Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Bit 4, I had fun in Brighton:






Bit 4:

‘Although its lovely, but we can’t spend the whole day here,’ said my Mom while she began to stand up, we all agreed with her and all trotted off towards the other side where there were more stalls and shops. I asked my Coz to take a picture of mine while in the mean time my Mom kept walking, and when we finished with the shoot, by Mom had walked far away, we’d lost her. Thanks to the mobile technology I called her up, soon I came to know that she had reached the shore and was wetting her feet in the water. I told her we’ll be there shortly. Therefore my Coz and me walked towards the sea on this wooden ramp built on the pebbles. I was on my motorised wheelchair, which was not easy to manoeuvre as my front wheels kept getting stuck in the space between the wooded planks that is why it is best to be on a manual wheel chair and someone strong to push your wheel chair.

That is why we decided to discontinue are mission to go up to the sea and rather stay here and enjoy the scenic beauty. Soon I spotted a small stall selling all sorts of shell fish like mussel, shrimps, etc. although I was not hungry one bit but I wanted to try just for the sake of experience and to brag about it to people. Well so I bought some, a pound for a mixture of all shell fish in a small cup. I even took pictures of the seafood in a cup and the shop. Honestly, it had a very interesting taste (can’t find the word to explain it), it was cold and very salty, and was in all shape and sizes. Me and my Coz sat beside the colourful carosole, chewing away on the sea food we bought and enjoying the view. As my Coz lives in Brighton she was telling me how the Seagulls are a new sense here, even if one is eating they start to fly in circle on top waiting when not looking attacking by snatching the food from one’s hand, which is nasty. Anyway I soon received a call from my Mom asking where we were, I told her we are sitting next to the merry-go-rounds, she said she’ll be there, and soon she was walking towards us. She told us how nice and cool the water is and how she enjoyed paddling her feet in the water. We told her about how we enjoyed are sea edible which was kind of a lie. Anyway, it was 5:20 pm and we had to head back now as our train was at 6:00 pm. Due to shortage of time we decided to postpone our intention of having ice cream. So we walked back up towards the station the day was still very warm and bright. Soon after a slow walk we were at the station. Our train was in 15 minutes we hugged good byes and headed towards the train. But that wasn’t the end, I was told that I was not allowed to enter London on this ticket. Why, I didn’t have trouble coming into Brighton via London Victoria from Maidstone on this ticket. Apparently at Maidstone I purchased the wrong ticket, well I was told its going to be £5 extra to make amendments on the ticket so I may travel on this train. But looking at my cute innocent face the station manager changed the ticket for free and soon I was boarded on the train and we were on our way. Everybody on the train looked tired and many slept during the journey including me. After an hour we got off at London Victoria, as we had to change platforms to catch the train to Maidstone. On my way to the platform I saw a shop of Krispy Kreme doughnuts, had to buy them. We didn’t even have ice cream, it was to compensate for that, not really ice cream is ice cream. Anyway I bought two doughnuts each, one for my Mom and one for me. We had the scrumptious doughnuts on the train to Maidstone. Soon we were back home, wow, what a lovely Saturday I had in Brighton. And I do not mind going again.

Hope o write soon about my next adventure on wheels. But first I need to decide where to head to next. Looking forward to read your comments and suggestions. Please also do give me idea where to venture next, I always need your help, more is always better than one!All rights reserved. nadiahmed@excite.com +44 (0)789 6250265

Tuesday, June 29, 2010

Bit 3, We are now at the beach.












After a 10 minute walk through the adventurous winding streets of Brighton we reached the pebble beach. Happy people, energetic people, full of colour and excitement, people everywhere, which made the place vibrant and festive. One could find people from different cultures, countries, everybody speaking a variety of languages, wearing colourful clothes (except for me as my sister saw the pictures, who lives in a different country, and asked me if it was very cold in Brighton, which was not good in my case kind of embarrassing). It was definitely a fun day out, I wish I had worn better clothes.

Anyway, so first we decided to check out the Brighton Pier, and then we’ll venture out to the beach. We walked all the way up to the end of the pier, inside is a casino with lots of video games and rides for kids. Outside were lots and lots of food stalls like fish-and-chips, ice-cream, creps, sweets and candies and mussels. It was all very delicious as all three of us were starving. I took many pictures with my camera mobile, as the sunlight was very strong I was unable to see the screen, hence I was just clicking the ‘capture’ button blindly. But the view of the beach from the pier was fabulous, the colours, the perspectives, the sea it was all breathtaking.

