Travelog for: Orpheus

Hi,
my name is Orpheus and I am a little canary. As my renown (and so far more famous) namesake and predecessor I am a voyager (at least I am about to become one) and a singer. I love music and singing and I hope to sing along with all my hosts, even better if I can accompany them while they play an instrument and if it something traditional of where they live. I am so talented that I can sing on any kind of music Of course, I hope to come back home safe one day and not to follow the sad end of my illustrious namesake and predecessor...

I have been told that to ease me into the travelling business I will be able to abuse of family hospitality and will hitch a ride to Europe soon  where I will visit France and Italy over the next couple of months. But after that I’ll be travelling on my own, can’t wait to find out who will be my first host 

Hi,

Today was Canada day here and there was supposed to be celebrations everywhere, but unfortunately Smaug was working, so we were ready to spend the whole day at home  . There are quite a few TVs here, sammino is a resident TV, Sully Monster is visiting from Australia, Mr Bananas  and Purple Haze are from England and PinkyHH has just arrived from Germany  . Smaug eventually came back early in the afternoon and we went out for my first trip to Moraine Lake  .

Most of the others have been here before and they told me that the lake was almost empty, well someone must have come here loaded with water buckets because it looks pretty full  . Too bad the best location for photos was closed due to works on the path, but we still managed to take some pictures.

Hi,

today was the opening day of the Calgary Stampede, that the organizers call “The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth”  . Well, that might be an arguable statement, but it’s definitely something big. The core of the show are daily rodeos and chuckwagon races, so as you can guess the whole show has a strong western theme. To get in the atmosphere we decided to wear a cowboy hat before heading down to the Stampede Park...hmmm, finding a hat of the right size was a bit of problem so it was actually the hat that was wearing us



Down at the park it was very crowded: fun fairs, markets, animal exhibitions were all packed with people, but eventually smaug found a “quiet” spot where we could take some group pictures overlooking the park.

You can even see Calgary downtown 


What a long day! And when we came back I jumped in a suitcase to start my journey, I am so excited  ! All the other TVs wished me god luck and sammino gave a lot of instructions to Sigfrido about my well being. I am actually very happy that Sigfrido will travel with me for a while

Hi,

today I have arrived in Vancouver, at University of BC to be accurate. First thing I did was checking out the view from our window, hmmm, a courtyard, nothing really remarkable...other than the fact that the window can desperately use some cleaning 


So Sigfrido and myself decided to help ourselves with some maple syrup flavoured popcorns to recover from the trip 


Hopefully I’ll start exploring the place soon 

Hi,

This week was a bit boring, no real chance to explore around  . So Sigfrido and myself decided to surf internet for a while.




Then we studied Vancouver map, you never know, we might actually visit downtown  .



There was no downtown visit in the end....but today we went to a panoramic point within the University of BC campus...you can even see the sea 






Then we had to pack again, this time I’m off to New Jersey for  few days....wow, carry on bag, looks like we are going to travel a bit more comfortably this time 

Hi,

Yesterday I arrived in Princeton, NJ, the second step of my slow approach to Europe. First thing we did was to get some food. Sigfrido and myself carefully examined the shopping 


And then decided to have a snack based on cherries, hmmm, delicious 


Later, as usual we took a look out of the window...


... but we left immediately to go doing the laundry  . Here we are checking out the washing machine...

and then the dryers...they look a bit identical to me  .


After that, of course, it was time for ironing and we thoroughly checked that no crease was left behind.

Hi,

Today I had my first tour around Princeton. First I took some pictures outside the Graduate College.


Later Sigfrido and I stopped to rest in the shade of the trees next to the golf course...


...it was so nice  , but the players were not very good and we moved on before some stray ball hit us  So we went to the Princeton University campus and took some pictures in and around the main square.



The tiger is the symbol of Princeton University and you can find it virtually anywhere around the campus...this one is big.

Here we are resting a bit on a bench in the main square.


Later in the day I attended my first concert at the University Chapel , but I was not allowed to take photos and they even forbade me from singing, canaries apparently are not allowed to join the choir  , outrageous!!

Hello,

here I am still in Princeton. Today I went visiting the Institute for Advanced Studies, were apparently a lot of big brains work 



Neither me nor Sigfrido have a pass so we were smuggled through the main door in bag, but as soon as we reached our office we jumped out and explored it.






Then it was time to do some work....can’t see anything with these glasses..



...so hard 



We soon got bored and decided to play with the blackboard.



And back to work again...




Enough work for the day. So we decided to go for a walk. Here we are exploring the housing complex where all the visitors to the institute are hosted...including the TVs 




Then we went visiting Fuld Hall, the main historical core of the institute, where tea and coffee are served everyday at 3pm. Here we are at the main entrance.



In the main room you can always end up drinking tea next to  Nobel Prize  ...not today though...




Since no one was around I decided to have a look at the newspapers.



Still no big brain coming to meet us, so we explored a few of the sculptures: here is Einstein, one of the first Members of the institute.



