tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-80292043723168840152024-02-22T10:51:13.768-08:00Where's Heather Now?A blog for those who want to follow where Heather's going :)Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger34125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8029204372316884015.post-35981891773755761152022-08-22T21:30:00.077-07:002022-08-28T15:02:15.013-07:00And Then There Was Mykonos<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> My trip to Mykonos was a quick one, but I did get a chance to see a fair amount of the island and spend some time in the sea. I took a ferry from Santorini to Mykonos and rented a scooter to get around the island.</span><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Some thoughts & experiences:</span><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">The Seajet ferry is one of the fastest ways to get from Santorini to Mykonos and it leaves out of the Santorini new port - which is on the southwest side of the island facing the caldera. It's a steep set of switchbacks to get down from the top of the hill down to the port that's so narrow that a bus takes the whole road to get around each switchback.</span></li></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">It's an competitive experience waiting with a few hundred people trying to get onto the ferry with their luggage, and dashing to the ferry when the authorities allow us to move forward. The roar of the wheels on the pavement is loud, and everyone is out for themselves. The good news is I had an assigned seat so it really didn't matter if I was first or last from that perspective, but from the luggage perspective the quicker I could get onto the ferry the better chance I would get a secure spot for my luggage.</span></li></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">Mykonos was exactly like I had heard it was. I heard it was a party island and that is absolutely true. It's also a more modern island with a lot of newer homes and a flatter island with less hills than Santorini.</span></li></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">When you go opposite of everyone else you discover a nice quiet side of Mykonos that I really enjoyed spending time at.</span></li></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">I took a sea excursion with another 8 people from Russia, UK, Chile and Columbia. We went near the island of Delos where Apollo was born, and anchored near Rinea for some swimming, snorkeling, good food and wonderful conversation. I jumped off the high side of the catamaran several times, it was like I was a kid again lol. The water was a lighter green-blue color and somewhat calm. The food was outstanding as well.</span></li></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">I mentioned I rented a scooter - it was fun to ride a scooter around again and I went all around the island. It's nerve wracking to drive in Mykonos because people go every which way and move fast. The good thing is when you go the opposite way of all the partygoers, you enjoy a more relaxed road and less traffic!</span></li></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">I discovered the traditional greek dish of Spetzofai, which is full of <span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: 17px; text-align: center;">Mediterranean flavor</span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 17px; text-align: center;">. Spicy sausage combined with colorful sweet bell peppers in a hearty tomato sauce - it was really yummy.</span></span></li></ul><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: 17px;">Here's my album of Mykonos: <a href="https://photos.app.goo.gl/GwPrswXVVFQTWw4XA" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://photos.app.goo.gl/GwPrswXVVFQTWw4XA</a></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLypMhvr-HIhJOznRmH2hwl6SKRIPQOMWGk7XCMJ0ldI3tjMBnYr2PPweOAm8QwlQGflRFyfZo3serr7lRDgrYpugMZRiQRiRSRVTtCB7j2dtkKOcL7Y0dv2SCnIpou2y8hvvzGmdPkpU5yVTw5rdhdWuu3uhXOdl0Za2xOrTvF0dwEycHfZlPFAxJ/s1800/IMG_8641.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="1439" height="359" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLypMhvr-HIhJOznRmH2hwl6SKRIPQOMWGk7XCMJ0ldI3tjMBnYr2PPweOAm8QwlQGflRFyfZo3serr7lRDgrYpugMZRiQRiRSRVTtCB7j2dtkKOcL7Y0dv2SCnIpou2y8hvvzGmdPkpU5yVTw5rdhdWuu3uhXOdl0Za2xOrTvF0dwEycHfZlPFAxJ/w287-h359/IMG_8641.JPG" width="287" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: 17px;"><br /></span></span></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8029204372316884015.post-91418143490124065052022-08-19T13:47:00.000-07:002022-08-28T13:49:03.846-07:00Santorini Beauty<p><span style="font-family: verdana;">There is a certain magic about this island that draws almost a half of a million people every year. The famous whitewashed houses and stunning sunsets absolutely do not disappoint. It's a charming place with over 600 churches or temples dotted all across the island and so much rich history. A quick google search will tell you this island is also the reported site of the lost Atlantis and the site of many romantic honeymoons. Here are some of my thoughts and experiences in this wonderful place.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium; font-weight: normal;">The people are so kind and so hospitable.</span></h3><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">To start with, Anna (the woman who owned and ran my boutique hotel) was just fantastic. No matter what I needed she was always there to facilitate or translate. Day or night, she was always there for me and was able to help me navigate this beautiful island stay. She was also like a big sister, checking in on me to make sure I was okay every day. </span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">My hotel keeper Anastasia was always available to help make sure I had new towels or new sheets whenever I needed them. She also helped take my luggage up and down the steep stairs from my lower level room all the way to the very top of the hill steps. All with a smile and never breaking a sweat!</span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">Every restaurant I went to went over and above to make sure my experience was outstanding. The views were just breathtaking, the food was so fresh and delicious and the local wine was amazing.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">Each person I passed when I was exploring was very kind and helpful. There are many little walkways amongst the homes on the hills and sometimes it can be confusing.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">Orestis was my land tour guide that took me all around the island and showed me many gorgeous beautiful spots and shared so much knowledge with me. He even volunteered to be my photographer in several stops. It was a great afternoon/evening with a very good guide!</span></li></ul><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-weight: normal;">The Agean sea is magnificent.</span></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">I spent a day on the sea with Santorini Sailing in a Catamaran with a group of people. We ate fresh food, swam in a beautiful hot springs and another beautiful spot in the Agean sea and viewed a gorgeous sunset over the water. It was just stunning.</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxW_gn0WcrXUNuXwtiKjNv_qEOgcb5lTb_Ws0X0U0MP89S-5lXZsrxOdRfj8wRcYIUVrGh1YVmID0aNuzitUbfB384FaNgN5MFy4Q5cjak2Rnb-DyRJSwiuVKAu34yzb2BhgJsYxUHdTsznp5cNbz0imrGS9xTTlw1InGGSUi9etwEy3OS6lBmy5Ns/s3520/IMG_7424.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1980" data-original-width="3520" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxW_gn0WcrXUNuXwtiKjNv_qEOgcb5lTb_Ws0X0U0MP89S-5lXZsrxOdRfj8wRcYIUVrGh1YVmID0aNuzitUbfB384FaNgN5MFy4Q5cjak2Rnb-DyRJSwiuVKAu34yzb2BhgJsYxUHdTsznp5cNbz0imrGS9xTTlw1InGGSUi9etwEy3OS6lBmy5Ns/s320/IMG_7424.JPG" width="320" /></span></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxW_gn0WcrXUNuXwtiKjNv_qEOgcb5lTb_Ws0X0U0MP89S-5lXZsrxOdRfj8wRcYIUVrGh1YVmID0aNuzitUbfB384FaNgN5MFy4Q5cjak2Rnb-DyRJSwiuVKAu34yzb2BhgJsYxUHdTsznp5cNbz0imrGS9xTTlw1InGGSUi9etwEy3OS6lBmy5Ns/s3520/IMG_7424.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2ne5Y3gF6FKCyO3xINpGTcqcM38hlcif1Yd75R71kAT8cK8ilOCA1-uYET1_1uIQDctm01GFjuvZY_z_IQfvf49k9xQBkC4zR_3NVHggaUE_6dnRUNs-9Bb4Bagq_5EuntSYb78x20cc6ds6cdisPc-1Y7Z1131zrwuIpeMmzfNAdP4myNqadBdGa/s4032/IMG_7337.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2ne5Y3gF6FKCyO3xINpGTcqcM38hlcif1Yd75R71kAT8cK8ilOCA1-uYET1_1uIQDctm01GFjuvZY_z_IQfvf49k9xQBkC4zR_3NVHggaUE_6dnRUNs-9Bb4Bagq_5EuntSYb78x20cc6ds6cdisPc-1Y7Z1131zrwuIpeMmzfNAdP4myNqadBdGa/s320/IMG_7337.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8bYixwFK-jbxwoe_KjVM3xISBRfd4wzgc5EQ6pUhxVG8hol5HagLa_FI1HOYwEahemNMeIxC9Ehd-MV1EtUBKlGjsE4dJ77uoT3VqOsUXLyiUGmcUEc8HOpnajceBMWtEcUPf54NgP5PFVF5Rwv2eLmb6irMkvD5PUfIDmMBpom4IqQVb8zZuHNP7/s4032/IMG_7360.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8bYixwFK-jbxwoe_KjVM3xISBRfd4wzgc5EQ6pUhxVG8hol5HagLa_FI1HOYwEahemNMeIxC9Ehd-MV1EtUBKlGjsE4dJ77uoT3VqOsUXLyiUGmcUEc8HOpnajceBMWtEcUPf54NgP5PFVF5Rwv2eLmb6irMkvD5PUfIDmMBpom4IqQVb8zZuHNP7/s320/IMG_7360.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdl_Q4787uEXQEeVeJ3lnTdINxCbBvJj_fuwNd3bqCMW043KUDvajxw1lFUwfUzIM1cOpOMjyU0MixPpiirN2PrZLtcpfBmQP6LO8YjigQn9DTcQZMxrFSG1eqp9HN9Scl5cuVVfWTUsrMkD-XbJ4fEmiHCWASoSqrHlZumcvFd-CP2vbSY82xMd-4/s4032/IMG_7369.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdl_Q4787uEXQEeVeJ3lnTdINxCbBvJj_fuwNd3bqCMW043KUDvajxw1lFUwfUzIM1cOpOMjyU0MixPpiirN2PrZLtcpfBmQP6LO8YjigQn9DTcQZMxrFSG1eqp9HN9Scl5cuVVfWTUsrMkD-XbJ4fEmiHCWASoSqrHlZumcvFd-CP2vbSY82xMd-4/s320/IMG_7369.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGJc_aPclq_WvYgRCesze2iifxGjv0RFVA3c6suERtATk19IbxfB7S_9Yazq5DQB37iI_iTEJF8LrydnTrSqvTrbRm0jT_TxV4NAkIgwiuj_NmoLzBRc4vu8YZJPn7RxyGI2qZF8kXYhIVw1JjiQPm0UO9WaWvu6hkqNC2xgimTnWEhuR4DZiGY9_4/s3520/IMG_7378.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1980" data-original-width="3520" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGJc_aPclq_WvYgRCesze2iifxGjv0RFVA3c6suERtATk19IbxfB7S_9Yazq5DQB37iI_iTEJF8LrydnTrSqvTrbRm0jT_TxV4NAkIgwiuj_NmoLzBRc4vu8YZJPn7RxyGI2qZF8kXYhIVw1JjiQPm0UO9WaWvu6hkqNC2xgimTnWEhuR4DZiGY9_4/s320/IMG_7378.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdNPQlYY37i2yGroR0RUfLr9GXNxrmZwIQQLx15x9C7LQeKEerY805fCJOVcRJx9FW7MSf8TVhpFu47szgdb3bjU9oI0Vw1_NAoU5sauw8WRWNnJhcKEB7mxY_xrBERIM5JH-fp9FrpiHigKOP3HdiDPN32FQUxCG-qzkiDWPyRydI60C5vCY5WSkg/s4032/IMG_7391.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdNPQlYY37i2yGroR0RUfLr9GXNxrmZwIQQLx15x9C7LQeKEerY805fCJOVcRJx9FW7MSf8TVhpFu47szgdb3bjU9oI0Vw1_NAoU5sauw8WRWNnJhcKEB7mxY_xrBERIM5JH-fp9FrpiHigKOP3HdiDPN32FQUxCG-qzkiDWPyRydI60C5vCY5WSkg/s320/IMG_7391.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFSsYpeAAHbgESHGtG66k8z_SqgdL8V2EYAY9MhjKEN_UPuq4t90-3L27cg9Q0Rhnr_X855bB8oHASYJSfWRfbWXzdolWdHcoIA47E_es7wn9tjZ5SeB-JxrTtlcbzloYEFO8t8xF2Ek9PeFuA7HWQPYRAjiH9OTwX2iKalVZE4sTXM_K4AHxlikso/s4032/IMG_7439.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFSsYpeAAHbgESHGtG66k8z_SqgdL8V2EYAY9MhjKEN_UPuq4t90-3L27cg9Q0Rhnr_X855bB8oHASYJSfWRfbWXzdolWdHcoIA47E_es7wn9tjZ5SeB-JxrTtlcbzloYEFO8t8xF2Ek9PeFuA7HWQPYRAjiH9OTwX2iKalVZE4sTXM_K4AHxlikso/s320/IMG_7439.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div><br /></div></li><li><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0000ee; font-family: verdana;"><u><br /></u></span></div></li></ul><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium; font-weight: normal;">The hills are very real.</span></h3></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">I quickly learned what it's like to walk up and down these hills as in Fira you have no choice but to walk them. There are streets that people can drive on, but if you want to get to places quicker taking a walking trail is best. My first night there I walked up this steep hill and along this walking trail with uneven stairs for a little over a half of a mile. Good thing it was up to the restaurant and down to my hotel! The roughest part was the stairs to my place after all the hills and stairs.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk5ZtX9pGkEhbJZ7X8kg3ve3R2BSNbhcEyPUxNlR_7IqjCU0xh55Wjk4BFRiNfGCgSJHzzg-XcXFQ5BxBL6FKHz3DmL-ly-M7JZnDHnid9V28dLm1v_-t_M95WKAWoqOr-e6PdNFG0pHdBvquyVMbfU16t5avZzwnkytqUIj8uaEROAlc9gXLMRU2X/s4032/IMG_7214.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk5ZtX9pGkEhbJZ7X8kg3ve3R2BSNbhcEyPUxNlR_7IqjCU0xh55Wjk4BFRiNfGCgSJHzzg-XcXFQ5BxBL6FKHz3DmL-ly-M7JZnDHnid9V28dLm1v_-t_M95WKAWoqOr-e6PdNFG0pHdBvquyVMbfU16t5avZzwnkytqUIj8uaEROAlc9gXLMRU2X/s320/IMG_7214.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFQjHClRiXBWB-YP-qWdlpXHMRzxRTSluF00wkiqYo6QTmnAChqE0oxzDBVHT3dYz05nRIkYvJiJ3XWKo83JtPv_WYbxkBBgv2c3HNLM1-oJPfAuYWzsGr1xHJvQaR74a1AghVeyDQzZGFxzs8iKAgpSJSxkGCJTEx332pF9ANBrXcOK5XLD4PHsrG/s4032/IMG_7215.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFQjHClRiXBWB-YP-qWdlpXHMRzxRTSluF00wkiqYo6QTmnAChqE0oxzDBVHT3dYz05nRIkYvJiJ3XWKo83JtPv_WYbxkBBgv2c3HNLM1-oJPfAuYWzsGr1xHJvQaR74a1AghVeyDQzZGFxzs8iKAgpSJSxkGCJTEx332pF9ANBrXcOK5XLD4PHsrG/s320/IMG_7215.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAfOhZtlRjZ6GXz1NrTOYGKu2wdtgBfr73MzONGDAYhg0GBzgjXRYXlIA835SXxCLvEhE5C8yzEyvJEgxX8CUiaKOQwfNHQPWlM7WK9QpnNdDlHJZxjUIx9Uu9cTHfTf6t_W4CYZsYXPSUyt4AGOHjcIpmPjYixqt_Y-oOQFjd4ExtBMnTizd3ROFr/s4032/IMG_7213.