tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31342768803146270942024-03-13T20:36:02.519-06:00Six Happy Feet - Photography BlogDavidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00736151897405054076noreply@blogger.comBlogger143125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3134276880314627094.post-57220761679687241462009-12-24T19:32:00.000-07:002009-12-24T19:32:10.618-07:00Merry Christmas fom David, Carmen, Cate and Maggie<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I think these are the most important words you'll hear at Christmas (or ever). </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">[<a href="http://sixhappyfeet.blogspot.com/2007/12/merry-christmas_25.html">previously</a>]</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: arial; font-style: italic;">Truly He taught us to love one another</span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial; font-style: italic;">His law is love and His gospel is peace.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial; font-style: italic;">Chains He shall break, for the slave is our brother;</span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial; font-style: italic;">and in His name all oppression shall cease.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial; font-style: italic;">Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial; font-style: italic;">let all within us praise His holy name</span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial; font-style: italic;">Christ is our Lord! O praise His name Forever!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial; font-style: italic;">His power and glory evermore proclaim!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial; font-style: italic;">His power and glory evermore proclaim!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: arial;"> - Placide Cappeau</span>Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00736151897405054076noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3134276880314627094.post-14344755601906645852009-12-05T11:58:00.000-07:002009-12-05T11:58:31.237-07:00Something newCheck it.<br />
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<a href="http://www.rowanjaneblog.com/">www.rowanjaneblog.com</a>Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00736151897405054076noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3134276880314627094.post-27003770732957976882009-11-29T21:12:00.002-07:002009-11-29T21:16:58.783-07:00One more day in ParisI've still got stories. Stay tuned.<br /><br /><img src="http://img34.imageshack.us/img34/9525/usattower.jpg" height="px" width="500px" /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://img689.imageshack.us/img689/5527/carmenwithtower2.jpg" height="500px" width="px" /></div>Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00736151897405054076noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3134276880314627094.post-69422143886184055322009-11-23T22:10:00.004-07:002011-09-29T14:49:14.293-06:00Some newsWe've started something. It's pretty small. It could be big, but it could be nothing. Time will tell.<br />
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<a href="http://www.rowanjane.com/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">It's called Rowan Jane Photography.</span></a><br />
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This is something Carmen and I have been talking about for a long time. I guess you could say it's been in the planning stages for about a year, but in Europe we had a lot of time to talk and reflect on things. So instead of just putting things off and waiting for the 'right' time, we just went ahead and did it. The business and the website are still a work in progress, and there will be some additions and changes as things develop.<br />
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Take a look. Let us know what you think. And spread the word. (Seriously, Google Analytics tells me this blog is read in some pretty cool places in the world, so spread the friggin' word).<br />
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And here's a shot from our first session as a business:<br />
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<img height="px" src="http://img253.imageshack.us/img253/5592/momanddadwithwill1rs.jpg" width="500px" />Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00736151897405054076noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3134276880314627094.post-58345907377681153032009-11-17T20:10:00.014-07:002009-11-21T08:37:36.419-07:00A bit of BrugesWe were really starting to get tired by the time we left Amsterdam. I've never walked as much in my life as we did in our first 10 days in Europe. Carmen's knee was really sore (not that she ever complained about it) and we were really, really starting to miss Cate and Maggie.<br /><br />The train from Amsterdam to Rosendahl, and then the connection to Heide, felt surreal. It was a dreary morning and the Dutch countryside was covered in fog. You get used to being surrounded by a different culture and language, but the scenery never seems to get old. For the second time in three days, we hung out at the Rosendahl train station, with nothing to do but take pictures of bikes, and nothing to eat but the ham and cheese sandwiches in the vending machine.<br /><br /><br /><img src="http://img413.imageshack.us/img413/3500/windmillfromtrain.jpg" width="500px" height="px" /><br /><br /><img src="http://img261.imageshack.us/img261/6425/rosendahlbikes.jpg" width="500px" height="px" /><br /><br />Peit and Carla, bless their collective heart, picked us up at the train station in Heide and drove us across Belgium to one of the oldest cities in Europe: Bruges (or Brugge, or Bruge). This was our first choice of places we wanted to visit when we were planning out trip, and probably the one we were looking forward to the most.<br /><br /><br /><img src="http://img696.imageshack.us/img696/2608/canal2resize.jpg" width="500px" height="px" /><br /><br /><img src="http://img38.imageshack.us/img38/9792/canal3resize.jpg" width="500px" height="px" /><br /><br /><br />This was the view from our hotel room:<br /><br /><img src="http://img685.imageshack.us/img685/1603/fromroom1resize.jpg" width="500px" height="px" /><br /><br /><br />And this was our walk from the hotel to the city centre:<br /><br /><img src="http://img688.imageshack.us/img688/6926/housesreflectionresize.jpg" width="500px" height="px" /><br /><br /><br /><img src="http://img258.imageshack.us/img258/2343/bridge1resize.jpg" width="500px" height="px" /><br /><br />On the second day, we woke up from church bells across the street, and walked outside to see the locals in their Sunday best. This picture could've been taken 200 years ago:<br /><br /><img src="http://img156.imageshack.us/img156/1425/peoplewalkingtochurchre.jpg" width="500px" height="px" /><br /><br /><img src="http://img42.imageshack.us/img42/6235/street1resize.jpg" width="500px" height="px" /><br /><br /><img src="http://img156.imageshack.us/img156/6137/houses1resize.jpg" width="500px" height="px" /><br /><br /><img src="http://img41.imageshack.us/img41/833/square1resize.jpg" width="500px" height="px" /><br /><br />We splurged on our last meal. It only took us about 90 minutes of wandering and reading menus before we decided where to go. I'll make a separate post for the food and beer of Bruges. It's worth it.<br /><br /><img src="http://img94.imageshack.us/img94/156/restatnightresize.jpg" width="500px" height="px" /><br /><br />Another Begijnfhof (amazing experience - more to come on this, too):<br /><br /><img src="http://img23.imageshack.us/img23/7939/beignhofresize.jpg" width="500px" height="px" /><br /><br /><br />The more I look at pictures from this trip, the more it blows my mind that I experienced these places with my beautiful wife. Wandering cities like Bruges, making life plans, talking about our girls, seeing the world ... best. vacation. ever.<br /><br /><img src="http://img687.imageshack.us/img687/2310/usonbenches.jpg" width="500px" height="px" /><br /><br /><img src="http://img32.imageshack.us/img32/6517/usinfrontofdoorsresize.jpg" width="500px" height="px" /><br /><br /><img src="http://img35.imageshack.us/img35/7418/feetresize.jpg" width="500px" height="px" /><br /><br /><br /><img src="http://img412.imageshack.us/img412/7568/usinsquareatnightresize.jpg" width="500px" height="px" /><br /><br />I haven't even talked about Bruges beer yet. Or waffles. Or chocolate. I guess I'll have to do that later. Keep checking.<br /><br /><img src="http://img156.imageshack.us/img156/5062/squareatnight1resize.jpg" width="500px" height="px" />Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00736151897405054076noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3134276880314627094.post-44872699193069798122009-11-10T21:30:00.008-07:002009-11-10T22:36:41.448-07:00Preview: Bruges<img src="http://img40.imageshack.us/img40/8870/usinfrontofdoors2resize.jpg" height="px" width="500px" />Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00736151897405054076noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3134276880314627094.post-12613206351494731432009-11-07T20:53:00.001-07:002009-11-07T23:08:29.976-07:00Amsterdam: Two wheels are deadlier than noneI liked Amsterdam. I really think I did. It's just that it's a really, really weird place.<br /><br />And I don't mean weird as in strange. Just weird as in I can't figure out what Amsterdam really is. It's always been top of my list of places I want to see. I wanted to walk the canal-side streets and see the bike lanes. And that stuff is great ... but there isn't that much else. It's such a picturesque city, and that's what Amsterdam is: a picture that you walk through and just look.