Laura at Newcastle upon Tyne

2007-06-11T10:33:00.000-07:00

THE END of my EXTERNAL SEMESTER in NEWCASTLE

My semester finished officially on the first of June (we were supposed to finish our projects – which I couldn’t as it is really really a lot of work left…however I could do as much as possible until now…).

We gathered together for a final dinner and pub crawl after the exhausting semester.
But before that we mad a group picture with all of the students in my course!

…. All of my study colleagues which I will miss very much - we had very much fun together…

2007-06-07T13:14:00.000-07:00

HI EVERYBODY!!!
Sorry for the biiiig delay of updating my blog… as my usb isn’t working any more and my cd-burner as well I had pretty much trouble downloading my pictures… (and I also forgot to take my camera with me to Vienna!) … however I’ll try to do my best to figure it all out to provide you with my latest news and (hopefully) pics!

Laura!

2007-06-07T12:19:00.000-07:00

MAGGIE IN NEWCASTLE
Maggie came to visit me in Newcastle (26.-30.5.2007) so I wanted to show her only the best side of “the toon”!
She arrived and we went to another BBQ at the beach. We’ve been quite lucky as the weather was pretty nice until it started to rain heavily and we had to go home... .

... the weather...We’ve been to the Jesmond Dean Park and the Arts and Crafts Market on the Armstrong Bridge the next day, where we wondered around a bit and enjoyed the beautiful weather again!
Than we went to the Tynemouth flee market, which is in the metro station. Afterwards there was a Viking’s festival going on at the castle and priory in Tyneside which we couldn’t miss either... (of course we had a nice little break in a pub in between!).

in the Jesmond Dean Park...

Tynemouth flee market...

In the evening we’ve been to a bar called “As you like it” which has nice live music and bear... .

On monday (also in England free – but called “bank holiday” instead of “Pfingstmontag”) Maggie, Alex and me went to Alnwick castle and Lindisfarn castle and priory.

Both are in Northumberland.
Alnwick is the residence of the Duke of Northumberland. And it was built immediately following the Norman conquest.
The castle a stand-in for Hogwarts castle in the Harry Potter films!!!! (And I’ve been there! Yuppie!!!) ;-)
...Alnwick

Lindisfarne is also sometimes called “Holy Island” and it is a tidal island off the north-east coast of England, which is connected to the mainland of Northumberland by a causeway and is cut off twice a day by tides.
However we didn’t get cut off as we were so intelligent to have a look at the tide plans!

The monastery of Lindisfarne was founded by the irish born Saint Aidan, who had been sent from Iona to Northumbria at the request of King Oswald (around AD 635). It became the base for Christian evangelising in the North of England. The monastery is now a ruin (English Heritage).

The Lindisfarne Castle is a 16th century castle, much altered by Sir Edwin Lutyens in the early 1900s (however beautyful and worth a trip!).

After this exhausting day we decided not to lie down but to go to the “Evolution” festival (a Newcastle-town-festival with two stages and some performing bands!).
We saw “Maximo Prak”. They were really good (by the way; they are from Newcastle!) and so we had a great finish of this beautiful day... .

On tuesday and wednesday I had to go to the university again so Maggie had the chance to finally visit Newcastle!

On thursday Maggie went to another friend and I flew to VIENNA!!!

VIENNA
Unfortunately I forgot my camera in Newcastle so I have no pictures... :-(

However Vienna was great. I met lots of friends again and celebrated some occasions!

Back in Newcastle I finished my semester abroad, handed in all my reports, assignments and documentations and went to a Chinese restaurant and to a pub with my study colleagues once more! (Yuppie!)

2007-06-07T12:18:00.000-07:00

BBQ
As I’m in England I definitely had to go to a real British BBQ. However a French guy invited us and so the real British BBQ was a real French BBQ with lots of other international students at the end... . It was a great evening... .

... a french girl had birthday.

...some french, german and austrian friends.

2007-06-07T11:08:00.000-07:00

DUBLIN (19.-20.5.2007)
Monika, Alex and me went to Dublin... As the plane tickets were really cheap (even cheaper than the train tickets) we decided city hop a bit and visit Dublin.
We caught a beautiful weekend with marvellous weather. So everything was ready for two great days!

Of course we’ve seen a lot. For example:
We visited the Trinity College, which is one of the oldest universitys in the country. One famous alumnus was e.g. Samuel Beckett.
It is also – amongst others – the ‘home’ of the “Book of Kells” now, which is a great gospel book of the 9th century.

We’ve also been to the National Gallery, which holds a fine collection of artworks. Caravaggio, Vermeer, … everything can be found here.