After checking out the pier we all headed down via a ramp on to the beach. The beach is almost all over wheel chair accessible, and if one is on a manual wheel chair and someone to push that is even better, one can go right up to the sea. As we came down the ramp, they were many shops and restaurants all in a row (which seemed infinite). We walked along the shops for a bit, mostly selling paintings, handmade jewellery, decorative ornaments, different kinds of bags, hats, scarves, drinks, sweets, etc. soon we could smell the fish and it was irresistibly... that was it we had to eat now. My Mom had seen a chalk board, outside a shop, that said ‘Freshly Grilled Fish’ (salmon, cod and the name of some other fish I don’t remember; I think it was mackerel), and soon we were all heading towards it, so we went there as we wanted to have grilled instead of fried. It was so nice over there like a road side cafe whereas instead of the road we had the beach, which was even better. My Mom went in the shop to order grilled salmon while I made myself comfortable outside under the parasol soon my Mom joined us as well. Coz, my Mom and me started talking about the sun, about how the day are so long and warm. Soon our food was here (I even took a pic of it to show it to my blog readers) the fish was very small and had bones. It came with raw salad and a piece of sliced lemon on the side with a bowl full of chips. It smelt really good and had a delicate salmon fish taste, well I enjoyed it a lot. We all sat there for a while eating, chatting and enjoying the sun.

Please do stay in tuned to read my, hopefully the last or second last, bit of writing about my day trip in Brighton. Looking forward to read your comments and thanks for those who are following my blog, I appreciate all your support. Love you all X.


All rights reserved. nadiahmed@excite.com +44 (0)789 6250265

Monday, June 28, 2010

Bit 2, Making our way to the Brighton beach:






Soon we all stuffed ourselves in the train. Wow! There is air-conditioning in the South Western train Service, cause in the South Eastern trains the top windows are open thus air-conditioning the entire train naturally. The reason I use the word ‘stuffed’ because they were way too many passengers and it was very warm and stuffy. I was kind of grateful to be on a wheelchair at that time, otherwise I would be sitting, all squashed beside someone. Mind me saying this, but we were all smelling of sweat. Then I decided to visit the loo on the train before I get off at Brighton. Me and my bright ideas! Thank God my Mom was with me (Brilliant moms!) I asked my Mom to accompany me to the loo and hence she did. Please always and always please do keep wet wipes, thank you! Both of us made our way through the crowded train, good for me the loo was just next to us so no one created a fuss. Well when all was done I reached out to flush, goodness me, there was no water, then checked the taps no water there as well, that was not good. Anyways, thankfully my Mom had wet wipes, which was good. Finally we got seated back and after the loo episode, who ever wanted to visit the loo we always told them there is no water. As the man who went before us had experienced the same issue as the loo was not flushed and did not bother to let us know. Well visiting a waterless loo is not a pleasant experience. (By the way due to the lack of rains in summer and intense heat, UK is suffering from a drought; on media they showcase the news as if the circumstances are as bad as it is in Africa!).

In a few minutes time a mum along with her two tiny babies (who were a pair of twins, sleeping away in their double push chairs) came and sat next to us. She was really cool, and great to chat with, soon my Mom, I, another young boy, and the mum were all involved in a conversation. I found out that she was aged more then 30 and was a film-maker and worked at BBC, I was delightful to know that and soon got a number of tips to get into BBC (which I have been trying since the past 3 years and its tough), she had even coached a BFT Award winner, the young boy was 29 and studied engineering from some fancy University in London. Apparently his father owned a Pub in Brighton and he was just going for the weekend to visit his folks. The mom who is a film-maker and had temporarily suspend working as she was working as a full-time mother these days, and was going there to meet up with her friends. All four of us had built up a great conversation, we spoke about falling in love, having kids, career, fashion, art, travelling, sports, politics, babies, and therefore we didn’t even realize, the one hour passed by quickly and soon we were in Brighton. We all gave a good bye wish to all and went our very own ways.

While I was in the train I was also busy sending text messages to my Cousin in Brighton. She lived there so asked her if she is free and would like to join us. She agreed and decided to meet up with us at the train station. As we made our way out of the station my Cousin was right in front waiting for us. We one by one gave a ‘hello’ hug to each other and made our way out to the station. She asked us where would we like to eat, at the beach, or sit in somewhere, or just grab a snack, I just said ‘cousin I am here for the beach is it possible we can do all this on the beach?’ ‘Sure you can, there is loads to eat and do at the beach.’ All sounds great, we all trotted off to the pebble beach.

