MaryK
Mary Kitchen Joined: August 19th 2005
Logged in: February 14th 2012
Logged in: February 14th 2012
Travel Blog Posts
Looking down Yosemite Valley
Over the last few years I've been to many great historical places and had plenty of exhausting ski trips, so I thought this year that a more relaxing holiday was in order. So where better to go than a land of limited history (we have pubs older than your country Americans!) but full of fun opportunities and sunshine, why the Good Ol' US of A. Being a huge fan of America and it being a huge country, it was hard to choose where to go. Which coast is best? East coast or west coast? Ah well, it was decided that a visit to both would save arguments and a plan was formulated to fly to San Francisco, make our way down the west coast, pop in to see brother dearest, drive to Vegas and if we ... read more
Ah Iceland
..or the continuing saga of the travels of Mary Cedricsdottir. That's right, Mary's gone to Iceland (UK readers may get the joke) and what fun it was too and not a party platter or dodgy ex-popstar in sight. Having a passing interest in all things geological and volcanic I was very excited to plan my trip to one of the world's geological hotspots, armed with GCSE Geography and a book on volcanoes I'd bought for fun (yes I am that much of a geek) I headed off to Heathrow to meet fellow explorer Linda Paulsdottir (I think I've got the hang of the Icelandic patronymic naming convention thing now) for our annual jaunt somewhere exotic. Yep, Heathrow terminal 1 was the first stop, nice and exotic due to stupid Icelandair delays (they have not made a ... read more
One pound well spent
Normally my musings come to you from various locations across the globe, but the last few weeks in London have be glorious and so I thought Ye Olde London town deserved a bit of praise for a change (it’s either this or a selection of snowy mountain shots from my various snowboarding trips this year, I think you’ve seen enough of them from me in the past). I'm not usually one to participate in public spectacles (generally the general public annoy me somewhat, and don’t get me started on tourists who can’t follow the Tube rules, stand on the right!) but perhaps it was the extra day off work that put me in a patriotic mood, and I decide to head in to town to witness the pomp and ceremony of the Royal Wedding of Wills ... read more
Llovely Llamas
After a hectic two week whizz around Peru and a few near death experiences I've made it back from the darkest jungles of Peru and my first foray to the South American continent, bear with me, it could be a long tale. I'd always wanted to fly over London on the 5th November to see all the fireworks displays and so the journey to Peru began on the 5th, sadly first thing in the morning and there were no fireworks to see. A quick hop over to Amsterdam and myself and mi amiga Escocia, Maureen, got on the flight to Lima and settled in for the long haul. All was going well until the mean Dutch air hostesses seemed to think three drinks were more than enough on such a long flight. And I used to ... read more
I am Iowa
It’s tough, but since I started in my new job earlier in the summer, there is a bit of travel to the US required on occasion. Of course I overcome this hardship with true grit and a British stiff upper lip, and generally muddle through as best I can. But it’s not all work, work, work, there is time for a bit of a laugh as well, and as part of my career development plans, I have been introduced to the rather funny TV show, The Trailer Park Boys (ok, it is actually Canadian, and don’t show the kids!). It is most amusing and has lead to a bit of an obsession with trailer park life over recent weeks ensuring my latest trip to the US was going to be a bit trailer park themed. And ... read more
Maglevs? Shinkansens?
Well, it has been a while since I visited the land of my birth, since the Saesneg parents returned to their Saesneg roots I haven't made the trek back for a few years so it was time to take a trip back to the green, green grass of home. Of course, some among you will argue I'm not really Welsh since I come from a long line of English, but not being accepted by either culture is a cross I have had to bear throughout my life, it is amazing I have turned out so well after such a difficult upbringing. Anyway, I digress, so off up to North Wales to spend a few days in the small town of Porthmadog, just south of the Lleyn Peninsula (that is not pronounced CL mother!). Luckily for me ... read more
Welcome to Eagan
So, it's been a while since I last wrote an entry on my blog, but do not fear brave readers, I haven't been stuck in the UK for 6 months. My one woman crusade to add as much CO2 to the atmosphere is still well underway, oh yeah! Since I've finally gone somewhere new I thought it was time for a quick catch up, I would imagine this could be the only travelblog from the fair city of Eagan in Minnesota, oh yeah! You may ask 'why Eagan?' In fact you are probably asking yourself 'where the hell is Eagan?' I'll explain. It is a city south of the twin cities of St Paul and Minneapolis in the mid-west state of Minnesota. I was visiting for work, so that isn't particularly interesting in itself. And to ... read more
Shrine a light
Japan, Land of the Rising Sun. Karaoke, karate, sushi, sashimi, ninjas and noodles. What rot, it’s the land of the constant bing-bong! On the trains, the subway, in the shops or on the streets, wherever you go there is some form of noise to accompany you. So with a bing and a bong and a bow from immigration, the Japanese adventure began. After a nice flight with JAL (naturally good service, bad films) we disembarked a bit dishevelled at Narita airport and headed off to the Japan Rail offices to pick up our train passes ready for some efficient times ahead. Well, maybe once the rail crash had been cleared up, delays already Japan, not so good! Finally we took the ‘express’ in to town (ahem - slow) and pitched up at Shinjuku station and our ... read more
Foyers first fing
Well, it's been a long time since I wrote a blog, or at least it feels like it. Apart from a brief trip to New York for work at the end of March, I've had a long summer of no holidays and work, work, work. Still, as autumn nears and the nights draw in, it's time for the holidaying to begin. First up was a quick trip up to Scotland to do some walking, being a bit fond of the old mountain vistas it was nice to get a chance get out of the flatlands and get some scenery. Destination was Foyers on the east side of Loch Ness, where my friend Maureen has a house complete with a cute dog to walk, what could be better! Being super eco-friendly, I took a plane up to ... read more
Cool dudes
Over the last six months I’ve been lucky enough to see some of the best mountain ranges in the world. The Swiss Alps with their chocolate box pretty villages, the cactus friendly San Bernadino Mountains in California, Whistler in British Colombia and of course, not forgetting the Himalayas in China. The biggest and wildest range of mountains I’ve ever had the privilege to visit. But I’m sure if you took a designer or architect and asked them to build a set of mountains, they would take the form of the Canadian Rockies in Banff National Park, the geometry and design of this range of mountains almost seems man-made with their clean lines and horizontal striations, they have to be the most aesthetically pleasing mountains in the world. Having visited Lake Louise last year for a week’s ... read more
