Hannover with Ivan!

The Church and old city building!


Hannover from above!


A statue commemorating 7 guys who believed in the contitution over their King...wonderful idea!


Cara and the Hannover Opera.


The Hannover Town Hall which I fell in love with and think is absolutely beautfiul!

Off to Munster!

Hello! So I have done Hannover and am off to Munster today to visit and stay with my freind Jens whom I was on exchnage with in Lyon. He was the diver and instigator of the St Etienne trip that I did when in France! That was an incredible trip...you may remember the photos with autumn leaves and a cascade (waterfall). It will be nice to see him. After that the plan goes continue west to Brussels, and then who knows. Amsterdam? Swisterland? Copenhagen? But the plan is to end up back in Munich and then go north to Heidelburg and Frankfurt where I fly out and where Sam (a friend on exchnage with Melb Uni) and Carola (my step dads cousin who came out for the wedding and is soo nice and excited to have me spend time with her family). YAY!

Croatia in a nutshell

Hi Everyone!


So I have left beautiful sunny Croatia and am now in Germany!

Croatia in a nutshell:

April 24th-Left Budapest (capital of Hungary) for Zagreb (capital of Croatia). My train ride was hands down the best EVER! As I got onto the train I started talking with 2 American girls, we went and found our own compartment together. Before the American girls I said some offhand remark to a Danish woman (Lis). I went back and spoke with her and she had invited me to come and stay with her. She lives on an island north of Germany and off the east coast of Denmark! YAY! The American girls were really wonderful to chat too and very interesting women. We were chatting away, went out to look at the view of the lake as we trained past and ended up invited a Swedish guy into our compartment after which time we took lots of silly photos, drank 2 shots of Absinth, complained about that and tied one of luggage tags onto each on of us somewhere…mine is on my hiking boot and will not take it off for at least a month!

April 25th-Spent the day in Zagreb touring around with a German girl. We went to the outdoor market, jumped on a tour of American high school students, saw one of the oldest and prettiest cemeteries in Europe and food shopped for our upcoming trip to the National Park which is only 2 hours by bus from Zagreb

April 26th- Cara and German girl separate as Cara needs to clense her camera of a multitude of photos. Agreeement is to meet at the bus station at 10am. German girl makes casual joke of ‘well I will just leave if you’re not there’. Photo burning takes longer then expected and Cara arrives at bus station at 10:30 therfore missing 2 possible German girl buses….hummm….where is she? Maybe she has gone to the park already? Waiting for me there? Cara decides to catch the 11am bus with or without German girl as she must already be in the park if she doesn’t make it to the bus station….all she had to do was get on one tram so she should have beat me there. Arrive at park. No German girls anywhere. There are multiple entrances and German girl could be anywhere….hurrm…ask park rangers…they are fresh out of German girls. Cara rents a big room with 3 beds and a bathroom, feels incredibly luxirous and then goes for a walk around the park! The park is a waterfalls national park, full of travertine waterfalls and incredibly beautiful! Cara meets Adam (Canadian backpacker) who is really nice. Cara and Adam have dinner and then go back to Cara’s palace sharing stories of traveling (Adam did a missionary trip to Albania and most notably slept in a tree atop his bag to avoid finding out if the wild looking dogs outside a Serbain train station were really wild) and taking long showers in the nice bathroom….separately.

April 27th- I’m up early and spend the day touring around the park with Satoshi (Japan) and Christine (Australia). Satoshi is almost retired and Chris is in her 40s so it is nice to hang with a different crowd. Chris heads back to Zagreb and I have dinner with Satoshi or rather he bought me dinner. He is very very nice and has traveled just about everywhere multiple times. Maybe I will visit him and his family in Japan someday.


April 28th- Head out early with the intention of getting a bus. Wait 2 hours with Satoshi and finally when we get a bus I remember that I have forgotten my passports cleverly hidden in my room! So its back to the little village for me. The woman who I stayed with completely cleaned the room and didn’t find it so I guess that’s good right. I am so good at hiding things I hid it from myself! So I had to wait around the park for the next bus at 5pm! I bought some lunch (yougurt and bread) and sat on the path and low and behild who did I meet. A backpacker I gave advice to on where to stay who was getting off the bus as I was getting on. We hiked around togtehr on some of the rim trails which I would have been sorry to miss and then I went and waited for the bus for 2 hours...when they say it comes at 5 its a rought guesstimate! Arriving in Split quite late I asked the guy at bus info if he knew anywhere to stay after looking for something in my Lonely planet and finding it said very little in general about the city of Split. He had a friend whos grandmother rented rooms and a free taxi to get me there. prefect. It was not that close to the town and my room with 3 beds was completley empty (a good thing if you look at it one way and alone therefore bad the other way) but at the hour I didnt care.

April 29th- Headed out taking all my stuff and went looking for a hostel and from this point on life in Croatia starts. I founf Al's hoste, run by a nice englishman and stayed there for 2 days. I met the people there who I travelled with to the Islands of Havar and Korcula. I ended my trip in a beautful city called Dubrovnik and took an overnight bus back to Zagreb where I flew to Germany with a budget airling called German wings!

Hamburg!

Cara on top of a tower in Hamberg!

Hamburg photos!

So I met Ivan comming off the plane. He is Crotian and studies in Hanover and we walked around Hamberg togther. He showed me some of the sights.

Korculan Photos! hahaha

Cara at church (in Korcula's old town)



This is a the town of Korcula from above. Nice photo if I dont say so myself!



Cara rented a Peugeot Vivacity scooter and crossed the entire island of Korcula to visit the town on the other side of the island! YAY! And I drove through a town called....CARA!!! (ok, in all honesty the accent on the top of the C renders a different pronunciation but I am still ecstatic!

off 2 another island...Korcula

the weather here iS sUNNY AND AMAZING. OFF 2 ANOTHER ISLND TO EXplore and then off 2 the main land flying to germNY AFTER THT. THIS COMPUTER IS NO GOD11111 AHHH....BYE 4 NOW1!1

Havar-ing a good time in Havar! haha

The island is beautiful and quite big too. Last night Pauline (French- met her in Budapest and found out we were going to be in Croatia at the same time), Marcus (USA met in Split hostel) and Bryan (Aussie- met in Split hostel) went out for dinner. Drank some wine which I am quite licking I must admit. We then went and partied a bit at the main square right on the water as there was a concert there for the first of May whihc is a holiday here. We hung out at one of the bars right on the water (the town is pretty small so there are not very many) and all tried to find out accmodation again in the dark!

Today, was my first day of nice weather since I left the capital Zagreb. It is nice not to be soggy and the colours here are spectacular. Just add sun! I spent today chilling out and it seems we have quite a big crew for dinner tonight. There is a group of people we met in a bar last night, guys who were in Split and came to Havar earlier and the group of us that travelled over here for dinner together. Should be fun. I will be here tonight too and then visit another island tomorrow. Alright, must go climb up to the castel up the top of the island. Thank you to Havar public library for letting me post this!

Cara who is safe and happy and will go to Germany at the end of the week....so everyone can stop worrying!

From Split a costal city to Havar island.

So today I am off on the 2pm ferry to Havar which is a popular island. It is pretty chill here and I have made lots of friends who are going to Havar today and know others who went yesterday! Will try to find more net soon! Love you all....I am very safe.

FOR THOSE WHO ARE CONCERNED:
I cant try to reassure the people who are concerned about Croatia. You dont know till you get here. I cant describe it....you have to come and see for yourself. It is normal here. VERY VERY normal. There are alot of tourists but not too many that they would be targetted. There are people of all ages that work and play and live normal lives. Croatia is probably safer then most places at the moment. Croatia and most easter European countries are off the map a little bit and there is no terrorism here. Why werent people concerned when I was in western countries which were being targetted? Discussion over...everyone stop worrying. If it wasnt a public holiday I would call and reassure everyone but its just not an option.

Split...oh I'd love to think of a whitty title....suggestions please!

Hi guys!

I just spent 2 nights in the Nationsl Park Plitvička jezera. It was amazingly beautiful! Tiers upon tiers of waterfalls! I have soooooo many pictures of waterfalls you will all be sick of them when I get back!

I am now in the city of Split on the coast and I like it here too! I have to go to dinner with some American guy, his brother, fiance and friend. The to live Irish music I think....wacky! I PROMISE photos soon!

Cara with a big grin!

Thank you all for your comments! I felt soooo warm and fuzzy inside! I will try to talk to you sometime soon Claire bear, great to hear flights are booked Rhiannon I am both happy and relieved and STOP WORRYING FAMILY!!!! Croatia is beautiful, modern and friendly! Rainy too at the moment but we hope that will pass by monday!

P.S. Suggestions for a title guys!

Croatia

Hi!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am now in Croatia. Ibn the capital, Zagreb. It is beautiful spring weather here and otday I toured around with a German girl whom I met yesterday night when I arrived. Today we saw the parliament, the two famous chuches, a cultural museum and one of the most beautiful cemetaries in Europe. We also had a nice lesiurely lunch....felt a bit lazy for that one! National park tomorrow

Going going....where?

