Lostman's Star
Not all those who wander are lost, but I certainly am!
Warner Bros. Studios
I began reading Harry Potter at the age of eight. It’s been several decades and I still feel a sharp sting of disappointment when I think back to my eleventh birthday; with it’s lack of owls and Hogwarts admission letters.
A visit to the Warner Bros. Studio in Leavesden balms the wound a little bit.
Just a touch.
Still disappointed.
Although Warner Brothers has worked on some amazing movies other than Harry Potter, that happens to be this particular studio’s focus. Believe me when I say you’re going to want to give yourself the entire day there. There is so much to see and do!
The building is split up into areas which you will naturally walk through all of them (unless you very decidedly refuse to walk forward) and each is so packed full of props and costumes from the series that you’ll want to give yourself a good hour for each. There is a ‘great hall’ right at the beginning which serves food and treats throughout the day. They’re not the best food I’ve ever had, but I’d hardly turn my nose up at it, and the price isn’t too ridiculous. Forest and I spent our lunch going over everything we wanted to see. I suggest you do the same.
I won’t spoil too much of the magic for you, but suffice it to say that you’ll want to bring good walking shoes and clothes you’ll be comfortable in, and if you arrive in costume with your house robes on I assure you nobody will bat an eye.
Midway through the tour you’ll find the Hogwarts Express where you can purchase some candy, and a café where you can get butterbeer with souvenir mugs. It’s fizzy, but even for someone like me who doesn’t like carbonation, it was pretty delicious!
If you’re coming in from London by train (sorry, the Hogwarts Express doesn’t run to this particular junction) you’ll want to aim for Ashford. There is a bus stop to the left of the train station exit and up the road just a little which will take you directly to the studio. It does cost money to board the bus, 3 I believe per person, so be sure to bring exact change. It is also required that you pre-book tickets to the Warner Brothers Studio, you can’t just hop a train and bus and purchase the ticket there. The bus won’t even let you on if you don’t have proof of purchase. Magical ride: over.
Other than a pair of good shoes, a camera with a healthy battery, and a full wallet (it will inevitably be empty when you leave), the only thing you’ll need for this magical journey is your ticket and your sense of adventure. All aboard!
Best Free Travel Apps
Travel Apps: these are the best. All tried and trusted by yours truly and all absolutely free to use. Duolingo has a premium version and the rest have purchasing abilities on them, but these apps work without brilliantly having to spend a penny.
Duolingo
If you’re headed to a far flung destination, chances are you don’t know the local language. Duolingo has a wide selection of languages and will teach you the basics. Pair it with a phrase book in case of emergencies and you’ll have no time navigating your new surroundings.
Tripadvisor
With an unofficial motto of ‘Do your research!’ is it shocking that tripadvisor made the list? The world is full of hidden gems waiting to be discovered, and full of places one might rather avoid. Tripadvisor will give you a better idea of which is which. No amount of time on here is ever wasted.
Expedia
Plan, search for, and book your hotel, flights, cars, and tours all in one spot. Bundling things together like this makes them cheaper, and what’s even better is that they give you one price for the entirety of your trip. The app portion on your phone will hold all of your digital tickets for the trip too! I’m not being paid by them by the way, they’ve given me no money and not contacted me at all, I just love their website and what they do.
AirBnB
Sometimes hotels are pricey, unavailable, or just in the wrong spot. Sometimes you just need a bit more space! I’ve used it AirBnB several times, once for a trip to Dublin, once for Wales. Both times I was able to get a full, private flat for the same price as a hotel room! This works out great for families, those with special dietary needs or who are looking to save a bit on food costs, and for those of us who just need a bit more space. Read the reviews carefully, and you should have an amazing space to look forward to when you book AirBnB.
Great Ballcourt of Chichen Itza
For anyone who absolutely adores the Road To El Dorado movie like I do, you’ll be ecstatic to hear that the game Miguel and Tulio play in El Dorado is 100% real! Well … minus Bibo, the armadillo god.
This was an incredibly popular game with the Maya, and they built a court for it in every city. Some of them have sloping walls to make it easier, but Chichen Itza has nearly completely vertical walls, decorated at the bottom with carvings of sacrificial offerings; the captain’s head. Whether or not it’s that of the winning or losing team is up for debate. Below you can see the sacred serpent, inlaid into the wall of the ballcourt.
The accoustics are amazing in this ballcourt as well, you can hear someone talking from across the length of the pitch. Can you imagine what a heated match must have been like? This game was essentially basketball crossed with soccer but without the use of hands, feet, or head. The players used their shins, elbows, and shoulders to get the ball through tiny hoops at the top of the walls.