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAfOhZtlRjZ6GXz1NrTOYGKu2wdtgBfr73MzONGDAYhg0GBzgjXRYXlIA835SXxCLvEhE5C8yzEyvJEgxX8CUiaKOQwfNHQPWlM7WK9QpnNdDlHJZxjUIx9Uu9cTHfTf6t_W4CYZsYXPSUyt4AGOHjcIpmPjYixqt_Y-oOQFjd4ExtBMnTizd3ROFr/s320/IMG_7213.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><br /></span></li></ul><div style="text-align: center;">Want to see more pics? Here's my Santorini Album: <a href="https://photos.app.goo.gl/vmR9KtNFbX5Dh5jU7">https://photos.app.goo.gl/vmR9KtNFbX5Dh5jU7</a></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj49cYLx6aZ2f4EExgupzT24Hb1kHhQv2yvSSCf4-flrxJbNz0qjGjfXQmOjTKUgAjVTrkaOsWWRE5JJhf_QrNAI-exoVA2dN4s_GXnGEwZLnRLpCo6PZPNtN7vnMIbT1K9bKZdV14tIOAeAFcmtXgYjikyp3lNRfCFFg5tciH7nKU4rIw3oS5kgfu0/s1800/IMG_8642.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="1198" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj49cYLx6aZ2f4EExgupzT24Hb1kHhQv2yvSSCf4-flrxJbNz0qjGjfXQmOjTKUgAjVTrkaOsWWRE5JJhf_QrNAI-exoVA2dN4s_GXnGEwZLnRLpCo6PZPNtN7vnMIbT1K9bKZdV14tIOAeAFcmtXgYjikyp3lNRfCFFg5tciH7nKU4rIw3oS5kgfu0/s320/IMG_8642.JPG" width="213" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8029204372316884015.post-79937284450264033512022-08-15T12:32:00.002-07:002022-08-28T13:49:30.370-07:00The beginning... Let's head to Santorini!<span style="font-family: helvetica;">I went up to Seattle via train the day before the flight because I didn't want to be rushing too much. It turned out to be a great idea, as I got to Seattle in the late afternoon, took an uber to my modest hotel and had some dinner. After a good night's sleep, it was time to head to the airport.</span><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">This trip is the first trip I splurged and got myself first class ticket for a long flight (thanks to several people who recommended it). After checking my bag, I headed through security and to the first class lounge, another first experience. The security line was pretty smooth, I headed up to the first class lounge and a very nice receptionist validated I was permitted to go inside. There were several types of cookies, sandwiches, vegetables, dip and chips along with the usual coffee, tea, water, soft drink bar. Only four people were in that lounge, and it was very quiet. A man with his laptop doing some work, two women sipping tea in the corner and me. The club lounge door had over 20 people and I don't think they had the same food. I got some food and picked my spot to sit, only to realize I didn't have my phone. What the heck! </span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I went back outside to the receptionist who called the ticket counter where I checked my bag to see if it was there. While we waited for the ticket counter to call back, I put my carry on backpack and roller into the special locker they had, abandoned my food and headed to the TSA area I had gone through earlier. I noticed that they had a shift change just after i had gone through security, so I told the agent that I had gone through just before the shift change explained I was looking for my phone. They looked, then directed me to the other TSA checkpoint down the way, in hopes the outgoing agents who may have found it would have moved it over there. No dice. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Now it was about 15 minutes before boarding time so I had zero time to backtrack any more. I mentally prepared myself for a 5 1/2 week trip without my cell phone, and wondered if I did leave it at the hotel could Ashley coordinate a retrieval for me? I walked back to the lounge area and the receptionist expectantly looked at me. "Nope they didn't' have it" I said. Then I remembered I did very much have my phone with me at the airport. My mind flashed to using it to look up my booking number to print my bag tag at the kiosk. I told the receptionist that and just then she got a call from the ticket counter. They found it! They were going to meet me at my gate. Now I only had 5 minutes to get to the gate, so I headed that way. Shortly after I got to the gate, I was called on the intercom. I showed them my ID and unlocked the phone to prove it was mine and thanked them profusely. Yay! crisis averted. But it sucked that I missed out on a nice quiet lounge experience for an hour before my flight. Ah well, adventures right?!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">On board the plane I was directed to my fancy schmancy first class abode. It was like a little pod with my own big flat screen tv, a big area to my right to put drinks on, a little central command center with a fancy remote, USB plugs to keep my stuff charged and a two cubbies for personal belongings. One had a little mirror on it in case I wanted to look at myself lol. The chief crew lead stopped by, introduced himself and showed me how to use my chair. It reclined almost flat for sleeping and the foot rest slid forward if I needed it to. I put my roller in the overhead for my pod and settled into the seat (after I took a video of it of course). Another crew member asked me if I wanted something to drink and got me some water. She came back about 5 minutes later with a little travel bag filled with goodies. I got a view 'unboxing' of that too here.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The first class experience is pretty low key, quiet and very attentive. Before we were up in the air I had water, some goodies and was able to start charging my devices. Then they came around asking if I wanted a complimentary 'lounge set' to change in to later. I was very curious about this so of course I said yes. I didn't try it on until I got to my hotel in Santorini. I mean, when offered free stuff I'm not one to say no unless I really know I don't need it or someone I know doesn't need it. There is a fancy menu that we could order from and every time they brought the food you ordered, they put a tablecloth on the double sized tray and set the table with fancy silver cutlery and a little tray for the salt and pepper. The food was very good too. The menu said we could eat whenever we wanted, and of course wine and alcohol was included. The crew members remembered my preferences and even knew I was gong to Santorini, ever though I didn't tell them. It was impressive but also kind of creepy.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">After enjoying a nice lunch (thank goodness, I was starved), I watched a movie on my enormous screen and reclined a little more in my seat. Then I laid the seat down and put the shades on the windows to sleep. Oh yes, you have to know that these windows aren't like the ones you are used to in coach. There is some fanciness that when you push this button it tints the glass darker. It was pretty cool I want it for my house!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">When we arrived in London a mere 9 hours and change later, we had to go down stairs to the tarmac like we were coming off a little plane and had to go through security again for connecting flights. The fact that we had already gone through security to get on the first plane doesn't matter in the UK - the other country's security may not meet the UK standards apparently. We had to take the liquids out of our bags into their little pouches and drink or pour out any water in water bottles. Since all connecting flights were funneled this way it was such a madhouse and so long. My line for whatever reason was ultra slow. Almost each person going through it was stopped for a secondary search. Myself included. They got to my stuff about 15 till my flight was to depart. After patiently waiting through a series of checks I was deemed fit to fly and now I had 5 minutes to get to my gate. I decided heck with it If I miss it I'l take the next one. I am not running. I arrived late with two other couples' right around me, and another 6 people behind me. We were loaded onto the waiting bus and the gate agent asked the bus if any of us knew two names. A woman piped up and said the two people were on her same flight and they were her friends. She was explaining being stopped at security when she noticed her two friends dashing to the gate. Almost everyone on the bus clapped and cheered when the two women joined us. I think many of us have had moments like that when traveling.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The three and a half hour flight to Santorini was easy and fast and when we landed we debarked the plane onto the tarmac and walked into the small airport baggage claim area. Soon I was off to my new 'home' for a few days.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">My album of the journey: <a href="https://photos.app.goo.gl/y6S46WgZeSKZjNUP7">https://photos.app.goo.gl/y6S46WgZeSKZjNUP7</a></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjugPKMOpth5JVK7ovReJgXuvuLn_dq4Mq19_c__oKfTu5cRtMTCCHxu2eWcZNOlJhk2Q53OrkhJUx4D8ObVk-yiPeCSjTb3H56bFWDrJOwygGRnbFp-T1moHQTeu94R5fB7-dcL_Y-2u9bOikKKB8jFu36vqtJTqLN0W0XnWDPe3Yvy3MWTTOflvlg/s1800/IMG_8640.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="1011" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjugPKMOpth5JVK7ovReJgXuvuLn_dq4Mq19_c__oKfTu5cRtMTCCHxu2eWcZNOlJhk2Q53OrkhJUx4D8ObVk-yiPeCSjTb3H56bFWDrJOwygGRnbFp-T1moHQTeu94R5fB7-dcL_Y-2u9bOikKKB8jFu36vqtJTqLN0W0XnWDPe3Yvy3MWTTOflvlg/s320/IMG_8640.JPG" width="180" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8029204372316884015.post-16744754985547494972018-05-27T10:00:00.000-07:002018-06-28T01:10:18.521-07:00Seattle Adventures<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">For Memorial day, I thought it would be fun to see Seattle in a very different way. I found a fun article outlining <a href="https://www.atlasobscura.com/things-to-do/seattle-washington/places" target="_blank">97 quirky things in Seattle to see or do</a>, so I went through it and noted those that I had never done or had no idea about. It was a fun adventurous day, I'll take you through the highlights.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I left from the Hilton downtown, and the walk to the bus station was very easy especially since it was all downhill. The day was a beautiful, a perfect 70 degrees and clear bright blue skies. I walked down a few blocks and across the street to the bus stop. As I walked down the hill, the view of the water was so incredibly beautiful and peaceful. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I was able to purchase my bus ticket using the Transit Go app in just a few minutes and without cash! It only took a few minutes before the bus was at my stop and I was on my way. The drive was about 30 minutes long, through the city and then out along Lake Union. There were so many seaplanes taking off and landing so frequently along the lake, it's a miracle they stay out of each others way.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The first stop was to get some lunch at "Cafe Turko". It's a short walk from the bus stop, and the place is easy to find. There's a sign outside that marks the spot, and once inside there is no mistaking that you have stepped into an authentic Turkish restaurant with gorgeous colors and wonderful artifacts all over on the walls.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Second stop, a section of the Berlin wall. It's right around the corner from the cafe, so it's super easy to get to. Apparently, this section was brought over by some Seattle residents and was in a museum for awhile before the establishment closed. It was moved to it's current location and is anchored in the sidewalk. It didn't have the same feel as other areas of the wall I saw in Berlin, but I'm glad a piece of it is here in the states and people can see just how thick it was. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Third stop, up the hill to the Fremont Troll. This hill is kind of long and a little steep. I got about 3/4 up the hill and had to stop and catch my breath before finishing the last 1/4 to get there. I felt my glutes on that hike! The Fremont Troll was created in 1990 by four artists: <span style="color: #333333; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures;">Steve Badanes, Will Martin, Donna Walter, and Ross Whitehead and is built from a VW bug base. Lots of people here taking pictures with the troll, it's kind of crowded there after lunch.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Fourth stop, statue of Lennon from <span style="color: #382c14; letter-spacing: -0.24px;">Czechoslovakia. A Seattle resident who used to live there found out that the statue was about to be melted and didn't want the work of art to go to scrap. So he gathered up 41k and had it brought to Seattle in 1990. It took some time before the statue landed where it is today, but now locals regard it as just an artwork, never mind the political symbolism it embodies.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Walking down the hill and across the way to the rocket we go. This 1950s cold war remnant was on display at an Army Surplus in Belltown, but <span style="background-color: white; color: #111111;">In 1991 it was going to be dismantled. The Fremont Business Association officials were able to acquire it and brought it to Fremont. They rounded up some people to put it back together and it took a few years before they completed the mission. It was erected on the top of a building and bears Fremont's crest on it.