tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-41061634529537320032024-02-07T05:42:15.711+01:00Everyday is an AdventureUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger96125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4106163452953732003.post-44006712061638894852011-08-11T20:22:00.000+02:002011-08-11T20:22:32.533+02:00My Final Weeks with the Family<w:sdt contentlocked="t" id="89512093" sdtgroup="t"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 1pt;"><w:sdtpr></w:sdtpr><w:sdt docpart="FAC8FAC80AE5447CB031BC0AAF507CE7" id="89512082" storeitemid="X_D8092E96-A56C-40F9-8547-053675B845AF" text="t" title="Post Title" xpath="/ns0:BlogPostInfo/ns0:PostTitle"></w:sdt></span> </w:sdt><br />
<div class="Publishwithline">After saying goodbye to some friends, it was time for a few weeks of isolation with the family. Two weeks in France. Two weeks without internet. Two weeks with a lot of French. Two weeks.</div><div class="Publishwithline"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">So the week started with a Monday train to Le Chaufaud. It is a very small village right on the border of Switzerland and France. I mean right on the border. It was about a 10 minute walk to Switzerland. It is an old house that has been in the family for generations. It was the taken by the Nazis in World War II and became their headquarters on the border (as Switzerland was a neutral country people were trying to cross to freedom). It is also a very old house. It was the end of July and it was raining and freezing in the house. Shoes, sweaters, electric and wood fire heaters were in full use. It was just me Baby Gaga and G for the week; and a few generations of Mama C’s family. It was such a cool experience to see four generations of a family together. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic9Dut6Fpi2Hx48V8Q7DaFXjfexfAbmgpsSSX9AtQPhBOGgP8b8OyREfMYyCCn0nP1RnHBX4EScngK36lIcNUzyJ_JGeV9peuBMLHoX8U8k_11COLlWgMtoBb1rXhyphenhyphenqQsqIKI0n1BND5U/s1600/P1070565.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic9Dut6Fpi2Hx48V8Q7DaFXjfexfAbmgpsSSX9AtQPhBOGgP8b8OyREfMYyCCn0nP1RnHBX4EScngK36lIcNUzyJ_JGeV9peuBMLHoX8U8k_11COLlWgMtoBb1rXhyphenhyphenqQsqIKI0n1BND5U/s320/P1070565.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal">Mama C's Dad gave me <i>joking</i> looks of disapproval as I would respond to the French I understood in English. He told G to only speak French with me, which she did every once in awhile, but always quickly returned to English. This is one of the many reason my French is no where close to fluency! Other than that, I went on a couple of hikes with and without the girls. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">This was a tough week. I had been hearing G say things for months about my leaving, but this week, she was telling me how she is going to have a crying, screaming fit when I leave her. She repeated that fact that I am in fact “leaving her” too many times. Each time it became more difficult for me to respond to. On top of that, Baby Gaga has reached 10 months, which is the age of becoming clingy. She would literally only go to me and her Mom. Since her Mom was back in Zurich, we spent a week attached at the hip. Lucky for me she is sleeping through the night and likes to nap a couple of time during the day. She is as close to “my baby” as I want to be for a long time to come. But she is <i>my baby</i>. When I see her go only to her Mom and me, I realize that the relationship I have with her is special. I am not her Mom and she knows it, but I am second best. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">After a weekend off, I headed to Hyéres, to spend a week on a vineyard on the sea with the other side of Mama C’s family. This could not have contrasted more to the cabin in the woods. There was a chef, a pool, and the sea was a short walk away. Many spent the day on the boat, diving and drinking; followed by a French meal. The attire was dressy. Champagne with apértif. Salad or cold soup, meat and vegetables, a cheese patter, and dessert. And obviously, a copious amount of wine. Rosé. Red. White. Ports. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-71WM3gclpJhLWTfJDUbvu1XcK6x1OAhTe4FDbQvyQTIOLgiez7isnRwajjSHuVvoZl6PPmhiDiXcmZ2Sd1iXthFCS-gYfW7MywPja80ZaDkK7vzZfbhLLVwjQEBJhEc8sF6qrOoKzI4/s1600/P1070592.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-71WM3gclpJhLWTfJDUbvu1XcK6x1OAhTe4FDbQvyQTIOLgiez7isnRwajjSHuVvoZl6PPmhiDiXcmZ2Sd1iXthFCS-gYfW7MywPja80ZaDkK7vzZfbhLLVwjQEBJhEc8sF6qrOoKzI4/s320/P1070592.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Most everyone spoke English this week. While most of the time it was French, Mama C’s family is international. There were Americans, French who live in the United States, and the French who live in London. Since, I have not succeeded in speaking French (comprehension only...and even that is debatable at times), Mama C’s family is extremely welcoming and happy to speak English with me. The conversations always ended up back in French, as they should, but I would throw in my own sentence in English here and there. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">This was not a bad place to spend my last week with the kids. It was a bittersweet week. I am sad to say goodbye to the kids in a few days but I am glad that the job is over in so many ways. I made it through a year and I am positive I made the right decision in not sticking around for any longer. I will have one last day/dinner with the kids before I am off to finish my travels and head home. No one is making it easy for me to leave but if goodbyes are hard then it means you made some good friends and did a good job right?<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqq-rRe0uivomWOHgiVmKUhCaOq6zaHYifMs1vpHA2IVT0MJtwsyDEV5-BgBwhWHTDyAhIUggYI2vxyZEkqNLeB6K2KQo0CnK28Ybpmyw0LWk43w64rwWMpp5wPs5R85BSr1Vz6OqUwb0/s1600/P1070590.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqq-rRe0uivomWOHgiVmKUhCaOq6zaHYifMs1vpHA2IVT0MJtwsyDEV5-BgBwhWHTDyAhIUggYI2vxyZEkqNLeB6K2KQo0CnK28Ybpmyw0LWk43w64rwWMpp5wPs5R85BSr1Vz6OqUwb0/s320/P1070590.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The vineyard on the way to the sea!</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6GrBNWNvfyxCJPKptQlUvMwMKLn_2JrvX59cPuz4OVffu2U9uHef8ikRm6-Ydy_W456V_fEtV1IPgpa-kkEGgCJvnG60se3Tr8L4teAvhiJvnXlyH8r8jF3s8NkeYa0D0EjAaW99DNvc/s1600/P1070594.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6GrBNWNvfyxCJPKptQlUvMwMKLn_2JrvX59cPuz4OVffu2U9uHef8ikRm6-Ydy_W456V_fEtV1IPgpa-kkEGgCJvnG60se3Tr8L4teAvhiJvnXlyH8r8jF3s8NkeYa0D0EjAaW99DNvc/s320/P1070594.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The beach</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeU6oVbZUyT5rcDZmW1XVurcuQA9EfGREmzrdDVVwYyuZ6Nx27finO-5SjehhgQFJ4KcRlJu8dp6fEr7to_l3n15WkHCoI5lZ2Dtp0d0Z_OMZq6VEcNl0-D9A4UxTUA2f657EFcl8DocY/s1600/P1070595.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeU6oVbZUyT5rcDZmW1XVurcuQA9EfGREmzrdDVVwYyuZ6Nx27finO-5SjehhgQFJ4KcRlJu8dp6fEr7to_l3n15WkHCoI5lZ2Dtp0d0Z_OMZq6VEcNl0-D9A4UxTUA2f657EFcl8DocY/s320/P1070595.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">My beach babe</div><br />
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4106163452953732003.post-81266080586050538512011-08-11T17:48:00.000+02:002011-08-11T17:48:12.116+02:00One Last Weekend..Sort of<w:sdt contentlocked="t" id="89512093" sdtgroup="t"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 1pt;"><w:sdtpr></w:sdtpr><w:sdt docpart="4009C66AEB1B44B1B9449078CF57F35D" id="89512082" storeitemid="X_D8092E96-A56C-40F9-8547-053675B845AF" text="t" title="Post Title" xpath="/ns0:BlogPostInfo/ns0:PostTitle"></w:sdt></span> </w:sdt><br />
<div class="Publishwithline"></div><div style="border-bottom: solid #4F81BD 1.0pt; border: none; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: accent1; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 0in 0in 2.0pt 0in;"><div class="underline"><i>Note: There were people dearly missed this weekend. </i></div><div class="underline"><br />
</div><div class="underline">After a week of 7am-9pm, 5 day work week, filled with a few play dates including bowling and glass blowing, the time had come to have our “Final Week” as the fierce and ridiculous wolf pack was spreading out around the world. While some of the wolves had left, it was the end of the road for the people who have been here since last August. Our year was up. And it has been one for the record books. So we started off on Friday night at good ol’ Twists. As many (one could say too many) of our Friday and Saturday nights were spent over the last year. After saying hello to a few of our favorite bartenders, we headed off to a few places we have liked. Then Nicole and I finished the night with some dancing and a sleep over at Rachel’s.</div><div class="underline"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifpfKvJSiEPm6oJO0NIo4OlPoNY0X_5t-MYf24FxW76a_bFD72-EWCawJPxE9lV_NyWeU2XSVCtI6CQSiQf13f1dO-lOZWtKytxnQko3tFTDwWTpLhLaNwQdIOEJG5Hcoc92x5TWs96dY/s1600/P1070526.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifpfKvJSiEPm6oJO0NIo4OlPoNY0X_5t-MYf24FxW76a_bFD72-EWCawJPxE9lV_NyWeU2XSVCtI6CQSiQf13f1dO-lOZWtKytxnQko3tFTDwWTpLhLaNwQdIOEJG5Hcoc92x5TWs96dY/s320/P1070526.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="underline"><br />
</div><div class="underline"><br />
</div><div class="underline">The rain washed away the idea for a hike and a few of us wondered the city and did some shopping. All along reminiscing about our favorite trips, weekends, moments. It is a bitter sweet ending. Being the “help” is coming to an end to some of us but it means that gallivanting around Europe is also coming to an end.</div><div class="underline"><br />
