tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-51327300959586152682024-03-14T03:56:56.052+01:00Werner's European AdventureRyanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10822849807642561903noreply@blogger.comBlogger48125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5132730095958615268.post-33003990297617055592010-06-03T21:41:00.031+02:002010-06-03T22:41:04.419+02:00Jordan Part 2 of 2 - Petra and Wadi RumI spent the second half of the trip in southern Jordan at Petra and Wadi Rum. Petra is a city that was carved out of the sandstone rocks in about 600 BC. The rock formations and the colors in the rocks were beautiful. It's also one of the 7 New Wonders of the World. It's also been the set of many movies, including Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade and the 2nd Transformers movie.<br /><br />This is the entrance to the park. It's called the siq and is a long narrow split in the rocks.<br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/TAgJUq5zm3I/AAAAAAAACgI/fCeXf6NSQmw/s1600/1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478639197414988658" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/TAgJUq5zm3I/AAAAAAAACgI/fCeXf6NSQmw/s400/1.jpg" border="0" /></a> This carving was called the Treasury. As elaborate as the outsides are, the insides of most of them are nothing but an empty square room. Some of them were used as tombs though.<br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/TAgJUY9-h_I/AAAAAAAACgA/Ig-h5WZpfdQ/s1600/2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478639192600643570" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/TAgJUY9-h_I/AAAAAAAACgA/Ig-h5WZpfdQ/s400/2.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/TAgJT9tZBzI/AAAAAAAACf4/BkOyuGj97e0/s1600/3.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478639185283319602" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/TAgJT9tZBzI/AAAAAAAACf4/BkOyuGj97e0/s400/3.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />The Monastery.<br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/TAgJTe9hExI/AAAAAAAACfw/0FFuY_tq05M/s1600/4.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478639177029456658" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/TAgJTe9hExI/AAAAAAAACfw/0FFuY_tq05M/s400/4.jpg" border="0" /></a> <div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/TAgJTPsrgaI/AAAAAAAACfo/eeNsi7ahBTg/s1600/5.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478639172932305314" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/TAgJTPsrgaI/AAAAAAAACfo/eeNsi7ahBTg/s400/5.jpg" border="0" /></a> <div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/TAgIqQMQJRI/AAAAAAAACfg/cr-yxC5Z9Q0/s1600/6.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478638468690093330" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/TAgIqQMQJRI/AAAAAAAACfg/cr-yxC5Z9Q0/s400/6.jpg" border="0" /></a> The Romans conquered the area about 2,000 years ago and the ruins in the bottom of the picture were just recently discovered and are still being excavated. <div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/TAgIqNTq_RI/AAAAAAAACfY/3I629Zl2yhs/s1600/7.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478638467915906322" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/TAgIqNTq_RI/AAAAAAAACfY/3I629Zl2yhs/s400/7.jpg" border="0" /></a> <div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/TAgIpjzrPcI/AAAAAAAACfQ/rogHMw7FDnA/s1600/8.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478638456775851458" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/TAgIpjzrPcI/AAAAAAAACfQ/rogHMw7FDnA/s400/8.jpg" border="0" /></a> <div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/TAgIpZV9I8I/AAAAAAAACfI/4IiEmq8mJiY/s1600/9.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478638453966840770" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/TAgIpZV9I8I/AAAAAAAACfI/4IiEmq8mJiY/s400/9.jpg" border="0" /></a> <div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/TAgIo59u9hI/AAAAAAAACfA/dFPrL7gqmSU/s1600/9a.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478638445543749138" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/TAgIo59u9hI/AAAAAAAACfA/dFPrL7gqmSU/s400/9a.jpg" border="0" /></a> The oleanders were in full bloom and were really pretty against the rest of the desert colors. <div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/TAgIBcewGoI/AAAAAAAACe4/_qlIfhnD5P4/s1600/10.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478637767614274178" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/TAgIBcewGoI/AAAAAAAACe4/_qlIfhnD5P4/s400/10.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/TAgIBOoGVvI/AAAAAAAACew/ew7WdwDKRks/s1600/11.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478637763895383794" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/TAgIBOoGVvI/AAAAAAAACew/ew7WdwDKRks/s400/11.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/TAgIAvs56SI/AAAAAAAACeo/6C3uCLIkw6k/s1600/12.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478637755594041634" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/TAgIAvs56SI/AAAAAAAACeo/6C3uCLIkw6k/s400/12.jpg" border="0" /></a> This is still someone's "house" (cave carved out of the rock).<br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/TAgH_3WzDCI/AAAAAAAACeg/UMiMR9MB7VU/s1600/13.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478637740468931618" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/TAgH_3WzDCI/AAAAAAAACeg/UMiMR9MB7VU/s400/13.jpg" border="0" /></a>This man and his family lived in one of the caves too. He had a son that was about 7 years old who would be his "sheep dog" and round up the lost sheep. It was pretty amazing to watch him do it. He was able to climb the cliffs and run through the sand just like he was a sheep himself. Instead of using dogs, it seems that throwing rocks when they start to stray and having your 7 year old sons track down the lost ones works just fine. I added a video at the bottom that shows the man working the herd.<br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/TAgH_VEWcBI/AAAAAAAACeY/l4kooEMAdv8/s1600/14.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478637731264753682" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 293px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/TAgH_VEWcBI/AAAAAAAACeY/l4kooEMAdv8/s400/14.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div> </div><div>We went on a hike the 2nd day that was incredible. It followed the path of an old riverbed that is dry now, but that floods during the early spring rains. The path got really narrow in some places and we actually had to climb down in some places by putting our feet on the sides of the walls and inching down. There really wasn't a way to go back - only forward. <div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/TAgHYvQxvnI/AAAAAAAACeQ/ZU40kj_glkc/s1600/15.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478637068281298546" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/TAgHYvQxvnI/AAAAAAAACeQ/ZU40kj_glkc/s400/15.bmp" border="0" /></a> <div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/TAgHYXqkSRI/AAAAAAAACeI/qHy4HzYz0yI/s1600/16.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478637061947017490" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/TAgHYXqkSRI/AAAAAAAACeI/qHy4HzYz0yI/s400/16.jpg" border="0" /></a> <div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/TAgHX811XnI/AAAAAAAACeA/-tLOxYjmv7o/s1600/17.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478637054746517106" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/TAgHX811XnI/AAAAAAAACeA/-tLOxYjmv7o/s400/17.jpg" border="0" /></a> <div>This is a blue lizard that we saw on one of the hikes.<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/TAgHXmPJyqI/AAAAAAAACd4/BDeLCbpu3Yc/s1600/18.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478637048678697634" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 237px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/TAgHXmPJyqI/AAAAAAAACd4/BDeLCbpu3Yc/s400/18.jpg" border="0" /></a> <div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/TAgHXP9Ih7I/AAAAAAAACdw/w0gQO-UWN0A/s1600/19.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478637042697537458" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/TAgHXP9Ih7I/AAAAAAAACdw/w0gQO-UWN0A/s400/19.jpg" border="0" /></a> <div>Life Could Be Better! This was a store in the town of Wadi Musa just outside of Petra. I have no idea what an H20 Pharmacy is or why their slogan was what it was. <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/TAgGzun-mpI/AAAAAAAACdo/K_A2Ta16zj0/s1600/20.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478636432455015058" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/TAgGzun-mpI/AAAAAAAACdo/K_A2Ta16zj0/s400/20.bmp" border="0" /></a></div><div> </div><div>Just like we have deer crossing signs, they have camel crossing signs along the road.<br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/TAgGzUc5K6I/AAAAAAAACdg/BjNPExlEjjM/s1600/21.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478636425429199778" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/TAgGzUc5K6I/AAAAAAAACdg/BjNPExlEjjM/s400/21.bmp" border="0" /></a></div><div> </div><div>These next pictures are from Wadi Rum. It's the desert in the southern part of Jordan and really is the stereotypical desert with lots of sand, vast openness, and lots of colors...and yes, lots of "wild" camels. The movie Lawrence of Arabia was filmed here and also parts of the 2nd Transformers movie. Some of it looked very similar to Monument Valley or the area around the Grand Canyon. </div><div> </div><div>After camping, we took these camels into town in the morning.<br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/TAgGyxZxS_I/AAAAAAAACdY/7ub_LcDx5UI/s1600/22.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478636416020859890" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/TAgGyxZxS_I/AAAAAAAACdY/7ub_LcDx5UI/s400/22.jpg" border="0" /></a>(yes, it was as uncomfortable as it looks! After only an hour and a half ride, I'm glad it wasn't any longer) <div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/TAgGytocMOI/AAAAAAAACdQ/CPjWOuR-O0A/s1600/23.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478636415008649442" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/TAgGytocMOI/AAAAAAAACdQ/CPjWOuR-O0A/s400/23.jpg" border="0" /></a> <div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/TAgGyS1rD7I/AAAAAAAACdI/618To9iS9u4/s1600/24.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478636407816392626" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/TAgGyS1rD7I/AAAAAAAACdI/618To9iS9u4/s400/24.jpg" border="0" /></a> <div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/TAgGYVdQ11I/AAAAAAAACdA/m_xEjPh38NU/s1600/25.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478635961842718546" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/TAgGYVdQ11I/AAAAAAAACdA/m_xEjPh38NU/s400/25.jpg" border="0" /></a> <div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/TAgGYHSabMI/AAAAAAAACc4/JS4zJUJj4Jw/s1600/26.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478635958039112898" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/TAgGYHSabMI/AAAAAAAACc4/JS4zJUJj4Jw/s400/26.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><div>View from the top of a sand dune. <div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/TAgGXsRltNI/AAAAAAAACcw/Fd9zNC63vHU/s1600/27.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478635950787900626" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/TAgGXsRltNI/AAAAAAAACcw/Fd9zNC63vHU/s400/27.jpg" border="0" /></a> <div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/TAgGXC-FiVI/AAAAAAAACco/icX_0mEHcpE/s1600/28.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478635939700246866" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/TAgGXC-FiVI/AAAAAAAACco/icX_0mEHcpE/s400/28.jpg" border="0" /></a> <div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/TAgGWjT-k1I/AAAAAAAACcg/A2jZ_paUSiQ/s1600/29.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478635931202130770" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/TAgGWjT-k1I/AAAAAAAACcg/A2jZ_paUSiQ/s400/29.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/TAgF1F5hd0I/AAAAAAAACcY/RTkyasB8FR4/s1600/30.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478635356370859842" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/TAgF1F5hd0I/AAAAAAAACcY/RTkyasB8FR4/s400/30.jpg" border="0" /></a> <div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/TAgF01-0HoI/AAAAAAAACcQ/ERG2zKSMzo8/s1600/31.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478635352098086530" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/TAgF01-0HoI/AAAAAAAACcQ/ERG2zKSMzo8/s400/31.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/TAgF0VxnEkI/AAAAAAAACcI/dK8hbpu8jTs/s1600/32.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478635343452770882" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/TAgF0VxnEkI/AAAAAAAACcI/dK8hbpu8jTs/s400/32.jpg" border="0" /></a> <div><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/TAgF0FifBRI/AAAAAAAACcA/-d7_bika9TQ/s1600/33.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478635339094361362" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/TAgF0FifBRI/AAAAAAAACcA/-d7_bika9TQ/s400/33.jpg" border="0" /></a>We camped one night in the desert in a Bedouin camp. The guy on the left was the host of the camp and was absolutely hilarious (not that the raki he drank before we showed up had anything to do with it or anything). The guy on the right was a jeep tour guide who dropped off another group of tourists to camp there.<br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/TAgFzjXmADI/AAAAAAAACb4/6U_X4uEAE1g/s1600/34.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478635329921876018" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 309px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/TAgFzjXmADI/AAAAAAAACb4/6U_X4uEAE1g/s400/34.jpg" border="0" /></a> <div>Video of a Bedouin sheperd</div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><br /><p><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxXzi0bc20ffPxcTFLgCKgYJc5AyjrN11nnAjk1j5IuyuzqEBNwzW-99zmDESZ3QH9jWqCylRaOW7JO6UY' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></p><p> </p><p>Baby sidewinder</p><p><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxRqb5tuOoa4H_f-mNKKyZWq7CMcHc3r6YCCoQgOf3Neit7G_B1UVgtgapuXtAyiKjcQ21MD3zB6Rs_Cs7crg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></p>Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10822849807642561903noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5132730095958615268.post-83831350460113366772010-06-03T06:51:00.025+02:002010-06-03T08:03:07.148+02:00Jordan Part 1 - Holy Sites, Amman, Dead SeaWell, it's been more than a month since I started my trip to Jordan, but it's better late than never. I am going to do this in 2 separate posts because I couldn't narrow down my pictures enough to put it all on one. <br /><br />I went into the trip with not low expectations, but not the highest of expectations either. I had heard many good things, but really didn't know what to expect. However, this was one of the best trips of the last year and a half. Compared to Cairo, I thought Jordan was much nicer, more "civilized", and the people were much more friendly and accomodating. In fact, the Jordanian people were some of the friendliest people I met in all of my travels the last year and a half. Especially in comparison to the pushiness or unfriendliness of the people in Cairo or Istanbul, the Jordanians were really no comparison.<br /><br />This is Amman. The Roman Ampitheater near the bottom of the picture is about 2,000 years old. There really isn't much to do in Amman, so I didn't stay there too long, but used it as a base for day trips for a few days.<br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/TAc39tGZsqI/AAAAAAAACbw/xrHCLBKJQtk/s1600/1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478409004937491106" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/TAc39tGZsqI/AAAAAAAACbw/xrHCLBKJQtk/s400/1.jpg" border="0" /></a>This is one of the many pictures of the current King (Abdullah) and his dad, the late King Hussein.<br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/TAc39SlOXnI/AAAAAAAACbo/8UoNvBCYVUc/s1600/2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478408997819014770" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/TAc39SlOXnI/AAAAAAAACbo/8UoNvBCYVUc/s400/2.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Roman ruins from 2k years ago in Amman.<br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/TAc3xiM3oqI/AAAAAAAACbg/P2HVL3-GflU/s1600/3.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478408795853398690" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/TAc3xiM3oqI/AAAAAAAACbg/P2HVL3-GflU/s400/3.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Very typical scene in Jordan - a sheperd tending his flock. There are still many nomadic people living in Jordan (called Bedouins) that just raise sheep or goats and live in tents and move around depending on the vegetation and weather.<br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/TAc3xHk5HhI/AAAAAAAACbY/WDCM5C2kieA/s1600/4.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478408788706401810" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 354px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/TAc3xHk5HhI/AAAAAAAACbY/WDCM5C2kieA/s400/4.bmp" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/TAc3w9-m19I/AAAAAAAACbQ/tSHsFKlPpEM/s1600/5.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478408786129901522" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/TAc3w9-m19I/AAAAAAAACbQ/tSHsFKlPpEM/s400/5.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />Jerash, Jordan. This was an old Roman city that is still being discovered. The enormity of the city was indescribable.<br /><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/TAc3wcS3FgI/AAAAAAAACbI/_pZXMXss4Xw/s1600/6.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478408777088046594" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/TAc3wcS3FgI/AAAAAAAACbI/_pZXMXss4Xw/s400/6.jpg" border="0" /></a> <div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/TAc3wKx4wVI/AAAAAAAACbA/ouhVQ--PVaQ/s1600/7.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478408772386341202" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/TAc3wKx4wVI/AAAAAAAACbA/ouhVQ--PVaQ/s400/7.jpg" border="0" /></a> <div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/TAc3ZiFEQqI/AAAAAAAACa4/2LiIQPfs7iU/s1600/8.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478408383503811234" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/TAc3ZiFEQqI/AAAAAAAACa4/2LiIQPfs7iU/s400/8.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><div>This was a gladiator re-enactment in Jerash.<br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/TAc3ZV9YFeI/AAAAAAAACaw/6GDttI3F0qE/s1600/9.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478408380250330594" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/TAc3ZV9YFeI/AAAAAAAACaw/6GDttI3F0qE/s400/9.jpg" border="0" /></a> <div>Chariot race in Jerash.<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/TAc3Yk5KxvI/AAAAAAAACao/_TaU7ixdmtI/s1600/10.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478408367079343858" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/TAc3Yk5KxvI/AAAAAAAACao/_TaU7ixdmtI/s400/10.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div>This is the view from the top of Mt. Nebo, where Moses is buried. The sign points out Jerusalem (46km), Bethlehem (50km), Jericho (27km), and Hebron (65km). Although there wasn't much to see necessarily, just being that close to those cities you hear to much about was a surreal feeling.<br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/TAc3Ya5gYfI/AAAAAAAACag/rK2pmN_tBsc/s1600/11.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478408364396405234" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/TAc3Ya5gYfI/AAAAAAAACag/rK2pmN_tBsc/s400/11.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />This is the Sea of Galilee on the northwestern-most part of Jordan. Israel, the Golan Heights, and Syria can be seen bordering it.<br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/TAc3Xwd6jvI/AAAAAAAACaY/0QtH7reT1ZU/s1600/12.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478408353006391026" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/TAc3Xwd6jvI/AAAAAAAACaY/0QtH7reT1ZU/s400/12.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />This is near the Jordan River and is said to be the place where Elijah ascended to Heaven on a chariot of fire.<br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/TAc3B5gOegI/AAAAAAAACaQ/Pb-hcpFobTc/s1600/13.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478407977474882050" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/TAc3B5gOegI/AAAAAAAACaQ/Pb-hcpFobTc/s400/13.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div> </div><div>The Jordan River. It's been dammed up, so it is barely a creek today. Because Israel is on the other side of the river, there were border patrol everywhere.<br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/TAc3BmRMQBI/AAAAAAAACaI/e6i7jQ8pmLs/s1600/14.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478407972311547922" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/TAc3BmRMQBI/AAAAAAAACaI/e6i7jQ8pmLs/s400/14.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><div>This is the site of Jesus' baptism by John the Baptist. Again, just standing in that very place where Jesus was, was something you can't describe. <div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/TAc3BP3c_8I/AAAAAAAACaA/AjQQHyGsA1E/s1600/15.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478407966298013634" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/TAc3BP3c_8I/AAAAAAAACaA/AjQQHyGsA1E/s400/15.jpg" border="0" /></a> <div>Standing next to the Jordan River with Israel in the background.<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/TAc3AzE0-pI/AAAAAAAACZ4/dHqpfXqgniU/s1600/16.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478407958569482898" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/TAc3AzE0-pI/AAAAAAAACZ4/dHqpfXqgniU/s400/16.bmp" border="0" /></a><br />And you think Americans profile?</div><div><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/TAc3ARyKjKI/AAAAAAAACZw/jVkrwRDf5tQ/s1600/17.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478407949632834722" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 308px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/TAc3ARyKjKI/AAAAAAAACZw/jVkrwRDf5tQ/s400/17.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div> </div><div>View of the Dead Sea<br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/TAc2hmLjQQI/AAAAAAAACZo/KtcWXWbh22Y/s1600/18.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478407422532075778" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/TAc2hmLjQQI/AAAAAAAACZo/KtcWXWbh22Y/s400/18.jpg" border="0" /></a> Salt on the rocks <div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/TAc2hHYnorI/AAAAAAAACZg/B_ZswU4xayY/s1600/19.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478407414265389746" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/TAc2hHYnorI/AAAAAAAACZg/B_ZswU4xayY/s400/19.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div> </div><div>I knew you could float better in the Dead Sea because it is so salty, but I didn't realize you actually float effortlessly. It was amazing. You could literally just lay back in the water like you would on the couch and you wouldn't go under. I'm not sure you could even go very far under the water if you wanted to. Here Alissa and I are with our mudbaths - nothing like a free spa treatment! It really did make your skin really soft...but I think one time was enough for me.<br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/TAc2guVkQBI/AAAAAAAACZY/h9a8OHYJzkM/s1600/20.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478407407541698578" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 314px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/TAc2guVkQBI/AAAAAAAACZY/h9a8OHYJzkM/s400/20.bmp" border="0" /></a> <div>Sun setting over Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Nazareth, and Jericho. Jericho is the town that is lit up on the right side. The other towns are just behind the mountain range. The first star we saw was in the west, which of course was over Bethlehem, so naturally that was another one of those surreal experiences.<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/TAc2gSIJ6bI/AAAAAAAACZQ/cacsGzVzUNA/s1600/21.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478407399969253810" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/TAc2gSIJ6bI/AAAAAAAACZQ/cacsGzVzUNA/s400/21.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div> </div><div>This is Lot's cave, where he lived with his two daughters. The area around the cave is where the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah are, which are the towns that were destroyed by fire and brimstone in the Bible.<br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/TAc2gKZ9lpI/AAAAAAAACZI/748pRkj5DKQ/s1600/22.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478407397896459922" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/TAc2gKZ9lpI/AAAAAAAACZI/748pRkj5DKQ/s400/22.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><div><br />We camped at the Dana Nature Reserve one night and did some hiking the next day. We saw some ibex (similar to an antelope or mountain goat), which are pretty rare to see. They were running alongside the cliff and I have no idea how they didn't just fall off!<br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/TAc2N7Li1sI/AAAAAAAACZA/VxLaNxJBaWU/s1600/23.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478407084571809474" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/TAc2N7Li1sI/AAAAAAAACZA/VxLaNxJBaWU/s400/23.jpg" border="0" /></a> <div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/TAc2NhewtEI/AAAAAAAACY4/NVLejAwYMuc/s1600/24.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478407077673088066" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/TAc2NhewtEI/AAAAAAAACY4/NVLejAwYMuc/s400/24.jpg" border="0" /></a> <div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/TAc2NDpLPtI/AAAAAAAACYw/NMYS78SJc0w/s1600/25.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478407069663706834" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/TAc2NDpLPtI/AAAAAAAACYw/NMYS78SJc0w/s400/25.jpg" border="0" /></a> <div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/TAc2M9gzJdI/AAAAAAAACYo/cfoleZs-nUA/s1600/26.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478407068017960402" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/TAc2M9gzJdI/AAAAAAAACYo/cfoleZs-nUA/s400/26.bmp" border="0" /></a> <div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/TAc2Moq5iLI/AAAAAAAACYg/n23Ou3hGjNc/s1600/27.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478407062423177394" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/TAc2Moq5iLI/AAAAAAAACYg/n23Ou3hGjNc/s400/27.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><div>This is the town of Dana, which is built right on the top of this plateau that just drops off into the gorge.<br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/TAc1VPzmorI/AAAAAAAACXw/uWDAZI9hfYE/s1600/28.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478406110855996082" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/TAc1VPzmorI/AAAAAAAACXw/uWDAZI9hfYE/s400/28.jpg" border="0" /></a> This is the gorge - we hiked to the bottom and then back up. Yes, it was at least 90 degrees, so I would not have wanted to do it any later in the year! <div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/TAc1UjgcPqI/AAAAAAAACXo/yMTwk-4Khj0/s1600/29.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478406098964463266" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/TAc1UjgcPqI/AAAAAAAACXo/yMTwk-4Khj0/s400/29.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div> </div><div>This is the port city of Aqaba on the southern part of Jordan. It is on the Red Sea and is only about 5 miles from Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Israel.<br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/TAc1UBDnEEI/AAAAAAAACXg/H63ekscHZDA/s1600/30.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478406089716731970" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/TAc1UBDnEEI/AAAAAAAACXg/H63ekscHZDA/s400/30.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />We had a sandstorm on the last day. This is at about 2pm and was in Karak, Jordan. Because there wasn't much parking at the castle we wanted to tour in this town, we took a taxi from another part of town. When we were ready to leave, there were no cabs around so we just started back-tracking the way we came hoping to find one. Remember how I said there were many pictures of the King all around Jordan? Well, for whatever reason, in this town (nowhere else did we experience anything like this at all) there were FOUR separate stores we saw with Saddam Hussein pictures in the windows! As bad as we wanted pictures of them, needless to say, we found a taxi as quickly as we could and got out of there. <br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/TAc1T6yEvjI/AAAAAAAACXY/0ygaFbBGt4U/s1600/31.