Just a little rant

Now, I'm not normally one to rant about anything on the internet, but I feel like this requires a rant. 

Bear with me here.

Now, admittedly, I don't know a lot about Australia's political system, but disturbingly, I've noticed that I seem to know more than most of my friends. I understand that politics doesn't interest some people, and others have far more important things to worry about, but it seems to me a pretty crucial part of Australian life. 

This isn't me trying to get any readers to vote for a particular party, this is me trying to get you guys just to VOTE. PROPERLY. Some people I've spoken to have said they have blank voted before. 

White, upper class men in England got the vote around 1800. 

Women gained the vote in 1902. that was 111 years ago.

Aboriginal people got the Commonwealth vote in 1962. 

If you look outside Australia, there are millions of people all over the world who do not have the right to vote for anything. People are fighting and dying for what we take for granted. In some countries, people cue for up to ten hours in order to cast their vote. In many others, the voting system is corrupt, and people's votes don't matter at all. 

If you don't believe me, research the local Zimbabwean elections. Or the wars occurring in places such as Syria. 

Now, I'm not asking you all to start a politics degree and join your local political group. All I'm asking is you take 10 or 20 minutes before September 7th to do a quick Google search on the various parties and their policies. Or complete one of these voting quizzes, like the ABC's Voting Compass. 

Otherwise, you have no right to complain about the government, or the opposition. Nor do you have the right to complain about the state of the country. Or the taxes. Or asylum seekers. Or gay marriage. Or climate change. 

You get the idea. 

Seriously it takes 10 minutes. 

And remember, look at policies, because the leaders are often a very poor representation of... humanity? Seriously. Policies. 

Sorry to be dull guys, I'm not sure how many of you will read this, but hopefully it influences someone.

Be good!

xx

'Ello England

So sorry I've been neglecting this, I have been so busy and so tired it's insane. Paris was utterly fantastic. Did a big day where we saw the lourve, as well as two other art galleries, and a day where we shopped. A lot. Paris is a beautiful city, but expensive after Madrid, as well as the rather snobby people. Spent an hour or so on the metro on the last day struggling up and down stairs with suitcases. It's an experience.
The train to England was lovely, much more relaxed than a plane journey, which I enjoyed. I have stayed with my nan and grandad, aunt and uncle, and now with my cousin in London.all have been lovely, and as usual, it's been nice to spend some time with them. It's also been a bit more relaxed which is fantastic; and the other day I used a real washing machine. It's like heaven after washing in the bath for 4 weeks. While we've been here we've done Hampton court, Portsmouth historic Dockyard, as well as cute things like riding bikes to the pub on a Sunday afternoon. It's like a twee movie. But better.
Since we've been in London I've seen Greenwich, the Tate modern gallery, British museum and big Ben. Among other things. London is interesting because some bits are fantastic, while other bits are less than desirable. Have met up with both my aunt and Natalie for adventures in London which I'm loving.
I cannot believe this trip is nearly at the end. It feels like a few days ago that Natasha and I were freaking out and getting on a plane in Perth. But so much has happened.
Things I'm looking forward to when I get home: not living out of a suitcase. Having a decent amount of sleep almost every night. Having my own space.
Things I will miss: the history/culture/experiences/people.
I will hopefully post about there'd of my travels soon.
X

Bonjour, Paris.

So first and foremost, Am safe in Paris. The hotel is small, but very cute, and Kate has a view of the Eiffel Tower from her room.

The final night in Madrid was fantastic. Somehow, Deborah had scored an exclusive area on a rooftop bar in the city, so we had a wonderful view, and some great food. It was all a little bit sad though, knowing we wouldn't all be traveling together anymore. Most of the next morning was spent saying goodbye to various people. The flight to Paris was fairly uneventful, but Kate and I struggled with the train on the way to the hotel, it took us 2 hours from getting off our flight to entering the hotel. It was fantastic to be back with Tash again, and that evening we went down to the little square and when to a cute little place that in Perth would be insanely expensive and a little bit tryhard. Fortunately, the French do it'll much better.

Today, we had a nice sleep in, and the got pastries for breakfast. We ate them in front of the Eiffel tower, which was like a dream come true. We then managed to avoid a giant cue, and climbed all 669 steps of the tower, to a stunning view. We then found a museum that focussed on very early art,ranging from aboriginal Australia, to south American. Tonight, I think we're going up the Arc de Triomphe. Our legs will look good by the end of this!

