Bath - A City of History

As the only British city to be regarded in its entirety as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Bath is undoubtedly one of the most historically important and interesting cities in all of the UK. Originally settled as a Roman resort called "Aquae Sulis" due to the presence of the world famous thermal springs located there, today Bath is a thriving resort town, and one of the most popular tourist spots in the country.

The Roman Baths (via)

The Roman Baths are undoubtedly the main attraction to most of the 4 million people that make the 1.5 hour trip from London. First noticed by the Romans and then made popular once again under Stuart and Georgian rule for their supposed healing properties, Bath became one of the in-style destinations for the British upper class and has remained so to this day. But the Roman Baths are not all that Bath has to offer. 

The Royal Crescent (via)

Some of the beautiful green space in Bath

Given its UNESCO World Heritage Site status, it should not be surprising that the city offers more than just the baths. A fantastic Abbey, some of the best examples of Georgian Architecture in all of England, one of only four store-lined bridges in the world, great parks, wonderful shopping, and a fantastic rugby team all await visitors to the City of Bath. 

The entrance to Bath Abbey

As we only had a day to explore the city, we decided to use some of the experience that we had gathered on our trip and utilize the free walking tour of Bath provided by the Mayor of Bath's Corps of Honorary Guides. These guides, many of which are retirees with extensive knowledge of the city, provide free (really free - like no-tips-allowed-free) approximately 2 hour walking tours of the major sites of Bath. 

The Pulteney Bridge - one of only four shop-lined bridges in the world

Unfortunately for us it was pouring rain the day we visited, but our guide made the best of it and we spent as much time as we could under cover. We learned about the history of the Roman Baths and the early settlement of the city, how Jane Austen ties into the city, the different architectural styles of the city's neighbourhoods, and many more interesting facts. We even saw Nicolas Cage's house.

The River Avon and the Pulteney Bridge (via)

Even though we got soaked all day long, Bath still was a fascinating city to visit and well worth the time. It is easy to get to via train from London (and the station is right in the center of town), and is compact enough to be explored by foot in a day or two.

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2 Million Years of History at The British Museum

Returning to London at the end of our trip was something we were really looking forward to. As we were a bit preoccupied with the Reading Music Festival back in August, we were unable to see anything other than the Natural History Museum and a little glimpse of the city's major sights. Picking up where we left off, our first stop was the British Museum, which, like many of the amazing museums we've been to, really requires multiple visits to see everything. 

The Greek Revival facade of the museum

The amazingly designed Great Court

With a focus on human history and culture, the British Museum is home to a huge collection of about 8 million artifacts from every continent. As we wandered among huge Egyptian sculptures, fully intact Greek temples, intricate hieroglyphic tablets, and primitive human tools, we were immediately impressed with the wide range of civilizations and time periods on display. However it was also hard to grasp the immense period of time covered by the museum's artifacts. The oldest man-made piece in their collection, a stone chopping tool found in Tanzania, dates back 1.8 to 2 million years, a time frame impossible to comprehend, and I regularly found myself trying to fathom how these items had survived for so many years and in such good condition. 
 

Paleolithic hand-axe - 1.2 million years old

Collosal granite statue of Amenhotep III

After our trip to Athens, one of our favorite displays was the Parthenon Gallery, which houses much of the marble sculptures and friezes from the Ancient Acropolis. Although highly controversial, with the Greeks calling for their return to the new Acropolis Museum in Athens, this display helped pull together a lot of the information we gathered in Greece at the beginning of our trip and made our visit to the Acropolis feel more complete. 

Mesopotamian wall relief

Canada is represented too with a totem from Haida Gwaii

One of the best things about London, for both locals and tourists, is that entry into many of the major museums is completely free. Not only do these free attractions help make London a bit more affordable, especially for the always budget-conscious backpacker, but a visit to any of these museums, even the few you aren't quite sure you will enjoy, is completely risk free. Pop in to see one painting, or wander a couple halls, or use the bathroom, without feeling obligated to "get your money's worth". 

The Grenville Library houses many interesting books and items

*Although entry to the museum is free, there is often a fee to visit any temporary exhibits. Check the museum's website to confirm free entry or any applicable admission fees.