</div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Saturday night was the big night out! We started with a few hours of getting ready and making a delicious dinner (which I might mention had to be gluten free, lactose free, and meat-free). After some pictures and laughs we headed into Zurich. One last time as a wolf pack. Even though our goal was to branch out, we followed a very similar path of the night before, which is not surprising at all!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8dpTyy-P2RLEboA2sPGMXEpwFAu5cZbj0wsXOoCH9Q0LwlOtX_4MvSkjEgxZlLjCKDr_H9-KcSCazZDdNk9l9iM8oXRKCE2977r8ArYo2pUsdTADt4D_6nZ-BhyUY4MVn6ZEVYJ9a9Wk/s1600/P1070554.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8dpTyy-P2RLEboA2sPGMXEpwFAu5cZbj0wsXOoCH9Q0LwlOtX_4MvSkjEgxZlLjCKDr_H9-KcSCazZDdNk9l9iM8oXRKCE2977r8ArYo2pUsdTADt4D_6nZ-BhyUY4MVn6ZEVYJ9a9Wk/s320/P1070554.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Another late night of dancing led to a slow morning and then a<i> final day</i> at the spa. A lovely Irish-Roman spa of cleansing and being oh so very <i>Sex in the City</i>, gossiping from room to room and being told to “shhhhh” each time! I was also finally able to see the Google Building where we took pictures! Next time, the goal will be to get inside the building!<o:p></o:p><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG96DHVgE94nz2hk-A0iMwUFTJ5xRNqf5-Xgd9maz0uLEiQsjC9AeQrwGnRjiD8o5__joArv6_QrnZH39goKBbxvUjsQrN2tNKRoP8PQS_5EMo4qUuQ1efPtbc3vyL9dtDn3IsQYP-ypM/s1600/P1070562.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG96DHVgE94nz2hk-A0iMwUFTJ5xRNqf5-Xgd9maz0uLEiQsjC9AeQrwGnRjiD8o5__joArv6_QrnZH39goKBbxvUjsQrN2tNKRoP8PQS_5EMo4qUuQ1efPtbc3vyL9dtDn3IsQYP-ypM/s320/P1070562.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal">Now to get a little sentimental. It was just one weekend; there have been dozens. There have been new girls and friends who have come and gone throughout the year. But this weekend, was the fearsome 6 that started and ended the year together. It was the last time we as a group would take on Zurich as a gang of aupairs. I have always had a lot of girlfriends in my life and I cherish each one of the past just as I do the ones in the present. Each of these ladies are special. I was able to spend a year gallivanting around Europe, with few worries, and insignificant complaints (our first-world problems..where should we travel this week? etc).</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">This year is special. I look forward to thinking back on my year living in Switzerland! I look forward to thinking about our group running the streets of Europe, meeting new people, and discussing the countless cultural similarities and differences. You ladies are absolutely amazing. We were so lucky to have been able to have each other this year. We all brought something different to a group. There is a closeness between us, a bond, that will never break. We will be able to call each other when we are thinking about Not many can fall in love with their children and put up with the endless piles of laundry, tears, and lies. We complained a bit, but our friendship blossomed and it is about so much more than that. I love each one of you so much and will never forget anyone of you. I hope to keep in touch and that just maybe, one of those reunions we have talked about will happen. And when we forget how much work children are, and how many times we contemplating not having them, I hope we can call each other when we end up with one of our own. We can laugh about the times that we had taking care of other peoples’ and then really plan that spa getaway! <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I love you ladies. I am so lucky to have met you! Xoxo Sincerely yours, Wolf pack member for life. <o:p></o:p></div><br />
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4106163452953732003.post-73593795038607515732011-08-09T15:57:00.000+02:002011-08-09T15:57:50.200+02:00A Surprise Birthday!<w:sdt contentlocked="t" id="89512093" sdtgroup="t"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 1.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><w:sdtpr></w:sdtpr><w:sdt docpart="4009C66AEB1B44B1B9449078CF57F35D" id="89512082" storeitemid="X_D8092E96-A56C-40F9-8547-053675B845AF" text="t" title="Post Title" xpath="/ns0:BlogPostInfo/ns0:PostTitle"></w:sdt></span> </w:sdt><br />
<div class="Publishwithline">Ok so it has been over a month since I have posted. I officially reached my year point but let me update you on what has happened since I reached week FIFTY-TWO!</div><div class="Publishwithline"><br />
</div><div class="Publishwithline">I had been anticipating my European Birthday since I decided to make the move. Where could I go? Who will I go with? Venice? Paris? Barcelona? Greece? The options seemed endless! Since it is summer, my working hours have, for the first time, outnumbered my playtime hours. So a long weekend getaway was not an option. Plus, I have made amazing friends who I wanted to spend it with. So it was around the corner and since people’s work schedules were all over the place, we decided Switzerland was the place to be. We would have a night out on the town for the first night followed by the Montreux Jazz Festival in the French region of Switzerland. I was excited for the weekend as planned.</div><div class="Publishwithline"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">So my birthday celebrations started on Thursday night. My Papa B’s Dad was in town for the week and we all went out for a very nice dinner. It was a beautiful restaurant with a vista view of the lake and Zurich, surrounded by the mountains and cows of course.<span> </span>We toasted champagne and they handed me a few gifts.<span> </span>One of which is the <i>Swissessity:</i> the Longchamp. The week before I bought myself a lovely little Swatch and now only need a fondue/raclette set to complete my <i>Swissessities!</i> After dinner, the restaurant turned off their lights, turned on a disco ball, and started a recording of something no one could understand other than it said “Happy Birthday” somewhere in there. Then “Happy Birthday” was played and I blew out sparklers on a chocolate delight. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">It was a really a great birthday dinner and what has seemed like the real mark of the beginning of the end. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Friday, my actual birthday, I woke up to work a bit and then got off around 1pm.<span> </span>I met my friends in the city to begin a day by the lake with lunch and wine. However, as we were having lunch, my schedule changed. As it turns out my friends have surprised me with a ticket to the “History of Hip Hop” concert at the Jazz Festival. Nicole and I are leaving after lunch! It was quite the surprise! I was super excited!<span> </span>After missing a few trains, we were on our way! <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">The concert was absolutely amazing! Coolio and House of Pain among other performed. Nicole and I were on stage for a bit (video below) dancing away. We were screaming and dancing. As it turns out, that is now how the Swiss enjoy concerts. Nicole and I were each given dirty looks on separate occasions for yelling at “inappropriate times” and the security guards hated us even more. We laughed it off and continued to enjoy our time standing feet from some of the amazing hip hop artists of the past!<span> </span><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal">After the concert, we met our Couch Surfer, who took us out for a night out at the Jazz Festival. There are great clubs, free dance and music concerts, and people everywhere. It was a night to remember!<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Saturday we enjoyed the city and were joined by another one of our friends. It was, dare I say it, the prettiest lake view of the year.<span> </span>I can only say thank you to the amazing group I have here for ensuring that I had a wonderful European birthday! xoxo<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaehEIbwGVhHJt_XBD9qD9DPsn-9vcujSPGFosnI1zwzQVLHosfnhJZI9NIU264hWWnmN5DJHqdpqx_mBzZqCWo4rvDrvIelKw0ngjetlWZaahe32kDwM0hoWYl9k1VuJks3ZiZr6NqhE/s1600/P1070473.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaehEIbwGVhHJt_XBD9qD9DPsn-9vcujSPGFosnI1zwzQVLHosfnhJZI9NIU264hWWnmN5DJHqdpqx_mBzZqCWo4rvDrvIelKw0ngjetlWZaahe32kDwM0hoWYl9k1VuJks3ZiZr6NqhE/s320/P1070473.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Birthday Lunch with the Ladies</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRuZRpFIPqD3iTP6bnP_lyxirHXIFph1WUubDKKo6PwPdQkMxtSqLJJPdcDWgtxiSRVeZOVnFXtN4sk4ATe_5UgOTvWLR2vB5dTr6ZDQCru8ujphRHe7bulZNsRSjFJHklmIdqd9pTBkU/s1600/P1070475.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRuZRpFIPqD3iTP6bnP_lyxirHXIFph1WUubDKKo6PwPdQkMxtSqLJJPdcDWgtxiSRVeZOVnFXtN4sk4ATe_5UgOTvWLR2vB5dTr6ZDQCru8ujphRHe7bulZNsRSjFJHklmIdqd9pTBkU/s320/P1070475.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Not the actual concert but the only picture of the night</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrqbcAWJcULFzBAJWcAERPbvQhZEF6rSTT4pMSKlTLP03Z4YpvKYfn_I4jgXpRGDTMS6Wbq2G7JFVgaM2X1FRgL0nBLmubVnOKqyUIaw2YNsO7y0hfELMDfyj3mxwT-hQK8v1UtpUS7-Q/s1600/P1070480.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrqbcAWJcULFzBAJWcAERPbvQhZEF6rSTT4pMSKlTLP03Z4YpvKYfn_I4jgXpRGDTMS6Wbq2G7JFVgaM2X1FRgL0nBLmubVnOKqyUIaw2YNsO7y0hfELMDfyj3mxwT-hQK8v1UtpUS7-Q/s320/P1070480.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">See why it is my favorite?</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGmaTatClZhpexMaJAGRue59t1jDRbU_WZZ0v0aDWFr41CcidNh0UqrAjSRMEroA8PlUEP1T1bDcB-I95RlieTa5MGaHggmwxv2ymt0XTM5XSKNYzC_ccQywlCtew_OIn0EWCa0_wp3uU/s1600/P1070488.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGmaTatClZhpexMaJAGRue59t1jDRbU_WZZ0v0aDWFr41CcidNh0UqrAjSRMEroA8PlUEP1T1bDcB-I95RlieTa5MGaHggmwxv2ymt0XTM5XSKNYzC_ccQywlCtew_OIn0EWCa0_wp3uU/s320/P1070488.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4106163452953732003.post-16169795991022383792011-07-01T18:00:00.001+02:002011-07-11T14:17:14.173+02:00The Apple ManOne thing I don't think I have mentioned all year that I love about where we live, and my guess is much of Switzerland is like this, is the Apply Man. At least that is what he is called in my house. He is an adorable old Swiss man who comes with a cart every couple of weeks and sells whatever he has been growing. He always has eggs and apples. We bought raspberries from him yesterday. He is just too cute! And the fruit and vegetables are always delicious!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4106163452953732003.post-48075836399066153852011-07-01T17:47:00.001+02:002011-07-01T17:47:46.052+02:00My Week in "Paradise"<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">My week in Saint Tropez was lovely in many ways but at times it was actually like I was actually under house arrest. The heaven I was staying in was gated and I had to ask to leave the house and schedule my coming back to ensure that someone would be home to let me in. We were also not in Saint Tropez. We were 25km outside of the city so I was very isolated to say the least. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Twice, I was so bored I risked my life walking to the beach up and down a winding hill. It was in no way safe to be walked on but I was willing to put my life on the line to get a break from the kids! It was a little like being a white collar criminal. They put you up in these lovely prisons which everything you could possibly need, but at the end of the day you are still trapped, so it isn't what you want! </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">In addition to feeling completely isolated, the area we were in reminded me a lot of home, which made me the most homesick I think I have ever been. This is a good thing in some ways though, because while since being released back into society, I have adapted to back into my social life, but I am also excited to go home. I have been talking to friends about exploring San Diego in new ways! And I am returning to somewhere similar to the South of France, so it can't be all bad right?</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Here are some pictures of my week! They are beautiful and I really have NOTHING to complain about. The pool was great, the temperature was high, and there were beaches! But just wait for the post after I am sent to the woods in a few weeks with just two of the kids and the French side of the family! Talk about isolation..</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
