Sunday Recap: January 11, 300 Days!

I cannot believe it's been 300 days since I left everything I knew behind and flew across the world on my big adventure. I have enjoyed everyday I have spent in the UK and hope that the next year will bring some exciting travel adventures.

I've been writing a lot of lists lately in my journal. Lots of cities in Europe as well as plans for the future.

All my photos lately have been of the sun setting. I am making plans to get out and explore Liverpool more. Be a tourist in my own city because for sure there are thousands of places I have not yet seen in Liverpool.

I worked Monday to Friday, nothing exciting there. The business happened on Saturday when I finally hauled myself into town and went on the Sandeman's New Liverpool Walking Tour. It was a really fun tour led by Phil. He took us around the main areas of Liverpool on a three hour walking tour.  I have been on a few Sandeman's tours and I thought this one was very well done. It was nice to play tourist and the weather was great on Saturday which made the tour just ten times better. It was a bit windy but as long as the skies were blue I did not care.  I enjoyed a massive bowl of noodles for lunch at Big Bowl Noodle Bar in Chinatown. I had hoped to take the second walking tour Phil mentioned they were starting to offer but I was the only one to show up so it was a no go.

On Sunday I had a very fun and full day. I took the bus into town with my housemate Nicola and met up with Jamie to visit my other housemate Danny's new coffee shop 92 Degrees. It's just opened and I think it's wonderful. I'm very happy and excited for Danny. After enjoying our hot beverages we headed down Bold Street and into Liverpool One where we stopped at American Pizza Slice for you guessed it, pizza. I had a delicious spicy vegetarian and a slice of Hawaiian. I was very impressed with how much pineapple was on my slice. We headed to the Odeon afterwards and watched Into the Woods which I thought was very well done and had an interesting storyline.  When the movie ended we went to Wagamama's in Liverpool One for some dinner. I enjoyed the chicken care lomen which was ramen noodles in a spicy coconut and lemongrass soup topped with grilled chicken, cucumber and beansprouts. As with my big bowl of noodles on Saturday, I succeeded in filling my craving for noodle soups. I still have yet to find a pho place but these two dishes were very good.

Dining with the Tsars at the Hermitage

Dining with the Tsars at the Hermitage Museum in Amsterdam was an exciting event to attend. It's running from the 6 September 2014 to 1 March 2015. The exhibit costs €15 but with the I amsterdam card I think I had to pay an additional €3.50 to enter.  

The exhibition displays eight maginificent porcelain and creamware services from the collection of the Hermitage in St Petersburg. I enjoyed the rules of etiquette displayed upon one of the walls as you wandered through the exhibit.  The exhibit shows how lavish the banqueting culture used to be under the reigns of different Tsar's. The detailed dishes carefully placed on display so beautiful and unique to each different place setting. It was very interesting to visit and see. I did not mind paying the extra euros to enter the exhibit.

Museum Willet-Holthuysen

On the Tuesday that I visited a lot of attractions in Amsterdam I stopped at the Museum Willet-Holthuysen which is the only fully furnished canalside patrician house in Amsterdam that is open to the public. The museum has a large collection of items from the Dutch Golden Age including silverware, plates and books. It also has a large collection of art.

The house was built for Jacob Hop, mayor of Amsterdam in 1685. In 1739 the outside of the museum was redesigned to look as it does today in Louis XIV style. The last private owner, Mrs. Willet-Holthuysen, bequeathed the entire house to the city of Amsterdam on the condition that it became a museum in 1895.

Three floors are open to the public, the souterrain, with the kitchen and garden, the first floor and the top floor, with one bedroom on display and rooms for exhibitions.

My favourite part of the house was the garden with its large fountain and flowers.

The museum is open Monday to Friday: 10.00 a.m. till 5.00 p.m. Weekends and national holidays: 11.00 a.m. till 5.00 p.m. Admission for adults is €8,50 but is free with the I amsterdam card.

Sunday Recap: January 4

There are 62 days until I get to hug my mom and sister and never let them go. I cannot wait to land in Paris and hustle through the airport and find them.  A lot of time has been spent planning the trip in March but there is still a lot to do with the planning for Ireland. We are renting a car and I am so excited. My lovely housemate Nicola is going to let me drive her car a little so I can get used to driving on the left side of the road. I am quite nervous but also excited for getting back behind the wheel. It will definitely be an interesting experience. Updates to come when that actually happens.

Hello last bit of snow at the train station 

 Hello Bluecoat

Hello Mossley Hill, Hello Rathmore 

Selfies are coming more naturally

Marina and Louise 

The Cubical playing at The Caledonia

The Cubical is my housemate Alex's band. You can listen to them here. It was the first time I had listened to them live, having only attended Alex's solo performance a while back. They have travelled around Europe a bit and you can find a lot of their videos on youtube here.

On Saturday I hit up the Otterspool Promenade to watch the sunset. Post for that will be coming soon.

Today, on this lovely Sunday I walked to Tesco and purchased a few food items including a Salted Caramel Hot Chocolate mix which I am now drinking to warm my inside. It is delicious. So delicious.

Lots of planning to do today for Ireland.  I best get on that.

December Instagrams