Les Adventures de Martinique

St Albans GANG

2008-02-27T07:50:00.000-08:00

Well, this is the gang from St Albans, a great bunch of people that I love hanging out with. They are really fantastic people, better than I could ever think I would meet before coming to live here. I feel truly blessed to have them all as my friends.

Here are some photos and follow the link for some MORE.

The best time

2008-01-03T12:19:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year!

With the new year comes always new resolutions or renewal of old ones. Even though I wouldn't say that I keep all my resolutions always, the ones for last year were different and I kept them beyond my expectations. What I mean is that I had planned beginning of the last year to improve my French and so I had started French lessons with a friend, but little did I know that I would end up in Martinique for few months to really improve my French!

As I mentioned in previous posts, my trip to Martinique had been the most exciting time of my life where I met so many people and made so many friends that I will not forget and some of whom have already come to England to visit me making the friendships even more long lasting.

Well, I also had the resolution for last year to learn guitar. I only manage to buy one, that must count for something right? :)

Now for this year it has been difficult to even start deciding on resolutions. After a fantastic year 2007, this year seems more like the year when I am still pinching myself that 2007 still happened. Well, I am sure that soon enough I will settle for some new year resolutions that will be taken out of necessity such as work harder, party less and sleep more. :)

Well, last year when Emeline and Gill visited me, we went together to see Kirk Franklin and Mary Mary in concert to the greatest Gospel concerts in UK. We had a fantastic time, and the concerts were great, even though I had my fingers in my ears for most of the concert to the loud volume on the speakers. I guess being so close to the stage didn't help the matter. So, here are some photos from that concert.

Also, Emeline, Gill and I went to London to Camden Market to do some shopping. We were already quite tired from the concert the night before so I am afraid our photos are showing us as tourists not too keen to sight see or do any shopping for that matter. However, we had a nice time together, especially after our meal at McDonalds. :))

Here are some photos. PLEASE CLICK HERE FOR MORE PHOTOS

C and Gill

Emeline and Gill

The Mirror

Emeline, Gill and I
Emeline and Gill
Where is your hand Gill?

And of course few photos of Mary Mary and Kirk Franklin ;)

Mary Mary
Mary Mary
None other K F
Kirk Franklin

My favorite song

Philippines Adventures

2007-10-06T06:28:00.000-07:00

It has been quite a while since I went to the Philippines, I know. My trip to the Philippines was fantastic. I visited many places, but this one was quite special. It was my first job trip and for that most of my photos are from a work environment, however showing the people I have spent a month with and had a lot of fun with.

So here are some photos from my adventures there.

My favorite view!
Originally uploaded by abrowneyedgirl

Transportation in the Philippines 10
Originally uploaded by abrowneyedgirl

Road signs in the Philippines :)
Originally uploaded by abrowneyedgirl

This is the smallest toilet I've ever been to. The sink hardly reached my knee. This was on a boat we took to visit the island of Corredgidor
Originally uploaded by abrowneyedgirl

Three filipinos
Originally uploaded by abrowneyedgirl

Regis, Anca and Jorgito, my workmates and friends!
Originally uploaded by abrowneyedgirl

For a rainy day!
Originally uploaded by abrowneyedgirl

CLICK HERE for more photos

The Queen's night

2007-09-12T01:19:00.000-07:00

I cannot not mention Betty's hen night, the best hen night party I have ever been. It was fantastic. We all met up in Leceister Square garden where our Betty became our Queen Betty (short for Elizabeth).

Now the story goes that Betty always considered herself a Queen, her favorite words being 'I am a Queen and I deserve to be treated like one'. So, for one day we let her believe that and what a day it was.

The Queen's entourage (wearing red capes) were present for the coronation ceremony as well as well wishers and most probably fans of the Queen. :))))

Throughout the day Queen Betty had to prove to us what is she the Queen of and so there were many challenges along the way she had to take. I cannot remember them all, but one that I know Betty is,without proof, is DRAMA QUEEN, I love her for that. Ok, another one, and the KITCHEN QUEEN, Betty's food is so delicious!

Before the coronation!

Getting ready for the ceremony

The royal entourage

The royal robe

Simply Queen Betty

The Queen and I

Few days later, Queen Betty became the queen of Dale...

The royal couple, Betty and Dale

The bridesmaids

The groomsmen

The cake

My date

MORE PHOTOS FROM THE HEN NIGHT AND WEDDING HERE.

