Hopthefence's Weblog

Le Colonel and the real Swiss Chalet

hopthefence — Sun, 09 Oct 2011 10:26:40 +0000

We have indulged in copious amounts of cheese in a wide variety of formats. It is sooo good. Last night we discovered the Swiss Chalet restaurant and it in no way resembles the chain restaurants of the same name in Canada. I ordered a Croute au Fromage (melted cheese baked in oven in a creuset plate until it gets all crispy around the edges). Marcel ordered a Steak au Fromage (a big hunk of cheese battered and oven baked so it oozes out when put your knife into it). You have to have a stomach of steel around here. Cheese is serious business.
The night before, we had an authentic cheese fondue at La Bergerie du Gruyèrien. We ordered a half-and-half. Basically, half cheese and half more cheese! hahah (Actually, it`s half Vacherin/ half Gruyère). We ended our meal with Kirsch and a desert. OMG, I barely made it home. The Kirsch shot was very generous. My desert, called Le Colonel, consists of Lemon sorbet with Vodka poured over it !! Marcel had a Tarte au vin with Gruyère cream… the stuff is heavier than crème fraiche if you can bellieve it!
We’re not dead yet… good thing we aren’t staying too long!!
Click to view slideshow.

CERN Public Exhibit

hopthefence — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 07:23:51 +0000

There was a reception at the Globe at CERN last night. But first we took in the exhibit. It is spectacular. Very cool and futuristic looking with lots of video and one film that is displayed all around the room. Very well done.
Click to view slideshow.
The exhibit also included the very first web server used by Tim Berners-Lee who invented the www in 1989 while working at CERN. In true techie style, there’s an old hand-written sticker on it that says “Do not power down!”

If nothing else, I’m learning my Greek alphabet.

hopthefence — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 10:03:30 +0000

SUZY and Precision Charm Physics. It’s not what you think. Babar, Belle, penguins, Super Flavor Factories… I’m at CERN listening in on a seminar where researchers from around the world are reporting on their results in sub-atomic particle physics.
From what I’m discerning, they are using New Physics to prove or disprove the Standard Model. So far, the huge amounts of data coming in through various detectors around the world have not provided sufficient evidence to disprove it. And I’m pretty sure that’s a good thing.
CERN was built after WWII to prove that European countries could work together and collaborate on a common goal. A successful venture that now includes researchers from around the world: Asia, the Americas and Europe. The convivial atmosphere here is very unique. You can expect to hear a wide variety of accents on any given day. Being here, I realize how fortunate I am to experience it first hand. The set-up is made for open discussions and sharing of information. The cafeteria tables are always filled with young researchers discussing everything from soccer scores, to their latest results involving things like muons, leptons, quarks, and other such infinitely small beasts.
If nothing else, I’m learning my Greek alphabet. Physicists use it with great fanfare in all their formulas.

Accelerating Science

hopthefence — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 16:11:30 +0000

I’ve decided to reactivate this blog. I love writing about my travels. Over the past few years, I’ve been busy building my body for Figure competitions. So all my writing energies have gone into the bb forums.

Today I’ve arrived in Geneva and will neither be dieting nor working out for the remainder of the week. I have long, mind-boggling meetings to tend to but by Saturday, I’ll be enjoying a fabulous weekend with that awesome husband of mine. It has been a long time coming. Yippee! So here the story begins…

A view from CERN

I am at CERN surrounded by nuclear scientists. I haven’t slept in about 24 hours. Somehow this seems to make the sciencespeak easier to understand. I can see Mont Blanc from my seat here just outside the cafeteria. It is a beautiful summer day: sunny and about 25C. Surprising, not only because we’re in Geneva but because it’s Octobr 4th !

I will be ending my long travel day soon and rest my weary bones in my hostel room. It’s basic. No TV. No hairdryer. One small bar of soap, 1 hand towel, 1 bath towel. The whole bathroom is one big unit shower stall thingy. Weird. The curtain needs to be replaced. It stinks. However, the room window does open. Bonus.

Girls in Puerto Plata

hopthefence — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 23:04:31 +0000

Ready for the beach

Show girl at the pool

We met some great people, learned to dance, participated in silly games! We met a fun group of Germans who taught me to greet them with “Kee-risty”. They laughed everytime I said it. They assured me it wasn’t a bad word (despite their reaction) but said it was an expression to say “Hi” in Bavarian slang. Met some fine folks from Manitoba and three crazy young boys from Saskatchewan who just barely managed to stay out of trouble. The staff were lots of fun and made us laugh alot. The Dominicans are very nice peeps.