<br /><br />I was really looking forward to this place. Everything about it. But when we stepped off the train I got a really weird vibe. I think it's the first time in all my travels (which, admittedly, isn't much) that I felt uncomfortable physically. There were three guys sitting around us on the train from Rosendahl who were traveling together. I'm pretty sure they were all former members of <a href="http://rzr.online.fr/docs/zombie/pictures/band94.jpg">White Zombie</a>, and they all appeared to be in some sort of open-eyed coma for the entire trip. But when the train stopped in Amsterdam, they woke into full celebration, and I guarantee they haven't been even close to sober since. That seedy, nomad culture that you picture in dodgy, dirty little cafes in Amsterdam ... is <span style="font-style: italic;">everywhere</span> in Amsterdam. You get used to it, but it's everywhere.<br /><br />K, that all sounds a bit negative. It's actually a fantastic city. Completely different from anywhere I've ever been. And that's a good thing. The bike lanes are phenomenal. Bicyclists are clearly the priority. I was nearly hit several times, and it was <span style="font-style: italic;">never</span> their fault. Normally, as a pedestrian, you pay attention to the roadways and oncoming automobiles, but you don't think to watch for friggin' bikes. But trust me, they're not watching for you, so get the hell outta the way.<br /><br />So, here we go then ... early morning - Dam Square:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/SvUkAG-GiHI/AAAAAAAABXM/ueSpgw52pgw/s1600-h/Pigeons+1resize.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/SvUkAG-GiHI/AAAAAAAABXM/ueSpgw52pgw/s400/Pigeons+1resize.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401262912390465650" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/SvUgCyP89rI/AAAAAAAABWE/OFbbM74Eo38/s1600-h/Pigeons2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/SvUgCyP89rI/AAAAAAAABWE/OFbbM74Eo38/s400/Pigeons2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401258560321287858" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/SvUjRc3ZCLI/AAAAAAAABW8/UuovQM9MM1Y/s1600-h/Squre.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/SvUjRc3ZCLI/AAAAAAAABW8/UuovQM9MM1Y/s400/Squre.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401262110814046386" border="0" /></a>We didn't have anything in particular planned to do in Amsterdam, besides the Van Gogh Museum and the Anne Frank House, both of which are unexplainable for different reasons.<br /><br />Morning coffee ... in a pub (welcome to the Dam):<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/SvUjIVzTQyI/AAAAAAAABWc/CTyJzvmN_lE/s1600-h/Cafe+2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/SvUjIVzTQyI/AAAAAAAABWc/CTyJzvmN_lE/s400/Cafe+2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401261954299020066" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/SvUfyRHvG2I/AAAAAAAABVs/6Ovy8USxJ8o/s1600-h/Cafe+1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/SvUfyRHvG2I/AAAAAAAABVs/6Ovy8USxJ8o/s400/Cafe+1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401258276550548322" border="0" /></a><br />Checklist for a day out with two little girls: diapers, wipes, crackers, fruit, sippy cup, hair clips, toys, dolls, blankies and a soother. Checklist for a day out in Europe: sunglasses and an iPod.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/SvUfyti0PPI/AAAAAAAABV0/KPgBPZ0BffQ/s1600-h/Morning+Coffee.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/SvUfyti0PPI/AAAAAAAABV0/KPgBPZ0BffQ/s400/Morning+Coffee.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401258284180323570" border="0" /></a><br />People in Amsterdam are really cool:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/SvUjJQaTORI/AAAAAAAABW0/i3Souk0_POk/s1600-h/Scarf+on+Bike.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/SvUjJQaTORI/AAAAAAAABW0/i3Souk0_POk/s400/Scarf+on+Bike.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401261970031851794" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/SvUjIKJbrDI/AAAAAAAABWU/jj3iP6DnngU/s1600-h/Afro+Girl.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/SvUjIKJbrDI/AAAAAAAABWU/jj3iP6DnngU/s400/Afro+Girl.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401261951170620466" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/SvUgCoMQvLI/AAAAAAAABV8/zo5fLTxhMUQ/s1600-h/Old+Guy+on+Bike2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/SvUgCoMQvLI/AAAAAAAABV8/zo5fLTxhMUQ/s400/Old+Guy+on+Bike2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401258557621451954" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/SvUb1YWmicI/AAAAAAAABVM/VIkxC4zhYt8/s1600-h/Girls+Doublingresize.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/SvUb1YWmicI/AAAAAAAABVM/VIkxC4zhYt8/s400/Girls+Doublingresize.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401253931985045954" border="0" /></a><br />And nothing is cooler than texting on your bicycle:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/SvZXybOmcJI/AAAAAAAABXU/GZ0BRsf1z-8/s1600-h/Guy+texting+on+bikeresize.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/SvZXybOmcJI/AAAAAAAABXU/GZ0BRsf1z-8/s400/Guy+texting+on+bikeresize.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401601326891561106" border="0" /></a><br />And just like Paris, they like to sit outside:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/SvUjI74NKSI/AAAAAAAABWs/mA3gElKEuGI/s1600-h/People+Drinking+beer+outside.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/SvUjI74NKSI/AAAAAAAABWs/mA3gElKEuGI/s400/People+Drinking+beer+outside.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401261964520139042" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/SvUfxl5CZnI/AAAAAAAABVc/_bgxCPTfCE8/s1600-h/Apartments.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/SvUfxl5CZnI/AAAAAAAABVc/_bgxCPTfCE8/s400/Apartments.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401258264946173554" border="0" /></a><br />Bikes. Lots of bikes. Everywhere:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/SvUb1HNTpiI/AAAAAAAABVE/ZS20gWRPsbM/s1600-h/Flowers+on+Bikeresize.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/SvUb1HNTpiI/AAAAAAAABVE/ZS20gWRPsbM/s400/Flowers+on+Bikeresize.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401253927382656546" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/SvUb0T9i4DI/AAAAAAAABU0/ijOfEK6nYKo/s1600-h/Bike+and+Canal+1resize.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/SvUb0T9i4DI/AAAAAAAABU0/ijOfEK6nYKo/s400/Bike+and+Canal+1resize.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401253913626337330" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/SvUb008Y4gI/AAAAAAAABU8/ox9adTMm7ic/s1600-h/Bikes+and+Canal+2resize.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/SvUb008Y4gI/AAAAAAAABU8/ox9adTMm7ic/s400/Bikes+and+Canal+2resize.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401253922479858178" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/SvUb0LMk8dI/AAAAAAAABUs/iLTis4BrclQ/s1600-h/1+Bike+2+Housesresize.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/SvUb0LMk8dI/AAAAAAAABUs/iLTis4BrclQ/s400/1+Bike+2+Housesresize.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401253911273468370" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/SvZYKGsfa8I/AAAAAAAABXc/2OEc-Eko1vc/s1600-h/Little+bikeresize.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/SvZYKGsfa8I/AAAAAAAABXc/2OEc-Eko1vc/s400/Little+bikeresize.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401601733696646082" border="0" /></a><br />On our second night, we got absolutely ridiculously lost, and ended up literally - literally - miles away from where we thought we were, and where we were supposed to be. If you know Amsterdam at all, we thought we were at Station Centraal, but we were actually on Museumstraat, next to the Van Gogh Museum. How? It's Amsterdam, I guess. Found this bakery along the way:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/SvUjI-uOQ7I/AAAAAAAABWk/AoYYFK-Ac6Y/s1600-h/Night+Shop.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/SvUjI-uOQ7I/AAAAAAAABWk/AoYYFK-Ac6Y/s400/Night+Shop.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401261965283574706" border="0" /></a><br />We left early the next morning and it was eerily quiet. Foggy and quiet. Beautiful, foggy and quiet:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/SvUfx1CfuvI/AAAAAAAABVk/14LX-Exr4GM/s1600-h/Bikes+in+Fog.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/SvUfx1CfuvI/AAAAAAAABVk/14LX-Exr4GM/s400/Bikes+in+Fog.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401258269012376306" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/SvUfxboMZcI/AAAAAAAABVU/bXNJhaWKAm0/s1600-h/Foggy+Morning+1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/SvUfxboMZcI/AAAAAAAABVU/bXNJhaWKAm0/s400/Foggy+Morning+1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401258262191171010" border="0" /></a><br />Took the tram to Station Centraal, jumped on the train back to Rosendahl, and thus began the second leg of our Belgium experience ...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/SvUgDKyFNmI/AAAAAAAABWM/WlfPZmBz9-s/s1600-h/Train+Station.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/SvUgDKyFNmI/AAAAAAAABWM/WlfPZmBz9-s/s400/Train+Station.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401258566906885730" border="0" /></a><br />*I've got loads more photos from Amsterdam and I'll post them as life goes on. And as with every post, there are way more stories than I can fit here, so feel free to ask.Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00736151897405054076noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3134276880314627094.post-15441946108438657472009-11-01T23:13:00.004-07:002009-11-01T23:17:08.703-07:00A Sunday Drive<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/Su55PVSrB4I/AAAAAAAABUk/83PeeuwNW9M/s1600-h/Cate+at+Elbow+Falls+3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/Su55PVSrB4I/AAAAAAAABUk/83PeeuwNW9M/s400/Cate+at+Elbow+Falls+3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399386307584264066" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/Su54uQdcLLI/AAAAAAAABUc/sukcO0YelWQ/s1600-h/Cate+at+Elbow+Falls.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/Su54uQdcLLI/AAAAAAAABUc/sukcO0YelWQ/s400/Cate+at+Elbow+Falls.