The game is still played by some nations today, and so if you’re planning a visit to Mexico it might be worth looking into seeing a match! Certainly if you’re going to see the ballcourt or the pyramid of chicken itza, it’s worth seeing the other. Bring good walking shoes, and several water bottles. Mexico’s jungles are hot and you’ll need to replenish your water levels fast. You might also bring a small bag of chips to replenish your salt levels. You’ll also want to book this site as part of a tour, especially if you speak no spanish, and above all, watch out for sink holes! They are very common in Mexico, and have been used since time in memoriam as a water source for it’s local people. Don’t fall in!
Lost’s Playlist: London
We all do it. We all put on our favourite songs and either sing along or pretend we’re in a music video. Some of us even have stories or scenes to go along with them.
Certain songs remind me of certain places. Usually it’s whatever I’m listening to when I visit that place, and naturally that means it might have nothing at all to do with the specific location. These are ten songs from my London playlist, and to me all of these do have a certain high energy London vibe to them. Enjoy!
#1. Let It Rock by Kevin Rudolf featuring Lil’ Wayne
#2. 27 Million by Matt Redman feat. LZ7
#3. American Boy by Estelle feat. Kanye West
#4. Midnight City by M83
#5. Level by Avicci
#6. Dota by Basshunter
#7. Rockstar by Dappy feat. Brian May
#8. Treatment by Labrinth
#9. Hey Hey Hey by Laurent Wery feat. Swiftkid
#10. Revolver by Madonna feat. Lil Wayne
Champs-Élysées
If the name seems vaguely familiar it’s probably one of three things. Someone you know has visited and come back saying how beautiful it was, you vaguely recognize it from Greek mythology as the Elysian Fields (Elysium), or you’ve heard about the protests.
From personal experience I can say that it’s an eerie mix of all three.
It’s a wide boulevard with ample room for cars and pedestrians, lined first with well kept trees then shops of the more lucrative varieties. Nike, Dior, Apple, Starbucks, H&M, Louis Vuitton, and McDonalds all have stores there, to give you some sense of it, along with other boutiques whose name I didn’t recognise. The whole thing ends (or begins) with the Arch de Triomphe, which is likely much bigger than you think!
Had the stores been open I don’t think I would have liked to go in. Not just because the ‘you break it you bought it’ policy was running through my head while merely walking near them, but because the shops reminded me very much of a pair of Jimmy Choo boots I’d seen at Selfridges. I don’t think they’d have fit around my wrists much less my calves, and the clothes on the Champs-Élysées didn’t look any more accommodating.
It’s the sort of place you go to admire what can be done when enormous amounts of wealth are hoarded; or when you seek to destroy it.
I had gone a week or two after a protest, and witnessed the less immediate aftermath. Some stores still had their boards up, the graffiti calling for revolution, and expressing enragement with the president, Emmanuel Macron. The windows of a bank had been smashed.
I don’t know enough about the political situation to be able to comment on the legitimacy of any complaints about Macron, but to the best of my knowledge the French are angry that the distribution of wealth has become drastically uneven.
I walk down the Champ D’Elysees can be a lovely experience, albeit an expensive one if you decide to purchase anything. That said, my advice would be to do a bit of research before planning it, and have a backup plan just in case. Follow the news a bit more closely than you otherwise would in the days leading up to your trip, and check the news the day of. If there is any mention of protest I recommend staying away. The French Police won’t make the distinction between a protester and a tourist, and it’s best to avoid being arrested in general nevermind while you’re abroad.
If all seems well, bring some comfortable walking shoes, your camera, and maybe a little picnic lunch if you’re looking to keep your costs down. Even the restaurants are expensive!
Wear a mask, wash your hands, and stay safe gentle readers.
Lost’s Favourite Palaces
Along with having been to a few castles, I’ve been to a few palaces.
What’s the difference? Fortification.
A palace is not well fortified, a simple wrought iron or steel gate isn’t going to keep out an army. A castle or a fort will; or should if it’s a good one.
Either way, it’s a place where royalty can and has lived, and believe me when I say there are some spectacular examples. These are my top five favourites!
#1. Versailles
This palace is not to be missed! With several smaller palaces situated within the grounds and with splendor and history to be found at every turn, it’s such a beautiful place I can’t help but love it. A half day tour of this place simply won’t do!
#2. Nymphenburg
What can I say I love a big palace. Nymphenburg was inspired by Versailles, so if you love one you’ll probably love the other. It too has various smaller palaces around the grounds, the most beautiful of which is the hunting lodge, Amalienburg, which Maximillian the Second built for his wife upon the birth of his son, Ludwig the Second.
