Monday, May 5, 2008
Random Photos: Eine kleine Kleinsche Flasche
Those wacky topologists, always making non-orientable surfaces!
Sunday, May 4, 2008
York
We liked York. Things we learned while in York:
(1) People love their dogs. Go anywhere at 6PM, and the dog-to-human ratio is about 1:1. All shapes and colours, too.
(2) Supermarkets have really nice, free washrooms.
(3) Yorkshire people like things to be well labelled:
(a) unnecessary signage
(b) ignored signage
(c) Interweb signage...wait a minute...
(4) Cities with ancient Roman walls are quite pretty.
(5) Just because it's a famous church, don't expect an inspirational service. We attended a Saturday communion service at York Minster, whose congregation could give Notre Dame's a run for their money in a vigorous-mumbling-of-hymns competition.
(1) People love their dogs. Go anywhere at 6PM, and the dog-to-human ratio is about 1:1. All shapes and colours, too.
(2) Supermarkets have really nice, free washrooms.
(3) Yorkshire people like things to be well labelled:
(a) unnecessary signage
(b) ignored signage
(c) Interweb signage...wait a minute...
(4) Cities with ancient Roman walls are quite pretty.
(5) Just because it's a famous church, don't expect an inspirational service. We attended a Saturday communion service at York Minster, whose congregation could give Notre Dame's a run for their money in a vigorous-mumbling-of-hymns competition.
Thursday, May 1, 2008
Apparently, Platform 9 3/4 leads to Grimsby...
Conveniently, some classmates of ours landed in London the day we were planning to leave. We had arranged to meet at King's Cross Station to have lunch and give them our maps, Oyster cards, etc. It didn't occur to us at the time that perhaps a more granular address than "King's Cross Station" might be best. (Let's meet at Pearson. OK!)
Luckily, Andrew easily picked us out of the crowd - he figured the only person wearing shorts in London had to be Canadian, and he was right!
We zipped off to Grimsby to meet Simon and his family on the coolest train ever - a train with free power and wifi. Hey, I think that's cool.
We had to make a connecting train to arrive at Grimsby, which caused some trepidation. Luckily, we knew we were on the right train when the gentleman in front of us and to our right stood up, finished both his beers, either by pouring them into his mouth or onto his seat, and belched. I think he may have been employed by National Rail as a modern-day train whistle, signalling the arrival of the 14:33 train.
Unfortunately, Grimsby was as promised. Fortunately, dinner at Via Italia was delicious, also as promised. We spent the evening chatting with Simon and his family, went to a pub for a round of drinks, and had the best night's sleep yet.
While at the pub, we were unmasked as poser Canadians since we didn't know the answer to this trivia question: "What Canadian city is known as the 'Little Apple'?"
Can anyone here answer it?
(Photos to follow at some point when we have better Internet.)
Luckily, Andrew easily picked us out of the crowd - he figured the only person wearing shorts in London had to be Canadian, and he was right!
We zipped off to Grimsby to meet Simon and his family on the coolest train ever - a train with free power and wifi. Hey, I think that's cool.
We had to make a connecting train to arrive at Grimsby, which caused some trepidation. Luckily, we knew we were on the right train when the gentleman in front of us and to our right stood up, finished both his beers, either by pouring them into his mouth or onto his seat, and belched. I think he may have been employed by National Rail as a modern-day train whistle, signalling the arrival of the 14:33 train.
Unfortunately, Grimsby was as promised. Fortunately, dinner at Via Italia was delicious, also as promised. We spent the evening chatting with Simon and his family, went to a pub for a round of drinks, and had the best night's sleep yet.
While at the pub, we were unmasked as poser Canadians since we didn't know the answer to this trivia question: "What Canadian city is known as the 'Little Apple'?"
Can anyone here answer it?
(Photos to follow at some point when we have better Internet.)
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Geeks unite! (and separate)
For our last tourist day in London, we went geeky. The Science Museum holds such wonders as several Babbage Difference Engines, the Apollo 10 Lander, and The Listening Post, a piece of artwork that takes data from chat rooms and presents it (in real time) either written or spoken.