On my way I took out my mobile as it has a very good camera. Although using a camera stuck in the phone is not convenient at all. (I am at the moment in search of a digital camera, I just can’t find a good, cheap one! Something having 12 mega pixel, high performance, 4 x zoom optical that is, and chargeable. If anyone can offer a good deal please do contact me, thank you). Anyway, so my camera comes out and I because of the scorching sun that blinded me had no clue or rather was not able to see a thing on the mobile camera screen, was just clicking away randomly pointing at streets, building, people around me and even myself, and I got a few pretty good pictures. As we were passing by streets there were many shops, restaurants and open street cafes and people everywhere, it was very colourful and vibrant. We can across a closed shop and there was a poster in the shop window saying ‘homosexuals are possessed by demon’, (I took a picture of and shall put it up in my blog) not very welcoming it sounded. Come on now, its a free World and Brighton is known as the Capital Gay City of England. There are all sorts of people in this world and we have to learn to share. My Mom stopped at many jewellery shops on our way to the beach which created delays. I just wanted to check out the beach. It was like please lets go to the beach.

Do stay in tuned for the other Bits of my day trip in Brighton. Looking forward to read your comments. Love you all and take care X.

All rights reserved. nadiahmed@excite.com +44 (0)789 6250265

Sunday, June 27, 2010

My day trip to Brighton, 26th June 2010, 30 degrees Celsius.





Writing Bit 1:

On the 26th June 2010, 30 degrees Celsius.

This post of mine is going to have a different writing style. Its going to be a mixture of stylistic choices, usage of periodic sentences, loose sentences, like a day’s memoir in my very own words all said bit by bit (please forgive me if my writing causes any offense, Thank you). So here I begin in my very own style, ‘My one day trip to Brighton’. I live with my Mom, (although do hope that one day my Mom lives with me) but anyways. Since day before yesterday my Mom and me were planning to do something different on the weekend as the days are very warm in UK at this time of the year. Finally it was decided that we should pay a visit to the beach and might as well go to Brighton pebble beach, one of the famous pebble beaches’ in the world. Brighton is one of the most vibrant, colourful and creative cities in Europe. Cosmopolitan, compact, energetic, unique, fun, lively, historic, young, exotic and free-spirited, it's a city like no other. It is the most happening place at this time of the year, the sun is warm, people are all in festive moods, the outside street cafes are in full bloom, music is in the air, fish-and-chips and ice cream are everywhere.

Although Brighton is a place overflowing with history, arts and culture like experiencing the heritage of the Royal Pavilion and the Preston Manor, indulging in the seaside fun of Brighton Pier and the Sea Life Centre and checking out the Brighton and Hove Museums; which is all a unique mixture of heritage, culture and cosmopolitan fun. Brighton attractions cater for all tastes and budgets, but I was there simply to eat, enjoy and relax at the beach.

It was Saturday morning; we woke up late as it was a holiday, got dressed and a bowl of cereal for breakfast. My Mom and I were out of the house by noon. We caught the bus that goes into town (as in Maidstone we have few buses that go into town and even fewer that have wheel chair access, which is not good at all. I have stated this complaint to the Maidstone Borough Council as well as the Kent County Council, I just have to be patient), I guess, very patient, as it goes patience is virtue! Anyway, after a 5 minute bus ride we were in the centre of town, it was packed with people everywhere. As it was a Saturday and is was pleasantly warm, the sun was bright and the breeze was cool. It was awesome; everybody was in a festive mood in Maidstone town.

Through the crowd we made our way to the train station, which was a 10 minute walk. While at the station we found out the train for Victoria London was at 12:55 which was fine. We bought our tickets to Brighton which coated a merry £30 each. At the station there was an ad about buying a ticket to Mala costing £99 return inclusive of all taxes which was kind of ironic. Soon it was time for the train, the station man asked me if I am catching this train and I said yes. He got out a ramp from his office and called out to me to follow him. Soon my Mom as I were in the train next to the loos, which is not that exciting. Thankfully they were not many people using it in fact no one used it. Both of us were excited about going to the beach, and got into a conversation about buying a 32” TV, you know the flat screen ones. They are all these deals due to the football World Cup 2010 (the one in which England lost today, what a shame!). We could not come to a decision but soon we arrived at London Victoria and had to get to the other platform to catch the train to Brighton.

