Suffolk Near the Sea

My new housemate Katherine invited me to accompany her home to Sweffling, Suffolk for the weekend, where among other things I was introduced to creamy fish pie, cocker spaniels, and the comedic genius that is Michael McIntyre.

This is the neighboring market town of Framlingham.

Katherine heard that Americans like castles because we don't have them (true), so she took me to Framlingham Castle, which was built in the 11th century.

This is the preparatory college across the mere from the castle.

Framlingham graveyard

We took the dogs on a walk in the marshland, near the river Alde. The above photograph was taken earlier in the day and from the opposite direction as the following photograph.

Long shadow in Snape, Suffolk

Concert hall in Snape that houses the annual Aldeburgh festival.

The River Alde.

We drove to the sea side to watch the sunset, which have been remarkable in England these past few weeks.

We were just outside Aldeburough on a peninsula in between the River Alde and the North sea, so the sun set over the river. You can see how the river nearly spills into the sea in Aldeburough, and then cuts back down the coast for miles.

Frozen boat on the River Alde

White Elephant Cash-In

At our white elephant holiday party I walked away with a meal voucher courtesy of Alfie, the naked chef. I stole if off of Rachel, who went back to Berkeley in December, and I was terrified that someone else would steal it off of me, but they didn't.

We agreed on Italian. The boys spent all day shopping and preparing the feast.

Tortellini rolling lessons.

Two of my favorite people. Katie was my guest and Nick was sou chef.

First course of organic sourdough bread from Alfie's family's bakery, goat cheese, sun dried tomatoes, olives, salami, and prawns. Oh, and California rosé.

Homemade six mushroom tortellini. Delizioso!

I failed to photograph the final course of vanilla ice cream with raspberry sauce because it just looked too good. It was.

Favourites from Musée d'Orsay

Claude Monet, Beach at Etretat

Edgar Degas, Ballet Rehearsal on the Set

Edgar Degas, Dancers in Blue

Edgar Degas, Dancers

Claude Monet, Poppy Field

Paul Guigou, Washerwoman

Claude Monet, Woman with a Parasol

Claude Monet, A Field of Tulips in Holland

We stayed in a hostel in Montemartre, right below Sacre Couer. On our first night in Paris we took the stairs up to see the view.

The Siene and Pont Neuf (the new bridge), the oldest bridge in Paris.

We took a free walking tour around the city, and when we were at the Louvre, Katie and I got shitted on by the same sea gull, simultaneously. We were standing in a group of over 20 people and were were the only ones so lucky. It made my day.

After suffering through the cold we were rewarded with a dynamic sky later in the afternoon. This is Musée d'Orsay from the jardin de Tuilerie.

This is the restaurant that my mother and grandmother and I frequented when we were in Paris nine years ago. I remembered which metro stop it was at, and I was thrilled when I found it. After checking the prices, we dined next door.

I ordered an epic salad.

Zurich

Zurich was beautiful. It was cold and felt very expensive. I have dubbed it the city of infinite bell towers, because everywhere we walked, there was another one. And they were all set to different times. We stayed in the heart of Old Town Square, complete with cobbled streets and narrow alleys.








On our final morning in Zurich we had a 1 pm train to catch, so we left the hostel at noon. As we were walking along the river, the bell towers started to chime, and they continued to do so for a solid 15 minutes, each one in turn.

Impressionism

In Vienna we went to an Impressionism exhibition at the Albertina museum. Represented artists include Courbet, Caillebotte, Manet, Monet, Renoir, Cézanne, Pissarro, Signac and van Gogh among others. These were some of my favorites.

Albert Besnard (French, 1849-1934). A Meadow in the Park in Calais, 1890. Oil on canvas.

Claude Emile Schuffenecker (French, 1851-1934). Notre Dame in the Snow, 1889. Oil on canvas.

Édouard Manet (French, 1832-1883). Bunch of Asparagus, 1880. Oil on canvas.

Pierre-Auguste Renoir (French, 1841-1919). Woman with a Parasol in a Garden, 1875-76. Oil on canvas.

Pierre-Auguste Renoir (French, 1841-1919). On the Banks of the Seine at Rueil, 1879. Oil on poplar wood.

Impressionism is my favorite art form. I love that its subjects are often bathed in sunlight or obscured by snow, just like my European vacation. Paris is next!

Vienna

I loved Vienna. It was regal and clean and impressive, the people were helpful and kind. It was cold (of course) but absolutely beautiful. And we got blue skies for the first time this year!

This is the Belvedere palace, which houses Austrian art dating from the middle ages to present day. At the heart of the exhibition is the larges Gustav Klimt collection, including "The Kiss."

The Belvedere does "command a grand view."

City Hall

City hall at night

On our last morning in Vienna we went to a mile-long open air market. We bought prosciutto and sunflower seed bread and dried apricots and falafel and fruit for our overnight train ride to Zurich. The last thing we saw in Vienna was the Schönbrunn Palace.

Side gardens

It is said to marvel Versailles. Almost.