Dublin

So it's been a wee bit since I wrote something here. Guess I am not really much of a blogger! But when your running around Ireland like a chicken with your head cut off, it can be hard to find a moment or even the words to put together into something that is more then random nonsense.

My last update left me still in the calm waters of rural Tuscany, where life was simple and quiet. Life has changed rather drastically since arriving in Ireland, to say the least!

I arrived in Dublin, by plane, in the late evening on April 8th. And I did what any one should do upon arriving in Dublin. I went down to Temple Bar to find myself a fresh pint of Guinness.

After wondering around for about 20 minutes, trying to decided on what over crowded pub to choose, I finally stumble upon just the right pub. But I walk in, only to walk out again, deciding it is too crowed. Then something catches my eye. A young, bright eyed Irishman. Dressed in black, with a cigarette in hand, his attire told me that he worked there. The chemistry was instant. And before I knew it I was finishing my last pint of Guinness at 6 am and not going back to the hostel I was checked into. Welcome to Ireland!

That was followed by a whirlwind romance, two less then pleasant WWOOF host farm stays, then fleeing to Belfast with  a bad case of home sickness which lead me to start looking into flights back home, only to get a job the next day with a catering company in Dublin. I'm looking at a room in apartment tomorrow. Guess you won my heart after all Dublin! I am ready to see else what you have in store for me...

It's a great, big world out there.

For the first time since I arrived in Europe, I found myself caught in a moment of loneliness. Sitting at a table surround by young Italian couples, speaking to me in English but to each other in Italian, it really made me wish I understood the language. It also made me miss, for a brief moment, Toronto. Or perhaps just made me long to be in a land of English speakers (See you in five weeks Ireland!).  I really am excited about the farm in Piedmont though, getting to work with bees, doing yoga and meditative dance, working with children and eating a strict vegetarian diet.

I am so bloody proud of myself for being able to pick up and just go, anywhere in the world, all on my own. I love my fierce independence and content with my lone wolf nature. But there are moments, naturally, when I really do wish there was someone I could be sharing some of these adventures with. You're out there somewhere, I know. Come a little closer now, darling.

Backyard History: Ancient Catacombs

In the backyard of I Moricci, located in a small village in Tuscany, you will find a little piece of history. Ancient Catacombs. I have learned that these are not that unusual to stumble upon in a backyard in Tuscany...

In I go! Dun, dun, duuuun...

Small child-size caskets go here.

Please place lager adult-size caskets here.

A sleeping bat. There were three bats in there today. Two alive...and one dead. Rest in peace lil' bat.

Another catacomb. Unsafe for entry due to fallen stones.

These catacombs were once full, but the caskets and there bodies have since been removed.

Feeling Blue... Literally!

A couple nights ago I decided to touch up my roots. The stylist at the salon in Fabbrica did a kick ass job cutting my hair, but she didn't do the worlds greatest dye job (my roots were still a shade or so darker then the rest of my hair). I had some salon dye a friend  gave me before I left Canada. Logics DNA in Blue Blonde. If you know anything about hair colouring, blue cancels out any red tones. But sometimes, when your hair has been previously dyed or lighten, things can go horribly wrong.

We've all heard the hair dye horror stories where hair has turned blue, green or grey, but that would never happen to you! Until it does. You come out of the shower, step in front of the mirror to check out the job well done... only to see a smurf.

Oh no. It happened. Your hair has the blues. And somehow it just isn't quiet the same as when you purposely dyed your hair blue (and every other colour of the rainbow) when you were a teen. 

Unhappy results. (It was actually bit more blue in person.)

Not wanting to go to a salon and spend a lot of money to fix this problem (seeing as I am on a WWOOFer's budget), I scan the internet and send out e-mails to hairstylist friends in hope of a DIY cure to my DIY mess. Everything is sounding like a lot of work and money (if I want to stay blonde) until I stumble upon a hair thread where someone claimed that a mixture of lemon juice and conditioner will lighten your hair if you accidentally dyed it too dark. Hmm... I have lemons...I have hair conditioner! Well what the heck, it if doesn't work, no damage can be done to my hair or my wallet, right? 

Sweet mother of pearl. It worked like a miracle! I can't really believe it but a lemon saved my hair crisis. I am blue no more. Thanks lemons! And of course, thank you handy, dandy internet.

The happy results! Yay!

