amber nicole

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[ambernicolebarton]

Power Day in London 🫖

Despite the lack of sleep I had, I was up with the sun and ready to GO! I'm in London, baby! Yeah (said in an Austin Powers voice...)!!

I go downstairs and take full advantage of my full English breakfast that's included in my stay.

Confession: I'm not always a huge fan of a traditional English breakfast but I like the portion sizes that were offered which made it more palatable. They also offered me a selection of cereals to start (like some kind of breakfast version of an appetizer?) and I can't for the life of me imagine eating a bowl of cold cereal AND what's pictured above. And of course there's toast. In France, it's all about apricot jam. But in England? It's marmalade for me...

I had reserved a general admission ticket to the British Museum for 11am but I was up and chomping at the bit to get going so I thought I'd take my chances and just show up early for 10am at the back entrance. Of course, it slipped my mind that it was Saturday and the line up to get in was already in full force. I hymned and hawed and then decided to just get in line. The queue ended up taking about 45 minutes but I had some nice company; a couple behind me and a gentleman who was a lecturer from Japan. I think the couple were from further North in England (I want to say Nottingham??) , but they told me it was their first time visiting the British Museum. And here I was: a visitor from abroad who has had the privilege of visiting multiple times. It was a good reminder to keep being curious about where I live and the natural beauty and sights that British Columbia and Canada have to offer.

The British Museum was introduced to me in elementary school and I just thought it had to be the coolest place ever (yes, I really liked museums as a kid. I was that kind of nerd). I think my first visit was with Chris--our first trip to Europe! Think the early oughts. And of course I thought it totally cool--I think it was the fact that you could see an actual mummies behind glass, the Assyrian gates, and sections of the Parthenon.

(Notice I didn't include a picture of any mummies so you'll just have to use your imagination, haha...)

I am also going to include a photo of THE most amazing chest pieces I've ever seen. I believe they were carved out of whalebone (my brain was starting to turn to mush at this point due to all the epic historical relics but I want to say it was from the Medieval period???)...

Also: how cool are these mosaic segments from the Byzantine era (this is one floor of many)?!

After 2+ hours, I felt I could safely check The British Museum off my list for the day.

Time to walk! The great thing about London is you can just walk through streets and neighborhoods and it feels like you're accomplishing something. Again, Instagram was begging me to go see Neal's Yard! Go see Neal's Yard! Dude...it's like...an alley that's doesn't even take a 1 minute to walk lol!

I meandered through streets and eventually arrived at the Seven Dials where I decided to eat my lunch from...you guessed it: M&S, baby!

I wanted to see as much of London as I could in one day. I also wanted to go to the Tate Britain. So off I went on foot; continuing to head South towards the River Thames. I eventually hit James Street and walked through Covent Garden before heading west via the Victoria Embankment Gardens which I don't think I've had the pleasure of visiting before.

By the time I reached Westminster Bridge, it was madness. So many people. And a traffic jam caused by people coming out of the Underground and seeing the glory that is Big Ben (believe me, I get it. It's one of my favorite buildings in the world and I'm pretty sure I did the same thing when it was my first visit to London).

I crossed the street and got a glimpse of the backside of Ben. A different perspective and totally worth checking out.

At last I arrived at Tate Britain! And I finally got to see my girl, Ophelia...

I don't think I've read Hamlet or even seen the play. But I LOVE this painting by John Everett Millais. It was used as a cover of a memoir I read many years ago and I was always struck by the image. But this painting...seeing a photo of it, a reproduction, DOES NOT do it justice. When you actually see it, it looks three dimensional. It's like you can actually see her floating in the water. It's one of the few paintings that hypnotizes me and I can just sit and stare at it...

And lucky me! I unexpectedly got to see a Rothko!

I would say my visit to Tate Britain...also a success. Check!

It was time to start heading back to The Ridgemont. But I couldn't leave London without at least passing Trafalgar Square. And by the time I got there, I was feeling a little weary to say the least. For old times sake, even though it's not the same as my first memory of it, I popped into the Cafe in the Crypt and had a cup of tea.

