Eurotrip 2007

God, I feel like a blog slacker…..

So yeah, obviously I have had a crazy few months. After my little visit to the US, I was back for mucho carnival, derby, and Eurotrip madness. So this blog will be about EuroTrip 2007 – ‘cause those are the pictures I finally uploaded last night. 

First off, my brother/mom/her boyfriend arrived in London. That was fun, since they got to see where I was living, and I got to introduce Kalon to Europe. We had a few days in London before we took the Eurostar train over to Paris.



Paris was good, but I wasn’t enthralled. I have been there several times before so none of it was new for me. We also had a few annoying encounters with taxi drivers that left me seething and cursing the Parisians as a whole. We got tired of walking around, and ended up doing L’Open Tour bus, which turned out to be great! My French language skills started to come out again, as they always do when I am in France. 5 years of high school and university French and I cant actually speak it….but when I am surrounded by it, I realize I know more than I think. I often end up being the one who has to communicate with the locals for the family.

My mom and Don and Kalon enjoyed seeing the sights…a first for them. We had few amazing meals – with a friend of the family, and also with my Aunt Linda, Aunt Carol, Uncle Brent, and cousin Morgan – who we met in Paris. Kalon and I ended up trawling the streets later in the evenings. We really enjoyed the café culture, although were constantly shocked by how expensive cocktails were.

Highlights of Paris:

Jardin du Luxembourg

Drunk guy on the street (broke a bottle on my foot and made me bleed!)

Cathedral’s by night….then watching the quad skaters do their thing on the bridge
(sadly forgot to take pics)

And then to the countryside……….

We had a gîte rental in the village of Busserolles in the Dordogne countryside for a week with the whole family. I was woefully inadequate with the pics of people and the actual place we stayed, but I got lots of scenery. We stayed here: http://www.lamaillerie.net/ -- which is the gîte property that my mom’s former computer consultant bought with her partner. Tanya, Lisa, and Cole were great hosts and we had a fun time sitting around the fire pit by the waterfall and drinking lots of wine and ale with them. We sat around a lot, read The Dirt (Motley Crue book), ate some amazing food, and generally relaxed with the family.

Highlights of the Dordogne:

Birthday lunch at the Ferme Auberge “Les Forges de la Valade”
5 courses and champagne for my 34th birthday

The AMAZING Go Kart track

The beautiful town of Brantôme

Before the week was up, Kalon and I packed up our bags and headed back to Paris to pick up our friend Paul for the rest of our Eurotrip. Relaxing time was over, and it was back to party mode. We had Eurail passes, which were awesome. When you get a Eurail pass as an adult, it’s automatically first class. You still have to pay for the reservations on each train, but it’s totally worth it. So we picked up Paul at the Gare du Nord in Paris and hopped our Thalys train to Amsterdam. Had a great time on the train, chatting to a French woman and indulging in the free alcohol.



We arrived in Amsterdam and figured out how to take a train to our lovely budget hotel….the infamous Hans Brinker. This place has a bar and nightclub on location and is full of young party seekers. Our room was pretty funny….three single size beds with nothing else except a full size school locker each. Klassy. Beer was cheap though. And they have great ads.





Amsterdam is pretty cool. This is a city I have always wanted to visit, and it didn’t disappoint. The weather, unfortunately, was crap…so I would like another visit in the summer time in the future. I think this is a city that lends itself well to short sleeved shirts and riding bikes in the sun, so that’s how I want to experience it next time. Anyways…the city is quite charming, with the tall old buildings – complete with hooks at the gable tips to haul furniture and goods up into the houses out of the canals.



Kalon and Paul wanted to check out a coffee shop – otherwise known as the place you can buy weed – so we headed to the red light district and a well recommended spot. Can I just say….the red light district of Amsterdam is a surreal experience. The reality of scantily clad women behind glass walls just waiting to be engaged for paid sex is odd at best. Walking around and making eye contact with these ladies gave me a really weird feeling. I can imagine it’s totally different for guys, but for me I was just astounded by the obviousness of it all. Men and woman certainly are different. Anyway, certainly worth a stroll, at the very least…

So we went to the coffee shop and I had a laced cookie which did nothing for me except make me more sleepy. This is why I hate pot – and all drugs to be fair. But yeah, pot is just not for me. Never liked it, never will. Kalon wasn’t too keen either. He didn’t get much out of it that night, and had an experience the next day that really put him off it. I practically had to drag him out of a coffee house before he collapsed. Think I’ll stick to my drugs of choice: sugar and alcohol. Oh we did meet a vacationing couple in the coffee shop that was from Boston. WICKED accents too. Good times.