As we had two days we also had a walk through the city, which is pretty nice. While walking along the alleys we saw many statues: Molly Melone - who was a fishmonger and inspired a very famous Dublin anthem: 'Cockles and Mussels' and of course Mr. James Joyce and many more.

As we had one night we didn’t want to miss the nightlife in the “Temple Bar” district with its various pubs, bars and discotheques.

The next day we say St. Patricks Cathedral.

After the exhausting events of the last one and a half days we of sightseeing we really deserved a cake at “The Queen of tarts”. This little coffee shop who won many prizes for their tarts, scones and cookies...(and thanks Aisling – a study colleague – we also could have a peace of one of its marvellous tarts!) … I definitely have to come back!... ;-)

Of course we’ve made a tour through the Castle of Dublin.

…and a walk along the river Liffey.

Before we got the bus to the airport we wondered around a bit and saw the Spire of Dublin, which is a 120 metre high landmark (you can’t miss it!), which was unveiled in 2002.

2007-05-13T04:23:00.000-07:00

SCOTT is going home... :-(
Yesterday was Scotts farewell (respectively good bye and see you again soon) party.
Monika, Scott and me went to Scott's Tennis Club and played tennis for around 2 hours! It was great and much fun even though it was slightly raining... .

After an exhausting game, we went to Lonsdale - the nearby pub - to meet other friends of Scott and have dinner there.
Afterwards we went back to the Tennis Club to a benefit fund for kidney research.
I was really tired when I came home after a long day...

2007-05-11T15:08:00.000-07:00

CANOEING, PUB and PIZZA

Last wednesday was the final session of the Northumbria Canoeing Club.

Unfortunately I managed to go only twice. However I really enjoyed it ... :-)

So - as it was the last meeting - we got this huge inflatable mattress ...

...YUPPIE!!!!...

... I only have this picture as I was a bit busy afterwards...!

After canoing we went to a pub (Lonsdale) and wanted to eat.

... every guy in the pub was looking at us ... strange feeling... :-)

(-can't be just because of the football match which was projected behind us?!?)

As there was no food served anymore at the Lonsdale, we went to a nearby italian restaurant (Alex, me, Monika and Scott).

... Yuppie - Pizza!!!

2007-05-06T18:28:00.000-07:00

DAVID @ NEWCATSLE UPON TYNE

David visited me (3.-6.5.2007) here in England! Although he was just 3 days here, I think he's seen a lot!
First of all I showed him the typical night life here...

...at the "Sports bar" in "The Gate" (a cinema and bar-building)

...at Mr. Lynch (also -of course- a pub!) ;-) with live music... everyone enjoyed the evening!

We also did sight seeing. So we've been to the Baltic to admire the pictoresque view from the terrace. (the Milleniumbridge, the Sage, ...).

... the Milleniumbridge...

... The Sage in Gateshead...

... i bought tickts for a footballmatch... Newcastle united agains Blackburn ... unfortunately Newcastle lost :-(

... the stadium was crowded! (wow!!!) ... it was great fun!

And some more sight seeing

...the "Black gate"

...the "new" Castle

...Blackfrias

2007-04-28T16:16:00.000-07:00

SEA - NIGHTCLUB
Yesterday (27.4.2007) some freinds and me have been to "Sea", a nightclub at the Quayside in Newcastle. I didn't know that club so I was really excited :-)
There are 2 dancefloors (or sometimes even more!) with different music and also sofas where you can sit and just watch, chat and enjoy...

2007-04-25T11:07:00.000-07:00

PAXTON HOUSE
With the University we've visited Paxton House.
It is a historic building next to Berwickshire, in the Scottish Borders and was built by the Adam brothers in 1758 for Patrick Home. It is one of the finest examples of 18th century Palladian Country houses in Britain.

... Paxton House...

...moreover it is surrounded by beautiful gardens... and famous for it red squirrels...

...there is an amazing collection of Chippendale furniture. Some chairs however became a bit too large... ;-) ...Monika and me...

2007-04-22T09:00:00.000-07:00

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ALEX...

...we celebrated Alex's x-birthday at "El coto", a spanish restaurant... hm... tapas!

...after dinner he got a chocolate, double chocolate topped icecream-birthday-cake with extra chokolate sauce on it... hm... everybody was jealous! :-)

...his speech was great ;-)

...than a funny discussion about experienced canoeing trips developed (and of course everybody had his own point of view of about these adventures) ... :-)

...afterwards we went to a bar called "As you like it" which was really cool. Unfortunately I forgot to take pictures there... ;-) ...sorry!