Not too much longer after that and I was back in Bloomsbury. After my chai and my chana masala rice bowl, I was lulled to sleep by the pseudo film noir classic of L.A. Confidential on TV.

Power day in London? CHECK!

[ambernicolebarton]

Arrival in London🫖

So...yeah. I've completely neglected to finish writing about my last trip (which I will still get to at some point!), but time is of the essence and I desperately want to try and capture my current task at hand: hiking Hadrian's Wall.

I am going to wax poetic in greater detail about Hadrian's Wall and how I decided to take this trip but for now, it's all about capturing the adventure and I am currently on (and not to mention already a couple of days behind in blogging lol)! So, I'm going to take you back to August 1st, the day I arrived in London...

Let me just say there is something about 9pm flights that get you into the Europe in the early afternoon. This was my first time flying into the UK with an ETA and oh my goodness, after some of the visa experiences I've been through (i.e. India) this was a piece of cake. I applied for my UK ETA almost a month before my flight and once you receive notice of your approval (mine was practically minutes after I did the application on the app) it's valid for 2 years. The UK ETA is also digitally connected to your passport so no need to carry any paperwork. You scan your passport at customs and you're good to go.

From there, I took the Elizabeth Line from Heathrow Airport to get to my hotel in London. I will say it's a little more on the expensive side of the public transit options, but after a 9+ hour flight (and since it's been a hot minute since I've done a solo trip), I figured I would spend a little bit more and get myself settled.

I emerged from the darkness of the Underground into the chaos of Tottenham Court Road. A 10 minute walk took me to The Ridgemont Hotel in Bloomsbury, where I was booked to stay for two nights.

Upon my arrival, I was greeted by a lovely young, man named Harry (of course) who made check-in a breeze. And since I had arrived past the check-in time, that meant I no issues getting into my room immediately and jumping into a hot shower before I tried to squeeze in seeing a little bit of London before the sun went down.

From there, I was a woman on a mission. Backpack down, daypack strapped and armed with my trusty cell phone, I went back out into the world. Anywhere I travel (especially when I'm on my own), I like to take my time and get my bearings. First stop was to visit Euston station, where I would eventually be taking the train to Carlisle from. The station was only a 10 minute walk from my hotel (another reason I choose The Ridgemont).

That was easy enough. Okay, I know where I'm going come Sunday. I then turned my sights west to Marylebone. Thanks to the algorithms on my Instagram feed, this neighborhood has been on my radar for awhile. I'm happy to report it's a terrifyingly posh neighborhood filled with shops, gourmet grocery stores and trendy cafes where the price of a drip coffee almost made my eyes fall out of my head. There's also the great Duant Books which I found overwhelming due to the amount of incredible books and tourists. I actually didn't take a many photos this day due to jet lag and feeling awkward at how many people were taking photos every two to three steps. But I wanted to check it out and I don't recall ever being in that neighborhood...so I'm glad I did.

From there, I walked south, having some sense of where I was going, kinda checking my map but really going with let's say the spirit of intuition. The further south I walked, the shops got more lavish and the crowds increased. Eventually, I hugged east and realized with delight that I had made a circle and was back near Tottenham Court Road. It was dinner time...

This is probably not going to be the first time I refer to Marks and Spencer throughout this trip because M&S is my jam and I'm not afraid to admit it. It's handy if you don't want to break the bank and/or trying to maintain some aspects of nutrition (i.e. fruit and veg) while travelling. It's also one of the few things that remain a novelty for me despite all the other many things that have become global franchises. So I grabbed a couple of bits for around 7 pounds and called it a night.

Oddly, there was no kettle in my room but in the shared space of my hotel was THIS:

All free and unlimited, baby...

Let me just say how satisfied I was to turn on the TV: BBC, Top Gear, old episodes of Top of the Pops, the Great British Baking Show (older episodes with Mary Berry!), Gordon Ramsey's Kitchen Nightmares...HEAVEN!

Thirty minutes into Jack Reacher, the adrenaline wore off and the jet lag kicked in...

[ambernicolebarton]

Rennes

I've been a bit naughty not keeping up with these entries--I blame it on the heatwave! But more about that later!