The train to Brighton was leaving at 2:07, we had exactly 15 minutes. Which was loads of time as the platform was not very far away. Soon we were on the train, gosh! It was packed in here. People with flashy bi-cycles, families with crying babies and talkative kids, girl-friends and boy-friends kissing and holding hands, friends in their deep conversations and people like me along with their moms chatting away. It seemed that the whole of London was off to Brighton, which was kind of true as I found out that in our buggy everyone was going there for the weekend.

Please do check out the next bit of my writing about my day trip to Brighton. Looking forward to read your comments. Many thanks.
All rights reserved. nadiahmed@excite.com +44 (0)789 6250265

Friday, June 25, 2010

Bath and Me 2, Me as a student:



















In this, (second last part) of my article I shall tell you my experience of being a student at the University of Bath and it sure was a fantastic experience. The first few months were so busy, going to and from classes, managing to complete assignments, attending seminars, networking, etc. Plus going out with friends, socializing, sightseeing Bath, as being a student I was also invited to lunches and evening get togethers organised by our department. Although its fun being a student but we were always after free food. Yes, students are always poor, other than that being a 30 year old Masters student is no fun especially when all your fellow class-mates are not more than 26. I felt like a complete mis-fit, I always felt that way but I got to meet and be friends with older PhD students instead which was a benefit for me. Anyway, so I was talking about me being a student who was always after free food. I have no clue at all why I joined this socialising lunch club sort of a thing known as the Globe Cafe. This was held every Wednesday at the University Chaplaincy and every week they had free lunches based on different themes from different countries (e.g. Spanish, Indian, Italian, etc), food was good and I got to meet lots of other students.