Dos cervezas, por favor!

I did not manage to hold onto my Darts champion title, but had fun trying.

Learning the Meringue

Adios and Hasta Luego… untill next year maybe.

Fun in the sun

hopthefence — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 16:48:17 +0000

Photoshoot in Puerto Plata

The fabulous vacation is over already. Not much time to blog. But I think this photo says it all. Me and likely the world’s most patient man. My babe. My rock. What would I do without him….and what would he do without me? hahaha…

Losing track of time in the Carribean

hopthefence — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 19:03:16 +0000

What day are we today? Not sure. And that’s the way it should be when on vacation. We are having a blast like a couple of teenagers! You’d never know we’re an old married couple!

Blue Bay beach bar/restaurant

Between the Mojitos and Banana Mamma’s, we’re eating decent food. The morning oatmeal is to-die-for with cinammon, vanilla, and cloves and tons of cream. (Actually, I think it’s mostly cream with a touch of oats!) We’ve been starting each day with a 30 minute run followed by a refreshing dip in the sea. It’s been hot at about 25-28C. Sunny with occasional but brief downpoors.

Having a blast! We are doing a photoshoot tomorrow morning w a photog from Ontario (Fred Meulemeester – another Belgian expat!)
Gotta go – Opportunity awaits!! Lol
Ciao Hugs xox
AM and M at Blue Bay

Hot Chocolate Spanish Style

hopthefence — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 20:01:28 +0000

extra thick and gooey hot chocolate

I read somewhere that the hot chocolate in Madrid is not to be missed. So I stopped by a chocolateria and thought I’d try it out (twist my rubber arm). I walked into this lovely place and the smell of chocolate and pastry or donughts came wafting at me. Yumm. I sat down and ordered a “caliente chocolate” and the waiter asked if I also wanted “churros” to go with. Ahh yes, that was the word for donuts. I nodded in agreement. The churos were long and skinny, I got about 5 on a plate. They were very oily! Ughh My napkin was quite gross looking.

Caliente Chocolate!

But the hot chocolate was really something else! It was so thick, it tasted like hot pudding. Kinda gross! I kept automatically reaching for something to drink realizing that this was it. So I don’t think I’d ever have this again. But it certainly was interesting!

It was a fun trip. One week of embracing my solitude. As fiercely independent as I am, I really hate being alone. I suppose we all feel that way. But I can say that I thoroughly enjoyed my alone time. And now I’ll be glad to get back home with my boys and my friends. And, how can they miss me if I don’t go away! haha

another long day in Spanish capital city

hopthefence — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 20:40:43 +0000

Decorated bulls were all over the city

Relaxing now with Spanish strangers at Lista Bar. Went to Thyssen-Borneszia art gallery. Sadly, Reine Sofia Gallery were Guernica lives is closed on Tuesdays. But I saw some great stuff: lots of other Picasso’s, some great Fernand Leger (one of my faves),plenty of impressionists and some beautiful 15th C Italians including Simone Martini. Awesome.

I went to another carniceria to buy a few slices of Jamon de Botellia (pigs fed solely on this small red fruit-will have to look it up). A dignitary whom I was dining with the other night recommended it. It is the best, he told me, but expensive. Yes, the few slices cost me over 13€! About $20. Sometimes, ya gotta splurge!
Came back to hotel around 5 pm with good intention to hit the gym. They wouldn’t let me in w/o proper footwear. I was truly annoyed and the letter I’m sending to the airline is getting increasingly colorful!
So I got dressed again and went back out on the town.

Now I’m watching the US Presedential inauguration on Spanish CNN. The “Madrid-ians” stopped to watch for a few moments, then quickly returned to their tapas and cigarettes!
Weather was fairly cold today: windy but sunny at 5 C.

Manana in Madrid

hopthefence — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 08:19:14 +0000

Market stall at El Rastro

Got up around 8 a.m. It was great to sleep a stretch of over 6 hours for a change! My legs are still buzzing from all the walking and my brain hurts from all the writing yesterday. But today, I am free to enjoy at my leisure (I’m pretty sure I won’t get called). Having more cafe con leche, salmon and yogurt. There are no hard boiled eggs up here.

It was recommended that I take the whole day and go to Toledo, but I think I will just stay closer by. Anyway it’s raining. So it’s the perfect day to go to another art gallery. I will go sit in front of Picasso’s Guernica for a while. Some of these pieces, I will never see again in my lifetime. So off I go…