The Rockies Reloaded

"Back to the future"

I suppose as part of the 'Circle of Grad School', another one of my travels this year was to back to the location of my first roadtrip as a PhD student, the resorts of Banff and Jasper, situated in the heart of the Canadian Rockies.

To be honest, I have seen more spectacular natural beauty in other parts of the world, but for some reason, the Canadian Rockies still appeal to me... Canada is home, and we are lucky to have such raw, untouched beauty within driving distance of Vancouver.

Ironically, during my first road trip, there were 13 of us who made the trip and this time there were 13 people as well... the only difference being was that 10 of us were newcomers, and some of the newcomers were 'new' to the concept of camping to say the least.

It is kind of funny, but in a way, this trip was disaster after disaster... there seemed to be some sort of mishap every day, and its lucky that no one got injured over the course of 4 days... and yet for some reason, amongst all the chaos, I still had a really fun time... the first time, it was an adventure due to NEW experiences... this time it was an adventure due to UNFORESEEN experiences... and of course, the chance to learn new things... to always carry dry wood to a campsite... to ensure there is gas in your car... and yes, even to learn that when you go somewhere as a group, make sure everyone actually STAYS in the group, are the things I learnt, just to name a few...

Sometimes, it isn't the destination, but the people who make the trip, and I am lucky to have found an exceptional bunch of people a second time around to make this trip just as memorable as the first.

An Evening in Paris

I think it is safe to say that I have traveled more in the past 12 months then I had in the previous 29 years combined... one of the best parts of graduate studies is the chance to travel to different parts of the world, experience new cultures, all under the guise of attending a conference. In September, I got to go back to Europe to present my work at a conference in Belfast, Northern Ireland. While this trip was less adventurous then my backpacking journey through Switzerland 3 years earlier, I still had a grand time, and particularly enjoyed my time in Paris, France.

It turns out that this was a trip would test my preconceptions of the French, and their stereotypes...

First, what is not true... contrary to popular perception, the French are NOT impolite! We have all heard the stereotype of the 'snooty Frenchman', who hates foreigners intruding in their homeland, and despises the English language. Turns out this is not true at all! I found the French to be no less polite than any other nationality... as a tourist, I found that if I took the initiative to try a few broken words 'en Francais', most people were so impressed they would be extra friendly and respond to my queries in English... be it at a restaurant, a train station, or in a hotel, my impression of the rude Frenchman was totally shattered, and I must say that I found everyone there to be a friendly lot :)

Hmmm.... what is true? Well, the French are FASHIONABLE! I have never seen such a well dressed bunch. It was very rare to see anyone in baggy jogging pants, or torn t-shirts... everyone looks smart and sophisticated in their formal/semi-formal attire... everyone was well accessorized wearing their matching scarves and caps... really a very good looking group. I tried my best to fit in, and even did a bit of shopping along the Champs-Elysees to try and fit in, but alas, try as I might, I looked like quite the misfit in amongst a group of smart French blokes!
 

Oh.... and how could I forget... French food... and in particular French pastries, are DELICIOUS! Every morning, I would start with a cup of coffee (which was actually a shot of espresso), and a buttery, flaky pastry (the chocolate croissant was my favorite)... is there any better way to start your day? And of course anytime I walked by a crepe stand, it was impossible to resist... the sugary thin pancakes just called out to me, and I had to have one. At the end of the trip, I am sure I gained more than a few pounds, but who cares... it was totally worth it!

Paris really was a magical experience... I had a grand time. Trekking around for 14 hours a day, the memories of having my breath taken away with my first glance of the Eiffel Tower, taking a boat cruise on the Seine River, gazing down upon the city from Basilica Sacre Coeur, looking for hidden chalices in the Louvre, and imagining myself as royalty as I wandered in the hall of mirrors in the Palace of Versaille... they will all stay with me for the rest of my life.

Paris, je t'aime, and I hope to meet you again soon!