Friday, December 16, 2011
P.S. Home Safe
Just a note to let everyone know we all made it home to our respective houses safely. All flights were fairly smooth and no one missed a connection. :)
Thursday, December 15, 2011
Last Day In Europe
Today we have all been packing like crazy, trying to get all of our treasures back to the US. Looks like everyone planned accordingly and we won't have to mail clothes home (as was Patrick's suggestion before coming on the trip). It's been a great vacation and time with family. We are blessed that Bruce has such a great job that allowed us to be together this year for Christmas. It rained at least some, if not all of the day for 12 of the 15 days we were actually in Europe. We start at 4:00 tomorrow morning getting up to go to the airports, and all flights leave around 10:00 AM. So for now we bid Europe adieu, until the next time we come to take Europe by STORM!
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
Aachen Christmas Market
Today was our last day of sight seeing before packing to head back across the pond to the States. As has been the theme of the trip, it STORMED like crazy today. We decided to make a very short trip to Aachen, Germany in the pouring rain to visit one final Christmas market to take care of some last minute gifts.
In an effort to escape probably the worst part of the storm, we went into the Aachner Dom (cathedral) and discovered a real treat. This church had entirely mosaiced ceilings and archways. It was literally glittering everywhere and was a definite treat while we stayed out of the rain.
When the rain slowed down we were able to find our last few gifts in the 4-part Christmas market in the church square.
We also had our last lunch in the resort dining room. It's been a great trip and we have lots of memories to share.
Including Patrick's list of weird meals!
In an effort to escape probably the worst part of the storm, we went into the Aachner Dom (cathedral) and discovered a real treat. This church had entirely mosaiced ceilings and archways. It was literally glittering everywhere and was a definite treat while we stayed out of the rain.
When the rain slowed down we were able to find our last few gifts in the 4-part Christmas market in the church square.
We also had our last lunch in the resort dining room. It's been a great trip and we have lots of memories to share.
Including Patrick's list of weird meals!
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
London/Happy 33rd Birthday Patrick!
Today we headed by train from Brussels to London, through the Channel Tunnel (or Chunnel as it is more commonly known). It's an exciting day because we are in another capitol city, it's NOT raining, oh yeah, and it's Patrick's birthday!!! Kathie and Morgan stayed at home this day, not wanting to get up at 3:30 to make the trip to Brussels to catch the TGV train.
The birthday boy, bright eyed and bushy tailed at 5:30 AM showing us all where we were headed!
One of the first restaurants we saw when we came out of Kings Cross station.
This is the Tower of London, where the British Crown Jewels are held. We didn't go to see the crown jewels because it costs almost 20 pounds (or $31.50 a person) to go in and see them. We decided that was a bit too steep and said that seeing them on postcards was good enough :)
Tower Bridge. Often mistakenly called London Bridge, but there really WAS a London Bridge that does not exist anymore. 'Cause it fell down. HAHA, really, there is a London Bridge. There have been many; all in the same spot, the next bridge town the Thames River from Tower Bridge. One of these London Bridges was bought (thinking he was buying the Tower Bridge) and disassembled and reassembled at Lake Havasu City, AZ.
British Horse Honor Guard. We got to see the "changing of the guard" with about 25 soliders on horseback. So cool, especially for me since I am a huge equestrian buff.
Saw this painted on most major crosswalks, because the rest of the world drives on the correct side of the road! A gentle reminder from the Brits to look BOTH ways before stepping out into traffic.
Buckingham Palace. The queen was home today, denoted by the flag being raised on the top of the palace. The palace guards were in very drab gray winter coats today, not the usual bright red like the horse guards were wearing.
Because we are all big Harry Potter fans, Cecelia had to get a picture of herself taking the "muggle entrance" to the Ministry of Magic :)
Ouside of 10 Downing Street, where the British Prime Minister lives. When we lived in Europe in the late 90s you could walk up the street and stand pretty much in front of the door. Now they have the entire street blocked off.
This is St. Paul's Cathedral, where Prince Charles and Princess Diana got married. Dad and I went inside and took an audio tour. What a gorgeous church, with so much history. The crypt in the basement of the church was amazing.
Our final stop at Picadilly Circus before heading back to the train was M&Ms world (my personal mecca I think). It is one of 4 in the world and was FOUR FLOORS of M&M stuff, including about 50 tubes of every color of M&M you could think of!
I think Patrick really enjoyed his birthday in London, even if he didn't get his fish and chips that he wanted (only because the pub that we went in to for lunch didn't sell fish and chips! I know, who ever heard of a British pub not selling fish and chips?!?!). Happy Birthday Patrick. We hope you had a great day.
The birthday boy, bright eyed and bushy tailed at 5:30 AM showing us all where we were headed!
One of the first restaurants we saw when we came out of Kings Cross station.
This is the Tower of London, where the British Crown Jewels are held. We didn't go to see the crown jewels because it costs almost 20 pounds (or $31.50 a person) to go in and see them. We decided that was a bit too steep and said that seeing them on postcards was good enough :)
Tower Bridge. Often mistakenly called London Bridge, but there really WAS a London Bridge that does not exist anymore. 'Cause it fell down. HAHA, really, there is a London Bridge. There have been many; all in the same spot, the next bridge town the Thames River from Tower Bridge. One of these London Bridges was bought (thinking he was buying the Tower Bridge) and disassembled and reassembled at Lake Havasu City, AZ.