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<a href="http://localhost:58006/96b7a3a7530a99bd89f40ac08a7a4fe7/image/7f9d7d183d930b54.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://localhost:58006/96b7a3a7530a99bd89f40ac08a7a4fe7/image/7f9d7d183d930b54.jpg?size=320" /></a><br />
My adorable Baby Gaga and I playing by the pool.</div><br />
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Our time at the fair</div><br />
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<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://localhost:58006/96b7a3a7530a99bd89f40ac08a7a4fe7/image/469f6ccaaefdf7c1.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://localhost:58006/96b7a3a7530a99bd89f40ac08a7a4fe7/image/469f6ccaaefdf7c1.jpg?size=320" /></a><br />
My death walk to the HEAVENLY beaches!<br />
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<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://localhost:58006/96b7a3a7530a99bd89f40ac08a7a4fe7/image/8ff06accb31fb0b0.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://localhost:58006/96b7a3a7530a99bd89f40ac08a7a4fe7/image/8ff06accb31fb0b0.jpg?size=320" /></a><br />
The dock in San Tropez</div><br />
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G and P</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4106163452953732003.post-65988510562416705522011-06-22T23:47:00.000+02:002011-06-22T23:47:41.375+02:00Baptized - Barcelona Style<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Last weekend, eight women ventured to spend a three/four day weekend in Barcelona! That should be enough said about our trip but I will explain a little more! We skipped the Picasso and much of the Gaudi and instead focused on the nightlife, beach, and food! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">After a short flight, we landed and met up with Shelly at the Market. It was a wonderful place that we visited the following day. Tapas, fresh fruit, and smoothie! So much meat and seafood (much of which was still moving). </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI8X-u9nS40And0_RJpIoU0Z5fiPeN7eKS7hOy0j2Yn_ODAiTykYqM4zGqxiRzsmLrwtOx6BbNv6R7vvDCJ-_4kV-f6Jk6jWzfDVxFnjx9B_yauTCXwIpWNP2wdTJeJ0PiCG8KHHR6lwQ/s1600/P1070261.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI8X-u9nS40And0_RJpIoU0Z5fiPeN7eKS7hOy0j2Yn_ODAiTykYqM4zGqxiRzsmLrwtOx6BbNv6R7vvDCJ-_4kV-f6Jk6jWzfDVxFnjx9B_yauTCXwIpWNP2wdTJeJ0PiCG8KHHR6lwQ/s320/P1070261.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnUrXEI5euR7igmM15YmZRxIQelZRDmALHqfsKhWmkCh7jbT0b3iV-OiV7mepOfJpPjwaKN-XRPx2BismlGkpgG2pWuPe46NtZ4i6th9NaJH-LPwg5ib30HQ6b-48hGZVBfAU0BfMgv58/s1600/P1070266.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnUrXEI5euR7igmM15YmZRxIQelZRDmALHqfsKhWmkCh7jbT0b3iV-OiV7mepOfJpPjwaKN-XRPx2BismlGkpgG2pWuPe46NtZ4i6th9NaJH-LPwg5ib30HQ6b-48hGZVBfAU0BfMgv58/s320/P1070266.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">As you will notice, there is a large gap in my pictures! I didn't carry my camera with me most of the time so I have pictures when we first arrived and then sitting on the beach on Sunday! It was raining when we got to Barcelona so we spent some time in our apartment drinking some wine and getting ready to go out. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">We wandered the city and came across some great Tapas, Sangria, and weird old men. Then met up with a friend of a friend and all of his friends for a drink and then finally grabbed dinner. We ended up at a club called CatWalk. The music was awesome and we danced the night away! </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">After a late night we slept in and made some eggs and bacon for breakfast while we waited for Nicole to arrive. Once she got there we wandered the city a bit more, returned the the market, and enjoyed the sunshine. Anna and I headed to the police station, as we were baptized in Barcelona by being robbed. And once we arrived at the police station we discovered that it is a great place to meet other tourists! </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">After getting ready, having a fabulous birthday dinner for Anna's BIG 2-0! We surprised her with a cake and some Cava! Then we were ready for our second night out. This time we were going to see a DJ of some sort with that friend of a friend. Instead of the DJ, we ended up seeing an AWESOME Ramones coverband. As it turned out the original drummer from the Ramones was playing and the lead singer was from the Misfits. It was another amazing night of dancing!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Sunday we headed to the beach. There was napping, some Swedish cider (absolutely delicious!), and some time in the sea. It was wonderful to be on a beach. There were people constantly wondering around selling everything from body shawls (which sounded like body shots) and my favorite man who was saying co-co-co--coa-nut. In a way that you couldn't figure it out until you saw what he was actually selling. We also decided to get some matching henna tattoos so we could remember our wonderful weekend until it is washed away!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv7goabo5b8V9MfTruuXjiN2IFFtIo4FWv_jDiL5fGOmltkNI1wlwHHsCgPyJBe7vFdEmKd4lN7z_NMLvBR3dvU1Mud1q7xxDpGZ9ykdxFVXvilrkNYFzzVj8VPRDu6y-EGf0hTjb7Ysg/s1600/P1070289.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv7goabo5b8V9MfTruuXjiN2IFFtIo4FWv_jDiL5fGOmltkNI1wlwHHsCgPyJBe7vFdEmKd4lN7z_NMLvBR3dvU1Mud1q7xxDpGZ9ykdxFVXvilrkNYFzzVj8VPRDu6y-EGf0hTjb7Ysg/s320/P1070289.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC47AP7CBMa8nC61ZA1SFqwEcsCJOt2RIm7qFrMuQrh7n9sfl6zft-Lxo2D27hZ5GvtGrKZWyEnzZFPSC2177Dcvg6Tcu1ZNzjkX5UHlL00YlsN2EK5phY4Qfq9ak36EH0tVQ21zrXHQo/s1600/P1070303.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC47AP7CBMa8nC61ZA1SFqwEcsCJOt2RIm7qFrMuQrh7n9sfl6zft-Lxo2D27hZ5GvtGrKZWyEnzZFPSC2177Dcvg6Tcu1ZNzjkX5UHlL00YlsN2EK5phY4Qfq9ak36EH0tVQ21zrXHQo/s320/P1070303.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The Birthday Girl!</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsVR6qQ6ItNiq-sk5wyLJWp97e9azieQRe0iRXFgzrW3zjTuePsRo8lg7irwihWIDKK_r24ONG_lzOjrgoYhE6r_c25hK1tzzai5u28RLl99Xo5w5vgiiYwSM7ndOAaij0t-4WQm_MEcw/s1600/P1070312.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsVR6qQ6ItNiq-sk5wyLJWp97e9azieQRe0iRXFgzrW3zjTuePsRo8lg7irwihWIDKK_r24ONG_lzOjrgoYhE6r_c25hK1tzzai5u28RLl99Xo5w5vgiiYwSM7ndOAaij0t-4WQm_MEcw/s320/P1070312.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">We ended the weekend with a delicious meal and some more sangria. We walked back and chatted in the apartment for the rest of the night. It was really a great weekend with some great girls! I am so glad we got to get in a big trip together before we all start to head off in different directions! </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0Barcelona, Spain41.387917 2.169918700000039341.3137835 2.0830957000000394 41.462050500000004 2.2567417000000392tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4106163452953732003.post-55791467740340524062011-06-20T10:58:00.001+02:002011-06-20T12:24:12.579+02:00Sometimes life doesn't seem real<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfIFlTYmNkqGNO6dgj6XuJTehmrv6QeU31uDV8BBebP6mGTHGOWShcnZPYtrIux5-wo0PDXPusucKi7yV7X792hLSvPr5Cg75FgzbVzENG3bkNpxx-wQoWEsMR85snatFuvhweAzDElZ4/s1600/P1070328.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfIFlTYmNkqGNO6dgj6XuJTehmrv6QeU31uDV8BBebP6mGTHGOWShcnZPYtrIux5-wo0PDXPusucKi7yV7X792hLSvPr5Cg75FgzbVzENG3bkNpxx-wQoWEsMR85snatFuvhweAzDElZ4/s320/P1070328.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">My Studio apartment for the week</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib_ShLlEvBUd8IZlqm_GXT8Bmy86gqePmg4thf9fVQM1IWIFOmMVSOI3DoyD3Jys7D5JdxQX5z2AfKHyInaABDR4Teyvt2sYYAyRFjiBs-b2Dm4CezfZ8ADAIjxFhPxOugbVgnSF6h7FQ/s1600/P1070329.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib_ShLlEvBUd8IZlqm_GXT8Bmy86gqePmg4thf9fVQM1IWIFOmMVSOI3DoyD3Jys7D5JdxQX5z2AfKHyInaABDR4Teyvt2sYYAyRFjiBs-b2Dm4CezfZ8ADAIjxFhPxOugbVgnSF6h7FQ/s320/P1070329.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG0ewEDLvesyULEq6n7c-aWQmk-a8TZB-TrCKFdtD0xaFtfpGfE5ZqjLS6uQx547a9oU4GY_oS_B4qNTEVkkF0jIp8hs-6lVQP2LYf0LXq0CdjWreFSi2C8uLhImjaVaV0ABVGIiAwlNs/s1600/P1070334.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG0ewEDLvesyULEq6n7c-aWQmk-a8TZB-TrCKFdtD0xaFtfpGfE5ZqjLS6uQx547a9oU4GY_oS_B4qNTEVkkF0jIp8hs-6lVQP2LYf0LXq0CdjWreFSi2C8uLhImjaVaV0ABVGIiAwlNs/s320/P1070334.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I really am never leaving</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRiDaAYFj6UYhwS4zhbVhlAMyTS_NB5MzLyPQMQ-l_PxJqb670df-NcJVxsuXfqEY7D71LK3ply4xQZ_yLftDWnz1IJmE9X2Eeperb4bTn5q2c1FZDBV2MgOWYmqp4RrgpEJN1U3h2p9Y/s1600/P1070336.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRiDaAYFj6UYhwS4zhbVhlAMyTS_NB5MzLyPQMQ-l_PxJqb670df-NcJVxsuXfqEY7D71LK3ply4xQZ_yLftDWnz1IJmE9X2Eeperb4bTn5q2c1FZDBV2MgOWYmqp4RrgpEJN1U3h2p9Y/s320/P1070336.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">View from my door</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqsHwkgIC4NZ2ytw5bGCVZ9gDnDcxc93CQ2D7DF6HzLFO-VxbDaJ9Vn-obe9x7a06uFnetilqGijqhSJw1q3cT97uUScwZfvUliZebz67Uq5CUhdtIXPASlE1qQRHaSNYDhmjjXZpBIzw/s1600/P1070337.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqsHwkgIC4NZ2ytw5bGCVZ9gDnDcxc93CQ2D7DF6HzLFO-VxbDaJ9Vn-obe9x7a06uFnetilqGijqhSJw1q3cT97uUScwZfvUliZebz67Uq5CUhdtIXPASlE1qQRHaSNYDhmjjXZpBIzw/s320/P1070337.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The garden</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyZorVITbDwuwUcaD0YsnTZWJLHHIW4EKS5N5AFjoJLLAzNsNOcacx_VoX4ULenA9yb9vGtaEb0yJplKe8YFLVNpmSjOZi2c5u-2h_OO1hWUQ5DZyA1VvJTtDWxU1uTB1uFpV_hEc0bfk/s1600/P1070345.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyZorVITbDwuwUcaD0YsnTZWJLHHIW4EKS5N5AFjoJLLAzNsNOcacx_VoX4ULenA9yb9vGtaEb0yJplKe8YFLVNpmSjOZi2c5u-2h_OO1hWUQ5DZyA1VvJTtDWxU1uTB1uFpV_hEc0bfk/s320/P1070345.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The house</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB3mBG8XJcR19NXBROKNBW8JpOmPu1r5msPG3oBDTPpwTa66Oa4MS7lgHIhWhhlmp935D4aWXcv8Vsgqs7WKiTm-sOF59erwRm7yFCQCNSSLom5enHvkGMspk9d-OWpoQAeO45qNfuoTo/s1600/P1070347.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB3mBG8XJcR19NXBROKNBW8JpOmPu1r5msPG3oBDTPpwTa66Oa4MS7lgHIhWhhlmp935D4aWXcv8Vsgqs7WKiTm-sOF59erwRm7yFCQCNSSLom5enHvkGMspk9d-OWpoQAeO45qNfuoTo/s320/P1070347.