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Next: the center of the universe. Yes you heard that right. Back in the 70s there was a group of people who felt that spot was the center of the Universe, and in 1994 the Metro King County Council made it so. I found the sign on a little traffic island at the intersection of N Fremont Ave & N 35th street.<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures;"> It also points visitors to multiple other local landmarks, as well as famous ones.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">That night I checked out some funky blues at a little club and had a great time listening and dancing. It was a fantastic weekend!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span id="goog_1024102300"></span><span id="goog_1024102301"></span><br /></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com01301 6th Ave, Seattle, WA 98101, USA47.6091975 -122.333090924.8611075 -163.6416849 70.3572875 -81.0244969tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8029204372316884015.post-73215332819646637642016-06-03T15:26:00.000-07:002016-06-11T15:26:42.823-07:00Last Night in Jamaican Paradise<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This was my last full day in town, and with that came the last night. Most of the day was rainy again, but I didn't let that keep me out of the water. The Wild Orchid Preferred side beach has a bunch of marine life to hang out with, I had to spend more time with them. I had lunch at my favorite Seaside Grill overlooking the water - even in the rain the ocean is so incredible. After spending time with the fishies, I stepped out for another fantastic meal at the Mexican Cantina and topped the night at the showroom and music lounge. I watched some traditional Jamaican dancing, Fire breathing and fire dancing, Reggae dancing and limbo with this guy that had to not have bones. Check out the videos on my <a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfM_XjmJx9AqPWyOvg1lgu3y8Ub83HA6q" target="_blank">YouTube</a> for more of all of that. It was the best thing to do on a rainy evening.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Observations:</span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I need to find out when the best time is to come back to Jamaica - this time at the Zoetry resort where everything is elevated even more!</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">June is the start of the rainy season... but that's ok - you don't get lush green gorgeousness without some rain!</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The people of Jamaica are very friendly and very nice. I didn't meet anyone that was otherwise.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I will hunt down more Reggae music - I enjoyed listening and dancing to it very much :)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Maybe scuba might be something I would really get into - snorkeling is so much fun and I love being in the water (minus the jellyfish, those aren't so fun)</span></li>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0Montego Bay, Jamaica18.4762228 -77.893889518.3557378 -78.055251 18.596707799999997 -77.732528tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8029204372316884015.post-52779701493024990742016-06-02T02:12:00.000-07:002016-06-11T15:12:42.568-07:00Fired up Thursday<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Today I felt better, but the weather was blah all day long. This was a rain day all day long. I only got out twice... once to go for my 80 minute free massage and post massage hydro therapy session (Holy moly those are intense - alternate hot and cold drench sessions in a variety of ways), and again at the end of the day to do a little snorkeling and then go to dinner. Otherwise I was in my room getting room service, talking with the girls on snapchat and watching marathon shows on DirectTV. Not much happened today. I did, however, join the showroom after dinner to watch the band play for awhile and then watch people compete for a free vacation in a talent show - watch my <a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfM_XjmJx9AqPWyOvg1lgu3y8Ub83HA6q" target="_blank">YouTube</a> for the videos :)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Observations:</span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The Italian restaurant serves a delicious Ravioli here...</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">It sure can pour here, such downpours all day</span></li>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0Montego Bay, Jamaica18.4762228 -77.893889518.3557378 -78.055251 18.596707799999997 -77.732528tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8029204372316884015.post-32947691942480283732016-06-01T02:05:00.000-07:002016-06-11T02:13:32.551-07:00Blah Wednesday<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Today I woke up feeling horrible. I was lucky that the weather outside wasn't great either. I spent most of the day in my room either sleeping or watching television as I wasn't fit to go outside. I did finally venture out for a small walk at sunset, which was nice to see a beautiful scene and breathe some fresh air. I had reservations at the Japanese "Benihana" style restaurant and I didn't want to miss out on my chance to watch a Jamaican chef ham it up, so I made it. Turned out to be a very wonderful meal :) On my way back to my room I noticed there was a band playing, so I stopped in there and listened to a band play for awhile. It was all in all a very low key but nice day even though I wasn't feeling my best.</span><br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0Montego Bay, Jamaica18.4762228 -77.893889518.3557378 -78.055251 18.596707799999997 -77.732528tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8029204372316884015.post-54032324125837397432016-05-31T01:52:00.000-07:002016-06-11T02:13:49.673-07:00Tuesday Travel Day!<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Today I ventured out of the resort and went down the island to Negril, about 4 hours away. The drive down is slow and full of many things to see, and the area itself is definitely recommended if you are ever in the area. In Negril, there is a 7 mile beach of super soft white sand set against the bright green-turquoise water of the Carribean. It is breathtaking. Along this beach are several resorts, and it's obvious the main industry here is absolutely hospitality. The resorts range from small cottage properties with a few cottages to the huge Sandals all-inclusive resorts that take over large portions of the beach.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I went snorkeling in the sea, whisked out by an expert in a glass bottom boat and encountered a thriving reef with so many different fish out there I lost count. I took my new cheaper version of the "go-pro" camera out with me and I hope I got some great footage. I'll upload it to my youtube account in case you'd like to take a look :).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I enjoyed a little souvenir shopping in town, finding my ring for the trip, Larimar and crystal beauty in white gold. Then we stopped at Ricks Cafe, a popular destination from land and sea where the locals jump off high cliffs, and tourists jump off of the shorter cliffs into the stunning green sea. The cafe features unprecedented views of the ocean. I enjoyed watching the dolphins playing not far from us, and watching the party catamarans sail near the cliffs and people jumping off to swim to the stairs so they can enjoy dinner on the cliffs and drinks. </span><br />
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Need more??? <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/113411654203106744219/6294087797119349217?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCOG9-JKBseigVQ&feat=directlink" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Follow this link for more pictures...</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8029204372316884015.post-5355865915257888742016-05-30T20:13:00.000-07:002016-06-11T01:50:37.104-07:00Hi... I'm Monday....<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Today was spent in the water pretty much all day after the morning rain... I don't have many photos to share today. The beach along both St. James and Wild Orchid is marked off for swimming and has differences depending on where you are. Along the Wild Orchid Preferred area, there is a Getty that often holds candlelight dinners in the evening, and the feeling of being out in the water. Toward the middle, there is a very sandy area and then an area full of sea grass. Along the St. James area, this is popular for people to just stand in the water with their drinks and talk for hours and hours. To the far right is the St. James Preferred side, and it is largely empty without anyone swimming in it. Today I spent most of my time in the middle, swimming around with my snorkeling gear (minus the fins). The water is a perfect temperature, and there were a few interesting fish and plants to check out. It was a nice relaxing day :)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Dinner tonight was at the Seaside Grill, overlooking the pool and Ocean beyond at sunset. It was simply stunning. I went out into Montego Bay this evening and visited a local bar for a short while which was fun, then on to bed so that I could be up early for my travel day tomorrow!</span><br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0Montego Bay, Jamaica18.4762228 -77.893889518.3557378 -78.055251 18.596707799999997 -77.732528tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8029204372316884015.post-42165058377642484392016-05-29T22:22:00.000-07:002016-06-08T23:36:34.738-07:00First full day in Jamaica ~ SundayI woke up at the glorious time of 11:46am this morning and felt oh so much better. I slept for more than 12 hours but needed every second. Oh how I loved not having a darn thing to do and to enjoy the day with whatever I feel like doing. That's the single best thing about this trip :) It rained very hard all morning, so it wasn't like I missed much by sleeping in today. After 1pm the rain clouds went away so we were blessed with partly cloudy 80 degree weather.<br />
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<b>My Room</b><br />
I forgot to mention yesterday that they upgraded me from the room I had reserved to the next level section of the resort, with supposedly more comfy beds and better quality rooms. Since I never actually saw the rooms on the St. James side, I cannot confirm that is true. I can only say that my Wild Orchid room is a beautiful suite with a nice deep tub, a big two person shower, wonderful tile floors, a sitting area with a couch and a table. The mini bar is fully stocked with water, juice and soda and did I mention free since this resort is all-inclusive???<br />
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<b>Resort Exploring</b><br />
This resort is so big, with two main sides to it - St. James and Wild Orchid. The St. James side is a full scale resort in itself, has a pool, a luxury "Preferred" section with a full bar and food almost around the clock, as well as ocean swimming right in front. The Wild Orchid side is the "upgraded" side, with fancier rooms, a bit fancier "Preferred" section also with a full bar and food, pool, spa and some of the rooms have a swim out pool right in front. There are 10 restaurants, 8 bars shared between the two resorts, a shopping village, dance lounge, piano bar and both an indoor theater and an outdoor stage for concerts by the water.<br />
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I enjoyed lunch overlooking the pool and full view of the gorgeous Caribbean ocean. The lunch itself was very nice - a nice cocktail of Vodka and pineapple, along with a jerk chicken wrap, salad bar and a few fries. Dinner this evening was at the Jamaican restaurant "Blue Mountain", where my waiter introduced himself as "James Bond". I cannot remember what I had for dinner, but I do remember I enjoyed some white wine - how many glasses I cannot be sure, since Mr. Bond was refilling the glass every time I was halfway done. In any case, it was a very nice wine and dinner was good :)<br />
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Observations Today:<br />
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<ul>
<li>The sunsets here are phenomenal</li>
<li>All the hotel & resort staff are great at Secrets</li>
<li>Rain in the morning, beautiful lush green sunny day in the afternoon</li>