After our weekend in Paris, we headed west for about an hour and a half by train and arrived in Rennes.

We immediately felt a likeness for Rennes as we left the train station. The city gave us the impression that it was a bright and easy and it proved to be a another lovely discovery.

Again, we had to climb a flight of steps: five flights of STEEP stairs and we met our sanctuary for the next couple of days...

I cannot express how nice it is to be able to have access to a fridge when you are travelling for weeks at a time. This time we also had a sitting area with a couch (!) and we were able to watch TV! This felt like an immense luxury.

At this stage, there is a welcomed predictability to French cities: the main square, the grand buildings of its shopping area, the centralized locations densely filled with tourists, the churches, a university, manicured parks, boulangeries and patisseries that feature mouth watering delicacies in their storefront windows and there always seems to be some sort of body of water. Rennes' canals (?) were not as impressive as some of the rivers we've seen on this trip but that didn't take away from the charm of this place.

Rennes is quiet and calm and checks all the boxes of a French city. But I do dare say, it was one of the first places where your mind begins to wander and entertains the idea of...coming back and staying longer. There is no rush here. It is a place you can rest and it is not exactly on most people's routes as they travel and/or backpack through Europe.

It probably goes without saying that a lot of churches feature stained glass; however, we felt moved by the stain glass we saw in Rennes in their Notre Dame. Probably one of our favorites as far as stained glass goes...

One of the most striking features of Rennes is its Medieval past, reflected in some of their still standing structures that line the streets...

Even though there wasn't a lot to specifically see or do here, we really enjoyed our time in Rennes. Especially since it's known for its crepes and galettes. We treated ourselves to one lunch of a set menu of a savory crepe (emmenthal cheese, ham and egg), followed by a sweet crepe (I went with chocolate, Chris had the butter and sugar) and then a drink or our choice (I had a coffee, Chris went with sweet glass of refreshing cider).

So, when I think about overall quality of the city (which also includes our super comfortable apartment) and the previous destinations we've visited...hmm, I'm moved to actually give Rennes a 4/5. I feel this grade is based more on how livable it is as opposed to a rating solely based on a travel experience. But whatever the case, I think if anyone were to visit Rennes, I would be very surprised if they regretted it.

Ta ta, Rennes! We are now turning our attention south to Nantes!

[ambernicolebarton]

Paris Pt. 1

It's a city that almost needs no introduction: PARIS. It's the ultimate European city for some and synonymous with style, fashion, art and beauty. For this trip, we will be passing through Paris twice. This first pass will be for a quick weekend trip to get reacquainted.

Barely a two hour train ride from Lyon and we arrived in the epicenter of France at Gare de Lyon. We immediately transitioned to the metro, got our navigo passes and made our way to Ivry-sur-Seine...

Chris discovered this area when he was last in Paris in the fall and I had never been. It is quieter, totally beyond the tourist trail and it allowed me to experience Paris with new eyes. We had a very basic room with attentive hosts and we made the most of our three days.

We ended up averaging 30 000 steps a day on this leg to Paris. After awhile, it almost seems laughable that everywhere you turn there is a cute cafe or an insanely important and an ostentatious looking building that dwarfs you. These types of buildings are always beyond my comprehension as to how old they are (and are probably "just a bank" or some kind of random furniture store). I do love how grandeur is everywhere and yet it still finds a way to sneak up on you. Like the Pantheon, for example...

I want to backtrack again to Ivry-sur-Seine. It's a suburb in the 13th arrondissement and the home of Paris' Chinatown that also has a huge Vietnamese community. I had never been to this side of Paris and it was really eye opening. It made me feel like I was seeing the city for the first time.

Ivry-sur-Seine is also the home of urban brutalism architecture which is again somewhat under the radar unless you know where to go. I found myself fascinated by the buildings and this photo is just a small taste of what we saw...

We are very lucky that we have seen most of the heavy hitters when it comes to sight seeing in Paris. We're fortunate that way. But I love that I can walk for hours in Paris and never feel bored. As we got to the heart of the city along the Seine...I actually felt overwhelmed by the amount of people and tourists that were there. I started to feel this way last year as Chris and I began travelling again; that there are more people travelling than ever before. A couple of days after our time in Paris, it was reported that the workers at the Louvre went on strike due to the volume of crowds and trying to keep up with the demands and crowding.

