Happy Canada Day!

I made it to London safely! And in style, too - Shane reserved a cab for me, so I had a driver waiting at arrivals with a "Shannon Brooker" sign! V. cool!! I think Glen and Shane realized there was no way I could manage all my luggage through the tube by myself... but what could I do, I mean I'll be gone for over 6 months - I NEED ALL of it! Girls, are you with me???

On Wednesday, I went out with Shane, Chuck & Laureen (fellow Canadians: Chuck is an architect working for a London firm and his girlfriend, Laureen, is going to the London School of Economics working on her PhD.) We took the train to Wimbledon to try and see some tennis, but the line was INSANELY long, so we "settled" for watching it in a pub nearby. The picture above is taken in Putney by the Thames river. Chuck appears to be a bit of a novelty to Londoners, for it is not uncommon for random people to shout out at him, "hey, Jesus!" from passing cars. Yes, we're confused too, but that's Londoners for you, I guess.

So, it's Canada Day tomorrow and I may go down to Covent Garden where the celebrations take place. I was there last year and it seemed a little like the Red Mile back home in Calgary - lots of rowdies, flashing and puking in the streets. And street vendors selling Molsen Canadian for exhorbitant prices. On second thought, maybe I'll just steer clear of it!

I hope everyone has a fantastic long weekend and I wish you were all here!! Happy Canada Day!

Love, Shannon

The Bird is Flying High.

Well, I just watched Shannon fly off to start our amazing trip. I feel bad she had to do this alone but I guess somebody has to move. So who really feels bad. Ya, not Shannon. Good luck baby and we will see you soon.

Does anyone else think this is nuts??

Here it is! The adventures of the Brookers abroad! I begin my 6 month internship with the United Nations in Bratislava, Slovakia on July 5, 2006. Glen will arrive in August to begin his life as "house husband/unemployed backpacker." Should be interesting given that I am working for FREE. Glen is thrilled about that...

I fly into London this Monday (June 26) for a few days to stay with Shane and Bianca at their flat (great location - walking distance to the Thames and the London Eye.) Then I'm off to Bratislava on July 2 (via Vienna - no one flies to Brat.!) I have booked a hostel for the first week, during which time I need to find an apartment. We are planning on getting a 2 bedroom, so please consider this your invitation to come and visit us! Bratislava is a great starting point for traveling to some amazing places - Austria, Poland, Czech republic (Prague!!), Hungary... am I selling you on this?? Fly into Vienna and take a beautiful one hour boat ride down the historic Danube River to Bratislava... ok, so I'm trying to drum up some visitors - little worried we'll be lonely, non-Slovak speaking foreigners in a country we probably couldn't have placed on a map a few months ago...

Glen will be posting his thoughts when he has time, or when he begins his travels. I know, can't wait to read those little gems of wisdom, either! So far his plans are to learn how to play the guitar and write his "memoirs". Don't ask.

Anyway, please feel free to post comments, or email me please!!! I will be lonely and by myself for the first month+, but hopefully busy with work!

You can check out my "official" blog site (a requirement of my studentship funding is to keep a public diary of my experiences as a UN intern) at: shannonundp.blogspot.com

Take care and keep in touch!
Shannon