Romanian adventures

2007-09-10T02:30:00.001-07:00

After Martinique, was Romania, my homeland.
Being at home is always good, the country has undergone so many changes is almost like visiting a new country all together, then there is the family and there is always the food, which tastes better and better with each time I am there.

There is the visiting of all relatives that haven't seen you or you them for ages also, and then there are the usual reunions, especially of those living abroad at our grandparents house at least one sunday a month, if not every single one of them.

Oh...my family...I would need a long time to finish talking about them. Like every eastern european family and country for that matter, FOOD is big and is part every family gatherings and of course is that HOME COOKED food that is so delicious. In my family such gatherings, especially at our grandparents house could easily have 50-60 people, and that is to say that I have a BIG family.

My family must be the funniest family I know, they are great story tellers also, and with that combination family reunions are unpredictable and exciting. And of course, the stories are about things happening in the family, and if you have an eventful past most likely it will be revealed over a tasty meal, when you least expect it. Needless to say, that you wish certain things would stay in the past.

These are some photos of my country and family. CLICK HERE

Part of my family
Originally uploaded by abrowneyedgirl

My bro, Catalin and I
Originally uploaded by abrowneyedgirl

More family
Originally uploaded by abrowneyedgirl

Images of Romania
Originally uploaded by abrowneyedgirl

Mes amies de Martinique

2007-09-09T04:21:00.000-07:00

My adventures of Martinique were really good. I learnt quite alot of French, I ate very well, I visited so many places, but most importantly I met alot of people, whom showed me exactly what the FUN is in Martinique and allowed me to experience their culture in true meaning of the word.

Martiniquan people are very friendly and hospitable. They are very trendy and modern, and they know what is good food and fun. They also sing very well and oh boy they are fabulous dancers. Being part of France, yet different culture, Martiniquan people, however, are equally charming as their french counterparts.

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE REST OF THE PHOTOS

These are only few photos:

Erika and I

The ROBERT gang

Nicolas, me and Stevey

Gill and Thierry

Vespers gang, ST Joseph

Beatrice and french company

Emeline and I

Fabrice and I

The W gang

Magaly, Erika, Emeline and I

Bernard, Robert, Natasha, Anta and I

Anta and I

Anta, me and Thierry

Robert and I

Millar sisters and I at the airport, my departure day

Gill, his cousin and I

Magaly, the funnies girl I know

At the airport my departure day, lots of tears, me, Aurelie and Erika

Feddyn'z, me and Aurelie - lunettes exchange

Gigi

This is one of my favourite photos- Oliver, Aurelie and I

Sightseeing Martinique

2007-08-27T13:04:00.000-07:00

While I was still in Martinique, towards the end of my stay there, I did quite a lot of things I didn't document here yet. So here is an attempt to do so, briefly.

One of the interesting sights in Martinique is the Anse Cafard Memorial.
The memorial is comprised of 20 white stone massive, eight foot tall statues. They are carved into impressionistic human shapes, shoulders hunched, heads bowed to the ocean. The story dates back to Martinique’s long and horrific history of slavery. On the night of April 7, 1830, a stormy sea sent a ship carrying slaves crashing into the rocks along the Diamant coast. Slaves chained together in the cargo holds were bashed against the rocks and drowned, along with most of the ship’s crew. These statue were created by an native sculptor and the place is overlooking the place of the crash.

Le Roche de Diamant

I visited also a banana museum. Until Martinique, I must admit I never thought that a banana museum would exist. I didn't even know that they were so many different types of bananas.

And of course, the yole competition. It is uniquely in Martinique that you find this competition. It happens every year and people across all Martinique and even abroad come especially to watch it. You can even go on a boat and watch the competition alongside the yoles. Thing that I did. Unfortunately there were two things wrong in my picture perfect of the day: rainy and cold weather and the boats that are there to 'watch' the competition are actually not allowed to be too close so without binoculars you can't see much. However, being on the sea, on a rough sea may i add, enjoying good food and company it makes the whole yole thing on the boat not so bad. Here are some photos:

I went in one of those boats

A bit behind!

2007-08-13T23:09:00.000-07:00

There are few days I haven't updated my blog, mainly because I traveled what it seams around the world in few days and arrived in Romania my homeland. I never been so badly jetlagged as this time. It took me about 9 days to recover from it and fall asleep like the rest of romanians. Hooray!

