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Bella Barcelona

If you had asked me my favourite cities to visit 3 months ago, they would have read something like this - London, Stockholm, Melbourne. But, that was BB: Before Barcelona. On arrival, Barcelona felt immediately like a liveable city. Mild winter weather, history you can smell, amazing architecture and art accessible to all, fabulous food and funky places to eat in - I can only imagine what it's like in summer!

You'll recall my 'new' penchant for running half marathons? Yes, I am half mad but was not the only one in London. Coincidently, I know two other half mad people - Bek and Lucy - and we were all keen to add another half to our belt before I left Europe. So, after some discussion, which went something like this:

'Blackpool or Barcelona Half?' 'You're not seriously contemplating Blackpool?' 'Noooo, of course not.' 'I haven't been to Barcelona' 'No? Me neither. Wanna go there in Feb?' 'Sure,'

we decided to head to the Catalan capital. Unfortunately for us we couldn't enter online as the site was composed entirely in Spanish so we booked through Running Crazy who helped us with our linguistic shortcomings and took care of the important stuff - like accommodation and entry into the event.

As the weekend away drew nearer we all began tapering our training regimes (if you can call my two weeks eating and drinking in South Africa "training", being unable to run due to the large felines surrounding our safari camp for whom I would have become home delivery had I decided to stretch the legs!!). Even if we hadn't wanted to slow down on the running, the few inches of snow that was dumped on London would have put a dampner on the best laid plans!

Training conditions in the month prior to the Barcelona Half!

The cold, snowy weather continued for most of the week and threatened our Spanish adventure. Having taken a precious day's leave with the idea that we would arrive in Barcelona post-siesta but pre-dinner, we actually spent most of the day in Heathrow airport after our plane was delayed time and time again. By the time we boarded it was snowing again and BA had to send a de-icing machine from one side of the airport to the other delaying us further. The result being we were hours late and somehow missed our Running Crazy friend (notwithstanding his loud lime green shirt) who was to direct us to our hotel! He managed to find us despite us not having a clue where we were after we mismanaged the Barcelona train system!

It was just shy of midnight by the time Lucy and I sat down to eat, unwilling to waste anymore opportunities to get to know Barcelona. Being a city that rises late, sleeps in the afternoon and eats dinner well into the early hours of the morning, it wasn't difficult to get a table. A big fan of the nana-nap myself, how can you not love a country built around a siesta? Despite our upcoming athletic activities we enjoyed a couple of drinks - a practice I am going to build into future half marathon preparations given the results I achieved in the race - 2:01:45, knocking about 12 minutes of my previous time.

The race itself was fantastic - I was seriously debating whether or not I would even run given I had been struggling with shin splints (again), sore feet and bad knees. I decided to play it by ear on the day - having the option of finishing at 10km if I needed to - but that old adage of 'poor training, great game' seemed to hold true and at 5km found myself well under the splits melting off my arm and I was feeling the best I ever had. The weather was divine - blue skies, about 14 degrees celcius, I couldn't even feel my shins and I powered through the first 10km, setting a pace that could have had me sub-2 (under 2 hours) if I hadn't run out of a little steam on the back 10 as we ran past the harbour. I finished so much quicker than anticipated that I surprised Lucy (who also posted a PB and came through in front as expected!) and our wonderful cheerleader Marcus and they didn't see me crossing the line! Poor Bek battled through a migraine and came through only a minute or so behind me but ahead of her previous time from Coventry. A word of advice for the wise - even though you might want it and have earnt it, don't have a celebratory beer immediately after finishing, it tends to make one a rather queasy!

Besides running, we did a great job of exploring the beautiful city that is Barcelona; hot chocolate beside one of the many cathedrals, tapas in the old quarter and churros in one of the oldest cafes. We didn't spend the whole weekend eating though, we also checked out a few of Gaudi's offerings to the city (except Sagrada Familia Catedral) and after a quick bus ride up the hill, the others expanded their minds by visiting the Miro Museum. Completely lacking the gene that enables me to appreciate modern art (don't confuse that with being unable to appreciate beauty - I definitely have that gene!) I wandered around the surrounding gardens to the Olympic Stadium and past the Museu Nacional d'Art Catalunya. If the art is anything like the building, it must be rather impressive.

