248.2 From Paris to Berlin, and every disco I (don't) get in...
🎶my heart is pumping for love🎶
(Note: cannot believe that this song was so suitable to this current situation! Almost like it was planned that way...except I definitely did not go to discos. Or get any love either.)
Anyway, a few highlights from the trip so far, and a few reflections:
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London
Went to go see the Stranger Things theatre production, which is a prequel of sorts to the show - the production was awesome, especially how they shifted staging and showed the different environments - one of their best shots being the front of a FULL BATTLESHIP seemingly dominating the stage. The acting was fantastic as well, but wish that they didn't rely on the same 80's tropes of 'girl who knows something is going on', 'prettyboy rebel' and 'science dude' to go and solve mysteries. But I guess it's genre accurate so it works :D
I also finally got to try some jollof rice in London after hearing about it on Off Menu for so long! Due to these super high expectations, it just was...okay? It was like a fried rice with different spices that I wasn't as used to, but in terms of it as a whole dish, I just would have preferred chinese fried rice. Perhaps just unfamiliar for me...
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Berlin
I went to Berlin to visit a friend of mine, Kellen, who's been far away for far too long. I didn't know much about Berlin, so I went full tourist mode (with the help of Kellen's local guide knowledge) and went to all the famous places - the Brandenburg Gate, the Reichstag, the Jewish Memorial and Museum (both very sombre affairs but very respectfully done), Checkpoint Charlie and the Berlin Wall. A lot of interesting stuff to learn about, but most importantly, good conversation and new friends :) Not pictured here - Deadpool & Wolverine viewing, a sun-soaked afternoon lazing at a bar, and flea market bargain hunting.
The benefit of having a local guide - getting to find some AWESOME places to eat (thanks again Kellen!). First was a fantastic korean fried chicken place (as you can see below) called Kokio iirc, which rivals those that I could get in Melbourne. Really genuine and super nice to eat. Second was a doner kebab - a monster of a kebab and a different format to what I'm used to, but very tasty with everything stuffed in it. Third was the hand-pulled noodles from a place called Wen Cheng which was again very authentic and real tasty - the beef was fantastically tender - and I tried Kellen's lamb/cumin which was also DELICIOUS.
As part of the accommodations I was at, I got to see some super cute cats :D This is Otto (a super cute orange cat) and Taku (who was a roommates cat, deaf, and heterochromatic eyes). Man I love cats 🐈🐈⬛.
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Paris
One of my favourite movies is Before Sunset which is set in Paris, and starts at this bookshop - Shakespeare and Co. It's one of the oldest bookshops in Paris, and always has a bunch of tourists (like me!) go in there. There's a reading section up top, and a wonderful selection of books. I went there, and a number of other filming locations in Paris (not pictured) to try and soak up that movie again. In addition, wandering around Paris, I stumbled upon the rising of the Olympic Torch that happens every day at sunset. Massive crowd, but worth the experience I guess?
Genuinely nearly didn't go to the Olympics, or Paris even, for this trip. It was a spontaneous affair egged on by some friends back in Aus - and it was WELL worth it. The tickets were not cheap, but it ain't something I'm coming back for again. I was able to get the table tennis (watching Australia lose to Taipei), the volleyball quarter finals (which, HYPE, I definitely should watch Haikyuu it was super fun to watch), and the athletics (watching Australia win the women's pole vault! and bronze in the discus!). I'm not a big sports watcher but the atmosphere was great fun, the chants were, well, very French. Highly enjoyable.
On a bit of a rest day, I went out to the Musee d'Orsay to see my namesake. It's smaller than the Louvre and and can be completed in essentially 3-4 hours, which was great because I had OLYMPICS to get to. I've seen Vincent's art all over the world - the haystacks, the sunflowers, the almond blossoms - and this was the first time seeing the Self-Portrait in person. It's funny how a name can bond someone so closely; probably one of the reasons I seem to gravitate to him everywhere I go. Anyway, the last one I need to see is the Starry Night (which sits in the MoMA in New York) to complete the set of all his famous works ^^ In addition, I went on an evening boat ride which passed the Eiffel Tower - was a wonderful sunset experience. Got told off by some french people for being too loud laughing and chatting with a friend - but what's new?
Food-wise, I did my research and surprise surprise, went to a ramen place of all places in Paris! Kodawari Ramen was the no. 1 rated in Paris apparently, and is in the Michelin Guide, so I went to try it out. LONG line to queue up for, even when I was there at like 2:30pm, but it was super well worth it. The balance of the ramen was absolutely divine - the soup, the tare, the noodles and the TOPPINGS omg the toppings were so damn good. The best pork chashu I've ever had, even from Japan, and the eggssss <3 Other than this I went to Bouillon Pigalle which was supposed to be a good French restaurant...and it was just okay. Highlight was the foie gras I tried (which I forgot to take a picture of), but I've also put in the picture of the excellent dessert they had there (profiterole with a HEAP of ice cream and hot chocolate fudge - what a sundae wants to be).
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Back to London
I had a great catch-up with a previous colleague in London about living life - and he mentioned needing to make sure to have a balance of Movement, Connection and Nature. It's one of those basic sets of simple things to do that I love (frameworks, y'know?), and it has been in extremely strong supply while on holiday. I walk 20k steps nearly every day, I'm immersed in nature (there are so many gardens and parks in European cities!) and the connection is all about spontaneously meeting up with people who are swanning around Europe as well.
It's grand, and I wonder what part of these things I'm not meeting as much in Melbourne that make me feel less cup-filled. I mean sure, work is work which can be it's own exhaustion, but perhaps more movement, and more nature are needed when I'm back. File this under 'things you reflect on while overseas and you're excited to do when you're back home, but once you're back you slip into your old routine and forget you had this thought at all'
This rest has been super enjoyable so far and I'm so lucky / privileged to be able to have these sorts of holidays - who knows - might have to do this every year ;D
See you next week if I have time to write :) Next up will be Portugal and Edinburgh - stay tuned! - I'm sure there'll be more cool things to share.