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478406088032566834" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/TAc1T6yEvjI/AAAAAAAACXY/0ygaFbBGt4U/s400/31.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>4 Sale! I wonder if the recession caused the value of this one to decrease too.<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/TAc1TYJMecI/AAAAAAAACXQ/JuqgAWqD6FQ/s1600/32.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478406078734301634" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/TAc1TYJMecI/AAAAAAAACXQ/JuqgAWqD6FQ/s400/32.jpg" border="0" /></a></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10822849807642561903noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5132730095958615268.post-23188725791708275212010-04-24T14:29:00.033+02:002010-04-24T16:04:33.944+02:00What a Ride!Well, here it is already...19 months and 46 blog posts later, I only have one more week of work left. I have to be honest that before I came here, I had no idea what to expect or what I was getting myself into. I sort of felt like I was stepping off into the abyss for a lot of reasons, but how quickly all of those reservations turned into nonsense. I met some great friends who immediately welcomed me and made the transition unbelievably easy. It's because of them that I know leaving will be much harder than it was coming here.<br /><br />On the other hand, all of you at home were great at keeping in touch by sending emails or even one-liners on facebook just to say hi, which made being half a world away seem like I was as close as I always was. As hard as it is to leave here, I of course am extremely excited to come HOME and see all of you again. I learned a lot about myself while I was over here and being away made me appreciate things I often took for granted before. It made me appreciate the people in my life more than I ever did and because of that I am looking forward to spending more time with my family and watching my brother's family grow up.<br /><br />I hope you've enjoyed following along and I just want to say thank you to everyone for keeping in touch while I was over here. I'm not going to mention names, but you know who you are. A huge thank you goes to my family so I am going to call them out. To my parents, you've been nothing but supportive from the time I told you I applied for this position, which has meant a lot to me. And of course, for coming over for 2 great weeks of vacation. Kyle and Brad, thank you guys for the comic relief you provided on the phone and through emails and Kyle for sending so many pictures when I couldn't be there to see the faces full of spaghetti or the dress-up parties.<br /><br />I know I'm starting to ramble, but I guess to sum it all up, these past 19 months have absolutely flown by so quickly I am sort of in shock it's all over. I've had such a great experience, both personally and professionally, that I have no regrets whatsoever for taking this chance. It was indeed one heck of a ride.<br /><br /><br />I am going to take one last trip before I come back. I am going to Jordan for about 10 days and then will return to Denver mid-May. I wanted to do something completely different for my last trip and heard a few people talk about Jordan and what a great experience they had, so thought why not. I'm pretty sure it meets all the criteria of some place completely different alright! I'll post a blog about that when I get back.<br /><br />Here are a few things I'm going to miss and a few things I'm looking forward to:<br /><br /><u>Going to miss:</u><br />1) Biergartens - absolutely no better way to spend a summer day<br />2) Lederhosen, dirndls and beer festivals<br />3) Laid-back and carefree lifestyle<br />4) Sundays - everything is closed here<br />5) Butterbreze - big pretzels with butter spread in the middle (breakfast)<br />6) Schweinebraten (pork roast), obatzda (pretzel dip), and definitely Augustiner beer<br />7) Skiing in the Alps and the apres ski parties - great atmosphere after a day of skiing<br />8) Not taking my shoes off going through security at the airport<br />9) Easy last-minute travel by air or train<br />10) Being around so much history<br /><br /><u>Can't wait for:</u><br />1) Going to college football and baseball games<br />2) KC BBQ<br />3) Mexican food (yes, this includes Chipotle)<br />4) Going to the grocery store and stocking up - no more trips with only 4 tiny bags<br />5) One-stop shopping and not having to sack my own groceries or bring my own bags<br />6) Being in a society that knows how to form a line<br />7) Getting unlimited, free water at restaurants<br />8) Having a house, a yard, and car again<br />9) Fishing and spending the summer in the Rockies<br />10) November elections (bye bye Libs!)Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10822849807642561903noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5132730095958615268.post-19664178802956187352010-04-21T01:01:00.021+02:002010-04-21T02:25:15.503+02:00Krakow, PolandI went to Krakow this past weekend. I booked my trip a few weeks ago, but it turned out to be a little more eventful than originally planned. First, the President of Poland and 95 others died in a plane crash the week before and they decided to hold the funeral and burial in Krakow. Then I had to take a train back to Munich instead of my flight due to the volcano in Iceland. However, it was a good trip and I really enjoyed Krakow.<br /><br />This is Wawel Castle and was built in the 1300s. 17 former Kings, 2 saints, and now the former President and first lady are buried in the crypts in the church there.<br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S849UYqbSjI/AAAAAAAABzc/Krcg-ALrBl0/s1600/100.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462370818474068530" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S849UYqbSjI/AAAAAAAABzc/Krcg-ALrBl0/s400/100.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S849T9gzshI/AAAAAAAABzU/VTGHDe7pVL4/s1600/101.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462370811185967634" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S849T9gzshI/AAAAAAAABzU/VTGHDe7pVL4/s400/101.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S849TeoqTTI/AAAAAAAABzM/uwxIjcajL8Q/s1600/102.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462370802897407282" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S849TeoqTTI/AAAAAAAABzM/uwxIjcajL8Q/s400/102.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S8488Mln1nI/AAAAAAAABzE/4DSkgptk06U/s1600/103.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462370402915833458" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S8488Mln1nI/AAAAAAAABzE/4DSkgptk06U/s400/103.jpg" border="0" /></a> <div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S8487kdlMdI/AAAAAAAABy8/jyxuVtvUgnw/s1600/104.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462370392144687570" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S8487kdlMdI/AAAAAAAABy8/jyxuVtvUgnw/s400/104.jpg" border="0" /></a> <div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S8487FjPJPI/AAAAAAAABy0/UTRFNpvgmrQ/s1600/105.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462370383846909170" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S8487FjPJPI/AAAAAAAABy0/UTRFNpvgmrQ/s400/105.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><div>City walls<br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S8486oxrC7I/AAAAAAAABys/-2QTW_-5ybY/s1600/106.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462370376122829746" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S8486oxrC7I/AAAAAAAABys/-2QTW_-5ybY/s400/106.jpg" border="0" /></a>These are some pictures from around the old city of Krakow.<br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S8486H_gFaI/AAAAAAAAByk/TcO23FXclB8/s1600/107.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462370367322461602" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S8486H_gFaI/AAAAAAAAByk/TcO23FXclB8/s400/107.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S848UBEmQNI/AAAAAAAAByc/_zLLFWQC9r8/s1600/108.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462369712629760210" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S848UBEmQNI/AAAAAAAAByc/_zLLFWQC9r8/s400/108.jpg" border="0" /></a> <div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S848ThBCUnI/AAAAAAAAByU/i_vWvq8hM9s/s1600/109.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462369704024887922" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S848ThBCUnI/AAAAAAAAByU/i_vWvq8hM9s/s400/109.jpg" border="0" /></a> <div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S848TDAIfjI/AAAAAAAAByM/HSr1cE5bLyo/s1600/110.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462369695968034354" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S848TDAIfjI/AAAAAAAAByM/HSr1cE5bLyo/s400/110.jpg" border="0" /></a> <div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S848SlDgMvI/AAAAAAAAByE/g27YE0R2w1g/s1600/111.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462369687929107186" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S848SlDgMvI/AAAAAAAAByE/g27YE0R2w1g/s400/111.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><div>A new Catholic Church on the outskirts of town.<br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S848SdqUUSI/AAAAAAAABx8/F3xkV6nafKk/s1600/112.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462369685944422690" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S848SdqUUSI/AAAAAAAABx8/F3xkV6nafKk/s400/112.jpg" border="0" /></a> <div>Old town.<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S846W27ys5I/AAAAAAAABxM/INcSFUmqjxk/s1600/113.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462367562424824722" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S846W27ys5I/AAAAAAAABxM/INcSFUmqjxk/s400/113.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div>St. Mary's Church. The funeral mass for the President was held here.<br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S846WTZESeI/AAAAAAAABxE/7cgRq_EhaFI/s1600/114.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462367552883935714" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S846WTZESeI/AAAAAAAABxE/7cgRq_EhaFI/s400/114.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><div>I am still laughing at this one...<br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S846WDzDFXI/AAAAAAAABw8/Pv77J1JE-40/s1600/114a.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462367548697941362" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S846WDzDFXI/AAAAAAAABw8/Pv77J1JE-40/s400/114a.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />This is where Pope John Paul lived when he was priest in Krakow.<br /><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S846VyR78XI/AAAAAAAABw0/m6WU8foc1OE/s1600/115.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462367543995658610" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S846VyR78XI/AAAAAAAABw0/m6WU8foc1OE/s400/115.jpg" border="0" /></a> <div>This is the church in Wadowice, his hometown. <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S846VWHdKsI/AAAAAAAABws/Vv-0oMmUS0A/s1600/116.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462367536435505858" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S846VWHdKsI/AAAAAAAABws/Vv-0oMmUS0A/s400/116.jpg" border="0" /></a> <div>Baptismal font where he was baptized.<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S845nZTnXNI/AAAAAAAABwk/awnwVT7DmXw/s1600/117.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462366747017829586" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S845nZTnXNI/AAAAAAAABwk/awnwVT7DmXw/s400/117.jpg" border="0" /></a> <div>Alter dedicated to him in the church.<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S845m5GdNLI/AAAAAAAABwc/Ac5hkqXO8Z4/s1600/118.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462366738372703410" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S845m5GdNLI/AAAAAAAABwc/Ac5hkqXO8Z4/s400/118.jpg" border="0" /></a> <div>His apartment growing up.<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S845mqGRi-I/AAAAAAAABwU/bQJncRjBHmI/s1600/119.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462366734345407458" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S845mqGRi-I/AAAAAAAABwU/bQJncRjBHmI/s400/119.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div></div><div>This was a house alongside the road between Krakow and Wadowice and the tourguide told us that it is painted blue because the daughter in the household is "ready to marry". Hahaha! I'm still not convinced whether this would be an attractant, or more of a "repellant".<br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S845mCcUlWI/AAAAAAAABwM/0EQJX5ELsr8/s1600/120.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462366723700462946" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S845mCcUlWI/AAAAAAAABwM/0EQJX5ELsr8/s400/120.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><div>I took a tour of Auschwitz (and Birkenau, which is only about 2 miles from there). They did a really good job at the museum and made it very personal and moving. I was amazed at the size of the place too. Dachau in Munich is tiny compared to here.</div><div><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S845l8M4NMI/AAAAAAAABwE/1mZh7kOA_Cw/s1600/121.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462366722025075906" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S845l8M4NMI/AAAAAAAABwE/1mZh7kOA_Cw/s400/121.jpg" border="0" /></a> <div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S844YKjsSXI/AAAAAAAABvk/EeiuidKZ4Tg/s1600/122.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462365385849063794" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S844YKjsSXI/AAAAAAAABvk/EeiuidKZ4Tg/s400/122.jpg" border="0" /></a>Gallows where prisoners were hanged in front of the others during roll call. <div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S844XpDheYI/AAAAAAAABvc/Xt-cJ8C2UEI/s1600/123.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462365376855767426" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S844XpDheYI/AAAAAAAABvc/Xt-cJ8C2UEI/s400/123.jpg" border="0" /></a> <div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S844XRoD90I/AAAAAAAABvU/HUvkwRmzk6M/s1600/124.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462365370566571842" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S844XRoD90I/AAAAAAAABvU/HUvkwRmzk6M/s400/124.jpg" border="0" /></a> <div>This is a wall where prisoners were executed.<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S844W9c9ITI/AAAAAAAABvM/MCmMEKBdY4c/s1600/125.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462365365151277362" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S844W9c9ITI/AAAAAAAABvM/MCmMEKBdY4c/s400/125.jpg" border="0" /></a> <div>This is one of the many exhibits. It is an entire room of shoes they confiscated. Of course, this wasn't even close to all of them, but even so, the huge display was really made you think. It was much more moving than if they would have just had one shoe in a display case like you see in most museums.<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S844WZVfg0I/AAAAAAAABvE/DSOLsWEGCC0/s1600/126.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462365355456299842" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S844WZVfg0I/AAAAAAAABvE/DSOLsWEGCC0/s400/126.jpg" border="0" /></a>This is an urn full of human ashes from the camp.<br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S843tJFRC8I/AAAAAAAABu8/WX8-TaEZe74/s1600/127.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462364646718639042" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S843tJFRC8I/AAAAAAAABu8/WX8-TaEZe74/s400/127.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><div>Birkenau</div><div><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S843s2tFiGI/AAAAAAAABu0/0Qdesj7-Xsk/s1600/128.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462364641785383010" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S843s2tFiGI/AAAAAAAABu0/0Qdesj7-Xsk/s400/128.jpg" border="0" /></a> <div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S843sWykNTI/AAAAAAAABus/7yq4Tv_PSFc/s1600/129.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462364633218430258" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S843sWykNTI/AAAAAAAABus/7yq4Tv_PSFc/s400/129.jpg" border="0" /></a> <div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S843rvdAeaI/AAAAAAAABuk/Iil2JfRJF0Y/s1600/130.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462364622659025314" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S843rvdAeaI/AAAAAAAABuk/Iil2JfRJF0Y/s400/130.jpg" border="0" /></a>Toilets in one of the buildings. <div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S843rUFreJI/AAAAAAAABuc/mOJICnEFy_g/s1600/131.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462364615313422482" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S843rUFreJI/AAAAAAAABuc/mOJICnEFy_g/s400/131.jpg" border="0" /></a> Only the chimneys of most of the buildings remain, but there seemed to be hundreds. <div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S842fJrd92I/AAAAAAAABuU/5oG4PZ42gJQ/s1600/132.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462363306849072994" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S842fJrd92I/AAAAAAAABuU/5oG4PZ42gJQ/s400/132.jpg" border="0" /></a> <div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S842evqU1ZI/AAAAAAAABuM/9_oTudmiHAo/s1600/133.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462363299864958354" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S842evqU1ZI/AAAAAAAABuM/9_oTudmiHAo/s400/133.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><div>Memorial to the former President in front of St. Mary's Church.<br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S842eHy-6ZI/AAAAAAAABuE/OzOkRA-drUg/s1600/134.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462363289163852178" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S842eHy-6ZI/AAAAAAAABuE/OzOkRA-drUg/s400/134.jpg" border="0" /></a> <div>Memorial for the Katyn massacre. The Katyn massacre was where in 1940, the Russians executed about 20,000 Polish citizens. The Polish delegation was going to Katyn (Russia) for the 70th anniversary when their plane crashed near there.<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S842d2BfAVI/AAAAAAAABt8/NlB_UnyYqvE/s1600/135.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462363284392837458" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S842d2BfAVI/AAAAAAAABt8/NlB_UnyYqvE/s400/135.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S842dWBHdFI/AAAAAAAABt0/dTEOlJdckK0/s1600/136.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462363275801359442" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S842dWBHdFI/AAAAAAAABt0/dTEOlJdckK0/s400/136.jpg" border="0" /></a>Memorial concert in the Market Square. <div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S841WCQuznI/AAAAAAAABts/NPvqb71F-wo/s1600/137.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462362050727431794" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S841WCQuznI/AAAAAAAABts/NPvqb71F-wo/s400/137.jpg" border="0" /></a> Rehearsing removal of the caskets</div><div><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S841VjSQARI/AAAAAAAABtk/w3wxOtAd1Gg/s1600/138.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462362042412302610" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S841VjSQARI/AAAAAAAABtk/w3wxOtAd1Gg/s400/138.jpg" border="0" /></a> <div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S841VNhqMCI/AAAAAAAABtc/RSdzvUJXmHo/s1600/139.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462362036571353122" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S841VNhqMCI/AAAAAAAABtc/RSdzvUJXmHo/s400/139.jpg" border="0" /></a> <div>Funeral procession. They marched from St. Mary's church where the funeral mass was held to Wawel Castle where they were buried.<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S841Uixa9bI/AAAAAAAABtU/lHU--XSYZsY/s1600/140.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462362025094739378" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S841Uixa9bI/AAAAAAAABtU/lHU--XSYZsY/s400/140.jpg" border="0" /></a> <div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S841Ue9beFI/AAAAAAAABtM/AmmDtqyqJNU/s1600/141.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462362024071362642" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S841Ue9beFI/AAAAAAAABtM/AmmDtqyqJNU/s400/141.jpg" border="0" /></a> <div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S840TSNOYKI/AAAAAAAABtE/LHRZVQgER4c/s1600/142.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462360903956455586" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S840TSNOYKI/AAAAAAAABtE/LHRZVQgER4c/s400/142.jpg" border="0" /></a> <div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S840TEsWH_I/AAAAAAAABs8/QwXAgW7GVDg/s1600/143.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462360900328890354" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S840TEsWH_I/AAAAAAAABs8/QwXAgW7GVDg/s400/143.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div></div><div>The man on the far left is the President's twin brother.<br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S840StLuSiI/AAAAAAAABs0/UpFUPYC9_5Q/s1600/144.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462360894018046498" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S840StLuSiI/AAAAAAAABs0/UpFUPYC9_5Q/s400/144.jpg" border="0" /></a> <div>President's casket <a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S840SRW8RfI/AAAAAAAABss/5dDI_lBRB24/s1600/145.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462360886548907506" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S840SRW8RfI/AAAAAAAABss/5dDI_lBRB24/s400/145.jpg" border="0" /></a> <div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S840RiUk53I/AAAAAAAABsk/RZbmVFotzfU/s1600/146.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462360873922520946" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S840RiUk53I/AAAAAAAABsk/RZbmVFotzfU/s400/146.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div></div><div>This is a video of the rehearsal for the removal of the caskets from the hearses.<br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwgNfLjnNzV6RoaABHl4ouvz2ebSLoVS1aQbekV4zkmQtdSI5-tXQJMpSA3x-mFN_-2q58wHsORJ1HHYkXemg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10822849807642561903noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5132730095958615268.post-4047427633043764872010-04-07T22:16:00.037+02:002010-04-07T23:50:05.099+02:00Istanbul, TurkeyThis past weekend I went to Istanbul. It is a really neat city with lots of history and I think clearly rivals New York as a "busy" and crowded city. It was founded in about 700BC and was later known as Constantinople. Now it's one of the world's biggest cities. It also sits on 2 continents - Europe and Asia (split by the Bosphorous Strait that connects the Black Sea to the north with the Marmara Sea to the south). I also learned that it has over 4,000 mosques! And needless to say, arriving midday on a Friday, I heard my share of calls to prayer over the loudspeakers!<br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S7z1jXTHWzI/AAAAAAAABr0/QsZbyczOYx0/s1600/2.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457506836364614450" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S7z1jXTHWzI/AAAAAAAABr0/QsZbyczOYx0/s400/2.JPG" /></a> <div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S7z1ZtygMiI/AAAAAAAABrs/SILDvaz4WX8/s1600/3.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457506670603153954" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S7z1ZtygMiI/AAAAAAAABrs/SILDvaz4WX8/s400/3.JPG" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S7z1ZBBZp6I/AAAAAAAABrk/K50JrcQLVKQ/s1600/4.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457506658586044322" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S7z1ZBBZp6I/AAAAAAAABrk/K50JrcQLVKQ/s400/4.JPG" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S7z1YhTOSwI/AAAAAAAABrc/Fz1z989c-ig/s1600/5.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457506650070862594" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S7z1YhTOSwI/AAAAAAAABrc/Fz1z989c-ig/s400/5.JPG" /></a><br />The Blue Mosque was built in about 1600.<br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S7z1YUvZEuI/AAAAAAAABrU/Zk8k7BbN5MY/s1600/6.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457506646699348706" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S7z1YUvZEuI/AAAAAAAABrU/Zk8k7BbN5MY/s400/6.JPG" /></a>Outside courtyard of the Blue Mosque.<br /><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S7z1X_jxKYI/AAAAAAAABrM/Hp9mRV93Mqo/s1600/7.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457506641013451138" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S7z1X_jxKYI/AAAAAAAABrM/Hp9mRV93Mqo/s400/7.JPG" /></a><br />This is the Hagia Sofia mosque and was built in 530.<br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S7z00At5aOI/AAAAAAAABrE/4r51aS1DkIo/s1600/8.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457506022849079522" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S7z00At5aOI/AAAAAAAABrE/4r51aS1DkIo/s400/8.JPG" /></a> Inside the Hagia Sofia.<br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S7z0z1pA2NI/AAAAAAAABq8/DlCLqsIF7zw/s1600/9.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457506019875805394" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S7z0z1pA2NI/AAAAAAAABq8/DlCLqsIF7zw/s400/9.JPG" /></a></div><div> </div><div>Inside the Blue Mosque.<br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457506007467701458" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S7z0zHasNNI/AAAAAAAABq0/0XhxL32z418/s400/10.JPG" /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S7z0yhrWyUI/AAAAAAAABqs/Yf4Z3oHxs7A/s1600/11.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457505997337053506" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S7z0yhrWyUI/AAAAAAAABqs/Yf4Z3oHxs7A/s400/11.JPG" /></a> <div><div><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S7z0yDnHOYI/AAAAAAAABqk/JsS6fM75L78/s1600/12.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457505989266192770" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S7z0yDnHOYI/AAAAAAAABqk/JsS6fM75L78/s400/12.JPG" /></a></div><div> </div><div>This was inside a cistern, which was built in 532 by the Romans to store the city's water. It was also featured in the James Bond movie "From Russia with Love" and Indiana Jones "The Last Crusade".<br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S7zz0VwBRoI/AAAAAAAABqc/aekxJ5bcp5M/s1600/13.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457504928983500418" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S7zz0VwBRoI/AAAAAAAABqc/aekxJ5bcp5M/s400/13.JPG" /></a> <div>This is the main train station, which was the last stop of the Orient Express.<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S7zz0FTn3bI/AAAAAAAABqU/h-OwlgR1UE8/s1600/14.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457504924569427378" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S7zz0FTn3bI/AAAAAAAABqU/h-OwlgR1UE8/s400/14.JPG" /></a><br />Camondo Stairs. I had never heard of these before, but I guess they are famous, so I had to take a picture.<br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S7zzzUZPFXI/AAAAAAAABqM/XrdK6FgOZfU/s1600/15.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457504911439631730" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S7zzzUZPFXI/AAAAAAAABqM/XrdK6FgOZfU/s400/15.JPG" /></a></div><div> </div><div>I went to a traditional Turkish show one night that had belly dancers and other performances.<br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S7zzy6HlGxI/AAAAAAAABqE/BDhV8fb3qGY/s1600/16.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457504904386255634" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S7zzy6HlGxI/AAAAAAAABqE/BDhV8fb3qGY/s400/16.JPG" /></a></div><div> </div><div>Attack of the pigeons.<br /><br /><div><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S7zzRiqP_6I/AAAAAAAABp0/rm823tO6hpw/s1600/18.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457504331153538978" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S7zzRiqP_6I/AAAAAAAABp0/rm823tO6hpw/s400/18.JPG" /></a><br />Amongst the 4,000 mosques, I finally found a Catholic Church to go to Easter mass at.<br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S7zzRZcP2LI/AAAAAAAABps/W2LCrY-r7lY/s1600/19.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457504328678889650" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S7zzRZcP2LI/AAAAAAAABps/W2LCrY-r7lY/s400/19.JPG" /></a> Courtyard in front of the church.<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S7zzRFe3WaI/AAAAAAAABpk/xDuAzXYvaTE/s1600/20.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457504323321158050" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S7zzRFe3WaI/AAAAAAAABpk/xDuAzXYvaTE/s400/20.JPG" /></a>Easter decorations inside the church.<br /><div><div><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S7zzQTVaG6I/AAAAAAAABpU/FFh0lGEwR10/s1600/22.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457504309859720098" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S7zzQTVaG6I/AAAAAAAABpU/FFh0lGEwR10/s400/22.JPG" /></a>All throughout the town are outside markets and this stand sold freshly squeezed juices with orange, grapefruit, kiwi, and pomegranate.<br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S7zyZLk8SmI/AAAAAAAABpM/UbMq6eP94kc/s1600/23.