Also, the moment you step in your homeland you need to start your visits to all of your relatives, which are in no way 'skippable'. So, jetlagged and still traveling, there is little chance to update my blog.

And is not much I can do without showing you some photos which at this point it proves rather difficult due to technology and lack of time.

Karaoke night

2007-07-31T14:55:00.000-07:00

When I was told I am going to a karaoke restaurant I imagined the english versions of it, meaning that some brave people will go up on the stage and sometimes 'murder' a song. Well,the Martinique way, is that there is no stage, and you have a DJ that walks and sings around the table and when you least expect it, he puts the mike in your face and you have to carry on with the song. He probably saw the panick in my eyes and so he avoided coming with his mike towards me, even though he asked me once if I was ok.
And, of course, no one sings solo,once the song starts all the people are joining in, screaming rather than singing, I guess is the martinique 'murder' of a song.

Aurelie and Olivier

Aurelie and I (the proof I am singing in french)

The three best friends

Our DJ

Anta and I

And of course just the audio proof of our karaoke night...We weren't drunk, even though we might sound like it. It was definitely fun!

Soweto Gospel Choir

2007-07-27T06:50:00.000-07:00

This is another show I have seen in Martinique, a display of the african culture. Unfortunately the batteries for my camera died (not to mention how mad I was because of it) and this is all i could take for that evening.

Legends of the storm

2007-07-20T12:47:00.000-07:00

'Legends of the storm' is the title of a show from Georgia that I saw at Grand Carbet, one of the cultural centres in Martinique. This was an extraordinary show with great ballet and impressive 'acrobatiques' as french put it. It was the first time I've experienced anything from Georgia so I was very impressed with the display of culture, the dresses, the music, the accurate and precise performance, the suspance, the great ballet dance and the accrobatic scenes, I guess I really liked everything. :)

As usual here are some PHOTOS and videos :

Le grand ballet de la Martinique

2007-07-10T14:00:00.000-07:00

Yesterday evening Anta and I went to see the 'Grant ballet de la Martinique' an open air show, by the sea, in Fort de France. It was an extraordinary thing to experience really. I absolutely loved it. They were so many different dances such as the dance of love, of the umbrellas, of the sclaves, even mazurka, the polish dance adapted to the culture here. Here are some photos and videos.

With other words, tasting a bit of Martinique culture! MORE PHOTOS...

Camp Meeting Final Day

2007-07-08T07:03:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was a beautiful day. Went to church, spent time with friends, made new friends, ate by the beach, went to church again, made even more new friends, ate pizza at exactly 10 o'clock at night. Despite that late food intake, slept very well yesterday night.

Yesterday it was the camp meeting final day so the day was festive with good music and good preaching. I must admit, the music here is fantastic. I could just listen and listen and you can't help yourself not to move in the rhythm of the music. Absolutely fabulous! Just listen to these guys.

Even though packed to its full capacity, seating for me has not been the problem. I think the ushers believed I am not a christian or something and therefore went even out of their ways to find me a seat, sometimes right up to the front of the speaker. One lady held my hand so tight, (despite of my explaining that I was not leaving the meeting), and made me walk all the way up to the front in the view of everybody, including the speaker, which I am sure used that long pose to let me settle in my seat. Yesterday was not different, I arrived late and in two seconds I was seated. This time I didn't say anything, I just sat down. The little boy ,in front of my seat, even offered me a mint!

As I said the day was fantastic, finishing it off with a great pizza at La Marini restaurant, Anta and I.

Camp meeting

The cute little boy!

Terry, me, Melissa, Jessy and Anta

In front of the restaurant

The restaurant

Waiting for pizza

The fighting dance

2007-07-08T06:55:00.000-07:00

They have introduced finally the video link! So here is a video with the 'fighting dance' I was telling you about in my 'A bit of culture' post. So check it out!

At the beach!

2007-07-08T06:20:00.000-07:00

I love going to the beach, especially my new hobby, sitting in low water and chatting. It is perfect!

Trois Ilet

Trois Ilet

Trois Ilet

My new hobby

Lesly

Lesly and lunch

Trois Ilet beach

Lesly and I

:) :) :) :)

2007-07-04T04:56:00.000-07:00

I feel so uninspired to write today, even though there are plenty of things I could share.

I met some great martiniquen people these past days, and I have been hanging out with them. I had plenty of photos taken, notice the 'had' there, but in an attempt to change some settings on my camera I managed to format my memory card few times, causing me to loose all photos I had.

