Christmas Trees in the Czech Republic

Living in Europe is wonderful! For the first time in over 25 years I find myself spending Christmas with family in the Czech Republic instead of alone (or with friends) in Canada. Walking around Prague and Ceske Budejovice it's clear that Christmas is a sacred holiday. I have never seen trees so large and beautiful at the same time. Glad to know they were all real trees and not made of plastic. Christmas in London would have been lovely especially that many people tell me it's when the city is at its most vibrant but I think family and lovely trees beat anything that England would have to offer.

For everyone who celebrates this holiday Merry Christmas and for those spending it alone, here's an article I wrote recently that might spark some ideas on what to do with your time off: A Solitary Holiday

 

 

 

Stonehenge in the Fall

It is quite possibly the number one thing to see in all of England. Stonehenge is located in Wiltshire, about 2 hours outside of London and is over 5000 years old. It is made up of bluestone, Sarsen, and Welsh sandstone, and apparently took about 30 million hours of labour to construct. Most tourists flock there in the summertime which is why I avoided going when I first arrived in the UK three months ago. Instead I went at the end of November which proved to be a great decision. There were still a fair amount of tour busses and people but nothing too overwhelming and thus made the experience more enjoyable. The weather happened to be great but that was lucky I guess. 

The fee to enter is about £8 for adults but most tour packages include that in their price along with the bus ride. Many believe that it's time to rebuilt Stonehenge to make it look more like it did thousands of years ago (lowest pic) but I think that it still looks great and as long as the stones don't start crumbling to the ground there is no need alter them. Definitely one of the top three places I've been to in England thus far!

To read a bit more about Stonehenge, English Heritage or simply visit the breathtaking monument yourself!!

English Greenery?

I've spent a good portion of the last 20 years living in the second largest country in the world with a population hovering around 35 million. For that reason it was somewhat of a drastic change to move to a country smaller than most of Canada's provinces fitting nearly double that population. Despite this fact England is still able to boast a relatively impressive amount of greenery- mostly outside of London. Living in the capital, however, there isn't much opportunity for genuine fresh air. This is slowly turning into my main complaint about being here and why I take many opportunities to seek greener pastures elsewhere. So far Epping Forest, Hyde, and Valentine Park are the parts of London I've been able to breathe a little better. I suppose there are some things Canadians do take for granted and that is the amount of national parks at their disposal. Hopefully England works a little harder to maintain its greenery instead of focusing on a seemingly endless influx of people.

Walt Disney's Landscapes

"Landscapes of great wonder and beauty lie under our feet and all around us. They are discovered in tunnels in the ground, the heart of flowers, the hollows of trees, fresh-water ponds, seaweed jungles between tides, and even drops of water. Life in these hidden worlds is more startling in reality than anything we can imagine. How could this earth of ours, which is only a speck in the heavens, have so much variety of life, so many curious and exciting creatures?"

-Walt Disney Company

The Green Green Grass of Galway

What I loved most about Ireland was the seemingly endless greenery. Every chance I got I was sticking my head out the window to soak up some of that rich country air that is practically unattainable in London. To be fair Galway isn't the only place that had such beautiful landscapes but it fit the alliteration. I read this proverb somewhere in the country and had no idea it was an Irish one:

May the road rise up to meet you.

May the wind always be at your back.

May the sun shine warm upon your face,

and the rains fall soft upon your fields.

And until we meet again,

May God hold you in the palm of his hand.

For more Quotes from Irish scholars and writers.

Natural Wonders of Ireland

One of the great things about living in England is its proximity to other great places in Europe. For my first week off I decided not to travel very far and visit Ireland. Words cannot express how lovely this country is in terms of lush greenery and numerous natural wonders. Since public transportation isn't the greatest I rented a car and drove on the left-hand side of the road for the first time in my life. My travels included Dublin -> Newgrange -> Belfast -> Giant's Causeway -> Galway -> Cliffs of Moher -> Rock of Cashel -> Dublin. My favourite part was definitely the Cliffs despite the strongest winds I'd ever experienced. There were so many great people I met and wonderful memories that will forever be etched in my mind. I am very glad that I picked Ireland for my first holiday in Europe and can't wait to return there someday.