British Horse Honor Guard. We got to see the "changing of the guard" with about 25 soliders on horseback. So cool, especially for me since I am a huge equestrian buff.
The London Eye
Saw this painted on most major crosswalks, because the rest of the world drives on the correct side of the road! A gentle reminder from the Brits to look BOTH ways before stepping out into traffic.
Buckingham Palace. The queen was home today, denoted by the flag being raised on the top of the palace. The palace guards were in very drab gray winter coats today, not the usual bright red like the horse guards were wearing.
The British Parliament
Big Ben (on the other end of the Parliament building)
Because we are all big Harry Potter fans, Cecelia had to get a picture of herself taking the "muggle entrance" to the Ministry of Magic :)
Ouside of 10 Downing Street, where the British Prime Minister lives. When we lived in Europe in the late 90s you could walk up the street and stand pretty much in front of the door. Now they have the entire street blocked off.
This is St. Paul's Cathedral, where Prince Charles and Princess Diana got married. Dad and I went inside and took an audio tour. What a gorgeous church, with so much history. The crypt in the basement of the church was amazing.
Our final stop at Picadilly Circus before heading back to the train was M&Ms world (my personal mecca I think). It is one of 4 in the world and was FOUR FLOORS of M&M stuff, including about 50 tubes of every color of M&M you could think of!
I think Patrick really enjoyed his birthday in London, even if he didn't get his fish and chips that he wanted (only because the pub that we went in to for lunch didn't sell fish and chips! I know, who ever heard of a British pub not selling fish and chips?!?!). Happy Birthday Patrick. We hope you had a great day.
Monday, December 12, 2011
Amsterdam
Today we spent the day in the capitol of the Netherlands. Amsterdam by far is the dirtiest city we have been in. The city is partly made up of canals and there are many bridges that criss-cross the city. We saw some pretty churches again on this trip.
Our main reason for going to Amsterdam, though, was to visit the house/factory that Anne Frank and her family hid from the Nazis in in 1944. It's a very unassuming building down a very simple street.
A very simple statue stands a block or so away from the house.
The house/factory. If there wasn't a line outside the building you would never know what history this place held. Unfortunately we couldn't take pictures in the house, but to stand in the actual room where Anne Frank lived, to see where 8 people were hidden from the Nazis for many months before they were discovered, is so powerful. It really makes me understand what freedom means, and I am forever thankful to our troops who allow us to live that way. What a statement to the world.
Here we are outside the house.
We also passed the Heineken Brewery while we were driving around looking for a place to park. If we had more time we would have taken a tour, but we all were tired and ready to head home. The Christmas market was a total bust, so we didn't get anything from Amsterdam.
Tomorrow we head to yet another capitol city! We are London bound to see the sights, celebrate Patrick's birthday, and meet up with Cecelia's cousin Melanie.
Our main reason for going to Amsterdam, though, was to visit the house/factory that Anne Frank and her family hid from the Nazis in in 1944. It's a very unassuming building down a very simple street. 
A very simple statue stands a block or so away from the house.
The house/factory. If there wasn't a line outside the building you would never know what history this place held. Unfortunately we couldn't take pictures in the house, but to stand in the actual room where Anne Frank lived, to see where 8 people were hidden from the Nazis for many months before they were discovered, is so powerful. It really makes me understand what freedom means, and I am forever thankful to our troops who allow us to live that way. What a statement to the world.
Here we are outside the house. 
We also passed the Heineken Brewery while we were driving around looking for a place to park. If we had more time we would have taken a tour, but we all were tired and ready to head home. The Christmas market was a total bust, so we didn't get anything from Amsterdam.
Tomorrow we head to yet another capitol city! We are London bound to see the sights, celebrate Patrick's birthday, and meet up with Cecelia's cousin Melanie.Sunday, December 11, 2011
Brussels
Today we headed to Brussels, the capitol city of Belgium. When we lived in Belgium, we lived about an hour south of Brussels. Brussels is another great example of a beautiful, old town center with a modern city grown around it. We met up with our friend Pierre while we were there and got a little bit of history while we walked.
This is just one of the many cathedral churches in Brussels. We only saw this one by car.
Part of the town center square. In the summer time they usually put down a "carpet" of flowers in the middle of this square that is just breathtaking.
Another building in the center square.
This statue is the "mascot" of Belgium, entitled Manneken Pis. And yes, it is a naked little boy peeing! Sometimes the Brussels tourism folks dress up the statue for the holidays. People come from all over the world to see this statue! And the Belgians absolutely love him!
Chocolates in every color depicting Manneken Pis.
Bruce with the two hallmarks of Belgium, Manneken Pis and a belgian waffle!
Of course there were thousands of chocolate shops, everywhere we went. And of course we bought chocolate!
I enjoyed an authentic Belgian waffle with creme and chocolate. YUMMY!
Patrick, doing a wonderful immitation of Jeff taking pictures :)
Cecelia enjoyed her Belgian waffle after our lunch.
Patrick's appetizer....snails!
Patrick's first taste of snails. He really enjoyed them. They made me nauseous!
Morgan enjoyed another carousel ride. This carousel was much different than the traditional ones...it had different machines and mythical animals on it.
Zorro Bunny visited Brussels as well. Here he is with the Atomium.
Kathie, Pierre, and Bruce at the Atomium
We had a great day in Brussels and enjoyed another rain-free day. Tomorrow we head to another capitol city, Amsterdam, in Holland.
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