Florence

Okay. So I'm finally going to write a post about Florence. I think I was just too overwhelmed at first and was still taking it all in a week after my trip! I swear, that weekend changed my life. I know that sounds so cheesy, but it is truly an enchanting and magical city. I felt that weekend sparked a lot of inspiration in me. No more sleeping beauty! Suddenly I felt so awake and clear and ready to write my own god damn fairy tale. (Again with the cheese, but I can't help my obsession with fairy tales.. especially in a place that feels like one every where I go). Ah Florence, I can not say "I love you" enough. Please go to this city. Stay at the Queens hostel for just 13 euros a night, have receptionists sing while they work. Meet other worldly travellers, drink extremely strong Margaritas at Moyo, where after 6pm the purchase of just one drink will get access to an amazing FREE buffet (it's a wonderful little thing called aperitivo, Italy's best kept secret). Ride the antique carousal. Hike up to the Giardino Delle Rose (the Rose Garden) for the incredible view of the city (and if your lucky enough to catch it when Spring is in full bloom, prepare your eyes and nose for roses galore! Sadly, my visit was too early for that). Visit the Doumo, light a candle and make a prayer. Drink the best damn espresso and eat the past damn pastries you've ever had. And put away your map and just simply walk, watch and take in. Florence... You really should go. 

Lazy Sunday

 The Tuscan chapter is half way through. Today I am enjoying some Al Bowlly  and earl grey on this rainy Sunday. The almond tree blows its little white petals by my window with a smell so sweet. My belly is full from another 4 course Italian family lunch. These people take their food seriously. Such comforting meals. Every weekend I have gotten to explore another ancient city. This week Lucca, next week Valdera. I am in love with this country. It's so enchanting! Maria has been amazing, welcoming me into the family as if I was one of them. If it wasn't for the language barrier I'm sure I would have gotten closer with them all. But I feel that Maria and I are enjoying the communication challenge. I think it will make better communicators out of us. I smile everyday, sleep so soundly and dream vividly. With the perfect balance of town and country, I have to say, life has been pretty darn good these past couple of weeks.

In Lucca, there is a street lined with these beautiful Magnolia trees. Pink magnolias on one side and white on the other.

Shoes! Every weekend in Lucca there is an awesome street market.

A creepy and wicked cool sculpture I found placed in an Alley while wondering around the street market. I am not sure what its story is, but i like it!

My delicious lunch in Lucca. I love how olive oil is and vinegar is severed with every meal. And of course a basket of bread. 

Lost In Translation

I'm not going to lie. I was one of those arrogant English speakers that thought to herself "Oh, everyone in Europe speaks English! I mean, at least younger people will speak some" WRONG. In the bigger cities, such as Florence, this is mostly true, but in the country and even in the smaller cities, such as Pisa, you can find yourself easily lost in translation.

I my first experience with the language barrier was on Sunday evening after taking the train back from Florence. From Pontendera I had to take a bus into Fabbrica. The bus driver didn't speak any English whatsoever. This resulting in me getting off the bus at a transfer point and getting on another bus in which this bus driver also didn't speak English. Neither did any of the 7 other passengers on the bus. Not even the young ones. The only thing they can understand from me is that I need to go to Fabbrica and the only thing I can understand from them is that this bus is not going to Fabbrica. Now this is where I begin to panic. I'm on a bus in a foreign country and I have no idea where it is going.

Tears begin to stream down my face.  I'm exhausted from travel and I'm at a loss of what to do or say as young man and middle age woman try to communicate with me. All I can understand is "Fabbricca". The woman finally motions me to come over as the bus pulls to a stop. She takes me by the arm in a very warm and comforting manner and continues to speak in Italian. Although I cannot understand her words, I know she is letting me know I am being taken care and will get home safe. I show her the address to the farm that I have written in a note book as she walks me over to a van that is waiting for the young man. She explains to the driver my situation and shows him the address. He confidently makes it known that he knows how to get there and drives me right to the door.

So what did I learn from this experience? Never assume, an Italian/English dictionary is essential (it's on the shopping list!), and Italians are beautiful people. Thanks for taking care of me.

Broken English

Maria's English isn't the best... and my Italian is far worse. This allows for communication mishaps.

On Monday we had planned to leave for Pisa around 11am and return there again the next day around 6:30pm. What was the actual plan? Go to Pisa at 6:30pm, stay the night (she has an Apartment in the City) and leave Tuesday at noon to return back to Fabbrica.  Needless to say I was quite surprised (and unprepared) for the over night stay. But I just pretended to go along with it and decided it wasn't the end of the world to go a day without a clean pair of socks and underwear.