For links to all the Unesco World Heritage Sites I visited in Ireland: 

Newgrange, Giant's Causeway, Cliffs of Moher, Rock of Cashel

Valentine Park in East London

Having purchased a bike in England I am now free to roam around the city whenever the weather cooperates. The other day I visited Valentine Park in Ilford which must be one of the largest parks in East London as it took me ages to go through and around it. I can say without a doubt that this bike is the best purchase I've made this year and look forward to all the great places we'll travel together. It was nice to see the changing colour of the leaves, the bird, ducks, and swans around the lake, and the small lavender field in the garden area. Here are a few images from Valentine Park; one that I will definitely be visiting more from now on.

Read about the facilities and exciting interesting history of Valentine Park.

Hyde Park

Located in the heart of central London Hyde Park is the largest in the city. So far I have not found the time to explore all of its areas but from what I did see it's quite spectacular. This enormous park includes over 4,000 trees over 350 acres is one of the Royal Parks of London and apparently is famous for Serpentine Lake, the Princess Diana Memorial Fountain, and something called Speaker's Corner. The latter being an area where public speaking, debates, and/or discussions are encouraged. As a result protests and demonstrations often start in that section and may or may not spread throughout the city.

Although it's getting colder by the day, general activities in the park include swimming, boating, cycling, and walking/running. In addition, there are tennis courts, fields for other ball games, and a large children's playground. In the winter ice skating is apparently available from November to January but am no so keen on that. There are two restaurants by the lake which I intend to visit soon enough. I'm realising week after week that there is so much to do/see in London and I'm getting worried that I'll run out of time.

For more info about Hyde Park and all its events, including the Winter Wonderland 2013.

The Little Prince's Flower

"For millions of years flowers have been producing thorns. For millions of years sheep have been eating them all the same. And it's not serious, trying to understand why flowers go to such trouble to produce thorns that are good for nothing? It's not important, the war between the sheep and the flowers? It's no more serious and more important than the numbers that fat red gentleman is adding up? Suppose I happen to know a unique flower, one that exists nowhere in the world except on my planet, one that a little sheep can wipe out in a single bite one morning, just like that, without even realising what he's doing - that isn't important? If someone loves a flower of which just one example exists among all millions and millions of stars, that's enough to make him happy when he looks at the stars. He tells himself 'My flower's up there somewhere...' But if the sheep eats the flower, then for him it's as if, suddenly, all the stars went out. And that isn't important?"

-Antoine de Saint-Exupery, The Little Prince

Camping in Chigwell

A few weekends ago I took part in a Duke of Edinburgh camping trip with students from Year 10 and 11. The purpose of the Duke of Edinburgh Award is to develop self-confidence, self-reliance, teamwork, and leadership skills. It is given to students who fulfil a series of tasks which include volunteering in their community; improving in an area of sport, dance, and/or fitness; developing practical and social skills; and finally planning, training for, and completing a weekend hiking expedition either in England or abroad. Students do the D of E for different reasons, but it definitely looks good on a resume. 

The weekend included lots of activities, survival workshops (i.e. how to read maps, compasses, etc.), and several hours of hiking. It was a great opportunity to get loads of fresh air, something I find hard to come across in London. Overall it seemed like all the students had a good time and luckily the weather cooperated despite a rainy prediction. As much as I love camping, however, I'm not so sure I'll be able to cope with the anticipated weekend when the students do over 15km of hiking each day, and that's if they don't get lost!

For more on the award: Duke of Edinburgh

The Story of Stuff

Videos that go viral are generally funny, creative, but completely forgettable. Once in awhile, however, a video comes along that actually attempts to explain something about the world in a way that engages audiences. Fortunately some of those videos go viral. The Story of Stuff was created by Annie Leonard and a team of caring individuals in 2007 committed to making people aware of just how much waste was being manufactured on a daily basis. What started with one 20-minute animated video just over five years ago turned into a series of subject-specific videos with millions of followers including: 

• Story of Bottled Water
• Story of Cosmetics
• Story of Electronics
• Story of Change

The latest video, released last week, is titled The Story of Solutions and attempts to outline a strategy for getting people and corporations thinking in a new/better way. By shifting the economy in a more sustainable direction hopefully people can start to see that more is not necessarily better and that changing the game can be beneficial to each and every one of us. Below are two quotes taken from the website that sum up the ideas of the first and last video. 

"We have a problem with Stuff. We use too much, too much of it is toxic and we don't share it very well. But that's not the war things have to be. Together we can build a society based on better not more, sharing not selfishness, community not division."

"In the current "Game of More', we're told to cheer a growing economy - more roads, more malls, more Stuff! - even though our health indicators are worsening, income inequality is growing and polar icecaps are melting. But what if we changed the point of the game? What if the goal of our economy wasn't more, but better - better health, better jobs and a better chance to survive on the planet?"