But this leg wasn't really for sightseeing. It was to eat crepes and see Morrisey at the Zentih...

Seeing Morrisey in Paris (legend that he is), was pretty rad. He even sang How Soon is Now so that was pretty epic and absolutely memorable, in addition to hearing him sing Everyday Is Like Sunday. I also enjoyed his attempts to speak a word or two of French between songs and how he worked his scarf here and there with a quick flick of his wrist. The thing about Morrisey is that his voice is so good, so clear that it's almost as if he's bored up there on stage. I really loved his pianist (she had an incredible solo halfway through the show) and I loved how everyone in the band had a chance to come up to the mic and thank the crowd. Yeah, Morrisey's got a reputation; he has his beliefs and he definitely doesn't make any effort to impress you. The man just does his thing and you're either with him or you're not. It's pretty cool to see someone really just stick to their guns and not care about what anyone else thinks. Even though the glory days of the 80s have past, Morrisey is just...Morrisey. No smoke and mirrors. Just this dude and his random selection of projections and an even more random (but super cool) selection of pre show music videos that last for 30 minutes before he got on stage...

Other highlights! I'd also like to mention the discovery of the Jardin des Plantes. Again, not really on the tourist trail and really worth the visit...

Also: the heat continues to rise! Whoo! It was hot and we sweated through our clothes every day we were there. But we were able to feel a bit of a breeze walking along the Seine as we sipped fizzy water and ate our crepes...

The iconic sights of Notre Dame and the Louvre never get old. In fact, I don't think I'll ever get tired of this city and I really like how this leg made me feel that I still haven't seen everything this city has to offer.

A quick trip but a memorable one. This leg of Paris gets 3.5/5.

Next stop: Rennes.

[ambernicolebarton]

Lyon

Our train from Nancy to Lyon took about 4 hours. Lyon has a couple of train stations and for our journey we arrived at Gare de Lyon Part-Dieu. We arrived and immediately we noticed a difference: it was HOT! We have officially reached summer level status in France and we couldn't get our shorts on fast enough!

Apparently, not only is this the main station in Lyon but it's also one of the biggest in France. We had a bit of a longer walk to our hotel and we were introduced to more of the outskirts of the city as we walked closer towards its center. We walked through neighborhoods of Algeria, Libya, Sudanese, Bangladesh, India, Morocco, Tunisia, Turkey...it was almost overwhelming the number and diversity of cultures and cafes and shops we passed, making me feel as if I wasn't in France and was instead doing a speed dating version of travelling the entire world!

We eventually got to our hotel, Hotel du Helder which gave off major France-in-the-70s vibes, complete with a (tiny!) old school elevator where you had to push the heaviest door to open and exit the lift. I also loved the green tile in the bathroom and I'm kicking myself that I didn't take a picture of it but I did snap this beauty of this hair dryer from the 50s!

(I know it's not the best picture but at least it might give you an idea of what we were working with!)

So Lyon...after Nancy, this is a big city. There's rivers, there's bridges there's churches. As soon as we arrived, we noticed construction on the roads and this proved to be a major theme in this city, making me feel as if was it was in some ways experiencing a transition. Of course, I don't think you can go to any major European city and NOT see construction and/or reconstruction. But in Lyon, we didn't quite get to experience the grandeur of one of its main squares due to it being roped off in order to be revitalized.

No matter! Like I said, Lyon is a big place and as you get closer to the city center, the buildings become more opulent and the streets more tree lined. As you get closer to Old Lyon (the beating heart of the tourist trail) the buildings become more medieval.

Okay! There's so much I want to pack into this post! Let's start with the pedestrian walk ways along the river; the city has done a lot of work making public access along the rivers accessible, useable and aesthetically pleasing (especially closer towards the city center).

There are designated bike lanes and there's even a full blown swimming pool that's been built along the water!

If you manage to walk along the river during the golden hour, you might have an experience that looks like this...