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">More of the yard</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I am in St. Tropez for the week <i>working! </i> I am going to ride a bike to the beach and spend the day between the sand and sea! </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4106163452953732003.post-24229457342383599312011-06-09T14:52:00.000+02:002011-06-09T14:52:19.702+02:00EXTREME WeekendThis weekend will go down as one of my favorite of the year. My friend Maggie from university (I am soo European now) came down from Germany to explore Zurich a bit and most importantly head up to Interlaken for the weekend. After a wonderful Canadian dinner, filled with too much sugar and a game of charades about Canada, Maggie (friend from university..again sooo European), Kathryn, Anna, and I took a train to Interlaken, a popular destination for outdoor adventures in Switzerland. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl8uA4p9oN9c9xo7qsk-j7QENY5q6NJhQ3VBnAPg1Iz2KJ7nHEQ9fmcsmLxspDCbYqSoROEoF0Iq80rE_hLHbAovRRD5O_dkeJg9hJGS7lyos95VuqZGBGEz3LtzIjg6Txp05aISv0sbg/s320/P1070114.JPG" width="320" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black;">Shortly after arriving and getting to our hostel, we were on our way to go paragliding! A little terrified and really excited we were giggling our way up the mountain in a car full of people. We pick our guides and headed to our take off spot, seen above. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">After finding a few ways to release our nervous feelings, we were strapped in. My guide asked me if I can run and I said yes, but I usually don't start flying after running for a little while so I am not sure how this will go. He laughed and we started running. And by running a mean we jogged a few steps and then couldn't touch the ground any more. It was simple and absolutely amazing!</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjud6SC2Zmxui-NOIJ4iJAwTJShDCZd0JN3O6lNZP7_x_PcOg1UA_4c-zaJ1tb3SzlxH2yqiANo0RAvy-7mBDYlgZGKjtBEL7jOvQL5eVTAy_HYxOUBJ4BDry4kjxRjIiCGNJHd1nuHAZo/s1600/P1070144.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjud6SC2Zmxui-NOIJ4iJAwTJShDCZd0JN3O6lNZP7_x_PcOg1UA_4c-zaJ1tb3SzlxH2yqiANo0RAvy-7mBDYlgZGKjtBEL7jOvQL5eVTAy_HYxOUBJ4BDry4kjxRjIiCGNJHd1nuHAZo/s320/P1070144.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">View from the sky</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHkOt7FyxwwksQKMgwLTypIF3UVFaDNyApCkmN7qSpBBGNxSY8589sW5t8GFGc55-lsN1uWMBobAf2un1jartRrSh9Klk7xW0NCrwauQPu-FOWmWteYExH9ZPWkNy-U3AxDKI_DcsO-7Y/s1600/SDC12430.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHkOt7FyxwwksQKMgwLTypIF3UVFaDNyApCkmN7qSpBBGNxSY8589sW5t8GFGc55-lsN1uWMBobAf2un1jartRrSh9Klk7xW0NCrwauQPu-FOWmWteYExH9ZPWkNy-U3AxDKI_DcsO-7Y/s320/SDC12430.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The entire experience was absolutely amazing! I am so glad we did it! I really want to do it again all over the world! We were proud of ourselves and headed off to have a delicious wrap and a beer in celebration! </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicXK6oFUO3kSwz1GxyLG-sZLhU3RUd3Sa0dDf6pl2IUGF2-041WFkUdbKLtrsNvysH-m20HtE0Bt6kJl3f7CSjyUXzGrrNlT5aTv-lGwf-fmIvpaa1dPIbeJ4838vxbgfRuHYcseexnO4/s1600/P1070151.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicXK6oFUO3kSwz1GxyLG-sZLhU3RUd3Sa0dDf6pl2IUGF2-041WFkUdbKLtrsNvysH-m20HtE0Bt6kJl3f7CSjyUXzGrrNlT5aTv-lGwf-fmIvpaa1dPIbeJ4838vxbgfRuHYcseexnO4/s320/P1070151.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhck54KdzQoU-kw_u1282QrvBkqR640UXVjI7laX3wYnCwAHJTBvWCG1zhs4cpTDLNnD_JuBZmIgQ1Mfi5F-ymDUtRYlit3L7MIvonlZmojOpptmstqWB7SOhvvvBxjfE2N2FvU08vxUlo/s1600/P1070170.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhck54KdzQoU-kw_u1282QrvBkqR640UXVjI7laX3wYnCwAHJTBvWCG1zhs4cpTDLNnD_JuBZmIgQ1Mfi5F-ymDUtRYlit3L7MIvonlZmojOpptmstqWB7SOhvvvBxjfE2N2FvU08vxUlo/s320/P1070170.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">After we finished the first attempt of being outdoorsy of the day, we headed off to some waterfalls. Along the hike we saw a few here and there. It was another gorgeous view in the utopia which is known as Switzerland. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtWaPBcBFuS7Qlur6flB1u8aNRLBu-RVg8AjjqFhdkdU-g7wlMSWT5UyrNa-7PnP-emRjFBdGFEGhlx0zwpXkbtWgGuQXs3MdjzSP_2cCkVYH6x1bLuJwSd_CiAvG2JfIJH-8vME9fA8E/s1600/P1070211.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtWaPBcBFuS7Qlur6flB1u8aNRLBu-RVg8AjjqFhdkdU-g7wlMSWT5UyrNa-7PnP-emRjFBdGFEGhlx0zwpXkbtWgGuQXs3MdjzSP_2cCkVYH6x1bLuJwSd_CiAvG2JfIJH-8vME9fA8E/s320/P1070211.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Now, we arrived at the waterfalls and were a little annoyed we had to pay to get in. However, after go up the caves that have been cut next to these waterfalls. It was unbelievable. There was talk of <a href="http://www.webmd.com/balance/features/negative-ions-create-positive-vibes">negative ions</a> creating positive vibes. It is totally true. The feel in the caves was amazing and beautiful. I also felt like it was the environment that Disneyland tries to recreate, and let me say, their effort is appreciated but it just can't compete with the real thing. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc6FXfK2-SYx9XOZxsOeBf9CgjDxunQeeXgN8m_mc2zPk_EJJLfBf_sSeggNj1_utqMRCQNQ_PcPRcZYgJLf5q2bHAFzzUfL7MYOO5npkqYdtKbACXCjwtfApWY_YCuujYLBCfSHlwp5Q/s1600/P1070180.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc6FXfK2-SYx9XOZxsOeBf9CgjDxunQeeXgN8m_mc2zPk_EJJLfBf_sSeggNj1_utqMRCQNQ_PcPRcZYgJLf5q2bHAFzzUfL7MYOO5npkqYdtKbACXCjwtfApWY_YCuujYLBCfSHlwp5Q/s320/P1070180.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Maggie hanging out in the "weeds"</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyM3Y_pHCKT8JpurBBqMfWgl9EVV5ygkHm6PJ-R2wiYsbGuLcrDOB7MXDyfllgtu7cGowaamjevJx7SF3cTGBxFZsnouaXQ-G4XpBcO_uqUzeiWhhbTLlsN0X8oceyvVX-dshybvRgT-E/s1600/P1070174.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyM3Y_pHCKT8JpurBBqMfWgl9EVV5ygkHm6PJ-R2wiYsbGuLcrDOB7MXDyfllgtu7cGowaamjevJx7SF3cTGBxFZsnouaXQ-G4XpBcO_uqUzeiWhhbTLlsN0X8oceyvVX-dshybvRgT-E/s320/P1070174.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Kathryn wanted to befriend a cow on our hike.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb216_6TJDAfagB4Z86ABbpaeyjt82Q2G9Wb5g1zoVSskEHWubmlgix4jSKHxLn0LGw1W32P9rP9EQVlu1zWFDDquedSnuI29gaVhj40idD6DnxNuWr2bN0_KOF6YDQW71XG_0BVl0enQ/s1600/P1070213.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb216_6TJDAfagB4Z86ABbpaeyjt82Q2G9Wb5g1zoVSskEHWubmlgix4jSKHxLn0LGw1W32P9rP9EQVlu1zWFDDquedSnuI29gaVhj40idD6DnxNuWr2bN0_KOF6YDQW71XG_0BVl0enQ/s320/P1070213.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">In the caves!</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitnZZd5DjAFvycS9q0yO77p541uWIEl0Gz-gKda8DjswCmX0ZAGTBCbaSCzf3VAqsZnKyDqW3Okz7aMgXZPknzfmQhSJLaenSzSqB8Wq3oQTTUQfYmBePsRZRw1Qf9G-NR1TqWE0E03Es/s1600/P1070232.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitnZZd5DjAFvycS9q0yO77p541uWIEl0Gz-gKda8DjswCmX0ZAGTBCbaSCzf3VAqsZnKyDqW3Okz7aMgXZPknzfmQhSJLaenSzSqB8Wq3oQTTUQfYmBePsRZRw1Qf9G-NR1TqWE0E03Es/s320/P1070232.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgy7wHwDH5jnDOvm_asItrsH7TK_9Tu7FS-iDovc3nIqXsrtn5063IMOQYZ4zSOWZ9CBlZifV_ttqhKW-AwiJcGzvjDH29SDeH8P8Nn7HNcMdqeEv4or8lHTNJszdjAg5BHVZoFmh5QcU/s1600/P1070233.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgy7wHwDH5jnDOvm_asItrsH7TK_9Tu7FS-iDovc3nIqXsrtn5063IMOQYZ4zSOWZ9CBlZifV_ttqhKW-AwiJcGzvjDH29SDeH8P8Nn7HNcMdqeEv4or8lHTNJszdjAg5BHVZoFmh5QcU/s320/P1070233.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdAupuPZjD1IzHMF8KhOmC7QF-GU5LgBdv55na9hfGRzZX8Na3CcbKdnRDE_IY5bBInR8FP8AEH1lb76gsTFqY7gzjoOp2o7_CIxApYVVuIUA2898uCnQJiFNRLb8CvMvNvmQrX2IuJd0/s1600/P1070237.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdAupuPZjD1IzHMF8KhOmC7QF-GU5LgBdv55na9hfGRzZX8Na3CcbKdnRDE_IY5bBInR8FP8AEH1lb76gsTFqY7gzjoOp2o7_CIxApYVVuIUA2898uCnQJiFNRLb8CvMvNvmQrX2IuJd0/s320/P1070237.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6g0yZDMBXiE">Double Rainbow</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEithDsSpGUIgGBsszvsl22uYbS5jR2YSPDkkpbKt0bwAhBO1uk2LgIzJ-qHa9rgwReHI4mXmLYat2lhnz-s_opI80QirjMa3r1uJQWL9mUq9-Wkk3wvnkeTfOui5uquWx108FsqdRDm8Q8/s1600/P1070250.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEithDsSpGUIgGBsszvsl22uYbS5jR2YSPDkkpbKt0bwAhBO1uk2LgIzJ-qHa9rgwReHI4mXmLYat2lhnz-s_opI80QirjMa3r1uJQWL9mUq9-Wkk3wvnkeTfOui5uquWx108FsqdRDm8Q8/s320/P1070250.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Despite the positive energy we were all experiencing, Kathryn took a little fall. There was blood but she is slowly recovering. Luckily, that was the only real injury for the weekend!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">After our big day, we headed back to our tent hostel and ran into some people from Zurich (really small world). We headed out to dinner with them for some delicious Mexican food! Soooo good! I wouldn't have guessed it! Margaritas and a burrito so it was the perfect meal to end the day. We headed to the hostel's party afterwards! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">After a late night, we got up for our last sport of the weekend. Whitewater rafting. I was more nervous about this than I was for paragliding. This time, we were a key part of the process of surviving. They kept talking about people falling off and what to do and not to panic and watch out for rocks because they can really hurt you. All the things you know but still scary to hear about. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSH0V0lVO5oz_OtNOB_5cq-w9TIwZSlZhQ_I9LzrBr7sv3h-Ovwvyg9FRufN9JAz9dsV-j2YRxt9P8m4yF9ZX6PG9V1a8PihHgDEgw2TA1A3sY2HskQlrE-zOkzzFTP-CKyE2a4MSk2_E/s1600/_MG_6326.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSH0V0lVO5oz_OtNOB_5cq-w9TIwZSlZhQ_I9LzrBr7sv3h-Ovwvyg9FRufN9JAz9dsV-j2YRxt9P8m4yF9ZX6PG9V1a8PihHgDEgw2TA1A3sY2HskQlrE-zOkzzFTP-CKyE2a4MSk2_E/s320/_MG_6326.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">As it turns out, this is also not as scary as you think it is going to be. We swam in the 5 degree water and ended in a gorgeous lake. I am so lucky to have such amazing friends and absolutely loved this weekend...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">But wait, it isn't over! After getting back into Zurich, we met up with some of the other girls (and one guy) to experience blind dining. There are a few restaurants around the world, the first one was in Zurich. It is an experience worth having if you have one by you. You lock up your belongings when you get to the restaurant, look at the menu, and then are guided into the restaurant by your waiter. Our waitress, Rita, was blind and they employ a mostly blind wait staff. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">After being directed to your seat, you order your drinks and food. There were 8 of us there so we established where everyone was sitting and how far away from one another you are. Usually your eyes will find something to focus on, but there was no way to see anything at all. You have to feel for your cup, plate, knife, and fork. We found ourselves continuing to talk with our hands. I started to close my eyes at times just because it was easier than trying to focus. The food was okay, but it is the experience that made the dinner! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We ended the weekend at our favorite bar, Oliver Twists with some darts and a few games of giant Jenga. It was hands down one of my favorite weekends full of overcoming fears, too many laughs, and some of the most amazing people I know!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4106163452953732003.post-8298954963640113022011-05-16T11:19:00.000+02:002011-05-16T11:19:07.550+02:00EuroVision 2011As I continue my year in Europe, I went to Dusseldorf, Germany this weekend to watch <a href="http://www.eurovision.tv/page/dusseldorf-2011">EuroVision</a> Song Contest. Since I didn't know this contest existed a week ago let me explain. European countries (including Azerbaijan and Israel of course) send their best talent to the contest each year with an original song to preform. They slowly get eliminated and then about 30 countries get to the finals. Then each country gives 1-12 points to their top 12 countries. It is based on text message votes from inside each country. ABBA, Celiene Dion, and Julio Iglesia have all performed at the event over the years.<br />