Up at nine and only left with three hours to explore, this is some of what I saw:

Fabbrica di Piccioli

Awake and Dreaming.

I did it! I am actually here in Europe. I am so amazed and proud of myself right now. I have been dreaming about Europe since I was 12, when I became a Robbie Williams fan. Yes, laugh it up, but it is true! My infatuation with the British pop star is where it all started. If I get to see him live in concert, I am going to pee my pants with happiness.

I found London quite overwhelming, insanely expensive and incredibly crowded. Perhaps I was just far to jet lagged to enjoy the very short time I was there. The high light of my short stop in London was seeing Big Ben from the bus that was taking me to the Airport. In fact, that little moment made it all worth the while.

Now I am in the province of Pisa (located in the region of Tuscany). It is breathtakingly beautiful! I'm in awe of it all, every single second. There is a church here in the town of Fabbrica that was built in the twelfth century. Walking by it yesterday evening with the tolling of the bell was quite magical. I have never wanted to to go a church so badly! One afternoon this week  I am going to take a visit.  I'm hoping I am able to go up to the bell tower.

I really love the farm I am on. I am the only WWOOFer here and Julia is'nt coming till the 20th now, but now that I am here, being on my own isn't so daunting anymore. The work can be rather physically demanding (which is a good thing, considering the amount of pasta and breads we eat here!), but I am not required to work very long hours. It's very relaxed here.

Well the the rain is pouring down heavy and wet, just in time for my evening in Pisa! I think I will take shelter in one of the Museums.

Now here is a photo of Robbie Williams dressed as a rabbit.

I'm so excited, I'm coughing up butterflies!

So it's almost the big day! Just one more night in Campbell River. Oh my god, I made it! I survived two months of sleeping in my parents basement in Campbell River (in case it hasn't been clear, Campbell River has got to be my least favorite town that I have ever lived in. I just find it so lackluster and uninspiring). And of course I love my parents, and it's not that they are difficult to live with (at all!). It's living without my independence that is difficult.

I moved out on my own the second I had the chance and oh what a glorious day that was. Just seventeen. The year I sported a rather stylish black and burgundy mohawk.  Now I'm 25, but that no matter how old you get you will always feel like a kid/teenager again the minute you're back living (or "extended visit", as I'd like to refer to it as) with the folks.

But very soon I'll have my independence back. I can see that light glowing warm and bright at the end of this tunnel... and that light is the sunny weather of Tuscany! FINALLY. It feels like I have been waiting forever. But first a quick stop in Vancouver with some very special ladies for Caribbean food and rum cocktails at the Reef and then two nights in London, catching up with an old friend and roommate I met in Victoria, BC. Che vita! 

And then there were two...

It has now been confirmed that my friend, Julia, will be joining me on the farm in Tuscany. So exciting! The funny thing is the one thing I was trying to avoid on farms was being the only volunteer. Not only did I know that being the only volunteer was a big possibility, but the owner of the farm often spends evenings and some weekends with family in Pisa. And being March, it's not quite tourist season yet, so that would mean fat chance at very many travelers renting out one of her holiday apartments.

A couple weeks ago I was feeling a bit of regret for having chosen this farm, thinking I was going to have one lonely month a head of me. But then I decided to change my thoughts and told myself that there had to be a reason I chose that farm. And here it is!

Julia had spoke of an interest in WWOOFing a couple times but no concrete plans of any sort. Then just two days ago I got a e-mail from her asking about the farm I was going to and if they had a need for anymore volunteers. And they sure do! Oh what a lovely twist to the start of my Journey....

At the end of the road another one begins.

July Farm#5 Truro, Cornwall, England

Woodland Valley is a 170 acre farm situated in a secluded valley just outside the town of Truro and in the very heart of Cornwall, UK. It is a family run, organic farm with a residential study centre and group accommodation. Here's there website! http://www.woodlandvalley.co.uk/

This will be the last of my pre-arranged WWOOFing farm placements, as I have decided to leave August open. August is my last planned month in Europe, with my flight leaving from London on September 6th. But I have a feeling I will be missing that flight...

The Farms

March Farm#1 Pisa, Tuscany, Italy.

This farm is situated in territory known as Alta Val d'Era. They specialize in olive oil and tourism, renting out apartments to travelers and visitors. When the weather is nice the focus will be on olive tree pruning and on the not so nice days I'll be helping out with apartment renos (there's a first time for everything, right?) I am lucky enough to stay in one of these lovely apartments during my stay.