Charles Babbage never made the Difference Engine himself, but the museum has made a few based on his designs, and they really do work. Of course, they aren't perfect. This is a great quote from him:
When we arrived at the floor containing both the Math and Computing areas, we of course separated. To each his own, I suppose. I took many pictures of the slide rules, klein bottles, and regular polyhedra, while Colin drooled over the Cray 1A and the PDP-8 (I have no idea what those are, ask him).
We eventually tore ourselves away from the wonders of the Science Museum and walked around Hyde Park. Speakers Corner was not quite what I expected, being just an open, cemented area, but the park itself is lovely. Pictures will follow for Grandma Smith.
The day ended with a moment of silence for Colin's floofy hair: he got a haircut in the morning. I love his floofy hair, but every once in a while, it must be shorn.
Charles Babbage never made the Difference Engine himself, but the museum has made a few based on his designs, and they really do work. Of course, they aren't perfect. This is a great quote from him:
On two occasions I have been asked, – "Pray, Mr. Babbage, if you put into the machine wrong figures, will the right answers come out?" In one case a member of the Upper, and in the other a member of the Lower, House put this question. I am not able rightly to apprehend the kind of confusion of ideas that could provoke such a question.Yes, mathematicians have been pretentious forever. I am just following a long, overly proud tradition.
When we arrived at the floor containing both the Math and Computing areas, we of course separated. To each his own, I suppose. I took many pictures of the slide rules, klein bottles, and regular polyhedra, while Colin drooled over the Cray 1A and the PDP-8 (I have no idea what those are, ask him).
We eventually tore ourselves away from the wonders of the Science Museum and walked around Hyde Park. Speakers Corner was not quite what I expected, being just an open, cemented area, but the park itself is lovely. Pictures will follow for Grandma Smith.
The day ended with a moment of silence for Colin's floofy hair: he got a haircut in the morning. I love his floofy hair, but every once in a while, it must be shorn.
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Happy Anniversary To Me
As on our first date, we spent the day walking around town - only this time, we were not picking out clothing so Colin could go out with someone else! Yay progress!
Today was Church day, when we made sure to wear proper clothes, to visit the various Anglican churches in town (yes, the appropriate dress is different from in Catholic churches). We were going to tour St. Paul's cathedral first thing in the morning, but in true Dellow fashion, Colin slept in. So first, we took the Tube to Buckingham Palace, where we watched the changing of the guards (more to come on that later).
After that, we moved on to Westminster Abbey, which was definitely worth the fee. Inside are buried Chaucer, several Kings and Queens, and Issac Newton, among many others. The artwork is beautiful, if a little ostentatious when you remember that it is for the dead. The cute little garden in the cloister was possibly my favourite part, since the tourists mostly pass it by between the crypts and the coffee shop. Unfortunately, we had just missed communion, so missed taking a service in this church.
St. Paul's Cathedral was still open when we got back to that part of town, so we went to Evensong - beautiful music, not too long, perfect for our short attention spans. Sadly we sat in the 'tourist' area, not the 'parishioner' area, so people were constantly moving around and we were far from the choir. This really is smart on the church's part, since people are generally pretty rude, but not so good for us!
What better way to end a day of Churches than with porn? We were only partly kidding in our last post: we went to see Avenue Q at the Noel Coward Theatre. This is the musical that boasts such songs as "The Internet is for Porn" and "Everyone's a Little Bit Racist." It was hilarious, Colin and his floofy hair felt right at home. I think it was a perfectly romantic way to end our 5 year anniversary.
Today was Church day, when we made sure to wear proper clothes, to visit the various Anglican churches in town (yes, the appropriate dress is different from in Catholic churches). We were going to tour St. Paul's cathedral first thing in the morning, but in true Dellow fashion, Colin slept in. So first, we took the Tube to Buckingham Palace, where we watched the changing of the guards (more to come on that later).
After that, we moved on to Westminster Abbey, which was definitely worth the fee. Inside are buried Chaucer, several Kings and Queens, and Issac Newton, among many others. The artwork is beautiful, if a little ostentatious when you remember that it is for the dead. The cute little garden in the cloister was possibly my favourite part, since the tourists mostly pass it by between the crypts and the coffee shop. Unfortunately, we had just missed communion, so missed taking a service in this church.