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457503362884586082" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S7zyZLk8SmI/AAAAAAAABpM/UbMq6eP94kc/s400/23.JPG" /></a> <div>One of the countless kebap restaurants.<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S7zyYqfm2_I/AAAAAAAABpE/sAxyqACTqYs/s1600/24.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 266px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457503354003839986" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S7zyYqfm2_I/AAAAAAAABpE/sAxyqACTqYs/s400/24.JPG" /></a> <div>The most common things for sale in Turkey are rugs and ceramics.<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S7zyYD5vPaI/AAAAAAAABo8/ZmZpZcIMgXI/s1600/25.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457503343644458402" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S7zyYD5vPaI/AAAAAAAABo8/ZmZpZcIMgXI/s400/25.JPG" /></a> <div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S7zyXrBleoI/AAAAAAAABo0/QJEdNJSiGbA/s1600/26.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 266px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457503336966486658" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S7zyXrBleoI/AAAAAAAABo0/QJEdNJSiGbA/s400/26.JPG" /></a> <div>No caption necessary here.<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S7zyXVCD6NI/AAAAAAAABos/YRpap6nBMVE/s1600/27.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 266px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457503331062900946" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S7zyXVCD6NI/AAAAAAAABos/YRpap6nBMVE/s400/27.JPG" /></a><br />Fresh fish market.<br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S7zx3Kn6jZI/AAAAAAAABok/Uz5HJ-_GwGQ/s1600/28.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457502778513067410" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S7zx3Kn6jZI/AAAAAAAABok/Uz5HJ-_GwGQ/s400/28.JPG" /></a> <div>Safer not to ask what this is.<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S7zx24NhPoI/AAAAAAAABoc/hvb8MPkEk-U/s1600/29.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457502773570518658" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S7zx24NhPoI/AAAAAAAABoc/hvb8MPkEk-U/s400/29.JPG" /></a> <div>Fresh olives for sale at the spice market.<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S7zx2MD8HdI/AAAAAAAABoU/TBSYF4qSxkI/s1600/30.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457502761719176658" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S7zx2MD8HdI/AAAAAAAABoU/TBSYF4qSxkI/s400/30.JPG" /></a> Spices<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S7zx1BTQkZI/AAAAAAAABoM/cupsPj09-54/s1600/31.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457502741650772370" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S7zx1BTQkZI/AAAAAAAABoM/cupsPj09-54/s400/31.JPG" /></a> Nuts<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S7zx0vJd3LI/AAAAAAAABoE/8ItyOGlFj_8/s1600/32.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457502736777862322" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S7zx0vJd3LI/AAAAAAAABoE/8ItyOGlFj_8/s400/32.JPG" /></a>If you visit Istanbul, I hope you can deal with crowds!<br /><div><div><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S7zxHLnSn3I/AAAAAAAABn8/95MXkTn_6Ug/s1600/33.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457501954145165170" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S7zxHLnSn3I/AAAAAAAABn8/95MXkTn_6Ug/s400/33.JPG" /></a>Jellyfish were everywhere in the Bosphorous Strait.<br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S7zxGq0E1PI/AAAAAAAABn0/yPA63H_Jcdw/s1600/34.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457501945340417266" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S7zxGq0E1PI/AAAAAAAABn0/yPA63H_Jcdw/s400/34.JPG" /></a><br />This is a view from Europe across the Bosphorous to Asia.<br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S7zxGcu-pYI/AAAAAAAABns/50QFv9kCTx0/s1600/35.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457501941560944002" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S7zxGcu-pYI/AAAAAAAABns/50QFv9kCTx0/s400/35.JPG" /></a> <div>I took a cruise up the Bosphorous to the edge of the Black Sea. This is a view from the Asian side back toward Istanbul.<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S7zxF7jO3vI/AAAAAAAABnk/54uEIYrTZO4/s1600/36.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457501932653305586" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S7zxF7jO3vI/AAAAAAAABnk/54uEIYrTZO4/s400/36.JPG" /></a>This is the place we docked and where the picture above was taken from. I hiked up to the ruins of the castle/fortress. <div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S7zxFfqLUDI/AAAAAAAABnc/e-Q7Rd_ih6w/s1600/37.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457501925166239794" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S7zxFfqLUDI/AAAAAAAABnc/e-Q7Rd_ih6w/s400/37.JPG" /></a>Typical houses seen along the cruise route. <div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S7zwckIriCI/AAAAAAAABnU/U9kk3oQQkjY/s1600/38.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457501221993285666" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S7zwckIriCI/AAAAAAAABnU/U9kk3oQQkjY/s400/38.JPG" /></a> <div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S7zwcHeIMbI/AAAAAAAABnM/oqxq9jSV_yI/s1600/39.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457501214298616242" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S7zwcHeIMbI/AAAAAAAABnM/oqxq9jSV_yI/s400/39.JPG" /></a> <div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S7zwbonHGMI/AAAAAAAABnE/APb3KTIu54A/s1600/40.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457501206014793922" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S7zwbonHGMI/AAAAAAAABnE/APb3KTIu54A/s400/40.JPG" /></a> <div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S7zwbDPAuGI/AAAAAAAABm8/6Mli10CNDGg/s1600/41.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457501195981600866" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S7zwbDPAuGI/AAAAAAAABm8/6Mli10CNDGg/s400/41.JPG" /></a> <div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S7zwazcsWWI/AAAAAAAABm0/lZSejQM9sYY/s1600/42.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457501191744018786" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S7zwazcsWWI/AAAAAAAABm0/lZSejQM9sYY/s400/42.JPG" /></a>I had great weather the whole time. It was sunny and warm, and there were spring flowers everywhere.<br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S7zv0DYgnzI/AAAAAAAABms/g_9B6arK8xI/s1600/43.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457500526006542130" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S7zv0DYgnzI/AAAAAAAABms/g_9B6arK8xI/s400/43.JPG" /></a> <div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S7zvzqNbIKI/AAAAAAAABmk/RJpqqEbzdFU/s1600/44.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457500519249158306" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S7zvzqNbIKI/AAAAAAAABmk/RJpqqEbzdFU/s400/44.JPG" /></a> <div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S7zvzMIscYI/AAAAAAAABmc/wphvlbwmPXA/s1600/45.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457500511176257922" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S7zvzMIscYI/AAAAAAAABmc/wphvlbwmPXA/s400/45.JPG" /></a>This is a view from a hill on the Asian side to the Marmara Sea just to the south of the city. There were hundreds of boats (mostly oil tankers) anchored here.<br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S7zvygBAymI/AAAAAAAABmU/w3X07JrC0IA/s1600/46.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457500499332876898" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S7zvygBAymI/AAAAAAAABmU/w3X07JrC0IA/s400/46.JPG" /></a> <div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S7zvyQ6cPPI/AAAAAAAABmM/zCutg9_g4v0/s1600/47.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457500495278783730" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S7zvyQ6cPPI/AAAAAAAABmM/zCutg9_g4v0/s400/47.JPG" /></a> </div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10822849807642561903noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5132730095958615268.post-51681315138232934312010-03-30T11:23:00.014+02:002010-03-30T12:00:42.069+02:00Freiburg Half MarathonAfter I started running a little trying to get in shape for ski season, Alissa somehow convinced me to run a half marathon with her in Freiburg, Germany. Before a couple months ago, I had never run more than a few miles at a time because I hate to run just to run. But, low and behold, an hour and 59 minutes later, I made it the 13.1 miles. After all the complaining I did, the race itself was actually a lot of fun and I can see myself doing another one sometime. The competitive side of me won't let me settle for only doing it once.<br /><br />This is the start of the full marathon before our half marathon. About 6,000 people ran the half.<br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S7HFR1rNcGI/AAAAAAAABmE/PP4-Y3WafUo/s1600/1.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 230px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454357533979144290" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S7HFR1rNcGI/AAAAAAAABmE/PP4-Y3WafUo/s400/1.jpg" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S7HE4C2CfAI/AAAAAAAABl8/N4oL7Oq74Lg/s1600/2.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454357090837625858" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S7HE4C2CfAI/AAAAAAAABl8/N4oL7Oq74Lg/s400/2.jpg" /></a><br />Finished!<br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S7HE3lcQViI/AAAAAAAABl0/P6WW7rMcczU/s1600/3.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 266px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454357082944853538" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S7HE3lcQViI/AAAAAAAABl0/P6WW7rMcczU/s400/3.jpg" /></a><br />The old town of Freiburg was pretty neat too. The design of the cobblestone was amazing. It was very small and very precisely laid. The little streams in the streets are called bachles and were from old times to be used by the fire department. Rumor has it that if you step in one, you will marry someone from Freiburg. So, I stayed as far away from them as possible! (thanks to Dad for telling me the story about those!)<br /><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S7HE3XbZgNI/AAAAAAAABls/i8cjDUukXZU/s1600/4.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454357079183163602" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S7HE3XbZgNI/AAAAAAAABls/i8cjDUukXZU/s400/4.jpg" /></a><br />We were walking into a restaurant to eat lunch and I saw this gold brick in front of the door. I learned about these on the Third Reich Tour I took in Munich, but had never seen one. An artist decided it would be a good idea if all towns in Germany did this. It says, "Here lived Albert Levy, born 1867, deported 1940, died September 30, 1942". This is a Jew who used to live in this building and was deported to and died in a concentration camp. The artist's idea was to bring back the name/identity of each of them. Munich actually doesn't have these because the person in charge of the Jewish community said she thought the Germans did enough damage to the Jewish population that she didn't want anyone else "walking" over them. I think she kind of missed the point.<br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S7HE3MrZdII/AAAAAAAABlk/4473iIZxRWM/s1600/5.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454357076297479298" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S7HE3MrZdII/AAAAAAAABlk/4473iIZxRWM/s400/5.jpg" /></a><br />And what old European town/city doesn't have a massive Catholic Church?<br /><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S7HE2wDfrkI/AAAAAAAABlc/tD56ffuyMM8/s1600/6.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454357068613922370" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S7HE2wDfrkI/AAAAAAAABlc/tD56ffuyMM8/s400/6.jpg" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S7HEo336L7I/AAAAAAAABlU/UZDTvWg_EZs/s1600/7.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454356830194642866" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S7HEo336L7I/AAAAAAAABlU/UZDTvWg_EZs/s400/7.JPG" /></a> </div><div>This is the entrance to the church.<br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S7HEoGu1biI/AAAAAAAABlM/1BIHdGSV8KM/s1600/8.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454356817003245090" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S7HEoGu1biI/AAAAAAAABlM/1BIHdGSV8KM/s400/8.JPG" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S7HEn0P_AoI/AAAAAAAABlE/wEbMuCmKlUk/s1600/9.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454356812042011266" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S7HEn0P_AoI/AAAAAAAABlE/wEbMuCmKlUk/s400/9.JPG" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S7HEnfLsIlI/AAAAAAAABk8/C_Q1YM8ftGU/s1600/10.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454356806386852434" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S7HEnfLsIlI/AAAAAAAABk8/C_Q1YM8ftGU/s400/10.JPG" /></a> <div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S7HEnMiXiJI/AAAAAAAABk0/lU1w8hSqrjg/s1600/11.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454356801381697682" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S7HEnMiXiJI/AAAAAAAABk0/lU1w8hSqrjg/s400/11.JPG" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S7HEBuOFXVI/AAAAAAAABks/FuUwjcxGT4M/s1600/12.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454356157588397394" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S7HEBuOFXVI/AAAAAAAABks/FuUwjcxGT4M/s400/12.JPG" /></a> <div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S7HEBSdXgzI/AAAAAAAABkk/MIoRB0suxuA/s1600/13.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454356150136308530" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S7HEBSdXgzI/AAAAAAAABkk/MIoRB0suxuA/s400/13.JPG" /></a> <div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S7HEA1MhwlI/AAAAAAAABkc/5YxAGRtgo7s/s1600/14.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454356142281048658" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S7HEA1MhwlI/AAAAAAAABkc/5YxAGRtgo7s/s400/14.JPG" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S7HEAn8DHhI/AAAAAAAABkU/STiUup3vpHs/s1600/15.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454356138722270738" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S7HEAn8DHhI/AAAAAAAABkU/STiUup3vpHs/s400/15.JPG" /></a></div><div> </div><div>This house has the date of 1460 on it. Others were from about 1350.<br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S7HEAOKEYdI/AAAAAAAABkM/F9B57sjcfTw/s1600/15a.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454356131801752018" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S7HEAOKEYdI/AAAAAAAABkM/F9B57sjcfTw/s400/15a.JPG" /></a> <div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S7HDfwBteUI/AAAAAAAABkE/wIdaHQiCzN4/s1600/16.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454355573957818690" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S7HDfwBteUI/AAAAAAAABkE/wIdaHQiCzN4/s400/16.JPG" /></a> <div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S7HDfstwn-I/AAAAAAAABj8/Im_KkISs9cY/s1600/17.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454355573068832738" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S7HDfstwn-I/AAAAAAAABj8/Im_KkISs9cY/s400/17.JPG" /></a>View of the old town from my hotel room. The second picture shows a large vineyard on the hillside.</div><div><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S7HDfB0azUI/AAAAAAAABj0/MI6lPglBlJw/s1600/18.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454355561554038082" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S7HDfB0azUI/AAAAAAAABj0/MI6lPglBlJw/s400/18.JPG" /></a> <div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S7HDe9QbgdI/AAAAAAAABjs/EciJibMBGpc/s1600/19.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454355560329347538" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S7HDe9QbgdI/AAAAAAAABjs/EciJibMBGpc/s400/19.JPG" /></a> </div><div>This has nothing to do with Freiburg, but Alissa, Jenny and I went to a tiny bar last night in Munich (probably only holds about 500) to watch a band called Theory of a Dead Man that one of our other friends recommended. I didn't think I had heard of them before, until I looked them up and had heard a couple songs like Bad Girlfriend and Santa Monica. They were really good in such a small venue! </div><div><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S7HDeSwCGvI/AAAAAAAABjk/OrFrby-SwCI/s1600/21.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454355548919175922" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S7HDeSwCGvI/AAAAAAAABjk/OrFrby-SwCI/s400/21.jpg" /></a> </div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10822849807642561903noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5132730095958615268.post-65317519050941838942010-03-22T17:14:00.015+01:002010-03-22T18:23:24.564+01:00Munich Third Reich TourI took a Third Reich walking tour this weekend in Munich. I have to say that the tour itself was disappointing, but I think only because I've read so much about this area and walk by these places every day. On the other hand, knowing what happened at all these places is really amazing too.<br /><br />I stumbled across this website a while back and absolutely love it. You know how I'm a sucker for then-and-now pictures, and it has a lot of good ones. The pictures in this post probably don't mean much to you if you haven't spent much time here or unless you go to this website. There are 5 pages just of Munich, so make sure you look at all of them. Here it is -- <a href="http://www.thirdreichruins.com/munich">www.thirdreichruins.com/munich</a><br /><br />This is the banquet hall in the Hofbrauhaus where Hitler made many speeches. The second picture shows where he used to speak from. It would be directly to the right if you were standing where I took this first picture.<br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S6eaZ6BKVTI/AAAAAAAABjc/TO0hbFMAmNo/s1600-h/1.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451495643816809778" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S6eaZ6BKVTI/AAAAAAAABjc/TO0hbFMAmNo/s400/1.JPG" /></a> There used to be a gold plaque of him where the light is now and he used to speak right in front of it on a short podium.<br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S6eaZv99_yI/AAAAAAAABjU/T09SvgFDWIc/s1600-h/2.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451495641119063842" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S6eaZv99_yI/AAAAAAAABjU/T09SvgFDWIc/s400/2.JPG" /></a><br />This is the Lowenbrau restaurant. The night of the Beer Hall Putsch (rebellion) in 1923, when Hitler decided to take over the Bavarian government, Heinrich Himmler and a group of Storm Troopers (the SA) were here and Hitler called them from the Burgerbraukeller (another bar, but no longer stands) and told them to go to the War Ministry and take it over.<br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S6eaZc3dM_I/AAAAAAAABjM/LE8r_cjtYyg/s1600-h/3.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451495635991475186" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S6eaZc3dM_I/AAAAAAAABjM/LE8r_cjtYyg/s400/3.JPG" /></a> <div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S6eaEyaTVBI/AAAAAAAABjE/pLDYoRD8TSA/s1600-h/4.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451495280997520402" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S6eaEyaTVBI/AAAAAAAABjE/pLDYoRD8TSA/s400/4.JPG" /></a><br />This is the War Ministry building. After Himmler told Hitler that they had control of it, Hitler and 2,000 other men began marching from the Burgerbraukeller to here, but got stopped short after someone called the police and other local Bavarian armies for help.<br /><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S6eaEe33h2I/AAAAAAAABi8/Nisy2rrdYGM/s1600-h/5.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451495275752818530" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S6eaEe33h2I/AAAAAAAABi8/Nisy2rrdYGM/s400/5.JPG" /></a> </div><div>This is Odeonsplatz, or also known as the Feldernhalle. Hitler and his group were marching to the left of the main building in the middle and the police were where I was standing taking this picture. The police fired on them, killing 16 nazis, but 4 police also died. This is when Hitler was sentenced to prison for treason, but served only about a year and wrote Mein Kampf while he was there.<br /><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S6eaEMquycI/AAAAAAAABi0/vMQ3_fhi5TY/s1600-h/6.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451495270865881538" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S6eaEMquycI/AAAAAAAABi0/vMQ3_fhi5TY/s400/6.JPG" /></a><br />This is the place where the nazis were stopped and the shooting began. There used to be a large memorial with a swastika on it and guarded by 2 nazi guards to honor the 16 nazis. Every time you would walk by, you were required to give the Heil Hitler salute. There is a small alley behind here that you could avoid this area by, so now it is called "Dodger's Alley" and has gold/bronze bricks memorializing the trail.<br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S6eaDnF0crI/AAAAAAAABis/NqoXcO7ylZs/s1600-h/7.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451495260778951346" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S6eaDnF0crI/AAAAAAAABis/NqoXcO7ylZs/s400/7.JPG" /></a><br />This is the Finance building, and still is today. It is across the street from one of my clients, so I walk by it nearly every day for a month or so at a time and believe it or not, I never noticed the eagle until I was going through the third reich website. It is illegal to show a swastika or do the Heil Hitler salute in Germany today, so the eagle is still there, but the swastika in the wreath has been removed. The punishment for saluting is one month's pay.<br /><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S6eaDPwGDPI/AAAAAAAABik/8id-7NTeKR4/s1600-h/8.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451495254513814770" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S6eaDPwGDPI/AAAAAAAABik/8id-7NTeKR4/s400/8.JPG" /></a> <div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S6eZgb8DVcI/AAAAAAAABic/7D59QX_mQTs/s1600-h/9.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451494656489772482" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S6eZgb8DVcI/AAAAAAAABic/7D59QX_mQTs/s400/9.JPG" /></a><br />This is the Fuhrerbau (leadership building) and has a matching building on the other side of the street that was the administration building. This was used for the main government headquarters when the officials weren't in Berlin. The Munich Pact/Agreement was also signed here in 1938 with Mussolini and Neville Chamberlin. The Munich Pact allowed Germany to take over the Sudetenland (Czechoslovakia) and was meant to be a compromise so that he wouldn't take over anything else, but we know how that worked out.<br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S6eZf6miUOI/AAAAAAAABiU/OG4YWGnu8rs/s1600-h/10.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451494647541158114" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S6eZf6miUOI/AAAAAAAABiU/OG4YWGnu8rs/s400/10.JPG" /></a><br />This is the main entrance to the building. There used to be a big eagle above the door and you can still see the patched holes outlining it.<br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S6eZfgr0YDI/AAAAAAAABiM/j7GoKVguXZo/s1600-h/11.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451494640583991346" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S6eZfgr0YDI/AAAAAAAABiM/j7GoKVguXZo/s400/11.JPG" /></a> Across from these buildings were the rally grounds for the nazis (Konigsplatz). The plots that are grass now were granite then in order to accentuate the sound of the marching boots. Just imagine this filled with nazi soldiers and huge red banners everwhere.<br /><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S6eZeyj4n0I/AAAAAAAABiE/u3rSrFsvmPU/s1600-h/12.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451494628202684226" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S6eZeyj4n0I/AAAAAAAABiE/u3rSrFsvmPU/s400/12.JPG" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S6eZeRWQ8kI/AAAAAAAABh8/0eZQGCJ8RJY/s1600-h/13.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451494619287188034" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S6eZeRWQ8kI/AAAAAAAABh8/0eZQGCJ8RJY/s400/13.JPG" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S6eYwel-roI/AAAAAAAABh0/XFGrWncRaos/s1600-h/14.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451493832568778370" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S6eYwel-roI/AAAAAAAABh0/XFGrWncRaos/s400/14.JPG" /></a></div><div> </div><div>This is the Haus der Deutschen Kunst (German Art Museum). Hitler was an artist himself (well, wanted to be) so opening this museum was a big deal to him. He gave a speech at the grand opening in front of the front door. Again, above the door, there used to be a large eagle, but it has since been covered up by the 2 "whiter" stones above it.</div><div><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S6eYv3l3OtI/AAAAAAAABhs/R3VEQcztOA4/s1600-h/15.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451493822099307218" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S6eYv3l3OtI/AAAAAAAABhs/R3VEQcztOA4/s400/15.JPG" /></a> <div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S6eYvUNVWGI/AAAAAAAABhk/CTFmnxgufTg/s1600-h/16.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451493812601182306" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S6eYvUNVWGI/AAAAAAAABhk/CTFmnxgufTg/s400/16.JPG" /></a> <div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S6eYvConJ4I/AAAAAAAABhc/-TzS_0lK1o8/s1600-h/17.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451493807883757442" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S6eYvConJ4I/AAAAAAAABhc/-TzS_0lK1o8/s400/17.JPG" /></a> <div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S6eYu_doiyI/AAAAAAAABhU/4N1jcU3TID8/s1600-h/18.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451493807032404770" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S6eYu_doiyI/AAAAAAAABhU/4N1jcU3TID8/s400/18.JPG" /></a> This is the back of the building. I run right here on this street almost every day and until I found the third reich website, I had no idea about it. But, there is a picture on the website taken just like this showing a bunch of US jeeps right here.<br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S6eYG5s6vjI/AAAAAAAABhM/YpXZomcVt2s/s1600-h/19.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451493118291131954" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S6eYG5s6vjI/AAAAAAAABhM/YpXZomcVt2s/s400/19.JPG" /></a> <div>This is the art on the ceiling of the oustide and is the original artwork. The same pattern is on the Fuhrerbau. Some say they are interlocking swastikas, but that would be illegal, right? You be the judge. <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S6eYGHZX38I/AAAAAAAABhE/kwpp9nlEG_U/s1600-h/20.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451493104787382210" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S6eYGHZX38I/AAAAAAAABhE/kwpp9nlEG_U/s400/20.JPG" /></a> </div><div>This restaurant is Osteria Italiana and used to be Osteria Bavaria and Hitler's favorite lunch spot. So, after the tour, I figured it would only be appropriate to end there as well.<br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S6eYF8yxtBI/AAAAAAAABg8/Fn55gviHd2o/s1600-h/21.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451493101941142546" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S6eYF8yxtBI/AAAAAAAABg8/Fn55gviHd2o/s400/21.JPG" /></a></div><div> </div><div>Hitler's favorite seat was where the two men were sitting directly across from me by the window.<br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S6eYFU_vjmI/AAAAAAAABg0/mgSi5ewRzWA/s1600-h/22.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451493091258109538" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S6eYFU_vjmI/AAAAAAAABg0/mgSi5ewRzWA/s400/22.JPG" /></a> </div><div>There is a small square dedicated to the victims of the nazi party. This is actually a street, but since nobody wants this as their address, the street also has a second name that all the businesses use.<br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S6eYE_jj7lI/AAAAAAAABgs/1k2-g2asm54/s1600-h/23.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451493085502762578" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S6eYE_jj7lI/AAAAAAAABgs/1k2-g2asm54/s400/23.JPG" /></a> </div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10822849807642561903noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5132730095958615268.post-26637854448014022052010-03-07T18:02:00.016+01:002010-03-07T18:37:07.518+01:00Ski Summary 2010Wow, I can't believe I might have just skied my last time in the Alps (this year of course!)! Rather than bore all of you with weekly ski blogs, I decided to save them up this year. I "only" got to go about 8 days this year, but hey, who's complaining.