2007-04-22T07:03:00.000-07:00

EDINBURGH
...back to the island my parents and me visited Edinburgh from the 17.-21.4.2007. It was my second visit to Scotland and it was also great!
We have done a lot...
...National Gallery of Scotland...

...Edinburgh Castle...

...Holyrood Castle...

...the gardens from Holyrood... (as William is single again I should probably try to meet him sometime...) ;-)

TRIP TO STYRLING CASTLE AND LOCH LOMOND

... Styrling castle...

...Amarican guys who love dressing like scots...

...Loch Lomond... (we didn't see a monster unfortunately/or not??...)

...last but not least: a picture of my parents drinking Scotch...

2007-04-22T06:23:00.000-07:00

AMSTERDAM
From 11.-17.4.2007 I've visited David in Amsterdam, Netherlands (the land of tulips and bikes). It was great (also the weather - we had around 20-25 C)!

...the first to days David and me wondered around in the city centre and went to the Van Gogh Museum and many other places...

...the Rijksmuseum...

...in the Bagijnhof... one of the secret churches of Amsterdam can be found here...

..next to the Royal Palace...

...in the "new church" - which is a museum now (Istanbul exhibition)...

...on the top of the Stedelijk Museum there is a restaurant and bar with a amazing view over Amsterdam... wow... :-)

...for insiders ;-)

... at Febos... :-)

...of course I also got to know a little bit of Amsterdam's amazing night life... (at Paradiso - a disco which was in former times a church!) we had great fun.

... in a pub next to the sudent hostel...

... the mint tea which you can get everywhere was really good!...

2007-04-22T05:52:00.000-07:00

AMSTERDAM
on friday my parents came also to Amsterdam... the first thing we did: Rijksmuseum - not hard to guess... :-)
Afterwards we did a cruise through Amsterdam.

...beautiful views during the cruise...

...traditional food from the Netherlands... sausages and mushed potatoes

2007-04-22T05:35:00.000-07:00

DEN HAAG
During our stay in the Netherlands we also went to Den Haag and Delft. It was great (as the wheater was also really good!!). We visited the Mauritshuis where we saw some Vermeer (like "das Mädchen mit dem Perlenohrring")... and of course we wondered around in the city... .

...the Mauritshuis

DELFT

...following Vermeer...

2007-04-22T04:51:00.000-07:00

Sushi
... Alex made Sushi for us ... (Monika loves it!) ... it was sooo good... but now I just let pictures speak... :-)

2007-04-09T09:25:00.000-07:00

EASTER SUNDAY
As I was all by myself on Easter sunday (and a little bit ill) :-(
Alex invited me for a little trip to some Castles in the north of England (Northumberland) (he's got a car here!!!)... . The weather was perfect and therefore I could take a lot of beautiful pictures... :-)

WARKWORTH CASTLE

... we've been also inside of Warkworth Castle, which was great as you can see on some of the pictures... like going back to medieval times... :-)

BAMBURGH CASTLE

was gorgeous as well... and I definitely have to come back to visit the castle from the inside!

...next to the castle, there is a beach... the water was freezing.

DUNSTANBURGH

...was our last stop. We just took some pictures and admired the beautiful view.

...unfortunately I slept most of the time during the drive (stupid cold!) but nevertheless it was a grat Easter sunday!

Thank you Alex! :-)

2007-04-08T14:02:00.000-07:00

LONDON
...I've been to London from the 2.-6.4.2007. (2 days with the University to visit some conservation studios...)
London was - as always - amazing! I've seen a lot.
On our first day we visited the studio of the National Gallery. Unfortunately they seemed to have forgotten about us so we just had a quick look around. However we could see them during a lining process on the biggest Guido Reni of their collection. This was worth the visit to London anyway! ;-)

...some pictures in front of the National Gallery (the weather got better!)

... because we couldn't visit the investigation institute we had the rest of the day off.. so I went to the Royal Academy after wondering around in the National Gallery...

...in front of the Royal Academy!

...Than I went to Harrods ;-)

...On the second day we went to the Victoria&Albert Museum - great studios!!!

In the afternoon we went to a private studio which was also very interesting...

... Than I had days off... yuppie!

I went to the Camden Market and than to the Tate Britain. I saw the Hogarth exhibition which was also very nice.

2007-04-01T17:07:00.000-07:00

... HOLIDAYS...
... and just because of taht (I think all of you agree with me - this has to be celebrated) I went out the next day again... and again and again...
so here are some more party pictures from World's Headquaters...

... wonder what we've seen there?? ;-)

...finally a "normal looking" picture! yuppie!