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Dusseldorf is a great city and was filled with people from all over Europe! There were thousands of people dancing and cheering for their countries in the arena as well as in the viewing areas outside. We were staying with a Couch Surfer who was great at showing us around and while we were gracious guests our late arrival and sense of directions led to a few moments of confusion yet we made it through the weekend making new friends and enjoying a new city!<br />
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The winner was Azerbaijan, which means next year the competition will be held there. Enjoy the song their song followed by Italy (2nd) and Sweden (3rd and also one of my favorites).<br />
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</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4106163452953732003.post-80888647342828732682011-05-04T14:32:00.000+02:002011-05-04T14:32:45.802+02:00My Life..G: Michelle I want to play with you!<div>Me: G, what do you want to play?</div><div>G: Let's play restaurant!!!!!!!!!!!!</div><div>Me: How about we play something else? (<i>my mind: ANYTHING ELSE FOR THE LOVE OF GOD!)</i></div><div>G: (<i>very serious</i>) Do you not like restaurant?</div><div><br />
</div><div><i>Two Days Later:</i></div><div><i><br />
</i></div><div>G: Let's play restaurant!</div><div>Me: How about you help me make REAL dinner?</div><div>G: That is not as much fun.</div><div><br />
</div><div>I have won the battle two or three times in the last few days! Let's see how much longer I can keep this going!</div><div><br />
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4106163452953732003.post-7691572362960891382011-05-02T20:03:00.000+02:002011-05-02T20:03:03.399+02:00More Spain; More TapasIn between exploring Madrid, Rachel and I left for a few days to explore some other cities in Spain. I have a long time friend, Ellen, who has lived in Malaga (aka by the beach) for two years. (PS. By long time friend, I mean we have known each other since we were 4!). So after staying up all night on Friday night, we ventured to the bus station to take a 6 hour night bus ride to Malaga. <div><br />
</div><div>After wondering the streets and finding Ellen's apartment and a short nap we were off to the BEACH! That is right, THE BEACH! It was a perfect day outside. We sat in the sun for 7 hours! It was GLORIOUS and ended with a few uneven sunburns. Ellen lives with a few people from the area who speak very little <i>(no) </i>English. Ellen did a lot of translating, but I was pleasantly surprised by how much I could understand of their conversation. </div><div><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfeNmY06TKooNOT6zdQ_xXKOLqS_DDqoSDELvLH6GNNhVpqpLhoj37RsVQQLun3nGELj_C1jvFDWvFLD2-8maI8XTzM9Ls_qjT3ONiD3UZTzvSd-4D5FtM-aQK1GSuZFSyav_XW1TpPBo/s1600/P1060659.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfeNmY06TKooNOT6zdQ_xXKOLqS_DDqoSDELvLH6GNNhVpqpLhoj37RsVQQLun3nGELj_C1jvFDWvFLD2-8maI8XTzM9Ls_qjT3ONiD3UZTzvSd-4D5FtM-aQK1GSuZFSyav_XW1TpPBo/s320/P1060659.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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After our wonderful beach day, we explored the city on Monday. It is a really cute city. It was <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holy_Week_in_Seville">Semana Santa</a> (Holy Week) so there were people everywhere and several parades throughout the day. It was an interesting to watch their celebrations and traditional attire. These robes came in all sorts of colors, including white. It was slightly creepy. These men and children were dressed and walked down the street followed by a large statue of the Virgin Mary. We found this in Malaga, Sevilla, and Toledo, however the rain put a bit of a damper (pun intended) on the festivities after Monday.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">While wondering the city, I spotted legitimate frozen yogurt! The rainy week had begun and this made up for it! There are two things I miss a lot from home, (food-wise), frozen yogurt (tart with strawberries) and Mexican food. Spain succeeded in giving me both. It was GLORIOUS. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">After Malaga, we took a morning bus to Sevilla, where we explored the city. I highly recommend this city as well. It was an adorable city situated on a river (as most European cities are). The Cathedral looked massive from the outside, but since there were so many festivities, we couldn't go inside. </div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We did explore the Palace and took some obligatory jumping pictures (in the rain). It was a very pretty area. You could even rent a boat and go around in the water in the center of the bug square. Due to rain we abstained. </div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Between Italy and Spain, I just keep finding my name written everywhere. I have also decided that taking constant pictures of these moments is also necessary! </div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The Cathedral. After lunch and finding some food for the bus ride back we headed back to Madrid because it was POURING! This was the rest of Spain, however, I still loved the country. Considering my dislike for any weather other than hot and sunny, this says a lot! </div><br />
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</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4106163452953732003.post-26718575793045415992011-04-28T21:11:00.000+02:002011-04-28T21:11:22.034+02:00The Rain in Spain<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">My 10 day trip began in Spain. (Well it began with a late night train from Zurich to Milan and an overnight hanging out at McDonald's and a random restaurant all night before catching our bus to the train station.) Rachel and I arrived in Madrid around 11am. Rested enough to explore the city for the day. We started with a lunch with delicious 1 euro sandwiches and 1 euro beer. I could already tell Spain was going to treat me well. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Then we wandered to the <a href="http://www.neweuropetours.eu/">New Europe Tour</a> of Madrid. I have now done these in Berlin, Madrid, and Amsterdam. They are always good and sometimes even better than good! Also, they are FREE! The people work off of tips at the end of the tour so you tip what you can afford if you like them. (I know you are thinking..wow you are one of those obnoxious people who walks around a city in a large group and basically gets tourist stamped on their faces. Yes, I became one of those people. However, these have become a great way to meet people and really get a feel and history for the city you are visiting. So just do it! Then you can make fun of me if you don't like it!)</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc1LWpjp7D-cO-cDCEYfq04u0FkfP3Wsz67uIWo9__5lF3mMTLcjSBlVAZzH8-OojAd5pkJQctd5foXfG6lqmN-57nhxQyq-_T0oNpHi9LaCfXF4-vZx487wZu5_-v3FW4YlRFqvFBHPg/s1600/P1060642.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc1LWpjp7D-cO-cDCEYfq04u0FkfP3Wsz67uIWo9__5lF3mMTLcjSBlVAZzH8-OojAd5pkJQctd5foXfG6lqmN-57nhxQyq-_T0oNpHi9LaCfXF4-vZx487wZu5_-v3FW4YlRFqvFBHPg/s320/P1060642.JPG" width="240" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Most awesome Spiderman ever!</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">So we walked around the city and heard about 1000 years of Spanish history filled with suicides, murders, witches, kings and queens, and of course some war. It is fascinating to see how the architecture changes throughout the city based on what country is in power. The most fascinating thing for me is the politics of it all now. It is crazy how recent Spain was a dictatorship and how easily it would be for that same party to win an election again.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi801CWsFw3BHJbYqZ3iEtnfx80xQ63os9xEHVRCB0zQLRWKirJ0_shhgvehHk7PQfnQChOelvYLKf0qEUQlNw-q7m0jDuhoA-3-vHoAuM4DRj9Aq17mm4Vo5sSnjunyO2WOWlOJMa9_gc/s1600/P1060658.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi801CWsFw3BHJbYqZ3iEtnfx80xQ63os9xEHVRCB0zQLRWKirJ0_shhgvehHk7PQfnQChOelvYLKf0qEUQlNw-q7m0jDuhoA-3-vHoAuM4DRj9Aq17mm4Vo5sSnjunyO2WOWlOJMa9_gc/s320/P1060658.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Spanish Congress</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">We left Madrid for a few days and then heading back to Madrid. We found ourselves at the Palace in Madrid. It is still used on a regular basis which is pretty cool. </span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5nKMfk50cHVtwXHJYcWEGVFbT5Q67CbpJjJzMil1UXxDMqabJx4nwBP5XwEOlc25XoJEBxyvmRtXnoW8QIzsrTHj3WR2apX0jGFWHLa-kMyD9GpMcNIfIwDczuSXXQNsNHm8eVQZl19A/s1600/P1060796.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5nKMfk50cHVtwXHJYcWEGVFbT5Q67CbpJjJzMil1UXxDMqabJx4nwBP5XwEOlc25XoJEBxyvmRtXnoW8QIzsrTHj3WR2apX0jGFWHLa-kMyD9GpMcNIfIwDczuSXXQNsNHm8eVQZl19A/s320/P1060796.JPG" width="240" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Pretending to be a princess in the </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">palace</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMk81FZcmv3iKfqG9AxDq1qQEWbDetH2-u-t4At0cdgiSnQk4OOdsrD_5RBld32czrRsKlqw0JLVWDS72S9Joivx4N5eNAWReCrFvSMtBQnBRrSNZ1zKAHDhNiPYinCiqvhnc1GKsCGUw/s1600/P1060804.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMk81FZcmv3iKfqG9AxDq1qQEWbDetH2-u-t4At0cdgiSnQk4OOdsrD_5RBld32czrRsKlqw0JLVWDS72S9Joivx4N5eNAWReCrFvSMtBQnBRrSNZ1zKAHDhNiPYinCiqvhnc1GKsCGUw/s320/P1060804.JPG" width="240" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">One of the things I liked about Madrid a lot was how many parks and open spaces there are in the massive city. Above is one of the many which is gorgeous. We continued to wander the streets of Madrid. We saw an old Egyptian building and explored some great new stores. (I fell in love with Pull & Bear so if you know where else they have stores let me know!)