So the rest of the Amsterdam visit was good. I did a few culture things, including the Anne Frank Huis. That was pretty amazing for me, since I have been wanting to see it for a long long time. In middle school I became slightly obsessed with reading accounts of holocaust survivors, and I think the Anne Frank diary started it. Going through the house was like putting a mental picture into reality. I felt like I knew the people and the house already, because of all the reading. I was affected by it, and I am glad I took the opportunity to go.

I really liked the vibe of Amsterdam. I felt very comfortable there. Even though it’s Europe, and totally different from the US, I felt that as a casual liberal urban west coast girl I really fit in. Everyone seemed really chill and open minded and creative and just nice. I definitely want to go back. Plus, they all speak English.

And so on to Munich…our last stop.

Paul and Kalon and I boarded the ICE train (first class, with our own private cabin, natch) and headed to Munchen via Frankfurt. We were heading to Oktoberfest. Beer and pretzels called.

Scuzzi!

Back when Kalon worked at Accenture, he was on a training course with a great English gal named Victoria. They became friends, and over the years Victoria and her husband Alexander had visited Los Angeles a few times. Luckily for us, Alex is from Munich, and his family still lives there. So we were heading into Oktoberfest with some great local hosts, which proved to be a great benefit. We also met up with Wen, who flew in from Los Angeles to meet us.

We didn’t know what to expect when we arrived, but were immediately taken in by the Hurth family and given the royal guest treatment. A traditional Bavarian welcome dinner, followed by a sleep in a wonderful hotel next door to the family home, and the next morning we were ready to enter the Hippodrom tent for the official opening of Oktoberfest.

I was SO jealous of all the people in traditional costume. It was really impressive to see all the Bavarian pride and culture on display. Next time I am bringing a dirndl for sure! What can I say about Oktoberfest?! It was amazing. We spent the entire day in the beer hall…drinking liters of the good stuff, singing traditional songs, dancing, and just having a grand old time. I would go back any year for sure.

Alex and Vic

the Hippodrome

Beer me!

Hold on, still drinking!

Calf warmers, y’all!

Totally stole this cookie...

Drunk German biker dudes (the fat one tried to pull me…eww)

So if a day in the beer tents wasn’t enough, we had more Bavarian fun! The next day the Hurth family took us out to Lake Chiemsee (aka the Bavarian Sea) and the foot of the Alps. It was absolutely beautiful. We took a ferry to an island on the lake, where mad King Ludwig built a small replica of Versailles.

The Lake

Mini Versailles

Then we drove up into the hills overlooking the lake, and checked out the Hurth family property, where they are building a charming vacation home. The land has a beautiful view of Lake Chiemsee on one side, and the Alps on the other. What a great place…



Our day ended with a sunny spell in a biergarten at the foot of the Alps, drinking some cloudy wheat beer and taking in the Bavarian countryside. I think it’s safe to say that Bavaria and Munich were the highlight of the trip. Alex’s family was amazing, and we just had the best time with them. His mother only speaks German and French, so I found my French language skills getting better and better very rapidly. I could completely follow the conversation, and was able to pipe up every now and then. I think I really want to take French classes again, and become fluent.

I loved Munich, and definitely want to go back and check out more of the city. Also, the Bavarian culture and people were really charming. It felt totally different from the rest of Germany…and I hadn’t realized how much they are their own culture before I had a chance to see it for myself.

And so back to London…..a long day of first class trains and we ended up back at my flat in Notting Hill. The boys were in town for a few days, mainly because Kalon and Paul missed their return flight. (I came home to find them drinking a case of Stella and eating steak and chicken pies….good British day)

And that, my friends, was Eurotrip 2007 in all its glory.

Next blog: Notting Hill Carnival, London Rollergirls Expo Bout, and the new boyfriend…

P.S. if you getting this via email...make sure you check out the pics if they dont come through...just go to the actual blog page

Yes, I am still here!

Sorry...been a bit distracted. I will soon soon soon write up my whole euro vacation blog, but it requires me to upload and optimize a bunch of pics, thus the wait.

Meanwhile, I did have a blast, and now I am back at work in Notting Hill. Also dating someone, so there is news on that front.

To be edified soon....

Courtney went to America

Well I am sitting here on 4th Street in Santa Monica at my brothers apartment packing for my return trip to London. This has been quite a whirlwind visit, in many ways, but I am totally ready to go back.