It helped that we were based near Barceloneta in Gran Hotel Oasis, which put us within walking distance of the city centre and spitting distance of the start/finish line of the half. Lucy, Bek and I shared a triple - probably not the most upmarket of the rooms but sufficient for our needs and reasonably priced.

I. Heart. Barcelona

One of my regrets leaving London was that I didn't discover Barcelona earlier. I can only imagine the fun I would have had there! It is now high up the list of places I want to return to. Soon.

Sydney-side

It may well be time for my blog to get an overhaul... I no longer unleashed in London but rather stuck, or perhaps stir-crazy, in Sydney! I've been back a month now but 6 weeks away from London and already my time there seems like a distant memory; crowded out by job applications, money worries, too much couch time and not enough study! On the upside though, I have tracked down more dead rels and expanded the family tree somewhat!

Things are quite different in Sydney. I haven't lived here for 13 years and when I left I was only just legal so my my geography sucks and organising a coffee or dinner is an effort because I have no idea where the cool spots are or great food is. I am also a little lonely - I'm slowly catching up with friends who are Sydney-based but it takes time and money to establish the kind of social life I had in London. The former I have plenty of, the latter not so much!

The highlight of my weekend? Coercing my parents into a candlelit Scrabble game on Saturday night as we darkened the house for Earth Hour. (Actually I lie - it was a fantastic Friday afternoon/night with Katty and Polk in the city but it doesn't quite have the same dramatic effect does it?!)

I am hoping this will change though - I'm going to give Sydney a go. I always figured I'd head back to Melbourne after London, after all they both have such a similar vibe that seems to attract me. But, circumstances change. Not least because I think I have landed a fantastic role that will keep me close to home for a while (I'll expand on this once I get confirmation on where and when!) and because I think I need to approach Sydney living with the lessons I learned in London:

1. There is always something on - you just have to look for it.

2. Don't leave home without your camera cos you never know what you'll see.

3. Plan ahead.

So this spot is going to become a collection of my Sydney adventures - discovering a 'new 'city, making new friends, connecting with old and taking advantage of everyday. However, before I give this site a face-lift I have a few belated adventures to share with you...

Breaking up is hard to do

Before it began I sensed it would end. Perhaps it was because everything felt too good to be true and all too often I have had first-hand experience of that old adage: all good things must come to an end.

I couldn't say when it was going to happen, I just knew that it would. It was unfair of me; to get involved with her knowing that I might have to leave - I think she knew it too. Things turned colder before I left. Frosty even.

But I couldn't help getting involved with her - anymore than she could help being so easy to fall in love with. And I did. Hard. How could I not? We had such an amazing time together and I was so comfortable with her. She showed me so much.

I know I expressed reservations but they disappeared after a year or so. I had been feeling a little neglected and she had been a little under the weather but a few weekends away from her was all I needed to realise how much she meant to me. Absence really does make the heart grow fonder.

I was ready to make a serious commitment but time got away from us. Short of a marriage proposal I couldn't stay. Instead I left, broken hearted, but with fantastic memories that will last me a life time.

I love London.

Another year older...

So, the world's another year older (as am I) but I don't know if either of us are any wiser?

One just has to consider the 'current economic climate' (a overused phrase bandied about by people, like me, who have very little understanding of what the hell happened to the economy); a change that was not predicted by experts in strong contrast to the warnings we are regularly given about actual climate change.

But, silver linings and all that...there are some signs that things are the up and up (just don't look at the stockmarket for an indication) and I think one of the most exciting is that Obama is now in charge at the White House and, therefore, US foreign policy. As a student of politics and international studies it's an exciting time. The new President's inauguration hinted at a different approach to various international (and also domestic) challenges:

"Recall that earlier generations faced down fascism and communism not just with missiles and tanks, but with sturdy alliances and enduring convictions. They understood that our power alone cannot protect us, nor does it entitle us to do as we please. Instead, they knew that our power grows through its prudent use; our security emanates from the justness of our cause, the force of our example, the tempering qualities of humility and restraint"

Barrack Obama - 20 Jan 09

Time will tell, however, if change has come.