April Farm#2 Piedmonte, Italy

My second farm is in Aramengo, Asti in the Piedmonte region, located in Northern Italy. It's a small (but very impressive!) family run Farm where the main focus is beekeeping and the production of honey and propolis. But that's not all they do. These people know how to keep busy. They also bake bread, work with wood, restore furniture, make ceramics, make candles from beeswax and even spin wool when they have time. But wait... That's not all they do! They organize activities for children, they run courses of meditative dance, yoga and painting. They also, of course, have a vegetable garden and fruit orchard.

May Farm#3 Targu Mures, Transylvania, Romania

I am almost certain this will be the hardest working farm of my trip. I'll be doing every single farm related job you can think (including ploughing, harrowing, hoeing, raking, digging, planting, mulching, weeding, watering, clearing fields and pasture, making or repairing fences, hedges, ditches and compost frames, various jobs of decoration, construction, renovation, maintenance and generally getting dirty) They require you to work 6-8 hours 5-6 days a week. But that being said, I am really exited about this farm!

The farm is owned by an English man (a London rocker turned Romanian farmer) and his Romanian partner. Along side the constant flow of WWOOFers, they are also helped out by the local community, whom they sell their surplus to. They are known for their brandies, liqueurs, jams and preserves.They are big into the local music scene and festivals (which seem to be a plenty in Transylvania, where there Moonshine is 50-60% percent alcohol might I add. Thankful for the warning!) Where they work hard, they play hard. Bring it on Romania!

June Farm#4 Skerries, County Dublin, Ireland

At last I will have arrived to the lush rolling hills of Ireland, where I will be lost in a sea of Irishmen... and chickens.

This farm specializes in egg farming, being home of 500 chickens and 80 ducks situated on a 15 acre farmland that overlooks the Irish sea. They also specialize in preserves and chutneys. Most of my time there will be focused on picking strawberries and making jam. Sounds like just a lovely way to spend my June!

Farms #5 and #6 TBA

Tips for the Oversea Traveler

Over the last couple of months of my travel planning and research I have discovered some very handy sites that I thought I would share.

Canadianaffair.com This an excellent site for flights to the UK and Ireland from Canada

Skyscanner.net It's basically the Flight Center of budget airlines in Europe. As romantic as the train is, in Europe flying tends to be the cheapest way around!

Volunteercard.com Volunteering overseas? (This includes WWOOFing.) Go here for amazing, dirt cheap Travel insurance.

Women-on-the-road.com This is a great site for any woman making solo travel plans. It's full of advise on how to stay safe, what to pack and loads of inspiration and encouragement!

Tips for Backpack shopping

I was completely at a loss when I first started looking into backpacks for my trip. There are so many to choose! First off, don't cheap out. I'm not saying get the most expensive bag on the market, but a well made pack means a comfortable pack. I bought a Gregory Jade 50 on sale (ah the perks of buying off season!). It's specifically made for women and comes in sizes XS-L. And when they say it wears like a dream, they're not lying!

While you're travelling, your pack is your life. Make sure you get one that is right for your body and that it is fitted properly. Your back and body will thank you. Also, don't go too big. I recommend making sure it is small enough to take as a carry on. As I said, your pack is your life and you're going to want to with as much as possible. Also most budget airlines charge you for checked baggage, so you'll be saving yourself some money there as well.

As for packing.... I'll let you know how that goes!

London Calling

For anyone doubting my plans for Europe (Because lets face it. I've been talking about going over to Europe since I was 17) My flight has been booked. I fly into London on February 29th. Stay for a night or two then hop on a plane, train or some type of automobile and head on over to Italy (still working out the farms). Then in May with a tambourine in hand it's Hello Transylvania to work my butt off doing just about everything farm related. After that it's picking strawberries and making jam in Ireland and then who knows what in Cornwall. Sweet mother of pearl! So this is actually, really, truly happening? For real?! For real! AH! I have honestly never been so excited and never been so sure about the direction I'm taking in my life. Just me, a big ol' backpack and the open roads of Europe. And a whole lot of farms. In just two months I will be walking on concrete and soil that I have never walked before and under skies I've never seen. You have no idea how happy this makes me. Oh the thrill of discovery! Every corner I turn will be a new adventure. Don't you wish you were doing this too? So do it then! Life is too short for sitting around in the waiting room.

‎"The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only one page." - St. Augustine