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Paris Museum Roundup - the Louvre

We couldn't leave Paris without a visit to its (and probably the world's) most famous museum, the Louvre. After postponing our visit until Friday night, when entrance is free to those under 26, we entered the iconic glass pyramid and descended into the museum's entrance hall. 

The famous glass pyramid and Tuileries Garden

The Louvre...well, half of it anyways.

One of the more spectacular buildings we've laid eyes on this trip, which is really saying something, the Louvre is both elegant and a bit intimidating. With over sixty thousand square feet to explore, and thirty five thousand items on display, it's nearly impossible to see everything in just one visit; however, we were determined to give it a shot for as long as our feet could handle. 
 

The glorious, golden Apollo Gallery

Upon entering the impressive lobby under the great glass pyramid, we were surprised to find no lines...seriously, none at all - and after waiting for hours at the Vatican, Uffizi, Prado, and others this was simply amazing.. After taking a minute to warm up (it was freezing outside) we simply walked to one of the collection entrances and presented our passports for our free entry. With map in hand we decided on a rudimentary plan of action and set off. 
 

Looking out through the glass pyramid

After wandering through the museum's extensive collections of Egyptian, Greek, Roman, and Etruscan antiquities and 13th to 19th century paintings, we found our way to the sculpture collection. Easily our favorite space in the museum, the sculptures are displayed in a large, multi-level space with thirty foot ceilings and lots of glass that is immediately calming. It was also a great spot to hang out on a bench and rest our aching feet. Oh, and the sculptures were amazing - some of the best we've seen in any museum on our trip. 
 

The amazing salon of French sculptures

In addition to the museum's stunning architecture and displays, we really loved the way our visit to the Louvre brought together many of the parts of our trip. We were able to see Islamic carvings from Cordoba and Granada, pieces of the Parthenon marbles from the Acropolis in Athens, "halves" and "pieces" of sculptures that we'd seen "the rest of" somewhere else, and many others. This, and the British Museum (stay tuned), has really allowed us to put the historical part of our trip into perspective.

The Codex of Hammurabi (via)

Perhaps the Louvre's most famous resident, the Mona Lisa receives the majority of the acclaim. However, despite the fact that a good number of visitors skip the rest of the museum and only see it, it is a fairly underwhelming piece of art, especially compared to Leonardo Da Vinci's many other paintings and sketches. Nonetheless, this doesn't stop the crowds from forming, and it is one of the few places in the museum where you notice the crowds (amazing considering 15,000 people visit every day). 

The Mona Lisa  by da Vinci (via)

We ended up using almost every minute of our time at the museum and were able to see a good amount of the things we wanted. Here are some more of our highlights:

Psyche revived by the kiss of Cupid (via)

Winged victory of Samothrace

Assyrian relief sculpture (via)

The Seated Scribe, over 4000 years old (via)

If you are planning on visiting the Louvre, there are many excellent articles out there to make your visit a more efficient and rewarding one. We would suggest at least looking at the map online if you are going to be pressed for time. You can visit the website of the Louvre here, and if you are interested in seeing some of the best and most interesting objects, the collection catalogue can be found here. There is free entry for everyone on the first Sunday of the month, and for under-26's on Friday evenings from 6:00-9:45.

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Walking Around Paris in Photos

During our time in Paris, the majority of our time was spent simply wandering through the different arrondissements, snapping photos, and taking in the world famous landmarks. Not only did this allow us to get a great glimpse of the city, but it was also extremely friendly to our backpacking budget.

Starting at the Eiffel Tower, perhaps Paris' most recognizable site, we proceeded to slowly make our way along the neighbourhoods bordering the river Seine over our five days there. 

The Eiffel Tower, our first stop

Hotel National des Invalides

Sunset on the River Seine

Over those days we wandered around the magnificent architecture of the Louvre, through the beautiful Tuileries Garden, past the Grande Roue de Paris (aka the giant ferris wheel), across the Place de la Concorde, and along the bustling Champs-Elysees with its enormous Christmas market.

The Louvre by day...

... by evening...

... and by night!

In addition to the major sites, we thoroughly enjoyed wandering through some of Paris' most charming neighbourhoods like Le Marais and Montmartre with their great Basilicas of Notre Dame and Sacre Coeur towering above their surroundings.