Hi all! I am leaving Budapest within the next 2 hours....I think I am off to Croacia or Solvenia...looking for a hostel now....also looking for a way to get to Malta as met American studying there. We hung out yesterday and today so I might go and have a look! Love you all and being very very carefully Mummy! Will call you tonight and tell you where I am so you can worry sick!

Looks like Im staying!

Ryan left for Brno in the Czech republic today (Sad!) so he flys out on our flight tomorrow (he goes home in several days from london) and Im staying here to explore Budapest and plan my next move!

Hi all from Budapest!

Hi there! Hungry is wonderful! Budapest sounds so forigen and far away but its not that at all...its great! I have so many stories and so much to tell but i just dont have the time....i am always rushing to my next location or trying to soak it all in or trying to find food or accmodation (that takes up alot of time).

Today I did a tour of Budapest and then went and found somewhere to stay tonight. Ryan and I bascially rented a room with a kitchen and lounge room for 9000HUF which is about 30 Euros...its huge, its modern and its EXCITING! We are a bit blown away! We then went to the Hungarian National Gallery (Magyar Nemzeti Galeria) and saw the permanent collection which is free. The museum was packed full of art and they had a really nice collection. It is on top of a hill that looks over all of the pest side od Budapest! Very nice!

Tomorrow Ryan flys back to London with Ryan Air and I have a flight booked. I am not sure if I am going to take it! Right now I am leaning strongly towards staying here and seeing a bit more of Hungury and Easter Europe which is severely under rated!

Dont know what I am going to do but will keep you posted! Right now I am looking for tours on the net for this area!

Im in Budapest!

Im in Budapest, Hungury! Its GREAT! Just got here this morning!

Cara had arrived in the Czech Republic

Hi guys. So I have arrived in the Czech Republic...cant find the exclimation mark on this thing otherwise there would be an abundance appearing as always. So I got to Stansted airport and couldnt find my travel buddy. I waited and waited and in the end flew alone. Amazing how things turn out. Dont know what happened but I got an email saying Ryan will be coming tomorrow and is spending tonight at the airport to ensure he doesnt miss his next flight....sounds like a bit of a story. I am going to find a hostel now. I was looking for the internet and asked 2 guys on the street and they let me into their office. So now I am sitting with the receptionist and a security huard typing away. On the way over I bonded with the woman next to me, as I am so famous for doing, and she escorted me into town, bought me my bus ticket, helped me exchnage money and gave me her number in case of emergency. So, so far outstanding reports of how freindly the Czechs are. hooray....its just not the same without my beloved exclimation marks1111

Cara had arrived in the Czech Republic

Hi guys. So I have arrived in the Czech Republic...cant find the exclimation mark on this thing otherwise there would be an abundance appearing as always. So I got to Stansted airport and couldnt find my travel buddy. I waited and waited and in the end flew alone. Amazing how things turn out. Dont know what happened but I got an email saying Ryan will be coming tomorrow and is spending tonight at the airport to ensure he doesnt miss his next flight....sounds like a bit of a story. I am going to find a hostel now. I was looking for the internet and asked 2 guys on the street and they let me into their office. So now I am sitting with the receptionist and a security huard typing away. On the way over I bonded with the woman next to me, as I am so famous for doing, and she escorted me into town, bought me my bus ticket, helped me exchnage money and gave me her number in case of emergency. So, so far outstanding reports of how freindly the Czechs are. hoory....its just not the same without my beloved exclimation marks1111

London!!!! for the second time!

So my Dad returned to California on April 10th and I am hanging around London with mates!

Friends in London:




Crazy Cara sporting a fablously yellow hat belonging to an of the Italian girl from Venice staying in my room in the London hostel.
Christina (USA-another hostel room mate), Cara and Emily (Cara's friend from high school whom Cara told 'Emily, you must come to Europe' and here she is!) at lunch in London's Chinatown with wonderfully presented Japanese (hrrmm...in CHINAtown) cusine. After lunch I trained it south to Chichester (in the county of Sussex) to visit my friends Emily and Lucy Budge (and stay with their family) to celebrate Emily's 21st birthday. I was a birthday surprise! Being a surprise is fun!. I met the sisters in my first ever hostel when I visted Honolulu, Hawaii at the start of my trip! Lucy pointed out to me the other day how crazy it is that they met me at the start of my trip and I am STILL travelling....and when you put it like that is seems amazingly wonderfully odd!

Tomorrow I will see my uncle (my Dad's sister Ava married an Australian) Michale's brother who lives very close. He is going to pick me up at 1pm and I am going to meet his family. How nice! Here here for random relatives!

I am here until the morning of April 15th (Saturday) when I will take the train back to London and then a bus to Stansted airport (one of London's discount airports) to rendez-vous with my friend Ryan. We will then fly to Prague, Czech Republic for a week!

It's been so nice being here. Sleeping in a comfy bed, washing clothes,havidng the ability to jog, being surrounded by cats (I miss my puddies!), eating fablous food....today the sisters, their mother and I all went to their country club and went for a dip (oh how posh!) in the pool, spa and steam room! So by the time I set off for Prague I should be organised, clean and ready to hit the road and be homeless once more and here after!

Cara and her Daddy at the Palace of Versailles

Here is my Dad and I at the Château de Versailles! Behind us is the Château! Big! Fablous! Beautiful!

Part 1-Barcelona and Valencia!

Part 2-PHOTOS of Spain! Spanish photos! Photos with Spaniards!

So we left Valenica and went to visit Madrid but just couldnt keep away from all the fun so back to Valencia we went for acouple more days before exisitng Spain from Barcelona where I went off to Rome!Now that was the summary here are the photos!


So here is me with a bunch of traditionally dressed Spanish gals! The dresses and detail are amazing! I saw pieces of these costumes in stores in Spain for sale and I thought they were a bit over the top but when you see the whole ensemble it is magically beautiful. Ryan and I were on our way out of Valencia to Madrid when we were lucky enough to stumble across almost everyone who participates in the Las Fallas parades. It was registration day! So we got pictures of everyone and with some before the festival started and they were probably harassed all the time. I even found a girl who spoke english and asked her every single question I could possibly think of! Each Fallas house is for a region of the city and has its own emblem/pins which they give to eachother...and I was given 2!!!!!!!!! Lucky me!


So I raved on and on about the Spanish countryside and here it is in an all impressive out the window bus shot! Now if that doesnt impress you I dont know what will....raise your hand if you want to come to Spain immediately!


So here is the hostel I stayed at in Valencia! This is like the perfect promotion shot for hostels everywhere. Random youths all participating and sharing travelling together, creating moments they will remeber for the rest of their lives, bonding....almost makes you sick but it was a lot of fun and definetly one of my favourite things about travelling! The girl with her back to the camera and playing the guitar is Nicole from Munich, Germany who is studying to be a music teacher and has music pouring out of her soul and mouth at most times of the day. I hope to visit her when I stop by Germany in May!


Cara and Nicole (Munich) perched on high watching the Mascletta which is a firework display everyday at 2pm during and even before the festival! The sounds of the firworks are so lound they shake you from the inside out!


Cara and Ryan sandwiched between 2 Argentinians! And the message of this photo folks is that the world is smaller then you think and heres why. I met the guy on the left and his cousin in Valencia. I then went to Madrid and met the guy on the right who told me he was from Argentina in an intro conversation. I commented that I had been meeting a lot of Argentinians lately in Spain like in Barcelona and Valencia and he replied that his brother was in Valencia....yep....I met his cousin and brother in my hostel in Valencia! Out of all the hostels what are the chances! We also ran into them on the streets of Valenica on the last night of Las Fallas while jammed in the busiest crowds of the festival which hosts about 4 million people! Crazy!

Back in France again!

Hey all! I am sorry I am not keeping you all as informed as I would like but I am running around crazy busy organising things with my Dad who arrived in Rome on the 22nd!

So to sum up so much info into acouple of sentences (which I hope to eloborate on later) I flew from Barcelona to Rome on the 22nd and met my Dad. After we spent acouple of days in Rome and Florence, saw the leaning tower of Pisa on the way to Turin. Spent time with my friend Sumita in Pinerolo so we could see Sestriere and now we are in Lyon! I have showed my Dad my old apartment and university and tomorrow off to Paris! Oh it was exciting and so good to see 3 old friends today. My friend Alisa cried when she saw me and I felt the same! I need to visit her in Canada and also need to visit so many friends all over the world now that it makes you never want to stop travelling just so you can see the ones you love being with!

Cara in Lyon and feeling at home again! Vive la France!

Old Photos!

See loooook! My finger is all better now! Isn't the body an amazing thing!

Las Fallas

So Las Fallas was great and I didnt have to sleep on the beach or in a park with friends in the end. I got really really lucky and got a bed in the hostel we stayed at the last time we were there. It was alot of fun and amazing to see the burning of the fallas. They were SO hot. We crowded around a fallas at 11 when they burnt all the large fallas (the smaller ones for the kids were burnt at 10). They wound an extremely long fuse around the fallas, sprayed it with flamable liquid from water bottles, removed the crowd barriers and torched the thing.

