AMIE GABRIEL
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CROSSING THE POND: A TEAR IN THE TIME/space continuum

3/27/2015

4 Comments

 
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It began on the morning of Thursday, March 19th... the long trek to England from my hometown in CA.  My sister and my niece dropped me at Santa Barbara Airbus.  The Airbus took me to LAX.  Air New Zealand took me to London.  When broken down into segments it was really that simple.  Upon arrival I went right through customs, got my sim card for my cell phone, everything went exactly according to plan!  Ok, almost everything.  I don't really want to talk about my fledgling experience with the London trains & Underground system but, in an effort to get from the airport to a small village in the Cotswolds, I went from Heathrow to Kings Cross/St Pancras, to Euston Station, to Northern Railway, back to Kings Cross, to Piccadilly... No wait... Paddington, took the Piccadilly Line... Or did I take the Piccadilly Line to Paddington?  I honestly don't remember, but I finally ended up on a train that took me to some tiny village very near the village I was going.  Yup, I got totally lost, cried twice (chalk it up to utter exhaustion) and, a mere 29 hours after I woke up, I had reached my destination!  I even met some very lovely, compassionate, helpful people along the way!  I arrived in the late afternoon on March 20th, the Vernal Equinox, aka: the first day of Spring.  Now I assure you, after this trip I felt like a lot of things... "The First Day of Spring" was not among them! 

It's a very strange experience stepping onto an airplane, taking an overnight flight, adding a 7 hour time difference, emerging on another continent, on a different day and, in my case, in a new season!  If that ain't time travel, I don't know what is!!  Sort of "Back to the Future" meets "Wizard of Oz".   If all that isn't odd enough, I understand there was also an eclipse!  At least that's what I was told upon arrival but, who the heck knows??  The young man who was putting the new SIM card into my phone and checking that it loaded and worked properly, was making polite conversation and told me I'd just missed an eclipse. My response to hearing this was a blank stare, a pregnant pause & an "oh?"  He could have told me I'd just missed seeing big foot stroll through the Queens Terminal, my reaction would have been exactly the same.  You see, sleeping on airplanes isn't something I'm particularly good at so, at that point, information just wasn't being efficiently processed.  I was hungry, I was dehydrated, but mostly, I was TIRED!!  

As entirely depleted as I was, I found the journey on the train from London through several small towns in the Cotswolds, via Oxford, to be extraordinary.  As the train pushed further away from the city and deeper into the countryside my eyes began to well up. Yes, sorry, more crying... But this time the tears were filled with joy and came with the uprising of emotion as one witnesses, in real time, a dream being realized.  It was all so beautiful!!! Just as I'd imagined since I was a child, and a thousand times better!!  I saw what looked like a castle in the distance.  I saw miles of rolling fields with stone wall boundaries corralling sheep and new Spring lambs. Magnificent herds of draft horses grazed in the sunshine. There were swollen, rushing creeks with arched wooden bridges. Then suddenly, I lay my eyes on the spires and towers of the University of Oxford, and I literally gasped... I whispered under my breath "What is...?? Oh my God.  It's Oxford".  That's the moment it really hit me.  I was really here. I did it!  I'd made it!! I was in England!  I was on a train in the UK crossing the English countryside and and I was looking right at Oxford.  That's when the tears came... They surely weren't my first of this trip.  They would not be my last.

To be con't...

Lessons for the day:

1) Trust the thorough research I'd done at home regarding the train service.  I shouldn't have asked every ticket agent the best way to get to my destination.  
2) It's ok to be upset and to ask for help. As long as I remained kind and cool headed, people went out of their way to assist me.  It was a heartwarming experience. 
3) Arriving at a new place in the morning is a really good thing.  It took much longer to get to my inn than anticipated and I still arrive well before dark.  

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 3 WEEKS,   2 COUNTRIES,   1 BAG, OH MY!

3/16/2015

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Two little words that strike fear into my heart: "PACK LIGHT".  And I mean REALLY light.  I’m only bringing one carry on bag that converts to a back pack for three weeks of travel.  As tempted as I am to throw in just one more pair of shoes (specifically, my super cute black riding boots that come just below the knee) there is one unavoidable fact that may just keep that from happening… I’m biking through the Cotswolds for a week and everything I bring I have to carry with me on that bike!!  How’s that for incentive to edit one’s wardrobe?    Every time I want to add something to the list I ask myself: “Do you really want to carry that?”  Sometimes the answer is a very clear and resounding “NO” and other times…  hmmmm… not so much!  Take those boots, for instance!! 