For me though, change is here. 2009 holds its own challenges, not least my imminent return to Australia. It's a lot earlier than I had planned but thanks to that buzzword 'current economic climate' job prospects are limited here. So I am going to take my chances at home and experience both Australia's economic and environmental climate! I'm exploring options, as they say, and keeping an open mind.

And time will also tell if I've gotten any wiser after I taken one step deeper into the flirty thirties. I'm hoping my second semester of uni has helped but you will probably doubt it if looking at the photos from the dinner party Bek held/was coerced into holding for me...

I. Heart. Sweden.

In my excitement to share my newly acquired knowledge about Hadrian's Wall (which I know excited you just as much as me!) I skipped over a(nother) fantastic weekend in Sweden, waaaaay back in August. (Believe me, there have been a few trips since and I will do my best to update you on those!)

I attended my first Swedish wedding in Västervik, a gorgeous town on the south-east coast of the country. And, it was a very special wedding for a number of reasons. Firstly, the bride, Klara, was one of my host sisters and, as always, I was made to feel so much a part of her family. And, secondly, the groom was my dance partner at my graduation (Studenten) ball. This ball isn't like an Aussie formal, where you turn up in a pretty dress and dance to whatever tunes the DJ is spinning. It involved weeks of dance lessons and practice sessions to learn the tradition Swedish dances that we then performed in front of most of Linköping. It took me a while to grasp the importance and tradition behind the event, which I wouldn't have done without Daniel's help! And, in case you're wondering - when I was set up with Daniel by my Swedish teacher I had no idea that he was going out with Klara who very soon afterwards would become my host sister! And, yes, they have been together since highschool.

The wedding was fantastic - very chilled and quite different from any other wedding I have been to. Speeches were casual and the floor opened to whoever wanted to say a few words or start a drinking song - the words for which were very kindly supplied in the menu booklet. In addition to familyi stuff, I caught up with a number of former classmates who I hadn't seen in about 12 years!

What you can't tell from the photos of the bride, the result of a gorgeous and well designed dress, is that she is about 4 months pregnant! Because it has taken me so long to get this post up, she has since had the baby - a little boy who, after a month of so of debate, is now called Valter.

Grattis Klara och Daniel!

My London Soundtrack

When not in the company of others, like most Londoners, I walk/run to the beat of my own drum... one earphone in, the other out to keep an ear out for potential obstacles, enjoying the eclectic mix of music that is on my mp3 player. The fact that I do try to keep an ear out for others makes me a little 'less London' than most because those attached to their Ipod make walking down a road in London a full contact sport!

I am also a little 'less London' in that I haven't taken full advantage of the band scene here. While I enjoy live music and I've been to a few small gigs (often by accident!) I'm not really a big concert or festival person. But, if I was, London is the place to be. Over summer there are music festivals galore (Glastonbury to name just one), big name bands (and not so big acts) regularly visit and of course there is a thriving local scene.

What London is able to offer me though is musicals... and myriads of them! I love musicals - I am sure I have inherited this love from Mum. For a couple of hours I can get lost in a generally unknown story I while being sung to. There is nothing quite like having the hair stand up on the back of your neck as the chanteuse on stage passionately hits the dramatic high note! Those of you who have ever heard me sing know very well that I can't and it is the one thing I would change about myself. I have watched schoolmates with talent enviously as they had their moment in the spotlight, I travelled to see award-winning performances by friends in amateur performances for which I would have paid professional prices and of course, I've enjoyed those at the top of their game, so London is a delight! I've revisited an old favourite with a new, energised and talented cast which made a great night out. Taking along friends who were seeing it for the first time helped create the feeling that I was watching it for the first time! There is something about Les Mis that keeps me coming back over and over again, having seen it a few times now.