<br /><br />I've had some reality checks setting in lately when I look at the calendar and see just how little time I have left here. I'm hoping to travel quite a bit during the weekends in April, so hopefully I'll have some more frequent updates to this. My last day here is April 30th, so it will be here before I know it. It's amazing to think I've been here more than 17 already and that this is all about to be over. Don't get me wrong, I'm getting anxious to come home. I'm ready to be closer to family and have that sense of "permanancy".<br /><br />Quite the snow at Obertauern. The bus had to stop and put chains on halfway there.<br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S5PfITMwLbI/AAAAAAAABgk/RqsODqJJoLs/s1600-h/1.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445941708106771890" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S5PfITMwLbI/AAAAAAAABgk/RqsODqJJoLs/s400/1.JPG" /></a> Alissa kicking up some nice powder.<br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S5Pe2gsWQgI/AAAAAAAABgc/WYS2bmvkMH8/s1600-h/2.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445941402491306498" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S5Pe2gsWQgI/AAAAAAAABgc/WYS2bmvkMH8/s400/2.JPG" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S5Pe18tVefI/AAAAAAAABgU/Lvnb7fO_SKU/s1600-h/3.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445941392831773170" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S5Pe18tVefI/AAAAAAAABgU/Lvnb7fO_SKU/s400/3.JPG" /></a> Untouched...but not for long.<br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S5Pe1vo1glI/AAAAAAAABgM/bNnTOysS9cY/s1600-h/4.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445941389323240018" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S5Pe1vo1glI/AAAAAAAABgM/bNnTOysS9cY/s400/4.JPG" /></a> Zillertal, Austria<br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S5Pe1U7HagI/AAAAAAAABgE/M-CZrrKTOtM/s1600-h/5.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445941382152153602" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S5Pe1U7HagI/AAAAAAAABgE/M-CZrrKTOtM/s400/5.JPG" /></a>Kitzbuehel, Austria<br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S5Pe1Hd2QCI/AAAAAAAABf8/86wVVhIxLzM/s1600-h/6.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445941378539733026" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S5Pe1Hd2QCI/AAAAAAAABf8/86wVVhIxLzM/s400/6.JPG" /></a> <div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S5PeVBBiGWI/AAAAAAAABf0/HMnxRqoAwbI/s1600-h/7.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445940827054545250" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S5PeVBBiGWI/AAAAAAAABf0/HMnxRqoAwbI/s400/7.JPG" /></a> <div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S5PeUwnDJEI/AAAAAAAABfs/UvqCy0cMyc8/s1600-h/8.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445940822648497218" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S5PeUwnDJEI/AAAAAAAABfs/UvqCy0cMyc8/s400/8.JPG" /></a> I love this picture. So stereotypical.<br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S5PeUTym7kI/AAAAAAAABfk/5snB2HtGnf8/s1600-h/9.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445940814912351810" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S5PeUTym7kI/AAAAAAAABfk/5snB2HtGnf8/s400/9.JPG" /></a> </div><div>Some of the signs here crack me up. I love the little man falling head over heels over the side of the mountain. And yes, this was enough to make us ski it - and it was awesome! I just love it when it is really steep and just deep enough to start a "mini-avalanche" on your first turn. (Just to clarify Mom, this was of course perfectly safe).<br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S5PeUBC2MbI/AAAAAAAABfc/LQLNrO_BNak/s1600-h/10.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445940809880187314" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S5PeUBC2MbI/AAAAAAAABfc/LQLNrO_BNak/s400/10.JPG" /></a> See, it wasn't THAT bad.<br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S5PeT8BktaI/AAAAAAAABfU/hQl_O_5vg-s/s1600-h/11.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445940808532669858" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S5PeT8BktaI/AAAAAAAABfU/hQl_O_5vg-s/s400/11.JPG" /></a><br />Town of Kitzbuehel.<br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S5PdtUguU3I/AAAAAAAABfM/z-hRobicamw/s1600-h/12.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445940145090876274" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S5PdtUguU3I/AAAAAAAABfM/z-hRobicamw/s400/12.JPG" /></a> <div>Just outside Zillertal, Austria. What a view to wake up to.<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S5PdtBQhA2I/AAAAAAAABfE/zm_Zxp5cSzA/s1600-h/13.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445940139922621282" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S5PdtBQhA2I/AAAAAAAABfE/zm_Zxp5cSzA/s400/13.jpg" /></a> Apres ski in Kitzbuehel. Me, Jenny, Alissa, Coco, John, and Andi. <div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S5PdsdmdVHI/AAAAAAAABe8/jkOE1GxM2Lg/s1600-h/14.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445940130350978162" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S5PdsdmdVHI/AAAAAAAABe8/jkOE1GxM2Lg/s400/14.jpg" /></a> Nightlife in Kitzbuehel. Jenny, Andi, me, and John. <div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S5PdsK0yC4I/AAAAAAAABe0/mByqhOShbbY/s1600-h/15.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445940125310782338" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S5PdsK0yC4I/AAAAAAAABe0/mByqhOShbbY/s400/15.jpg" /></a>Enjoying a traditional German dinner in Munich. Me, Kerry, Chris, Juan, and Alissa. <div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S5Pdry4h_UI/AAAAAAAABes/Q9I1LnefzIw/s1600-h/16.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 288px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445940118884056386" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S5Pdry4h_UI/AAAAAAAABes/Q9I1LnefzIw/s400/16.jpg" /></a></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10822849807642561903noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5132730095958615268.post-41958411713831943262010-02-02T23:20:00.013+01:002010-02-02T23:49:31.315+01:00Kitzbuehel and Alpbachtal Ski TripsA couple weeks ago we went skiing at Alpbachtal, Austria. Then, this past weekend, Chris, Alissa and I went to Kitzbuehel, Austria.<br /><br />These are from Alpbachtal.<br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S2imughxw9I/AAAAAAAABek/pYbdeuKkIHo/s1600-h/A01.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5433776268358304722" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S2imughxw9I/AAAAAAAABek/pYbdeuKkIHo/s400/A01.jpg" /></a> <div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S2imj_t-kbI/AAAAAAAABec/43MlVB1MBZ0/s1600-h/A1.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5433776087752413618" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S2imj_t-kbI/AAAAAAAABec/43MlVB1MBZ0/s400/A1.JPG" /></a> <div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S2imjRlQVdI/AAAAAAAABeU/2I_6ZF-yErM/s1600-h/A2.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5433776075367798226" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S2imjRlQVdI/AAAAAAAABeU/2I_6ZF-yErM/s400/A2.JPG" /></a> <div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S2imjFFFAGI/AAAAAAAABeM/7HoqS-LL-Aw/s1600-h/A3.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 249px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5433776072011612258" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S2imjFFFAGI/AAAAAAAABeM/7HoqS-LL-Aw/s400/A3.JPG" /></a> <div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S2imi-xapHI/AAAAAAAABeE/x2GWOGG-9rg/s1600-h/A4.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5433776070318531698" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S2imi-xapHI/AAAAAAAABeE/x2GWOGG-9rg/s400/A4.JPG" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S2imiFtnHYI/AAAAAAAABd8/ic_7cEdlVo0/s1600-h/A5.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 216px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5433776055001750914" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S2imiFtnHYI/AAAAAAAABd8/ic_7cEdlVo0/s400/A5.JPG" /></a> </div><div><br />These are from Kitzbuehel. The snow was outstanding there! We had consistent boot-to-knee-deep powder and even waist-deep in some places.<br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S2imHc72DzI/AAAAAAAABd0/k6uVulUqmUM/s1600-h/K1.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5433775597378998066" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S2imHc72DzI/AAAAAAAABd0/k6uVulUqmUM/s400/K1.JPG" /></a> <div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S2imHKwpL5I/AAAAAAAABds/gAk0_w7vsh4/s1600-h/K2.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5433775592500178834" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S2imHKwpL5I/AAAAAAAABds/gAk0_w7vsh4/s400/K2.JPG" /></a> <div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S2imG1g4kBI/AAAAAAAABdk/IRBIcGPyUBM/s1600-h/K3.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 324px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5433775586796933138" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S2imG1g4kBI/AAAAAAAABdk/IRBIcGPyUBM/s400/K3.JPG" /></a> </div><div>Here are Chris and Alissa on our favorite "run" of the day.<br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S2imGRtsHpI/AAAAAAAABdc/cMIgx-p-Foc/s1600-h/k5.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5433775577186967186" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S2imGRtsHpI/AAAAAAAABdc/cMIgx-p-Foc/s400/k5.JPG" /></a></div><div> </div><div>And me...<br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S2imF0xGFbI/AAAAAAAABdU/QJxStDlmmMA/s1600-h/K7.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5433775569416623538" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S2imF0xGFbI/AAAAAAAABdU/QJxStDlmmMA/s400/K7.jpg" /></a> Oh yeah, nearly waist-deep!<br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S2ilkyPNQQI/AAAAAAAABdM/Z8ey1dXTGwQ/s1600-h/K8.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5433775001801933058" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S2ilkyPNQQI/AAAAAAAABdM/Z8ey1dXTGwQ/s400/K8.jpg" /></a></div><div> </div><div>I had to take a picture of this sign. Of course we had to go down it, but we aren't real sure why they needed a sign because it wasn't as steep as nearly every other run we did that day.<br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S2ilkjGUL8I/AAAAAAAABdE/i0EPvr-IMko/s1600-h/K9.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5433774997738106818" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S2ilkjGUL8I/AAAAAAAABdE/i0EPvr-IMko/s400/K9.JPG" /></a> </div><div>For example, this one...<br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S2ilkS2DLKI/AAAAAAAABc8/cf3CY9FkXkk/s1600-h/K10.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5433774993374915746" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S2ilkS2DLKI/AAAAAAAABc8/cf3CY9FkXkk/s400/K10.JPG" /></a></div><div>This one had waist-deep powder and was super steep. I went down it first and about half way down I hit something that was probably the top of a buried tree and it kicked one of my skis off. I slid down the mountain about 25 feet or so and it was so deep that it took me what seemed like forever to crawl back up there because I'd take a step, but lose 3/4 of it each time. Luckily Chris was behind me and started digging around for the ski. <br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S2ilkJQLtjI/AAAAAAAABc0/U_CkFhKEkAg/s1600-h/K11.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5433774990800172594" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S2ilkJQLtjI/AAAAAAAABc0/U_CkFhKEkAg/s400/K11.jpg" /></a> </div><div>After probably about 10 minutes of digging around, I <em>finally</em> saw about an inch of the back of my ski sticking out. Thank goodness I wasn't by myself or last down the mountain or I might have had a long walk back to the car and a very expensive day of skiing!<br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S2iljjkBVeI/AAAAAAAABcs/x33a9tncoEQ/s1600-h/K12.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5433774980682831330" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S2iljjkBVeI/AAAAAAAABcs/x33a9tncoEQ/s400/K12.jpg" /></a> </div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10822849807642561903noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5132730095958615268.post-85195516737941995152010-01-30T15:03:00.020+01:002010-01-30T16:15:09.836+01:00Christmas 2009Yes, that was a long time ago! I have been meaning to put these up for a while now, and am finally getting the chance.<br /><br />My trip to home was great as always, and also quite busy. I started at my brothers' family's house in Las Cruces, NM where my immediate family had Christmas. The warm weather made me want to have Christmas there every year!<br /><br />Here I am with Kendall, Caleb, and Cadence. Kendall and Cadence are a little over 2 now and Caleb was born in September. I hadn't seen the twins since last Christmas and hadn't had a chance to meet Caleb yet, so I was extremely excited to be there.<br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S2Q-EHlfhCI/AAAAAAAABck/v7fr05QR5IY/s1600-h/1.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 330px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432535290992362530" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S2Q-EHlfhCI/AAAAAAAABck/v7fr05QR5IY/s400/1.JPG" /></a><br /><br />My brother Kyle and his wife Tina.<br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S2Q-DjorU0I/AAAAAAAABcc/GSQyRw7VZYA/s1600-h/2.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432535281342042946" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S2Q-DjorU0I/AAAAAAAABcc/GSQyRw7VZYA/s400/2.JPG" /></a><br />My brother Brad and Kendall and Cadence.<br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S2Q-DfgzGPI/AAAAAAAABcU/Zk7Sax3sM6o/s1600-h/3.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432535280235256050" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S2Q-DfgzGPI/AAAAAAAABcU/Zk7Sax3sM6o/s400/3.JPG" /></a><br /><br />Dad and mom with Cadence, Kendall, and Caleb.<br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S2Q-DLBEcNI/AAAAAAAABcM/b3gr8yKBymM/s1600-h/4.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 324px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432535274733465810" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S2Q-DLBEcNI/AAAAAAAABcM/b3gr8yKBymM/s400/4.JPG" /></a><br />Cadence and Kendall playing peek-a-boo through the sliding glass door.<br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S2Q-C9sAz3I/AAAAAAAABcE/lOeZ52wjedQ/s1600-h/5.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 362px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432535271155486578" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S2Q-C9sAz3I/AAAAAAAABcE/lOeZ52wjedQ/s400/5.JPG" /></a> <div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S2Q9jtsXYOI/AAAAAAAABb8/sriHBDcxuh4/s1600-h/6.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432534734286053602" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S2Q9jtsXYOI/AAAAAAAABb8/sriHBDcxuh4/s400/6.JPG" /></a></div><div></div><div>This is a collage of pictures they have framed and I love some of the pictures in it!<br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S2Q9jQmgDgI/AAAAAAAABb0/gpaEis63-CM/s1600-h/7.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 386px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432534726476828162" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S2Q9jQmgDgI/AAAAAAAABb0/gpaEis63-CM/s400/7.JPG" /></a>Kendall was pretty excited with her walking and barking puppy. <div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S2Q9jEhXsEI/AAAAAAAABbs/DKwGriX-j3c/s1600-h/8.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432534723234082882" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S2Q9jEhXsEI/AAAAAAAABbs/DKwGriX-j3c/s400/8.JPG" /></a>And Cadence with hers.<br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S2Q9i8191jI/AAAAAAAABbk/Sya3qRCweLc/s1600-h/9.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 366px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432534721172985394" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S2Q9i8191jI/AAAAAAAABbk/Sya3qRCweLc/s400/9.JPG" /></a> Kendall<br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S2Q9ivGkTjI/AAAAAAAABbc/P6NZSN5BoBk/s1600-h/10.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 266px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432534717484518962" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S2Q9ivGkTjI/AAAAAAAABbc/P6NZSN5BoBk/s400/10.JPG" /></a>Kendall and Brad<br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S2Q9PfS7foI/AAAAAAAABbU/bMiSOZGUBAI/s1600-h/11.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 279px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432534386823888514" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S2Q9PfS7foI/AAAAAAAABbU/bMiSOZGUBAI/s400/11.JPG" /></a></div><div></div><div>Girls first, so now...Caleb!<br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S2Q9PEqLj0I/AAAAAAAABbM/gAYcD7vtz1Y/s1600-h/12.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432534379673653058" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S2Q9PEqLj0I/AAAAAAAABbM/gAYcD7vtz1Y/s400/12.JPG" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S2Q9O5VS92I/AAAAAAAABbE/FGr49xLkU4o/s1600-h/13.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432534376633268066" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S2Q9O5VS92I/AAAAAAAABbE/FGr49xLkU4o/s400/13.jpg" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S2Q9Os98N7I/AAAAAAAABa8/jDKNUmRzPpo/s1600-h/14.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 348px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 350px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432534373314082738" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S2Q9Os98N7I/AAAAAAAABa8/jDKNUmRzPpo/s400/14.jpg" /></a></div><div></div><div>Kyle sewed this USMC shirt for Caleb. This was the most amazing thing I've seen. He had never sewn anything before, but he got a Marine friend's and copied it down to the exact stitching, buttons, pockets, name, etc. I was very impressed!<br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S2Q9Oh5G7AI/AAAAAAAABa0/IQtldoxvz7w/s1600-h/15.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432534370341022722" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S2Q9Oh5G7AI/AAAAAAAABa0/IQtldoxvz7w/s400/15.JPG" /></a><br />Kyle's always been a great artist and here he is showing off his B-25 model. Our Grandpa and great uncle were B-25 mechanics in WWII.<br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S2Q82_oQF9I/AAAAAAAABas/uHPRnNBvBWs/s1600-h/16.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 265px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432533966006523858" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S2Q82_oQF9I/AAAAAAAABas/uHPRnNBvBWs/s400/16.JPG" /></a> <div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S2Q82kkCtHI/AAAAAAAABak/cHKwrBmfvzk/s1600-h/17.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432533958741111922" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S2Q82kkCtHI/AAAAAAAABak/cHKwrBmfvzk/s400/17.JPG" /></a><br />After Las Cruces, I went to Wichita, KS to see my Godson Henry, who's parents and I met in college. Henry is almost 2 already, which means he will be pheasant hunting with his dad in no time.<br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S2Q82Wvy9PI/AAAAAAAABac/ZV3_QoRlUfw/s1600-h/18.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 361px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432533955032315122" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S2Q82Wvy9PI/AAAAAAAABac/ZV3_QoRlUfw/s400/18.JPG" /></a> </div><div>Next, I went to Kansas City to see my other Godson, Max and his brothers and sister.<br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S2Q82DejUkI/AAAAAAAABaU/V2XEXIr4EH8/s1600-h/19.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 394px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432533949859713602" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S2Q82DejUkI/AAAAAAAABaU/V2XEXIr4EH8/s400/19.JPG" /></a></div><div><div></div><div>Madie, Jack, Max, and Jacob. Good grief they are getting big! Jacob just turned 10, Jack 7, and Max and Madie are 6. We had a great time playing with nerf guns and watching them play wii and Guitar Hero. Of course, I always lost!</div><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S2Q81xaMJAI/AAAAAAAABaM/vTpiP8gZv6s/s1600-h/20.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 352px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432533945009579010" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S2Q81xaMJAI/AAAAAAAABaM/vTpiP8gZv6s/s400/20.JPG" /></a></div><div></div><div>Max and Madie<br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S2Q8rbjthfI/AAAAAAAABaE/xYuA5Z5uC8A/s1600-h/21.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 286px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432533767345243634" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S2Q8rbjthfI/AAAAAAAABaE/xYuA5Z5uC8A/s400/21.JPG" /></a></div><div></div><div>From Kansas City, I flew to Chicago to my friend Chris and Kerry's wedding. Chris works with me in Munich and returns to Chicago about the same time I return to Denver. They are also the couple I went to Santorini with. </div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div>Me, Alissa, Markus, Luiza, Kinsey, and Dean ringing in the New Year. Justin (I'm sure you remember from last year's ski season) and his wife Andrea and son Liam were also there, so it was good to catch up with the old gang.</div><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S2Q8q-Ii4wI/AAAAAAAABZ8/Ddas0xFp3AU/s1600-h/22.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432533759446672130" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S2Q8q-Ii4wI/AAAAAAAABZ8/Ddas0xFp3AU/s400/22.jpg" /></a><br />After that wedding, I went to Wichita, KS for my cousin Jennifer's wedding. Unfortunately I didn't bring my camera, so you'll just have to use your imagination. I hadn't seen almost anyone since last Christmas, so it was nice to see everyone again and see all the little kids growing up. </div><div></div><div>When I was in Wichita the first time, my friend Andrew and I drove to Lawrence to see KU play California. They have made a lot of updates to Allen Fieldhouse since I graduated (8 years ago...ssshhhhh!), but the atmosphere hasn't changed a bit and it's such a great place to watch college basketball. If you haven't seen the introduction video yet, you should youtube it - you'll get the chills. I always get goosebumps at the Star Spangled Banner anyway, but then adding the intro video after that...not sure what more you need to get excited to play!</div><div><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S2Q8qvGmjgI/AAAAAAAABZ0/A8pOm_tssS0/s1600-h/23.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432533755411992066" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S2Q8qvGmjgI/AAAAAAAABZ0/A8pOm_tssS0/s400/23.JPG" /></a> <div>Finally, I returned to Denver for a few days to see some co-workers and my neighbors and thier new baby. These 2 pictures are 2 reasons I can't wait to get back to Castle Rock. This is a view from my church to the south toward Pike's Peak and the bottom is a view to the west toward Mt. Evans.<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S2Q8qC7C9DI/AAAAAAAABZs/0McUxo6sLAk/s1600-h/24.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432533743552361522" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S2Q8qC7C9DI/AAAAAAAABZs/0McUxo6sLAk/s400/24.JPG" /></a> <div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S2Q8p58vtYI/AAAAAAAABZk/lNVTO0m08ik/s1600-h/25.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432533741143569794" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S2Q8p58vtYI/AAAAAAAABZk/lNVTO0m08ik/s400/25.JPG" /></a></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10822849807642561903noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5132730095958615268.post-40631731060190154022010-01-10T18:23:00.004+01:002010-01-10T18:31:52.272+01:00First Ski Day of 2010Finally! Alissa and I went skiing today in Zillertal, in Austria. We had pretty good snow all day and good weather in the morning. The clouds rolled in in the afternoon and made it pretty hard to see in some places (the fog in the pictures below was only covering about 1/4 of the mountain at that time, so skiing wasn't bad). This was also the first day I got to use my new skis. I love them - what a huge difference from my old ones! All in all, a great way to start the 2010 ski season!<br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S0oOOkSNCPI/AAAAAAAABZc/zzLXuK6fAaE/s1600-h/zillertal1.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425164344542169330" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S0oOOkSNCPI/AAAAAAAABZc/zzLXuK6fAaE/s400/zillertal1.JPG" /></a> <div><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S0oOCIpTkQI/AAAAAAAABZM/JrMQCKthsHw/s1600-h/zillertal3.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425164130964443394" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/S0oOCIpTkQI/AAAAAAAABZM/JrMQCKthsHw/s400/zillertal3.JPG" /></a> </div></div>Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10822849807642561903noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5132730095958615268.post-44164410908263471852009-12-06T13:31:00.013+01:002009-12-06T19:36:01.125+01:00Christmas Markets<p>No, I haven't completely fallen off the face of the earth. I know I haven't posted on here in quite some time, but that crazy thing called work has really gotten in the way of my fun. I was actually planning to be back in US around now and would stay through Christmas (for work actually), but a really big project came up here that was too good of an experience to turn down. Now, I'll be back right around Christmas and stay through New Year's.</p><p>This weekend, I did some Christmas shopping around the many Christmas markets here in Munich. Germany is well known for its hand-made Christmas ornaments and other decorations such as nutcrackers. These are similar to an arts and crafts fair we see at home. Most of the vendors are from Germany, but I also saw some from Africa and Ukraine. I was actually quite surprised this year and found some really neat gifts -- now I just hope the recipients think so too!</p><p>The Christmas markets are also a place to go to socialize. They have sausage and other food stands and various types of hot alcoholic drinks. The most common one is gluehwein (a spiced wine), honey wines, or other punch-type drinks. There is even one called a "feuerzangenbowle", which is a cup of gluehwein with a shot of rum and a sugar cube on the side of the glass and is lit on fire so the sugar slowly melts into the wine. It sounds too sweet to me, so I haven't tried that one. My favorite is the honey wine.</p><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sxv1xx9qWKI/AAAAAAAABZE/K56jxw-jIQ0/s1600-h/1.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412189612790143138" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sxv1xx9qWKI/AAAAAAAABZE/K56jxw-jIQ0/s400/1.JPG" /></a> <div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sxv1xZ115VI/AAAAAAAABY8/uEjuiQCQY2I/s1600-h/2.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412189606314894674" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sxv1xZ115VI/AAAAAAAABY8/uEjuiQCQY2I/s400/2.JPG" /></a> <div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sxv1xAICj4I/AAAAAAAABY0/YDswEUowc6s/s1600-h/3.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412189599411900290" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sxv1xAICj4I/AAAAAAAABY0/YDswEUowc6s/s400/3.JPG" /></a> <div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sxv1w28-T-I/AAAAAAAABYs/-K88Qkr6ywI/s1600-h/4.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412189596949565410" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sxv1w28-T-I/AAAAAAAABYs/-K88Qkr6ywI/s400/4.JPG" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sxv0jhMlU9I/AAAAAAAABYk/0tei-2M5TFg/s1600-h/5.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412188268259529682" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sxv0jhMlU9I/AAAAAAAABYk/0tei-2M5TFg/s400/5.JPG" /></a><br />Mmmm, sausage.<br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sxv0jEu7M1I/AAAAAAAABYc/N5CZOh8lW5k/s1600-h/6.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412188260618941266" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sxv0jEu7M1I/AAAAAAAABYc/N5CZOh8lW5k/s400/6.JPG" /></a> <div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sxv0i4E9V3I/AAAAAAAABYU/OGdmqH6Ou9Y/s1600-h/7.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412188257221695346" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sxv0i4E9V3I/AAAAAAAABYU/OGdmqH6Ou9Y/s400/7.JPG" /></a> <div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sxv0idDUQOI/AAAAAAAABYM/0JXpW4QtYXM/s1600-h/8.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412188249967050978" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sxv0idDUQOI/AAAAAAAABYM/0JXpW4QtYXM/s400/8.JPG" /></a><br />Just when I thought I couldn't think of anything else to give anyone, I ran across this! (yeah, that's right, dreads and "conrows".)<br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sxv0iLYLAqI/AAAAAAAABYE/tAYXPVhTjEI/s1600-h/9.