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399385739351567538" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/Su54uLloqxI/AAAAAAAABUU/-rn-_yCCvu4/s1600-h/Cate+at+Elbow+Falls+2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/Su54uLloqxI/AAAAAAAABUU/-rn-_yCCvu4/s400/Cate+at+Elbow+Falls+2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399385738043763474" border="0" /></a>Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00736151897405054076noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3134276880314627094.post-82424581205355417952009-10-31T23:57:00.001-06:002009-10-31T23:59:10.995-06:00Another Amsterdam Preview<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/Su0jVW4B1dI/AAAAAAAABUM/jJuvAfJ4cxU/s1600-h/Rembrantstrat+2resize.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/Su0jVW4B1dI/AAAAAAAABUM/jJuvAfJ4cxU/s400/Rembrantstrat+2resize.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399010378111899090" border="0" /></a><br />This building is better than the flu.Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00736151897405054076noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3134276880314627094.post-27856436491115971792009-10-27T16:18:00.002-06:002009-10-27T16:41:51.994-06:00Amsterdam PreviewWe've been really busy and now I'm sick, so I haven't been able to update our story lately. But here's a preview of what's coming (starring moi):<br /><br /><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/ocvSZGjpkRU&hl=en&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/ocvSZGjpkRU&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="344" width="425"></embed></object><br /><br />And here are a couple more views of Antwerp:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/Sud2wSsvXZI/AAAAAAAABUA/kG1a0-q8XTA/s1600-h/Antwerp+Scooterresize.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/Sud2wSsvXZI/AAAAAAAABUA/kG1a0-q8XTA/s400/Antwerp+Scooterresize.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397413250452118930" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/Sud2wB492QI/AAAAAAAABT4/zMK3MC58eTs/s1600-h/Antwerp+Pubresize.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/Sud2wB492QI/AAAAAAAABT4/zMK3MC58eTs/s400/Antwerp+Pubresize.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397413245939996930" border="0" /></a>Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00736151897405054076noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3134276880314627094.post-2641067693950669352009-10-24T20:00:00.001-06:002009-10-24T20:28:49.060-06:00Antwerp: A port city with beer and pancakes<w:worddocument> <w:view></w:view><w:punctuationkerning><w:validateagainstschemas><w:compatibility><w:breakwrappedtables><w:snaptogridincell>It was nice to be able to spend pretty much a full evening just relaxing. Carla made us a classic Belgian dinner: beef stew and fries. Perfect. Except Belgians aren’t big water drinkers. Beer, coffee and wine are the staples, I think. Even when you eat out, you only buy water and it’s expensive. But the other three options are good, so we didn’t complain. <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Early morning, Carmen and I went for a walk in Wuustwezel. It’s a pretty quiet place although we still could’ve spent a lot of time wandering. Belgium is a lush country. It's green everywhere.</p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/SuN6XthQg5I/AAAAAAAABRQ/yfmKTpaeIgY/s1600-h/Wuust+Signresize.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/SuN6XthQg5I/AAAAAAAABRQ/yfmKTpaeIgY/s400/Wuust+Signresize.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5396291326294655890" border="0" /></a><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/SuN6Y7u0MeI/AAAAAAAABRo/VCco7es8Jwc/s1600-h/Carmen+walking+in+WWresize.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/SuN6Y7u0MeI/AAAAAAAABRo/VCco7es8Jwc/s400/Carmen+walking+in+WWresize.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5396291347289485794" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/SuN6YfeGJkI/AAAAAAAABRg/RYEdMEPDCRI/s1600-h/Wuust+Truck+in+Fieldresize.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/SuN6YfeGJkI/AAAAAAAABRg/RYEdMEPDCRI/s400/Wuust+Truck+in+Fieldresize.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5396291339703166530" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/SuN7Wd2GpWI/AAAAAAAABRw/HCehhucXMpM/s1600-h/Pasture+Gateresize.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/SuN7Wd2GpWI/AAAAAAAABRw/HCehhucXMpM/s400/Pasture+Gateresize.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5396292404418880866" border="0" /></a><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>But the day was meant for <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Antwerp</st1:place></st1:city>, and that’s where we went. Lots of history. And lots of money. Buildings and churches were more ornate here. And Belgian architecture is different, with lots of pointy roofs.<p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/SuN_tM6hqqI/AAAAAAAABSQ/wZHfCRiLIzY/s1600-h/Antwerp+Square+1resize.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/SuN_tM6hqqI/AAAAAAAABSQ/wZHfCRiLIzY/s400/Antwerp+Square+1resize.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5396297193057528482" border="0" /></a><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/SuN_tQmWjkI/AAAAAAAABSY/Zq9qaeaietE/s1600-h/Antwerp+Architectureresize.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/SuN_tQmWjkI/AAAAAAAABSY/Zq9qaeaietE/s400/Antwerp+Architectureresize.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5396297194046656066" border="0" /></a><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/SuN7W4nSA2I/AAAAAAAABR4/zAl080Dw8yo/s1600-h/Antwerp+Door+and+Windowsresize.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/SuN7W4nSA2I/AAAAAAAABR4/zAl080Dw8yo/s400/Antwerp+Door+and+Windowsresize.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5396292411604468578" border="0" /></a><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/SuN7XXqysuI/AAAAAAAABSI/YhQY6xsUvXQ/s1600-h/Antwerp+Alley+1resize.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/SuN7XXqysuI/AAAAAAAABSI/YhQY6xsUvXQ/s400/Antwerp+Alley+1resize.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5396292419940692706" border="0" /></a><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/SuN7XNMFquI/AAAAAAAABSA/P2fgXjXij2k/s1600-h/Antwerp+Alley+2resize.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/SuN7XNMFquI/AAAAAAAABSA/P2fgXjXij2k/s400/Antwerp+Alley+2resize.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5396292417127557858" border="0" /></a><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/SuOwaYrt5tI/AAAAAAAABTI/bXuYpvrcsms/s1600-h/Antwerp+1resize.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/SuOwaYrt5tI/AAAAAAAABTI/bXuYpvrcsms/s400/Antwerp+1resize.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5396350745868887762" border="0" /></a><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/SuOwaipVBVI/AAAAAAAABTQ/FqJIh0Jf2RE/s1600-h/Antwerp+Scooter+and+Benchresize.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/SuOwaipVBVI/AAAAAAAABTQ/FqJIh0Jf2RE/s400/Antwerp+Scooter+and+Benchresize.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5396350748543223122" border="0" /></a><p class="MsoNormal">Carla filled us in with basically a century by century rundown of what happened in this city. In short, it's a port. And it's quite cultured. I suppose every European city is with the amount of history there, but we heard and saw some cool stories. In the Cathedral of our Lady, there was an exhibition of 15th Century paintings from the city. At one point, all the pieces on display were located in this church, but had since been dispersed to museums around Europe. This show was called The Reunion. Each painting told the story of a guild (a trade-specific group that was taken really, really seriously, each of which had it's own massive building in the City Square).</p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/SuO0SXYNA2I/AAAAAAAABTo/GME1YDuVuRg/s1600-h/Cathedral+Inside+Paintingsresize.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/SuO0SXYNA2I/AAAAAAAABTo/GME1YDuVuRg/s400/Cathedral+Inside+Paintingsresize.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5396355006126162786" border="0" /></a><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/SuO0S6fpAEI/AAAAAAAABTw/I3iBEyU2JT4/s1600-h/Cathedral+Insideresize.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/SuO0S6fpAEI/AAAAAAAABTw/I3iBEyU2JT4/s400/Cathedral+Insideresize.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5396355015552598082" border="0" /></a><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/SuO0RhbBQfI/AAAAAAAABTg/j2o5bNBPI-Q/s1600-h/Cathedral+Inside+bwresize.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/SuO0RhbBQfI/AAAAAAAABTg/j2o5bNBPI-Q/s400/Cathedral+Inside+bwresize.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5396354991642460658" border="0" /></a><p class="MsoNormal"> In particular, there was the Butchers' Guild. Besides their building having lookout spots for ships coming in so they could meet them at the port and tax them as they came in, the Butcher's Guild building has a doorway leading to an alley, where they would drain blood into this street. It's still there. Although the blood is gone.</p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/SuOAmVyyCfI/AAAAAAAABSg/1v8kKXBLb1A/s1600-h/Blood+Street+Antwerpresize.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/SuOAmVyyCfI/AAAAAAAABSg/1v8kKXBLb1A/s400/Blood+Street+Antwerpresize.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5396298174693509618" border="0" /></a><p class="MsoNormal">By the way, if you were rich enough when you died, you could pay to be buried underneath the Cathedral floor:</p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/SuO0Q1HjGJI/AAAAAAAABTY/tJ6g6cQT0uI/s1600-h/Cathedral+Inside+2resize.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/SuO0Q1HjGJI/AAAAAAAABTY/tJ6g6cQT0uI/s400/Cathedral+Inside+2resize.