I finally experienced the french cinema. Let me tell you I liked it better than England one. They have extraordinary seats, huge and plenty of space to put your legs, popcorn, snacks and drinks, not to mention the huge screens. I saw Spiderman 3. I am not a great fun of Spiderman, really, but I enjoyed it very much. It was my first french cinema experience! (unfortunately no photos as mentioned above;hope to go again though and replace them)

Since last Friday, here in Martinique, the 3rd adventist camp meeting started and I have been going there every day. It is really interesting and I have not seen a camp as big as this. Easily, thousands of people are gathered from everywhere in the world, especially the other island countries such as Guadeloupe, St Lucia, French Guyanna etc.

I guess what makes it exciting also is the fact that I ride in an ambulance every day to get there and come back home. Don't worry I am perfectly ok, is just that as a requirement, an ambulance needs to be there in case of anything happening, and since the family that I live with has an ambulance business, here I am every day riding in it. I must admit it felt a bit odd on Saturday nicely dressed emerging, oh well, from an ambulance, however some things just need to be done. :) :)

The ambulance

Aurelie and I

Aurelie and I at the camp meeting

The speaker for the camp meeting

A bit of culture!

2007-06-25T15:09:00.000-07:00

It is common or traditional here in Martinique for people on Sundays to take the boats to various islands surrounding Martinique and have a long day party. By party I mean alot of people, dance, music, games, sunbathing, swimming, sitting down in low water and chat, not mentioning the good food and atmosphere that these places have.

These islands are not populated by anybody, they are rather small and their beaches are not big either, but the vegetation is not too dense and it is a great place to be in a very hot summer day.

So I went along to one of these parties and found it extraordinary the whole experience. I arrived a bit late, so the dancing and the games were happening with fever. There were perhaps 500 people gather there, but the island didn't seem too small for that.

There was an interesting dance there, called bèlè dance. Originally is a flirtatious dance mainly performed by females who are dressed in doulettes (eight yards of colourful material). The women dance to tease the men while competing against each other, creating unique foot gestures and intricate patterns with their skirts. This dance is mainly performed to celebrate homecomings, birthdays and christenings.

Even though bèlè dance still exists in the original form, what I experienced is probably the adapted version to a day out. There are no women involved, which I am happy about, cause the dance becomes the'fighting' dance and can be a bit hard or dure as french put it.

You can see the rest of the photos here.

Rien a faire!

2007-06-25T13:49:00.000-07:00

It is true, in my case at least, when you do nothing you want to do nothing! Last week it has been a slow week, with not much to do. It was the week when for the first time I got used with the heat over here! I don't know if it is normal or I've been bitten by mosquitos too much, but I am tired all the time.

(It is said that if you are bitten by an exceptionally grand mosquito you can get dangue fever. Now, my daily routine is to check the size of the mosquitos I live surrounded by. So far, they are growing grande in the stomach...)

This week I feel also very tired and find it difficult to adjust to the newly changes to my body. My sunburnt arms and neck. It is rather painful to twist and turn at night, a good techinque I've developed to scare the mosquitos away. And I can do that without waking myself up, which I am getting myself mastered in. But my skin is getting browner and browner, the good thing about it.

I am still not used to the food here...I haven't found anything, as yet, to say that I really could eat it again and again and again. So, I am sticking to the fruit I like very much, but I miss a good chinese or indian or a pizza from Herbies. Yummyummmhhmmm.

Today I have experienced the first mega tropical rain. It rained so dense and powerful that you couldn't see or hear anything yet the heat does not go away. Slightly windier. All that in 5 minutes.

(I have been also informed about and what to do in case of a cyclonne. Is not much different than what I did today. Stay indoors all the time, eat what you have in cupboards and pray alot if it is alarm 3. If it is alarm 1 you have to be careful, if you are out, listen to that weather. If it is alarm 2 only the emergency cars can be on the road circulating, the danger is iminent. I am not sure I really want to experience that but I am just a toad curious.)

I guess that concludes my rien doing for now...still feeling tired.

More photos from Guadeloupe

2007-06-19T06:48:00.000-07:00

These are the rest of my photos in Guadeloupe.

For the Life in Guadeloupe click here

For the Point de Chateaux, a beautiful spot click here

For Point a Pitre, the capital click here

Enjoy!