My vacation plans and activities are rather diverse, exponentially increasing the challenge. For the first portion of the trip I’ll be biking in England, quite possibly in a chilly rain, and I'll be staying in cozy inn’s and B&B’s, so that means sporty, waterproof and warm.  Then I’m off to Paris where (no offense to the English countryside) I, clearly, need to up my game!  What’s a girl to do?  Pack only mix and match items that have at least two or three functions each, that’s what!  Here’s what I mean:
and 
Yoga Pants: No, really!!!  A heavy weight, boot cut pair of black yoga pants can work quadruple duty.  Mine have the ability to wick away moisture and are a matte finish without any sheen.  They work for many outdoor activities, especially on a cool, dry day.  They can easily serve as a black slack and look adorable and chic when paired with a tunic top scarf.  They make for very comfy lounge wear and are perfect for an overnight flight, AND I can even wear them to do, of all things, YOGA!  What a concept!!

Convertible Hiking Pants:  I hike for a living and I’m in love with these pants.  They are “convertible” meaning that they can zip off above the knee and become shorts and are, literally, made for outdoor sports.  The fabric is extremely lightweight so they pack away beautifully and can be washed in the sink at night and be totally dry by morning.  They’re water resistant and even have an SPF rating of 30+.  Pair them with your walking shoes and a t-shirt and you have an adorable pair of cargo pants (or shorts) that are perfect for a day of sightseeing, rain or shine!  Take them one step further by trowing on a wedge or dressy flat, a sleek tank top, and a sweater around your shoulders.  Add a pretty belt and a couple bangles and you’re set for a casual night out!

Plain Black Walking Flats:  I bought a pair of solid black, rubber soled, slip-on/lace free flats that are specifically made for walking.  They are unbelievably comfy and very simple in appearance which is what makes them so versatile.  Mine are Teva Niyama’s and can be worn with a strap that goes across the top of the foot, Mary Jane style, or the strap can be flipped away and tucked behind the heel for more of a ballet flat look… I love that!  But here’s my trick:  I went online and searched “shoe clips”.  They are small, clip-on embellishments that snap onto the top front (aka “vamp”) of your shoe and take it from simple to sophisticated or from day to evening in one easy step!  They come in lots of colors and styles, from understated little bows and flirty flowers to sparkling rhinestones!  I got two different styles of rhinestones: a white rectangular and a small, round, multi toned blue.  Now I’ve suddenly got 3 pairs of the most comfortable and adorable flats you can imagine that easily pair with everything from jeans and cargo pants to dresses!  It's one more way of adding a little splash of interest and color to my predominantly black wardrobe, and it's an inexpensive, and possibly safer, alternative to wearing jewelry when that may not be so wise.   LOVE them!!

So those are three of my wardrobe selection tips.  I’m only bringing 3 pairs of pants, total, and only two of them get packed.   I’ll be wearing my yoga pants on the plane with a pretty, cozy tunic and a pashmina scarf which doubles as a blanket on the plane.  I’ll be comfy enough to sleep (fingers crossed) and won’t look as though I’m walking through Heathrow in my jammies (not that there’s anything wrong with that).  I’m also bringing a long t-shirt dress and a second tunic. I really love the tunics as they totally change the look of my yoga pants and jeans, and can be worn alone as dresses w/ tights and flats (but wouldn't that outfit also be unbelievably cute with… oh, I don’t know… BOOTS??)   I’m including a trio of silky black, breathable, wicking undershirts for layering with everything; one is a long sleeved mock turtleneck, another is a short sleeved scoop neck, and the third is a tank…  all three easily pass as outerwear, weigh only a couple of ounces and pack away to almost nothing.  My Doc Martin’s are coming along as well.
 My one “luxury item” is a dress that I’m absolutely in love with. It’s a recent thrift store find and makes me feel like Juliet Binoche in Chocolat!!!  I have a dinner cruise down the Seine for which I hope to look especially nice & I’ll be wearing that dress… with my embellished black flats, of course!!  All in all, with only 5 main items of clothing in my suitcase, I’ll have well over 20 different looks.  Not bad, right??  Oh… and in the interest of full disclosure… the jury is still out on the boots…

What are your best packing tips and trip essentials?  Please comment below!! 