<li>This is the life :)</li>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8029204372316884015.post-27008027754574525532016-05-28T22:18:00.000-07:002016-06-11T15:30:22.651-07:00Well Hellooooooo Jamaica!<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Yesterday I left sunny California for even sunnier Jamaica. I flew out of SFO and my route was to take me through Houston and then on to Montego Bay after a layover of a few hours. Everything was going great until we got about 100 miles away from Houston. We were rerouted to Austin because they shut down the Houston airport due to thunder and lightening storms in the area. We were all automatically rebooked on a flight the next day at 1pm - 15 hours later. Unfortunately, that would make me miss my connection to Montego Bay so I had to wait in line to get a new route to my destination. After a slew of moves from one gate to another trying to catch other flights, I finally was moved successfully onto a flight to Miami the this morning at 10:30am, and then from Miami to Montego Bay - the layover in Miami juuust long enough for me to dash clear across the airport to the connecting flight gate. I made it just in time!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Customs in Jamaica is actually a bit more organized than in the US, surprisingly. We had over 300 people coming in at once and we got through customs in about 45 minutes. I was very glad :) After getting through all the steps, I then got to my driver and was off to my all inclusive destination!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I arrived at <a href="http://www.secretsresorts.com/wild-orchid-montego-bay" target="_blank">Secrets Resort and Spa</a> right about 8pm Saturday night, almost 30 hours from when I left but it didn't matter. I was at a beautiful resort starting my amazing vacation and it was all good from here :) I learned that they upgraded me to the Wild Orchid side of the resort, I'm not sure how much different the rooms are compared to the St. James side, but I'll take it. After I checked in, I got to my room and sank into my gorgeous four poster king bed for much needed sleep.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Observations from today:</span><br />
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<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Austin bills itself as the place for live music. Who knew??</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">United Airlines is not really great at handling unexpected reroutes and is horribly unorganized</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The UA rep that was in charge of bringing us cots to sleep in for the night was very entertaining how she was so animated about how utterly difficult it was to bring so many cots in for all of the people stranded for the night</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">AA airlines is on my bad list for making me pay again for luggage because of the switch due to the connection from UA to AA</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">My driver Warren is funny and made the drive to the resort super easy</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Shelly-Ann, my concierge is very very tiny but very sweet</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Jamaican accents vary quite a bit, but one thing is for sure - when they get going talking to each other they might as well be speaking another language - the slang is crazy!</span></li>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8029204372316884015.post-86095409260989623662015-09-12T00:12:00.000-07:002015-10-12T00:14:33.109-07:00The bittersweet end to a wonderful whirlwind vacation<b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Rome ~ Final farewell</span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I decided to walk along the forums that I visited my first night, to see them during the day. It was beautiful to see them in the daylight, with so much more than what I saw at night. I wander through each section, taking more photos and learning more about the area. I walk across the street and view those forums on that side, see the roman forums I took a tour of and wander back to the hotel to catch my ride to the hotel. Farewell Rome!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Frankfurt & On my way home</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Unfortunately, this layover is only a couple of hours, not quite long enough to go out to the city and explore. I do spend most of my time wandering through the airport and getting the last of the goodies I'll bring back for my work colleagues. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">My flight was uneventful and I got home at a reasonable hour. I slept for about 36 hours straight though once I did go to sleep. Good thing I came home with enough time to do that!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So long Europe... It was a wonderful beginning to more visits in the future!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Photos... <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/113411654203106744219/0308TheFinalDayInEurope?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCLHY9raGmfu-Jg&feat=directlink" target="_blank">https://picasaweb.google.com/113411654203106744219/0308TheFinalDayInEurope?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCLHY9raGmfu-Jg&feat=directlink</a></span><br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8029204372316884015.post-6980349859455311072015-09-11T23:36:00.000-07:002015-10-12T00:13:12.809-07:00The most prolific place in the world<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Day 4</span><br />
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Today was packed due to the fact that I didn't take the Colosseum tour yesterday. I knew I was glutton for punishment, but I had to see the Vatican and knew I needed a guide to help me through it, and I wanted to get inside the Colosseum without waiting hours in line. So I dove in head first, got soaked and punished my feet just a little more. Hey, it's the last full day, you gotta go all out, right?</span><br />
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<b>The Vatican</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">How can I describe this place? The Vatican City is a massive self sufficient country in itself. The Vatican is heavily visited - with over 26,000 visitors daily. They have their own currency, political system, communications systems and walls to protect. There are over 300,000 art pieces here in the Vatican. </span><br />
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We began outside by meeting our guide. One thing that is great about today's guided tours is that everyone gets a 'sound system' to wear around their neck tuned to a channel we could hear our guide better through the headsets. Awesome! We whiz by a line of people about two blocks long at 8:30am to get inside the crowded lobby, where our guide gets our tickets. We go through full-on airport like security to get onto the Vatican grounds. We rush around other tour groups to get a good spot in the gardens so that our guide can begin. In the garden square there are about six sets of all-weather posters showing photos of the Sistine Chapel in detail, along with more information about it. Our guide tells us that Michelangelo was 61 years old when he started the Last Judgement, in a time where people didn't usually live over 40. </span><br />
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We are ushered quickly into the halls of the Vatican where we see impressive works of art, sculptures, maps, globes, tapestries and woodwork from all time. The hall with sculptures is so crowded with sculptures, it's hard to really see one for all it's glory. There are hundreds of people lining the halls, forcing us to walk awkwardly to ourselves as to not disturb another person. We don't have time to linger, as our guide keeps pushing on through pointing out things of great interest and urging us to keep up else we will lose our link to him and would not be able to hear him anymore. We are moved from room to room, hall to hall with expert swiftness, along the way being directed to see particular items of interest.</span><br />
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The Sistine Chapel is a beautiful chapel in which one is supposed to be forbidden to talk. The chapel itself is quite large in square footage, and very tall. Unfortunately, there were so many people in the chapel there wasn't much room to stand let alone sit. As you enter the chapel, the security guards urge you to move along the outside perimeter to go to the back of the room. There is a roar of talking echoing through the room, as people point and talk to their friends about this or that. Every five minutes the guard yells "Silence... No talking, no phones, no photos". For about one full second the room falls quiet, and the murmors come right back, growing in decibel levels. Man that was a bummer. I used my best grandma "don't even thing about talking" look to shut up my neighbors to no avail. People were gonna talk. This chapel is astounding. The ceiling Michelangelo painted was exquisite, amazing and full of stories. The "Last Judgement" piece is on the altar wall, and is profoundly ahead of its time. Michelangelo painted this 25 years after finishing the ceiling. It is absolutely breath taking in person. </span><br />
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<b>The Colosseum</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I know I posted pictures of the Colosseum at night last night, but today is the day I take a tour of the inside of the Colosseum. I learn that the structure itself is sitting on what used to be a man-made lake actually, and the Colosseum was an attempt by the Flavian empire to restore Rome to it's glory pre civil war. <span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Emperor Vespasian was the emperor that started the efforts. With approx. 90,000 jewish slaves and 8 years, the Colosseum was completed. According to the guide, no mortar of any kind holds the gigantic blocks together. The reason why only part of it is standing is due to earthquakes over the years, and the fact that part of the colosseum is actually on more stable ground. </span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">The guide tells us that there were more hunting games in the Colosseum than gladiators fighting each other to the death, and that gladiators dying wasn't as wide-spread as some say. We go inside and see the center oval, part of it covered by a wood floor, the other exposed so we can see what is under. The guide tells us that when they hunted in the arena, the emperor of that time would spare no expense completely setting up the area like the natural habitat of the animals being hunted. She also mentions that the gladiator never knew where the animal was going to come out, as there were several options and it was not discussed prior to 'game time'.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b>The Roman Forums</b></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background-color: white;">I think this was my favorite part of the afternoon tour. We walked through the Roman Forums and imagine how early romans lived once Palestine was designated as the strongest. We learn about the forum, how it was the center of Rome for a very long time, at least as early as 8 centuries BC. How Julius Caesar built here and lived here, </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525;">Augustus</span><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background-color: white;"> his great nephew continued growing the area after he was gone. We learn that the forum was flooded many times and at one point was under about 60 meters of sediment that had settled there over the years, causing romans to make second doors in certain structures. We learn about how Rome's center moved once water was no longer easily found in that area. We climb the Palestine hill and see the amazing views out across the land. It was so amazing to be standing among ruins that were so very old. Completely mind blowing.</span></span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj16ARJCOpZ2Pf3VTT1iLel1F6ZItvI6LoMGiu5ErbX09D_GauP8MFRECL54NRn4RNyaZBwhupzjULDEwsclIO-VTWRUiee7oMJhso8DVPIOQiGNApCZf10HMilK9hiiO80aTBh2fNJHbo/s1600/Colosseum.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj16ARJCOpZ2Pf3VTT1iLel1F6ZItvI6LoMGiu5ErbX09D_GauP8MFRECL54NRn4RNyaZBwhupzjULDEwsclIO-VTWRUiee7oMJhso8DVPIOQiGNApCZf10HMilK9hiiO80aTBh2fNJHbo/s640/Colosseum.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The Colosseum</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghH0tKhufcmuCAsaj4rWRwdvv7pgAndyMG4FpqPdaLHBkYPxhLKneEzuUZvwVYeokGj1Vze7GK2vURKbQajWWl0YjyozQ9EkB9KzNEWnSAQ2vRhATqZBOnO3jiWWlf4fOSw1tw1y8c7s4/s1600/Vatican.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghH0tKhufcmuCAsaj4rWRwdvv7pgAndyMG4FpqPdaLHBkYPxhLKneEzuUZvwVYeokGj1Vze7GK2vURKbQajWWl0YjyozQ9EkB9KzNEWnSAQ2vRhATqZBOnO3jiWWlf4fOSw1tw1y8c7s4/s640/Vatican.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The Vatican</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Photos?? <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/113411654203106744219/0306RomeDay3VaticanAndColosseum?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCJXM977u9L-CNQ&feat=directlink" target="_blank">https://picasaweb.google.com/113411654203106744219/0306RomeDay3VaticanAndColosseum?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCJXM977u9L-CNQ&feat=directlink</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Today I slept in for a very long time and missed my planned visit to the Colosseum. I shrugged it off, after all I've been on the go just about every single day of this vacation. I deserve to take some time if I want to, right?! I start off my day by heading across the street to get some pasta. Then I start walking down the street behind the restaurant I just ate to explore a bit. I found a beautiful church that had several different altars that each paid tribute to different times and people. The feel there was solemn and safe as I explored throughout the church. There weren't a lot of people here, which made it nice to see what it was all about. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I walked further down the road and ended up at the famous Trevi Fountain, which was super cool - even though they are renovating it and you cannot see it for it's full glory. There were so many people there it was distracting, so I headed off toward a cool little street off the other side. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I walked through different streets, wandering really until I ended up on a main street and then found a cool museum featuring <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_LaChapelle" target="_blank">David LaChapelle</a>, an american Photographer who is well known for taking pop culture and turning it on it's side to reveal deeper social issues. I wander through the <a href="http://www.davidlachapelle.com/exhibitions/2015-04-29_palazzo-delle-esposizioni/" target="_blank">Palazzo delle Esposizioni </a>(a beautiful building built in 1883) and drink in his sometimes disturbing images, the vibrant colors and sharp photos emanating so much emotion. Fascinating.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I decided from there that I wanted to see the famous Villa Borghese Gardens, so on goes the GPS and off I go. I walk through this private banking section of Rome with these big mansion houses that have signs in front of them stating that they are private banking. I wonder how that works, how people with that much money go to these places to do things, if at all. It is clear the area is full of some very serious money, with the giant mansions, gates and cameras everywhere. I even find a Warner Brothers lot along my way!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The gardens are full of life, even at dusk when I arrive. There are runners (both male and female) heading into the park and throughout the park. The grounds are gorgeous. I wander through the park, taking photos and enjoying the view. Soon I realize it's getting really dark and I need to figure out how to head back to my hotel, and get some food.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I find a little Italian restaurant on my way back, nestled among some very high end hotels. I try some pizza and green apple juice and enjoy the warm evening while listening to a British couple on my left and a Scottish mother/daughter on my right. It was interesting catching brief parts of both conversations while I enjoyed my dinner. I made my way back to my hotel and I wasn't quite ready to go in.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I walked past my hotel about a quarter mile to the Colosseum, and wandered around the entire perimeter. I found a bride and groom on one side, taking photos with the lighted colosseum behind them. I'm sure they had stunning photos. My feet were killing me, so I decided to go back to the restaurant row near my hotel for a treat - a bit of ice cream before turning in for the night. I cannot miss the epic day I have planned for tomorrow!!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhuthpw6BRzXwJMvk6b72sxKR0kAG6koZeMYXhYtiXRNlZGCcK4SOvaI3JML9TrL41B2BlBiNJKENTuKWiWeCjgFkZ6AO5wHuaznoJyPSle8sJEuJyVGoQvBW3aTmfIejYQi84pFR0dlk/s1600/Rome+Day+1+full+pt2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhuthpw6BRzXwJMvk6b72sxKR0kAG6koZeMYXhYtiXRNlZGCcK4SOvaI3JML9TrL41B2BlBiNJKENTuKWiWeCjgFkZ6AO5wHuaznoJyPSle8sJEuJyVGoQvBW3aTmfIejYQi84pFR0dlk/s640/Rome+Day+1+full+pt2.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi7IGe-NHnqptRSeIeCBPmpnT4WhaAEymhC60iGPSH2pRcV9QDCnYzVZNk4v3xHtiJV7qzUcJ5Xgjhver9yCiCxLDyeUIaUACrDifLO5R-Vk83WgxMu6odf0lf-uN7bV6MQYP7FmF7gJk/s1600/Rome+First+Full+Day.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi7IGe-NHnqptRSeIeCBPmpnT4WhaAEymhC60iGPSH2pRcV9QDCnYzVZNk4v3xHtiJV7qzUcJ5Xgjhver9yCiCxLDyeUIaUACrDifLO5R-Vk83WgxMu6odf0lf-uN7bV6MQYP7FmF7gJk/s640/Rome+First+Full+Day.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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Photos?? <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/113411654203106744219/0306RomeDay2?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCM2BvsaqmrbF0gE&feat=directlink" target="_blank">https://picasaweb.google.com/113411654203106744219/0306RomeDay2?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCM2BvsaqmrbF0gE&feat=directlink</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8029204372316884015.post-18567099997025131832015-09-09T00:20:00.000-07:002015-10-12T00:20:25.542-07:00Why hello new to me place...<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Day 1... 9.9.15 (9 Sept 2015)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Rome baby! I flew out of Zurich around 3pm and headed to Rome via Munich Germany. I got to the Zurich airport early, so I milled around the shops in the airport to kill some time. The flight to Munich from Zurich is only an hour, so after that quick jaunt it was time to hang out for about 3 hours before my flight to Rome. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I didn't think I had quite enough time to really go far, so I walked outside of the airport to a nearby Deutsche bank to get some Euro again (since Italy accepts Euro and Zurich generally did not). The airport is set up for layovers, with lots of lounges and hangouts and activities as well as directions on how to get to the train and city center. In order for me to get out of the airport in Munich, I had to go through Passport control where they ask me questions about why I'm there, when I'm leaving and stamp my passport. I quickly found the bank and made my way back to the airport, where I decided food would be a good idea and to do a little shopping at the store. I had never seen a regular grocery store in an airport before, I suppose it is quite convenient. When I was done eating and shopping, again I had to go through Passport control to get back to my gate. It was actually pretty quick to get through security, I'm telling you America has one of the most unfriendly restrictive security lines at the airport than I've seen in all my travels.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">When I arrived in Rome, getting my luggage was super easy and I was surprised to see that I didn't have to go through any customs to leave. I followed the signs to the shuttles and decided I'd take a taxi to the hotel because I didn't want to lug my suitcase and stuff on a bus then train. As soon as I got outside, I saw so many people. This guy came to me and asked me if I needed a shuttle to my hotel. He had the official badge on so I said yes. He said wait here, I will find another person and you can share the fare. So I stood in the designated spot for about 10 minutes while the guy darted in and out of the crowd, rushing back to me if anyone else tried to entice me to go with them. It was a bit amusing, the guy walk off, another guy comes to me and starts talking, the first guy popping back and yelling something in Italian to the second guy, who then looks apologetically to me and steps away. Finally the guy came back and off we went to the hotel. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">My hotel was near the Spanish Steps in the heart of Rome, and the Flumencio Airport is about 30 minutes away. We whizzed through the airport roads, onto the rural freeway and finally into town. The shuttle driver would yell at people driving in Italian, then apologize in English to us inside. It was like driving with a NYC cab driver. Seriously, just like it. I loved the passionate expressions that he had and how he used his arms and hands and face when he was talking. You don't need to know the language to get what he was saying. We drove by some ruins illuminated by light that were huge and interesting, the Colosseum at night and darted through cobblestone side streets to my traveling companion's hotel first, then back through more little cobblestone roads zig-zagging our way to my hotel.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">My hotel is a beautiful older hotel on the corner of a busy street. There are no less than 5 restaurants across the street from the hotel, and a Subway up the street. Around the corner and 1/2 block away theres the </span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piazza_Venezia" target="_blank">Piazza Venezia</a>, a hub of Rome that is gorgeous and has the Italy Tomb of the unknown soldier and beautiful architecture and sculptures. I discover that <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trajan%27s_Forum" target="_blank">Trajan's Forum</a> is right across the street from Piazza, and I can see the Coloseum in the distance as I cross the street and I'm getting excited about my choice of hotel. I wandered slowly through Trajan's Forum and look at the ruins, lit up by lights all around, and notice that there's a light show of history appearing on the far walls lining the forum. It was so interesting. It shows history of the forums, what it was at one point, that there was a fire, the rebuild and what the forum looked like over the years. It was so cool to watch.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I decided then after my wandering that I probably am hungry, so I walked back to where I saw restaurants, sat outside and had a late night spaghetti dinner that was delicious! The waiter was so great and really protective of me, making sure no one trying to sell anything would approach me while I dined. I didn't get to sleep until around 3am.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Today's observations:</span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Munich is huge, and the airport is like a city itself</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I'm just now getting some German as I listen to people around me, and I'm headed to Rome :)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It's warmer in Rome than I expected</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I think the ruins lit up at night are something special to see</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The Piazza is pretty impressive </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Rome stays up late into the night, the restaurants and people were out well past midnight</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Seems as though cars don't explicitly follow the signs and rules of the road</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The language has an interesting rhythm and passion laced throughout </span></li>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAw4FD_eXm0J-0CsfhAo7JFlpp9RKQB-uMeRF3F2TH8bBeXt12NxjQf14OXZqFZA0p2qjGCG1q3TwFonQAgYXjg30_pqk5eIml_Pu44vBHaWemczlo5HwgxubXOarOvOclFCukvqOzE2Y/s1600/Rome_day1_2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAw4FD_eXm0J-0CsfhAo7JFlpp9RKQB-uMeRF3F2TH8bBeXt12NxjQf14OXZqFZA0p2qjGCG1q3TwFonQAgYXjg30_pqk5eIml_Pu44vBHaWemczlo5HwgxubXOarOvOclFCukvqOzE2Y/s640/Rome_day1_2015.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Photos?? <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/113411654203106744219/0304ByeZurichHelloRomeViaMunich?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCLDlk4Or8OjHEQ&feat=directlink" target="_blank">https://picasaweb.google.com/113411654203106744219/0304ByeZurichHelloRomeViaMunich?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCLDlk4Or8OjHEQ&feat=directlink</a></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8029204372316884015.post-16552028243984069162015-09-08T00:19:00.000-07:002015-10-12T00:45:01.879-07:00Time in the city<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Zurich Final day 8.9.15 (8 Sept 2015)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Today's my last day in Zurich. My friend had a full day at school, so after finishing packing my stuff I set out to go into the city center to see a little more and explore. I walked around the city, just wandering really. I discovered some art, some little hideaway boutiques, an archeological dig, a super old square, new fancy stores, the Rodeo Drive of Zurich and of course more of what's around the river. I discovered a chocolate shop, Lindt's big building, beautiful jewelry and of course exquisite watches (after all, I am in Switzerland!). I decided to take the tram to Zurich University and get a feel for the campus - there's something really cool about being on a college campus, especially as old as this one is. Across the street a little further down was the school Einstein went to, what's there now is no doubt different from what he saw when he went there.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It was a laid back day but fun all the same :)</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD7Oh1JlxxMOiRQC9FbkkAAiMdvmbjcTXPso6PgSYm23s8G0BuZ8syLV2FdPtfuI_pplnZimzPTElhaLq8PEdHgG-iQfo2ojo-lQz5x_rFnjvtr5FVbJbsp6ZiHSvN1Enkefie1Ms4jX8/s1600/zurichd3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD7Oh1JlxxMOiRQC9FbkkAAiMdvmbjcTXPso6PgSYm23s8G0BuZ8syLV2FdPtfuI_pplnZimzPTElhaLq8PEdHgG-iQfo2ojo-lQz5x_rFnjvtr5FVbJbsp6ZiHSvN1Enkefie1Ms4jX8/s640/zurichd3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Photos:<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/113411654203106744219/0304ZurichDay4?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCK-vuKz20LS9wwE&feat=directlink" target="_blank">https://picasaweb.google.com/113411654203106744219/0304ZurichDay4?