A day at the Zoo

2007-06-19T06:19:00.000-07:00

More photos from the ZOO

I think I quite like visiting Zoo's, especially if they are on top of the mountains and the views from beside the monkey cages are stunning! The Zoo in Guadeloupe is just that .It is a combined Zoo and Botanical garden and even though it doesn't have a lot of animals (only monkeys, racoons, turtles and birds) it is rather charming. It is well presented with a rich botanical representation and did I mention is right on top of a mountain.
The tall trees are there for a reason, I believe it is called 'canope walking' because you can walk on the trees and admire the views of the mountain and the sea, which is breathtaking, that if you are not distracted by the constant moving with the wind walkway and the increasing distance between it and the ground. Here are some photos:

Marie Galand

2007-06-18T15:18:00.000-07:00

More photos of Marie Galand here

Marie Galand is an island which belongs to Guadeloupe. Is a small island but it has great personality. It is full of rhum factories and windmills. These windmills use sugar canes mainly to make sugar as expected. I only visited one of them which was called Moulin of Bezard (The windmill of Bezard) and is from 1814. And that is pretty much all I understood from the french guide we had. I think he used pretty much advanced french and I think he was very funny, cause people laughed alot around me and I didn't want to look weird so I was laughing too. It was bad for couple of times, because the guide asked me some questions which again there were in advanced french, and I guess he got it by the end that I just liked laughing for no reason.

Rhum factory and our guide! Yap there is alot of rhum!

Le Moulin de Bezard

Guelle Grand Couffre, a great view of the sea.

Then, we visited one of the most beautiful beaches I have every seen, had a nice lunch (there was a fish with that meal, which unfortunately didn't make it in the photo) and a great coco sorbet.

Visiting friends and eating great food!

2007-06-18T14:46:00.000-07:00

More photos of Carry and Xavier here.

It was so good to see Xavier and Carry, old friends from Newbold and spend a fantastic week with them. Unfortunately, Carry 'decided' to dislocate his shoulder on the day of my arrival and because of that he wasn't able to come with us to most places we 've been but we visited him often. So Xavier and sometimes his sister, Lovely have taken me to the wonderful places in Guadeloupe and we had a great time! Here are some photos:

Xavier and Lovely, brotherly and sisterly love

Lovely, Carry, Xavier, Coco and I

Xavier, his hat and I

Xavier, his hat, Lovely and I

Carry and I

Life in Guadeloupe

2007-06-18T12:56:00.001-07:00

A bit of Gwada!

2007-06-18T05:57:00.000-07:00

A week is always too little to visit a country and friends, but I would like to think I made the most of it and hopefully I will be going back for more!

I am not quite sure that Guadeloupe is very different than Martinique, I am yet to experience Martinique more, but for sure Guadeloupe has less mountains than Martinique. And that made it so familiar to me, it reminded me of the places I grew up. It is true I didn't grow up surrounded my sugar cane and banana fields but it was still familiar.

This is the smallest plane I've ever travelled with. I wouldn't recommend it for heavy turbulences, it feels 10 times worse than a normal plane!

This is the view from my room in Gwada!

I am back!

2007-06-18T05:38:00.000-07:00

Oh, finally I am back to updating the website....

As you know I was in Guadeloupe for a week and last Thursday I arrived home safely and been kinda sick until today. I guess on Friday I was feeling tired, Saturday I was feeling melancholic, and yesterday I was sick. There was a pizza party on Saturday evening and I tried ...all of them...ok a little bit of all of them.... I must admit they don't taste like Pizza Hut, Dominoes or Herbies, the taste I am used to but they were ok. Well, my stomach didn't like one or maybe all of them??? Anyhow, won't get into details, didn't go to bed till 4 o'clock and yesterday hardly ate anything. I am feeling better now.

Oh, my trip to Gwada was wonderful! And I want to go back there to visit some more!
And yes, the guadeloupen mosquitos don't love me, whilst the martiniquan ones absolutely missed me!

A new look!

2007-06-08T07:23:00.000-07:00

Last night Maggie decided to do my hair! I always wanted to try it and finally here I am. It does help she is a hairdresser and enjoys doing that. It took about 1 hour and a half with few interruption and at times my eyes were watering from the pain but I guess it was all worth it. :)

A beach experience!

2007-06-08T07:00:00.000-07:00

These are two beaches that I have been to. First one with the white sand and more people is Trois Ilet beach. The other one, with black sand and few hens is Case Pilot. Even though different beaches, you get sunburnt just the same! :) For more photos click on my photos link!