By the way:  I’m leaving in only a few days and will have some extra posts coming up!  We’re about to do this!! ~Amie~


THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:  
"HE WHO WOULD TRAVEL HAPPILY 
MUST TRAVEL LIGHT."
~ANTOINE de SAINT-EXUPERY~
6 Comments

THEY CAN PUT A MAN ON THE MOON...  BUT I CAN'T USE MY CELL PHONE IN EUROPE??

3/9/2015

11 Comments

 
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Using your cell phone abroad!! Easy peasy, right!?!  Call you provider, change your plan to something called, oh I don’t know, “Unlimited Call, Text and Data International Plan”, or some other catchy name, pay 50 extra bucks a month and, Woo HOO, the next thing you know you’re texting selfies to your BFF 6000 miles away, checking in on Facebook on the Champs de Elysee and Tweeting “OMG! #TowerOfLondon #lunchonthethames #fullyepic”… right?  (insert “needle scratching record” sound effect)  Um, WRONG!!  I know what you’re thinking: “Oh you poor, sad, disillusioned little optimist…*sigh* smh.”  But, seriously, it really shouldn't be this difficult, should it? After all, going on a trip abroad isn't a particularly original idea.  I want to travel internationally, not travel to the International Space Station. SHEESH!  However, after two calls to my cell phone provider, two visits to their local storefront, several visits to their website, two visits to the Apple store, countless online searches, and inquires to practically everyone I've ever met, I came to the conclusion that the solution was going to be neither simple nor easy.  I mean, sure, you can call, text, FB, Tweet and use your GPS to your hearts content but not without coming home to a cell phone bill that is, roughly, the equivalent of a round trip ticket from LAX to Heathrow.

Normally I’m a woman who likes a lot of information so I can come to my own informed decisions based on what best suits my needs.  But after weeks of research without resolution, all I really wanted was for someone to just TELL me what the heck to do!  I wanted to find the best/cheapest/easiest way to stay safe and connected while I travel (and when I say “stay safe and connected” I, of course, mean “feed my addiction to electronics”) and to do so at a reasonable and predictable cost.  Is that too much to ask?  So that’s exactly what I set out to do.  I messaged a trusted friend who is something of a tech guru and travels extensively and said: “Please, just tell me what to do”  Here was my answer:  Find out if my own cell phone has a sim card and is GSM compatible; if so, get it unlocked by my carrier, if that's something they'll do... Mine is a yes on all three counts! Otherwise, get an inexpensive, used, unlocked, 4G, Android phone before I leave.  When I arrive in London buy a pre-paid, GSM phone/data/text card.  Done.  Thank you!  Sadly, this is not the first time I was given this information… someone near and dear had told me this at least a month ago but I was still in the “gung ho, information gathering” phase when I heard it.  Oh, the folly of youth!!

I’ve also been advised to take along my iPad and take advantage of free wifi available at my various lodgings, etc.  Another great tip I’ve gotten is, if you're going to use a phone other than your own, to be SURE you have the data, roaming feature, etc, on your regular cell phone from home turned OFF when you travel or you’ll be, financially speaking, very, very sorry.

Now I’m not saying this is the single, definitive answer, nor am I suggesting that this is what you should do.  I’m new to this and I’m just learning.  What I am saying is this is the advice given to me by trusted friends.  I suggest that you do your own research (provided that you possess the emotional fortitude required to navigate THAT particular labyrinth), talk to your trusted circle, and do what works best for you. Got it??  Great!!