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCK-vuKz20LS9wwE&feat=directlink</a></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8029204372316884015.post-45470067800777349442015-09-07T00:18:00.000-07:002015-10-11T23:12:19.599-07:00Small village in Germany, beautiful hills<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Zurich... Day 3 ~ 7.9.15 (7 Sept 2015)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Today my friend had to go over the border for some banking in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Konstanz" target="_blank">Constance</a> aka Konstanz, Baden-Württemberg, Germany, and I tagged along. Zurich isn't far from this German border - about an hour. The road up feels more country-like, with rolling hills, small farms, barns, cows and other animals roaming the acres of land. The road or autobahn is actually just two lanes, and the speed limit is 70kmh, which seems somewhat slow compared to California's freeways. But there is an intimacy within this highway that connects the two countries together. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">When I arrived at the border, there is a passport control station much like the border patrol stations I've seen in California between Mexico and the US. The difference is here it's only three lanes wide, and the experience is very different. In fact today, both going to Germany and leaving to go back to Zurich was free of probing officers demanding to see ID and watching for wrongdoing. Instead, the officers waved us through without interrogation or inspection. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">As we pass the border into Germany, we see a river to our right. I discover that the Rhine River is what I'm looking at, and this river runs through Lake Constance (the Bondensee) and leaves the lake a larger river as it moves through. I also learn quickly that in German the "See" (Sea) is actually a lake, and an ocean (what we would call a Sea) is a " ". I was not aware of that fun fact :). This area was first settled back in the stone age (no joke!), and around 40AD the first Roman settlers came into the area. This was truly remarkable to me. Until today I had never set foot in a place that had a history that old. I was in awe.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The town itself has all kind of winding roads through a mix of shops and residences, cobblestone streets and lively townspeople all over enjoying the sun. We walked through the windy streets remembering landmarks along the way so we could remember how to get back to where the car was parked. I tried to take some pictures along the way. Once we got to the center square where the bank was, my friend was off to the bank and I was wandering the square to see what I could see.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">On the side of the buildings there were often a word or three and a year - it really seemed like it was perhaps a nachname of a person (surname) and a year. I wasn't able to confirm that though. There are several photos of that in the album.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The fountain at one end of the square is prominent, and has both historical significance and some satire in it's homage. It's called <span style="color: #212121;"><span style="line-height: 24px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Kaiserbrunnen and it was built on the site of the market of 1896-1897. It was </span></span><span style="color: #212121;"><span style="line-height: 24px; white-space: pre-wrap;">inaugurated</span></span><span style="color: #212121;"><span style="line-height: 24px; white-space: pre-wrap;"> in 1897, and was done by Hans Baur. The fountain stands on a middle stone pyramid in four niches and originally had four life-size statues. The four statues represented four German Dynasties: Henry III (Franken), Frederic Barbarossa (</span><span style="line-height: 24px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Hohenstaufen</span><span style="line-height: 24px; white-space: pre-wrap;">), Maximilian I (Habsburg) and William I (Prussia). Unfortunately, the life-size statues were taken to be melted into other things back in 1942, and in 1990, a new rather caricture-ized</span><span style="line-height: 24px; white-space: pre-wrap;"> bust of the Emperor Gernot Rumpf was placed there, along with a new smaller fountain with </span></span><span style="color: #212121; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; white-space: pre-wrap;">what Germans see as comical sculptures of water-spouting sea hares, a three-headed peacock with three crowns, Pope and other figures that allude satirically on the council time and the city's history. There is also a bronze edition of the Treaty of Constance signed in 1183.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="color: #212121; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Interestingly enough, because of this town's close proximity to Switzerland as well as the fact the townspeople were smart and left all their lights on at night during WW2 it was spared bombing because allied forces thought it was still part of Switzerland.</span></span><br />
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<li><span style="color: #212121; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px; white-space: pre-wrap;">This place felt really peaceful, the people seemed very happy and warm</span></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #212121; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px; white-space: pre-wrap;">This place had a lot of history - it wasn't until I got back that I found out it was as old as it was</span></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #212121; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Squares in Europe are cool</span></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #212121; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px; white-space: pre-wrap;">I need to explore the little villages too in Germany</span></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #212121; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Maybe a cruise on the Rhine river might be fun</span></span></li>
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<span style="color: #212121; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Check this video I found out... The fountain is about 2:20 in: <a href="https://youtu.be/G4kDbx-AMeE" target="_blank">Happy in </a></span></span><span style="color: #0000ee; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><u>Konstanz</u></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #212121; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Photos: <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/113411654203106744219/0303ZurichDay3?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCIKdpbvuna-eqQE&feat=directlink" target="_blank">https://picasaweb.google.com/113411654203106744219/0303ZurichDay3?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCIKdpbvuna-eqQE&feat=directlink</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #212121;"><span style="line-height: 24px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8029204372316884015.post-90215682773234922742015-09-06T00:13:00.000-07:002015-10-11T23:11:32.749-07:00Wandering around with no agendaDay 2 in Zurich... 6.9.15 (6 Sept 2015)<br />
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Today was a somewhat laid back day, as there was no agenda, nothing that I wanted to rush to go see. I went to have a lovely lunch by the water and that's about it. Just a nice relaxing day in Zurich...<br />
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Photos:<br />
<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/113411654203106744219/0302ZurichDay2?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCMWIjsDwwres1gE&feat=directlink" target="_blank">https://picasaweb.google.com/113411654203106744219/0302ZurichDay2?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCMWIjsDwwres1gE&feat=directlink</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8029204372316884015.post-53537035726276860932015-09-05T22:40:00.000-07:002015-10-12T00:18:51.491-07:00Hello Hamburg.... Hello Zurich!<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Day 1</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">After two weeks in Europe, my brother and daughter have to head home while I begin my third week in Europe on my own. Today we had to be out of the apartment by 10am, but that was not a problem because I had an early flight and J & A need to catch their flight out to by 12:30pm anyhow. I was up first, Ashley about ten minutes later. I headed off to the bus station to catch the air shuttle to the airport around 8:30am and boy I'm glad I did. It's not exactly simple to figure out how the air shuttle works (hint you need to get a special ticket, and the entrance to where the bus is is kind of hidden - follow signs for the S). </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> I decided to fly out from Prague to Zurich to meet up with a friend and include a long layover in Hamburg to see a little of that city as well. I had a little more than a half day to explore a bit of Hamburg before I was in Zurich. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Hamburg is a beautiful sea side city that I must go visit and explore more. I didn't have much time to see a lot, but I did get a chance to see a little. It was a blustery day, with clouds threatening rain while I was on my walk but that didn't stop people from being out and about. I randomly wandered from the main train station just to get a feel for the surrounding area. I happened across a flea market in this square that was really popular. I walked through neighborhoods, discovered a small park and a walking trail and saw both old and new apartment buildings.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz59JBqEeC4GGSOvPUEQo8OyI0JMOlerL2qjaEbuE90xlyiNZgN6-hyHm54LZl702hPilLQv6613u8H3hcfHM6t0N86T2whSwaIOLbxFPWLBTpL2gLIhLqyZp_VZuGWjWVfZz7EF0Un-E/s1600/hamburgv2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz59JBqEeC4GGSOvPUEQo8OyI0JMOlerL2qjaEbuE90xlyiNZgN6-hyHm54LZl702hPilLQv6613u8H3hcfHM6t0N86T2whSwaIOLbxFPWLBTpL2gLIhLqyZp_VZuGWjWVfZz7EF0Un-E/s640/hamburgv2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Hamburg Highlights</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Zurich is very green and open. My hotel is near the airport, so I'm still on the outskirts of the city. I'll see more of it tomorrow :)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">In other news... I heard late that J and A made it home safe in the US.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Observations:</span><br />
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<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">If you ever have to take the Prague air shuttle from the train station to the airport, you have to make sure you get a seat. The bus driver I had was a very volatile driver, slamming on his brakes at the last moment, taking corners quickly and late - it's not easy to stand, keep a hold of your luggage and survive without some pain</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The <a href="http://www.synagogue.cz/jerusalem-synagogue-page/about-the-synagogue/" target="_blank">Jerusalum Synague</a> in Prague is beautiful </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Lots of farmland in Zurich, the green everywhere is almost fairy-tale like</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">There is a literal fence yard near my hotel - I don't think I'd ever say those two words together - fence yard, but each time I go by it I think it</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">In Zurich, the people speak German, but a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zurich_German" target="_blank">dialect</a> of proper German. My friend told me you have to speak to them in German and they will know you aren't speaking their dialect and switch either to english or proper German </span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Photos... <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/113411654203106744219/0301GoodbyePragueHelloZurich?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCIiw05v_uOCG-AE&feat=directlink" target="_blank">https://picasaweb.google.com/113411654203106744219/0301GoodbyePragueHelloZurich?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCIiw05v_uOCG-AE&feat=directlink</a></span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8029204372316884015.post-4148416593854817482015-09-04T21:50:00.000-07:002015-10-12T00:47:03.523-07:00Bridges and Palaces<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Day 8..</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Today we all woke up refreshed after our easy day yesterday and decided to take a look at some items that we hadn't had a chance to see yet. We made a plan and headed out early (well 10am is early for Prague :) )... First up, fuel for the day.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">For our first meal of the day, of course we headed to our favorite square to find a place to eat. We came across this street act of this guy with his face painted white and in a baby suit. He squeaked baby noises and moved his baby body around with such silliness. A little girl maybe 3 years old came up to him with a lollipop in one hand and the baby man motioned to her to come closer. He wanted her lollipop but she put the baby's pacifier back in his mouth. It was precious. As we moved around the square we discovered another bagpiper with his band and watched them for a bit of time as well. We ended up getting lunch next to the Irish pub at the British bar/restaurant. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We meandered our way toward the water and found ourselves on the famed St. Charles Bridge. The bridge itself is somewhat narrow, paved the entire length with cobblestone. There are several sculptures on both sides of the bridge along the span, and there are vendors on both sides of the bridge bringing the actual pedestrian traffic to the center with a narrow space. There are magnificent views of the Prague Castle from that bridge, and there are two tower gates, at the beginning and the end of the bridge. When we got off the bridge and went through the second tower, we were immediately brought back into an older era, with a narrow street and buildings on both sides. It almost felt like a movie set, it was surreal. We made our way to the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wallenstein_Palace" target="_blank">Wallenstein Palace</a> where the Czech Senate meets and the nearby <a href="https://cs.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vald%C5%A1tejnsk%C3%A1_zahrada" target="_blank">Valdstejnska Zahrada</a> gardens. This place is enormous and beautiful.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">After the tour of the palace grounds we headed back into an interesting looking street to make our way back across the river. Along the way we came across an upright piano chained to a building as part of Prague's pianos in the public program, more palaces and interesting buildings. We had a quick dinner at a little pizza and snack place, and then enjoyed drinks at the Irish pub to round out the evening.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Observations today:</span><br />