I Really liked the Fallas. Many if not most depicted topless women and would not be considered ´decent´ in Australia or the USA. There were also many figures which were were not your typical model type seen in magazines. The same is seen all across Europe with Art and especially statues and fountains in public places. It is nice to be open about it and recognise that everyone has the same body and that its not something to be ashamed of or hidden.

Back to Valencia!

Hey everybody! So I am off to Valencia to participate in the festival Las Falles even thought I don't have accmodation becasue you had to book months and month ago thanks to the biggest festival in Spain! The population of Valencia increases from 4,000 to 4 million for the event which is like a huge street party with parades. The main spectacle is the giant float like creations that they build and then set on fire on Sunday night. Then spend the whole year building close to 400 of them, 2 for each Falles house (a Falles house is like a suburb). So my possey and I are now going. The group consists of Ryan (Oregon), Sean (USA but studying in London), Tony (Arizona) and Stephanie (Arizona). So we are off today on a bus we hope! YAY! Then it´s back to Barcelona and then I fly to Rome to meet my Dad! More YAY!

Cara is in Madrid!

Hi everyone!
So I made it to Madrid safe and sound. I took a bus from Valencia becasue in Spain it seems that the trains are way more expensive then the buses so for half the price of the train I took a bus through the beautiful countryside of Spain! It was gorgeous! I mean absolutely beautiful. The earthy colours were amazing and the landscape was very different to France and other countries tht I hve visited. Covered in soft looking grass, the very definition of green and dotted with flowering trees, rocks and exposed red earth. I was wirting some post cards at the time so if you get an ´I love Spain´ type of inftuated post card thats probably when it was written. I can see myself returing here and maybe living here for sometime.

So I got to Madrid and I was at the bus station in the middle of nowhere (with 2 friends from the previous hostel). I had to ask the bus driver and then 2 people on the street just to find the metro station. Then I followed some little old lady around because she was going the same way as I. Meanwhile I was wihtout a map or guide book.
I made it to Plaza del Carmen, my meeting point with Ryan nd found he was not there. After waiting for about an hour I decided action was required. We had arranged to meet there in a smaller plaza then Barcelona which was clever and showed that we learned from previous mistakes however at this point I relised many stupid things: 1-that Ryan had the addresses of hostels which I wrote down including phone numbers etc, 2- we had no back up plan if one of us did not show up and Ryan could have missed the train or the train may have been full or one of a hundred other problems could have arisen meaning that I would wait in the plaza forever, 3- becasue it was approaching 9pm stores to buy phone cards, food, maps etc would be closing.

So as i was planning my next move without any information a pair of Americans (Robert and Katie) walked past as which point I shouted out and we talked. It turned out Robert was staying at the Cat´s hostel one which seems to be the talk of the town at the meoment becasue it is new and everyone says how nice it is. So I proceeded to get directions from him to the hostel, a map from a hotel (who didn´t look impressed that I had a massive backpack...suck it up people) and took the metro back the way I´d come to the hostel station. Its all abotu who you meet, who you talk to and how much you throw yourself out there. After getting off the train I saw a guy I decreeded as looking American (sad but true you can start to tell these things). So I asked him if he was going to Cat´s and its a good thing to otherwise I would have NEVER found my way! I checked in so overjoyed to haver arrived and was given a watch as a key. It´s a little plastic blue watch which you scan to get into the hostel and your room and your locker. It´s pretty cool technology but at the same time I think it´s fuuny that everyone likes Cats for their little blue watches (I´m wearing mine right now!). It is also becasue the foyer is decorated like the Thaji Mahal with a nice fountain and mosaics.

So I met Stephanie from the USA in my room who is absolutely adorble and convinced her to come to a Jazz bar back near plaza del Carmen as Robert and Katie had invited me there. I love other peoples stories. Stephanie had booked her ticket in June last year to meet a friend on exchange but the friend decided to change and exchnge this summer instead. So now she is here in Spain for a week, having never travelled to Europe before or having stayed in hostels. So we wnt to this somky little jazz bar down in a basement that you would only know if you were a locl or an exchange student hunting for cool dark corners (Katie). The jazz was good too.

When I got home a note from Ryan was waitig saying that he has checked into Cat´s too...what a coinsidence (would have been a great back up plan)! So its the next day and I´ve had breakfast (provided by the hostel) and am going to head out today with Stephanie to explore...she seems big into eating pastry here (one of her favourite things) so I guess I will just have to grit and bear it! Bye for now! xoxox

P.S. It is definite that my Dad flys into Rome on March 22nd. I booked a flight from Barcelona to Rome that day so I slide into Rome and skid to a halt just before him to greet him at the gate!

P.P.S. Rhiannon is planning to accompany me in Thailand. YAY!

Off to Madrid today!

Off to Madrid today! YAY! New city. Valencia and the beach was good and it was fun to be in the sun aghain! The weather is amazing! I am never going North into Europe again!

Going to Valencia!

This morning Ryan and I are heading south to Valencia by train where we hope to sit on a beach in nice weather and explore a smaller city!

Cara xoxox

Photo captions:

1- Joel and Cara at dinner in Bologna
2- Ravena mosaics from around 500AD

Ravena Mosaics!

Barcelona- day 2!

Had an exhausing day in Barcelona and need more sleep then my current 6 hours in 48 hours! Today I got up at 8:15 even though Flamanco kept me out until the wee hours of the morning (2am) and intened to eat the fab breakfast (its pretty good. It has juice and 4 different kinds of cereal, toast, muffins, fruit...yum-o...imagining tomorrow). So at breakfast I talked with one of the girls who was at the Tapis/Flamanco night and she was going off exploring. So of course I decided to dely a shower, not re-sleep and go touring. We went to Parc Guell where Gaudi did more mosaics and he designed a system to save water in summer. We then took the bus and randomly hopped off at another well known and one of the best Gaudi creations- another house like yesterday. It was a bit more of a museum....all that educational stuff (you know how I hate that...sarcasm) and was interesting as I had already seen the parc and a house. Then we took a metro to the waterside (even though we didnt really need to...the distances on the maps look pretty big but everything is pretty easy to get to in walking distance) they seem to have a pretty nice system here. I am still waiting for the day when Melbourne trains come very 3 mins!

Se we wandered a bit until my friend decided she had better go and head for the airport as she was leaving. I laid in the sun a bit...oh did I mention Barcelona is in SPRING!!!!!!!! That´s right and if you were here you´d understand what a big gigant humongous deal that is! At the park I saw evidence....cherry trees in bloosom! In blosoom I tell you! And I was actually hot today and wished I was in a t-shirt! No way! I went outside wearing only 2 layers...one would have surficed but I couldn´t take anymore off, 2 is the min because I am not used to having to remove anymore layers then that! I am not sure how hot it was here today beacause like the pharmacys in France and Italy there are green crosses that flash telling you it is a phramacy and also they tell you the time and the temp. The ones that I saw this morning said anywhere between 17 to 21.5...either way I am happy and it is warm.

So I baked in the sun for a bit and enjoyed it. I arranged acouple of days before via email to meet Ryan (American who I met in Venice and spent a day touring together) in Plaza Catalunya. We found eachtoher there eventaually. It was nice to see him again. His smile is nice and sense of humour reassuring/comforting. Took him back to my hostel so he could get a place to stay and then finally got my shower! Oh it was good. Supposed to meet Ryan in Lobby at 17:30 (the 24 hour time thing is just how they do it here) but he slep and I thought he might have left so I wandered down Las Robles (a big main street) with Matt, an American who I had met a few hours earlier that day. We visited the Catedral...big...and the the Mercat Boqueria which is a market like the Vic Market for those that have been. I bought coconut beause it was already cut up frech and I thought it was novel. Ages since Ive eaten that! Then I went to meet 2 girls from the flamanco night for a Vegetarian all you can eat buffet for 8.80 Euros! Not bad! Ryan awoke and tried to meet us but to no avail since he could not find us. We met him after in out fav Plaza Catalunya, chatted for a bit and then wanderedto the beach just cos we wanted to see it even in the dark. We played in parks on the way, on a giant climbing rope structre which brought much amusement, stopped by a few clubs but just didnt feel the vibe and then walked all the way back home with sore feet. Need better walking shoes and something besides hiking boots! You cant wear them all the time!

Tomorrow I am up at 8am again to meet Ryan for breakfast so we can decide where we are going to travel in Spain. Breakfast is better then cos there arent so many people and if we get an early start we can see more of Barcelona. I will sleep when I´m dead! I will say I will take another nap tomorrow but I wont in the end! Too many things to see to miss out!

Love you all and take care! Have fun above all!

Barcelona Ole!

Hi guys! I am in Barcelona on Spain´s east coast!!!!!!

Okay, so I have obvoiously never seen photos of this place. I had no idea what to expect so I expect nothing and the city is amazing! It is huge! I arrived yesterday and came to Centric point hostel which is nice and new and in the midlle of the city! It has really big windows which look out on the street called Passeig de Gracie and like 2 doors up from me is the Gaudie house!