#3. Hampton Court
This palace evolved with time, and so while the front is very much in the red brick Tudor style the back is a regency era palace and garden. If you only have time to see one palace in England, devote a day to Hampton Court. You’ll get many eras in one and it’s worth every minute it takes to explore, so if you get the chance to visit don’t miss it!
#4. Linderhof
Versailles both directly and indirectly inspired this palace too. Ludwig the Second built this palace to get away from people, and considering it’s both surrounded by the Bavarian forest and has a table that could be raised from the floor below so he’d never have to see his servants, I’d say he accomplished the desired effect!
#5. Louvre
While it may not function as a museum palace like the others on this list do, the Louvre is still very much worth the visit; for both art and architecture. Pro-Tip, look up pieces that you’d like to see and find out where they’re located before your visit. It takes a LONG time to walk from one end of the palace to the other, you’ll want a plan!
Are there any palaces you love and would like to visit? Let me know in the comments!
Carrick-A-Rede Rope Bridge
You’re not actually going for the rope bridge.
Shocking, I know!
The Carrick-A-Rede Rope Bridge is a small, perhaps two meter bridge which connects the mainland of Northern Ireland to a smaller island once used by fisherman during the salmon season. There are very few salmon left, but it is still popular with tourists.
What intrigued me at first was that this location was used to film the Isle of Pyke in Game of Thrones, but upon seeing it there’s a particular beauty to it which is what I think attracts people. Be sure to bring a camera, and explore the scenery from every angle of the island. It’s surrounded by amazing shots for those photographers who know how to take them!
To get to the bridge there’s an £11 fee, and a moderate hike; as such there’s no wheelchair access. It’s not all that arduous but for someone like me who is unused to hiking, it winded me. You’ll want to bring a water bottle with you so that you can sip while you go instead of chugging it all in one go at the end, then having to use the washroom when one is unavailable. You’re also going to want good hiking shoes for it. The trail is near the ocean so it can be quite slippery even on days when it isn’t raining. Take care! The fences around the trail aren’t all that stable!
When you get to the bridge it’s a simple walk across, just be aware that there are no safety rails on the island, just a bit of a field and a lovely view, perfect for taking pictures. I don’t usually advocate for putting those backpack leashes on children but I think in this case it’s warranted, especially for very young ones or those who do not come when called. The wind can be strong, and the cliffs are high.
Wear a mask, wash your hands, and stay safe gentle reader.
Covid Update: Winds of Change
Gentle reader, the winds are changing. For good or ill I cannot tell, but they are a-changin’.
How do I know?
Flight prices are back.
For the longest time I couldn’t even plan any trips or budget them because when I would go to search for prices google would tell me there were none; there were no flights to be had much less prices.
As of the moment of writing this, fully vaccinated Canadians, Americans, Europeans, and Brits are expected to be able to travel by the summer. That’s less than a month away.
Naturally, I’m quite conflicted.
On one hand, I’m elated! The moment I found out I abandoned all other projects and launched straight into planning a long awaited trip to New York. It took me three hours to have the trip mostly budgeted and planned, and now I’m saving up and waiting for the quarantine periods to be lifted. Rich indeed is the being who can afford to quarantine in New York. I already have more plans swirling for a trip out East and to Italy and France. To be budgeted soon!
On the other hand, how will they determine who is vaccinated, and who are they? Are the determiners going to be airport security, border control, some third party? Are there still to be quarantine restrictions or will that only apply to those who aren’t vaccinated? Will I be able to pass whatever restrictions are set in place?
For all that to be decided, for quarantine restrictions to be lifted, and for certain attractions to be re-opened, summer seems like an extremely ambitious timeline.
For the moment, I’ll start planning. I’m sure the prices will change, but having an idea of what to budget and when I want to aim for helps immensely.
So start planning, gentle reader. We’re not out yet, but I can see the light at the end of the tunnel.
Wear your mask, wash your hands, and be safe gentle reader.
Culloden Battlefield
If you’ve read or seen Outlander, or have a friend or family member who has, you’ll have heard of Culloden. It took place in 1746, and in grand fashion Claire begs Jaime not to go. Being from the 1940s, she alone knows the outcome.
It’s a bold assumtion, especially considering the odds were blatantly stacked against the Highlander army.
‘Bonnie Prince Charlie’ or Charles Edward Stuart was the leader of the Jacobite army, and self proclaimed rightful heir to the English throne. In his quest for said throne, he eventually decided that the best place to fight the English would be Culloden Moor.
I’m guessing there were a few choice words to be had when Charlie’s troops were informed.