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<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We saw three brides and grooms that day in the square. Apparently Friday is a popular day to get married in Prague</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">There's a lot of dust in Prague right now. My allergies have been atrocious and I'm happy to move away from this</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Mercedes Prague Fashion Week is this week, red carpet, huge mirror ball and models everywhere - it's been exciting</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Walking on cobblestone is hard on your feet and legs - it's really not fun</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Photos... <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/113411654203106744219/0208PragueDay8?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCLXz8uWw6_XwGQ&feat=directlink" target="_blank">https://picasaweb.google.com/113411654203106744219/0208PragueDay8?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCLXz8uWw6_XwGQ&feat=directlink</a></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8029204372316884015.post-50637584104013295502015-09-03T21:40:00.000-07:002015-10-12T00:43:23.091-07:00Tattoos and sleep<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Day 7</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Today was the day Ashley was to get her tattoo. She got up early and made her way to get some cash out, then on to the tattoo place. She had a design already decided on, and worked with the artist to make it what she wanted. She was well underway on her tattoo by the time I woke up, as my allergies to all the dust was really taking it's toll on me. About 1pm Ashley texts me, then again at 2pm. The second was urging me to wake up, as she needed me to go get some cash so that she could leave soon. When I finally got up, I got ready and then grabbed some Czech cash around the corner so that she could pay her artist.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Ashley's new tattoo is beautiful and bigger than originally anticipated. It sits on the inside of her arm before her elbow. It's traditional black ink, and represents all the choices that are available and the fact that she has to remember her core values when faced with them. She originally wanted to do a smaller version on the inside of her wrist, but upon talking with the artist she chose to make it a little larger.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Ashley and I enjoyed a nice lunch around the corner from the tattoo shop at the Irish pub that we visited a couple of days ago and hung out until the place closed. The weather was beautiful and it was nice spending time with her for awhile. After lunch, we headed back to the apartment to catch up with Jared. We decided to make today a mellow day and save our energy for tomorrow, our last day in Prague. We hung out at the apartment for the rest of the day save for the evening dinner in the square again.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Today's observations:</span><br />
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<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Directions in Prague is not too easy to stick to. GPS always gets lost</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">My allergies are so incredibly awful these days, the building the apartment is in is being resurfaced</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Prague doesn't smell so great in quite a few areas</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Photos... <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/113411654203106744219/0207PragueDay7?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCJqMsIKhxaKw_AE&feat=directlink" target="_blank">https://picasaweb.google.com/113411654203106744219/0207PragueDay7?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCJqMsIKhxaKw_AE&feat=directlink</a></span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8029204372316884015.post-25453819919717061472015-09-02T23:04:00.000-07:002015-10-12T00:23:39.424-07:00Strahov, Old Books and amazing historyDay 6...<br />
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Finally... It wasn't so freaking hot!<br />
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Ashley and I wanted to see one of the most celebrated historical places in Prague, the Strahov Library. We took the subway then the tram to get up to the Monastery, which is situated on a hill kind of far from our apartment. Since it wasn't 90+ outside we gladly took the time to be outside.<br />
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This place is fascinating. It's inside of the Strahov Monastery, originally built in 1143. The caretakers have collected some of the most amazing volumes of books ever printed and some of them are on display. The oldest book we could see was from 860AC. We saw books, weapons, chain mail, beautiful woodwork in the hall leading up to two extraordinary rooms that are awe-inspiring.<br />
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<b>The Front Area</b><br />
This area houses some select books, dating back to 860AC. They are displayed behind glass, so that you cannot touch them but only view. Near the books is another cabinet, housing stuffed small animals like turtles and a prehistoric dinosaur looking thing, butterflies and war memorbilia. As you walk towards the library rooms, you see another cabinet with gifts that were given to the monks from dignitaries from around the world.<br />
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<b>The Long Walkway</b><br />
This area was lined on both sides with exquisite wood cabinets, each amazingly beautiful, but not all filled with any exhibits. One of the cabinets had some more books, and another had more domestic artifacts such as china and glassware.<br />
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<b>The Theological Hall</b><br />
This is the older of the two halls. This one was Baroque style, created in 1670. A supremely ornate ceiling graces this hall, with beautiful paintings in between. The floor is a gorgeous combination of woods in a beautiful pattern. This library is so beautiful.<br />
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<b>The Philosophical Hall</b><br />
This is the newer of the two halls. Built in the last quarter of the 18th century, this hall is clearly more modern. Gone are the 3d ornate sections, but in its place is an amazingly magnificent group of paintings that are simply stunning. This library is huge as well!<br />
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<b>The grounds</b><br />
There is this really ornate gate down the way from the library that was fantastic. Gold trimmed metal, this is a gorgeous gate.<br />
The view from the hill is amazing. We walked along the side of the monastery where there is now a restaurant and got killer view photos.<br />
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<b>Dinner</b><br />
We caught up with Jared at the apartment and all went out to dinner in the Old Town Square, our seemingly new favorite spot. We went to a new to us place near the atomic clock, a wonderful Italian restaurant. We enjoyed a scrumptious Italian meal and wonderful ice cream desserts. Yum!<br />
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Photos... <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/113411654203106744219/0206PragueDay6?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCNGw04Thrdq4tQE&feat=directlink" target="_blank">https://picasaweb.google.com/113411654203106744219/0206PragueDay6?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCNGw04Thrdq4tQE&feat=directlink</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8029204372316884015.post-75797367284644917872015-09-01T22:34:00.000-07:002015-10-12T00:24:51.644-07:00Baroque, Palaces and Opera<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Day 5</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Today I wasn't feeling 100%, the dust and stuff in the air was really getting to me. I relaxed most of the day, while Ashley and Jared wandered some, then I got up and Ashley and I went to the mall before going to a concert. Ashley agreed to go with me not knowing what she was getting herself into.</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The Mall</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This place is huge. <a href="http://www.palladiumpraha.cz/" target="_blank">The Pallidium</a> is not far from our apartment and is right across from the Municipal House and the dome. Over 200 shops, multi level and wasn't all that different than American malls... except for the fact that most of the shops were designer. I suppose you could liken it to Fashion Valley in San Diego or Valley Fair in San Jose. I was on the hunt for some good walking shoes, as I mentioned before that the shoes I had were not helping me with my arch issues when walking so much. </span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The Concert</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This concert<b> </b>was a celebration of early music from the Baroque period. The concert centered around the work of <span style="background-color: #feffff; line-height: 27.299999237060547px;">Claudio Monteverdi and his followers. </span>It was put on by <a href="http://www.operabarocca.cz/en/news/news-en.html" target="_blank">Opera Barocca</a>, and prior to setting foot at the place, I didn't actually know where it was. I thought originally it was by the Palladium, but about 18 minutes before the show I realized that I was 900 meters from the actual venue, the beautiful and historic <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clam-Gallas_Palace" target="_blank">Clam-Gallas Palace</a>, built in the 18th century and was the site of performances and visits by Beethoven and Mozart. The host for the evening told us that at that palace ballroom, the city of Prague puts on a big masquerade ball each year and many people attend it every year in October. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The concert was actually in a room on the top floor, about 600 square feet by my estimation (I'm using my apartment for comparison). The ceilings are easily at least 15-20 feet high, and the ceiling is decorated by beautiful paintings by some artist. The walls are covered with a damask yellow wallpaper, and then trimmed by black artistic trimming draping the sections. In one corner was a large piece of furniture that looked like a white stove, along the window wall with giant tall narrow windows was an enormously tall mirror that turned into a vanity like desk at waist level. At the front of the room, there was a harpsichord and three chairs along with music stands in front of each chair.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">When the artists came out, the first thing one notices is the fact that they are all dressed in period attire that musicians would have worn in the 18th century. The pants, the high socks, blouse style shirts, powdered wigs, the shoes. Two of the artists were violinists, the third a cellist, and finally there was the harpsichordist. They began to play and the room was filled with beautiful music. After a couple of songs, a woman came out all made up and in an exquisite dress. She sang with her strong operatic soprano voice a beautiful song, and then retreated again until the next song she was to sing in.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">At intermission, we all came out into the stairway and mingled. I was fascinated by the tall ceilings, the detail on the railings, the romantic look of the candlelit stairway, and the interesting hardware on the windows. This was some person's house! Truly amazing.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I was a little worried about Ashley getting bored or not having fun, but to my surprise as I stole several glances at her throughout the performance, she had a big smile on her face, or her eyes were closed and a soft smile graced her lips. She said later that she felt transported to another time, as if she lived in that time when this music was new and could see what it was like then.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The whole experience was intimate and royal, in my mind this must have been what it would have been like when the Count who owned the palace wanted to entertain his family or a guest or two. In his room, just for him and his guests. Words cannot describe how amazing this experience was for me.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Dinner</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We had a late dinner at Prague's TGI Friday's not far from the apartment. We were served by one of the bartenders, which was awesome. It was a nice ending for the evening.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Observations:</span><br />