So my plane got here at 1:30 in the afternoon. I came to the hostel and should have gone to bed seeing as I pulled an all nighter packing (and having dinner with Joel...yeah, dinnerand wine and cider and gelato!) but instead you have to be in it to win it so I got out there and wandered the streets of Barcelona while it was still light! In my wandering I have discovered that Barcelona is full of great shops with beautiful clothes and jewellery and bakeries or chocoloteries to make your mouth water ten times over! I went and ate a hot chocolate (liquid chocolate) with churos as is traditional, bought a pair of earrings (hey what can I say. Its the only thing I can carry and afford to buy!) and then went and saw the Gaudie house. I was a bit hesistant to pay to go inside beacasue it is expensivebut I bit the bullet and went on in and I am so glad! An amazing house and very well done. Gaudie was an architect/designer ahead of his time who remodeled this house. It only´took him 2 years which is pretty incredible considering the work done and he did it without plans (only a model and himslef)! Sounds like mykind of thang! So I went and wandered aound there for a long time. I went back to the hostel because I booked a Tapis night throught the hostel. We went to a Tapis bar which means that there are lots of plates with decorated baguette slices. Decorated with cheese and vegetables and meat, fish was prtty popular too. We got to choose five and then went to a club to see a flaminco show. It was nice, a band and the first people of dance were 2 guys. Pretty incredible and very different culture. I liked it a lot. They took great pride and pleasure in what they were doing and the Spanish audience was very appreciative...clapping and cheering and wooooing! Then we went to 2 bars and by this time I was dying to go to bed!

So now I am eating breakfast. Its provided by the hostel and is GREAT! Fruit, cereal, muffins, juice....yum! And now I have to go beacsue I am going with one of the girls from last night to see the city. She is going down to the water and that is where the city centre is so I am jumping on the bandwagon and going! Bye guys! Photos soon.....this place has the internet so if I manage to get it again pics no prob!

Made it Bologna!

Hi guys! Here in Bologna fine and dandy! Took a 2 hour train ride from Venice last night. I am staying with a friend Joel who is an awesome tour gide! He knows everything! I have booked my flight to Barcelona Spain on March 8th from Venice so I will be heading back to Venice to fly! Felt really organised becasue I asked before I left how to get to the airport and all that jazz! The I will fly to Rome....still gotta find that flight....to meet my Dad! Life is good! YAY! Alright, got o go out and see it! Bye for now!

Cara commented on last blog that:

Hi my lovely Kris! Moving out! What the! YAY for you! Emmy! Tell me your plans for London. My Dad is coming to viti and will fly out of London around mid April so I will be there so we can meet up my lovely! Best gelato is RIGHT! SOOOO Goood! Finger is actually one piece now so thats good!Davey baby...Sestriere is at the top of the mtn and Turin was once the capital of Italy and is at the bottom the mountain and then some. Rhiannon! YAYAY for coming to Thailand! We will organise man! Venice was great to wander....incredible! Blue...Sestriere was cold and the bakeries are better then I could imagine and I nthink I am trying to patronise eveyone in Venice! Cara is going on a mega diet when she gets back! Exercise and eat right!

Bye Bye Venice, Hello Bologna!

Yeah, it's not as romatic or exciting as venice but Bologna is my next stop. I am leaving Venice today (Mark my hotel buddy here is staying) and taking the train about an hour to two hours south west to Bologna. I will have to tell you about it when I get there beacsue I dont know very much about it except it is called Red Bologna becasue there is alot of red brick and also that there are lots and lots of enclosed walkways because long ago people decided to add onto their existing houses but on the first floor mind you so there were lots of jutting out first floors which were turned into walk ways. I met 2 exchnage students on the train from Sestriere to Turin who are studying there so I have myself 2 willing guides! Hooray!

After Bologna Spain might be on the menu depending on how much flights are and then my Dad is coming out to visit and see Europe! How wonderful is that! I am over the moon!

Bye for now! More photos soon I hope!

P.S. Can you believe it? What a coinsidence! I met the family of an Olympic skier in Sestriere when I was woking in the cloak room and they turned up at my hotel on Thursday night! What a crazy coinsidence. So we met on Friday morning and went to the Murano Island to watch Murano glass blowing together and then had dinner with Mark that night and wandered around Venice.

P.S. After watching glass blowing we were in the upstairs posh show room and the man who works there was talking to me. He told me to turn around and I thought he was looking at my hair (he had commented earlier) but instead he slipped a present into my backpack! He told me not to open my bag until I got out. I was thinking that maybe he gave me a little glass animal or something but instead he slipped a tiny red vase with golden flowers into my bag! From the top level of the show room! That little thing must be worth over 100 Euros. A present for me he said! Incredible! I was amazed!

Cara is in Venice

So I travelled from Torino to Venice with Mark and now we are staying in a....wait for it....one start hotel....with a GREAT location! Venice is incredible! I just had no idea about the canals and all that jazz. And Italian bakeries are amazing. Everything is so different and looks so good so of course I want to try ti all!!!!

Photos

Random German guy, Cara, girl nicknamed 'High Girl' and Lollo. I met up with Mark (my firend Lisa's brother...you remeber that both Lisa and Mark came to stay with me in Lyon) in Torino. In this picture there is Lollo who met us in Torino and wanted to party! They (Lollo and his step sister) were lots of fun and Torino was ALIVE with the Olympics. There were people on the streets everywhere and it was crazy fun. I also got to meet up with my friend Diogo who I met last time I was in Torino. He and his 2 friends Carolina and oh bother I forget looked after Niki and I when we got stuvk in Torino over night. It was good to see him again and I will probably go back through there again. I hit the museum of Cinnema (in the building called the 'Mole' which is the one pointy famous building in Torino or Turin for all your English speakers!) while I was there but there is also the best Egyptain museum outside Alexandra there and I will have to visit that next time.

Photo description (see photos below!):

PHOTO 1:Cara at work in the Irish Igloo Cloakroom (maiamed while setting up the cloack room it Ironically became the only place she could work!). Pictured with Lollo (Lorenzo) and Sheila whjo were visiting Sestriere for a bit from Torino. After I escaped from my horrible job there I went to Torino and met up with Lollo for a crazy night on the town..lol!

PHOTO 2: Cara departs and takes a picture of her co-workers: Helen (UK), Manu (Italian), Cara (hapopy to be leaving), H (UK....H is short for Helen).

PHOTO 3:Looking down the main street of Sestriere. The mntns where the womens Giant Slalom was run.....I saw that one...'cos I wasnt working for once cos I quit (I would have quit if I wasnt fired or fired it I didnt quit.....or would have gone nuts if I had to work there again!)

PHOTO 4: OOOOOOPPPPP!!!!!! Cara tried to cut off her finger.....this trip so far is a lot of firsts....first time to Europe, first time working in a bar....first stitches....yes, it was as nasty as it looked and the Department of State guys (my friends....met through work) were less then impressed with these lovely stitches so nicely sewn into my finger by less than competent doctors....and at the very end the last doctor they sent me too turned out to be a surgeon in Turin....thats right people....a surgeon.....someone who knows how to put in stitches....and waits for the anastetic to kick in.....oh first time in a forigen hosptial experinece....hummmm....next time I'll pass....P.S. finger looks much better now....the giant gap is actually gone!

PHOTO 5: Looking up the street in Sestriere. If you go all the way to the end of this road, out of the square, up the hill and to the left I lived up there. If you go up the street and look to your left you will see The Cavern which is the resturant owned by the same disorganised slave drivers/morons/bad guys/.....I mean guys....who own the Igloo.This photo the street is packed beacuse of the Olympics. There were people everywhere with flags of their countries, horns that were sold to cheer and lots of people decked out in Olympic team gear. The Russain Olympic team outfits were my favourite. White and red with a beautiful flower/vine patteren.

Photos I hope this time!

PHOTOS!!! (finally)

So here I am in Sestriere!

YEAH. So I have not posted for ages and hence thetre oh so too much to tell!

So here's what you all missed:
My friend Dave came tro visit me before I left Lyon as did my freind Lisa form uni and her brother Mark. We all had heaps of fun together as there was a bit of overlap in their visits and spent time laughing together. It was great to see Lisa again and chat to her! We laughed and laughed and laughed so hard with her brother Mark about all sorts of things. Mark and Lisa have the same smiles and happiness. Good for the soul. Lisa and I pulled an all nighter talking and enjoying eachothers company the night before she left....was absolutely stuffed the next day!

I left Lyon in the afternoon of Sunday Jan 22nd. I took the bus to Part Dieu with way way way to much stuff (almost physically impossible to carry) as I thought there were things I could use in Sestriere as I had NO idea what was in my appartment or what I needed for work. Shaggy's business partner picked me up from the train in Oulx and brought me up the mountain to Sestriere. I met the staff at dinner at 'The Cavern' (the resturant). I get free meals when the cavern is open. For the Olympics I am working mainly there.