Lyon also has a number of Roman ruins that are accessible to the public for free! They are closer to Old Lyon in the city and visiting them can give you an idea of what is might have been like when Lyon was occupied by the Romans and it was called Lungdunum.

I was really impressed how the city allows these sites to be free to the public.

I forgot to mention that to get to Old Lyon and see the ruins and it's well known Notre Dame, you have the pleasure of grinding it uphill for a good solid 20 minutes (if not more). We didn't find Lyon's Notre Dame particularly impressive due to the fact that it's younger in it's construction (and/or restoration). But inside all of the art inside is in mosaics with gold accents. I didn't really warm to a lot of the scenes that were depicted (pope's being anointed, etc.) BUT I really dug this Joan of Arc one...

Also, the view you could see from around the church and as you ascended to the top of the hill was pretty worth it too...

We spent 3 nights in Lyon and that felt about right; although, I will say that I left the city feeling like there was still something left undiscovered. And maybe it's better to feel that way about a place when you're travelling instead of thinking that you've got it all figured out. I would definitely go back if given the opportunity. Lyon has its own charm and although it has its own grandeur that at times can make you second-guess yourself and think you're in Paris, it also is a city that I found very down-to-earth and unpretentious.

You get a 3/5 Lyon.

And now it's on to Paris...

[ambernicolebarton]

Nancy

From Strasbourg, it was a short train ride to our next stop: Nancy. We practically blinked and we arrived in a new city. Once again, we only had to walk a short distance from the train station to reach our new digs.

Right away, we felt a different ease; the streets were wider and it just felt like there was room to breathe. Much calmer than the hustle and bustle of the touristy town of Strasbourg. We caught a glimpse of some golden gates as we walked passed the main square on the way to our sweet little apartment for the next four days. Ah, I thought to myself, we are really in France now.

We've been travelling now for a little over a week so having more of what we felt was a home base was a nice change for us. We were warned about the steep four flights of stairs to reach our pad but it was absolutely worth it. This was a place we could rest. What a treat to have so much natural light. We also had a fridge and a coffee maker (tres importante!) so we could really take advantage of grocery stores and enjoy a proper cup of coffee in the morning without having to hunt some down. Because, coffee addict that I am, I love me my second cup of coffee in the morning.

(The pink toilet paper also followed us from Strasbourg ;)

But enough about that! Nancy is an idyllic French city. Not exactly on pastoral. It does have the feel of a city and I must say it was a lovely place to visit. It's clean (but not creepy Disneyland clean) and it really feels more like a people-are-living-their-lives-here city than a touristry one.

Literally right around the corner from where we were staying was Nancy's iconic Place Stanislas...

It's so big and when you think of Europe, I mean, the sight of this square pretty much checks all the boxes.

I mean, look at this gate (this is one of two)...

EPIC. EUROPE. VIBES 🙌🏽

Walking past this gate led to the Parc de la Pepiniere, home to a dilapidated yet somewhat functioning zoo(?). It reminded me of the Stanley Park zoo in some ways. We had a chuckle seeing geese, chickens, goats, mules and peacocks randomly housed within the park. The chickens in particular were our favorite as there were quite a number of breeds with a lot of personality!

Nancy made me feel like I had to take pictures of everything. The city has been very well preserved, kept and maintained. You just turn your head and you see something beautifully framed...

Another fun fact about Nancy: it has its very own specific macaron. It's not the colorful ones you might be familiar with that are popular the world over. The Nancy macaron is a plain jane with no frosting. She's not a show off. She's all cookie and almond essence.

Nancy is also home to the Zenith du Grand Nancy, an insanely beautiful open air concert venue surrounded my fields and trees. We were in town during the Nancy Open Air and were super impressed to learn that the city offered free shuttles and free public transportation to everyone attending the festival that weekend. Once again, my photo can't begin to compare with the actual venue in action...

We fell into an easy routine in Nancy. A morning walk through the park, through town, nap, afternoon coffee, tackle a couple emails and then an evening walk to pick up some dinner and maybe watch a movie in our pad. We are big fans of the grocery store chain Lidl and I can't get enough of seeing locals walk by us carrying 5 or more baguettes like it's not a big deal. I also treated myself to a bottle of Pinot Noir for 5 euro, 99 and my goodness, did it ever wet my whistle!