Soon it was December and very cold (It snows here in January) and the days were short, very short indeed. The sunset was at 3:30 pm. As I mentioned earlier that Bath all round the year is packed with tourist. Although like all of England (except London) the shops use to close at 5:00 pm but the restaurants, clubs, cinemas and pubs were all open till late, making Bath a lively city even in the evenings. Oh, I went to restaurants, cinemas and ice cream parlours a lot over there and guess what as I was on a wheel chair, I would always take a friend along with me to the movies cause its buy one ticket get one free, hence my friend and me would always split the money. Being a student I always got a discount on shopping and eating out at certain places, it was fun.
Soon was Christmas and before the 25th of December a Christmas Market was up and running a couple of weeks before Christmas. It was winter vacation and although soon after I had exams but somehow I always found time to go down into town in the freezing cold weather to visit the Christmas market. (The market consists of over 120 individual wooden chalet style stalls, each one offering quality products and brilliant gift ideas. From handmade crafts, unique jewellery pieces and decorations, to locally produced food and drink, one could always find that special ingredient for the most memorable and treasured gifts. Therefore with the perfect combination of exciting products and festive entertainment, Bath Christmas Market is a truly unique shopping experience and this is what made winter fun for me in Bath). As soon as I entered the town centre I could smell the aroma of roasting chess nuts and freshly brewed coffee. Although it was very cold but somehow roaming around the crowded town and market didn’t really make me feel the chilly winds. I never bought anything from the market, (as I found everything really pricy) except for a few chest nuts, but it was a pleasure to be there.
Soon came January and it began to snow and as the university was located up on a hill top therefore all the roads leading up on campus were blocked due to the heavy snow fall and hazardous weather conditions. The best part is my exams were postponed hence getting a week extra to revise. Which was a great blessing because I had too much fun at the Christmas market. Anyway, soon the weather cleared and I had my exams, everything went fine as I don’t really enjoy giving exams. My regular classes began next month which meant going to classes everyday but after class I always went into town with a friend to have a very late lunch (the best part about having a late big lunch it that I never had to bothered about having dinner). My favourite place was Wagamama, the noodle and rice bar, economical, healthy and filling and oh yeh, forgot to mention super tasty! They are other many places to eat, like the usual ones e.g. Subway, Pizza Hut, Mac Donald’s, Pizza Express, KFC, Nando’s, Weather Spoons, etc. and all are wheel chair accessible. They are also a number of pubs, cafes and night clubs (I hardly ever went clubbing, don’t know why, never enjoyed loud music. You see I am a person who enjoys operas, theatres, art and music). The City is also well-known for its Pump Rooms, they are glorified tea rooms built next to the Roman Bath. My sister took me there for afternoon tea there on my birthday. It was a magnificent experience. After checking out the Roman Bath for the first time, my sister gave me a surprise birthday gift by inviting me to have tea at the Pump Rooms. Inside the decor is like of the typical royal Victorian times and it all looks grand. The tea rooms are constructed in such a way that the original warm water spring is flowing almost inside and one is also given a sample of water to taste, it feels a bit thick and condense and a bit salty, unfortunately it’s not tasty at all. The Pump Rooms are a bit expensive but its worth the visit.
February till June was really hectic, in and out of classes, managing completing assignments the only free time I got was the weekend. Every weekend I use to make an effort to get out of the University boundaries. (It is huge there, it has many cafes, a travel agency, a grocery shop, banks, doctors, a huge sports centre including a big gymnasium, two swimming pools and many other sports, during the week I use to manage to go to the gym after classes, its like a tiny city up there.). Over the weekend I’d always make sure to make my way into town, if I was lucky I would get hold of a friend and come back after dinner.
It was summer time, summers are the best in Bath and in July we had a few days off which made things even better. I had already completed and submitted all my assignments, therefore I had lots of free time with no worrying about studies. Everyday was a warm summers holiday for me, during this period of time I went out a lot exploring Bath. I would often go down into town and on a hot summers day read a book under a shady tree next to the river in the Parade Park. This delightful garden/park is Bath’s most centrally situated and popular pleasure grounds, attracting both tourists and residents. This is overlooking the River Avon and gives a fine view of the Pulteney Bridge and the weir. During the summer the flower beds displayed are breath-taking and small concerts are held throughout the summer months and children’s entertainment is provided during the summer holidays. Deck chairs are available, picnics are allowed and there is also a café with outdoor seating. Its utterly blissful at the park.
Then another delightful place to relax after a hot summers day is the Royal Crescent and its gardens. It is known for its architecture (as its name states crescent) shaped like a crescent and was built in 1775. It contains some 30 houses, one of which is now the Royal Crescent Hotel, another is known as Number 1 and open to the public. It comprises of huge gardens which are laid out in front of it, where on a hot summers day people are sun bathing or families having picnics. And even I would be there with my friends chatting or reading a book if alone and enjoying the sun.
I never mentioned shopping in Bath, well that is because I am not a big fan of shopping myself. Shopping in Bath is great and offers a memorable experience with a fabulous selection of small independent shops and stylish boutiques alongside the familiar big name stores. The city centre is compact, easily walkable and most of the shops and street are wheel chair accessible. The City has been designed in the grand Georgian style, therefore the streets and small picturesque passageways are to be seen everywhere.
The City of Bath has a lot to offer, from history, culture, food, fashion and art along with its hot water springs. Its a unique experience with stunning architecture, great shopping and iconic attractions. As some anonymous visitor to Bath said about the city: "It has been the backdrop for many a jigsaw, chocolate box and railway poster and once you visit you will see why."
Now I have completed and passed my Master’s course from the grand University of Bath. On the 7th of July 2010 is my Graduation Ceremony, hence shall be visiting the City once again. Very much looking forward to it, I shall be refreshing old memories. Happy, happy-joy, joy!

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Saturday, June 19, 2010

Bath and Me, Part 1.














My time in Bath.