A glimpse of the bell towers of Notre Dame

Details of the cathedral, up close

The gothic interior

La Basilique du Sacre Coeur.

We also made sure to enjoy some of the local - and not so local - fare while in Paris, including macaroons, falafels and spicy Sri Lankan curries!

Expensive macaroons in a store window

Our cheap macaroons from McCafe

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Paris' Luxurious Side

We'd heard murmurings of a fancy schmancy department store just a few blocks from our B&B that has spectacular views of the Paris skyline and decided to check it out. However nothing, not even a warning from our B&B owner that it was "expensive", could have prepared us for the over-the-top luxury and opulence of Galleries Lafayette.

Pure decadence

The intricate Christmas window displays (via)

Featuring furry friends, puppets, and Louis Vuitton luggage (via)

After passing lavishly decorated window displays and entering through the store's large glass doors, we navigated our way through throngs of excited shoppers taking advantage of some pre-advent sales. Initially shocked by people toting large Prada and Louis Vuitton shopping bags, everything seemed to slow down as we entered the inner workings of Galleries Lafayette.

The large tree that greeted us

Staring up in disbelief, we took in the scene in front of us. Multiple levels, stacked together like a beautiful layer cake, encircled an open domed ceiling of delicate stained glass, while a lush forty foot tree stood proudly in the centre, swathed in Swarovski crystals. A perfect blend of affluence, indulgence, and festive holiday cheer, it was incredibly beautiful and unlike anything I've seen before. 

The colours really were this amazing

Beautiful stained glass dome ceiling

Ceiling details up close

As we strolled through the store, passing luxury brands I'd only heard of in rap songs, I was intimidated by the beautiful items and the equally beautiful people buying them. Dior, Stella McCartney, Jimmy Choo, Gucci... Chanel; everywhere I looked designer bags, shoes, scarves, and clothes, were within touching distance. Although I was too shy to venture into the Chanel store, due my grungy backpacker garb, I did drool over their window displays a bit too long, it was probably quite awkward for the lucky shoppers inside. 

It was a bit more crowded when we were there (via)

Cosmetics counters on the main floor (via)

However more astounding was the fact that people were clamoring to snatch up these goods; there was a lineup at Louis Vuitton to purchase handbags, and at least half a dozen people seriously shopping in Chanel. I was confused, having never really realized that people actually spend $50,000 on a watch or $13,000 on a handbag, but here they were, in the flesh, spending as fast as possible.

After picking our jaws up off the floor we made our way to the rooftop and found the views as breathtaking as the interior. Not only were we able to study the stunning Opera Hall in detail, the Eiffel Tower felt close enough to touch, and amid the gray clouds we could make our Notre Dame Cathedral. Finally, growing tired of the crowds, we made our way out of the store and towards Starbucks - our version of splurging in the City of Light. 

The Opera Hall

Great rooftop views of the Eiffel Tower

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A Brussels Photo Essay

Brussels is a hard city to nail down. Elegant at times, with its beautiful Grand Place and modern European Union headquarters, it also has an unmistakable edge, evident immediately upon deviating from the well trampled tourist path. 

Some typically Belgian architecture

The home of the EU

At least they are creative with their graffiti

Although Brussels serves as a gateway to many picturesque towns and villages, including Brugge and its jaw dropping canals, like any large city, Brussels doesn’t share their intimate atmosphere. However what it lacks for in romanticism it makes up for with flavour. 

Snow on our last day

A bit rundown, but still beautiful old building

One of many comic walls in a typical neighbourhood

The elegant Grand Place

Brussels is home to a wide variety of tasty treats, including waffles, fries, chocolate and beer, the traditional Belgian delicacies, as well as some surprisingly delicious ethnic restaurants. During our five days we were able to sample some amazing Falafel and Indian curries, which provided a healthy break from our daily dose of waffles for breakfast and fries for dinner. 

Splurging on an amazing waffle

Hot mulled wine...still a no for us

Surprisingly, the Belgian people don’t appear to be plagued with obesity the way we are in North America -  if they are, they are doing a great job of hiding it. However we seemed immune to this phenomenon and took leave after five days for the good of our waistbands.

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