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5396354979749632146" border="0" /></a><p class="MsoNormal">It poured for most of the day, which meant we could spend more time checking out restaurant and pub culture of Belgium. Lunch was in a typical 16th Century building; a restaurant that took up all three tiny floors with creaky, steep staircases and brick walls. This was my first experience with Belgian beer: <a href="http://www.dekoninck.be/">De Koninck</a>. Straight from Antwerp. No matter what kind of beer you order in Belgium, the bartender must put it in the proper glass. Each brand has it's own glass and if they don't match, most people will send it back (apparently). They also place the glass in front of you so the label faces you. It's kind of a big deal. And it's worth it. The De Koninck was good.</p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/SuOn2rTblfI/AAAAAAAABSo/F6Pn-wiyLDk/s1600-h/De+Koninckresize.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/SuOn2rTblfI/AAAAAAAABSo/F6Pn-wiyLDk/s400/De+Koninckresize.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5396341336298984946" border="0" /></a><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/SuOoCfgiytI/AAAAAAAABSw/A3zRCJRx5yU/s1600-h/Beer+Tongerloresize.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/SuOoCfgiytI/AAAAAAAABSw/A3zRCJRx5yU/s400/Beer+Tongerloresize.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5396341539291187922" border="0" /></a><p class="MsoNormal">And later we avoided a downpour by sitting in a pub. Every pub in Belgium is the coolest pub I've ever seen. Seriously. This time I had a Tongerlo, a suggestion of the bartender. Once again, it was good. But what might've been even better were the pancakes Carmen ordered (yes, this was a very healthy trip). How do I even describe them? Hot, soft, chewy, a tiny bit greasy, covered in brown sugar. Pure gold.</p><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/SuOoS5i1MsI/AAAAAAAABS4/Mu-sT2IKJCE/s1600-h/Antwerp+Pancakesresize.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/SuOoS5i1MsI/AAAAAAAABS4/Mu-sT2IKJCE/s400/Antwerp+Pancakesresize.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5396341821158011586" border="0" /></a><br />We also checked out the old port of the city:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/SuOo1JLsmcI/AAAAAAAABTA/_IIdemjnxIw/s1600-h/Antwerp+Portresize.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/SuOo1JLsmcI/AAAAAAAABTA/_IIdemjnxIw/s400/Antwerp+Portresize.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5396342409471498690" border="0" /></a>And capped the day off with an amazing dinner in a restaurant that was once a farmhouse ... 400 years ago. I had a traditional Belgian favourite: Kangaroo meat.<br /><br />Our short time in Northern Belgium was so good. And seeing it with locals was fantastic. But Carmen and I are loners, and it was time to move on. The next morning we'd get on the train and head to one of the most bizarre places on Earth: Amsterdam ...<br /><br /></w:snaptogridincell></w:breakwrappedtables></w:compatibility></w:validateagainstschemas></w:punctuationkerning></w:worddocument>Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00736151897405054076noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3134276880314627094.post-25335606726958826392009-10-23T08:46:00.002-06:002009-10-23T08:47:28.069-06:00Lier<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/SuHB8S9u48I/AAAAAAAABRI/ax8i1ipC_sk/s1600-h/Bench+in+Lierresize.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/SuHB8S9u48I/AAAAAAAABRI/ax8i1ipC_sk/s400/Bench+in+Lierresize.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395807070193640386" border="0" /></a>Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00736151897405054076noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3134276880314627094.post-35383251754761740752009-10-22T13:24:00.002-06:002009-10-22T13:25:47.447-06:00Lier<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/SuCxtIwf3uI/AAAAAAAABRA/Q3ITNKnLqw0/s1600-h/Scooter+in+Lierresize.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/SuCxtIwf3uI/AAAAAAAABRA/Q3ITNKnLqw0/s400/Scooter+in+Lierresize.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395507742592982754" border="0" /></a>Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00736151897405054076noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3134276880314627094.post-87852776818195874332009-10-21T21:28:00.011-06:002009-10-22T08:05:46.227-06:00Day Six: Belgium. More specifically, little towns located in Belgium.When we started talking about this trip, about ten months ago, Belgium was our first consideration. At one point we were going to spend all two weeks there. It seemed like this somewhat unexplored country and culture was a mixture of everything we picture in a European vacation.<br /><br />Paris stole our hearts in the six days we were there, and while were still excited to see Antwerp and Northern Belgium, we were kind of sad to get on the train. How ridiculous.<br /><br />Now there's a bit of a backstory that needs to be told to explain our this leg of our journey. About tenyearsago, Carmen and her parents hosted a Belgian student, Tinneke Van Camp, who came to Saskatoon to do a practicum at MCC. As far as I can tell, everyone liked each other and a (so far) lifelong relationship started, including Tinneke's parents coming to Saskatchewan for a visit ten years ago. We emailed Tinneke and her boyfriend, Eric, for advice about traveling Belgium, which over time turned into us staying with her parents for two days. What a fantastic development it turned out to be. Piet and Carla picked us up at Antwerp Station and drove us to their tiny town of Wuustwezel, 20 minutes north of Antwerp.<br /><br />They essentially appointed themselves our official tour guides and took the job very seriously. The first thing we did was drive an hour south to a little place called Lier. For the average Belgian, this would be like driving to a place like Taber. For Carmen and me, this was like two sixyearolds going to Disneyland. This place was the Europe we had in our minds.<br /><br /><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/St_RzlWDUbI/AAAAAAAABPQ/B0pJ5b_nbvA/s400/Leire+1resize.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395261562741281202" border="0" /><br />Belgian towns, like most European cities, have a church in the centre and are built out from there. So Lier had a typical town square with most of the shops and businesses, kids coming home from school etcetc. But once we stepped even a block away from the centre it got strangely quiet. Narrow cobble stone streets, skinny rundown little rowhouses, junky bikes and peeling paint.<br /><br /><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/St_X2_QGe8I/AAAAAAAABQI/4nbjHEqILXA/s400/Beignhof+1resize.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395268218305018818" border="0" /><br /><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/St_Rz5qqokI/AAAAAAAABPY/exSnj1q2VfE/s400/Leire+2resize.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395261568196452930" border="0" /><br /><br /><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 258px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/St_R0tHBmUI/AAAAAAAABPw/fYUG5bfFuv0/s400/Leire+9resize.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395261582005606722" border="0" /><br /><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/St_X21AnnuI/AAAAAAAABQQ/nFMuClhiD8U/s400/Door+in+Leireresize.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395268215555727074" border="0" /><br /><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/St_R0FNyWOI/AAAAAAAABPg/mTAmLhD59L4/s400/Leire+3resize.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395261571296549090" border="0" /><br /><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/St_R0awhWgI/AAAAAAAABPo/-kXSbYCIzl0/s400/Leire+4resize.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395261577079380482" border="0" /><br />The biggest draw in Lier is a Begijnhof. A Begijnhof is a home for women who are kind of like nuns, but aren't really nuns. Just read up on it. In Lier, the Begijnhof is a Unesco World Heritage Site. And it's brilliant.<br /><br /><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/St_X2iChf0I/AAAAAAAABQA/rmVfEO4ejRI/s400/Leire+11resize.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395268210463440706" border="0" />(Tourist shot warning ...)<br /><br /><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/St_X3C00uEI/AAAAAAAABQY/IFej6bh3cD8/s400/Us+at+the+Beignhofresize.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395268219264350274" border="0" /><br /><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/St_afY5KF7I/AAAAAAAABQg/Mjhydfgqd2c/s400/Leire+Church+Doorresize.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395271111406131122" border="0" /><br /><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/St_X2B8m89I/AAAAAAAABP4/5jMrtmhGA7E/s400/Leire+10resize.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395268201848697810" border="0" /><br /><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/St_ga0ITumI/AAAAAAAABQ4/zqEQudewx60/s400/Leire+8resize.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395277629887855202" border="0" /><br /><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/St_gachzoOI/AAAAAAAABQo/GG2dkEJoCrU/s400/Leire+6resize.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395277623552352482" border="0" /><br /><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/St_gawc4avI/AAAAAAAABQw/Ex7BgqKbtBA/s400/Leire+7resize.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395277628900403954" border="0" /><br />Paris is a grand place. But this was small and charming. Dark and dreary. Old and simple.<br /><br />I was planning on combining this post with Antwerp and Wuustwezel, but I'll save them. I'm also going to add a few pictures every day, in between these longer posts. So keep checking in. Next: beer ...Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00736151897405054076noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3134276880314627094.post-15679906782598539062009-10-20T16:10:00.008-06:002009-10-20T20:35:05.923-06:00Day Five: Strip Joints and BookstoresLast full day in Paris. We really didn't want to leave, but four days in Belgium and two in Amsterdam were enough to keep us thinking happy thoughts.