2007-04-01T16:54:00.000-07:00

EASTER BREAK!!!!
Yuppie... since 30. march I've got Easter break - for three weeks!
I'm sooo(oo...) glad, I really needed vacation!
However my break will be very very busy anyway! ... what am I going to do and to which countries I will travel will soon appear on my blog... so keep on checking it! ;-)

...first some pics of Easter eggs which Bettina made for everyone of our class. (filled with chocolate topped rosins!) mhh.... THANK YOU!!

... and after the last exhausting friday before departing for the Easter break the whole class went to "Mr. Lynch", a pub near the University (also with live music and dancing and eating...)

( ... and drinking...) ;-)

2007-03-26T14:59:00.000-07:00

SHIPLEY ART GALLERY - Gateshead /Newcastle upon Tyne

... except sleeping i've been to the "Shipley art Gallery" in Gateshead, a town opposite Newcastle in the south of the Tyne river, on sundays...

The gallery is the home to a broad range of contemporary craft outside London as well as a spectacular collection of fine art, including William Irving's painting "The Blaydon Races" :-)

and much more. The Henry Rothschild Collection is also situated here.

2007-03-26T14:35:00.000-07:00

ST. PATRICKS DAY and MY PAPA'S BIRTHDAY
...with my parents - of course - and Monika and Alex and a lot of other people ...

... my father and me! ... ;-)

2007-03-20T05:50:00.000-07:00

HAUGHTON CASTLE

... wondering what I'm doing at this beautiful castle?
yes - we made a trip with the university there.

Becasuse next to the castle a conservation studio is settled down in a former mill.

...the castle lies in the west of Newcastle, near the Hadrian´s Wall (which we could see from the bus) ...

... the entrance to the castle.

... this it the beautiful studio-complex.

... as it is almost april, the weather was changing every two minutes from sleet to sunshine, from hail to rain...

2007-03-18T13:28:00.000-07:00

MY PARENT'S VISIT

After a hard week of studying and writing workshop files about lining and varnish removal my parents finally came to Newcastle to visit me and have a look around the city in which I'm living right now!
I think they liked it quite a lot... .

On their first day they got a chance to have a look around in Burt Hall – the university building in which the conservation studios are. I showed them around and they even got a glance to see “my” painting (on which I’m working at right now).

DURHAM

On Saturday my parents and I went to Durham. Durham is a small city near Newcastle which is well known for its Norman Cathedral and Castle.
The city can be traced back to 995 AD. Monks from Lindisfarne chose this place to settle down the body of St. Cuthbert. The present Cathedral was built from 1093 and the remains of St. Cuthbert still remain there. The cathedral is regarded by many travellers as “the finest cathedral in the world”...

And - as you can see on my pictures below... Durham is really very very impressive!

...me and the sanctuary knocker...

...the castle...

... on our drive home we saw "The angle of the north"...

2007-03-08T14:21:00.000-08:00

THE ELIXIR OF LOVE

...yesterday (7.3.2007) I went to the Royal Theatre to watch the (kitschy) opera "The Elixir of love" from Gaetano Donizetti . :-)

It is a sunny story about rivalry in love. It is about Nemorino and his love Adina, who pretends to fancy the charmer Belcore. A quack Dr. Dulcamara gives Nemorino a miraculous 'love potion' (wine) which should make Nemorino irresistible. He suddenly really gets the most eligible bachelor in the area (due to a big heritage from his uncle). Adina - who does not know that - finally acknowledges the strength of her feelings for Nemorino. The cheesy ending is completed when they hear of Nemorino's inheritance!

(already missing the opera in Vienna!) :-)

...The Royal Theatre - Newcastle upon Tyne - from the outside...

... from the inside...

... finally a picture of Bettina (one of my colleagues at the university) and me...

2007-03-08T09:39:00.000-08:00

CHEMISTRY LAB

...believe it or not... this is the view from our chemistry-lab... its beautiful! :-)

...you even are able to see Loveine Flats and the gym next to it on the right side (white building)!

2007-03-08T09:07:00.000-08:00

MIDDLESBOURGH
We made a trip to Middlesbourgh which is a nice industrial town approximately one hour from Newcastle away. We went by minibus. :-)

The most famous sight of Middlesbourgh is the transporter bridge (the blue one in the background), which we saw from the bus...

we went to Middlesbourgh to visit the MIMA... (middlesbrough museum of modern art??). We could have a look inside the brandnew conservation-studios (paper)... very interesting! :-)

...after visiting the museum we made a short walk through the city centre which is really cute... :-)

... view from the Mima...

2007-03-03T05:45:00.000-08:00

After an exhausting week of studying we had to celebrate the beginning of the weekend...