So my appartment is at the top of Sestriere. It is older and has a bit of a brown and white 70's thing going on. When I arrived I lived with Helen (British) who is nicked named H and Taharni (Aussie). The owrds lazy pigs spring to mind but to be fair they has their reasons (overworked, underpaid, lazy, unhealthy...ya know). The appartment was filthy and disorganised and they spent their entire existences sleeping, complaining and drinking. There was no food in the house.


So I have new room mates now who are great and I am working too hard and being under paid but there is nothing for it if i want to stay here for the olympics and see all that jazz. I have decided my aim in life here is to meet new fantastic people and collect as many pins as possible. So far not doing too bad on either front. I have like 20 pins so far! I know its sad but they are pretty cool and i wasnt even going to collect but now I am sucked in!

It is pretty cold at times but i dont even notice it anymore! Amazing. Okay sometimes I notice it. LIke the other day when it was -13.5. That was a bit nippy and the wind chill factor was even more comforting! Whe I get back in June to Melbourne winter i am going to think it is summer!

So I have to go to work but more later! Love you and miss you all!

Long time, no blog!

I am alive.
I am working like a crazy person and being underpaid (hooray!).
I will have to write more later as there is only one internet terminal in Sestriere and so I am at a friend's house (my step dad Patrick, best friends daughter Simone ) in Cesana.
Bought a new camera so will try to take some photos and post them!
Love you all!
Cara

Cara

Cara has left Lyon
Cara is in Sestriere, Italy near Turin.
Cara's new mob no: 334 8170652 (add country code 39)

Things to ponder....

So yesterday I bought yet another phone card and called Simone in Italy. She did not sound busy this time and gave me Shaggy's number and her friend Cristina’s number who apparently wants to rent her living room. I called Shaggy immediately and ask if I found my own accommodation did I have a job. He said yes. I called Cristina...not home. I tried again last night. She sounds very nice and he English is pretty good! We spoke about me coming to stay and I now have accommodation in Turin! She lives 5 minutes from the Irish Igloo and wrote me the following email this morning:

‘Hello Cara,
I live in Sestriere, 5 minutes by walk from IGLOO, my house it's not so big, there is one room with a little kitchen and a bathroom. I have a twin bed, no pets, no children. Don't worry if you finish to work so late, sometimes I work late too. When I get up in the morning you can sleep, don't worry.
About the price it's ok € 300,00 for the month of february,if you arrive 27 th January the price it's the same.
I hope to see you soon.
Regards Cristina’

This price is really cheap for the Olympic period! People are asking crazy amounts of money out there! I think the phrase "I have a twin bed" is slightly interesting as it almost implies that we will be buking down together, however I have written for clairification and remember folks English is not her first language. What if that’s what she means? No...she couldn't could she? How do I feel about that? Can you rent half of your bed? What about a quarter or an eighth? Lol… interestingly rediclous! Hehe... I'd like to make some rediclous (and sassy) comment to go with this rediclous idea...like: "I've slept around in my time"...or how about "I've shared a lot of beds in my time'....'but never been offered to rent half of someone elses bed...lol! but I won't make that comment!

I left a message for Shaggy last night saying I have accommodation. I called at midday today but there was no answer. Will try again tonight. I am unsure about the pay and the hours. When I spoke to him before I got the impression that the work was 6 nights a week but only 14 hours. That’s 2.33333 hours a night? Before the Olympics I don’t think I will be working that much and would like to see some of Italy on my free days or weekends or whatever. I do not want to be working 3 hours every night or sorry 2.3 hours every night preventing me from traveling. If I am not working very much I will need to find more work while I am there as an English tutor, babysitter etc…maybe even a second job in a café or something (although as with all seasonal work no one wants you full on until the bus period and then both places would want me at once)!

Roll Up! Roll Up! Cara's latest:

Okay, so that title suggests more excitment then is possible but it worked right!

Cara's current activities:
-I am studying...wow!
-Jogging almost everyday even though it is SOOOO cold! However, it does take the sting off showers! lol...a good side to everything!
-Trying to soak up more of Lyon before I leave.
-Looking for accmodation in Itay but to be honest don't quite know what to do. Called Simone and asked her to help but I an worried as she seems very busy with work.
-Preparing to leave Lyon...=(
-Schuelded our going away party for Jan 14th at the Smoking Dog (English pub almost next door to our house) and a going away dinner with special people for Jan 13th!
- Appley, a fellow Melbournian has contacted our landlord and will be taking over our apartment at the end of January.
-Yesterday, Appley came by with a possible house mate to show her our place. I think it put things in perspective for Ben and I. Afterwards we went shopping for some souvenirs and started putting things in boxes to send home....scary! We are calling everything books as it is cheaper.
-I put up a sign today and randomly talked to 2 new American students who are interested in buying my stuff- phone, sim card, lap top, bike, cultural pass for tickets in Lyon.
-Cara is going to Andy's tonight for a 'fondue experiemnt' and has to leave now before she is late!

Other news hot off the presses:
-Emily Standsfield Smith is coming to Europe and will arrive in London on March 23rd!
-Rhiannon is seriously looking at coming to Thailand!
-Kristel is also seriously looking at coming to Thailand (assuming her Nursing clinicals are not on at the same time....everyone cross your fingers....and toes)! Jump on the bandwagon anyone who is reading this and NOT currently considering soming to Thailand! It's cheap and close to Australia!

Just finished my Art Contemp exam!

Hey y'all (there is that deeply hidden bit of American coming out)!

I just finished my Histoire l'Art Contemporaine exam! 1 down, 2 to go! I chose the topic 'L'évolution de l'architecture française de 1815 à 1900'(the evolution of French architecture during 1815 à 1900) and proceeded to spill out all kinds of random names and dates of French painters, scultpers, architects from the Romantic (David, Winckleman, Flaxman, Canova, Baltard), Neo-Classic (David d'Anges, François Rude, Préault, Barye, Hittorff), Industial (Hector Horeau) and at the end Art Nouveau (Horta, Guimard). I would have liked to do something about Impressionisme, Neo-Impressionisme, Post-Impressionisme, Expressionisme et Symbolisme because those are my favourite movements but the other topic was a bit too broad (as I am sure you will agree) for my liking: 'La place du réalisme dans les différents courants de la peinture française au XIXe siècle' (The place of realisme in the different movements in French painting in the 19th century).

So yeah, going to look for accmodation in Sestriere and then go home, collapse and study Art Plastique (Fine Arts) as tomorrow I am meeting with my friend Bekki (England) to revise. I am sitting the exam next week sometime as it is schuduled for the 19th but that was too late as I am going to Turin right? Right! Bye for now!

Not such good news!

Received a letter from Shaggy today:

Hi Cara
I am afraid I have been unable to find accommodation for you at the moment, and until I can there is no job available as all my other accommodation is full up.
I am sorry for the lateness of me letting you know, but I have been looking everywhere for you and another girl.
Regards
Shaggy

However, I will call my family friend in Italy tonight and see if she knows anyone...friends, relatives, family friends, friend's relatives, co-workers...anyone (okay not anyone but ya know)! I REALY REALLY REALLY want this job...hope it's good if I get it in the end! 'Never give up! Never surrender!' Keep you posted. Otherwise, if job I will meet up with my friend Lisa (from Melbourne uni) in either Lyon or Italy.

I spent all day studying with Collene and yesterday studied with Appley! Exam tomorrow on Art Contemp at 8am...YUCK!

Cara's

Hi there! I am back in Lyon once again! The trip home was a nightmare. I caught my train Monday as 8pm, found a nice carriage and started to wind down and go to sleep when the conductor told me that this PART of the train doesn’t go to France! What the? Yes, they separate the train at Salzburg and so if you are not on the first 3 carriages you get to stay in Salzburg. Disaster avoided I moved forward in the train only to find all the seats were reserved. Ridiculous! I think people reserve seats as its only 3 Euros and then if they don't catch the train it doesn’t matter. I eventually found seats where people had not turned up for their reservation, chatted with an Austrian girl who works in Paris and a South African lady on holiday.

We all went to sleep only to be woken every 5 minutes by the conductor putting more people into our cabin. In the end I was very lucky to get off the train in Strasbourg. We were all exhausted and no one heard my alarm go off at 5:30. When the guy sitting next to woke me and told me we were in Strasbourg I panicked and literally threw all my stuff off the train. A minute later it left!

So I went to get the next train to Lyon and found out to my dismay it didn't leave for 6 hours! ARG! A bit of a gap. If you don’t get the 6:04 the next one is 12:08! Ahhhh! So I slept, ate Austrian Christmas cookies, listened to music and wrote New Years resolutions for 6 hours! I caught the midday train and was happy to be on my way until I found that on this train seats were completely reserved as well! I don’t know how the system works but it definitely wasn’t working yesterday. The must have sold at least 300 tickets extra. I suppose I should be grateful as if they had not sold extra tickets I would have been stuck in Strasbourg.