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412188245222687394" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sxv0iLYLAqI/AAAAAAAABYE/tAYXPVhTjEI/s400/9.JPG" /></a> </div><div>While I was at one of the markets (actually where Oktoberfest is held), these abominable snowman, scary looking guys came by. If kids are scared of Santa, they really aren't going to like these guys. Not sure what they were.<br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyoSI6ewiepbUqk5ovrnk4Q7kiUf48iVJYsx-0BcdRxfdwwcxT8ojsQe4QcoZ_hlwnPvZhrF8D6nbaHew7ZmQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10822849807642561903noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5132730095958615268.post-40297539988244582702009-10-31T13:41:00.012+01:002009-10-31T18:03:45.378+01:00KU-OU Football GameI can't say too much for our football team or the excitement of the game itself, but it was very nice to be back again and see some friends. I just love the college football atmosphere and being part of the experience. It's the one thing I miss more than friends and family.<br /><br />When I'm back I never think to take pictures, but here are the few I did manage to take. It was a really pretty time to be back too - great fall temperature with all the leaves turning bright orange and red. The hill was packed with tailgaters. It's so nice to see a full stadium and some excitement around the football team even when the basketball team is ranked #1.<br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398810690334207522" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Suxtt_7zriI/AAAAAAAABX8/Oy1Cmrtzqd8/s400/PA241819+-+Copy.JPG" /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Suwx7eyMQPI/AAAAAAAABX0/F7HcwinFePg/s1600-h/IMG_3314.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398744951256006898" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Suwx7eyMQPI/AAAAAAAABX0/F7HcwinFePg/s400/IMG_3314.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Suwx7ADsEyI/AAAAAAAABXs/vBe6NoBEeYM/s1600-h/IMG_3316.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398744943007896354" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Suwx7ADsEyI/AAAAAAAABXs/vBe6NoBEeYM/s400/IMG_3316.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Suwx65HrDPI/AAAAAAAABXk/nEJ0zn0Bt88/s1600-h/IMG_3319.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398744941145558258" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Suwx65HrDPI/AAAAAAAABXk/nEJ0zn0Bt88/s400/IMG_3319.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Suwx6kxH0UI/AAAAAAAABXc/Ryjfuk6wBMM/s1600-h/IMG_3320.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398744935682265410" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Suwx6kxH0UI/AAAAAAAABXc/Ryjfuk6wBMM/s400/IMG_3320.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Suwx6aEi-bI/AAAAAAAABXU/W7hzSMVZFZA/s1600-h/IMG_3321.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398744932810946994" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Suwx6aEi-bI/AAAAAAAABXU/W7hzSMVZFZA/s400/IMG_3321.JPG" /></a> </div></div></div></div>Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10822849807642561903noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5132730095958615268.post-79478204514182732322009-10-02T19:02:00.036+02:002009-10-03T11:56:54.216+02:00Guys Week - Oktoberfest StyleMy good college friends Tim and Josh flew to Munich last week for Oktoberfest. Needless to say, we had a great time doing what us guys do best -- drinking a little, reminiscing about the good ole days, drinking a little more, talking politics, and then making great decisions such as going to Oktoberfest 3 days in a row. It was quite the marathon let me tell you.<br /><br />On Thursday we took a bike tour of the city and then went to two of the best beer halls in town - the locals' favorite, Augustiner-Brau and then of course the Hofbrauhaus.<br /><br />Here we are drinking the best beer in town - Augustiner Dunkel (well, I still think it's a toss-up between this and Konig Ludwig Dunkel, but I'm not going to argue with a beer that's been around since 1328).<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SsY2rKHnlKI/AAAAAAAABUU/OumfZ3UHHV0/s1600-h/2.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388054119273960610" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SsY2rKHnlKI/AAAAAAAABUU/OumfZ3UHHV0/s400/2.JPG" /></a><br />We had tickets to the Schottenhamel tent at Oktoberfest on Saturday and Sunday. I always laugh when they say "tent" because this one holds 6,000 people inside and 4,000 in the beer garden outside! This is also the tent where Oktoberfest officially begins with the first barrel being tapped by the mayor of Munich.<br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SsY2qrsq1GI/AAAAAAAABUM/47qC44e296o/s1600-h/3.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388054111107863650" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SsY2qrsq1GI/AAAAAAAABUM/47qC44e296o/s400/3.jpg" /></a><br />Inside the Schottenhamel. All of the tents have a band in the middle playing music. The music ranges from traditional Bavarian music to Country Roads to some other songs that I just can't explain but that everyone here knows (or at least well enough to belt out some random words) and some songs even have "actions" to go along with them.<br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SsY2qcs8lfI/AAAAAAAABUE/sUMxfc6czRg/s1600-h/4.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388054107082495474" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SsY2qcs8lfI/AAAAAAAABUE/sUMxfc6czRg/s400/4.JPG" /></a><br />Our first Oktoberfest beer.<br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SsY2p-qJKII/AAAAAAAABT8/TfrIU1V0rgo/s1600-h/5.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388054099017672834" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SsY2p-qJKII/AAAAAAAABT8/TfrIU1V0rgo/s400/5.JPG" /></a> <div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SsY2SXDqwAI/AAAAAAAABT0/6mXPOI0yBlI/s1600-h/6.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388053693250322434" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SsY2SXDqwAI/AAAAAAAABT0/6mXPOI0yBlI/s400/6.JPG" /></a></div><div>I'm sure you can imagine the weight of a mug that holds a liter of beer (34 ounces). Even if you can't, let me just say that they are practically indestructible. I guess Tim was anxious to pose for this picture because he knocked Josh in the head with his. HA! (sorry guys, I just couldn't resist this one)<br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SsY2Rzs98-I/AAAAAAAABTs/R2Pjj4brMQU/s1600-h/7.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388053683759870946" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SsY2Rzs98-I/AAAAAAAABTs/R2Pjj4brMQU/s400/7.JPG" /></a><br />Horse-drawn cart rolling in the barrels (not kegs) for the day.<br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SsY2Red_SgI/AAAAAAAABTk/oWNSHeSsVVM/s1600-h/8.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388053678059899394" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SsY2Red_SgI/AAAAAAAABTk/oWNSHeSsVVM/s400/8.JPG" /></a> <div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SsY2RF5v6cI/AAAAAAAABTc/cGqRFB4PKqc/s1600-h/9.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388053671465445826" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SsY2RF5v6cI/AAAAAAAABTc/cGqRFB4PKqc/s400/9.JPG" /></a><br />Tim showing off his ability to hold 4 liters. The waitresses carry 6 in each arm. We're not sure how they do it.<br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SsY2QjrNUxI/AAAAAAAABTU/NOjeEsuU5Vw/s1600-h/10.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388053662277653266" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SsY2QjrNUxI/AAAAAAAABTU/NOjeEsuU5Vw/s400/10.JPG" /></a><br />We had tickets to the Hippodrom tent on the 3rd day. This one holds 3,300 inside and 1,100 in the beer garden outside.<br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SsY1-Km7VjI/AAAAAAAABTM/WA20ynxFBbM/s1600-h/11.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388053346311165490" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SsY1-Km7VjI/AAAAAAAABTM/WA20ynxFBbM/s400/11.JPG" /></a><br />We also rented a car and drove to Salzburg and Berchtesgaden to see the Eagle's Nest. This is one of the benefits of driving in Germany - driving 100mph, literally...and still getting passed.<br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SsY19q_PD-I/AAAAAAAABTE/mS0Gqd4pRP8/s1600-h/12.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388053337823186914" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SsY19q_PD-I/AAAAAAAABTE/mS0Gqd4pRP8/s400/12.JPG" /></a><br />Tim and me in Salzburg.<br /><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SsY19T4_QvI/AAAAAAAABS8/4l6RdZTQ8rI/s1600-h/13.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388053331622970098" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SsY19T4_QvI/AAAAAAAABS8/4l6RdZTQ8rI/s400/13.JPG" /></a> Josh and Tim in Salzburg on the hike up to the fortress.<br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SsY18_G7P5I/AAAAAAAABS0/fz9UB1PWvpk/s1600-h/14.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388053326044282770" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SsY18_G7P5I/AAAAAAAABS0/fz9UB1PWvpk/s400/14.JPG" /></a><br />Fortress on the top of the hill in Salzburg.<br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SsY18eLQEjI/AAAAAAAABSs/KBsD9qGu-t0/s1600-h/15.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388053317204054578" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SsY18eLQEjI/AAAAAAAABSs/KBsD9qGu-t0/s400/15.JPG" /></a><br />City of Salzburg looking down from the fortress.<br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SsY1UejTf0I/AAAAAAAABSk/dfhz9eyZ8ic/s1600-h/16.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388052630110175042" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SsY1UejTf0I/AAAAAAAABSk/dfhz9eyZ8ic/s400/16.JPG" /></a><br />Tim and Josh posing in the puppet gallery inside the fortress.<br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SsY1T4ErYrI/AAAAAAAABSc/R16SMXd4Pbk/s1600-h/17.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388052619781169842" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SsY1T4ErYrI/AAAAAAAABSc/R16SMXd4Pbk/s400/17.JPG" /></a> Medieval exhibit inside the fortress.<br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SsY1TTcUpaI/AAAAAAAABSU/XusHPFAMVpg/s1600-h/18.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388052609948231074" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SsY1TTcUpaI/AAAAAAAABSU/XusHPFAMVpg/s400/18.JPG" /></a> Cart full of huge wheels of cheese in an outdoor market in Salzburg.<br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SsY1TKbzkUI/AAAAAAAABSM/HIXit5uTiEA/s1600-h/19.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 266px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388052607530144066" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SsY1TKbzkUI/AAAAAAAABSM/HIXit5uTiEA/s400/19.JPG" /></a></div><div></div><div>At the Eagle's Nest in Berchtesgaden, Germany just outside Salzburg.<br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SsY1SrBheDI/AAAAAAAABSE/4Q6H9U75m2Q/s1600-h/20.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388052599098406962" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SsY1SrBheDI/AAAAAAAABSE/4Q6H9U75m2Q/s400/20.JPG" /></a> <div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SsY0qC9blPI/AAAAAAAABR8/_lX0-j60Vh4/s1600-h/21.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388051901149058290" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SsY0qC9blPI/AAAAAAAABR8/_lX0-j60Vh4/s400/21.JPG" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SsY0pymZ6LI/AAAAAAAABR0/xMnb1xrrepw/s1600-h/22.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388051896757512370" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SsY0pymZ6LI/AAAAAAAABR0/xMnb1xrrepw/s400/22.JPG" /></a> <div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SsY0pdsMKQI/AAAAAAAABRs/JWDg09ZCE6A/s1600-h/23.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388051891144632578" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SsY0pdsMKQI/AAAAAAAABRs/JWDg09ZCE6A/s400/23.JPG" /></a> <div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SsY0o0kg7iI/AAAAAAAABRk/bkLYkgVK57M/s1600-h/24.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388051880106585634" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SsY0o0kg7iI/AAAAAAAABRk/bkLYkgVK57M/s400/24.JPG" /></a> <div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SsY0oswZbjI/AAAAAAAABRc/yb6c7auWGYk/s1600-h/25.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388051878008942130" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SsY0oswZbjI/AAAAAAAABRc/yb6c7auWGYk/s400/25.JPG" /></a><br />Last but not least, we went to the Dachau Concentration Camp in Munich.<br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SsY0JfYlltI/AAAAAAAABRU/7ZA-oI3E048/s1600-h/26.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388051341843470034" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SsY0JfYlltI/AAAAAAAABRU/7ZA-oI3E048/s400/26.JPG" /></a> Memorial depicting prisoners purposely running into the electric barbed-wire fences surrounding the camp.<br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SsY0I83TGuI/AAAAAAAABRM/Uqse2clelCE/s1600-h/27.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388051332577041122" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SsY0I83TGuI/AAAAAAAABRM/Uqse2clelCE/s400/27.JPG" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SsY0IYAneZI/AAAAAAAABRE/hujICns11dc/s1600-h/28.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388051322684012946" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SsY0IYAneZI/AAAAAAAABRE/hujICns11dc/s400/28.JPG" /></a> Bunks<br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SsY0IJdCXdI/AAAAAAAABQ8/8bqdYCwDVk4/s1600-h/29.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388051318776683986" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SsY0IJdCXdI/AAAAAAAABQ8/8bqdYCwDVk4/s400/29.JPG" /></a> Crematorium<br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SsY0HqrYxnI/AAAAAAAABQ0/EQ2t3lt2cWs/s1600-h/30.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388051310515373682" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SsY0HqrYxnI/AAAAAAAABQ0/EQ2t3lt2cWs/s400/30.JPG" /></a> </div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10822849807642561903noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5132730095958615268.post-81369764811680376982009-09-13T16:53:00.039+02:002009-09-13T18:37:47.295+02:00European Family VacationNo, not Chevy Chase-style either -- although we did go through a roundabout a couple times just for good measure! Mom and Dad flew in last week to visit and travel through Europe for a couple weeks. We had a very busy two weeks, but had a great time every day. It was their first time to Europe, so we wanted to get to as many places as we could. I'm sure they were hating me more than a few times from making them walk for miles upon miles, wake up early, catch trains, subways, and planes all while trying to relax and enjoy their time off -- and not to mention trying to figure out what to order for dinner with me trying to translate using my broken German and none of us being able to speak any French!<br /><br /><br /><br />We went to Vienna, Berchtesgaden (Hitler's Eagle's Nest), Bastogne Belgium for a Battle of the Bulge tour, Paris, Berlin, and of course Munich.<br /><br /><br /><br />VIENNA, AUSTRIA<br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sq0PZAfPFXI/AAAAAAAABQs/h-4sCWu76GQ/s1600-h/1.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380974052079768946" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sq0PZAfPFXI/AAAAAAAABQs/h-4sCWu76GQ/s400/1.JPG" /></a>Here we are at the Hofburg Redoutensaal sitting in the 2nd row of a classical music concert of Strauss and Mozart music. Strauss, Mozart, and Beethoven all performed here. The concert was excellent!<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sq0PYzIZwGI/AAAAAAAABQk/QN8r0Bm2kbY/s1600-h/2.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 299px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380974048494338146" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sq0PYzIZwGI/AAAAAAAABQk/QN8r0Bm2kbY/s400/2.JPG" /></a>The conductor is also world famous and conducts the New Year's Eve concert at the Hofburg as well.<br /><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sq0PYepFc0I/AAAAAAAABQc/0T-bDdHYJvw/s1600-h/3.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380974042994275138" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sq0PYepFc0I/AAAAAAAABQc/0T-bDdHYJvw/s400/3.JPG" /></a> The Hofburg Imperial Palace.<br /><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sq0PYNqADKI/AAAAAAAABQU/Hr7Vdf7mH-I/s1600-h/4.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380974038434712738" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sq0PYNqADKI/AAAAAAAABQU/Hr7Vdf7mH-I/s400/4.JPG" /></a><br />Republicans in Vienna.<br /><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sq0O45UtL-I/AAAAAAAABQM/1iQzkhECeCA/s1600-h/5.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 319px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380973500400742370" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sq0O45UtL-I/AAAAAAAABQM/1iQzkhECeCA/s400/5.JPG" /></a><br /><br />BERCHTESGADEN, GERMANY<br />After 2 days in Vienna we went to Berchtesgaden (just outside of Salzburg, Austria), which is where Hitler had a house (Hofberg) and also where the Eagle's Nest is. The Hofberg was destroyed, but the Eagle's Nest and the tunnels under the complex still remain.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sq0O4bR9s7I/AAAAAAAABQE/JS94kwQ_c3M/s1600-h/6.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380973492336178098" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sq0O4bR9s7I/AAAAAAAABQE/JS94kwQ_c3M/s400/6.JPG" /></a>View from the road from the old Hofberg (Hitler's house) to the Eagle's Nest (Hitler's mountain retreat). Unfortunately it was cloudy at the top.<br /><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sq0O4DtjjYI/AAAAAAAABP8/zSsbeKQnfRM/s1600-h/7.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380973486009453954" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sq0O4DtjjYI/AAAAAAAABP8/zSsbeKQnfRM/s400/7.JPG" /></a>Tunnel entrance to Eagle's Nest.<br /><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sq0O3kq1QEI/AAAAAAAABP0/iODjlv_FZJU/s1600-h/8.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380973477676531778" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sq0O3kq1QEI/AAAAAAAABP0/iODjlv_FZJU/s400/8.JPG" /></a><br />Inside Eagle's Nest. This is the room shown in the movie Valkyrie. The fireplace is behind me.<br /><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sq0O3PM6aJI/AAAAAAAABPs/yaqSiOnpR90/s1600-h/9.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380973471913896082" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sq0O3PM6aJI/AAAAAAAABPs/yaqSiOnpR90/s400/9.JPG" /></a><br />Mom and Dad outside Eagle's Nest.<br /><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sq0N99FJz_I/AAAAAAAABPk/Yzrztlz1w70/s1600-h/10.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380972487796969458" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sq0N99FJz_I/AAAAAAAABPk/Yzrztlz1w70/s400/10.JPG" /></a><br />Patio/breezeway of Eagle's Nest. This is featured in one of the last episodes of Band of Brothers where the Americans arrive.<br /><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sq0N9qseqGI/AAAAAAAABPc/3Mpj6713vyc/s1600-h/11.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380972482861639778" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sq0N9qseqGI/AAAAAAAABPc/3Mpj6713vyc/s400/11.JPG" /></a><br /></div><br /><div>BATTLE OF THE BULGE TOUR (Bastogne, Belgium)</div><br /><div>This is the American Cemetery in Hamm, Luxembourg.</div><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sq0N9N-KF0I/AAAAAAAABPU/dq7NVy5PGt8/s1600-h/12.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380972475151161154" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sq0N9N-KF0I/AAAAAAAABPU/dq7NVy5PGt8/s400/12.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sq0N8soAPGI/AAAAAAAABPM/Q3LAuPXkysA/s1600-h/13.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380972466199870562" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sq0N8soAPGI/AAAAAAAABPM/Q3LAuPXkysA/s400/13.JPG" /></a><br />I took a Battle of the Bulge tour from a tourguide in April and loved it, so convinced Mom and Dad to take one from him again too. The tourguide again was excellent and shared many stories from the veterans he knows (some are from the Band of Brothers, like Bill Garnier and Babe Heffron).<br /><br /><div></div><br /><div>This is a farmhouse where you can still see bullet holes.<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sq0N8MvZdUI/AAAAAAAABPE/ZSh5t6etMQI/s1600-h/14.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 266px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380972457640949058" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sq0N8MvZdUI/AAAAAAAABPE/ZSh5t6etMQI/s400/14.JPG" /></a></div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Foxholes from the "Jack's Woods" between Bastogne and Foy. This is where some of the Band of Brothers episodes were based.</div><br /><div><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sq0Naz4qZaI/AAAAAAAABO8/xQOj1Nq-Zoo/s1600-h/15.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380971884033238434" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sq0Naz4qZaI/AAAAAAAABO8/xQOj1Nq-Zoo/s400/15.JPG" /></a>Mom and Dad and our tourguide Reg. We found some shrapnel right near this foxhole. This is also about where Bill Garnier and Joe Toye lost their legs.<br /><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sq0NabXj0dI/AAAAAAAABO0/pXwlBbtboIs/s1600-h/16.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380971877451944402" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sq0NabXj0dI/AAAAAAAABO0/pXwlBbtboIs/s400/16.JPG" /></a><br /></div><br /><div>PARIS, FRANCE</div><br /><div>Arc de Triomphe</div><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sq0NZzAx1nI/AAAAAAAABOs/V-HfbO9OmVQ/s1600-h/17.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380971866618975858" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sq0NZzAx1nI/AAAAAAAABOs/V-HfbO9OmVQ/s400/17.JPG" /></a> This is the tunnel/underpass where Princess Diana was killed.<br /><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sq0NZR_dr1I/AAAAAAAABOk/6WyUa8tgm2s/s1600-h/18.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380971857755090770" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sq0NZR_dr1I/AAAAAAAABOk/6WyUa8tgm2s/s400/18.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sq0NZBJPnvI/AAAAAAAABOc/k2Avid1AMM4/s1600-h/19.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380971853232709362" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sq0NZBJPnvI/AAAAAAAABOc/k2Avid1AMM4/s400/19.JPG" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sq0M3NAqm0I/AAAAAAAABOU/QSzvlxKKFYI/s1600-h/20.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380971272302402370" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sq0M3NAqm0I/AAAAAAAABOU/QSzvlxKKFYI/s400/20.JPG" /></a>Napolean's Tomb is inside this building.<br /><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sq0M2t5XqCI/AAAAAAAABOM/CsdHSKRo9EA/s1600-h/21.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380971263950301218" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sq0M2t5XqCI/AAAAAAAABOM/CsdHSKRo9EA/s400/21.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sq0M2VgJLEI/AAAAAAAABOE/24Hr1vin0mo/s1600-h/22.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380971257402043458" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sq0M2VgJLEI/AAAAAAAABOE/24Hr1vin0mo/s400/22.JPG" /></a> </div><br /><div>The French "White House". We were walking back to our hotel near here and saw a motorcade with a black "Presidential" car in the middle. There was a man and woman in the car, and we assume it was Sarkozy and his wife, but they went by so quickly we aren't positive.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sq0M1zeKr_I/AAAAAAAABN8/wawfBz_sd7E/s1600-h/23.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380971248266948594" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sq0M1zeKr_I/AAAAAAAABN8/wawfBz_sd7E/s400/23.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sq0M1a8GD6I/AAAAAAAABN0/WHvkomVfwU0/s1600-h/24.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380971241681588130" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sq0M1a8GD6I/AAAAAAAABN0/WHvkomVfwU0/s400/24.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sq0MPpYUUfI/AAAAAAAABNs/WZa_jAP6gGE/s1600-h/25.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380970592723030514" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sq0MPpYUUfI/AAAAAAAABNs/WZa_jAP6gGE/s400/25.JPG" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sq0MPPh3BTI/AAAAAAAABNk/EJSZEBUlS2I/s1600-h/26.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380970585783731506" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sq0MPPh3BTI/AAAAAAAABNk/EJSZEBUlS2I/s400/26.JPG" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sq0MOgB_ZmI/AAAAAAAABNc/nqaB9iStR6c/s1600-h/27.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380970573033596514" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sq0MOgB_ZmI/AAAAAAAABNc/nqaB9iStR6c/s400/27.JPG" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sq0MOT4597I/AAAAAAAABNU/qYAsPagXqaM/s1600-h/28.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380970569774266290" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sq0MOT4597I/AAAAAAAABNU/qYAsPagXqaM/s400/28.JPG" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sq0MN5ysB2I/AAAAAAAABNM/DaTh4zq_aac/s1600-h/29.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380970562768865122" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sq0MN5ysB2I/AAAAAAAABNM/DaTh4zq_aac/s400/29.JPG" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sq0LofibSFI/AAAAAAAABNE/XT9iHklQKf0/s1600-h/30.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380969920066177106" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sq0LofibSFI/AAAAAAAABNE/XT9iHklQKf0/s400/30.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sq0Ln4lMGAI/AAAAAAAABM8/8_7Rpb90HBU/s1600-h/31.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380969909608781826" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sq0Ln4lMGAI/AAAAAAAABM8/8_7Rpb90HBU/s400/31.JPG" /></a><br />St. Eustachy church<br /><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sq0LnjdFu4I/AAAAAAAABM0/O58TWrlachk/s1600-h/32.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380969903937665922" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sq0LnjdFu4I/AAAAAAAABM0/O58TWrlachk/s400/32.JPG" /></a> St. Chapelle church<br /><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sq0LnKOuppI/AAAAAAAABMs/3A3yLWofjSY/s1600-h/33.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380969897166546578" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sq0LnKOuppI/AAAAAAAABMs/3A3yLWofjSY/s400/33.JPG" /></a><br />Notre Dame cathedral<br /><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sq0LmtLwgTI/AAAAAAAABMk/poqLPKJvYpc/s1600-h/34.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380969889369456946" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sq0LmtLwgTI/AAAAAAAABMk/poqLPKJvYpc/s400/34.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sq0K0LfxxJI/AAAAAAAABMc/FeMPoMMv8Og/s1600-h/35.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380969021333161106" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sq0K0LfxxJI/AAAAAAAABMc/FeMPoMMv8Og/s400/35.JPG" /></a> Luxembourg Gardens in Paris<br /><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sq0KzjAo23I/AAAAAAAABMU/O4JGecYK7tI/s1600-h/36.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380969010465135474" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sq0KzjAo23I/AAAAAAAABMU/O4JGecYK7tI/s400/36.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sq0KzHePR_I/AAAAAAAABMM/zLmZEVVbHkU/s1600-h/37.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380969003073095666" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sq0KzHePR_I/AAAAAAAABMM/zLmZEVVbHkU/s400/37.JPG" /></a> </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>BERLIN, GERMANY</div><br /><div>Checkpoint Charlie</div><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sq0Kyn-vU6I/AAAAAAAABME/HVOzLpkpLig/s1600-h/38.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380968994619478946" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sq0Kyn-vU6I/AAAAAAAABME/HVOzLpkpLig/s400/38.JPG" /></a>Brandenburg Gate<br /><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sq0Kyd_JgoI/AAAAAAAABL8/u90ALVNUX7M/s1600-h/39.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380968991936840322" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sq0Kyd_JgoI/AAAAAAAABL8/u90ALVNUX7M/s400/39.JPG" /></a>The German "White House". We saw a helicopter land there so maybe we saw Angela Merkel arrive too, who knows.<br /><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sq0KFMPsL9I/AAAAAAAABL0/zQdp0gxqwIc/s1600-h/40.