Perhaps not as well known was Spamalot, which bills itself as being 'lovingly ripped off from the motion picture Monty Python and the Holy Grail'. Not being a Monty Python fan but being in the company of two die-hard fans, I was swept up by the comedic dialogue and random songs which made me forget that part of the the show involved a killer rabbit, althought it could also have been the wine at intermission! I think watching Alan Dale (formerly of Neighbours) dancing around as King Arthur also helped with the comedy factor!

Also ticked off the list The Lion King (thanks to Bek for a fantastic 30th present) and also Rent (another 30th present, thanks Looce) and a couple on the wish list are Hairspray and Avenue Q which, time permitting, I hope to be able to see thanks to Mum and Dad's 31st birthday present!

But by far and away my favourite, and new companion on and off London's unreliable transport system, is Wicked. With an imaginitive and clever storyline, witty dialogue, a big budget set, fantastic songs and two strong female characters - what's there not to love! The verbal sparring between Elphaba (the green one!) and Galinda/Glinda is fantastic. An example:

BOTH:
There's been some confusion
For you see, my roommate is:

GALINDA:
Unusually and exceedingly peculiar
And altogether quite impossible to describe:

ELPHABA:
Blonde.

GALINDA:
What is this feeling,
So sudden and new?

ELPHABA:
I felt the moment
I laid eyes on you;

GALINDA:
My pulse is rushing;

ELPHABA:
My head is reeling;

GALINDA:
My face is flushing;

BOTH:
What is this feeling?
Fervid as a flame,
Does it have a name?
Yes! Loathing
Unadulterated loathing

And, as Elphaba sang 'Defying Gravity', those hairs on the back of my neck saluted her!

The Great Wall of Britannia

Everyone knows about the Great Wall of China and its role in Chinese history. One theory is that it was built to keep the rabbits out (love it!) but the most popular theories suggest that it was built and maintained to protect the northern borders of the Chinese Empire between the 6th century BC and the 16th Century AD. A pretty impressive structure and, by most accounts, well maintained in a lot of parts, the Great Wall of China is so well known that it has taken on mythic proportions with claims it can be seen from outer space (not so if according to Wikipedia).

Not as well known is its English-Roman cousin, Hadrian's Wall, but in my view just as worthy of acclaim.

With the help of our guide Gary from Hadrian's Wall Adventures Bek, Em, Kath and I headed up north on the August Bank Holiday weekend to find out more...

Before Gary was able to debunk a few of my misunderstandings over the course of our 30km hike, the little that I knew about Hadrian's Wall could be summed up as follows:

Once upon a time there was a Roman Emporer called Hadrian who decided
to build a defensive wall. It was used to keep the Scots out and runs from one
side of England to the other, and runs along the border with Scotland.

Okay, I wasn't all wrong - there was a Roman Emporer named Hadrian (interesting guy - if you get a chance to see the exhibit at the British Museum, I recommend it), the wall was kinda defensive and it does run from one side of the country to the other. But, it wasn't all about keeping the Scots and English apart (particularly given the countries didn't really exist then) and is a little south of the border of what is now Scotland and England.

The role I understood the Wall played was practical, as well as symbolic. After the Romans beat back the Barbarians (Gary's term - I think they were also known as the Picts) into what is now Scotland, they decided not to bother claiming the whole of the island for Rome. I think it was something to do with the land not being all that great north of the site of Wall and hey, I guess the Picts had to run to somewhere! Anyhoo, Hadrian built the Wall to represent the edge of the Roman Empire but also to say to the Barbarians 'we're in control and if we can build this, imagine what else we can do'.

At completion, the Wall was in most parts over 10 metres high, fronted by a vallum (a big ditch) and often on a cliff/hill which made it look even taller, painted white with turrents and milecastles dotted along its 73 mile route. With Roman soldiers pacing up and down, I don't doubt that it would have been pretty imposing deterent to any of those wanting to wage attacks on the Romans. (For those of you who like figures - the Wall went up in about 6 years, built by 3 legions of soldiers - 15,000 men- and some 'hangers' on'. By comparison, the 4,000 mile Great Wall of China was built over hundreds of years and 2 - 3 million people died in its construction, some of whose bodies became part of the wall itself...)

