  While we were taking photos we met two girls who were living in Madrid as nannies.  They overheard us speaking English and came over to chat.  They were both from The United States and had met here so were doing some travelling together.  It is always nice just chatting to people from familiar places it really gives you a sense of home and you feel less like an outsider for a few minutes at least. It is also nice to hear people complain about the same things you complain about!  Sometimes I start to feel like maybe its me, maybe I am the problem, but then someone else says they feel the same and my feelings are validated.

The Arlanza River flows through town and was perfect to wander around for a good chunk of time.  It is November so the fall colours are outstanding and it makes the sunshine just a little brighter.  There are several small bridges over the river which makes for excellent photo opportunities.  We actually walked the river when we first arrived and then again before we left because we just needed a little more time with its beauty.

The Cathedral was also something that was worth spending some serious time touring.  It was 7 euros each to get in and was well worth the price of admission.  One of the best parts was that they offer each guest an audio device in the language of your choosing to help guide you through the cathedral.  It gives you the whole history of the building and details about each space and piece of art.  It is great because a lot of times we really do not learn much when visiting places because we do not understand the signs or write ups so this way very helpful.  The cathedral itself was started in 1221 and took over 5 centuries to complete.  It is an awe-inspiring space.  It is so hard to put into words the feelings you have when walking through such a sacred place.  It feels dreamlike in a sense because it is hard to imagine such a building being created.  Gorgeous.

As with every Spanish city during the afternoon the city basically shuts down so we had many of the streets to ourselves and run around like children taking photos.  The strange thing was that even after lunch time many of the shops did not reopen.  It was a Saturday so we thought it would be much busier but it was fairly dead.  We did find an amazing coffee shop in Plaza Mayor with desserts that were to die for!  I would have bought more to take home with me but I thought better of it.  That is something Spain is definitely not lacking in – The pastries – oh the pastries! It is almost worth getting fat.

While we were walking back to the bus stop to get back to the train we found these old ruins that made me think it used to be an old castle or something.  I am sure I am wrong but it is how it made me feel.  There was a museum full of children inside so we avoided that but the courtyard was probably my favourite part of the whole Burgos experience.  It was Gothic and dark and I felt like magical things could happen there. 

When we were waiting for the bus an older lady came over and started talking to us.  I of course only caught a few words but Ross was able to actually have a bit of a conversation.  I was so proud of him.  He is doing really well with the language and isn't afraid to screw up so he will try to talk to anyone.  She was sweet and was saying that she was from Brussels originally.  Some of the conversation was in Spanish and some in French.  Ross just made me so happy and I think she was enjoying chatting with him.  She had a big smile and waved good bye when we were on the bus.  It is interactions like that I miss the most, just a random chat with someone at a bus stop about anything. 

We really enjoyed our day in Burgos and absolutely recommend that you visit if you ever get the chance.  Just of you want to do any shopping maybe try to be there in the morning before siesta.