More precisely, I really really need to get out of here now. :)

I think I haven't been gone long enough to be comfortable coming back here yet. As I predicted, just driving around LA and seeing so many familiar things often made me feel unsettled and strange. I dont feel I belong here, yet its soooo familiar that my mind is confused. London feels a bit distant too....was the past 4 months a dream?

My trip started by flying into LA and then 4 hours later flying to Vegas for RollerCon. Vegas was fun, if a bit overwhelming. It was great to see the massive quantities of rollergirls all in one place...I actually got to meet way more people than I did last year. I also skated a lot. Did some on skates training, some Flamingo Banks scrimmaging, and most importantly played the Team World vs Team USA challenge bout on Fremont Street. And hey....we totally won! I was there for 5 days and was ready to get back to LA.

So then LA. Yeah....bit odd to say the least. On one hand it was good to see people and some of the old haunts, but at the same time there was that unsettled feeling.

And yeah, not going to lie, dealing with the boy that I left behind when I went to London was a big part of that. I don't need to go into details, because if you are close to me you are probably privy to it anyway. Regardless, there were some ups and downs, some fun, some sweetness, feelings both good and bad, but in the end I think there is a sense of transition to a comfortable and healthy place. That's probably how it should have been when I went to London in the first place, but it somehow didn't go that way, and that led to complicated emotions and actions. I feel all cryptic here, but I am torn between the two extremes of airing dirty laundry and sharing nothing beyond a surface level. Just trying to strike a privacy balance and still communicate my state of mind with some context in a blog.

Anyway, I think the trip has been a little cathartic and introspective for me. I guess that's never a bad thing, although not always chock full of fun. And dont get me wrong, I did have fun. Hung with the ACDG girls and a lot of other friends too. Beach bonfires, bar crawls, crazy shenanigans, beach skating, karaoke, shopping, movies, cuddles, Tequila Tuesday, Tiny's, 107, family time, derby practice on a full track, OnDemand TV, Ice Blended Mochas, sushi, driving fast, Old Navy, The Other Room with Ms D and Francisco, numerous quality times with Adam/Joetta/Shane/Scarlene/Bee/Dia/Vodka/Holly/Minnie that crazy gal...

And now it's back to London. Really glad that Francisco (that's wolfsblood to you MySpaz friends) is coming with me from LA. I think having a good friend visit from home will make the transition back a lot easier. Then right after he goes I have the first LRG bout, then the fam comes over for fun times on the continent.

So conclusion: not the easiest trip....not a vacation in the traditional sense....ups and downs....fun times too....ready to go back and continue my new journey. See ya at xmas. Hope its more chill then.

Courtney On The Move – Coming Atcha!

So I am all the sudden getting frantic before a big trip. Only this time it’s not me moving to London, instead it’s me finishing my job here and getting ready to head back to the states for some visit time. I still have mixed feelings about it. I think it’s going to be a bit “odd” to be back in LA, but living in London. Things are very different than when I left. No more Adam…no more Mo…no more apartment or car. Maybe I will feel unsettled and a bit lost. Who knows…

Course it’s probably going to be fun too. I will have no responsibilities, and plenty of time to skate on the beach, party with my girls, flirt with outgoing American men, and chill with my family. And I am starting the whole thing off with RollerCon in Vegas.

So….for those wanting to know, here is the schedule of “Courtney’s Two Months Off Work Extravaganza!” (Brought to you by Microsoft™...but made on a Mac™)

August 8th – August 13th
LAS VEGAS

Wednesday - I fly into LA at 1pm on the 8th, run around getting stuff, then fly to Vegas with Dia Blow at 8pm.

Why? RollerCon…that’s why. Drink, drink, schmooze, talk derby, meet rollergirls, drink, sing karaoke, sleep.

Thursday – on skates workshops at the Imperial Palace, meet more rollergirls, drink water only, eat healthy. Meet up with Team World at 7pm in the lobby of IP for meet and greet…then we head to Flamingo Banks for the pick-up scrimmages…then back to IP to make our shirts for the challenge bout.

Friday – on skates workshops…..say hi to all the LA rollergirls who are starting to roll into town. Trade pins, stickers, etc…. Make team lineups for challenge bout. 5pm on Fremont Street – TEAM WORLD vs TEAM USA, with me as Team World captain. Kick ass and wipe the concrete with Team USA….watch the other scrimmages….head back to IP. Roller Derby Coaches meet and greet pizza at the IP. Eat, drink, schmooze, drink, talk derby, drink… Back to the room to get ready for the Black and Blue ball. Party hard at the Black and Blue ball. Maybe hit the OG for late night action. Get obnoxious on the strip in our Ball outfits. Sleep.