To all my Spain amigos, I hope you're all safe whether you're at home or still away, and to all my friends at home, I hope you're enjoying this!

Xx

Thank you, Spain.

So after my last blog post, I had a lovely dinner at an old moorish bath house, and ended up in a horse drawn carriage for an hour travelling round to sites of Seville. Moi bein. The next day was a horse2 hour bus drive to Ronda. A small town in the andalucian mountains, Ronda has a huge bridge, that apparently during the civil war people used to throw prisoners off. Once we'd enjoyed that view, it was another 2 hours to granada.

Granada is an amazing city, which was hot, but still had snow on the mountains. The first full day in granada was spent at the alhambra, one of the most beautiful palaces I have ever seen. In granada we also took a 'naff tourist bus' that show us the sites, and enjoyed the view at yet another rooftop pool. The last night saw a sunset over the alhambra, and a group dinner.

Packed for the final bus trip, this time back to Madrid, which took 5 hours. Did a wholelad of washing and found a couple more nice places for dinner.

Today we went to the prado, which is meant to be the best art gallery in the world after the lourve. It was stunning. Obviously, no photos though. Tonight is the final group dinner before we fly to Paris tomorrow, and I am devastated to leave. I'm going all cheesy on you here, so bear with me. This country s vibrant, exciting, stunning, and more than I ever imagined. I can't wait to come back soon. I've also been so lucky to make some amazing friends, and to learn a bit too.thanks o everyone who made this trip great, and I shall post again in Paris!

Miss you all back home,

X

Seville, my darling.

So the much anticipated long weekend turned into me in the hotel feeling very sorry for myself, and the occasional wonder onto the scorching streets of Madrid for food and or sights. Although Meg and I found this fantastic little gin bar a couple of metro stops away that does amazing food. Good find.

But then all of a sudden, the weekend was over, and we were checking out of our hotel and climbing onto a coach for a 6 hour bus trip to Seville. Can't say it was particularly exciting, although there were miles and miles of sunflower farms, which were rather nice. Seville is HOT. 42 degrees, and not until late in the day. But it doesn't matter too much, since we have a rooftop pool at our hotel. See view below.

So in Seville we have seen a bull ring (just not an actual fight, since most of us find it mildly repulsive), the alcazar, and the cathedral (which is the largest in the world after st peter's and st Paul's). All very beautiful, with the latter holding the tomb of Christopher Columbus. We also got to see a flamenco show, which was incredible, and very impressive. All round, it's been a good couple of days. This afternoon, I soaked up the sun by the pool. It's a hard life here in Spain.

Anyway, photos will be up asap, and I hope you're all enjoying my rambles.

Miss all my lovely family and friends, and I shall endeavour to post again soon.

Xx

It's all catching up with us

I am aware that I promised amazing photos of Toledo in all its glory, and I do have some, it's just I fear everyone was a little too tired to fully enjoy it. It was a beautiful medieval town, but all the late night's and early starts had started to catch up with me. After an interesting tour of the city, and the best marzipan I have every eaten, (made by nuns for the past 800 years), a lot of us ended up collapsing in a park and napping for an hour or so. In my defence, it was about 37 degrees, which is far too hot to function. Then we all saw El Greco's "the burial of count orgaz" which was fairly impressive. Fortunately, we were home fairly early.

Over the next few days we had lectures, interspersed by i interesting things. We went to see Picasso's Gurnica, which was very... powerful. We had a walking tour of civil war Madrid with a woman who's grandparents fought in the war on the republican side. I have also developed the most horrendous chests cough, which I am hoping will leave by the time we head to Seville on Monday morning.

Missing you all in little old Perth!
X

Ps. Google the paintings if you don't know what they are. They're amazing.

Pps. I am starting to miss home a little bit, so boring gossip about Perth life's much appreciated.

Wowser.