And this is Flexner, first director of the institute...ehi, it’s just like being in a wax museum, bronze instead of wax and famous scientists instead of Hollywood and music stars 



After exploring every corner of Fuld Hall we went back to Simonyi Hall, the School of Mathematics where our office is, but instead of going back to work we went to the terrace. From here you can see all the Halls of the institute. That black thing appearing in the grass in the last picture is actually a black board and apparently sometimes people use it to write 






Then we stopped next to the terrace in the coffee room...




...and guess what? More scientists heads in here, this is Weil, another famous mathematician....looks like in this institute there’re more bronze heads than living ones 

Hi,

today is my last day in Princeton, so Sigfrido and I decided to take a look downtown.  On the way we had another look at the Golf Course that we visited a few days ago.



Then we went through a residential area where we played hide and seek between the plants...




...and on the way we passed behind the main University campus, this sign leads somewhere in there



Eventually we reached Nassau Street, the centre of the town



Before exploring more of it we rested a bit on bench.



And here is Nassau Street.






Then we visited Palmer Square where there a few big, big cats 



A bit further down the road we reached Nassau Hall, the main building of Princeton University...




...where there are two tigers watching the main entrance....one accepted to take a photo with us 




On the way back we went again through the University main campus and we explored it a bit...








...lovely parks and trees, but I didn’t meet any bird who wanted to sing with me  , so I found a place to practice by myself 



Tomorrow I am eventually flying to Europe, I am so excited 

Hi,
today I’m flying to Europe  . First we checked that all the baggage was ready...



And here we are on the train linking the railway station to Newark Airport..




You can see the planes 



Next update from France 

Hello!

I am in Europe, wow  ! This is the first picture I’ve taken here in Rouen. This tower is right out of the house....I’m not sure what’s the history behind it, but it doesn’t really look in good shape  .



Today I was introduced to the local toys. Sigfrido warned me that coming out of the baggage I might have been greeted by a few  curious faces.....wow, just a few  , I kind of feel shy all of a sudden  .



Well, getting to know them better will have to wait a bit, I’ve been told that tomorrow I am on the move again: not sure where I’m going but I have to jump in the travel bag....the life of a TV can be hard  .

Hi,

This week I went to Prague, but he first couple of days were a bit boring as we were stuck at the hotel  . First we check the window, only apartment blocks in sight...



...then the hallways and lifts...





...but, eventually, today I visited the castle  . The view over the city is fantastic  .





I even attended a concert in St Vitus cathedral  , but when I asked if I could join the singing they told me that the programme was full and there was no time for my performance 

Hi,

today was my last day in Prague and luckily I could play the tourist a bit  . Here I am at the main gate leading to Karluv Most (Charles Bridge).



The bridge is higher than the surrounding roads and you can look down at shops close to the river...




...here are some more views from the bridge.






Then we wandered the streets of the city centre



Here we are on Staromestske namesti (the Old Town Square), looking at Tyn Cathedral...



...and this is the City Hall.



Then we walked through the old Jewish quarter




Tomorrow I’m back to France, hopefully this time for more than a couple of days 

Hi,

today I  had eventually a chance to visit Rouen  . First Sigfrido and I explored a bit the streets of the old town. Here you can see the typical old buildings in central Rouen.




That sort of pyramid in the background is a modern church dedicated to Jeanne d’Arc...who accidentally was burned as an heretic  (just a few years before being made saint  ) here in Rouen....so her name appears quite everywhere around the city



This is a very famous big clock...it is mandatory spot for a photo. Unfortunately we took this pictures early in the morning when the streets were still in shadow while the top of the buildings were in the sun, so you can’t see very well the top of the clock tower 



Here you can start seeing Rouen Cathedral in the background...



... I roamed a bit the alleys of the old town..




...on the way I also checked out some shops...



And here is the Cathedral, that apparently was the tallest building in the world between 1876 and 1880 



Later I visited “my” office at the University of Rouen...



...but I didn’t feel like working so I spent the whole afternoon chatting with Sigfrido and looking at the park from the window 

Hi,

today I’m flying to Italy, wow . First I said goodbye to all my friends here in Rouen as after Italy I will go straight to my next host. I was a bit sad to leave them, but they told me that they will check for my updates  .



On the way to the airport we managed to take some pictures. Here we are on the RER train, the view was good, but the window was a bit scratched...




...eventually we arrived at our station.



And here I am at Paris airport waiting to board the plane...



...and after boarding the plane  .



When we arrived at Verona airport it was too crowded to take any decent photo, but as soon as we were in the car I jumped on the cockpit to look at the road. This is the motorway just out of Verona. We are still on the plains, but you can already see the Alps in the distance.



This exit leads to the south side of Lake Garda, that I am told is a very famous lake.



As we headed north the mountains raised around the valley..



...but when we reached the outskirts of Trento the valley opened up a bit,  almost at my destination 



Here we just left the motorway and are entering Trento.



We crossed this big river called Adige



A couple of people came out on the balcony to greet me, not exactly the kind of welcome that I was expecting for a singer as famous as I am  , there is no one around....maybe I am not famous enough yet  .



On the way home we passed by this castle 




And here we are about to arrive home, I can’t wait to explore the town  .