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">We also went to the Prado Museum and the Reina Sofia. Both were amazing museums. I have started getting the audio guides at museums which is so enlightening. I really loved both museums! My favorite at the Prado was <span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><a href="http://www.google.ch/imgres?imgurl=http://www.artofeurope.com/bosch/bos1.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.artofeurope.com/bosch/bos1.htm&usg=__1phEvDW6jW8bZ7R7hkR2AxIlDQs=&h=266&w=480&sz=48&hl=de&start=0&sig2=YVUIKWzIjXPlMtIa3B-QCw&zoom=1&tbnid=pG80jKA9HcEsHM:&tbnh=126&tbnw=227&ei=OLa5TY7UC4zsOeGU0ZcP&prev=/search%3Fq%3DBosch%2527s%2BThe%2BGarden%2Bof%2BEarthly%2BDelights%26hl%3Dde%26sa%3DX%26biw%3D1366%26bih%3D643%26tbm%3Disch%26prmd%3Divns&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=131&vpy=105&dur=433&hovh=167&hovw=302&tx=187&ty=109&page=1&ndsp=18&ved=1t:429,r:0,s:0">Bosch's The Garden of Earthly Delights</a>. The Reina Sofia holds Picasso and Goya. I really enjoyed these artists! </span></span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUhaNgXJ9IuhKjNrNTRZwwXu3Flqd2VZt9B2fNb3kxvotlsjX8uWHySH_MKzhdutHXw-gR-nP6PsHrrmnuMUbIWkdrLjPfR4zAPziD-Pr907Wj2h8y_Yc4dtdViDhyCRlw8nD6vDntYfQ/s1600/P1060806.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUhaNgXJ9IuhKjNrNTRZwwXu3Flqd2VZt9B2fNb3kxvotlsjX8uWHySH_MKzhdutHXw-gR-nP6PsHrrmnuMUbIWkdrLjPfR4zAPziD-Pr907Wj2h8y_Yc4dtdViDhyCRlw8nD6vDntYfQ/s320/P1060806.JPG" width="240" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Lunch in Madrid</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So I got the culture but the best part of my time in Madrid was watching the Barcelona v. Madrid game on Wednesday night. After Madrid won, Madrid went crazy! I had made some new friends and went to one of the major squares in Madrid to celebrate. We waited there until 5am when the Real Madrid team came and kissed the statue in the square. While waiting there were chants, flags, fireworks, crazy lights, and confetti. It was one of those experiences you can't plan in advance for. It was such an amazing experience. People were so unbelievably excited and we were able to meet a great group of Spaniards! It doesn't get much better than hanging out with locals when you are in a new city. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnP14l-sbjH2TVNOOG323SYTV4W21HoqUcQkG-PCh_1fiHXlqpaKMlD77jSHIhbc4WQ1BXJFIHz77hyrUQmTM_HHDCHivzT9BOT9YnZDDrYXCBLux0VoFwlYly4aqgoZFqw_vPDmOwN4Q/s1600/P1060835.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnP14l-sbjH2TVNOOG323SYTV4W21HoqUcQkG-PCh_1fiHXlqpaKMlD77jSHIhbc4WQ1BXJFIHz77hyrUQmTM_HHDCHivzT9BOT9YnZDDrYXCBLux0VoFwlYly4aqgoZFqw_vPDmOwN4Q/s320/P1060835.JPG" width="240" /></span></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6fh10KenZAZ4eTnoXAhDx-GNSkCujy0AMeeNbhyphenhyphenygDTwM6q_mGQRwjJ1Ihz7QNFyJuhTt56dK3i6mSvo0EhNmLqUv8G1wfhfkvb3NHUmVjxrsKCyqczWjaAoTopBJX6fbRxWfBfUtICs/s1600/P1060894.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6fh10KenZAZ4eTnoXAhDx-GNSkCujy0AMeeNbhyphenhyphenygDTwM6q_mGQRwjJ1Ihz7QNFyJuhTt56dK3i6mSvo0EhNmLqUv8G1wfhfkvb3NHUmVjxrsKCyqczWjaAoTopBJX6fbRxWfBfUtICs/s320/P1060894.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLsLADhJ3Z9RGqXaIVeU8-ToaiyZhefjn9TVSPTv76e6n5AKjhKu8vD9teYpWCkZ0wLCYkcmccVsQr4KTzSlnKOwGuFL_d1cOQNwSukzjKggVYgbI0WWP0ZVgzsLPbmo2bSUEbPblEngE/s1600/P1060904.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLsLADhJ3Z9RGqXaIVeU8-ToaiyZhefjn9TVSPTv76e6n5AKjhKu8vD9teYpWCkZ0wLCYkcmccVsQr4KTzSlnKOwGuFL_d1cOQNwSukzjKggVYgbI0WWP0ZVgzsLPbmo2bSUEbPblEngE/s320/P1060904.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The geographical center of Spain </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikVUAUPfxItQfgIwM_9KohZHY4xlYIPCsNry8D8wIaKv5aQ5TY6mORt_CAex89OFat8MTz0vJj6yb7esVPg_BVBkYGtgRQr_kXpISnuvazNvca9SS3enb-lcv9FsZAngCcA1mlI0g2l7w/s1600/P1060906.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikVUAUPfxItQfgIwM_9KohZHY4xlYIPCsNry8D8wIaKv5aQ5TY6mORt_CAex89OFat8MTz0vJj6yb7esVPg_BVBkYGtgRQr_kXpISnuvazNvca9SS3enb-lcv9FsZAngCcA1mlI0g2l7w/s320/P1060906.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Dip your churro in chocolate! yummm</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioPYjOavbxkOlj8i-umPW7Ch_5g-yq2S1quC5R4YpbZArbmBbzPA1qObgwaiXCC0Pdp_C9wzrAR_sAHQIjOZDq-o7gS6EEqTUhd15SxtHoAIfV0QigeOlITHfc6ND6OwMkEOB9kHdU4LE/s1600/P1060802.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioPYjOavbxkOlj8i-umPW7Ch_5g-yq2S1quC5R4YpbZArbmBbzPA1qObgwaiXCC0Pdp_C9wzrAR_sAHQIjOZDq-o7gS6EEqTUhd15SxtHoAIfV0QigeOlITHfc6ND6OwMkEOB9kHdU4LE/s320/P1060802.JPG" width="240" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The tour of the bullfighting ring was really interesting. We learned about the history and importance of bullfighting. All the bulls are killed in the end no matter what but they are all sent to restaurants around Madrid. Only 3 people have actually died at that ring in nearly 100 years. The guide also discussed how it is a dying sport because there are few young people who still attend the weekly events. </div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTnz_Z_FZsRzHfkBoNmWNn4plUNWlx-HGBBHbe5ERFNfT3-5Xt8IDSeogmrdBQDSKfdLo8jk7oI_0UGKyJvSf7Mh_j_upa8UOWD5D2lIhu8QE2xUHoaAUH4p63q3jKoM9TGTuB59e32yQ/s1600/P1060909.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTnz_Z_FZsRzHfkBoNmWNn4plUNWlx-HGBBHbe5ERFNfT3-5Xt8IDSeogmrdBQDSKfdLo8jk7oI_0UGKyJvSf7Mh_j_upa8UOWD5D2lIhu8QE2xUHoaAUH4p63q3jKoM9TGTuB59e32yQ/s320/P1060909.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Mexican in Spain! Recommended by a friend! It was amazing to have really good Mexican food and one of my favorite beers - Pacifico and a Corona! It was sooo good! </div><br />
Now, most of those pictures don't show the immense amount of rain we got in Spain. Our bullfighting tour guide let us know that we were very unlikely to be getting rain in April. This did not help my disappointment in getting so much rain. However, I made friends in the rain and I powered through the week of rain! I love Spain and am going back in June! More to come about other cities in Spain.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4106163452953732003.post-64756379767689944182011-04-26T12:26:00.002+02:002011-04-26T12:26:22.559+02:00Home Sweet HomeI woke up at 5:45, got on a boat, took the train to get to the plane, then a bus to the train, then a tram to the bus, and then walked to my house! Six hours of traveling to get back just in time to start working! I had an amazing trip and there are pictures and posts to come very soon! But for now it is time to get acquainted with cleanliness and Baby Gaga!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4106163452953732003.post-14570743565699230832011-04-14T15:59:00.000+02:002011-04-14T15:59:06.450+02:008 Months - The Countdown to HomeI have decided to leave the family and come home. I mean that in every sense of the word. I am moving into my house with my parents. After months of conversations with friends, the family, my family etc. I made the decision that it was time for me to head home. The family doesn't know anything about Paris and as far as I can tell it has fallen completely out of the conversation in the last two weeks. <div><br />
</div><div>So now my count down has begun. I have a lot to accomplish before I leave but I have also a great year to look back on and it isn't even over yet! I am going to miss so much about this lifestyle (aka. little work and a lot of play). I have also started to understand how hard it is going to be to leave the family. I have my fair share of complaints but at the end of the day these kids have stolen my heart ten times over! To make it worse, G has begun to make it clear how sad she is that I am leaving and that "I should stay for forever with her." </div><div><br />
</div><div>This begins the countdown. Summer is around the corner and I have several more trips to be planned before I head back to San Diego at the end of August. I am heading to Spain and Amsterdam this week, Paris (for real this time) in June, a few more places in Switzerland (including paragliding!), and possibly Scandinavia in August before heading home. My schedule is packed and I love it! I am hoping a weekend trip in May to Rome if I can make it work. I will also be going to the South of France twice with the family not to mention actually enjoying Zurich for the summer! </div><div><br />
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</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4106163452953732003.post-89722976466242488232011-04-14T15:58:00.000+02:002011-04-14T15:58:00.905+02:00Stephen's Visit<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">My BROTHER came to visit! I was so excited that he was coming to get a taste of Europe and more importantly that I got to see him! This has been the longest time I have gone without seeing anyone in my family so it was great to have him around! The second he got off the plane I saw him as an adult. My little brother is no longer a teenager! I couldn't believe how old he looked AND how much he looked like Anthony (my older brother). </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Anyway, he got off the plane, and we headed from the airport, to a quick lunch and a 5 hour train ride to Genea, Italy (also known as Genova). He was exhausted and after we finally found our hotel and got (a delicious) dinner (Italian wine included) it was time for bed. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4kdvTxY91z2Wn8OJbIUvbBSzgsZt4m_LyPCy0Ol5umTc0ABiwhEvgpE9n7FLN36I89ZpYcZ1FYJGxFUINpt5fO1o_usSEM5yPmj1DJO2gl2zsDXo1ZM-6jUqXfSzFGa-0pzgznWhnbD0/s1600/P1060418.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4kdvTxY91z2Wn8OJbIUvbBSzgsZt4m_LyPCy0Ol5umTc0ABiwhEvgpE9n7FLN36I89ZpYcZ1FYJGxFUINpt5fO1o_usSEM5yPmj1DJO2gl2zsDXo1ZM-6jUqXfSzFGa-0pzgznWhnbD0/s320/P1060418.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Genoa, Italy</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">When I woke up, I headed out to find us some breakfast before waking him up (I know I am the best sister ever!). After being outside for about 10 minutes, I was sweating from the SUN! It was absolutely amazing. I hadn't felt its warmth in so long and was able to wear SHORTS for the day. The trip was just getting better! </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuPbI_SX7x0qodS_0yQeU1yPR6LclKFAZDySoWSTklEE6_gV-ocRzYqYXAQ9fhWpoK8LkkiMga7ECQjn4vdZmO2pLqb01z1UoVc0N5pLFOmIi0wBNeHwMffSfWSNkHo4CMld3MFDp9Jlk/s1600/P1060448.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuPbI_SX7x0qodS_0yQeU1yPR6LclKFAZDySoWSTklEE6_gV-ocRzYqYXAQ9fhWpoK8LkkiMga7ECQjn4vdZmO2pLqb01z1UoVc0N5pLFOmIi0wBNeHwMffSfWSNkHo4CMld3MFDp9Jlk/s320/P1060448.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">There are too many pictures of Stephen not smiling and me being ridiculous...hmmm</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOCZex0FXou48aqpxvXd1yd3TBLTNQ3jpNGoCs5hYduPKPlXazPwfdjgbraYiivZJZEE0mDNowB7QefCR9jN9JKFhS62SJ81SZ5xzD3Za2F0vrIIjI3EUTaI8q-igwIIzUMEwvWhGs23c/s1600/P1060466.