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<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The Clam-Gallas Palace is huge, almost an entire city block (no joke!)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The original artwork on the ceilings intrigue me. How hard must it have been for the artists to pain them, not only on a ceiling that is over 15 feet high, but the ceiling is also curved/domed</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The walls were so big it makes sense why they decorated them the way they did</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Baroque was all about showing wealth it seems</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Found some shoes at the Adidas store, ironically enough they say "Los Angeles" on them :)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Some of the most amazing experiences are right in front of you, if you dare to just try something outside of your norm</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">My daughter continuously surprises me. Who knew she would enjoy this concert as much as I?</span></li>
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<b><br /></b>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8029204372316884015.post-63120521894390064662015-08-31T21:58:00.000-07:002015-10-12T00:27:47.244-07:00Letenske Sady, Municiple House & Wencelas Square<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Prague..</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Day 4</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Today was not unlike the previous days here, we went to bed the night before somewhere around 4-5am and slept until 3-5pm. It seems like a trend, but man it is too hot to go out earlier. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I'm dealing with more swelling in my ankles with this heat, so I end up icing them for as long as I can stand before going to sleep and it seems to be helping. It's time to get some better walking shoes, I know because my flip flops although comfortable don't cut it for really extended periods of time on my feet, and my bob's that I brought don't provide enough structure or impact cushion on the cobblestone street.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We went to an italian restaurant first to grab some dinner/breakfast and had a wonderful meal. This place was an interesting blend of a coffee shop vibe with a restaurant. The pendant lamps had homemade shades made of coffee packets. It was so interesting.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We walked toward the water and across a bridge, then up the hill to find out what was at the top. We had thought it was how to get to Letenske park that Catherine had raved about Saturday. This hill was not easy to climb, even with stairs and paved trails all the way. It was steep and sharp. We got to the top eventually, and by the time I got up there I felt so incredibly sticky and hot it was uncomfortable. Again we were in the heat, but this time in the shade so it was marginally better. We walked along the park's trail, and I kept thinking of that Scorpian song "<a href="https://youtu.be/n4RjJKxsamQ" target="_blank">Winds of Change</a>" and Gorky Park even though I have never really been to Gorky Park, but somehow my brain equated this place with that one, as if I had seen something connecting the two as a teen. Now as I write this I find it quite ironic because that song's video had many scenes in it of the communism dictatorship in it, and I'm writing about Prague, which just a little over 25 years ago was definitely under communist rule. This park is beautiful, vibrant, full of trees, grass, children's play areas and benches to relax in. We stop in a children's play area and Ashley plays on just about everything in the area, Jared too. I was still feeling so hot from the walk up and the sheer warmth still in the air I watched and took photos.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We kept walking down the pathway until we came across an area where there was once a gigantic statue of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:PomnikStalina-Praga1.jpg" target="_blank">Joseph Stalin</a>, but now houses the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prague_Metronome" target="_blank">Prague Metronome</a>. There were many young people there, right as the sun was setting. On one end of the enormous paved area were skateboarders grinding away, and the other side overlooking the river young lovers sat with their legs dangling down off the side of the ledge watching the sun go down. The Metronome to me looked like a huge remnant of soviet days, and looked pretty lethal.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We decided we needed some water, so we headed down the hill to find some water. We found the beer garden at the end of the park, and enjoyed some bottles of water. Then Jared and Ashley enjoyed some beer and cider. As the sun went down it cooled down nicely. We sat next to a bocci ball area where young people were playing in groups. It is a great people watching area. Young boisterous people being loud, older people enjoying a beer or two, young college groups taking photos and talking in French, dogs, kids, people of all ages go here. Some from here, some are visitors like us. We hung out there for a few hours. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We finished off the night out and about by going back up to the corner sausage stand we found on night one (top of Wenceles square). Jared and I both went with the spicy sausage, while Ashley had a falafel. The food at this little stand is amazing, and the sausage guy is so meticulous about how he makes each and every one of them. Highly recommended.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Today's observations:</span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Hot and sticky is not the time to climb a steep hill</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">There was a bit of a sad feeling in several areas of the park, and it was more intense near where the Stalin statue was</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The beer garden had incredible views</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Lots of spiders come out at night and lurk in every available nook and cranny - be careful along any rail!</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The night is the only time to go out when it's 90+Fahrenheit in Prague</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Prague natives say this weather is outrageous and not so fun either</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Photos... <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/113411654203106744219/0204PragueDay4?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCLDs_P6PssqFJA&feat=directlink" target="_blank">https://picasaweb.google.com/113411654203106744219/0204PragueDay4?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCLDs_P6PssqFJA&feat=directlink</a></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8029204372316884015.post-57622487982779692072015-08-30T21:26:00.000-07:002015-10-12T00:28:32.691-07:00Holy Moly... Another unbearably hot day?!<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Prague...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Day 3</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">As with the first day here, we were up until very late last night, so we didn't rouse today until around 3pm. Today Ashley wanted to find this tattoo shop she had researched because she had decided she wanted a tattoo in Prague. We took our time getting ready 'again' and went to old town to get some food first. We sat down at this Irish Pub outside and ordered some food and beer (well those two ordered beer, I had water). We all tried something outside of our sphere of food knowledge - Ashley and I trying Irish sandwiches and Jared trying Bangers and Mash. We ended up spending the entire afternoon/evening/night at that pub, drinking beer/cider/water and chatting with several different people around us.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">There was this group of three people at a table near us, two guys and one woman. One man orders this giant beer in this giant glass, and there seems to be no way he is going to finish this gigantic beer today by himself. His friend orders an abnormally tall large beer, and has even more of a difficult time to finish.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We see this group of grown men all in different costumes, Robin, Banana Man, the Joker, Spider Man and Flash Gordan to name a few. Turns out they are from England and are celebrating a 'Stag' party - the English version of a Bachelor party. The big brothers of the groom told everyone to dress up as their favorite superhero. The groom didn't have a costume, so the brothers and friends dressed the groom up as a woman, with a dress, a wig, lipstick and pumps. They were hilarious. One of the older brothers sat with us for a few minutes and talked with us before joining the group. They stayed at the pub almost as long as we did.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We also met two Westminster chaps sitting at the table next to us and for the next 6+ hours commenced discussions about almost every subject under the sun. Both of our new friends were Tennis instructors back home, and both of them were friends for the better part of 18 years. The older friend was my age, and the other was about 7 years younger. The one that was my age, Daniel I think his name was, had two hearing aids in (has had his loss since birth) was originally from Ireland and spoke like an Irishman, super fast and very difficult to understand. He had been to America before. The younger friend (I cannot remember his name for the life of me) had not been to America before, but is saving to go visit someday. We hung out, drank, chatted and then danced with them later in the night. We learned some Irish dancing!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We also met a couple of in training Doctors from Turkey that were on holiday from school and touring Europe during their time off. They were great sports and were out on the dance floor dancing too for awhile. We chatted with them for a bit, they were really eager to meet new people and practice English :)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Today's observations:</span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Stag parties are really elaborate here in Prague</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Cobblestone does radiate heat</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Kirkwood cider is a very good apple-like cider</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Irish dancing at times is kind of like square dancing</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Some Irish music is similar to 'Folk' music</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Westminister blokes are hilarious</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Sometimes it's really nice to just hang out in one place and chat and drink</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Ashley never made it to the Tattoo place today, she tried but she got lost the first time and the second time she went another way and found it, but they were closed</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Outdoor beer gardens offer a ton of free entertainment </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Prague really seems like Europe's 'Vegas'...</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">At the very end of the night when the pub was closing we spoke with a young guy that had the most interesting English accent, different from the Westminister guys or the Stag party guys, but it was so intriguing to hear him talk</span></li>
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