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380968214080270290" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sq0KFMPsL9I/AAAAAAAABL0/zQdp0gxqwIc/s400/40.JPG" /></a>Reichstag<br /><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sq0KEgxagHI/AAAAAAAABLs/vH6ZUyJg6qc/s1600-h/41.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380968202410557554" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sq0KEgxagHI/AAAAAAAABLs/vH6ZUyJg6qc/s400/41.JPG" /></a>Inside the dome of the Reichstag<br /><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sq0KEGpLjHI/AAAAAAAABLk/u_RQBmEMjik/s1600-h/42.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380968195396701298" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sq0KEGpLjHI/AAAAAAAABLk/u_RQBmEMjik/s400/42.JPG" /></a><br />This is the courtyard where the conspirators in one of the plots to assassinate Hitler (Valkyrie) were executed. The scene in Valkyrie was actually shot here too.<br /><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sq0KD2hpaeI/AAAAAAAABLc/V8PPS7Lkn-A/s1600-h/43.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380968191070136802" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sq0KD2hpaeI/AAAAAAAABLc/V8PPS7Lkn-A/s400/43.JPG" /></a><br />Many buildings in Berlin still haven't been completely restored since the war.<br /><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sq0KDaZxOVI/AAAAAAAABLU/oaOYGPL3PwI/s1600-h/44.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380968183520901458" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sq0KDaZxOVI/AAAAAAAABLU/oaOYGPL3PwI/s400/44.JPG" /></a><br />Charlottenberg Palace in Berlin<br /><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sq0JZNXtzzI/AAAAAAAABLM/yxjOW9QFL4Y/s1600-h/45.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380967458468122418" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sq0JZNXtzzI/AAAAAAAABLM/yxjOW9QFL4Y/s400/45.JPG" /></a><br />In the gardens behind the palace.<br /><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sq0JYvL7yBI/AAAAAAAABLE/8SQuPMLSI98/s1600-h/46.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380967450365642770" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sq0JYvL7yBI/AAAAAAAABLE/8SQuPMLSI98/s400/46.JPG" /></a><br />Before eating the Obama Burger, we had to split it in 3 equal sections. Then, the one of us who has the highest salary had to divide our portion between the other 2. Then, when the bill came, the highest paid had to pay for the whole burger. OK, maybe we didn't really eat here, but I'm sure that's how it would work, right.<br /><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sq0JYLNI7HI/AAAAAAAABK8/kUuqkWSpZZ4/s1600-h/47.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380967440707021938" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sq0JYLNI7HI/AAAAAAAABK8/kUuqkWSpZZ4/s400/47.JPG" /></a><br /><br />MUNICH, GERMANY</div><br /><div>Inside the Hofbrauhaus. What trip to Munich is complete without a trip here!<br /><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sq0JXs2FdjI/AAAAAAAABK0/hTh4aVPB80k/s1600-h/48.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380967432557262386" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sq0JXs2FdjI/AAAAAAAABK0/hTh4aVPB80k/s400/48.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sq0JXHkhVSI/AAAAAAAABKs/K6GGo0g7SD8/s1600-h/49.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380967422551479586" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sq0JXHkhVSI/AAAAAAAABKs/K6GGo0g7SD8/s400/49.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sq0I4CXE7oI/AAAAAAAABKk/N9cvjRgGeho/s1600-h/50.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380966888576970370" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sq0I4CXE7oI/AAAAAAAABKk/N9cvjRgGeho/s400/50.JPG" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sq0I3qmQtyI/AAAAAAAABKc/lM0xn0V5Ci0/s1600-h/51.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 299px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380966882198206242" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sq0I3qmQtyI/AAAAAAAABKc/lM0xn0V5Ci0/s400/51.JPG" /></a><br />Castles in southern Germany. This is Neuschwanstein (the one the Disneyland castle was modeled after).<br /><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sq0I3c5w9vI/AAAAAAAABKU/01C1Qsy9lx4/s1600-h/52.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380966878521915122" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sq0I3c5w9vI/AAAAAAAABKU/01C1Qsy9lx4/s400/52.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sq0I29oxnuI/AAAAAAAABKM/U-sU-XRdqic/s1600-h/53.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380966870129155810" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sq0I29oxnuI/AAAAAAAABKM/U-sU-XRdqic/s400/53.JPG" /></a>We decided to have a relaxing day the last day of the trip, so we went to a beer garden in the English Garden near my apartment. There were a few bands there and of course good food and beer, so what could be a better way to end a great trip? Thanks Mom and Dad for a great 2 weeks!<br /><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sq0I2Y-LfBI/AAAAAAAABKE/1XKFUeQ6uQk/s1600-h/54.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380966860286819346" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sq0I2Y-LfBI/AAAAAAAABKE/1XKFUeQ6uQk/s400/54.JPG" /></a> </div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10822849807642561903noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5132730095958615268.post-89813820872147790992009-08-23T12:19:00.028+02:002009-08-23T13:25:09.422+02:00Santorini, GreeceThis past week Jennifer and I went to Santorini, Greece. Jennifer flew in from KC in time to meet my friends here last weekend. We went to a beer garden and rode bikes along the river before we left on Monday. Our week in Greece was very relaxing, mostly just laying by the pool with good books and soaking up the sun. There was never even the slightest cloud in the sky the whole time we were there. We could not have asked for better weather or a better time.<br /><br />My friend Chris surprised his fiance Kerry with tickets to Greece 2 weeks ago completely forgetting that we were going there too. Ironically enough, we were actually on the same flight from Munich on Monday! What are the odds?!?! So we spent a day with them by the pool and took a dinner cruise with them another night and had a great time.<br /><br /><br />These two pictures are the view of the Aegean Sea from our hotel patio. The island of Santorini is the remains of a volcano. So, the water you see here is really the center of the cone of the volcano and the houses and hotels are built on the very tops of the cone, which are about 1k feet above the water. Although not connected above water, the island in the picture is the other side of the cone. Some people think that the eruption is what caused the disappearance of Atlantis. Who knows, right.<br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SpEdGtWcfvI/AAAAAAAABJ8/viUovxo5TLg/s1600-h/2.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373107831519870706" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SpEdGtWcfvI/AAAAAAAABJ8/viUovxo5TLg/s400/2.JPG" /></a> <div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SpEdGAdS3hI/AAAAAAAABJ0/QHn9rS-8Kj8/s1600-h/3.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373107819469004306" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SpEdGAdS3hI/AAAAAAAABJ0/QHn9rS-8Kj8/s400/3.JPG" /></a><br />Jennifer and I along the hiking trail into the main town of Fira from our hotel. The town in the background is at the very northwest tip of the island called Oia.<br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SpEcspWX3mI/AAAAAAAABJs/OzVNsn1mFN4/s1600-h/4.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373107383769226850" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SpEcspWX3mI/AAAAAAAABJs/OzVNsn1mFN4/s400/4.jpg" /></a></div><div> </div><div>View from the town of Fira, which is about in the middle of the island. <div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SpEcsdPKmSI/AAAAAAAABJk/H_5pJCLL5Wo/s1600-h/5.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373107380517771554" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SpEcsdPKmSI/AAAAAAAABJk/H_5pJCLL5Wo/s400/5.JPG" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SpEcr2P8aPI/AAAAAAAABJc/0txuVixHkDw/s1600-h/6.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373107370052053234" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SpEcr2P8aPI/AAAAAAAABJc/0txuVixHkDw/s400/6.JPG" /></a> <div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SpEcreEuy4I/AAAAAAAABJU/JFC3KX9vnjQ/s1600-h/7.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373107363562572674" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SpEcreEuy4I/AAAAAAAABJU/JFC3KX9vnjQ/s400/7.JPG" /></a> <div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SpEcrF02T7I/AAAAAAAABJM/RGNqHjdHic8/s1600-h/8.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373107357053505458" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SpEcrF02T7I/AAAAAAAABJM/RGNqHjdHic8/s400/8.JPG" /></a></div><div> </div><div>Very typical church. There were countless churches just like this all over the island.<br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SpEcI8kd9mI/AAAAAAAABJE/wA7g_nBaAC0/s1600-h/9.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373106770453329506" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SpEcI8kd9mI/AAAAAAAABJE/wA7g_nBaAC0/s400/9.JPG" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SpEcIkxoyYI/AAAAAAAABI8/I1t0B0hdHJY/s1600-h/10.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373106764066113922" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SpEcIkxoyYI/AAAAAAAABI8/I1t0B0hdHJY/s400/10.JPG" /></a> </div><div>This is looking back to the island of Santorini from the dinner cruise we took with Chris and Kerry.<br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SpEcHyIKBSI/AAAAAAAABI0/YdgJlUxyJqg/s1600-h/11.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373106750470358306" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SpEcHyIKBSI/AAAAAAAABI0/YdgJlUxyJqg/s400/11.JPG" /></a> </div><div>Jennifer and I ready to head to dinner in front of our hotel.<br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SpEcHv8wIPI/AAAAAAAABIs/qDc_xeVShdE/s1600-h/12.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373106749885653234" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SpEcHv8wIPI/AAAAAAAABIs/qDc_xeVShdE/s400/12.JPG" /></a><br />Kerry and Chris on the cruise.<br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SpEcHNw9klI/AAAAAAAABIk/0X-NzHvoNdM/s1600-h/13.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373106740709397074" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SpEcHNw9klI/AAAAAAAABIk/0X-NzHvoNdM/s400/13.JPG" /></a> <div>One of the many delicious Greek salads we had.<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SpEbTp5EcUI/AAAAAAAABIc/Vf8H3Ttwa_U/s1600-h/14.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373105854906396994" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SpEbTp5EcUI/AAAAAAAABIc/Vf8H3Ttwa_U/s400/14.JPG" /></a></div><div> </div><div>View from the cruise up to the town of Oia. <div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SpEbTPmFsPI/AAAAAAAABIU/ukwR_58oCXY/s1600-h/15.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373105847847465202" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SpEbTPmFsPI/AAAAAAAABIU/ukwR_58oCXY/s400/15.JPG" /></a> <div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SpEbSkKU3BI/AAAAAAAABIM/dHHVRZ7-S1s/s1600-h/16.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373105836188294162" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SpEbSkKU3BI/AAAAAAAABIM/dHHVRZ7-S1s/s400/16.JPG" /></a><br />Church in the town of Oia.<br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SpEbSP173EI/AAAAAAAABIE/LwOK3OEeR1M/s1600-h/17.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373105830734060610" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SpEbSP173EI/AAAAAAAABIE/LwOK3OEeR1M/s400/17.JPG" /></a> <div>Views from Oia.<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SpEbRstBG-I/AAAAAAAABH8/Ut6sm6ITMyU/s1600-h/18.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373105821301414882" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SpEbRstBG-I/AAAAAAAABH8/Ut6sm6ITMyU/s400/18.JPG" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SpEanCwKxZI/AAAAAAAABH0/Cotoy67MMCc/s1600-h/19.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373105088485836178" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SpEanCwKxZI/AAAAAAAABH0/Cotoy67MMCc/s400/19.JPG" /></a><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SpEam_509vI/AAAAAAAABHs/vmtM7FbViYU/s1600-h/20.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373105087721043698" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SpEam_509vI/AAAAAAAABHs/vmtM7FbViYU/s400/20.JPG" /></a> </div><div>Sunset from a restaurant in Fira.<br /></div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SpEamfxqGRI/AAAAAAAABHk/-fKEfhLRFc4/s1600-h/21.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373105079096842514" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SpEamfxqGRI/AAAAAAAABHk/-fKEfhLRFc4/s400/21.JPG" /></a> </div><div>Sunsets from the cruise.<br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SpEal5tyTbI/AAAAAAAABHc/hIPoKP5yE1c/s1600-h/22.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373105068880055730" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SpEal5tyTbI/AAAAAAAABHc/hIPoKP5yE1c/s400/22.JPG" /></a><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SpEalXXF-bI/AAAAAAAABHU/YXjo5N705ZE/s1600-h/23.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373105059658070450" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SpEalXXF-bI/AAAAAAAABHU/YXjo5N705ZE/s400/23.JPG" /></a> </div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10822849807642561903noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5132730095958615268.post-79003289542765345362009-08-08T12:42:00.030+02:002009-08-08T13:50:50.987+02:00Former Yugoslavian CountriesThis past week I took a road trip through Slovenia, Croatia, Montenegro, and Bosnia & Herzegovina. The first stop was Lake Bled, Slovenia. I spent two nights there and then drove into the capital city of Ljubljana for a city tour.<br /><br />Ljubljana, Slovenia<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sn1dxpqoqBI/AAAAAAAABD0/wia1pMhsbfY/s1600-h/IMG_1806.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367549438475151378" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sn1dxpqoqBI/AAAAAAAABD0/wia1pMhsbfY/s400/IMG_1806.JPG" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sn1dxeaMWLI/AAAAAAAABDs/cQ_wjgaJfjE/s1600-h/IMG_1815.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367549435453397170" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sn1dxeaMWLI/AAAAAAAABDs/cQ_wjgaJfjE/s400/IMG_1815.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Lake Bled, Slovenia<br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sn1dxE4aopI/AAAAAAAABDk/96mPvDzoXqE/s1600-h/IMG_1835.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367549428600840850" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sn1dxE4aopI/AAAAAAAABDk/96mPvDzoXqE/s400/IMG_1835.JPG" border="0" /></a> <div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sn1daUmRUbI/AAAAAAAABDc/8_qHVjMrUVc/s1600-h/IMG_1845.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367549037682708914" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sn1daUmRUbI/AAAAAAAABDc/8_qHVjMrUVc/s400/IMG_1845.JPG" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sn1dXId-nLI/AAAAAAAABDM/sybpDL6pOnM/s1600-h/IMG_1850.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367548982887095474" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sn1dXId-nLI/AAAAAAAABDM/sybpDL6pOnM/s400/IMG_1850.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Next I drove to Dubrovnik, Croatia for three days. This is Neum, Bosnia & Herzegovina. Bosnia & Herzegovina only has a few miles of coastline, but it splits Croatia.<br /><div><div><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sn1dWenH8DI/AAAAAAAABDE/i6JZrHYdlcQ/s1600-h/IMG_1861.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367548971651166258" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sn1dWenH8DI/AAAAAAAABDE/i6JZrHYdlcQ/s400/IMG_1861.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><br /><div>Croatia just north of the Bosnia & Herzegovina border.<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sn1dV3p_byI/AAAAAAAABC8/7o6tdYBPH08/s1600-h/IMG_1866.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367548961194209058" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sn1dV3p_byI/AAAAAAAABC8/7o6tdYBPH08/s400/IMG_1866.JPG" border="0" /></a>Dubrovnik, Croatia<br /><div><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sn1cs_eoywI/AAAAAAAABC0/21s2uxAGRS0/s1600-h/IMG_1873.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367548258919435010" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sn1cs_eoywI/AAAAAAAABC0/21s2uxAGRS0/s400/IMG_1873.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sn1cr6mcqXI/AAAAAAAABCs/vCL7DLEFAMQ/s1600-h/IMG_1879.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367548240430147954" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sn1cr6mcqXI/AAAAAAAABCs/vCL7DLEFAMQ/s400/IMG_1879.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><br /><div>The entire old city of Dubrovnik is enclosed by a large wall/fortress that was built in the 1400s.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367548209592571954" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sn1cqHuMmDI/AAAAAAAABCU/-cUggZKHRkM/s400/IMG_1903.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367547352886136258" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sn1b4QPdzcI/AAAAAAAABBs/suculpsexog/s400/IMG_1971.JPG" border="0" /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367545510178449106" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sn1aM_nt5tI/AAAAAAAABBU/WjW1g21GXUs/s400/IMG_2000.JPG" border="0" /> <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367548212030937666" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sn1cqQzjGkI/AAAAAAAABCc/Ox4HtXmGtbk/s400/IMG_1899.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367547368508676706" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sn1b5KcK2mI/AAAAAAAABCE/h_7B_AUFviA/s400/IMG_1940.JPG" border="0" /><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sn1crBkKMoI/AAAAAAAABCk/sw5jwopOrz0/s1600-h/IMG_1893.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367548225119728258" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sn1crBkKMoI/AAAAAAAABCk/sw5jwopOrz0/s400/IMG_1893.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367547378092618466" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sn1b5uJKMuI/AAAAAAAABCM/S4VRo1-4C_o/s400/IMG_1925.JPG" border="0" /> </div><br /><div>Courtyard inside the old city. This was next to the pharmacy, which has been operating since 1317 and is thought to be the oldest in Europe.<br /><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sn1aNpxqNfI/AAAAAAAABBk/es58r6hsOkk/s1600-h/IMG_1973.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367545521494439410" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sn1aNpxqNfI/AAAAAAAABBk/es58r6hsOkk/s400/IMG_1973.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div></div><div>Inside the old city.<br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sn1aNb_UMUI/AAAAAAAABBc/8_yKwYXmUr4/s1600-h/IMG_1993.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367545517793620290" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sn1aNb_UMUI/AAAAAAAABBc/8_yKwYXmUr4/s400/IMG_1993.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><br /><div>Storm brewing over Dubrovnik.<br /><div><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sn1aM68qC4I/AAAAAAAABBM/BuLo5CBimGQ/s1600-h/IMG_2005.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367545508924099458" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sn1aM68qC4I/AAAAAAAABBM/BuLo5CBimGQ/s400/IMG_2005.JPG" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sn1ZjNYRe5I/AAAAAAAABA8/1DZHByTuxaU/s1600-h/IMG_2012.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367544792317262738" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sn1ZjNYRe5I/AAAAAAAABA8/1DZHByTuxaU/s400/IMG_2012.JPG" border="0" /></a>The old city of Dubrovnik is the piece of land sticking out into the ocean on the right side.<br /><div><div><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sn1Zix9Ke1I/AAAAAAAABA0/A0ahY5T5Xhw/s1600-h/IMG_2019.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367544784955800402" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sn1Zix9Ke1I/AAAAAAAABA0/A0ahY5T5Xhw/s400/IMG_2019.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367547365111647890" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sn1b49yQTpI/AAAAAAAABB8/91K0jezWme0/s400/IMG_1962.JPG" border="0" /><br />Armored vehicle from the 1991 War for Independence.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367547360966037922" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sn1b4uV3UaI/AAAAAAAABB0/CmcYVfWa8os/s400/IMG_1966.JPG" border="0" /><br />This was in a cemetery in the middle of Croatia. I'm not sure what it says other than it is a grave and has 24 names on it, but clearly it is a hammer and sickle with a star on top from the old Yugoslavia days. I couldn't see a date either.<br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sn1Zialg1JI/AAAAAAAABAs/OAHY0zvAyaI/s1600-h/IMG_2093.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367544778682586258" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 266px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sn1Zialg1JI/AAAAAAAABAs/OAHY0zvAyaI/s400/IMG_2093.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />This is an eldery woman putting up hay along the road in northern Croatia.<br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sn1ZifafD9I/AAAAAAAABAk/oyJIZ1_oY-Y/s1600-h/IMG_2097.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367544779978510290" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sn1ZifafD9I/AAAAAAAABAk/oyJIZ1_oY-Y/s400/IMG_2097.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />I took a bus tour of Montenegro one day. The country is very small, but entirely mountainous, so was very pretty. These are two small islands with only churches on them.<br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sn1ZhyNqfZI/AAAAAAAABAc/qmrcFFKIuvo/s1600-h/IMG_2029.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367544767845137810" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sn1ZhyNqfZI/AAAAAAAABAc/qmrcFFKIuvo/s400/IMG_2029.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><br /><div>Kotor, Montenegro. This was another town enclosed by a wall. The town was established around 150 BC and the wall was built around 500 AD.<br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sn1ZEwtPtEI/AAAAAAAABAU/4jRdJv9RgPM/s1600-h/IMG_2044.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367544269224522818" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sn1ZEwtPtEI/AAAAAAAABAU/4jRdJv9RgPM/s400/IMG_2044.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sn1ZESMAwSI/AAAAAAAABAM/fU5OJe-vJpw/s1600-h/IMG_2046.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367544261032067362" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sn1ZESMAwSI/AAAAAAAABAM/fU5OJe-vJpw/s400/IMG_2046.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div>Bay of Kotor, Montenegro<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sn1ZEIDktII/AAAAAAAABAE/Mr6H5tSqYZQ/s1600-h/IMG_2067.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367544258312320130" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sn1ZEIDktII/AAAAAAAABAE/Mr6H5tSqYZQ/s400/IMG_2067.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sn1ZDvaHC2I/AAAAAAAAA_8/ZS-xzE3BrdE/s1600-h/IMG_2070.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367544251695958882" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sn1ZDvaHC2I/AAAAAAAAA_8/ZS-xzE3BrdE/s400/IMG_2070.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><br /><div>Budva Beach, Montenegro. Many VIPs spend their vacations here. There were yachts everywhere. It's hard to tell from this picture, but the entire beach along the whole picture is nice and sandy, so it was also pretty crowded as there aren't that many sandy beaches there.<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367543639686670018" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sn1YgHfuZsI/AAAAAAAAA_o/Ya-UXYZDao0/s400/IMG_2074.JPG" border="0" /><br />I'm not 100% sure what this is, but it is a house/building in the old capital city of Cintenje, Montenegro. I took a quick picture as the bus drove by, but you can see bullet holes or mortar fragments have hit just above and to the side of the door. I assume it was from the Kosovo War in 1999.<br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sn1ZDOGSq9I/AAAAAAAAA_0/R_gybr6je8c/s1600-h/IMG_2072.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367544242754464722" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sn1ZDOGSq9I/AAAAAAAAA_0/R_gybr6je8c/s400/IMG_2072.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />On the way back to Munich I stopped at the Plitvice Lakes National Park in northern Croatia.<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367542677602895378" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sn1XoHdFBhI/AAAAAAAAA-k/Th2pGgZT0KM/s400/IMG_2186.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367542667283331634" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sn1XnhAs-jI/AAAAAAAAA-c/wu39_8MM7B8/s400/IMG_2187.JPG" border="0" /> <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sn1Yf3XwMKI/AAAAAAAAA_c/GDz-vCbDXQY/s1600-h/IMG_2120.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367543635358265506" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sn1Yf3XwMKI/AAAAAAAAA_c/GDz-vCbDXQY/s400/IMG_2120.JPG" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sn1YfX_NYaI/AAAAAAAAA_U/PGTzbDCFGmY/s1600-h/IMG_2126.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367543626933821858" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sn1YfX_NYaI/AAAAAAAAA_U/PGTzbDCFGmY/s400/IMG_2126.JPG" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sn1YfMWMyVI/AAAAAAAAA_M/YJelMWD3h58/s1600-h/IMG_2131.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367543623809026386" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sn1YfMWMyVI/AAAAAAAAA_M/YJelMWD3h58/s400/IMG_2131.JPG" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sn1Ye5tEH2I/AAAAAAAAA_E/SNLZR9437Ek/s1600-h/IMG_2139.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367543618804653922" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sn1Ye5tEH2I/AAAAAAAAA_E/SNLZR9437Ek/s400/IMG_2139.JPG" border="0" /></a> <div><div><div><div><div><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sn1XpKRE4vI/AAAAAAAAA-8/MrIsvnmQ8os/s1600-h/IMG_2150.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367542695537730290" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sn1XpKRE4vI/AAAAAAAAA-8/MrIsvnmQ8os/s400/IMG_2150.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sn1XonTZkkI/AAAAAAAAA-0/2z0yJ0mwCB0/s1600-h/IMG_2152.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367542686152233538" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sn1XonTZkkI/AAAAAAAAA-0/2z0yJ0mwCB0/s400/IMG_2152.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />(One of my favorite pictures of the whole trip)<br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sn1XoZeKqbI/AAAAAAAAA-s/l27bKSiNWJE/s1600-h/IMG_2175.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367542682439297458" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sn1XoZeKqbI/AAAAAAAAA-s/l27bKSiNWJE/s400/IMG_2175.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10822849807642561903noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5132730095958615268.post-27404689303888368742009-07-30T19:39:00.014+02:002009-07-30T20:45:31.478+02:00Dublin, IrelandThis past weekend a group of about 10 of us went to Dublin for the weekend. The rock band U2 is from Dublin and had 3 concerts there that weekend. Chris and Kerry are huge U2 fans so they got tickets and organized the trip. I'm not a huge U2 fan (or Bono for that matter!), but it was really a great concert. It was in Croke Park, which is usually used for rugby games and holds 82,000. We even had good weather all weekend too - hard to believe I know, but there was no rain in Dublin!<br /><br />Once again, I ran into someone with Kansas ties. We took a walking tour about the 1916 Rebellion (fight for independence from Britain) and this guy was our tour guide. His shirt is from a record store (or do I say CD now?) in Lawrence. He said he gave a speech at KU a while back and loved the town and store so bought the t-shirt. By the way...do you think he looks Irish!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364314199644798690" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SnHfV91pfuI/AAAAAAAAA9s/p9GY3QceVHk/s400/IMG_1661.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br /><br /><br />This is an old building we saw along the tour that used to be part of the government buildings. There are no windows because part of the property tax assessment used to be based on the number of windows you had. Shhh, don't tell Obama about this if you have windows in your house.