I spent more than a year in Bath, went there to study at the University of Bath and fell in love with the breath taking beauty, culture, and its romantic history. In 1987 the City of Bath was inscribed as the World Heritage Site UNESCO and is famous for the Roman Baths and the mystical Springs. The glorious hot water springs bubbling over, which the city of Bath is built, since thousands of years. Bath Spa is a wheelchair accessible city, I promise you, the train station, the public buses and many of the modern shops are all wheelchair friendly. Everyone there is very welcoming and pleasant, they are always happy to help. As soon as one enters the City of Bath, that is, after a few minutes walk from the station through the town centre, the very first attraction is the bridge over the proudly flowing River Avon, just across the bridge is the magnificent gothic building the Bath Abbey (the Bath Abbey has its very own website at www.bafthabbey.org) and last but not the least the Roman Bath, they are right there and one can never miss them. The City offers a unique experience with stunning architecture, great shopping and iconic attractions and for further information on accommodation, theatre tickets, etc. please check out the following website www.visitbath.co.uk. Bath is always crowded with tourist from all over the world, may it be the warm lovely summers or the beautiful snowy winters, it is a place to be and has a different delightful look to it at any time of the year. I promise, each day in Bath was a different but pleasant experience for me. Although I was a student at the University of Bath but the university itself was huge and was situated on a hill, it is like a hill station and the entire city valley is seen, it is a stunning panoramic view and its breath taking gorgeous. If you are coming to visit Bath just for a day or two its best to take one of the hop-on and hop-off busses they are known as The Bath Sightseeing buses and the website is www.bathbuscompany.com/sights and they are fully wheel chair accessible.
As I mentioned earlier, as one enters the City of Bath via the Bath Spa train station, after walking straight for approximately eight minutes towards the town centre one gets the glimpse of the famous bridge. This bridge that crosses River Avon is called Pulteney Bridge and was constructed in 1773, it is a historic bridges in the world with shops and tea rooms built into it. As proclaimed by history, tea is said to be the British national beverage and the habit of taking full afternoon tea belongs to the leisurely English era. However, in order to experience this quintessentially English habit, Bath has the perfectly preserved Georgian terraces thus making it easy to travel back in time and imagine a proper gathering for tea. It is said that there is nothing more English than afternoon tea with a jam and cream scone or mouth watering slice of cake. One of the best tea rooms are situated within the bridge and in town. This magnificent structure was built for William Pulteney (he was a member of Parliament of England in 1768 and had invested in the construction of the bridge) by an architect named Robert Adams, and it connects central Bath to land on the other bank of the River Avon. Although it was purely built for a practical purpose and for businesses and trade but it is also one of the most romantic bridges in the world.
Bath is a city packed with stories and legends from history; it is a combination of the past, present and future. The historical buildings and monuments, the architecture of modern shops, restaurants, transport systems and future business plans are all intervened through architecture and design in such an ingenious way reminding people of its glorious past, present and future. When I was a student in Bath and whenever I’d need a break from University I would go into town and sit in the park next to the river, or take a visit of the Abbey, or sit near the Roman Baths, or just enjoy the festivals and streets parades in town taking place over the weekends.
To understand the City in its full glory I’ll speak a bit about the olden times of Bath. Before the Roman's arrived in Britain that is before Christ, the oak-tree lined grove with its bubbling orange-tinged waters was a spot held sacred by the Celts. They believed the hot spring, with its rich, mineral properties, was the work of the divine goddess Sul, responsible for medicine, fertility and healing. There is a legend (10,000 years back) about the spring discovery to the Celtic King Bladud. It is told that the eldest son of King Lud, Bladud was banished from his father's court when it was discovered that he had leprosy. But one day, the exiled son, who had become poorly to survive, saw his pigs wallowed in a particular muddy spot. The mud has the miraculous effect of improving the condition of their skin. Ever hopeful, he wallowed in the mud and was amazed to find his leprosy cured. Healed, Bladud returned to court and succeeded his father as King and in gratitude he formed a temple at the hot spring in honour of the goddess Sul.
The Roman Baths got its name from the Romans, in 43 AD the Romans invaded Britain from the Celtic and discovered the Baths and its healing properties they named it Aquae Sulis meaning the waters of Sulis. The Romans built a much bigger and better temple next to the Baths. In June 1688, recent history, James II's wife, Mary of Modena, gave birth to a child nine months after bathing in the Cross Bath (No one really knows if she became pregnant due to the waters or the other co-bathers). And that is how the Baths gained its vast popularity for its healing a fertility powers among public.


Please do stay in tuned to check out my second part on Bath and Me. Looking forward to read your comments and suggestions about my article on Bath.


All rights reserved. nadiahmed@excite.com +44 (0)789 6250265

Sunday, June 13, 2010

Where next...







Hi Friends,
Hope alls well.
Unfortunately I am unable to figure out where to venture next on my wheels.
I need ure help in this, as I already spent a fortune while travelling in Paris, I need to visit a place that is easily accessible and not much money is spent. 

Aaa well looking forward to ure suggestions and comments.
Till then take care,
Nadia. X.
All rights reserved. nadiahmed@excite.com +44 (0)789 6250265

Monday, June 7, 2010

Third and last day in Paris on wheels.