<br /><br />We were pretty tired. We'd probably already walked a total of 600 miles. Carmen had twisted her knee climbing the spiral staircase in our hotel on our first day, and it was getting more painful every day. So we mostly tried to take it easy. And speaking of easy *wink* we went to the dodgy, sexy area of the city, which included this old relic:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/St5BAmJYqwI/AAAAAAAABOw/zezsfiEGDvU/s1600-h/Moulin+Rougeresize.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/St5BAmJYqwI/AAAAAAAABOw/zezsfiEGDvU/s400/Moulin+Rougeresize.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5394820882132151042" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/St41nnuq2SI/AAAAAAAABOI/LP03C5nh9vc/s1600-h/Carmen+in+Caferesize.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/St41nnuq2SI/AAAAAAAABOI/LP03C5nh9vc/s400/Carmen+in+Caferesize.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5394808358432332066" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/St41o4UorHI/AAAAAAAABOY/X8vKM24gqa4/s1600-h/Montmartre+Caferesize.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/St41o4UorHI/AAAAAAAABOY/X8vKM24gqa4/s400/Montmartre+Caferesize.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5394808380066409586" border="0" /></a>If you've ever seen <a href="http://lifegoespop.files.wordpress.com/2009/05/before_sunset_movie.jpg">Before Sunset</a> (and/or Before Sunrise), then you know about Shakespeare and Company, an old bookstore located just near The Marais and just across the Seine from the Notre Dame. We had been planning on going there at some point, and randomly found it the night before during our walk. There was a book reading the next night so we crammed it into our crazy schedule, which included absolutely nothing.<br /><br />There's a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shakespeare_and_Company_%28bookshop%29">bit of history</a> to this place, but the gist is that it's an English-speaking store meant for writers to hang out and work while they study in Paris. It's got a ton of character and, for someone who doesn't read a whole lot, it made me want to sit down in a corner and read Agatha Christie's life's work. Anyway, we bought some delicious Greek street food. We went to the bookstore. And we hung out.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/St447mq5bzI/AAAAAAAABOo/6FwRAnoxtOc/s1600-h/S+%26+C+Inside+2resize.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/St447mq5bzI/AAAAAAAABOo/6FwRAnoxtOc/s400/S+%26+C+Inside+2resize.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5394812000280342322" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/St41pmW5R0I/AAAAAAAABOg/sIxYf8hCRZo/s1600-h/S+%26+C+Inside+1resize.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/St41pmW5R0I/AAAAAAAABOg/sIxYf8hCRZo/s400/S+%26+C+Inside+1resize.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5394808392423917378" border="0" /></a>That was our last night in Paris. We packed, got ready for a morning of traveling and went to bed. Got up, said farewell to Montmartre and our Metro stop, Jules Joffrin ...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/St41oA96LqI/AAAAAAAABOQ/PqqKhVyyxpY/s1600-h/Jules+Joffrinresize.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/St41oA96LqI/AAAAAAAABOQ/PqqKhVyyxpY/s400/Jules+Joffrinresize.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5394808365207137954" border="0" /></a>... and jumped on the train to Antwerp.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/St5BBtxpFTI/AAAAAAAABPA/ZBgzO5ptQ74/s1600-h/David+on+Trainresize.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/St5BBtxpFTI/AAAAAAAABPA/ZBgzO5ptQ74/s400/David+on+Trainresize.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5394820901359916338" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/St5BBJK156I/AAAAAAAABO4/_DIQf4Kv4MU/s1600-h/Carmen+on+Trainresize.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/St5BBJK156I/AAAAAAAABO4/_DIQf4Kv4MU/s400/Carmen+on+Trainresize.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5394820891533502370" border="0" /></a>And so began the first of two Belgian legs of our tour. Oh, sweet, sweet Belgium ...Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00736151897405054076noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3134276880314627094.post-62002907330600283832009-10-18T21:06:00.005-06:002009-10-19T21:19:25.006-06:00WeekendTook some time off from going through trip photos to photograph a wedding.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/St0qcLyFYkI/AAAAAAAABN4/rUl4PGh190M/s1600-h/bw+stephresize.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/St0qcLyFYkI/AAAAAAAABN4/rUl4PGh190M/s400/bw+stephresize.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5394514592347284034" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/St0r_EK8csI/AAAAAAAABOA/7bvu9tPok0A/s1600-h/Jeremy+and+Steph+blog.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/St0r_EK8csI/AAAAAAAABOA/7bvu9tPok0A/s400/Jeremy+and+Steph+blog.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5394516291111121602" border="0" /></a>Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00736151897405054076noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3134276880314627094.post-85595265814758176952009-10-18T13:49:00.012-06:002009-10-18T21:05:02.105-06:00Day Four: The Louvre and The MaraisThis was probably our best day in Paris. We started it by sleeping in. Which kind of wasn't planned but ... whatever.<br /><br />It was the first Sunday of the month which means entry to The Louvre is free. We meant to get there early because apparently the lines to get in can be a couple hours long, but early is relative when you have no kids. So we arrived late morning through the Carousel Du Louvre entrance, which also happened to be the entrance to some sort of Lindsay Lohan fashion show for Paris Fashion Week. Apparently she's not dead yet.<br /><br />We were pleasantly surprised to see there was basically no line and we got in right away. It was even more pleasant to see there's a Starbucks in The Louvre. Paris coffee is fantastic, but sometimes you just need a grande black Pike Place. Guilty? A bit. Satisfied? Yes.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/StuXcpalwaI/AAAAAAAABLs/bsAlzRg7UgY/s1600-h/Louvre+5resize.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/StuXcpalwaI/AAAAAAAABLs/bsAlzRg7UgY/s400/Louvre+5resize.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5394071497115812258" border="0" /></a>I've always been completely unimpressed by the pyramid at the front of The Louvre, but it's pretty cool. It's actually the entrance to the museum. So it works like this:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/StuX35xm5OI/AAAAAAAABL0/dWdmDkDcasI/s1600-h/Louvre+Escalatorresize.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/StuX35xm5OI/AAAAAAAABL0/dWdmDkDcasI/s400/Louvre+Escalatorresize.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5394071965363791074" border="0" /></a>I don't think it's possible to fully experience this museum unless you dedicate several days to it. It's really, really, really big. We knew we didn't set aside a lot of time for it, so we didn't stress about what we did or didn't see inside. But we did see the Mona Lisa, and at the risk of sounding uncultured, it was underwhelming. There's an entire room essentially dedicated to it (and BTW, the piece is really small). It's behind glass and then roped off, so you can't get closer than about 10 feet. Plus, the room is packed and everyone is shoving forward to get a self portrait with Mona, which is an awesome shot: giant head with tiny painting in the background.<br /><br />So we saw most of what we wanted to see at The Louvre without spending too much time wandering. Got lost a couple of times. But made it out with some time to spend in the front courtyard.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/StuXaZ_S5xI/AAAAAAAABLM/m9NmdRHRB_Q/s1600-h/Louvre+1resize.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/StuXaZ_S5xI/AAAAAAAABLM/m9NmdRHRB_Q/s400/Louvre+1resize.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5394071458615060242" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/StuXbHXfqXI/AAAAAAAABLU/52NJzW-ggPI/s1600-h/Louvre+2resize.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/StuXbHXfqXI/AAAAAAAABLU/52NJzW-ggPI/s400/Louvre+2resize.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5394071470796155250" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/StuXcPwd_qI/AAAAAAAABLk/Ne2aKDza2_w/s1600-h/Louvre+4resize.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/StuXcPwd_qI/AAAAAAAABLk/Ne2aKDza2_w/s400/Louvre+4resize.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5394071490228256418" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/StuX4Yq3OxI/AAAAAAAABL8/_o5A9a2PFvA/s1600-h/Carmen+at+Louvreresize.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/StuX4Yq3OxI/AAAAAAAABL8/_o5A9a2PFvA/s400/Carmen+at+Louvreresize.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5394071973657000722" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/StuXbgsojaI/AAAAAAAABLc/qxJaX745J30/s1600-h/Louvre+3resize.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/StuXbgsojaI/AAAAAAAABLc/qxJaX745J30/s400/Louvre+3resize.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5394071477595704738" border="0" /></a> And that was that. We took the Metro over to Le Marais, AKA The Gay District, AKA The Jewish Quarter, AKA The Coolest and Most Culturally Vibrant Neighborhood I've Ever Seen.<br /><br />It's packed with restaurants, cafes, pubs, bakeries, shops and really cool people. And cool people in Paris are different from cool people anywhere else. There's something about the attitude of Parisians that makes them seem so relaxed and carefree. Leisure time is important, and I think being generally laid back is an essential part of the lifestyle. No one seems to be in a hurry, people can take hours to get through a coffee and conversations are long. This makes socializing a priority and it's happening all the time. We were in The Marais on a Sunday evening and it was packed. So if you mix all that with one of the most historical neighborhoods in the city you get the best date ever.