... Monika and me in front of "The Carriage" - a nice pub near the University Campus...

... and our colleagues having a pint!

2007-03-03T05:40:00.000-08:00

Addition to Edinburgh:

...yuppie!! (daran könnt' ich mich gewöhnen*g*)

2007-03-01T11:36:00.000-08:00

... the spanish party at Venue's is a must at wednesday evenings! ...

2nd farewell-party from Martin :-(

...after the party I finally managed to take a picture of the bunny which always hobbles around in front of Loveine Flats :-)

2007-02-26T13:46:00.000-08:00

...my 5th weekend in England! ... I can't believe taht time is running sooo fast!...

again: Worlds Headquarters - farewell of Martin :-(

2007-02-24T12:50:00.000-08:00

... at Luckies - the nearest pub to Burt Hall... and my colleagues after an exhausting week!

2007-02-21T15:13:00.000-08:00

in NEWCASTLE (again)...

... Babsi and I visited the Millenium Bridge!

... Babsi and me at the Baltic Museum... (and the sunset!)

... a little bit later!

2007-02-21T14:25:00.000-08:00

EDINBURGH!!!...

... first we had to find our hostel... It was really nice...with a medieval touch!

... the second thing we did in Edinburgh: we climed up all the stairs to the top of the Scott monument. Great view... juhu! :-)...

... We made it! Babsi, me, Monika and Scott (!) finally on top of the Scott Monument!...

... we've also been to the Outlook Tower with its Camera Obscura ... and other funny visual effects... yuppie!!! The tower is located opposite of Edinburgh Castle...

... so we had to take a picture in front of the beautiful Edinburgh Castel from the Outlook Tower... it was such an amazing day... (sure we've also visited Edinburgh Castle from the inside!)

... we had a try on the scottish speciality Haggis!

... tartans! (and: I bought a kilt!) :-)

2007-02-21T10:17:00.000-08:00

!!!VALENTINS DAY!!!

... VALENTINS DAY and Babsi arrived... this was a marvelous day! yuppie!...

... Scott and me at Haymarket...

... Babsi and me visiting Newcastle: in front of the Black Gate...

... Dinner at Valentin's day... PIZZA!!!

... Evening: first we went to a Dj contest, with Scott, which was really good... ;-)

... after the dj contest Babsi and I went to "The Gate", Beyond... and met some other friends there :-)

2007-02-12T19:03:00.000-08:00

..."The Gate" - a cinema-bar-building in beautiful Newcastle upon Tyne...

... home of Newcastle Brown Ale...

...China town in Newcastle...

2007-02-12T18:49:00.000-08:00

... my trip to LONDON...
(visiting Flo and Ellie)
...we went to Koko's which was an opera house and is now a disco... (genial!)

... Koko's

2007-02-12T17:56:00.000-08:00

...Nottinghill after an engish breakfast...

... Camden Market...

... Camden Market (with big soap bubbles in the sky)

...a walk through London

... a little excursion to the BAFTA-Awards from the British Film Academy!

2007-02-08T10:37:00.000-08:00

... at the University Campus...

... the view from my window... with SNOW!!!! Yuppie!!! (morning 8.2.2007)

... 7.2.2007 evening...

2007-02-06T15:10:00.000-08:00

... the Millenium Bridge (the picture is a little bit blurred because I couldn`t hold the camera steady during exposure... sorry... the next time I'll try to do it better!) :-)

... my first visit: Laing art Gallery!

2007-02-05T10:15:00.000-08:00

... Party von Martin... 4.2.2007!

2007-02-01T14:38:00.000-08:00

... NEWCASTLE...

... my room at Loveine Flats...

...my other flatmates!

...here you can see Burt Hall, where I am studying at the moment!

2007-01-29T12:20:00.000-08:00

...NEWCASTLE...in worlds Headquarters

Myself, Scott and Monika

Scott, Monika and my flatmate Timo

... ;-)

...Newcastle sightseeing
...Lovaine Flats
...at the bay

2007-01-27T12:59:00.000-08:00

... Hamburg (Museum für Kunst und Gewerbe) ... ein gutes Gefühl, wenn man etwas in einer Ausstellung sieht, das man selber bearbeitet hat

2007-01-12T13:22:00.000-08:00

... some couldn't come to Babsi's and my birthday party so they had to come to my flat - and I had to celebrate again... ;-)

...this was the picture to the invitation of Babsi's and my big birthday party...

für alle die dabei waren... vielen Dank fürs vorbeischaun... war cool! (me and Babsi)

...STOCKHOLM... David, me and Flo (who is in Stockholm right now!?) ...2006