St. Paul's Cathedral was still open when we got back to that part of town, so we went to Evensong - beautiful music, not too long, perfect for our short attention spans. Sadly we sat in the 'tourist' area, not the 'parishioner' area, so people were constantly moving around and we were far from the choir. This really is smart on the church's part, since people are generally pretty rude, but not so good for us!
What better way to end a day of Churches than with porn? We were only partly kidding in our last post: we went to see Avenue Q at the Noel Coward Theatre. This is the musical that boasts such songs as "The Internet is for Porn" and "Everyone's a Little Bit Racist." It was hilarious, Colin and his floofy hair felt right at home. I think it was a perfectly romantic way to end our 5 year anniversary.
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Monday, April 28, 2008
Days 0 - 2
Day 0, or "CIBC Sucks (Here, There, and Everywhere)": We arrived at Gatwick on the same flight as some of my classmates, so we shared a train to Victoria Station. Jenn and I found an ATM willing to dispense money on only our third try. Note: my debit and credit cards, both TD-issued, work quite well. Jenn's cards, from the venerable CIBC, not so much.
We spent the day hiking along the Thames with our packs to the hostel, where we promptly collapsed. However, since we are not the brightest bulbs you have ever read by, we got up again and wandered around Covent Garden for a while, watching the street performers.
Day 1, or "Modern Art (Not a Second Time)": We visited the Tower of London, a worthwhile place with many interesting artifacts therein, including the Crown Jewels. We visited Tate Modern, a worthwhile place, still filled with the clutter of moving in, apparently.
We spent the evening wandering around St. James park, where there are Geese and flowers.
Many buildings are beautiful at night, as we discovered on our walk home.
-Colin
Day 2, or "Too Much Art (Don't Pass Me By)": Culture day. No, there will not be another. We saw rare original manuscripts at the British Library, including the Magna Carta, Rachmaninoff's 2nd Symphony, and Shakespeare's Sonnets.
At the British Museum, we saw statues and works of art from ancient Egypt, ancient Greece, ancient Rome, and Canada (yes, they were all stolen. Huzzah for the British Empire). Apparently, if your country was pillaged and you write a nasty enough letter, you'll get a replica of the item in question: it worked for Egypt, whose Rosetta Stone was taken. Then again, it didn't work for Greece: as they still have the Parthenon itself, I suppose they're not eligible for receiving a knock-off of the statues taken from it.
At the National Gallery, we saw precious works of art from across history. My favourite was, of course, Van Gogh's Sunflowers.
Unfortunately, if you touch any of the items at any of these places, they chop off your hands.
-Jenn
Day 3, or "Happy Five-Year Anniversary! (All You Need is Porn)": ...if you're not Dan, you might be confused here. Still to occur.
We spent the day hiking along the Thames with our packs to the hostel, where we promptly collapsed. However, since we are not the brightest bulbs you have ever read by, we got up again and wandered around Covent Garden for a while, watching the street performers.
Day 1, or "Modern Art (Not a Second Time)": We visited the Tower of London, a worthwhile place with many interesting artifacts therein, including the Crown Jewels. We visited Tate Modern, a worthwhile place, still filled with the clutter of moving in, apparently.
We spent the evening wandering around St. James park, where there are Geese and flowers.
Many buildings are beautiful at night, as we discovered on our walk home.
-Colin
Day 2, or "Too Much Art (Don't Pass Me By)": Culture day. No, there will not be another. We saw rare original manuscripts at the British Library, including the Magna Carta, Rachmaninoff's 2nd Symphony, and Shakespeare's Sonnets.
At the British Museum, we saw statues and works of art from ancient Egypt, ancient Greece, ancient Rome, and Canada (yes, they were all stolen. Huzzah for the British Empire). Apparently, if your country was pillaged and you write a nasty enough letter, you'll get a replica of the item in question: it worked for Egypt, whose Rosetta Stone was taken. Then again, it didn't work for Greece: as they still have the Parthenon itself, I suppose they're not eligible for receiving a knock-off of the statues taken from it.
At the National Gallery, we saw precious works of art from across history. My favourite was, of course, Van Gogh's Sunflowers.
Unfortunately, if you touch any of the items at any of these places, they chop off your hands.
-Jenn
Day 3, or "Happy Five-Year Anniversary! (All You Need is Porn)": ...if you're not Dan, you might be confused here. Still to occur.
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