There's a lot to like in Nancy but you only need 2-3 nights. There's lots of picture perfect streets with beautiful art nouveau architecture, trees lining the roads with carefully landscaped wildflowers, churches, churches and more churches (!), a hospital that looks like a castle (actually, ever hospital we've seen so far looks like a serious mansion/castle), streets designated solely for cyclists and public buses, and patisseries featuring the treats that look more like colorful sculptures instead of something you'd eat.

Again, not a ton of sights to see but that suited us just fine :)

One of our highlights of Nancy? Finding this chou pastry with Chantilly cream for 1 euro, 10!

Nancy was good to us. I give it a 3.5/5.

And once again, it's time to move on. Next stop: Lyon.

[ambernicolebarton]

Strasbourg

We arrived in Strasbourg early in the evening on a soggy Wednesday. Despite the rain, we were immediately met with the energy of the city as we walked a short distance to our accommodations. I was also slightly taken aback when we got off the train and saw a squadron of soldiers strolling along the inside of the train station. We saw them again the next day patrolling the streets. I guess that is to be expected when one visits the capital of the European Union...

We found our accommodation easily, a cute hotel by the name Hotel Patricia with sloping stone floors and creaky wooden stairs. I myself was charmed by the pink toilet paper they provided in their bathrooms (I think it's a France thing).

Although it was raining, it scared away the tourists and tour groups and allowed us to explore the streets and alleys our first day Strasbourg's centre-ville in peace. The main core of Strasbourg is actually an island (so get ready for a lot of pretty European bridge pictures).

A quick google search alluded to the fact there there isn't a ton to see; it is very much high end boutiques, designer brands of fashion houses, gift shops featuring local artisans, gimmicky Alsace souvenir shops, comic book shops and a sprinkling of the usual global franchises (i.e. McDonald's, Sephora, etc.). Apparently around Christmas time, Strasbourg is where it's at as far as Christmas markets are concerned.

There's something romantic about France in the rain (we're not in Paris yet, so just bear with me). It wasn't long before we stumbled upon the showstopper of this town: it's very own Notre Dame.

It's been awhile since I've genuinely felt startled as a traveler; we all know that feeling when we've been unexpectedly filled with wonder by seeing something that seems hard to comprehend, whether that's by its beauty or magnificence or its history (or maybe all three!). It's sights like this that I like to visit repeatedly as I try to wrap my head around how such an intricately detailed building even gets built.

It was also quite spectacular at night too...

Remember when I said there would be pictures of bridges?

As you can see, there's a lot going on here: are we in France or Germany? Lying close to the German border, the city retains its German influences while technically being claimed by France.

Besides Strasbourg's Notre Dame, another highlight was the Parc de l'Orangerie, about a 45 minutes walk from our hotel. We arrived and it wasn't long before we started noticing some elegant white birds flying above us. And then we starting noticing nests on top of the chimneys and roofs of the buildings in the park...and then a lane of trees with noticeable nests built on top of every one. They were white storks! And seeing them calling to each other and flying from nest to nest and tree to tree felt quite magical to me...

You can probably barely see a couple of storks in my photo below, but imagine a nest with storks on top of every tree that you can see because they were there!

Here are some more beautiful captures from the parc...

Another thing to mention about Strasbourg (well, here's my theory anyway): in addition to the European Parliament, having one of the best Christmas markets in Europe and the Cathedral, it's safe to say this is one touristy town. Throw in the other fact that there's a university, which means you've got students, which means you've got...happy hour! We treated ourselves to a couple of happy hours to get out of the rain and take advantage of discounted tarte flambees (think pizza but with unleavened bread as a crust).

So yes, Strasbourg is pretty and quite clean and the cyclists more or less stay in their lanes but it all felt a little...too nice. I think we stayed one night too long; you only really need one night in Strasbourg or just make it a day trip. But of course, I don't regret the decision we made to stay a couple of nights :)

Circling back to the Cathedral again: I can't not mention the insanely impressive astrological clock. And when I say impressive...