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/StuX433e8EI/AAAAAAAABME/VtqbdbGY0NI/s1600-h/Apartmentsresize.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 262px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/StuX433e8EI/AAAAAAAABME/VtqbdbGY0NI/s400/Apartmentsresize.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5394071982031433794" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/StuvQArvaMI/AAAAAAAABNE/YMbWC_w4-K4/s1600-h/Womenresize.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/StuvQArvaMI/AAAAAAAABNE/YMbWC_w4-K4/s400/Womenresize.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5394097668302530754" border="0" /></a><br />I loved these huge doors all over the city, and in this area they had a certain character to them:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/Stut7oBZVTI/AAAAAAAABMs/lmx8nhmwROk/s1600-h/Marais+Doors+3resize.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/Stut7oBZVTI/AAAAAAAABMs/lmx8nhmwROk/s400/Marais+Doors+3resize.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5394096218573460786" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/Stut7LNKuHI/AAAAAAAABMk/KtNK18Q7Vco/s1600-h/Marais+Doors+2resize.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/Stut7LNKuHI/AAAAAAAABMk/KtNK18Q7Vco/s400/Marais+Doors+2resize.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5394096210838206578" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/Stut62IjswI/AAAAAAAABMc/D55A37rNAWs/s1600-h/Marais+Doors+1resize.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/Stut62IjswI/AAAAAAAABMc/D55A37rNAWs/s400/Marais+Doors+1resize.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5394096205181727490" border="0" /></a><br />Found an old bookstore. Had a delightful conversation with an employee there:<br /><br />Him: "*Something in French*."<br />Me: "Bonjour."<br />Him: "I said we're closed."<br />Me: "Oh."<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/Stut8YIaVDI/AAAAAAAABM8/X__ozuf8Un8/s1600-h/Bookstoreresize.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/Stut8YIaVDI/AAAAAAAABM8/X__ozuf8Un8/s400/Bookstoreresize.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5394096231487788082" border="0" /></a><br />Best pasta dinner I've ever had:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/StvDVeGV1YI/AAAAAAAABNc/VqBTSbuBfSo/s1600-h/Dinnerresize.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/StvDVeGV1YI/AAAAAAAABNc/VqBTSbuBfSo/s400/Dinnerresize.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5394119752330630530" border="0" /></a><br />Spent a while in a little cafe where an old bartender was wearing flannel pajama pants with his white serving shirt.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/StvGGuUaEEI/AAAAAAAABNk/Ssd90ahPm2U/s1600-h/Caferesize.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/StvGGuUaEEI/AAAAAAAABNk/Ssd90ahPm2U/s400/Caferesize.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5394122797521440834" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/Stut8HQgZOI/AAAAAAAABM0/wJyHvu-7-YU/s1600-h/Coffeeresize.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/Stut8HQgZOI/AAAAAAAABM0/wJyHvu-7-YU/s400/Coffeeresize.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5394096226958337250" border="0" /></a><br />We walked around a bit more and figured we'd find the nearest Metro station to head back to Montmartre. On the way, we came around a corner and realized we were across the street from The Seine. The neighborhood looked awfully familiar. And then it hit us, the Notre Dame was just down the street. What a thing to stumble upon. We crossed a bridge and strolled around Ile St. Louis again, meandering our way to the front of the cathedral. It was so good to come here at night. Our first visit there the previous day was a bit tainted; the place was packed with tourists and it was hard to really take it in, as stunning as it is. At night, it was quiet and serene.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/Stu_hChYmII/AAAAAAAABNU/_BFeTzuQh1w/s1600-h/Notre+Dame+at+Nightresize.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 265px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/Stu_hChYmII/AAAAAAAABNU/_BFeTzuQh1w/s400/Notre+Dame+at+Nightresize.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5394115553039784066" border="0" /></a>There were a lot of things about this night that I'll remember as defining of my Paris experience. These kinds of things are why we want to travel and experience other cultures. It's hard to tell all the little stories and experiences through a blog, and I don't think I really want to anyway, but it's something we won't forget.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/Stu9gf6XP9I/AAAAAAAABNM/P_dXwpkyojA/s1600-h/Us+at+Notre+Dameresize.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/Stu9gf6XP9I/AAAAAAAABNM/P_dXwpkyojA/s400/Us+at+Notre+Dameresize.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5394113344726056914" border="0" /></a>All this and we still hadn't even been to Belgium or Amsterdam yet ...Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00736151897405054076noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3134276880314627094.post-88429063787849991462009-10-15T21:38:00.009-06:002009-10-15T22:17:05.292-06:00Day Three: Ile Saint Louis and the Arc De TriompheThis was a long day. We started out by taking the Metro to the Fourth Arrondissement, and came up right next to the Rive Seine.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/StfruXSaXFI/AAAAAAAABJ0/eW1uk14juls/s1600-h/Metroresize.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/StfruXSaXFI/AAAAAAAABJ0/eW1uk14juls/s400/Metroresize.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5393038260557208658" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/StfrNEoQNbI/AAAAAAAABJU/F698IJ48ggQ/s1600-h/Buildingsresize.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/StfrNEoQNbI/AAAAAAAABJU/F698IJ48ggQ/s400/Buildingsresize.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5393037688612861362" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/StfsVIxS1MI/AAAAAAAABK0/EZKbccFCEbQ/s1600-h/Tribunalresize.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/StfsVIxS1MI/AAAAAAAABK0/EZKbccFCEbQ/s400/Tribunalresize.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5393038926675104962" border="0" /></a>The main reason we came here was to visit the Notre Dame. Like most things in Paris, it's overwhelming. But it's probably not fair to compare this cathedral to anything else. It's massive, it's beautiful, it's Gothic and it's probably the most important symbol of the religious history of Paris.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/StfrvMYj8DI/AAAAAAAABKE/ZiODPDf7MCw/s1600-h/Notre+Dame+2resize.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/StfrvMYj8DI/AAAAAAAABKE/ZiODPDf7MCw/s400/Notre+Dame+2resize.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5393038274810081330" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/StfsTxk0mHI/AAAAAAAABKc/iEb2CVQcHIE/s1600-h/Notre+Dame+Mother+Maryresize.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/StfsTxk0mHI/AAAAAAAABKc/iEb2CVQcHIE/s400/Notre+Dame+Mother+Maryresize.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5393038903268907122" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/Stfru1xf2KI/AAAAAAAABJ8/X4Ib6Ko0VQU/s1600-h/Notre+Dame+1resize.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/Stfru1xf2KI/AAAAAAAABJ8/X4Ib6Ko0VQU/s400/Notre+Dame+1resize.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5393038268740655266" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/StfsTRF3zhI/AAAAAAAABKU/BJNfgQlRQnY/s1600-h/Notre+Dame+Insideresize.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/StfsTRF3zhI/AAAAAAAABKU/BJNfgQlRQnY/s400/Notre+Dame+Insideresize.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5393038894549159442" border="0" /></a><br />Here's me keeping you all informed ... Tweeting on the River Seine:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/StfrNxo-hdI/AAAAAAAABJk/8wfvAPWdgTQ/s1600-h/Davidresize.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/StfrNxo-hdI/AAAAAAAABJk/8wfvAPWdgTQ/s400/Davidresize.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5393037700695492050" border="0" /></a>We walked across the bridge to Ile Saint Louis, one of two islands in the city of Paris, and a cool little place.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/Stft9npRm4I/AAAAAAAABLE/hO2wbTDHfHM/s1600-h/Rue+St.+Louisresize.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/Stft9npRm4I/AAAAAAAABLE/hO2wbTDHfHM/s400/Rue+St.+Louisresize.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5393040721669364610" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/StfsUcwYuZI/AAAAAAAABKk/mbC8zb04PCg/s1600-h/Red+Scooterresize.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/StfsUcwYuZI/AAAAAAAABKk/mbC8zb04PCg/s400/Red+Scooterresize.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5393038914860136850" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/StftIB_bqxI/AAAAAAAABK8/8mmSuiTVxYI/s1600-h/Windows+1resize.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/StftIB_bqxI/AAAAAAAABK8/8mmSuiTVxYI/s400/Windows+1resize.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5393039801028684562" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/StfrNkns4_I/AAAAAAAABJc/7ucU8mPGMBU/s1600-h/Carmenresize.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/StfrNkns4_I/AAAAAAAABJc/7ucU8mPGMBU/s400/Carmenresize.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5393037697200481266" border="0" /></a><br />After all that we went back to our hotel in Montmartre before heading to the Avenue des Champs-Élysées ...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/StfrMpGWrMI/AAAAAAAABJM/xhZ0S8_VzLY/s1600-h/Boulevardresize.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 260px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/StfrMpGWrMI/AAAAAAAABJM/xhZ0S8_VzLY/s400/Boulevardresize.