Off to Guadaloupe

2007-06-08T06:35:00.000-07:00

I will be away for a week to the beautiful Guadaloupe. I am looking forward to it but I am sad I cannot take the boat there and have to fly. They only have one boat that takes people from Martinique to Guadaloupe and unfortunately is in revision for a month before the heavy tourist season. So I have to fly. Mind you is only 30 minutes flight, but I would have still prefered the 4 hours boat trip.

So see you soon!

A birthday party

2007-06-06T04:10:00.000-07:00

These are some photos from the birthday party of L'viany. She turned 10. She is the youngest daughter and child of the family Olol, the family that I live with.

First Church in Martinique

2007-06-06T03:45:00.000-07:00

On Saturday the lady of the house, Maggi and I went to the hospital's church. The hospital has a chapel which is open for everybody obviously but most importantly is used the days of worship for the different denominations. So, on Saturdays, the adventists have a proper service church. They have a pastor and few members that go there regularly and of course the patients of the hospital. Here are some photos!

Welcome to Martinique!

2007-06-05T05:33:00.000-07:00

These are some photos of the Carribean sea taken from Fort de France, the capital of Martinique. Also photos of Maggi and L'viany.

My arrival in Martinique

2007-06-05T04:44:00.000-07:00

I guess I can say that 1st of June at 4 o'clock in the morning is when the martiniquan adventure started. After a frenzy packing of my entire flat and carrying everything to the store, that night 4 o'clock wasn't my ideal hour of waking up. However, thanks to my friends Betty and Glenn, managed to get to the airport I think just in time. My check in lasted about 5 minutes and after the long security check I made it almost as the last passanger in the plane.

That reminded me of an experience I had few years back when my friends and I, for some reason, managed to be the last ones boarding in almost every plane we took, to the dissaproval faces of other passangers.

Little that I know that that is not even close to my time in Paris.

As the plane descended in Paris Charles de Gaulle the only thing on my mind was: 'Will I be able to make it to Paris Orly on time?' I had two hours mind you, but something told me that was going to be tight. I was taking a bus and it was after all the rush hour.

Now, I don't know if you ever experienced the driving in Paris, but let me tell you it is absolutely crazy. I think the driver was crazy also. Everytime we were stuck in traffic he loved using the honk, like it was the top of the hits record or something. May I add that the brakes were his bestest friends, not to mention the speed he was going at! I didn't know what to do with myself not to think that any minute the contents of stomach would be displayed God knows where. But after almost bumping into about 5 other cars I was thankful the brakes were working. And that was when he was around other cars, but when on an empty way, with nothing in front or even around us even, this driver didn't feel motivated to drive. He drove at the snail pace as if he was about to stop any minute. My heart was racing.

It took us 1 hour and 55 minutes to arrive at Paris Orly. I had only 5 minutes to find the check in desk and check in. Now, in England if you are 30 seconds late they won't allow you to check in anymore as I'd seen it on so many programmes on TV. WIth that in mind I was running with my 31 kilos suitcase and very heavy hand luggage like there was no tomorrow. The thought did cross my mind that I might be left in Paris watching my martiniquan adventure taking off without me. So i had everything to run for. I had exactly 2 minutes left before the closing time, and I was ready to beg for mercy.

Well, no one told me that in France everything is ....easy going and cool. Not only that I was more than on time, the queue was so long as if they 'd just started to check in. I had to ask about three times that I was in the right queue for Martinique. Needless to say that our plane was late.

When I sat in my seat in the plane, my heart started to beat normally. I was thankful to God for just about making it.

Martinique, here I come!

A day on Kennet and Avon Canal

2007-05-06T14:59:00.001-07:00

Originally uploaded by abrowneyedgirl.

This year my work collegues decided to do some team building activities outside the office and also have some fun.
What best place to do that but on a narrow boat, very narrow boat actually on a Kennet and Avon Canal in Reading. Oh, and it was self drive!
My idea of the trip before boarding Rosina Emma involved board games and sitting around the table and eating, as anyone would imagine it i am sure :) gazing from time to time at the beautiful scenery that the canal offers.
Well, in short, it didn't. No one made me aware that the canal is full of locks, and with a crash course of about 5 minutes in sailing and lock-de-locking our day was full of adventures and may I add hard work.
I can't put into words how locks work, but one thing is sure if I encounter another lock in my sailing adventures I will know what to do.

http://www.kennetcruises.co.uk/kennetboats.html