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOCZex0FXou48aqpxvXd1yd3TBLTNQ3jpNGoCs5hYduPKPlXazPwfdjgbraYiivZJZEE0mDNowB7QefCR9jN9JKFhS62SJ81SZ5xzD3Za2F0vrIIjI3EUTaI8q-igwIIzUMEwvWhGs23c/s320/P1060466.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">At port. A self timer picture..you know how I love them!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We explored the city by foot for the rest of the day. Stephen did a little bit of shopping. We found a great restaurant with some salami pasta dish and pesto pasta (both traditional for the region). We had some more amazing Italian wine and fried dough as an appetizer that was "filled" with "vegetables" but really it was just delicious fried dough!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXWe352nQM2S2tWqWiophlxi5QqdQT-tPHtAvvYPnd6FAc5-PS6_SYn8UQMsuVMOV2PyRSV-r5fhb1lWIQvezyYQXfxVYXGLvQdpyn_srynVlzsrrHG_Vvs93LRCLYx38hamB6zFYHNqw/s1600/P1060497.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXWe352nQM2S2tWqWiophlxi5QqdQT-tPHtAvvYPnd6FAc5-PS6_SYn8UQMsuVMOV2PyRSV-r5fhb1lWIQvezyYQXfxVYXGLvQdpyn_srynVlzsrrHG_Vvs93LRCLYx38hamB6zFYHNqw/s320/P1060497.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">So we made it to Milan after Genoa. The Duomo in Milan is one of the most famous churches in Europe. Stephen had yet to see a church and seemed confused by the fact that I was so adamant about going to the church in Milan. This may have been one of my favorite moments in Italy. Stephen and I walk up the stairs from the Metro and as he turned to see the church, his face stared in awe at the beautiful church.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It truly was gorgeous and at the recommendation from the same friend we headed to the top of the church. The beauty continued! It is my new favorite church in Europe. I am not sure anything by the Sistine Chapel will surpass this one. When you are in Europe, you see a lot of churches and, well, they get old. They are more of the same. Ornate, gaudy and expensive. Yet, occasionally I come to a church that I really enjoy and you can't help but admire it. Milan's is one of those! </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpCtjmh2ftRF8T0QQiTV4gmqE0Dvx8oJWQ5cD2sICE4T2gRPvSMxy-8y-WJgQghVghQS57dk5M0NPRNpFvaVrPBelHQzzMGC8oAc1V9KXxHKj7Y0y4qKnaGcC6R6kMXR7JTl-_m2WAg8o/s1600/P1060506.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpCtjmh2ftRF8T0QQiTV4gmqE0Dvx8oJWQ5cD2sICE4T2gRPvSMxy-8y-WJgQghVghQS57dk5M0NPRNpFvaVrPBelHQzzMGC8oAc1V9KXxHKj7Y0y4qKnaGcC6R6kMXR7JTl-_m2WAg8o/s320/P1060506.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqmqkwZMKlGQ-o0YgqjPPvw_PSlH-VwS8uOMeEeszFAvy-el3QO5znbZqWo8goR2EnypaXVBuDQ0gtNG2sbF1VGXKSVxZRMsdwh-gvmnH4G1j5VxqKuQj0o8OjeeKo2mclCJ9IXb3Nmfk/s1600/P1060511.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqmqkwZMKlGQ-o0YgqjPPvw_PSlH-VwS8uOMeEeszFAvy-el3QO5znbZqWo8goR2EnypaXVBuDQ0gtNG2sbF1VGXKSVxZRMsdwh-gvmnH4G1j5VxqKuQj0o8OjeeKo2mclCJ9IXb3Nmfk/s320/P1060511.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">View of below from above</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjsXEoCQM-K3kUl9Wa-PHL0JVI0HBMxqAbCYbrIcSoNADCrhoZ4vkwOdboRc2fbJBZm1nhN5_mhaXZbrZpACTCssR1srbmGTatfkxZiyHhBr6tclge4Rx3SQ64xhpWOQHnsdh3b88XBic/s1600/P1060539.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjsXEoCQM-K3kUl9Wa-PHL0JVI0HBMxqAbCYbrIcSoNADCrhoZ4vkwOdboRc2fbJBZm1nhN5_mhaXZbrZpACTCssR1srbmGTatfkxZiyHhBr6tclge4Rx3SQ64xhpWOQHnsdh3b88XBic/s320/P1060539.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">After exploring more of Milan and getting disappointed by our lunch meal, we headed off to find gelato. Which made up for it all. It.was.AMAZING. The line out the door was there for a reason! It was absolutely d.e.l.i.c.i.o.u.s.!!!!! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">After another bad meal in Milan we explored more of the city and then headed back to the hotel early to enjoy some Italian TV and a good night of sleep for the first time all weekend. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh73iH0pXEN-byH_obKm9Ppd1Tr_XdOsfoA5Vu-Em7e2aLdM04iSuvq_jYIMHSs2RUQgVwyC8mVfawzJPCWvkpWl1L-8D96xD65a6v8W23jlKGV-tXhXkq0DtHQKHRerKNBEXB4JfotyRo/s1600/P1060553.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh73iH0pXEN-byH_obKm9Ppd1Tr_XdOsfoA5Vu-Em7e2aLdM04iSuvq_jYIMHSs2RUQgVwyC8mVfawzJPCWvkpWl1L-8D96xD65a6v8W23jlKGV-tXhXkq0DtHQKHRerKNBEXB4JfotyRo/s320/P1060553.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">After a wonderful four day trip in Italy, we headed to Zurich for the rest of the week. Stephen got to see where I live, meet the kids, and my friends. It is always fun to show your city to someone! Especially since the sun was shining during his whole trip! </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9mchXiyxJJrry5mrwbKh_wjvBbVrPuhzEoCAT4HrHqT79jyAURjjnHXv66x8vvUyNg-bSVMNaOokGq8Lpesj_qNNA4GDc_OqrJq61W60u_U91MZwKMV6zOh8EO0GS2PzCsv_cctaNZfw/s1600/P1060577.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9mchXiyxJJrry5mrwbKh_wjvBbVrPuhzEoCAT4HrHqT79jyAURjjnHXv66x8vvUyNg-bSVMNaOokGq8Lpesj_qNNA4GDc_OqrJq61W60u_U91MZwKMV6zOh8EO0GS2PzCsv_cctaNZfw/s320/P1060577.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Our hike in Zurich to the highest place in Zurich</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVbgDZOLDUskaGhEggzPuVZ3OdPR1Wnw0tsFpJLZ-HMoeKf4-r2vs2bv5NH6CIHNWNEKa0GCVfB2o5cLPBgqR2501U_h8KM2iKy1wdwHEMWkf3XrQsqq6VE6slTev8zlucovUGJQRXwKc/s1600/P1060588.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVbgDZOLDUskaGhEggzPuVZ3OdPR1Wnw0tsFpJLZ-HMoeKf4-r2vs2bv5NH6CIHNWNEKa0GCVfB2o5cLPBgqR2501U_h8KM2iKy1wdwHEMWkf3XrQsqq6VE6slTev8zlucovUGJQRXwKc/s320/P1060588.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A trip to the Lindt Factory (yummmm)</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinGsvvuy4nX1MIMVvdOGAU1MIy80qiY1ZOYLJDOZVInwbh40O7gyLnPeXERMlN5Ttqzfr14PC_5J1YGsfEYeYYBabdVvhL9MQnzFabqvn4eztfqxbaJ94K-iNE_DYuCpn4pfX5WWmhmlU/s1600/P1060589.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinGsvvuy4nX1MIMVvdOGAU1MIy80qiY1ZOYLJDOZVInwbh40O7gyLnPeXERMlN5Ttqzfr14PC_5J1YGsfEYeYYBabdVvhL9MQnzFabqvn4eztfqxbaJ94K-iNE_DYuCpn4pfX5WWmhmlU/s320/P1060589.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Yummm</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOcQ0Qv4wxEewBGiSjgEWMtUOqMwEYAUUnx0CFo1GKMUuR8cFg1sWaQAoxjqt2skmtYGamXh2k-oSjnqNvXcd8tDmVzsT4uw5EEtUUcWypjPc8iln_zDisyCM1sstcSKOiOcpuiidyEqc/s1600/P1060592.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOcQ0Qv4wxEewBGiSjgEWMtUOqMwEYAUUnx0CFo1GKMUuR8cFg1sWaQAoxjqt2skmtYGamXh2k-oSjnqNvXcd8tDmVzsT4uw5EEtUUcWypjPc8iln_zDisyCM1sstcSKOiOcpuiidyEqc/s320/P1060592.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>It was insane to see him as an adult and my not-so-little-brother. I was thrilled to have had the chance to show him a little bit of the world and my world! We had some delicious food throughout the whole trip. We were also able to go to the Swiss National Team's tryouts, where Stephen was able to put some of his classes into action!<br />
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We both had so many good conversations, laughs, and have I mentioned the food? I have passed him the travel bug and I can't wait until our next trip together!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4106163452953732003.post-24739262353119547442011-04-01T15:00:00.000+02:002011-04-01T15:00:00.951+02:00Pictures to Say it Allor most of it... Here's a photo blog of what I've been up to the last couple of months!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIKmnPmm_fWKYtujymXIpptBokOHqQjfW26K21O25cct-N5bNM9zxnlbk0Vufai5_uXYTMNBep47_ElJVTa3AM1zuwTJaQPv2O0gbNy0SzAz49F2kNNhUpAujeYs-55rw76EeFYCCYDig/s1600/P1060104.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIKmnPmm_fWKYtujymXIpptBokOHqQjfW26K21O25cct-N5bNM9zxnlbk0Vufai5_uXYTMNBep47_ElJVTa3AM1zuwTJaQPv2O0gbNy0SzAz49F2kNNhUpAujeYs-55rw76EeFYCCYDig/s320/P1060104.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A beautiful day in Luzurn </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIxEloZof2FI-0NnCR6NpSM1IhNq4PpbfkMeDNF0JeKLM5ZG8A_mwJK4btAVyl5gxMCroZn04WSxkcB5u1a89L2_0ZpwKKOIFNawhIt7oxuvDI1nUpZMFiu2AJ2UrXxNPhazHzwVjwWDk/s1600/195987_559496028771_46001648_32644557_8223054_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIxEloZof2FI-0NnCR6NpSM1IhNq4PpbfkMeDNF0JeKLM5ZG8A_mwJK4btAVyl5gxMCroZn04WSxkcB5u1a89L2_0ZpwKKOIFNawhIt7oxuvDI1nUpZMFiu2AJ2UrXxNPhazHzwVjwWDk/s320/195987_559496028771_46001648_32644557_8223054_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Emily came to visit from Dublin!</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsDFmdBfC0NQi4KN7_gr3dm8WATrljihE6ZI-5KncqWjt_pkP_fwWR2NZmY3LGDzHDBacxDkjBpo8l8hzUuek0XUUCyyfnWSKBiAjrgmtB36x-9PdSDRvTMPe6yCG0tLbf6bOG24r74Ng/s1600/166681_524810384414_79300546_30882081_8342811_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsDFmdBfC0NQi4KN7_gr3dm8WATrljihE6ZI-5KncqWjt_pkP_fwWR2NZmY3LGDzHDBacxDkjBpo8l8hzUuek0XUUCyyfnWSKBiAjrgmtB36x-9PdSDRvTMPe6yCG0tLbf6bOG24r74Ng/s320/166681_524810384414_79300546_30882081_8342811_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I went glass blowing</div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn4bqNktwrGZF3LX_x5y1jY6zcsPXf0ABEh3_BRmqWOWGWJjneS7M5Yadw8bS63gBWoeIkh88X7tNIsXMVgkwymfynaqDiQseftyBH-4q951-mzyMKDOd83cdZvUBUjkR9Dfd9iPy2p_U/s1600/P1060119.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn4bqNktwrGZF3LX_x5y1jY6zcsPXf0ABEh3_BRmqWOWGWJjneS7M5Yadw8bS63gBWoeIkh88X7tNIsXMVgkwymfynaqDiQseftyBH-4q951-mzyMKDOd83cdZvUBUjkR9Dfd9iPy2p_U/s320/P1060119.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Playing around in the afternoon</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtOKXITfw2PGl3FHDO42gmVVfZm3GFXMGUHyaRSSsMyz59gbZYQBK0n7xX9gZseQsTktf8PikIhk7izBWDa1gMt-YZdiLT9EIORUJWek44S1sXkObUiJg6JFqQjYI9tgQPi0W7c9sIe1s/s1600/P1060151.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtOKXITfw2PGl3FHDO42gmVVfZm3GFXMGUHyaRSSsMyz59gbZYQBK0n7xX9gZseQsTktf8PikIhk7izBWDa1gMt-YZdiLT9EIORUJWek44S1sXkObUiJg6JFqQjYI9tgQPi0W7c9sIe1s/s320/P1060151.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Hiking in Falera during ski week</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_jbP5Mz5oCMETJfVf-2nOi5U4nkQNGam5j_E9kxHVOI8w7xPWkVuqRzbhM0Ba_QvB2LYNCSoglKX5rd1BTzJM5vJSmddY1ik6TqYszSpucmO6tcs7DYftroPQvfE2IwfFi9poaT6dY0Q/s1600/P1060233.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_jbP5Mz5oCMETJfVf-2nOi5U4nkQNGam5j_E9kxHVOI8w7xPWkVuqRzbhM0Ba_QvB2LYNCSoglKX5rd1BTzJM5vJSmddY1ik6TqYszSpucmO6tcs7DYftroPQvfE2IwfFi9poaT6dY0Q/s320/P1060233.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I had a beer at the highest bar in Europe (10,000 feet)</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilVKK0wCLbZQ1erJ33gmTF3vmhE0-J1Yl0QbcUNoovgs4ki_pr43WGiHzkgFu0RFcubGNqoGQF4JdjXAlve54El8e5_LvODqEtfrDfGc8ddOrB5wLEBqHNJXAgYJF0jSjBOdA5irIz6ao/s1600/P1060199.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilVKK0wCLbZQ1erJ33gmTF3vmhE0-J1Yl0QbcUNoovgs4ki_pr43WGiHzkgFu0RFcubGNqoGQF4JdjXAlve54El8e5_LvODqEtfrDfGc8ddOrB5wLEBqHNJXAgYJF0jSjBOdA5irIz6ao/s320/P1060199.