A couple more shots before I wrap up this post...

Time to move on. I give Strasbourg a 2/5.

Next stop: Nancy.

[ambernicolebarton]

Frankfurt

I have decided to resurrect this blog. It's been years and I've been lazy. I remember when I started this little blog for one of the first major travel adventures Chris and I went on. We took a 3 month trip, I documented pretty much all of it and not long after we returned home we got Hope. Now, 12 years later (and once again dogless and without a dance company), I am looking for ways to keep myself creatively occupied and return to documenting our travels as a way to preserve memories and stay in touch with family and friends.

So here we are. Frankfurt. We left Vancouver on a Saturday afternoon on May 31st and arrived in Frankfurt around 8am on June 1st. We flew into Frankfurt because it was a reasonably priced direct flight during the height of tourist season. In addition, it's not far from the French border; we can take a train and be in France in a matter of hours. France is the focus of our trip this month (and who doesn't love to take the train in Europe?) so we figured we would spend three nights in Frankfurt, get our bearings and drink some Apfelwein.

From the airport, we took the train to Haupbtbahnhof, the main train station located in the downtown core of Frankfurt.

The scene around the train station is...let's go with lively. As you walk down the street, you can't tell if people are speaking German or not; there are so many different people from different countries in this area. Due to the fact that we were arriving relatively early in the morning, Chris found a hotel not even 10 minute walk from the train station. BUT, we couldn't check-in until 3.00 pm. So we did what we do best: dropped our bags and walked around the city.

I had heard for many years that Frankfurt was "an industrial town." I wasn't sure what to expect so I went with no expectations. I'm happy to report that I was pleasantly surprised. We arrived on a Sunday and it was super chill the entire day which was a nice way to be introduced to the city. Of course, there is an expected touristy old square that you can't not visit. Don't be fooled by the photo-it's smaller than it looks!

I was surprised by how much greenery there was. All along the river there are trees and wildflowers, aggressive ducks, folks walking their dogs, joggers and convenient places to sit and have an aperol spritz if that is what the late afternoon calls for.

There is a beautiful green belt loop that has a walking path; it cuts through the city almost making me believe that the city is a giant park and not an urban hub most people only tend to visit between flights. Along the way statues are placed amongst the foliage, adding to the experience. A major connection point of the trail is the Alte Opera.

After three days here, we have walked and walked and WALKED. There is public art everywhere. I found myself digging the distinct contrast in architecture; modern glass high-rises towering over baroque, gothic renaissance and classical buildings. Apparently Frankfurt got pretty flattened during WWII which accounts for this. Again, I was surprised by the greenery of the tucked away neighborhoods. Scooters and bicycles are prevalent and don't always adhere to their designated lanes (they also have a way of sneaking up behind you on sidewalks). I found my memory pleasantly jogged with the three or four German words that I learnt from one of my most dearest friends when we took a trip to Vienna many years ago. In fact, just being back in Germany felt very nostalgic of the extended time I spent in Vienna for ImPulsTanz. And of course, NO trip to Frankfurt is complete without eating an actual Frankfurt!

Despite the jet lag that is unavoidable at the start of a trip like this, all went well. There isn't a ton to do in Frankfurt but it's nice not to have the pressure to sight see at the start of a trip as you try and reset your internal clock. Peonies seem to be a local flower, there is a plethora of Lebanese, Balkan and Afghani food that make it easy to eat well without breaking the bank. A decent coffee for 2,50 euros can be found (and if you're really pinching pennies you can often find 1 euro coffees from coffee machines in some grocery stores). Other observations: the Germans like their dessert with their coffee, especially in the afternoon. I couldn't help but smile as we walked by four young lads sitting outside at a coffee shop on a Sunday afternoon, laughing with impressive slices of cheesecake and coffees in glasses with visible ribbons of chocolate sauce. Bread tends to be brown and dense and delicious.

Not a bad way to start another a new adventure :)

I give Frankfurt 3/5. Next stop: Strousburg.