This is one of the highest parts of the wall still standing

Because the Wall did have milecastles (guarded toll booths for want of a better description) at regular intervals, the Wall's other practical role was to regulate trade between the 'civilised' and 'barbarians' sides and, although we didn't discuss it specifically, this I would think generated much needed tax. Plonking a great big divide where one didn't exist before I guess had the same effect then that similar walls have had more recently (think Berlin, South/North Korea) they separate people who hadn't planned on being apart so you could probably add generating duties/customs for those having to pass through the milecastles on a regular basis to visit friends and family.

Okay, so I'll stop with the history lesson but not before I share some of the other discoveries from the weekend that made me very excited...

We walked past part of the Wall that cuts through a farmer's field (at this part, the Wall didn't have any effect on sheep, let alone rabbits!). In the middle of the field, about 6 feet undeground, was an old Roman arch - the mind boggles at what remains yet to be dug up. A few metres from the arch was an old temple, complete with alter (aka sheep's scratching post). Everywhere we walked, there is a whole other world waiting to be discovered underneath. Archeologists are doing a pretty good job at Vindolanda - the site of an old Roman fort which is currently an active dig site. In the little time we were there some coins and a nail were uncovered to add to the treasure trove already found. If you're up in that part of the world - Vindolanda is a must see.

The girls and I had such an amazing trip, largely due to Gary's expertise, the fantastic food and Tracey's assistance in making the train home on time! I have nothing but positive things to say about Hadrian's Wall Adventures (run by Gary and Tracey) whose passion for the area is contagious and completely understandable!

Milestones

It was lining the street on the mostly sunny afternoon of 5th July being blinded as London's gays and lesbians shimmered and glittered past that I had my first real feeling of déjà vu. It may have been because Amnesty International was recycling their "Love is a Human Right" campaign and after a while every Pride seems to merge into a one hazy, sparkly memory. But, actually, it was the realisation that this was my first repeat appearance at an annual London event. My "first second" if you will. Without paying too much attention to dates, it dawned on me that I have now been in London for just over a year and I had let the milestone pass by without acknowledgement.

Checking back to earlier blog entries, technically my London anniversary was 9 June. I'm a little late with the celebrations having now been here for 1 year and nearly 3 months.

For those of you curious - on 9 June I was in Reggio di Calabria, Italy with Bek and Marcus. I spent the morning in our apartment researching and writing about the success of peace building efforts in Cambodia (see my entry below). The essay was not quite finished when we caught the train to Scylla in the afternoon to enjoy the sun and gelati, so I then pulled an all-nighter to finish it before we left for Taormina the next morning.

And it is a milestone – representing a year filled with family (with additions), new friends, old friends, rain, snow and some sun (but no surf!), long queues, short trips, memories to keep forever, decisions, indecisions, achievement, failure, love (found and lost), change and learning.

But, despite my failure to write often, the fun hasn't stopped...

End of first semester

The first subject I have completed for my Masters was called Building Peace in Post Conflict Situations. As synopsis of the subject goes something like this:

This unit explores processes of peacekeeping, peacemaking and peace building in post conflict situations. It focuses on the main tasks of recovery and reconstruction and using detailed case studies from the Asia Pacific and Europe, explores best practice for creating a stable peace through community education and governmental intervention. Topics covered include: the role played by government and non-government organisations; decommissioning of weapons and demobilisation of combatants; economic and socio-cultural reconstruction; the rebuilding of the education and health sector and peace building at a community level.

To satisfy course requirements I had two essays of 3,000 words each. Given current events it's been a really interesting subject to take, and makes reading the newspaper like an extension of coursework as World News pages are filled with peacebuilding and peacekeeping efforts in Afghanistan and East Timor and peacemaking in the Middle East. For our final essay we had to do a in depth analysis of a country that has experienced or is experiencing conflict so I chose a country close to my heart, Cambodia. It seems that completing my course while on holidays in Sicily wasn't the hindrance that I thought it would be - so 'scuse me while I boast a little cos I got an HD (High Distinction) for course!

Fingers crossed my next effort will go as well as I move away from peacekeeping and into international politics and "Contemporary Challenges to Global Security".

Studying in Reggio