Now I want to hear from you!!  Have you traveled abroad?  If so what have you tried that did or didn’t work?  Are you planning a trip?  What are you planning on doing?  Have any tips you’d like to pass along or mistakes we should avoid?  Let’s start the conversation and help one another out!  Comment below and please be sure to check the small “notify me of new comments” box so you’ll be made aware of any feedback!  Thanks so much & happy travels!!  ~Amie~


THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
“WHAT I BELIEVE IS THAT ALL CLEAR-MINDED PEOPLE SHOULD REMAIN TWO THINGS THROUGHOUT THEIR LIFETIMES: CURIOUS AND TEACHABLE.”  
~ROGER EBERT~

 

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I SEE LONDON.                       I SEE FRANCE.

3/2/2015

27 Comments

 
After dreaming of countless possibilities, combing over dozens of destinations and swooning over, literally, hundreds of Google Images to see what really spoke to me, I finally made my choice… I’m going to England!!  Once I really narrowed down the focus on where I wanted to go I realized I’ve been dreaming of visiting England since I was a girl.  I was swept away by the works of Jane Austen, by watching A Christmas Carol with Alastair Sim, and with Merle Oberon & Sir Laurence Olivier in Wuthering Heights (Which, much to my horror, I recently discovered was filmed… are you ready?? …in Thousand Oaks, CA just outside of LA!!  That’s right… In the 1931 film version of Emily Brontë's tale of ultimate jealousy and woe, our Kathy & Heathcliff were writhing in emotional pain, NOT on the misty moors of Yorkshire, but somewhere near the Canejo Grade… NOOOO!!!  OMG, I can’t even talk about it!).  Regardless, England has everything I’m looking for; history, culture, castles… I mean, I don't know about you but THIS American girl wants to see castles... and plenty of 'em!! London Bridge, Abbey Road, The Cotwolds, Downton Abbey, Nottingham, West End theaters, and, of course, the Moors (the REAL ones)!!  I’m already breathless and I haven’t even left the ground!!   Additionally, and on a very personal level, my dear Nana and, thusly, my beloved Mother, were of English decent.  We grew up drinking tea with our Nana and the women in my family have gone to afternoon tea everywhere from the grand rooms at the Four Seasons with it's fine china and crisp white linen to charming, hidden, one room, village tea houses with their collections of antique mismatched cups… It’s a family tradition that is near and dear to my heart.  So England it is!!   As a bonus, there is no real language barrier… after all, I know that “jumper” means “sweater” so I’m good, right?  RIGHT!! 

After I made my choice I was excitedly sharing my upcoming adventure with a friend and she said “Oh you’re going to love it!  And once you’re over there you can travel around so easily… you can hop on a train in London and be in Paris in a couple of hours.” In fact once I started to talk to people about my trip I found a lot of their sentences began with “Once you’re over there…”  all of them recommending that  I see as much as is reasonable and  stay as long as I’m able.  Now I knew about traveling by train in the UK and Europe, of course, but somehow when my friend said it a seed was planted and the wheels started turning...   I made a few Google searches... and I soon began to feel like Macauley Culkin in Home Alone... you know,  when he awakens that first morning and begins the process of realization:  “I made my family disappear” but, instead, I was thinking:  “I can go to Paris??”………..  “I can go to Paris.”….............. “I CAN GO TO PARIS!!!!   I figured out my dates, booked a ticket and I’m happy to report,  I will be taking the Eurostar from  London to Paris!!   My list for choosing Paris is short and to the point:

1)  Ummmm, Hello!?!  It’s PARIS!!!  

‘Nuff said!  

I’ve not yet purchased my return train ticket to London... But that, my friends, is a story for an upcoming post ;)

So where will you go on your dream trip?  What do you know of England and Paris??   Comment below!!  I SO want to hear your stories!! ~Amie~

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
“A SHIP IN HARBOR IS SAFE ~ BUT THAT IS NOT WHAT SHIPS ARE BUILD FOR." 
~ JOHN A. SHEDD~

27 Comments
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    Hi!  I'm Amie!  I'm a writer and the owner of a holistic, nature based fitness and hotel amenities company, a yoga & meditation instructor, and outdoor activities guide.  Join me as I add "World Traveler" to my resume!

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  • HOME
  • KINTSUKUROI HEART; A Memoir
  • Holistic Wellness Blog
  • ABOUT AMIE
  • SOME YOUTUBE VIDEOS
    • Amie's Book; Kintsukuroi Heart
    • A SHIFT IN PERSPECTIVE >
      • BEGIN TO TRANSFORM