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5393037681222921410" border="0" /></a>... at the end of which is this:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/StfrMATEY8I/AAAAAAAABJE/Q7zGZHdzJ9M/s1600-h/Arc+de+Triomphresize.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/StfrMATEY8I/AAAAAAAABJE/Q7zGZHdzJ9M/s400/Arc+de+Triomphresize.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5393037670270395330" border="0" /></a>The Arc de Triomphe was built by Napoleon to honour his soldiers when they returned from war. They'd march down the Avenue and through the Arc. It's an incredible sight, surrounded by the famous traffic circle. We realized when we got there that we could climb to the top ... and trust me, you have to climb. About 300 steps. And it was worth it. An incredible view of the city at night. I can't describe what that was like.<br /><br />The lights on the Eiffel Tower were gorgeous from up high, so we grabbed a panini headed over. And just sat there.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/StfsUo0BemI/AAAAAAAABKs/o_6fmhWPZBE/s1600-h/Tower+at+Nightresize.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/StfsUo0BemI/AAAAAAAABKs/o_6fmhWPZBE/s400/Tower+at+Nightresize.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5393038918096616034" border="0" /></a>I love Paris.Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00736151897405054076noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3134276880314627094.post-36606083707668232112009-10-14T20:25:00.014-06:002009-10-14T22:38:33.393-06:00Days One and Two: Montmartre and La Tour EiffelOur trip to Paris was so smooth, it was weird. No delays, our flight to London landed an hour early and our baggage in Paris was the first off the carousel. Plus we had no responsibility anyway, so we were stress-free.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/StaXYJjKRwI/AAAAAAAABG0/x6wNILlnAFc/s1600-h/Flight+Boardresize.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 306px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/StaXYJjKRwI/AAAAAAAABG0/x6wNILlnAFc/s400/Flight+Boardresize.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392664044958795522" border="0" /></a><br />Our emergence from the Metro up into Montmartre was a shock to the senses and confirmation that Paris is exactly what we thought it was. We came up the steps and saw a 200 year old city hall, a 400 year old church, three cafes, a horse carousel lit up and playing old French music and as I looked around, an old man walked by with a baguette under his arm. As we stood and stared, our jaws dropped.<br /><br />In Paris, everything consumes you: the smell of the air, the smell of people, the look of people, the sounds, the architecture, the history ... I can't describe it.<br /><br />This was the view from our hotel room:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/Stak6n5DGNI/AAAAAAAABI0/siPR9OmOaUs/s1600-h/Hotelresize.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/Stak6n5DGNI/AAAAAAAABI0/siPR9OmOaUs/s400/Hotelresize.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392678930870376658" border="0" /></a><br />After spending our first night walking around Montmartre, we got up early and did the same thing again. The heart of Montmartre is the Sacre Coeur. Around the base of the hill are some really, really old cafes and houses.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/StacfQ-HyII/AAAAAAAABG8/BDoV0n04WFk/s1600-h/Montmatre+Caferesize.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/StacfQ-HyII/AAAAAAAABG8/BDoV0n04WFk/s400/Montmatre+Caferesize.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392669664768149634" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/StachGi1pmI/AAAAAAAABHc/KIDNn53rLkw/s1600-h/Tartempionresize.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/StachGi1pmI/AAAAAAAABHc/KIDNn53rLkw/s400/Tartempionresize.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392669696329098850" border="0" /></a><br />And atop the hill sits the beautiful Sacre Coeur. There's also an incredible view of the city up here.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/Stacg7zks-I/AAAAAAAABHU/Dqov7KV9tY0/s1600-h/Sacre+Courresize.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/Stacg7zks-I/AAAAAAAABHU/Dqov7KV9tY0/s400/Sacre+Courresize.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392669693446501346" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/StaeYdzJifI/AAAAAAAABHk/xq-bCFCJj40/s1600-h/City+Viewresize.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 247px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/StaeYdzJifI/AAAAAAAABHk/xq-bCFCJj40/s400/City+Viewresize.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392671746975959538" border="0" /></a>This carousel was at the base of the hill, and they're all over the city. Just in random squares and for no special reason:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/Stacf0p_4YI/AAAAAAAABHE/A-IkawquhLY/s1600-h/Carouselresize.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/Stacf0p_4YI/AAAAAAAABHE/A-IkawquhLY/s400/Carouselresize.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392669674347422082" border="0" /></a>We did Paris cheap. And why not? We chose a hotel that included a free breakfast, and our lunches consisted mainly of small stuff from markets, like a baguette and cheese. Which is pretty normal. And we ate it like this:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/StafI2GttZI/AAAAAAAABHs/1q0hcFS-fRw/s1600-h/Picnicresize.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/StafI2GttZI/AAAAAAAABHs/1q0hcFS-fRw/s400/Picnicresize.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392672578134193554" border="0" /></a><br />And our first Parisian coffee:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/StalX7PHBFI/AAAAAAAABI8/sbnNwbxXjdc/s1600-h/Coffeeresize.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/StalX7PHBFI/AAAAAAAABI8/sbnNwbxXjdc/s400/Coffeeresize.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392679434279388242" border="0" /></a><br />Markets are usually set up in the morning and shut down by early afternoon.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/Stacga6PnoI/AAAAAAAABHM/uRwIQdG-g0M/s1600-h/Marketresize.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/Stacga6PnoI/AAAAAAAABHM/uRwIQdG-g0M/s400/Marketresize.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392669684616109698" border="0" /></a>Our first full day was a long one. We spent the morning and early afternoon in Montmartre, and planned to go to the Eiffel Tower for the afternoon. The Metro system is pretty easy and quick, but it's the walking that can kill you. Paris is a grand place. Big boulevards and parks, so if you don't know exactly how to get where you're going when on foot, you'll get some exercise. But it's no problem ... because you're in Paris. There's a lot of history around the Tower. We came across Les Invalides, where Napoleon is buried:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/StahY1DKxNI/AAAAAAAABH0/kKy1sXWvUOY/s1600-h/Les+Invalidesresize.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/StahY1DKxNI/AAAAAAAABH0/kKy1sXWvUOY/s400/Les+Invalidesresize.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392675051752047826" border="0" /></a>And Pont Alexandre III, which is a bridge that connects <span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;" ></span>Champs-Élysées with Les Invalides:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/StahZOH_1SI/AAAAAAAABH8/yK5GW2OTrLw/s1600-h/Pont+Alexandre+IIIresize.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/StahZOH_1SI/AAAAAAAABH8/yK5GW2OTrLw/s400/Pont+Alexandre+IIIresize.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392675058483189026" border="0" /></a>Amongst all this incredible history are people's homes and businesses. Imagine that.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/Staj-zvAO5I/AAAAAAAABIs/WjKRedLlgNk/s1600-h/Streetresize.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/Staj-zvAO5I/AAAAAAAABIs/WjKRedLlgNk/s400/Streetresize.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392677903257320338" border="0" /></a><br />And then we found this:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/StaiiI0jIiI/AAAAAAAABIU/Fa23bsLf8LQ/s1600-h/Tower+3resize.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/StaiiI0jIiI/AAAAAAAABIU/Fa23bsLf8LQ/s400/Tower+3resize.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392676311189889570" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/StaihOnVW6I/AAAAAAAABIE/e-t6YmvNHU8/s1600-h/Tower+1resize.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/StaihOnVW6I/AAAAAAAABIE/e-t6YmvNHU8/s400/Tower+1resize.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392676295565204386" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/Staih116IMI/AAAAAAAABIM/x4ULh16uRRc/s1600-h/Tower+2resize.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/Staih116IMI/AAAAAAAABIM/x4ULh16uRRc/s400/Tower+2resize.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392676306095317186" border="0" /></a>When you get to the Eiffel Tower, you just kind of stand there and stare. And then you just sit there ... and stare. And then take some pictures and drink wine.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/StaiirZdk0I/AAAAAAAABIc/ULQ32toDSh0/s1600-h/Tower+5resize.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 288px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/StaiirZdk0I/AAAAAAAABIc/ULQ32toDSh0/s400/Tower+5resize.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392676320471520066" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/StajDW0q6aI/AAAAAAAABIk/M7nLxt3lXcQ/s1600-h/Carmen+at+Towerresize.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/StajDW0q6aI/AAAAAAAABIk/M7nLxt3lXcQ/s400/Carmen+at+Towerresize.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392676881884178850" border="0" /></a><br />And that was it. Our first 24 hours.Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00736151897405054076noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3134276880314627094.post-9239173049698130242009-10-13T22:54:00.004-06:002009-10-13T23:21:42.809-06:00FinWe're home. With our babies. In case you missed it, <a href="http://twitter.com/dwguenther">we went on a trip</a>. So this is finally a travel blog again. Sort of. More to come.