However there were people crammed in everywhere in true Melbourne MET train cancellation style! I had a gentleman in first class offer me his seat as he departed but some woman asked if her sick husband could have it and seeing as I didn’t have a first class ticket and she had that snobby first class look about her I wasn’t about to make an issue about it. At one point they added 3 carriages to the train to accommodate people but it was not nearly enough and I didn’t get a seat. I was in the baggage car for a while hanging out with the ‘youth’ of the train. Someone was playing rap music and it was kinda cool until they all started smoking…arg the French! In the end I laid down curled up in the isle and everyone had to walk over me….gotta love transport in Europe. And to top it all off on the way home the bus broke down so I walked the rest of the way. Some days it’s a battle and you really have to fight for what you want…in my case to get home.

I got home and Ben and his friend Shelly had only arrived a few hours earlier. We chatted, I unpacked and cleaned my room which I left looking like the Tasmanian devil had just whipped through. We ate really good cheese stuffed pasta for tea, Shelly and I watched the movie ‘French Kiss’ which I saw in a completely new light after living here...incredible and then the traveling day from hell was over!

Today I am studying for my Contemporary Art exam on Thursday at 8am! Better get onto that! It is nice to be home and I am trying to absorb as much of Lyon as I can for the remainder of my stay here. Dave arrives on Jan 14th so I am looking forward to seeing some things in Lyon that I have not had the chance to see yet and take a break from studying!

Cara =)

Cara is returning to Lyon....holiday period is over!

I return to Lyon tonight. My train leaves at 8pm. I get into Strasbourg France at 5:55am and will take another train to Lyon. Bus it home from Lyon Part Dieu station. Anna left about an hour ago for the snow. Her parents headed off acouple of days ago and she decided spontaneously to go too. So I am going to go say goodbye and thank you to her Grandmother, visit her friend Myrium who lives around the corner and then head off to Westbanhoff station later! xoxoxox

New Years Eve in Vienna!

Hi everyone! Had a great New Years! I went into the city and bought a camera (a 5 megapixle minolta) and a train ticket home. I now have some type of Austrian youth train discount card for the year becasue my ticket was slightly cheaper even after buying the card for 20 Euros. Then I headed into the city as there were stages set up everywhere and people milling about and walking the 'New Years path' which was a suggested rourte to see all the stages. I started out at the town hall and got really really excited when the Christmas market in front was open....I love the Christmas market! Only today and yesterday it was a New Years Market! Oh Hooray! For New Years they sell all kinds of figurines and other trinkets that people give to eachother for the New Year. Pigs are probably the biggest symbol og good luck here but ladybugs, fourleaf clovers, red and white toad stools, frogs and other little things go down well too!

After the Market I went to see an Opera at 7pm called Falitermouse. It is a very famous Austrian Opera by Strauss and Anna's grandmother insisted that I go with her ticket. She insisted so much that she said she was going to be at home weather I went or not.....so nice of her! The Opera was very pretty and I am glad I went even though I did not understand the German and the subtitles were not so good. Then I took the tram back into the heart of the city to see a bit more of the New Years path. It was crazy! There were people everywhere and you can buy small fireworks on the streets here so there was banging going off everwhere. To add ot the noise, the same stalls that sell trinkets often sell whistles or horns so all in all it is pretty 'alive'! I walked to the main Church (St Stephans) in the centre of the city as the bell go off there at midnight and I wanted to see what was happening. It was very weird actually. When I got there there was a crowd but everyone was pushed back creating a big space in the middle and in that space there was the debrits of thousands of fireworks. People were setting off mainly the banging/popping kind but there were fountains and almost professional looking ones being shot into the air. It was pretty out of control. There were no police here, no barricades and people would cross the space and suddenly a firework would fall into their path. In the morning I had been lamenting over the fact that I was going to meet Anna outside the city later. I had this picture in my head of the count down in front of St Stephans and I kinda wnated to be there for the countdown. After seeing that I no longer wanted to be there let alone for the countdown. So I left quickly and took tram 38 back to Anna in Grinzing. As the tram pulled in I saw her and Myrium waiting for me on the street.

With 20 minutes to midnight we went to a hill just around the corner and met Anna's friend Beatrice and Johansses. We waited drinking Champagne in a snow covered vineyeard. Vienna has no officail firework show put on by the city which surprised me but the fact of the matter is they don't need one becasue from the hill we could see hundreds and thousands of fireworks going off all over the city. It was unbelieveable! Incredible! I am so glad I spent my New Years in a snow covered vineyard looking over all of Vienna, Austria!

P.S. My Nonie called me a little bit before midnight which was SO nice and I felt very loved and thought of!

Cara's future *mystical music plays in the background*

I think everyone one is curious about what I am doing after Lyon so here's the plan man! My last exam is my French exam (Oh la la!) on January 15th and then I hope to go work for Shaggy (Patrick my step Dad has a best freind named Franco, whose daughter Simone lives in Italy and knows Shaggy) who owns both a resturant/wine bar and a discotheque/club. The job is to work between the two venues over the period of the 2006 Winter Olympics (official dates are 10 - 26 February 2006) held in Turin, Italy this year. While Turin (Turino in Italian) is the official city I dont think hardly any events will be hjeld there as it is a city and not so good for skiing right? Most events will be held about a hour out by train in the Sestriere/Cesana region and other surrounding areas. The venues are in Sestriere and have been chosen as the official hang out spot for the American Winter Olympic team. Cool huh?

I am currently waiting to hear from Shaggy about what happens next! Here is the last thing I have heard on Friday, 16 December 2005 8:41:42 PM

To : 'Cara Bradley'
Subject : C.V

Hi Cara

Thanks for your C.V, i only received it yesterday, Italian Post is very slow.

My partner and me are very interested in you working for us from mid January, I am just trying to sort more staff accommodation out at the moment. As soon as that is sorted I will get back to you with further details, in the mean time if you have any questions please feel free to email me. Regards, Shaggy

I asked about the duration of the position, uniforms (I need to know what to bring with me from Lyon) and acouple of other things that I can't remember! So there you have it....fingers crossed!

Okay, so I am in here in Corinthia staying with Anna's Dads best friend's (Christine) family. They are all really really nice and it has been a relaxing few days. I arrived in Tues afternoon and will leave tomorrow (Friday afternoon). Southern Austria is colder then northern Austria (where Vienna is)...how wacko is that! We have had a meter of snow at least since I have been here. I got to shovel snow too this evening! With a real shovel! I talked with Judith (Chritine's brothers wife) who said that they have not had this much snow since Christophe (her son) was a toddler. He is my age so this is the most snow since the mid 80's! The temperature is usually warmer when it snows...u know traps in the heat and all that jazz!

Hi ho Hi ho it's off to South Austria I go!

I have to rush off as I am leaving for South Austria tomorrow at 8am! Opportunity came a knocking and I and running with it. Anna's Dad Joe is from the South of Austria and his son will travel there tomorrow...meeee too! Joe has called a close friend there and it is all set that I will stay with her family! We are going to go see a glaciure (spelling!) and then I rendez vous with Anna's family (minus Anna who will still be in Vienna) en rote for their snow trip. We will ahve lunch together and then then Joe's son and I will head back to Vienna. I have decided to stay here for New Years! I am happy to have made a decision...any decision but I am not ready to leave Vienna yet...not before New Years. I may count down with Anna's friend Muriel in the city where there are concerts and things and then meet up and party with Anna after!

I promise I will post Chrissie photos soon....it dosen't help that I don't have my own camera to quickly chuck some on the net but I will work on it and will buy a camera before leaving Vienna! hummm....must book that transport!

Cara's current dilemas

I am currently sitting at Anna's parents house (Anna lives in an appartment in 'shouting distance' as her mother says). It got dark here at about 4:15pm! So early! Jonathan (Anna's little brother) is watching 'Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets' or 'Harry Potter und die Kammer des Schreckens' in the backgound in German...I wish I understood more.

I am a bit lost and wondering what to do about things today....Christmas cheer gone so soon hey? I am looking for flights and modes of transport on the internet to get to who knows where for New Years. Anna is working until midnight on New Years (something she didn't know until a few days ago) and her parents are heading off to the snow on the morning of New Years eve for their annual snow trip. So unless I want to be by myself until after midnight I need to go somewhere. But where?

The options seem to be Barcelona with Ben (housemate) or London to visit and party with Dhivya. I would have accmodation in both places (Barcelona is a bit more complicated in that respect) but the problem seems to be transport. It is all very expensive and I am not sure about either destination. I could return to Lyon and celebrate there (I think the majority of people are still travelling and all European students ahve gone home for both Xmas and New Years). I would like to stay in Austria with Anna but being alone for the count down dosen't sound very fun. I have to find transport back to Lyon regardless and I am tired of searching endless websites for flights and prices and trying millions of variables of planes and trains. Vienna to London, too expensive (as is Vienna to Barcelona) ...try another combination. Vienna to Milan then Milan to London? Not good. Budapest to London? Cheaper. Except how do I get to Budapest? Trains to Budapest are not on my French sncf site so by the time I get there it may cost the same expensive prices as the easier options. Maybe don't even fly out of Vienna. Train it to another Austrian city first? More options! Oh the joys of0 travelling (YAY) in Europe....so many options (wonderful) so complicated (not so wonderful).