 Read more: The Story of Stuff and watch all of the fantastic videos!

Soho Square Gardens

In my first few weeks exploring downtown London I stumbled upon a quaint little garden no bigger than some Canadian backyard. Soho Square Gardens dates back to 1681 and was originally called "King Square" after King Charles II whose statue can be found there to this day. It is located in Central London near Tottenham Court Road tube station, so I suppose that its small size is to be expected as space is a major commodity. There were quite a few people gathered there for lunch or simply relaxing even though there was nothing particularly special about this garden except perhaps for its small size. If you are seeking a better quality air than most of London has to offer, I would suggest heading to Hyde Park or Epping Forest instead.

The Gods Must be Crazy

Most "civilized" people's lives are filled with various events and activities both important and meaningless. There is, however, the odd day when one realises how crazy life can be. The Gods Must be Crazy was a South African film that dates back to 1980. Although the filming is rather primitive, in general the concepts are very much up-to-date which is why the film is something of  cult classic. The clip below is from the film's introduction and reflects humankind's relationship with the environment. The film basically is a study in comparison between a group of "savage" bushmen living off Mother Nature and civilised people.

Just prior to the start of the clip the narrator was describing the bushmen as "the most contented people in the world. They have no crime, no punishment, no violence, no laws, no police, judges, rulers or bosses. They believe that the Gods put only good and useful things on the earth for them to use." A very good film to watch for a good laugh and an ironic look at what has become of human beings in the so-called developed world. There is a sequel that I have yet to watch but from what I read, it does not compare to the original.

The Man who Planted Trees

"The best time to plant trees was 20 years ago. The next best time is now." 

-Chinese Proverb

Mosaicultures @ the Botanical Gardens in Montreal, Quebec

Kew Gardens

On my first week in England I knew there was one thing I had to get out of the way or else I'd end up either going on a busy weekend or missing the entire season: The Royal Botanical Gardens, also known as Kew Gardens. It's conveniently located a few meters away from the tube station bearing the same name on the District line. One thing I found sad was that dogs and presumable all other animals are banned from the gardens. Although I understand the fear I still feel that owners should be allowed to bring their pets as long as they were kept on a leash. In any case, it was a beautiful garden and the IncrEdible festival is absolutely a must-see if you find yourself in the London area between now and Sunday, November 3rd. For a mere £6 you can feel like you're not in one of the most bustling cities in the world and enjoy some fantastic simple garden pleasures.

For the general website: Kew Gardens and more about the IncrEdibles festival this fall.

My Favourite Place

As part of the initial English assessment at the school where I work, each class was asked to write a short passage on one three topics: 1) My favourite place, 2) Something that happened when I was was very young, 3) My best friend. Needless to say most of the children chose the first option and wrote about places such as India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Lithuania, France, Portugal, or Italy- but this one particular student chose his own garden! This fascinated me. Here is an excerpt of his work:

"My favourite place is my garden because my garden is very big and friends play with me. We explore nature and once my sister was in the garden and she put an ant on me. So let's continue, in my garden we have adventures and it's the best thing. Once we were digging we saw a box then we opened it with joy and the spooky spiders and then we found 20 pounds then we brought to the garden money box because we saved money to get new water guns and then started making a trap because no fox steals or catch our money."

Ok so I am not bragging about this child's grammar skills but suffice to say that this was a lot more interesting to read than another student simply stating that their favourite place was X country because they grew up there. I look forward to reading more interesting pieces like this one throughout the upcoming academic year!

This image is from Hyde Park and has nothing to do with the story.

Have Bike, Will Travel

Bicycles have been around since the early 19th century and for decades they stood as a testament to humankind's ingenuity. Towards the end of that century automobiles were introduced and for a few decades cyclists and drivers coexisted peacefully. Somewhere along the lines drivers began to outnumber cyclists in large cities and suddenly there was a shift in power. Fast-forward to today and cyclists are often considered a nuisance to drivers and struggle to get around urban settings. Without enough bike lanes cyclists are often playing a dangerous game of cat and mouse with cars.