It was a Thursday and after a hectic two days of sightseeing Paris we just wanted to take things easy, just relax. Hence we woke up late, took elaborate showers and just ventured out to the nearby shopping centre in La Defense, which was pretty impressive. It’s called the Les Quatres Temps and comprises of more the 200 shops. It is fully wheelchair accessible and has many cafes, restaurants, fast food restaurants and many other shops (it’s like Blue Waters in UK but not as grand of course). Anyways we roamed around the top floor, it was huge. As we did not have breakfast our stomachs were rumbling. We decided that we’ll have something quick and fast but healthy but not fast food. So we had French Bread with cheese, tuna and tomato it was cold but scrumptious. After a lovely and quick snack we gallivanted the ground floor. Although I didn’t have to shop but it was fun roaming around the shops. I just bought my Mom a perfume. While we were window shopping we came across a Haagen Dazs kiosk, had to have ice cream. After checking out the entire shopping centre we went back to the hotel. It was around six o’clock when we reached the hotel washed up and relaxed in our rooms for a bit.
As it was our last day we wanted to have a lavish French dinner in one of the pure French localities of Paris and then see the world famous Moulin Rough. We had already booked tickets in advance, that is from UK. (the best is to make reservation earlier at http://www.moulinrouge.fr, I emailed them, they were really helpful. Our tickets were 93 Euros per adult and its all worth it). We consulted the hotel concierge for locating a nice French authentic restaurant somewhere near Moulin Rouge. We were told that Moulin Rouge is located in the red light area of Paris and has many French restaurants. Soon we were all dressed sitting in a taxi taking us to this restaurant called Gundogdu Restaurant in Clinchy area. Although the area is not very pleasant to be in but the food was great. The restaurant was located in the corner of an alley with winding steep narrow streets running up and down the Clinchy district. The restaurant was not wheel chair accessible but as I was on a manual wheel chair, it was picked up by two people of the restaurant, as long as I was a customer they were happy to help. The food was delicious and the atmosphere was great, I felt so French that night.
Our next venture was Moulin Rouge, which was a few streets away from the restaurant. As soon as we got out of the restaurant it began to rain heavily, at that moment those few streets felt like miles away. We were all nicely dressed for the show but when we reached we were all wet. But I was still very excited after all I was going to see the world famous show Moulin Rouge. The fun part now begins but ends soon. As I had pre-booked for the show, so they already knew that one of their guests for tonight’s show is on a wheel chair. As soon as we arrived one of the chaperones standing outside Moulin Rouge took our reference number and then took me on my wheel chair and told me that we shall be taking you through the VIP area. Wow! It was awesome. For the start the passage way was all covered in red and everywhere there were the original photos of actors and actresses of old times and posters made by well-known artist like Toulouse-Lautrec , Jules Cheret, Louis Anquetin and so on all from the art Noveau, post-impressionism period i.e. during the 1900. They were rooms on either sides, elegantly decorated with chairs and tables neatly set-up with elegant table cloths, wine glasses and cutleries all set up for a meal. Soon I was told that this arrangement is for the 9 o’clock show which includes dinner therefore these rooms are used by our VIP guests who are celebrities or people who buy tickets for more than 200 Euros. I was also informed that in the olden days these rooms were used for prostitution by wealthy people of Paris. Further ahead there was a lift to go downstairs, everything was in red it all looked so grand and naughty. Soon we passed the dressing rooms of actors and actresses; there was hustle and bustle everywhere. Then a few steps ahead we turned and it was all quiet, the man pushing me halted in front of two huge doors and then pressed a button on the wall and finally these huge wooded doors opened in front of me. Well here I could see all these people lined up waiting to go in to watch the show. Among them were my folks standing as well. As I was on a wheelchair I got to be right at the front of the queue and to be the first one to be seated. There, the VIP treatment was over and had to wait for the previous show to finish. Although it was a 15miniute wait but it felt like forever. Finally are turn came and we were let in. The auditorium could hold approximately 200 audiences. The auditorium was not fixed with individual seats in fact was designed and decorated the similar way it was in the 1800s. It has many round tables and chair for two, four and six everywhere, each placed with a candle lamp and wine glasses, as during the show everyone’s presented with wine, juice or water. Soon everyone was seated and the show began. The show was a bit in English as they were people from all over the world to watch it; most of the songs were in French. The language did not really matter as it was more of the thrill and excitement to watch the world famous show. The show was super but a lot of inappropriate dances and nudity. Anyway the show ended at 1:00 am, but it took us almost an hour to get out and get hold of a taxi to take us back to the hotel.
It was past two in the morning by the time we laid in bed. Our train, back to UK, was at 7o’clock in the morning hence our taxi to the train station from the hotel was booked for 6:00 am. Gosh! We did manage to make it all in time though we were all very tired and as soon as we sat in the train we were all fast asleep. In two hours time home sweet home, aaah.
As said by Chris Sherrod “The Prosperity Guy”: I saw love of people in Paris (it is the romance capital of the world after all), love for food (fantastic food everywhere), and freedom without all those closed circuit cameras in the UK. It was a short but awesome trip to Paris. MuaaH!