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364313894358360210" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SnHfEMjsIJI/AAAAAAAAA9k/fhLifdqaV3Q/s400/IMG_1662.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br /><br /><br />Customs House along the River Liffey.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364313888907372674" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SnHfD4QEqII/AAAAAAAAA9c/5EB_tbSSS3U/s400/IMG_1664.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br /><br /><br />Instead of hotel rooms, we rented 2 apartments since we had 10 people. This is the view from our balcony.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364313286154870450" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SnHegy0rXrI/AAAAAAAAA8s/T-gQEElslQk/s400/IMG_1672.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Temple Bar - the bar and shopping district in downtown Dublin. There are stereotypes for a reason. There are pubs everywhere in Dublin!<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364311938705265810" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SnHdSXLqFJI/AAAAAAAAA70/nVDX6CHndgQ/s400/templebar.jpg" border="0" /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364313868059591986" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SnHfCqlkxTI/AAAAAAAAA9E/CmPAu6ZpQSM/s400/IMG_1668.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br /><br /><br />Kerry, Chris, Andi, Jenny, Alissa, me, Luiza and Markus at lunch.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364314410960871986" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SnHfiRDU4jI/AAAAAAAAA-U/YhZ8WmlvIrc/s400/group.jpg" border="0" /><br /><br /><br /><br />Jenny, Andi, and Luiza 2 rows from the stage. They had a slightly better view than we did!<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364311947307018994" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SnHdS3OeavI/AAAAAAAAA78/ZoxLfdtb0vE/s400/jennyandiluiza.jpg" border="0" /><br /><br /><br /><br />I never knew beer was transported like milk.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364314201526145266" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SnHfWE2MkPI/AAAAAAAAA98/upabWTYirJM/s400/guinnesstruck.jpg" border="0" /><br /><br /><br /><br />We took a tour of the Guinness brewery.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364313302275467298" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SnHehu4IKCI/AAAAAAAAA88/rf7AyteGlf4/s400/IMG_1669.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364313294615215586" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SnHehSVx_eI/AAAAAAAAA80/VDDk8wACdKA/s400/IMG_1671.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SnHfWjKSeRI/AAAAAAAAA-M/Ba32pBjYQ90/s1600-h/guinnessslante.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364314209663482130" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SnHfWjKSeRI/AAAAAAAAA-M/Ba32pBjYQ90/s400/guinnessslante.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Luiza, Chris, Markus, me and Alissa at the Guinness brewery.<br /><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SnHfWQQCDNI/AAAAAAAAA-E/DmJf9lnIEwE/s1600-h/guinnessstorehousegroup.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364314204587298002" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SnHfWQQCDNI/AAAAAAAAA-E/DmJf9lnIEwE/s400/guinnessstorehousegroup.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><br /><div>Chris and I decided to have a few beers at the apartment/hotel before the concert, but there were no pint glasses, so we had to use the next best thing. Never thought I'd drink a beer out of a wine glass.<br /><br /><div><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SnHfWP-3UZI/AAAAAAAAA90/0CTgNqdPGj8/s1600-h/guinnesswineglasses.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364314204515291538" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SnHfWP-3UZI/AAAAAAAAA90/0CTgNqdPGj8/s400/guinnesswineglasses.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br /><div>I guess it's impossible to get lost in Ireland. Just turn right and you'll get there.<br /><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SnHfDdL6CNI/AAAAAAAAA9U/5fKW22HdHI0/s1600-h/IMG_1666.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364313881642141906" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SnHfDdL6CNI/AAAAAAAAA9U/5fKW22HdHI0/s400/IMG_1666.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><br /><div><br />I've got the solution for all this confusion. Who else, but this guy!!! (I love who's sponsoring this lecture).<br /><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SnHfDBT0r4I/AAAAAAAAA9M/tiK9p5bskT0/s1600-h/IMG_1667.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364313874159153026" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SnHfDBT0r4I/AAAAAAAAA9M/tiK9p5bskT0/s400/IMG_1667.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>U2 concert at Croke Park<br /><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SnHegk5BQBI/AAAAAAAAA8k/T3XErtJ68Z0/s1600-h/IMG_1679.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364313282414985234" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SnHegk5BQBI/AAAAAAAAA8k/T3XErtJ68Z0/s400/IMG_1679.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SnHegbln_LI/AAAAAAAAA8c/rjYmvjFcfAk/s1600-h/IMG_1686.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364313279917718706" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SnHegbln_LI/AAAAAAAAA8c/rjYmvjFcfAk/s400/IMG_1686.JPG" border="0" /></a> <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364311954860587554" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SnHdTTXYuiI/AAAAAAAAA8M/CUMpmatQPKM/s400/IMG_1699.JPG" border="0" /><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SnHdT-0Fv0I/AAAAAAAAA8U/RKt6gv7iYmI/s1600-h/IMG_1688.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364311966523703106" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SnHdT-0Fv0I/AAAAAAAAA8U/RKt6gv7iYmI/s400/IMG_1688.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SnHdTM3W5UI/AAAAAAAAA8E/cVFBYehQFlc/s1600-h/IMG_1731.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364311953115637058" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SnHdTM3W5UI/AAAAAAAAA8E/cVFBYehQFlc/s400/IMG_1731.JPG" border="0" /></a>Beautiful Day...</div><br /><div><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyXr047hDl6FKN57RYVPd3yamvqRxFY8gt6FbyFE2zMV798gB1mqgULQWXe-PaL7vcfuznZhkBcQziSRyIXUQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><div></div><br /><div><br /><br /><div>Crowd of 85,000</div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzuqMbdQlhvSY1g6x9Mffa_N7M0z_LFRyDuG8IBxqpHZ4IpSaDQ5qjO_Y6T0D6cmHMgZX0xYf-rpN5OrBEMXg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe>Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10822849807642561903noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5132730095958615268.post-30611376645250729632009-07-21T00:03:00.028+02:002009-07-21T01:21:43.755+02:00Tour de FranceI convinced Chris and Alissa to go to the Tour de France this weekend. The end of the stage was in Verbier, Switzerland. We drove down Saturday night and found a place along the race route to camp. Chris and I camped outside without a tent and were lucky enough to get 2 small rainshowers during the night. Luckily they were really light, so it never got hard enough to penetrate our sleeping bags.<br /><br />I wasn't sure what to expect before we went, but wanted to go to see what it was like. I just got finished reading Lance Armstrong's book and watched a few of the first stages this year and started getting into it by learning about some of the riders, so wanted to go see what it was all about. I never thought I would say it, but this was an incredible event and want to go another year! Verbier is a ski town of about 2,500, but was jammed packed the night before with every bar being crowded and also a band outside in the town square. Not only in town, but there were cars lining the entire route up the mountain already the night before. I wouldn't even know where to start estimating how many people were there during the race, but it had to be well over a hundred thousand just in the last few miles.<br /><br />Not a bad view to wake up to, huh!<br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SmT1sy2rWQI/AAAAAAAAA7k/yTgAKOAv2cU/s1600-h/IMG_1584.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360679606391888130" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SmT1sy2rWQI/AAAAAAAAA7k/yTgAKOAv2cU/s400/IMG_1584.JPG" border="0" /></a> <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360679590369032386" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SmT1r3Kh-MI/AAAAAAAAA7U/KanlGKFzgyc/s400/IMG_1591.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SmT1sTDngmI/AAAAAAAAA7c/d1l-Fqe4zH4/s1600-h/IMG_1585.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360679597856227938" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SmT1sTDngmI/AAAAAAAAA7c/d1l-Fqe4zH4/s400/IMG_1585.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SmT1LvEXLzI/AAAAAAAAA7M/G2J1uDGc-XY/s1600-h/IMG_1596.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360679038439862066" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SmT1LvEXLzI/AAAAAAAAA7M/G2J1uDGc-XY/s400/IMG_1596.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><br /><div>Want some escargot? There were slugs and snails everywhere. <div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SmT1LIbPfOI/AAAAAAAAA7E/S7AVkjj-DZc/s1600-h/IMG_1597.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360679028066843874" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SmT1LIbPfOI/AAAAAAAAA7E/S7AVkjj-DZc/s400/IMG_1597.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />House full of colorful flowers along the route. This was taken early before the race, so the riders are just "normal joes" riding up the route.<br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SmT1K3fYZ-I/AAAAAAAAA68/ea2q78F9KeI/s1600-h/IMG_1599.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360679023520802786" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SmT1K3fYZ-I/AAAAAAAAA68/ea2q78F9KeI/s400/IMG_1599.JPG" border="0" /></a> Some artwork under the church along the route.<br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SmT1KTroLAI/AAAAAAAAA60/9kphIOCr1Uc/s1600-h/IMG_1600.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360679013908491266" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SmT1KTroLAI/AAAAAAAAA60/9kphIOCr1Uc/s400/IMG_1600.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />My future BBQ grill.<br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SmT1J4heSwI/AAAAAAAAA6s/Ogf6CaLPNvc/s1600-h/IMG_1604.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360679006618143490" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 266px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SmT1J4heSwI/AAAAAAAAA6s/Ogf6CaLPNvc/s400/IMG_1604.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div>Looking back at the 1km to go marker.<br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SmT0YCu6JEI/AAAAAAAAA6c/_G9KrTBw_ts/s1600-h/IMG_1610.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360678150365389890" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SmT0YCu6JEI/AAAAAAAAA6c/_G9KrTBw_ts/s400/IMG_1610.JPG" border="0" /></a>Standing in front of the podium.<br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SmT0YiUflyI/AAAAAAAAA6k/B2xaKJfCU-o/s1600-h/IMG_1608-cropped.JPG"></a><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360681318064367442" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 272px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SmT3QbVMp1I/AAAAAAAAA7s/oExGBVKi5y0/s400/IMG_1608-cropped.JPG" border="0" /><br />One of the many "Lance Camps" we saw. (In case you haven't noticed, Lance is from Texas and dang proud of it)<br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SmT0XsaCB6I/AAAAAAAAA6U/g0-hF1NiTz0/s1600-h/IMG_1611.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360678144372246434" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 291px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SmT0XsaCB6I/AAAAAAAAA6U/g0-hF1NiTz0/s400/IMG_1611.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />All along the road, fans painted names of their favorite riders. Here is one for the Schleck brothers, Andy and Frank who ride for Saxo Bank, so I couldn't resist taking a picture with the truck going by. The second one is Christian Vande Velde who is an American rider for Team Garmin Slipstream.<br /><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SmT0XfTY6jI/AAAAAAAAA6M/ge0g4Teevjk/s1600-h/IMG_1612.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360678140854725170" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SmT0XfTY6jI/AAAAAAAAA6M/ge0g4Teevjk/s400/IMG_1612.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SmT0XJDtAYI/AAAAAAAAA6E/M71_3V70TP4/s1600-h/IMG_1613.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360678134883352962" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SmT0XJDtAYI/AAAAAAAAA6E/M71_3V70TP4/s400/IMG_1613.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div>Alissa and I sitting in our own Lance Camp in the shade on the hill waiting for the race to start. We had a great view on a hill looking back at a switchback, so were able to see quite a bit.</div><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SmTy4U1GQkI/AAAAAAAAA58/ShZN5cwDZKk/s1600-h/IMG_1623-cropped.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360676505955746370" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SmTy4U1GQkI/AAAAAAAAA58/ShZN5cwDZKk/s400/IMG_1623-cropped.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SmTy3dONwrI/AAAAAAAAA50/99ut5JAC-Y8/s1600-h/IMG_1625.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360676491028710066" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SmTy3dONwrI/AAAAAAAAA50/99ut5JAC-Y8/s400/IMG_1625.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />People and bikes were everywhere!<br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SmTy2nJvfkI/AAAAAAAAA5s/VtNpkLnzzGQ/s1600-h/IMG_1631.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360676476514434626" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SmTy2nJvfkI/AAAAAAAAA5s/VtNpkLnzzGQ/s400/IMG_1631.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Before the race, the sponsors come through and pass out promotional items in a parade they call the caravan.<br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SmTy1jmBOUI/AAAAAAAAA5k/KEonnQZPhWY/s1600-h/IMG_1632.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360676458379426114" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SmTy1jmBOUI/AAAAAAAAA5k/KEonnQZPhWY/s400/IMG_1632.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Andy Schleck of Team Saxo Bank finished second.<br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SmTy04M_nQI/AAAAAAAAA5c/n52cw0ScQis/s1600-h/IMG_1641-cropped.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360676446731738370" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SmTy04M_nQI/AAAAAAAAA5c/n52cw0ScQis/s400/IMG_1641-cropped.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Andreas Kloden on the left and Lance Armstrong on the right. Lance finished in 9th, 1 minute 35 seconds behind. He may not be the Lance of old, but still not too shabby for a 38 year old.<br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SmTxrR6SPBI/AAAAAAAAA5U/k5H-q9U-WiU/s1600-h/IMG_1643.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360675182322269202" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SmTxrR6SPBI/AAAAAAAAA5U/k5H-q9U-WiU/s400/IMG_1643.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><br /><br /><div>And again, The Man...I mean the winner of 7 Tours...I mean Lance Armstrong.<br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SmTxq57bsoI/AAAAAAAAA5M/3-x3zqAK6k4/s1600-h/IMG_1644.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360675175884632706" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SmTxq57bsoI/AAAAAAAAA5M/3-x3zqAK6k4/s400/IMG_1644.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Kim Kirchen for Team Columbia HTC.<br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SmTxqk0ekCI/AAAAAAAAA5E/BVQ7x8_V67A/s1600-h/IMG_1646.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360675170218315810" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SmTxqk0ekCI/AAAAAAAAA5E/BVQ7x8_V67A/s400/IMG_1646.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Christian Vande Velde for Team Garmin Slipstream.<br /><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SmTxqYlHXWI/AAAAAAAAA48/vpas6cK3mlg/s1600-h/IMG_1648.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360675166932655458" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 264px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SmTxqYlHXWI/AAAAAAAAA48/vpas6cK3mlg/s400/IMG_1648.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Rinaldo Nocentini in the yellow jersey. He was the overall leader until this stage. Sandy Casar is in the white in front.<br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SmTxqBEec7I/AAAAAAAAA40/60YCuuW4XB4/s1600-h/IMG_1649.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360675160621740978" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SmTxqBEec7I/AAAAAAAAA40/60YCuuW4XB4/s400/IMG_1649.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Here is a group of riders that finished around the middle of the pack. They were slow compared to Contador in the 2nd video below.<br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwwAUjb_VSgRzWFEbSKIWsdNG4TgUaaNpQHWJtRLga82YWVpjfWS2UuGvIAe77ZdQYWHJkP6JaGWRuIajFqyg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /><br /><br /><p>Now after watching that, tilt your head and watch how fast the winner of the stage and now overall leader Alberto Contador was going! Unbelievable!!! (You think there might have been a few Lance fans around us with all the booing when he went by?!?!)<br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyB2lyyJtmIUgKiupcq3Qb0B0Bwvy3N158FveHmSiy42ysCmGpxEQNXSGzrzci2SqpIL1OBl6ngTFgKe7BVfA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></p></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10822849807642561903noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5132730095958615268.post-51345849458495404192009-07-05T12:15:00.023+02:002009-07-05T13:21:03.200+02:00HalfwayIt's hard to believe, but I'm already halfway through my 18 month rotation here. In less than 9 months, I'll be back in Denver. <br /><br />Work has gotten really busy, so I haven't been traveling much lately, but enjoying the summer weather in Munich...and what better to do than enjoy the many beer gardens here. Last Sunday we went to the Andechs Monastery. It has been brewing beer since 1455.<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5354919809809897410" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SlB_Mghr18I/AAAAAAAAA4E/Fm_hicJpKEU/s400/IMG_1546.JPG" border="0" /><br /><div><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SlB_3IBp-HI/AAAAAAAAA4c/uCXeLsISalM/s1600-h/IMG_1541.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5354920541967480946" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SlB_3IBp-HI/AAAAAAAAA4c/uCXeLsISalM/s400/IMG_1541.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5354920519219005826" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SlB_1zR_yYI/AAAAAAAAA4M/8nKkigi-Te4/s400/IMG_1545.JPG" border="0" /><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SlB_24moFdI/AAAAAAAAA4U/gR-BAKCMyww/s1600-h/IMG_1542.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5354920537827579346" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SlB_24moFdI/AAAAAAAAA4U/gR-BAKCMyww/s400/IMG_1542.JPG" border="0" /></a> Here's Kerry making friends. <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5354920553324417586" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SlB_3yVXEjI/AAAAAAAAA4s/Ju0BPMESePU/s400/IMG_1536.JPG" border="0" /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5354920550386567042" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SlB_3nY7B4I/AAAAAAAAA4k/YsyIJjCLIzo/s400/IMG_1539.JPG" border="0" /></div><div> </div><div><br />Yesterday morning I went for a bike ride along the Isar River and then went to a street festival near my apartment. They had all the roads blocked off and had 4 different bands playing at the same time, but set up at different spots along the roads with various brat and beer stands, so was a really good time. Then, to celebrate the 4th of July, Jenny and Andi had us over for a BBQ at their apartment. Jenny is from London, so we made sure to give her a hard time about hosting Americans on such a day. She said they were happy to get rid of us anyway. HA!</div><div> </div><div> </div><div>Here are some pictures from along the river.<br /> <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5354918995210880194" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SlB-dF6JRMI/AAAAAAAAA28/lTXvzBSS3nw/s400/IMG_1574.JPG" border="0" /> </div><div><div><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SlB_LoFueNI/AAAAAAAAA38/Xl_xUnCSHCU/s1600-h/IMG_1548.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5354919794660243666" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SlB_LoFueNI/AAAAAAAAA38/Xl_xUnCSHCU/s400/IMG_1548.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SlB_KBdIrjI/AAAAAAAAA3s/TM5YJKXWyZw/s1600-h/IMG_1552.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5354919767109578290" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SlB_KBdIrjI/AAAAAAAAA3s/TM5YJKXWyZw/s400/IMG_1552.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5354919040828430882" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SlB-fv2N2iI/AAAAAAAAA3U/B6DxlsfcnZY/s400/IMG_1568.JPG" border="0" /><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SlB_JOK04GI/AAAAAAAAA3k/_-CFeAe61qY/s1600-h/IMG_1553.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5354919753342574690" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SlB_JOK04GI/AAAAAAAAA3k/_-CFeAe61qY/s400/IMG_1553.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5354919782847573122" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SlB_K8FXbII/AAAAAAAAA30/J8ySX_3LSLs/s400/IMG_1551.JPG" border="0" /><br /><div><div><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SlB-e5aGLtI/AAAAAAAAA3M/yEjTssSsjbw/s1600-h/IMG_1570.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5354919026214973138" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SlB-e5aGLtI/AAAAAAAAA3M/yEjTssSsjbw/s400/IMG_1570.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SlB-d04H94I/AAAAAAAAA3E/n8ynEuRcczo/s1600-h/IMG_1571.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5354919007818872706" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SlB-d04H94I/AAAAAAAAA3E/n8ynEuRcczo/s400/IMG_1571.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5354919054920820674" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SlB-gkWGp8I/AAAAAAAAA3c/4RDv6ybh_ws/s400/IMG_1565.JPG" border="0" /></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10822849807642561903noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5132730095958615268.post-81567281052613764392009-06-15T21:05:00.022+02:002009-06-15T22:05:12.562+02:00Budapest, HungaryOn another whim, I took the train to Budapest this weekend. <br /><div><br />Budapest used to be 2 separate cities split by the Danube River. This is a view showing Buda to the left and Pest to the right.<br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347635623328511570" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SjaeRDS4dlI/AAAAAAAAA1U/szH0vtVq-vo/s400/IMG_1368.JPG" border="0" /> </div><div>Hungarian Parliament</div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347636978030998242" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sjaff59H8uI/AAAAAAAAA2s/O_-DndPohx0/s400/IMG_1185.JPG" border="0" /><br />St. Matthias Church</div><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SjafNP7gRZI/AAAAAAAAA2c/eKRzcKmPQOc/s1600-h/IMG_1227.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347636657512269202" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SjafNP7gRZI/AAAAAAAAA2c/eKRzcKmPQOc/s400/IMG_1227.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><div>Fisherman's Bastion<br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SjafM_089kI/AAAAAAAAA2U/i4WhSDTPExw/s1600-h/IMG_1230.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347636653189822018" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SjafM_089kI/AAAAAAAAA2U/i4WhSDTPExw/s400/IMG_1230.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />3 of the 7 tribe leaders who settled the Budapest area<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347637802053804930" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SjagP3reI4I/AAAAAAAAA20/-KQSZJ7C34s/s400/IMG_1222.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br />Ceiling of St. Anne's Church. I went to a classical music concert someone played on the organ.<br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SjafMqoSBuI/AAAAAAAAA2M/UrXE2fZyg4M/s1600-h/IMG_1266.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347636647499532002" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SjafMqoSBuI/AAAAAAAAA2M/UrXE2fZyg4M/s400/IMG_1266.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SjafMNVc99I/AAAAAAAAA2E/DCsVHAJkRxA/s1600-h/IMG_1274.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347636639635929042" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SjafMNVc99I/AAAAAAAAA2E/DCsVHAJkRxA/s400/IMG_1274.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><div>The Royal Palace was originally built around 1250, but was destroyed numerous times in various wars and was always rebuilt. The version seen today was only built in the 1960s since it was also destroyed in WWII. <div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SjaeScO76AI/AAAAAAAAA1s/myqKPvri96A/s1600-h/IMG_1325.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347635647202715650" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SjaeScO76AI/AAAAAAAAA1s/myqKPvri96A/s400/IMG_1325.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><div>The Chain Bridge was the first bridge across the Danube in Budapest and was originally built around 1850.<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347635652427395634" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SjaeSvsmMjI/AAAAAAAAA10/AzU93yb-Z-Y/s400/IMG_1320.JPG" border="0" /> Royal Palace in the background looking across the Chain Bridge.<br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SjaeR13jKkI/AAAAAAAAA1k/Rp4fMKNBBLc/s1600-h/IMG_1354.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347635636904077890" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SjaeR13jKkI/AAAAAAAAA1k/Rp4fMKNBBLc/s400/IMG_1354.JPG" border="0" /></a>And you know how I like the "then and now" pictures! This one shows the bridge in 1945 after being bombed in WWII.<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SjaeRuM8IlI/AAAAAAAAA1c/PKoJXngKmV8/s1600-h/IMG_1363.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347635634846310994" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SjaeRuM8IlI/AAAAAAAAA1c/PKoJXngKmV8/s400/IMG_1363.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Hungarian Parliament.<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347636634327825746" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SjafL5j5vVI/AAAAAAAAA18/fLndj3_0_mU/s400/IMG_1284.JPG" border="0" />Ceiling inside one of the halls in the Parliament.<br /><div><div><div><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sjads4u5FsI/AAAAAAAAA1E/0kmDvF0wnaI/s1600-h/IMG_1420.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347635002017912514" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sjads4u5FsI/AAAAAAAAA1E/0kmDvF0wnaI/s400/IMG_1420.JPG" border="0" /></a>Kings' crown inside the Parliament. The first king was King Stephen and he was crowned in about 1000. He was later canonized as a saint and now the crown is known as the Holy Crown.<br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sjadso3X2NI/AAAAAAAAA08/-l6RP3pN-YA/s1600-h/IMG_1429.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347634997758515410" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sjadso3X2NI/AAAAAAAAA08/-l6RP3pN-YA/s400/IMG_1429.JPG" border="0" /></a>Inside the Parliament<br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SjadsA4Ej_I/AAAAAAAAA00/p_fKIXbrL8M/s1600-h/IMG_1430.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347634987024027634" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SjadsA4Ej_I/AAAAAAAAA00/p_fKIXbrL8M/s400/IMG_1430.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />These are numbered cigar holders outside the Parliament Chamber.<br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sjadry9MclI/AAAAAAAAA0s/uKqfibvHxK0/s1600-h/IMG_1433.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347634983287419474" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sjadry9MclI/AAAAAAAAA0s/uKqfibvHxK0/s400/IMG_1433.JPG" border="0" /></a> Parliament Chamber<br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SjadFWWHhaI/AAAAAAAAA0k/2EiSpjFacUU/s1600-h/IMG_1439.