Saturday/Sunday – drink, sleep by pool, skate, schmooze, drink, etc…

August 13th – August 24th
LOS ANGELES

Back in Hell-A. Party with Joetta and the girls. Tequila Tuesday debauchery. Bar Marmont, Tiny’s, etc… Skate, skate, skate…on the beach and practice with ACDG. BBQ at my mom’s in Topanga. Visit from my dad. Buy a ton of stuff to bring back to the UK. Get a massage on Main Street. Generally feel rich with my UK pounds. Pine for real pints.

Leave on the morning of the 24th. Francisco is coming back to London with me, so we are flying on the same plane.

August 24th – September 12th
LONDON

Saturday/Sunday/Monday – recover from jet lag, get coffee at Coffee Plant, intro London to Francisco. Sunday and Monday are the Notting Hill Carnival, which is supposed to be a bit mental. I live in the heart of it, so we have a security guard posted on our door the whole time. Probably going to have a party with our flat as homebase. At least we don’t have to use the port-a-loo.

Next week and a half – hang out with Francisco and show him the sights. Also…big importante…lead up to the first every London Rollergirls Expo Bout!!!

Saturday the 8th – LRG roller derby descends on London full bore. After party at Big Red…drink, drink, dance, drink, get obnoxious, stagger home.



Sunday the 9th – my mom, her boyfriend, and my brother arrive in London.

Monday – Wednesday – play tour guide for like the 5th time this year. Should be fun though, since my brother has never been to Europe!

September 12th – 19th
FRANCE

Take the eurostar to Paris with the family on the 12th…meet up with two aunts, once uncle, one cousin in Paris. See the sights, play tour guide again, attempt to remember my five years of French. Fail miserably, but with a good accent.

Saturday the 15th – take the train to Angouleme and then drive to farmhouse gite in the Dordogne for relaxing fun times in the French countryside.

SUNDAY THE 16TH – MY BIRTHDAY….GODDAMN I AM OLD!

Wednesday the 19th – Kalon (brother) and I take the train to Amsterdam for relaxing fun times in the canals

September 20th – 24th
AMSTERDAM AND MUNICH

So Kalon and I are meeting Popo and Wen (two friends from Hell-A) in Amsterdam. I have no idea what we are going to get up to. Technically I don’t do drugs, and that’s pretty much one of the reasons people go to Amsterdam, right? I might have to do some cultural stuff….I actually wouldn’t mind seeing some Vermeer and the Anne Frank house.

Then we all head over to Munich for the beginning of Oktoberfest. Kalon has some pals who have family there, so we won’t be tourists on our own. And we are on a table at the big beer hall for the opening day of the festival. Now, unlike with the drugs, I do partake of the beer. I think I need to buy a drindl to wear. That’s my style.



And…finally…after all that craziness, we fly back to London where the boys hang for another day or so before taking off. Then I probably collapse or something. Oh, and hopefully go back to work somewhere.

Sweet.

Then I start planning my xmas vacation. Or maybe a weekend in Barcelona with the flat mate gals in November

Oh! Almost forgot.....

September 29th -- Joetta and her mom arrive in London! More debauchery! Garlic and Shots...SoHo...Big Red...Camden! Bring it!!

Senior Project Manager SLASH Actor

Check out some of the latest stuff from my job...

These are some results of the banner ad campaign we did the shoot with acrobats for...you can see me in the pink t-shirt on the left....and in here too, holding an arrow sign.

The company also just completed a really cool viral project which you should all send around to amuse your friends. Check it out: Private Dick Movie.

Tea at the Ritz

So last night a group of 6 gals went to tea at the Ritz Hotel. It was fab. A splendid excuse to get all togged up and make a spectacle of ourselves, to be sure. Went with some rollergirls: Slice Andice, Bikini Killer, Lady Frankenstein, and two friend's of Slice's who were visiting from LA (how funny to get a taste of home from them). Slice had her brand new custom fit corset dress and needed a place to wear it, so we all went full out with full rockabilly costumes, including fake lashes and cuban heeled stockings. I saw a hat on Oxford Street that I had to have, and this became the basis for my look. It was super fun. We ate finger sandwiches, tasty pastries, fresh scones, drank champagne and tea, and generally felt very posh. Then we walked through Leicester Square and Picadilly Circus and Soho, and had people stop us to take pictures with them. Good London times. I highly recommend it if you have a spare £36 and wants a taste of old fashioned London....check out some pics:

Group Shot Outsite the Ritz


My Fabulous Hat

New Tattoos