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Thursday, June 3, 2010

Day 2.






We already had decided to complete the hop-on and hop-off bus tour, to visit the Mona Lisa at the Louvre Museum and definitely to have coffee at any road side cafes. It was Wednesday today, the weather was cloudy and rainy, certainly not a good for venturing the streets of Paris. But we had already planned our day (and when there is a will there is a way); therefore we went down to the bus station, which was underground in La Defense hence keeping ourselves safe from the rain. Everybody at the station was very helpful; we had already asked about the buses at the hotel concierge and were told that bus number 73 goes from La Defense via Champs Elysees. To reconfirm the bus number we also asked the help desk at the station and yes we were right and soon we were guided to the bus stand. The buses in Paris are wheelchair accessible, just like the ones in London, all have ramps installed at the exit door and they all come out automatically when required. After a 20 minute bus ride we reached Champs Elysees Avenue, right across the road was our stop for hop-on and hop-off bus. We caught hold of the next bus and with a bit of help from the driver got the wheelchair on the bus and informed the driver that we’d like to get off at Lourve. Soon we arrived at the Lourve stop and got off at the museum. The Lourve is a central landmark of Paris, France and is located on the Right Bank of the Seine. It has nearly 35,000 objects from prehistory to the 19th century are exhibited over an area of 60,600 square metres (652,300 square feet). It is one of the world's largest museums, the most visited museum in the world, and a historic monument. For ticket details please check the website http://www.louvre.fr/llv/pratique/tarifs.jsp?bmLocale=en, visitors with disabilities and their companion go for free. One can spend a whole day its huge and a lot to see from painting to sculpture but our mission was to check out the world famous painting by Leonardo Di Vinci, the Mona Lisa, as we didn’t have all day. Anyway it is a good idea to get hold of the Museum map which can be found everywhere in the museum and mark the places one wants to visit. Quickly and easily we figured out the location of the Mona Lisa and made are way towards the panting. It was a long walk as the world famous painting was exhibited in a separate room. When we reached there were barriers up till the waist in order to keep a distance from the painting and two guards on either sides of the painting. The place was filled with hundreds of visitor and when we arrived as I was on a wheelchair the guards let me through the barrier right up to the painting. It was framed in a thick glass with a dense wooded border and due to its mature age there were cracks in the painting. There were cameras clicking everywhere, (taking picture in the Museum was allowed but without the flash) as I was right next to the Mona Lisa I asked my sister to take a picture of me next to picture, I could make out the envious looks of the other visitors. Well as it goes in order to obtain something one has to give up something.
It was about 4 o’clock when we finished around Lourve, then we caught the hop-off and hop-on tour and took lots of pictures while we were on it and heard carefully the running commentary about the various monuments and places we passed by while being on the bus. It took an hour but was lots of fun, finally the last stop came at Champs Elysees, and we got off. The rain had stopped now and we were starving, as when one is out and about they forget about eating. We strolled on the Champs Elysees in search of a nice cafe, after much wandering we found one, a nice small one on the road side just like the movies. We sat there, my sister and me ordered coffee and French fries, while we were eating it began rain cats and dogs. We though it’s going to stop in a bit but it never did. Anyways we just made our way back to the hotel in the pouring rain.
In the evening we decided to take the River Seine cruises. We gathered some information from the hotel concierge got ourselves a taxi and off to the cruises. We missed the cruise that served dinner so we caught the 9:00 pm one, the tickets are 20 Euros per adult and it’s an hour long journey for more information check at http://www.helloparis.co.uk/seine-river-cruises/22-sightseeing-cruise.html. The River Seine cruise is the best way to look at Paris from a different perspective; it will take you right through the heart of the city. The boats are glass-covered so they operate all year around and everyone gets a great view. The River is lined with old quays and many bridges, it also holds another most amazing side of the Eiffel Tower, the Notre Dame, the Lourve and many others. It is a beautiful and romantic experience which certainly should not be missed. (All cruises are wheelchair accessible and have running commentary in many languages including English).

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