Here are five main reasons why I believe biking is the more sensible option:

1. It is the environmentally-friendly option; imagine how much cleaner the air would be if everyone attempted to ride bikes more often.
2. It is better for your health; staying fit and active can be tough. In between jobs, household duties, spending time with family or friends, biking can be an easy way to get around without becoming round.
3. It saves money; cars consume tons of toxic gas, require constant maintenance, not to mention registration, insurance, etc. Your biggest bike expense would be a $25 tire or $1 air.
4. It saves time; searching for parking spots can be a major time-waster as can realising you have an empty tank at the last minute. Bicycle parking spots are also conveniently located right at the door of where you have to be.
5. It encourages local tourism; drivers tend to fuss so much about gas prices and are rarely seen driving around for fun. Cycling, on the other hand, is an easy way to get to know your area without spending loads of money.

In Canada there are 7,500 cyclists injured every year with most of them occurring during rush-hour traffic. If this planet, your health, time, or money means anything, you should consider the benefits of using a bicycle. And if you are just too lazy or selfish the least you could do it not make it more dangerous for the rest of us who simply want to ride in peace.

The Giving Tree

Every once in a while you hear about a children's book that really captivates audiences. Shel Silverstein's 1964 picture book "The Giving Tree" is definitely one of those books not just because it's well-written but because it engages readers with the environment. It is the story about a boy who grows up near a tree that provides him with different blessings throughout his long life. At various stages in the boy's life the tree provides him with apples to eat, branches to swing on, a trunk to climb, etc. Much has been written about possible interpretations of the story. Some say it's religious, others about friendship or family. I believe it shows the lifetime worth of good fortune one can receive when we work with nature instead of against it. So I guess that makes me some sort of environmentalist? In any case read it and see for yourself. Perfect for anyone 3-99. Here is a sample from the end of the book. (Spoiler alert)

"And after a long time the boy came back again."
"I am sorry, Boy," said the tree, "but I have nothing to give you-
My apples are gone."
"My teeth are too weak for apples," said the boy.
"My branches are gone," said the tree.
"You cannot swing on them-"
"I am too old to swing on branches," said the boy.
"My trunk is gone," said the tree.
"You cannot climb-"
"I am too tired to climb," said the boy.
"I am sorry," sighed the tree.
"I wish that I could give you something... but I have nothing left. I am an old stump. I am sorry..."
"I don't need very much now," said the boy, "just a quiet place to sit and rest. I am very tired."
"Well," said the tree, straightening herself up as much as she could,
"well, an old stump is good for sitting and resting. Come, Boy, sit down. Sit down and rest."
And the boy did.
And the tree was happy.

Mosaicultures Internationale

If there is one exhibit not to be missed this summer it's Mosaicultures at the Montreal Botanical Gardens. Running from June 22 until September 29th the exhibit basically "draws its inspiration from global environmental issues". Tickets are $25 but are valid for two separate visits. One thing to keep in mind is that going on a weekend can be very crowded so either buy tickets online ahead of time or try to go on a weekday. I went with my family on a Thursday afternoon and waiting to buy our tickets still took us over 30 minutes.

According to the website the exhibit is a first in terms of large green-certified events. It necessitated the purchase of over 3,000,000 plants of which 95% came from (environmentally-friendly) Quebec producers and the Botanical Garden. Apparently a special kind of irrigation system is being used that waters the plants according to rainfalls which saves wasting water that could potentially damage some plants. In addition, great actions are being taken by the city of Montreal to reduce carbon emissions in the area so shuttle buses are linking the garden to the two closest metro stations and extra parking spots for bicycles have been added. The website states that "Greenhouse gas emission produced during the organisation of the event will be offset by the planting of trees." There are simply far too many beautiful pictures to post from my visit so I have selected some of my favourite ones below.

Take a look at the Website at the Botanical Garden and be sure to visit this breathtaking exhibit very soon!

Mont Tremblant

Every other summer I go to Mont Tremblant, Quebec with my dad and usually some relatives or friends. This year I went for three days and although the weather wasn't superb, we still had a fantastic time and got to see a lot of the countryside in and around the resort. Since the weather was often chilly or rainy swimming on the beach was nearly impossible so we did a lot of walking instead. One day a deer came so close I started feeding it crab apples from a nearby tree. One of the interesting shots below is of the deer relieving him/herself in front of a small crowd. 

Mont Tremblant is generally famous, however, for the skiing season as it's one of the biggest mountains north of Montreal. I recall skiing there many times in my teens although prices for the ski passes have since skyrocketed and so has my laziness so skiing seems less like an option these days. The conditions are great though for anyone wishing to have a decent skiing experience in Eastern Canada. The resort is quite different in the summer and attracts a completely different, more family-oriented, crowd. 

To find out more about skiing in Tremblant: Ski Resort or General Tourism, or to read a recent article on the property value in the area: Buyer's Market.