And meanwhile I need to be studying for my Fine Arts subject, Contemporary Art Subject and French Grammer....something which I find very very hard and just can't seem to grasp. As my French teacher said 'You speak well but you do so badly in tests. Why is that?'

Fete des Lumieres

Thursday night was the "Fete des Lumieres" – the annual light festivalin centre-ville at Lyon.

The main squares and buildings (cathedrals, opera building, fountains) were all lit up with light shows and 'light art' really. Just about all of Lyon waltzed out onto the streets drinking vin chaud (hot, spiced wine) to celebrate. The fete was originally a religious festival to thank the Virgin Mary for saving Lyon from the plague. The Fourviere/cathedral on the hill overlooking Lyon with its golden statue of Mary was lit up in blue and red and white. Viva La France.

Silly quizzes

Cara's random movie quote:

Cara's Random Movie Quote: 'I'm sure in 1985, plutonium is available at every corner drugstore, but in 1955 it's a little hard to come by.' - Dr. Emmett Brown, Back to the Future Cara's Lucky Charm: Cara's secret lucky charm is: "A pair of rusty binoculars" Cara's time travel: Cara 's Reason for Travelling Back in Time: To see if aliens really did co-ordinate the building of the pyramids Cara's excuses: Cara's best excuse: "I’m hot. I don’t need an excuse." Celebrity match hey? Your celebrity match is Johnny Depp. You like your men funny and smart.

Austria thus far

Wednesday:
So I got here at a bit past 8:30 in the morning (the train was late) and was greeted by big smiles from Anna and her mother. We went to the new local shopping centre so Anna could pick out some Chistmas presents. I ate breakfast at a bakery in the shopping centre/mall. When I was sitting there with my hot chocolate and spinach pastry and people watching I immediately noticed differences...'We are not in France anymore Toto'. I think thing here are a little cheaper then France but not by much. Fresh produce is more expensive. I looked around the supermarket and noticed the lack of puddings and other things that the French are obsessed with. A nice change....but J'adore la France.

the little things

There are daily reminders, little things that remind you that you are somewhere else. Not the obvious stuff-the language, the beautiful buildings but things that hint at deeper differences...like... Anna's mum buys 'Dunajky' which is a pack of 5 sandwich like wafers. The waffers are thin, round and and as big as your hand filled with sugar. They are from Slovakia and are well known. It highlights how close Austria is to Slovakia. The wonders of Europe.

Cara is in Austria!

Cara is in Austria! YAY YAY YAY and more amounts of YAY! Anna and her Mother were waiting for me at the station at 8.30 this morning when my train arrived at Westbhanhof, the main station in Vienna! It is so good to be here! It is not too cold today but there a little snow on the ground. Anna and I looked at photos of when she was on exchange in Australia. We look so much younger, she more then I. I gave updates on some of our old friends- Emily, Kris, Julia etc... I asked Anna if she ever thought I would come to visit and she said that everyone always says they will but you know. When I said I would come and visit I meant it and it was only a matter of time for me. And it will only be a matter of time before I come back to visit! Anna and I are already talking about rendez vous-ing somewhere else in Europe after Xmas, my exams and my ski job in Sestiere! More soon and photos soon!

Up late!

Had dinner at Beryl's (Canada) tonight. It was kind of a mix of events. I planned Japanese dinner with Alisa (Canadian ut with Japanese parents) and then we moved it to Beryl's qnd lots of people turned up and there were like 10 people for dinner in the end. Alisa and I planned and made tempura and sushi! Yum and vegetarian!

Ate random asian dishes tonight with random freinds. Ate too much chocolate! Found moulding and worm eaten food in Beryl's host family's cuboards. No there were actually live little worms in there! She was scared and I laughed so hard I cried! Going to Austria for Christmas. 18hrs in the train seems to be the best option! How is that possible. My english spelling is getting bad with all this French! Currently listening to M..French music. Night!=)

S'up Cara?

Had a great Brithday (photos to go up soon). Party was good. Would had been even better if some people had turned up earlier (made me nervous that no one was going to come) and oh yeah...if someone had NOT stolen my camera....impossible since I knew everyone there and there are no suspetcs but yeah...

Went to Switzerland randomly on Sunday To Geneva. The word COLD once again springs to mind. It is now cold again Lyon...for a while it wasnt too bad! Sorry no photos since I was WITHOUT A CAMERA! Did a police repot in French when I got back to Lyon for Insurance.

Currently working on Van Gogh essay for Contemporary Art History, Essay on Portugal to hand in, really need to stuy French Grammer as I can take some practise tests this week, finding cheap flights to get to Austria and trying to figure out where I am going to be for New Years! Must ask Alisa to cut my hair (don't trust the French hair dressers), burn Claire's french CD's and mop the floors after e not so clean party! Go shopping for new camera too (oh joy, oh expensive). Niki and I are meeting tomorrow for lunch and are making veggie curry. I hope to study for my other Art subject and FRENCH. Thursday is studying Art Plastique/Fine Art with Becky (UK) during the day and hot chocolate/Harry Potter in english hopefully in the evening with Kathryn (Canada-met her through her Mum in Annecy). Friday is a Christmas dinner with some of the girls (exchange students). Need to make Chrissie cards and decorated cup cakes as presnts I have decided....but when? And boo hoo no camera to document it all.....=(

The Start of 24 hours of Birthday Celebrations!

Ben took me to dinner on Wednesday night for pre-birthday celebrations! We ate at this REALLY REALLY cute little cafe on the presqu'ile (almost island) which is the middle of the city! He is SO nice! What a nice thing to do!



Here is one of the cutest resturants in the world!



Me with my first piece of birthay cake!




Here are the presents that arrived the day before my birthday! Luckily was Ben was home to collect them (if they won't fit in your letter box you have to go to the post office and collect them) and they were waiting on my bed when we got home from dinner!

It's beginning got look a lot like Christmas!

It has begun to look like Christmas for a while here. The Christmas market is at Perrache and has all sorts of yummy things to eat along with toys and gifts and all that jazz. Shops have their window decorations up and there are Chrissie tress up in front of stores...and someone has decorated a tree at uni in the court yard.

I guess it is even more Christmasie because le Fete des lumieres/ the party or festival of lights is this week (Dec 7th- 11th). The whole town will be lit up with lights of different colours. There will be candles on December 8th (I hear you crying 'That's you birthday! Hooray!') because that is the day that the plauge stopped at Lyon and didn’t kill everybody...and also cos it's my birthday! To celebrate, people place candles on their window sills. So people have been getting ready for that for a week or so at least. There have been trucks and crates with lighting equipment everywhere. And slowly I have seen the changes- there are now blue lights on the bridge to Vieux Lyon, Green globes have been installed at Bellcour, purple and red along the river and the two most notable things- a giant Ferris wheel decked out in lights at Bellcour and the church on the hill the Fouvriere is bright purple with some serious spotlights! So the shops have put up their lights too which will be for Christmas and le fete des lumieres! Everything is pretty cheery in town!

P.S. I am inviting people to my Birthday party on Saturday. My theme is 'un touche de rouge'... I wanted to 'go jungle' but its a bit hard when no one has any costuming resources so a colour that works for both guys and girls was the end result! Going to look for balloons and streamers tomorrow...cheap balloons and streamers!!!

......it's now stuck in my head!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas
Everywhere you go;
Take a look in the five-and-ten, glistening once again
With candy canes and silver lanes aglow.
It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas,
Toys in every store,
But the prettiest sight to see is the holly that will be
On your own front door.

A pair of hopalong boots and a pistol that shoots
Is the wish of Barney and Ben;
Dolls that will talk and will go for a walk
Is the hope of Janice and Jen;
And Mom and Dad can hardly wait for school to start again.
It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas
Everywhere you go;
There's a tree in the Grand Hotel, one in the park as well,
The sturdy kind that doesn't mind the snow.
It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas;
Soon the bells will start,
And the thing that will make them ring is the carol that you sing
Right within your heart.

Speeeeeeeeechs...oh long speeches!

Okay, now I am sitting in my class waiting to give my speech on 'Portugal and the European Union'. 'Waiting' really isn't the word for it now anymore...more like sitting and thinking and...going on the internet! No, I am paying attention too. I held out for 3 hours…yeah that’s right, the speeches started at 3pm so now we are in our 4th hour!!! My brain is feeling a little numb.

Currently Denmark is up but we have done France, Czech Republic, Finland, Poland, Romania, Turkey.…very interesting but I am skeptical of how much I am absorbing now. I know Romania is big on sunflowers (lavender too) and grows these things for money rather the using their land for food. Historically people bribed other people to get into government so today the word for bribe is derived from that and Romania is still figuring out how to govern without bribing people. France is Euroskeptic and has always been power hungry. They started the European Union in conjunction with Germany (France wanted to fix it’s agriculture and Germany wanted to it’s coal and steel industry) and if they can’t control it they aren’t so happy. Finland has been neutral in politics as to not involve themselves in power struggles and the Soviet Union stole 10% of Finish territory a while back. Most Finish politics and now way of politics are because the Soviet Union was a big threat. The Czech republic liked to throw people of windows (called 'fenestration') and everyone in their history had names like ‘Fredrick the bad’ and ‘John the terrible’. Inflation has dropped in Turkey from 106% to 12% and has a corrupt tax system.