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/StVZsaIBl6I/AAAAAAAABGs/KU_pRyvPiRc/s1600-h/antwerp+cathedralresize.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 261px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/StVZsaIBl6I/AAAAAAAABGs/KU_pRyvPiRc/s400/antwerp+cathedralresize.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392314748308133794" border="0" /></a>Cathedral of Our Lady - Antwerp, Belgium.Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00736151897405054076noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3134276880314627094.post-42842509667295071742009-09-28T20:06:00.010-06:002009-09-29T23:37:00.909-06:00Planes, Trains and (Belgian) BeerParis. Antwerp. Amsterdam. Bruges. In that order.<br /><br />That's our schedule for the next two weeks. We're leaving the girls in capable hands and flying to France tomorrow evening. This is something we've been planning and scheming for a long time, and it'll be the first vacation Carmen and I have taken alone since our honeymoon in Montreal more than six years ago.<br /><br />We'll spend six days in Paris with basically no schedule other than to get a morning coffee and an evening bottle of wine. What happens in between is of little concern, but I'm sure it'll include walking, biking, sitting and watching. On Tuesday we'll take a train to <a href="http://images.hostels.com/images/hostels.com/features/20_171.jpg">Antwerp</a> and we'll have two days and two nights in Northern Belgium. We're staying with Carmen's family friends in a small town called Wuustwezel. They're gracious enough to host us and tour us around the city and country, and I don't think there's a better way to explore a foreign country than with locals. We may also take a day trip to <a href="http://pa.photoshelter.com/c/christophevde/gallery/Ghent-National-Geographic-Traveller/G00001z9WL4miHfM">Ghent</a> during our stay there, but who knows. From there it's a train to Amsterdam for another two nights. We're considering getting a hotel for only one of those nights, and roaming around the city for the other. After that we're taking a train to Bruges, and again we'll be there for two nights, before we rail it back to Paris for one more sleep and then fly home.<br /><br />We want to keep our girls up to date on everything we're doing so I'm planning on Tweeting the whole thing using an iPod. So wherever we can get WiFi, you can hear from us. My Twitter page is <a href="http://twitter.com/dwguenther">here</a>. Follow me as I getmytweeton.<br /><br />So that's that. We have to somehow leave our gorgeous little girls for two weeks. That thought kind of makes me feel physically ill, but spending two weeks alone in Europe with <span style="font-style: italic;">this</span> girl is a fair enough trade off, I guess:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/SsLPMiAeLYI/AAAAAAAABGk/rKYXGopBGlQ/s1600-h/Carmenresize.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/SsLPMiAeLYI/AAAAAAAABGk/rKYXGopBGlQ/s400/Carmenresize.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5387095918482697602" border="0" /></a><br />See you on the flip side.Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00736151897405054076noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3134276880314627094.post-29637661285873546622009-09-27T21:36:00.004-06:002009-09-27T22:02:44.681-06:00Happy birthday, Maggie Jane<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/SsA1WFYJOtI/AAAAAAAABGc/qZQv_evgiMA/s1600-h/crawling+1resize.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/SsA1WFYJOtI/AAAAAAAABGc/qZQv_evgiMA/s400/crawling+1resize.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5386363807851952850" border="0" /></a>One amazing year.<br /><br />I only wish I could be as happy and content as this gorgeous girl. Every moment the four of us are together, she's having the time of her life. I can't wait to see what sort of trouble she gets into in her second year as she explores this big world.<br /><br />What an absolute beauty.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/SsA0tm81ppI/AAAAAAAABGU/1vBdGEUZPKE/s1600-h/my+magsresize.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/SsA0tm81ppI/AAAAAAAABGU/1vBdGEUZPKE/s400/my+magsresize.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5386363112489592466" border="0" /></a>Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00736151897405054076noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3134276880314627094.post-23995508370998554212009-09-25T08:38:00.005-06:002009-09-25T08:50:29.992-06:00The Trampoline ShowTeacher Cate giving us lessons about bouncing. Everybody listen!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/SrzWm64guMI/AAAAAAAABGE/zLDsZL_s7tY/s1600-h/pointingresize.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/SrzWm64guMI/AAAAAAAABGE/zLDsZL_s7tY/s400/pointingresize.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385415218557925570" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/SrzWWgDK9jI/AAAAAAAABF0/34XSS1v7GqI/s1600-h/hands+on+hips+1resize.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/SrzWWgDK9jI/AAAAAAAABF0/34XSS1v7GqI/s400/hands+on+hips+1resize.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385414936476972594" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/SrzWViI4DeI/AAAAAAAABFk/K0mZg_RV9Fo/s1600-h/bouncing+3resize.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/SrzWViI4DeI/AAAAAAAABFk/K0mZg_RV9Fo/s400/bouncing+3resize.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385414919857901026" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/SrzWWFll-EI/AAAAAAAABFs/dBeGxLZ_HgY/s1600-h/bouncing+4resize.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/SrzWWFll-EI/AAAAAAAABFs/dBeGxLZ_HgY/s400/bouncing+4resize.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385414929373591618" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/SrzWVEC95AI/AAAAAAAABFc/2HRjHVp-2Mk/s1600-h/bouncing+2resize.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/SrzWVEC95AI/AAAAAAAABFc/2HRjHVp-2Mk/s400/bouncing+2resize.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385414911780054018" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/SrzWmi67WZI/AAAAAAAABF8/yJ4E7ctora4/s1600-h/hands+on+hips+2resize.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/SrzWmi67WZI/AAAAAAAABF8/yJ4E7ctora4/s400/hands+on+hips+2resize.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385415212125608338" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/SrzWU8wbSPI/AAAAAAAABFU/wCT9b0jRmcM/s1600-h/bouncing+1resize.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/SrzWU8wbSPI/AAAAAAAABFU/wCT9b0jRmcM/s400/bouncing+1resize.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385414909823240434" border="0" /></a>Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00736151897405054076noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3134276880314627094.post-19177183040251222222009-09-13T09:58:00.002-06:002009-09-13T10:02:33.753-06:00Key West kidMy beautiful nephew, Milo.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/Sq0WvdNwwiI/AAAAAAAABEU/GWXhs3BQenc/s1600-h/milo+1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/Sq0WvdNwwiI/AAAAAAAABEU/GWXhs3BQenc/s400/milo+1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380982134329623074" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/Sq0WviLxuvI/AAAAAAAABEc/6J8vkqBNq_g/s1600-h/milo+2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/Sq0WviLxuvI/AAAAAAAABEc/6J8vkqBNq_g/s400/milo+2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380982135663475442" border="0" /></a>Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00736151897405054076noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3134276880314627094.post-79229560291240287492009-07-30T20:19:00.008-06:002009-07-30T20:34:22.489-06:00More pictures of people<span style="font-family:arial;">Good friends. Taken in Lethbridge, last weekend.</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/22747902@N02/3764514010/"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/SnJVdwvi4wI/AAAAAAAABCI/HwZk7AysdZc/s400/standing+2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364444075940569858" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/22747902@N02/3763634547/"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/SnJVc6OsbOI/AAAAAAAABB4/Q_Asr7mjQ9k/s400/standing+1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364444061307268322" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/22747902@N02/3763970526/"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/SnJVdg076VI/AAAAAAAABCA/tDRfxQKovwk/s400/kiss.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364444071668214098" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/22747902@N02/"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/SnJWrBpfeJI/AAAAAAAABCg/XTcQ3_Qwvl0/s400/sitting+4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364445403328510098" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/22747902@N02/3764444446/"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/SnJX_vItCII/AAAAAAAABCo/fLgOzRbnElY/s400/sitting+3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364446858648029314" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/22747902@N02/3773607212/"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/SnJVcrHXG8I/AAAAAAAABBw/kvhoGatkzNs/s400/sitting+5.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364444057249979330" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/22747902@N02/3763173225/"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/SnJWK0DBucI/AAAAAAAABCY/IMWlZUYXYhg/s400/laughing.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364444849921702338" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/22747902@N02/3772803263/"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3S6DVElJHrQ/SnJVee52HdI/AAAAAAAABCQ/QcWil_kzdOI/s400/bw+1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364444088331804114" border="0" /></a>Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00736151897405054076noreply@blogger.com3