Culloden Moor was a marshland, and the highlanders knew it. What’s worse is that Charlie knew it, too.
His rather more sensible generals proposed encamping on a hill. It’s the most basic of battle tactics right after ‘don’t open the gates’, but presumably before ‘don’t fight in a marsh’; take the high ground and your enemy will be fighting both you and gravity. With the Jacobite army at 7000 and the English at 8000, this position would have given the Jacobite army a desperately needed edge.
Charles didn’t listen. What can you expect from someone whose motto is “God and My Right”?
When the battle was over mass graves were dug and Highlander bodies were buried as best they could with their own clans. Eventually the battlefield became overgrown, and had almost become a forest for lack of knowledge when the Scottish Government cleared all the trees, found, and tends to the graves. You might think it bizarre that they cleared the field of trees, but the truth is that the English Government essentially left the battlefield to the elements for a purpose. They wanted the uprising forgotten, and if the clans lost the graves and lost the field, then hopefully it would be lost to history.
Today the battlefield is a museum, memorial, and well kept field. Stones with clan names mark the mass graves, and a memorial tower built by Duncan Forbs stands watch.
Admitedly Culloden looks like it’s in the middle of nowhere, but the field and Clava Cairns are both very close to each other and accessible by the Inverness city bus. The museum has an £11 entry fee, but it’s well worth it. They tell the story of how Culloden came to be, and it’s aftermath. They also have plenty of interesting artifacts and informative exhibits. Give yourself plenty of time to explore the field, the museum, and the nearby cottage where the wounded were treated. I’d say you could probably spend half a day there, but at minimum you’ll likely be there for two to three hours. Add the Clava Cairns and you could probably make a day of it.
Bring good walking shoes, it can get muddy! Bring your camera too, the scenery is hauntingly beautiful in all seasons. If you plan to stay out all day bring yourself a lunch and some water. You’ll be walking a fair bit. Bring a phone battery in case you need to call a cab, and a paper map in case you get lost. There aren’t exactly a lot of neighbours out there!
Are there any other battlefields you know of that are worth a visit? Let me know in the comments!
Wash your hands, wear a mask, and stay safe gentle reader.
5 Cruise Planning Tips
When it comes to travel, most people I know nowadays are chomping at the bit. We all want to go to our cottages, camps, a tropical location or two, even just to our friends and families’ homes to say a long overdue hello. With everyone getting vaccinated it’s getting closer and closer to that time you’ll be able to travel and it’s exciting!
For those of us planning a cruise, I have a few tips and tricks for the planning stage to make your journey the best it can be.
#1. Get a room with a balcony.
This is an expensive option, but one that’s absolutely worth it. Leave the window open just a crack to hear the ocean at night, have breakfast on your patio instead of at a restaurant. Have a private space for relaxation post-dinner but pre-party, or just a place to read your book. Personally, I don’t think I’d even go on a cruise if I couldn’t have a patio. There’s no point. I could just go to a hotel and do all the same things I can do on a cruise, and be less dizzy. On that note …
#2. Take non-drowsy Gravol and reading materials, and upwards of four bathing suits.
All of these things will keep you comfortable during the trip. The Gravol will keep you from feeling sea-sick, the books will keep you entertained (the ship shops aren’t exactly Waterstones or Chapters), and the bathing suits will keep you from having to shimmy yourself into a wet bathing suit after lunch when you feel like going for yet another swim.
#3. Plan daytrips.
When the ship docks, everything closes. Why? No idea. I suspect it has to do with giving the staff time off or giving them time to do a deep clean of the place. Either way, you’re going to want to plan daytrips to explore the places you’re cruising around. It’s an amazing chance to see the local cultures between days of relaxing by the pool!
#4. Give yourself time!
Along with planning your daytrips, you need to make sure you give yourself time to get to and from your destinations and your ship. They do not care if you’re late, they’ll leave without you, so give yourself time to get lost, have emergencies, and be late all without actually being late. For everything else I give myself a solid hour, and for a cruise I think I’d give myself an hour and a half if not two hours between the end of my excursion and the time my ship left. I’d also be checking to make sure I had a reliable way home and that said way ran during the hours I needed them. No sense saying “I’ll just grab a cab,” if you can’t get one past 7 and you need them at 8!
#5. Remember there are different kinds of cruises!
Everyone thinks of cruises as either Caribbean, Mediterranean, or Alaskan, but there are Nordic, Middle Easter, Asian destinations, river cruises, adventure cruises on schooners, and some that will go up and down the North American coasts. Do your research, find some destinations you’d love to see, and see if a cruise will suit your needs!
Wash your hands, wear a mask, and stay safe gentle reader.
Lostman's Star 