On another note I received an email from Anna yesterday! I sent her a postcard, email and tried to call her to get a confirmation about Christmas. She replied last week asking when I was coming! That’s was a big hooray but I needed to know when I was welcome and also what Anna is doing for New Years…when do I book a return ticket? Yesterday’s email asked among other things ‘If there was anything I didn’t eat because her Mum wanted to know’ Hooray! So I called Anna last night. She wasn’t there but her Mum was very happy to hear that I was coming for Christmas! She said she and her husband liked having a ‘big party’ for Christmas and said that they will invite some Japanese students as well (I assume Anna’s Japanese friends as she was just on exchange in Japan). She said that someone could pick me up form the airport or train and was really nice! Hooray. Success! I am excited!

After calling, I went for a jog along the river yesterday evening. It was really nice, partly because the weather wasn’t freezing but also because I got to see another side of Lyon. At night all the buildings are all lit up and it was very pretty. I enjoyed it even more as I have not jogged for so long. I went once a couple of weeks ago at the Parc de la tete d’or but I had to ride to get there and then just kind of jogged aimlessly. Last night I jogged up and back and maybe I need a structure/routine to feel like I have accomplished something. There aren’t any ovals/football fields that I have seen here. I am going to try and do it again tonight and a lot more often (I won’t make gross claims like ‘every night I want to jog’ but we’ll see).

And after all that....we have run out of time and I won't be doing my speech today! Next week 2 hour exam and then my speech along with 2 others!

Portugal anyone?

Right now I am at McDonald's trying to figure out the Portugese parlimentary system! What fun! Hope you're all doing something equally exciting! What are y'all doing?

Okay.....long and funny maybe?

Okay, just got to macdo (McDonalds). I have a headache, popped 2 aspirin, freaked out when a cute little girl asked me for money (never happened before) because my friend Corey (ballet dancer form NY) said some cute little boy stole his phone as maccas a while ago! Ahhhh! Alert! Grab your bag and zip it frantically and check that this urchin hasn’t stolen your phone already! I think I am eating off yogurt...a little to bitter for me today. The weather is gray and rainy but surprisingly not freezing...there is a strange lack of crisp ice on the wind. It doesn't feel like the wind had just blown off of a glacier. I spent this morning hanging my clothes out the windows because I went to Ayers Rock last night at Place de Terreaux. Go the Aussies! This in fact the reason why the French like Australians! It was my first time visiting the Aussie pub, a favourite in Lyon that everyone keeps telling me I have to go to. Basically at'Airers' (as the French say ) Tuesday nights are good, Thursdays, Weekends…oh every night! I danced....a lot! Haven't danced that much in ages! Ran into Kate (US) and Rita (Aust) too although not surprising as they are definetly regulars- they know the names of the barmen, bouncers and other patrons. My clothes stank so severely when I got home it was actually slightly concerning! (I thought of incinerating them but then came to my senses and remembered if I had an incinerator it wouldnt be freezing in my house!) When the French smoke they do so with dedication! And what’s worse/more amazing is that I went with a group from the Franco-American soiree (some I knew from uni) and after arriving my friend David decided it probably wasn’t a good idea to check his bag, complete with 15 passports in it so back we went to mine (everyone had just walked from mine- after the soiree the local bars were full and went to mine for champagne and chocolate-yum!), dropped it off, I changed my shirt to something cooler (felt like Australian summer) and admittedly skimpier. And the first shirt I wore into the bar for literally 2 mins (we walked in walked out!) still stinks today!

The after going to bed at approx 3:30 I got up at 8am (Ben didn't wake me as I asked...he wrote a note but I didn't understand the reason behind not waking me...something about fear? lol, I swear I am not a vicious animal in the mornings…I hardly ever see him in the mornings with our different schedules). I rode to uni surprised at how un-cold it is and felt compelled to remove my gloves. I went to Internat. Office and hoped for a fax or email from my uni (I asked them to send me the letter that I wrote when I applied to come on exchange). Instead they sent nothing, slack buggers and when I called the other day the woman who works there had the nerve to ask me in a tone with far too much exasperation ‘Why I was not happy? Hadn’t I gotten approvals for my subject in France and if not what are the approvals you have been forwarding me'. I wanted to tell her I wasn’t happy because she had no idea how to do her job but thought better of it in the end. Her comments only prove my theory that she has no idea what is going on here! She lost that attitude when I told her that I had NO approval at a specific year level (therefore no approval) and she was supposed to be following that up! Remember? So anyway, no fax this morning (guess she thought she’d do it on Monday or maybe she was putting in some time and effort figuring out how to do her job!) means I have to write a whole new letter for my French friend Alexandra who is applying for Melbourne University for July 2006. Melb Uni are snobs and they won't take her unless her letter is 'kick ass' good. That happens to be the expression I used upon reading the letter I spent 2 hours writing for her this morning....I quite liked it, both the expression and the letter! I should have been studying for my FLE test (doesn’t count by anyway) instead of letter writing but I agreed to do it and also if it tok me 2 hours how long ould it have taken her! And even more time for us to correct it together! Also, I have this big dream/fantasy of driving to Melbourne Airport to pick up Alexandra and her boyfriend Nathan in June/July! YAY! I cannot think of anything I'd rather do!

So yeah, I spend the morning sneaking around uni with my computer trying to find unoccupied rooms. I was late for my FLE class...only by an hour…eeek! because I was letter writing and then had to do a test on the 'condition'. Who knows what that is and hence me thinks I won’t be doing very well! Then I photocopied the corrections I missed (how studious!) in class at the international office. I often take advantage of their mass disorganisation in this way. Because they have no idea what is going on they can’t possibly tell that things are being photocopying!

So right now I am going to go do research on Portugal and the European Union because I have a presentation on Monday and have to hand in a dissertation (I don't know if that word is French or English....my brain is often confused in this way)! I am trying to pick a night next week for a soiree Japonaise/ Japanese evening with my Japanese friends. I need to write a CV and send it to Italy for the winter job in Italy that I applying for at the Irish Igloo (I already sent an email with heaps of info but the man wants more! And since I have so much time/desperately want the job I said ‘Sure, I’d love to write you another…just like that…sugary sweet!). I need to pick a date and theme and make and give out invitations for my birthday party (Dec 10^th-Eevryone is invited). Still need to send notes to Marton in England and Claire’s family in province thanking them for their hospitality. I got back from the post office yesterday (it took the time of 1 song to walk there and another 5 waiting in line! I swear they employ the dead, deceased or dying only) very happy to cross that off my list of things to do (which by the way just keeps growing) to have Ben give me a new slip and say ‘guess you’ll be going back then’ (said in such classic Ben style!) Oh, la poste! Try tomorrow! I bought a ‘pass de culture’ which allows me go see 7 events in Lyon….haven’t even touched it yet and have to go book things for it. I also need to be transport to Austria ASAP before it is full and/or expensive. (If you have actually read this far please incorperate the words “pink elephants” in your comment…’cos you will of course comment!) I need to summarise my French classes and get on top of them because there is quite a lot to remember and unfortunately I love languages but do not have a natural affinity for learning them. Maybe accents are not so bad for me to try and mimic because mine changes on a regular basis. I need to study for my European Integration exam next week. I also have to start thinking about advertising my things (bike, computer, apartment) so I don’t get stuck with them before I leave! I must change my flights sometime and decide how long I am staying in Thailand (I am going Mum...sorry...but if it makes you feel better keep suggesting alternatives)…and all I did the whole day yesterday was fix the flat tyre on my bike!

Have you ever changed a bike tyre? I know I certainly haven’t and had no clue…however hence fourth and forver I shall be known as ‘Cara bike tyre changing expert’. Please address me in this manner! It shall now be my formal title. Someone send me a change of name form quickly...before I come to my senses! (You need a spoon for all those crying out 'How did she do it?' and I cannot take all the credit for the fab tyre changing). However, the question did come to mind ‘How many exchange students does it take to change a bicycle tyre’ as I was going to inlist the 4^th exchange student, Carston (USA) on my bicycle tyre chaning mission. I needed him to figure out how to work his own ‘modern’ style bike pump (modern is another word for needlessly complicated and probably cheaply made both in plastic and in China) while Andy and Sebastian (UK) wrestled with the upside down bike in the laundry of their building! The problem is that is you gave Carston a can of corn and said ‘Carston, you’re life depends on it, make corn’ he might die! Even with a can opener! But he probably would manage to form a sentence including the conjunction y'all. So then comes the question ‘How many exchange students does it take to use a bike pump and it must be more then four or that was my response anyway as my bike and I strolled to the gas/petrol station to use the ‘air up there’! Okay well I am going to go eat my off or not yogurt (it is 12 little pots for 1 Euro hence I eat that almost non stop!). And at this point, bringing my own cheap yogurt lunch and eating it in McDonalds whilst using their internet is the least of my worries! =)