Have had the most fantastic few days.
On Friday the groupings everything packed, and hopped on a coach to get outside Madrid. First stop? Franco's Valley of the Fallen. For anyone who doesn't know, General Franco was the fascist leader of Spain from 1939 until his death in 1975. The Valley of the Fallen was a monument designed by Franco as a memorial to the fallen on both sides of Spain's civil war. It is one of the creepiest and most effecting places I have ever been. The huge cross built on top of the hill sits on top of an underground church and crypt full of unmarked soldiers. I can put photos of the outside, but we were not allowed any in the basilica. It was huge, cold, and full of majorly creepy statues guarding everything. It is so hard to explain, but it made most people feel very uncomfortable. But still an incredibly fascinating site.

On a lighter note, we then headed off to El Escorial, an immense palace in the mountains. It was beautiful, but once again I can't show you photos, I was not allowed. Kate, freya and I did our speech in the palace,and hopefully we did a decent job. Then it was a short drive to the medieval town of Segovia. It was an incredible, if slightly touristy place, I shall post photos of the town. The next day we had a tour of the amazing aquaduct built by the Romans, and then a tour through the town. In the afternoon, we walked round the alcazar, the palace that is supposed to be the inspiration for the Disney castle.

That evening, looking out over the aquaduct, we had a traditional castilian dinner, which included suckling pig. There was some kind of festival/concert in the square, and so after agreeing to one drink, I ended up staying out to about 2.30 at this concert, and drink a little too much sangria.

Yesterday I actually got a decent sleep in, before spending the morning in a park doing the required learning journal. Then it was back moments Madrid, for  a lunch / dinner made up of various delicious things from the supermarket. I did some washing in the bath last night, like a real proper student.

Tomorrow we're off to Toledo, where I promise more good photos. Hope you're all well back home!

X

Hola Perth!

Sorry I haven't posted anything in a couple of days, this trip is so flat out!
Every morning I wake up early and go to breakfast, and then take the train to a uni half an hour away from our hotel. Then it's a three hour lecture, which finishes at 12.30. By then, its starting to get fairly hot, so when we get to the hotel we're supposed to rest, but I have to do the readings to prepare for the next day. By about 4, the hottest part of the day, we're back out on the streets learning about various sites and events. As much as the content is really interesting, by the afternoon, and two strong coffees later, we're all exhausted. The tour normally finishes about 6.30. But you can't go to dinner since nothing is open. It is so hard, coming from Perth, to follow the time here, because its getting dark at 10.30pm. We normally grab dinner about 9 or 10.30. It is the strangest custom, but I've actually kind of gotten used to it.

I should not complaining about the hard life I lead really,because this place fantastic. Every street seems to be full of beautiful people and even more beautiful buildings. Most of us have started straying from the main square to find dinner. Last night, kate and I found a place where no one spoke English, and the whole bar was watching a Spain v Italy soccer match. We just pointed to the menu and managed to order some good stuff.

I'm no photographer, everything here is just crying out to have photos taken. I'll put one or two here, but most will be on my Facebook page.

Anyway, better get going, we're all off to segovia today's see some Roman architecture.

Lots of love,

X

I'm finally here!

So I have finally arrived in sunny Madrid! From what I've seen so far, it's beautiful. The flights were all kinds of horrible, but I suppose that's to be expected. Things you should not do when booking a trip to Europe:
Don't book a same day travel flight. You have to get to the airport at 3.30 which is far too early to be allowed.
If you do book that flight, don't go out to a friends birthday party the night before. I got about one hour sleep that night and two on the plane.

Big big big shout out goes to the collis family for picking tash and I up from the station and then driving us there the next morning. You are too kind.
Anyway, I will try to upload some photos when they actually get  interesting, but here is one from the plane to England.

X

Before I leave.

I thought it could be fun if I either posted blog's and or YouTube videos while I'm away in Europe for 5 and a half weeks. This is just a trial run to see how everything goes on this site, and whether this is all going to work. Here is a photo I took on my new camera of some sunflowers we've got at home at the moment.

It seems kind of silly, but I'm actually a little bit nervous to go. I haven't done the whole travelling by myself thing before, so I can just imagine myself going to completely the wrong gate at the airport, or forgetting to pick up my luggage or something ridiculous like that. I also feel totally under prepared, even though I've done absolutely everything I need to before I leave (apart from packing, because of course I love nothing more than panicked, last minute packing). I'm sure that once I leave it will be fantastic, just as everyone keeps saying, but for now I'm a little apprehensive.

So, I'll try to keep you updated on my movements, well that is, the people who bother to read this, and I will hopefully post again soon.

xx