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347634322772297122" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SjadFWWHhaI/AAAAAAAAA0k/2EiSpjFacUU/s400/IMG_1439.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />One of the many art museums in Budapest.<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347635004015031842" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SjadtALCtiI/AAAAAAAAA1M/cy5jr9igfV4/s400/IMG_1415.JPG" border="0" /> </div><div>St. Stephen's Basilica<br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SjadEwmWweI/AAAAAAAAA0c/bQSyqSFsAAg/s1600-h/IMG_1456.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347634312639857122" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SjadEwmWweI/AAAAAAAAA0c/bQSyqSFsAAg/s400/IMG_1456.JPG" border="0" /></a>Inside St. Stephen's Basilica<br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SjadEmNGf5I/AAAAAAAAA0U/G9EreqIO_dg/s1600-h/IMG_1463.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347634309849579410" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SjadEmNGf5I/AAAAAAAAA0U/G9EreqIO_dg/s400/IMG_1463.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SjadES9zSPI/AAAAAAAAA0M/ZsiZokHKoPw/s1600-h/IMG_1469.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347634304685132018" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SjadES9zSPI/AAAAAAAAA0M/ZsiZokHKoPw/s400/IMG_1469.JPG" border="0" /></a> <div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SjadD7cBS9I/AAAAAAAAA0E/6kLRKyNC6fk/s1600-h/IMG_1479.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347634298369428434" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SjadD7cBS9I/AAAAAAAAA0E/6kLRKyNC6fk/s400/IMG_1479.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><div><br />Memento Park is a place where they have now displayed all of the former communist statues that used to be in the city when the Soviets were in control. This is a replica of a statue of Stalin. The citizens tore the statue down (like the Iraqi's did the statue of Saddam) and all that remained were the boots.<br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SjacT78tNnI/AAAAAAAAAz8/IvZCaRB3Lf4/s1600-h/IMG_1481.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347633473872803442" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SjacT78tNnI/AAAAAAAAAz8/IvZCaRB3Lf4/s400/IMG_1481.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SjacTTvPmfI/AAAAAAAAAz0/M4Q5E5YQphE/s1600-h/IMG_1491.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347633463078918642" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SjacTTvPmfI/AAAAAAAAAz0/M4Q5E5YQphE/s400/IMG_1491.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SjacTHXZ-VI/AAAAAAAAAzs/Nj6Ne96ucfg/s1600-h/IMG_1498.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347633459757709650" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SjacTHXZ-VI/AAAAAAAAAzs/Nj6Ne96ucfg/s400/IMG_1498.JPG" border="0" /></a> <div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SjacS6ed7WI/AAAAAAAAAzk/Z5G65LwCOpU/s1600-h/IMG_1513.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347633456297667938" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SjacS6ed7WI/AAAAAAAAAzk/Z5G65LwCOpU/s400/IMG_1513.JPG" border="0" /></a> <div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SjacSnItseI/AAAAAAAAAzc/ZDQXwTG92YM/s1600-h/IMG_1517.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347633451106152930" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SjacSnItseI/AAAAAAAAAzc/ZDQXwTG92YM/s400/IMG_1517.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10822849807642561903noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5132730095958615268.post-27259734014140188512009-06-01T12:21:00.014+02:002009-06-01T13:51:31.631+02:00Hiking in Neustift, AustriaThis weekend Chris, Kerry, Alissa and I went hiking in Neustift Stubaital, Austria, which is about a half hour south of Innsbruck (or only a little over 2 hours south of Munich). <div><div></div><br /><div>Our goal of the hike on the first day was the rocky peak in the middle of this picture. It was about a 4,500ft elevation gain.<br /></div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342304908947056482" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SiOuAoudZ2I/AAAAAAAAAwk/RJleJ4UJ7yA/s400/IMG_1174.JPG" border="0" />Here are a few pictures from the way up.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342309889451432114" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SiOyiijPGLI/AAAAAAAAAzE/IBBpt5oNSpc/s400/IMG_1097.JPG" border="0" /><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SiOyiWRF27I/AAAAAAAAAy8/dHgbxbNYI3s/s1600-h/IMG_1102.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342309886154103730" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SiOyiWRF27I/AAAAAAAAAy8/dHgbxbNYI3s/s400/IMG_1102.JPG" border="0" /></a> Is this not stereotypical Alps or what!<br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SiOxz0Y_GtI/AAAAAAAAAy0/1OoDwdkhdVI/s1600-h/IMG_1106.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342309086786427602" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SiOxz0Y_GtI/AAAAAAAAAy0/1OoDwdkhdVI/s400/IMG_1106.JPG" border="0" /></a> The wildflowers were in full bloom and the blues and yellows were incredibly bright against the dark green grasses.<br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SiOxzSsKBcI/AAAAAAAAAys/LgRlYQGtl8w/s1600-h/IMG_1110.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342309077740029378" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SiOxzSsKBcI/AAAAAAAAAys/LgRlYQGtl8w/s400/IMG_1110.JPG" border="0" /></a> Getting closer to the top...<br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SiOxzNtUdUI/AAAAAAAAAyk/K7vsxWTQ_-c/s1600-h/IMG_1113.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342309076402730306" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SiOxzNtUdUI/AAAAAAAAAyk/K7vsxWTQ_-c/s400/IMG_1113.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div>Not a bad spot for a quick lunchbreak.<br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SiOxy-mva1I/AAAAAAAAAyc/XwpvwxcyL0k/s1600-h/IMG_1114.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342309072348605266" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SiOxy-mva1I/AAAAAAAAAyc/XwpvwxcyL0k/s400/IMG_1114.JPG" border="0" /></a> <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342313246379490626" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SiO1l8FQPUI/AAAAAAAAAzU/zteQ5eeqO6A/s400/IMG_1125.JPG" border="0" /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342307606965301298" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SiOwdroIsDI/AAAAAAAAAyM/6_3DDyaGJWg/s400/IMG_1124.JPG" border="0" /></div><br /><div>This is a video showing the panoramic view just below the summit. What a view! (don't get dizzy)<br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzStuxGgwE5cOJ6kgjmNPvd1STR6PFEkaxGMUbLXOLLWwuTLH3MkAbNqboFhae4OgrZyah0xxMJSwwADK8ROQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SiOxyfy5DWI/AAAAAAAAAyU/bQnutxER510/s1600-h/IMG_1123.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342309064078069090" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SiOxyfy5DWI/AAAAAAAAAyU/bQnutxER510/s400/IMG_1123.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><div><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SiOwc2-vPAI/AAAAAAAAAx8/EQmJx4src18/s1600-h/IMG_1130.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342307592833022978" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SiOwc2-vPAI/AAAAAAAAAx8/EQmJx4src18/s400/IMG_1130.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><br /><div>In order to reach the cross at the summit, we had to climb up about 25 feet through a narrow "chimney". Notice the steel cable to hang on to on the ridge on the bottom left. It's a good thing the cables were only necessary for about the last 75 feet or so! (it actually sounds worse than it was because the cable was really just to give you something to grab onto to help get over the rocks on the side, but I'm not a big fan of heights anyway).<br /></div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342307579665998674" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SiOwcF7eY1I/AAAAAAAAAxs/laMsghz6TdE/s400/IMG_1139.JPG" border="0" /></div><br /><div></div><div>This is looking down the chimney. The 2nd loop you can see is a handhold/foothold. Unfortunately the cable wasn't super tight, so it would swing when you put your foot into it. I was just about to call it close enough and stop there, but Alissa questioned my manhood, so of course I had to go on up after that!<br /></div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342306296131393362" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SiOvRYY-l1I/AAAAAAAAAxk/B8jIRhjmqV4/s400/IMG_1140.JPG" border="0" /><br />SUMMIT! (We started from the town on the left side of the picture. It took us about 7 hours from start to finish.)<br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SiOwcnjNdeI/AAAAAAAAAx0/yX8QJ-KWIBc/s1600-h/IMG_1132.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342307588691031522" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SiOwcnjNdeI/AAAAAAAAAx0/yX8QJ-KWIBc/s400/IMG_1132.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><div>The 2nd day started out really cloudy with periods of rain, but cleared up later. We ended up not going as high since we couldn't see much anyway, but was still a good hike. Here we were just getting up in the fog.<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342306282187002930" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SiOvQkcYFDI/AAAAAAAAAxU/S1jEc9VvuQA/s400/IMG_1156.JPG" border="0" />Herd of sheep (livestock, not wild) right around the treeline.<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342306269032191282" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SiOvPzcBlTI/AAAAAAAAAxE/oT9C9ZKEDYs/s400/IMG_1160.JPG" border="0" /></div><div><div><div><br />These peaks were the original goal, but because this picture was taken at one of the clearest points of the day, we decided to just go to a hut a few hundred feet below them instead of going all the way up.<br /><div><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SiOvQf_SfII/AAAAAAAAAxM/xqD5cDrGyEE/s1600-h/IMG_1158.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342306280991259778" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SiOvQf_SfII/AAAAAAAAAxM/xqD5cDrGyEE/s400/IMG_1158.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div> </div><div>It cleared up quite a bit after we started down and turned into a really nice day. <div><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SiOuBv1rwWI/AAAAAAAAAw8/v27raQZkBdo/s1600-h/IMG_1166.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342304928036274530" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SiOuBv1rwWI/AAAAAAAAAw8/v27raQZkBdo/s400/IMG_1166.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><div>There were huge fields of these wildflowers everywhere. It's too bad the pictures of them didn't come out better.<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342306286844370786" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SiOvQ1yx32I/AAAAAAAAAxc/t1OqitaCmk0/s400/IMG_1145.JPG" border="0" /><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SiOuBX15zjI/AAAAAAAAAw0/mTOIS2BQGUg/s1600-h/IMG_1167.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342304921594744370" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SiOuBX15zjI/AAAAAAAAAw0/mTOIS2BQGUg/s400/IMG_1167.JPG" border="0" /></a> <div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SiOuA4FAD1I/AAAAAAAAAws/SiNycYTWVJY/s1600-h/IMG_1169.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342304913068134226" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SiOuA4FAD1I/AAAAAAAAAws/SiNycYTWVJY/s400/IMG_1169.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div> </div><div>View to the south from our hotel balcony. The very first picture was the view to the east.<br /><br /><div><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SiOuAUfkHTI/AAAAAAAAAwc/JsVWpOjnjrY/s1600-h/IMG_1176.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342304903515872562" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SiOuAUfkHTI/AAAAAAAAAwc/JsVWpOjnjrY/s400/IMG_1176.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10822849807642561903noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5132730095958615268.post-33424435422759882752009-05-26T19:54:00.016+02:002009-05-26T20:53:48.986+02:00Home to KansasAfter not being home since Christmas, it was nice to spend some time with friends and family at home in the Good Ole USA. I also got to catch an afternoon Royals game and see the newly renovated Kauffman Stadium. Obviously I'm a little biased, but what a great stadium! We went early and tailgated for a while. One of the things (yes, one of the many I might add!) we Americans have on the Europeans is sporting events. They have soccer and 6 day long cricket games. We have baseball, college football, college basketball, and did I mention the atmosphere at all of them! What's better than a good tailgate, walking in the stadium and then getting goosebumps from hearing the Star Spangled Banner (yep, happens to me every time)?!?!? OK, maybe a good F-16 flyover to top it off, but you get my point. <br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340198925601272658" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/ShwyoRZi81I/AAAAAAAAAwU/HJqGOuQTkiQ/s400/IMG_1071.JPG" border="0" /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340193921600571378" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/ShwuFACzx_I/AAAAAAAAAvk/-bZUoj6HK0U/s400/IMG_1082.JPG" border="0" /><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/ShwujP-KQnI/AAAAAAAAAwE/M9RQjHqj8cQ/s1600-h/IMG_1074.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340194441272115826" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/ShwujP-KQnI/AAAAAAAAAwE/M9RQjHqj8cQ/s400/IMG_1074.JPG" border="0" /></a> <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340194420958619298" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/ShwuiETC5qI/AAAAAAAAAvs/R8muFfKXsKw/s400/IMG_1080.JPG" border="0" /><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/ShwuixNcJqI/AAAAAAAAAv8/YljGle0Gg-c/s1600-h/IMG_1075.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340194433014703778" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/ShwuixNcJqI/AAAAAAAAAv8/YljGle0Gg-c/s400/IMG_1075.JPG" border="0" /></a> <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340194431025753714" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/ShwuipzPLnI/AAAAAAAAAv0/yPy6kpOkeRM/s400/IMG_1078.JPG" border="0" /> <div><div><div>Jennifer and I outside the Party Deck. <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340193901367273650" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/ShwuD0q0KLI/AAAAAAAAAvE/QmLDokduFnA/s400/ryanandjenroyalsgame.jpg" border="0" /><br />Driving back from the game, we passed a Gates BBQ, so of course I couldn't resist stopping and grabbing a "beef on bun". Unfortunately, it was about 5:30 and we were meeting Tim and Josh in Lawrence for dinner. Oh well, it's Gates and I haven't had good BBQ since the last time I was home! <br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/ShwuEzeABII/AAAAAAAAAvc/giv4ozrs1h0/s1600-h/IMG_1087.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340193918224958594" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/ShwuEzeABII/AAAAAAAAAvc/giv4ozrs1h0/s400/IMG_1087.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><br /><div>Me, Josh, and Tim at Quinton's after a couple beers at Free State. Don't get me wrong, I love the German beer, but it's dang hard to beat an Ad Astra or John Brown from The Free State Brewery in Lawrence. It seemed like the jukebox at Quinton's only played songs from when we were in college, which made us all laugh and wonder where all the time has gone since we were young and irresponsible. Well, young at least. HA!<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340194445160184210" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/ShwujedJeZI/AAAAAAAAAwM/iDBWsqwapa4/s400/guysatquintons.jpg" border="0" /></div></div><div> </div><div><br /><div>This is the view from my parents' backyard toward a small rain shower behind a few of the windmills in town. See, Spearville is "green" and on the cutting edge. Even T. Boone Pickens would be proud.<br /><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/ShwuEoxG4PI/AAAAAAAAAvU/5QPAGEc0lqs/s1600-h/IMG_1088.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340193915352310002" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/ShwuEoxG4PI/AAAAAAAAAvU/5QPAGEc0lqs/s400/IMG_1088.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><br /><div>I had a nice relaxing weekend sitting on the patio with a few drinks with mom, dad, and Brad enjoying the great weather. I can't believe I left without getting some pictures of your mugs to put on here! Next time!<br /><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/ShwuELuHzVI/AAAAAAAAAvM/_4Sg2m9W614/s1600-h/IMG_1094.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340193907555159378" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/ShwuELuHzVI/AAAAAAAAAvM/_4Sg2m9W614/s400/IMG_1094.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10822849807642561903noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5132730095958615268.post-11582949950032890592009-05-03T20:15:00.028+02:002009-05-03T21:30:16.364+02:00St. Andrews<div>Friday was a bank holiday in Europe (yes, another one), so I went to St. Andrews, Scotland to play a round of golf and see "The Home of Golf". I had great weather, which means sun and warm temperatures. I definitely had the typical St. Andrews "breeze" of 40mph though! I thought maybe I ended up in western Kansas at Mariah Hills.<br /><div><div><div><div><br /><div>I got into town late Friday night and decided to go get a bite to eat and not a block from my hotel I heard someone's voice that I recognized so I looked across the street, and sure enough - Bill Self! HA! What a small world (being over here has shown me just how small this world really is - somebody always knows someone else or something like that happens). There ended up being a pretty big group of KU people in town (including Greg Gurley).</div><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331668044988676466" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sf3j1qnZ-XI/AAAAAAAAAt8/jKv7Rm0fnIE/s400/IMG_0914.JPG" border="0" /><br /><div>Plaque on the outside of the Royal & Ancient Golf Club.<br /><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sf3iq_98S4I/AAAAAAAAAs8/wep98YwBx-s/s1600-h/IMG_0974.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331666762230156162" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sf3iq_98S4I/AAAAAAAAAs8/wep98YwBx-s/s400/IMG_0974.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331681340140920194" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sf3v7i6tnYI/AAAAAAAAAu8/azBoKsIrX40/s400/IMG_0921.JPG" border="0" /><br /><div>1st hole of The Old Course.<br /><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sf3iqZyjMsI/AAAAAAAAAss/CCPWwDxNzDI/s1600-h/IMG_1003.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331666751981826754" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sf3iqZyjMsI/AAAAAAAAAss/CCPWwDxNzDI/s400/IMG_1003.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />View from the 1st teebox.<br /><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sf3ip4EiCEI/AAAAAAAAAsk/OqOMbYLnH18/s1600-h/IMG_1004.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331666742930442306" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sf3ip4EiCEI/AAAAAAAAAsk/OqOMbYLnH18/s400/IMG_1004.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Swilcan Bridge on the 18th with the clubhouse in the background.<br /><div><div><div><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sf3h90NEoBI/AAAAAAAAAr0/etDbqTjEtWc/s1600-h/IMG_1041.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331665985978277906" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sf3h90NEoBI/AAAAAAAAAr0/etDbqTjEtWc/s400/IMG_1041.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331679245612181090" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sf3uBoMJZmI/AAAAAAAAAus/mAAOXPRJO8Q/s400/IMG_1035.JPG" border="0" /><br /><div></div><div>The Old Course Hotel. A little out of my price range this trip. <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331679231108234066" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sf3uAyKIu1I/AAAAAAAAAuU/OlFxxTrL_z0/s400/IMG_0906.JPG" border="0" /><br /><div>Looking down the 18th fairway. The Royal & Ancient Golf Club on the left. My hotel was in the red building on the right, right behind the green. Great location!<br /><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sf3hNGhFfuI/AAAAAAAAArs/v_eQWdww9fs/s1600-h/IMG_1045.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331665149080469218" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sf3hNGhFfuI/AAAAAAAAArs/v_eQWdww9fs/s400/IMG_1045.JPG" border="0" /></a> Swilcan Bridge view to the Royal & Ancient Golf Club.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331665138960249346" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sf3hMg0PMgI/AAAAAAAAArc/_LjSPD6mWlg/s400/IMG_1054.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331670890859382402" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sf3mbUT2xoI/AAAAAAAAAuM/QKgcbZzxyww/s400/IMG_1058-3.jpg" border="0" /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331668048766128690" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sf3j14sBUjI/AAAAAAAAAuE/MMVobavdA3U/s400/IMG_0902.JPG" border="0" /><br />I like this picture. It is looking across the 18th fairway near the bridge to the 1st green (clubhouse in the background), but shows just how undulated the fairways are.<br /><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sf3hM5P3f7I/AAAAAAAAArk/A8JVTH9BBhE/s1600-h/IMG_1046.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331665145518587826" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sf3hM5P3f7I/AAAAAAAAArk/A8JVTH9BBhE/s400/IMG_1046.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><div><div><div>I didn't get to play The Old Course this time (the famous one - and the one where the 2010 British Open will be held) because I don't have an official handicap card (note to self for next time), but I played another one of the 7 courses there called "The Eden Course". I actually got to play by myself, which was really nice. Since I didn't bring my clubs, I rented them there and might have just fallen in love with the driver! These weren't any ordinary grab bag rentals either - Callaway Fusion driver, X-20 irons, and an Odyssey White Hot 2-ball putter! Not too shabby, I'd say. These are pictures from that course.</div><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331666737592848466" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sf3ipkL80FI/AAAAAAAAAsc/rQDn9HO91qU/s400/IMG_1006.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331665989869217634" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sf3h-Csvp2I/AAAAAAAAAr8/dsKZCY8hlQA/s400/IMG_1019.JPG" border="0" /></div></div><br /><div>One of the infamous bunkers. I managed to stay out of these luckily! If you hit it toward the front of these, you might as well hit it backwards.<br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331665995264059282" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sf3h-Wy-Z5I/AAAAAAAAAsE/6Xgjrr14dpo/s400/IMG_1016.JPG" border="0" /></div><br /><div>This is a picture of the 18th on "The New Course" taken from the patio of the Clubhouse.</div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331666755048776610" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sf3iqlNxI6I/AAAAAAAAAs0/SjAQgkaOXNg/s400/IMG_0988.JPG" border="0" /><br /><div>This is part of the remains of an old medieval cathedral from about 1400.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331667389449676226" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sf3jPgiupcI/AAAAAAAAAtk/HFKq-xI3sqs/s400/IMG_0958.JPG" border="0" /></div><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331680155571108370" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sf3u2mDQuhI/AAAAAAAAAu0/4uAYh3oXM_M/s400/IMG_0938.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331668030777743826" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sf3j01rQWdI/AAAAAAAAAts/Mh2qwTsqe64/s400/IMG_0928.JPG" border="0" /><br /><div></div>Remnants of a castle.<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331679243296049538" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sf3uBfj8CYI/AAAAAAAAAuk/WDyYuXm8wvI/s400/IMG_0959.JPG" border="0" /><br /><div>Coastline near the cathedral.<br /></div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331667381631642226" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sf3jPDaw6nI/AAAAAAAAAtc/tXmsPYm6FQc/s400/IMG_0964.JPG" border="0" /></div><br /><div>I couldn't resist adding these. For whatever reason, I didn't even think about it before I rented a car, but I walked out of the airport and looked down and saw "look right" written on the pavement and forgot they drive on the left. Yep, stick shift and all. It wouldn't have been quite such a big adjustment except in the hour and a half drive, I bet there were 50 roundabouts. Now that was confusing the first 49 times! (roundabouts - ugh. They LOVE them as much as I hate them! They are everywhere.) </div><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331666003499586866" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sf3h-1eelTI/AAAAAAAAAsU/hE1M6ynpHQs/s400/IMG_1008.JPG" border="0" /></div><br /><div>This was a street in St. Andrews. <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331668039311236114" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sf3j1VdzHBI/AAAAAAAAAt0/v23SZ4IyjOs/s400/IMG_0924.JPG" border="0" /></div><br /><div>Oh, you laughed - don't tell ME I have a 12 year old sense of humor (because we all knew that already!). (Yes, I am still giggling about this one!)</div><br /><div></div><div>The Office anyone? </div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331667374346752306" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sf3jOoR6UTI/AAAAAAAAAtE/xQJFIWjw8CQ/s400/IMG_0972.JPG" border="0" /></div><div>Ok close, but I had to do a double take.</div><div></div><div></div><br /><div>Now this is how you get men to get haircuts. For whatever reason, I immediately thought of you John!</div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331667373308578610" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sf3jOkaZCzI/AAAAAAAAAtM/OPFI_AtsCp0/s400/IMG_0971.JPG" border="0" /></div><br /><div>And of course, what trip to Scotland would be complete without finding out where to buy kilts.</div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331667381861053362" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/Sf3jPERdc7I/AAAAAAAAAtU/bTt9K_JLjCc/s400/IMG_0970.JPG" border="0" /></div></div></div></div></div>Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10822849807642561903noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5132730095958615268.post-78540051329082521962009-04-27T20:14:00.006+02:002009-04-27T20:33:14.938+02:00Fruehlingsfest in StuttgartJust a short one this week. I met some coworkers from the Frankfurt and Stuttgart offices in Stuttgart on Saturday for Fruehlingsfest (Spring Festival). Really, it was nothing more than a good excuse to wear lederhosen and enjoy a few cold beers on a 75 degree sunny day.<br /><br />Tulips in a park in Stuttgart. (after I got home, I realized I should have taken more pictures, but didn't think about it at the time.)<br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SfX4Q0KvspI/AAAAAAAAAps/wsoFhrjNb-o/s1600-h/IMG_0879.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329438701828158098" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SfX4Q0KvspI/AAAAAAAAAps/wsoFhrjNb-o/s400/IMG_0879.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Brian and me.<br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SfX4QutSGJI/AAAAAAAAApk/irf9o1jgxmw/s1600-h/fruhlingsfestwithbrian.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329438700362406034" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SfX4QutSGJI/AAAAAAAAApk/irf9o1jgxmw/s400/fruhlingsfestwithbrian.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Most of the crew. From left to right: Alissa, Brian, Jo, Charles, Shaun, Tim, me, and Kate (and Shaun and Kate's baby Morgan).<br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SfX4QmtbYxI/AAAAAAAAApc/UrMYjw56e4o/s1600-h/fruhlingsfestgroup.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329438698215531282" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SfX4QmtbYxI/AAAAAAAAApc/UrMYjw56e4o/s400/fruhlingsfestgroup.jpg" border="0" /></a> <div>View of the festival at night. The beer tent we were in is the big building in the bottom right corner. And no, I didn't ride any of the carnival rides. I'm not sure who thinks that is a good idea after a few beers anyway!<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329438705825204658" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvEvmJjQy4/SfX4RDDtybI/AAAAAAAAAp0/p8iBagKysQ8/s400/fruhlingsfestnight.jpg" border="0" /></div></div></div>Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10822849807642561903noreply@blogger.com