[ambernicolebarton]

January 6, 2020

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January 2, 2020

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January 1, 2020

[ambernicolebarton]

Minimalist Packing Challenge

A lot has changed since I first started travelling with my husband in 2005.  We bought these big backpacks because it was our first back packing adventure together, good shoes and of course I brought a library of books.  I distinctly remember a trip in 2009 to Indonesia where I accumulated up to nine books on the journey.

Today in 2017 the majority of people are familiar with the term ‘Minimalism.’  It is a trend and a movement and it has had a positive effect for many people.  I know it has for me.

Don’t get me wrong.  I am not devout by any means.  There are always people that will take things to the extreme but I am not one of those people.  And since a huge portion of my young life was spent toiling in front of a mirror striving for perfection I’m not interested in being an extremist if it doesn't add to my overall happiness and/or quality of life.

Ere go, there is always room for improvement.  The few strategies I have picked up have definitely contributed to an improved state of being.  So yes, I have somewhat succumbed to The Magic of Tidying Up and whatever other cute and helpful books are being sold to hipsters at Urban Outfitters.  

Last year my husband and I moved from a house in Richmond (where we had lived for over ten years) into an apartment in downtown Vancouver.  Finally I felt like I was tackling a mass of weight that had been weighing me down for years.  It felt like we had all this stuff and that I could never get the house as tidy as I would like it.

The short story is I ended up shredding probably 5 huge garbage bags of paper.  I became ruthless and was ready to go scorched earth on the entire operation.  My husband (always my voice of reason) encouraged me to slow down just a wee bit but in the end we agreed this was a fresh start for us.  The only furniture we ended up moving with was our bed.  If I had to make a generalization I would say we got rid of 2/3 of everything we had.

And we still have boxes in our closest today that we could sort through.

I’m bringing this up because if having less has made me happier then I’m sure taking less when travelling will also be a good idea if not a challenge.  I suffer from “Just in Case” Syndrome.  This year I had to go out of town on tour a couple of times and I always seemed to end up with a least 2-4 pieces of clothing I would never wear. 

In an age of kindles, sweat wicking clothes and blue tooth keyboards I’m feeling confident that I can pare down my packing game.  

[ambernicolebarton]

Hi.  I’m back.

It’s embarrassing that I have forgotten about my blog and that I enjoy writing.  It feels like I never have time to write and that I have lost the ability to do so.  My imagination has stagnated.  As a self-employed dance artist the majority of my time is spent maintaining the administration of what I do for a living.  I am my own manager so therein lies the challenge of having time to write other than grant applications and emails.

So why this romantic longing to write again?  To resurrect this blog?  Well, when I started this blog it was when I was embarking on a three month adventure with my husband that began in Nepal and ended in Japan.  We have continued to travel since but in December we will be returning to India.  Of all the countries I have visited, India has challenged me the most and when I left I was in no rush to return.  Ever.

This year I’ve been doing a lot of soul searching.  I don’t think I’ll ever stop being a dance artist but I do feel the desire for something in my life to shift creatively.  I want to keep being an artist but I am feeling more than ever the need to be pushed out of my comfort zone. 

So the timing couldn’t be better.  India is my husband’s favorite country and I feel that I am ready to give it another chance.  That and travelling through India is quite possibly the best subject material a writer could ever have.  

This photo was taken of me by my husband on the first day of that aforementioned trip in Kathmandu (2013).  Tonight I pulled out my hard drive with all my travel photos from that trip.  I chose this photo because it reminds me of how hopeful I was when that trip began.  How everything was new and exciting and uncertain.  I am looking forward to feeling that way again.

[ambernicolebarton]

A true rebel.

[fervidusmori]

One reason that people have artist’s block is that they do not respect the law of dormancy in nature. Trees don’t produce fruit all year long, constantly. They have a point where they go dormant. And when you are in a dormant period creatively, if you can arrange your life to do the technical tasks that don’t take creativity, you are essentially preparing for the spring when it will all blossom again.

Marshall Vandruff  (via sleepinginthelilies)

[ambernicolebarton]

Bubble Tea at Aberdeen Mall.  I have bangs now.

[ambernicolebarton]

Check out my screen test created at The Andy Warhol Museum!