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Making birthday cupcakes with G</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhICAd4FpchNuEye61yst4FQ2MxRydrWu62jR8HgpELc85aVa-0NW6VniepEbGQpJJq2hjWlXyKN8cBV1gkXjuyTg7Ti14Sx6V7mgVqo4oj4PaxrhLzKW9TLri-bqivbvSqpdC3trMHUec/s1600/P1060240.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhICAd4FpchNuEye61yst4FQ2MxRydrWu62jR8HgpELc85aVa-0NW6VniepEbGQpJJq2hjWlXyKN8cBV1gkXjuyTg7Ti14Sx6V7mgVqo4oj4PaxrhLzKW9TLri-bqivbvSqpdC3trMHUec/s320/P1060240.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Hanging out in a glacier (after having my beer at the highest bar in Europe)</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl1wDuAOJIumAfuQko1k8hjpqMszLhXC4DAiXtsl5vX3jEMUFDesYe2BtVoWaoUkA5zd6CUKjXawkgCkhMSyQaTQL0AHQ0KiHI3g9lkr71MuYGcVmqByvDkW6XC7jE7dfuMispIDQIAno/s1600/P1060228.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl1wDuAOJIumAfuQko1k8hjpqMszLhXC4DAiXtsl5vX3jEMUFDesYe2BtVoWaoUkA5zd6CUKjXawkgCkhMSyQaTQL0AHQ0KiHI3g9lkr71MuYGcVmqByvDkW6XC7jE7dfuMispIDQIAno/s320/P1060228.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoIEIR_3rEqHwIH0AGzDoPDlaCk-oSVKMo4yjJU44qrHWa_v9jAyjQnpLqrqyuGdaX6d2a8g5KOQRb80-G5xG-dj7uqiCuMybbSY5a98fKfsXTS5DbX7WtMnvcVcjk8VB8ss8ZgBRs_x4/s1600/P1060203+-+Copy+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoIEIR_3rEqHwIH0AGzDoPDlaCk-oSVKMo4yjJU44qrHWa_v9jAyjQnpLqrqyuGdaX6d2a8g5KOQRb80-G5xG-dj7uqiCuMybbSY5a98fKfsXTS5DbX7WtMnvcVcjk8VB8ss8ZgBRs_x4/s320/P1060203+-+Copy+%25282%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Became regular at Oliver Twist's with these ladies</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJbVKsoW4ulmkn7UJZ6XF45khjEPIQncWfudTnhqp0kpgtYxEToATOn00FIlo1tAwgYW3lmj4xNCPbbdJqaoQ6SWKXjEPhqS75BtbTpBy8vJKPW-gEaAA99UzeKPTTn6313GLd9AejkTY/s1600/P1060285.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJbVKsoW4ulmkn7UJZ6XF45khjEPIQncWfudTnhqp0kpgtYxEToATOn00FIlo1tAwgYW3lmj4xNCPbbdJqaoQ6SWKXjEPhqS75BtbTpBy8vJKPW-gEaAA99UzeKPTTn6313GLd9AejkTY/s320/P1060285.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Road a camel</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1S3qhTzBu01qf22ChCy_29dUVmuCxHVutGKQpPvw6Vf-xpNYTHYKJ_HGZA52zXjPEwPGxaeFS-RFXoVWf4AyFySi6IL_hjJSfJZZeyOyDp4O3DOAVfOK38BO_CnHkpdMcjn73L7GQ-GE/s1600/P1060292.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1S3qhTzBu01qf22ChCy_29dUVmuCxHVutGKQpPvw6Vf-xpNYTHYKJ_HGZA52zXjPEwPGxaeFS-RFXoVWf4AyFySi6IL_hjJSfJZZeyOyDp4O3DOAVfOK38BO_CnHkpdMcjn73L7GQ-GE/s320/P1060292.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Emily and I preparing for our elephant ride</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDz1HIaddEtJZMfexut__gVPGEJxoLDveTrnAwYpBRCmWrQMJZW0V5bsYK9ZdHrLnsVDHWNguPU1TdCbpxVPes4NGYoNJJiLlN2uaD9wCy4_HiZw9ZAnWAxm-xfES-nlVItx5r26z7Vi4/s1600/P1060329.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDz1HIaddEtJZMfexut__gVPGEJxoLDveTrnAwYpBRCmWrQMJZW0V5bsYK9ZdHrLnsVDHWNguPU1TdCbpxVPes4NGYoNJJiLlN2uaD9wCy4_HiZw9ZAnWAxm-xfES-nlVItx5r26z7Vi4/s320/P1060329.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I never thought I would ride an elephant in Switzerland..but it happened!</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzWIoeDND3jYMiCWdNScxFPoUqrZL-6dO0rNTv3hsEpWV4gK1UA_eMJ8cl57qeiU3fKW0LMePN70CekdLPJudb8XiIqp2QdDBje3v_VsBmIL3XjWVnhd8zZ4brrt5Y_q2pGzCVKww_3E8/s1600/P1060399.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzWIoeDND3jYMiCWdNScxFPoUqrZL-6dO0rNTv3hsEpWV4gK1UA_eMJ8cl57qeiU3fKW0LMePN70CekdLPJudb8XiIqp2QdDBje3v_VsBmIL3XjWVnhd8zZ4brrt5Y_q2pGzCVKww_3E8/s320/P1060399.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Happy St. Patrick's Day!</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv9LL06rTYu02NTGtXV8auIPT52Kxyq4h3zcBmjn01htXPe6l59TKTurp1mTsOZZKWhPR5ZsPBXAwtsX0s9H-rxLO3CCeDCRiEMxsh80R-rij8qJUXJZ3CHi1EaClV7PATpHEt34-5Pes/s1600/P1060350.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv9LL06rTYu02NTGtXV8auIPT52Kxyq4h3zcBmjn01htXPe6l59TKTurp1mTsOZZKWhPR5ZsPBXAwtsX0s9H-rxLO3CCeDCRiEMxsh80R-rij8qJUXJZ3CHi1EaClV7PATpHEt34-5Pes/s320/P1060350.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">More confetti at <a href="http://michellepascucci.blogspot.com/2011/04/burning-winter-away.html">Fasnacht</a>!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div> It has been an amazing couple of months. I have had 2 visitors from home. Kristina (an old aupair) came visit and I met Jill, the aupair I replaced. The months here are coming to a close (more to come on that later) and I have so much more to do before it is over!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4106163452953732003.post-71235299524416584442011-04-01T13:17:00.000+02:002011-04-01T11:12:32.456+02:00Burning Winter Away<div>Switzerland has a special festival to help move the transition between seasons along faster. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carnival_of_Basel">Fasnacht</a> is the equivalent to Mardi Gras but there is also a Fire Parade that takes place the night before the Lantern Festival. It is literally a parade of fire. After spending a couple of hours throwing confetti all over the ground they light torches (brooms) on fire and walk down the street with them. They also have wagons stuffed with wood that they run down hill with. It was 2 hours of fire. Two hours of complete madness with children running down the street carrying fire, men drink beers while holding fire, and roasting bratwurst on the fire they are carrying down the street. </div><div><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBh0-29X45DwJULFcgQ_GbtGVuyOeXdDLDI2wKdFlYCrzo5ag6-_S2DOKxUBwmEM2TEzYbjFyhCQqYkIhFbxlBFAScrRl9EoN8iAppJDNxgsI0KzSyPtZNGXPlPD3xVPF33mzMcDyi4e0/s1600/189126_576341979401_51000876_33163226_1434041_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBh0-29X45DwJULFcgQ_GbtGVuyOeXdDLDI2wKdFlYCrzo5ag6-_S2DOKxUBwmEM2TEzYbjFyhCQqYkIhFbxlBFAScrRl9EoN8iAppJDNxgsI0KzSyPtZNGXPlPD3xVPF33mzMcDyi4e0/s320/189126_576341979401_51000876_33163226_1434041_n.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirA4yNaVAYr-ri_1C5zrdzz_vyrIO2Ld5LDnZwgxiUSWgQS7vNEj_u-EDivUMc7JFT538mKUSDk63-8knuSQNeDK9OC0hW5mgjnl-FxVKKDcdW8hz00pRyvDj90LE-jN2axX02IuZ12yM/s1600/199621_576341939481_51000876_33163224_1260198_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirA4yNaVAYr-ri_1C5zrdzz_vyrIO2Ld5LDnZwgxiUSWgQS7vNEj_u-EDivUMc7JFT538mKUSDk63-8knuSQNeDK9OC0hW5mgjnl-FxVKKDcdW8hz00pRyvDj90LE-jN2axX02IuZ12yM/s320/199621_576341939481_51000876_33163224_1260198_n.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg_cGn03mOtxXgzLvfy1VLDiefsrkgJZGsyNdzFme6KN0DJQuJhPBfPOM7RKjb7VZCfNQHsSx8ZR1jkGJNGYIAYNByX1iblhVx7U0wjUdYvzIcZEKMYkcESzL9W8IckbrFWDfU4YJdej8/s1600/199943_576342203951_51000876_33163232_7473645_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg_cGn03mOtxXgzLvfy1VLDiefsrkgJZGsyNdzFme6KN0DJQuJhPBfPOM7RKjb7VZCfNQHsSx8ZR1jkGJNGYIAYNByX1iblhVx7U0wjUdYvzIcZEKMYkcESzL9W8IckbrFWDfU4YJdej8/s320/199943_576342203951_51000876_33163232_7473645_n.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheYkVtB1L9e8wMQRGU_uYM3g0w6gEVlftS2EFMH2SxDWNhzM7T5mG-bjaoZKkSPCCxaXdiELJ7alKZsf16RLZ8uvAY8DG6n0bcDHCwAlgyQnHVWufz71AW9lO80uTd-Pl5cURSHUWEyls/s1600/188769_576341874611_51000876_33163221_2584914_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheYkVtB1L9e8wMQRGU_uYM3g0w6gEVlftS2EFMH2SxDWNhzM7T5mG-bjaoZKkSPCCxaXdiELJ7alKZsf16RLZ8uvAY8DG6n0bcDHCwAlgyQnHVWufz71AW9lO80uTd-Pl5cURSHUWEyls/s320/188769_576341874611_51000876_33163221_2584914_n.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="213" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">** Parade pictures taken by Whitney Card**</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">As we stood in awe of the fire, we couldn't help but repeating over and over how there is no permit that you could get in the States for a fire parade. It looks like the city is on fire. There are moments when the wagon had such a big fire we felt like we were going to burn. The Swiss women next to us were telling us to pull back our hair and make sure we looked away otherwise we would lose it all! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">The last picture is a archway that the fire had to go through at the end of the parade. Each time a wagon would reached this point the crowd held their breathe as fire crews stood there to spray water at the just the right time. It was a phenomenal event. It also seemed to have scared winter away, which I am eternally grateful for. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">In a couple of weeks we are burning a wooden snowman to say goodbye to winter! </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4106163452953732003.post-34593651542488488522011-04-01T10:21:00.000+02:002011-04-01T10:21:37.448+02:00Spring Has ArrivedIt has been awhile and I have been busy. I have finally purchased a new computer and can back to updated you on my life. It has been 2 months since I last posted and let me say, SPRING IS HERE! I remember Spring coming last year in D.C. and it was glorious. The city was awaken by tulips and cherry blossoms. People filled the parks with their kids and more importantly their puppies! This year has been no different. As I learn the in and outs of winter, I learn the importance of Spring. Spring is what gets you excited for summer. It is an amazing opportunity to ease your way out of winter and watch as a city gains its life back. Without spring, the transition from winter to summer would be too much too fast. <div><div><br />
</div><div>This year has been no different. Zurich is crowded when the weekend comes about. There are people lining the lake and river. The outdoor seats have returned. And most importantly, the sun is out regularly. Life is just better when the sun is shining! So with that, here are some pictures of winter turning into spring. </div><div><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP5YJyjwV7H5OmUOcWX4TFKiZyEj-I1w5z2Kg9PUKbiO5wCnl93oGOXjGzuyOVjwf2ih6C5L98bb8T_xgbYv3oCOgqo8AJC1FO9Wv0WScvp-SZKAoyxXeMq_myXrtusAbbocblE89Rmk4/s1600/P1060112.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP5YJyjwV7H5OmUOcWX4TFKiZyEj-I1w5z2Kg9PUKbiO5wCnl93oGOXjGzuyOVjwf2ih6C5L98bb8T_xgbYv3oCOgqo8AJC1FO9Wv0WScvp-SZKAoyxXeMq_myXrtusAbbocblE89Rmk4/s320/P1060112.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Boating across the lake on Super Bowl Sunday</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-h7NTV9gvB0qn7iuAhrqRC7QxLv4_eT82NNRZGTDR6uQpQyMTIv19tU_TJJqu9Zpw4DKe19AxOamFwlOTcIkfblamZd6FcJ5Rrp-CrSkkW21aqwVCGyFvf7TVrYBuwcsmjg6jBPr0k5U/s1600/P1060148.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-h7NTV9gvB0qn7iuAhrqRC7QxLv4_eT82NNRZGTDR6uQpQyMTIv19tU_TJJqu9Zpw4DKe19AxOamFwlOTcIkfblamZd6FcJ5Rrp-CrSkkW21aqwVCGyFvf7TVrYBuwcsmjg6jBPr0k5U/s320/P1060148.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Ski week in Falera with the family. There </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">wasn't much snow and I was hiking in a t-shirt!</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSI61C-K6iaNxUEFZse898eqIxYVsyUr_6TsD2JxPTHq1orPGHHsVlzMjBm6hRWZiDqrGrDUJjh0GkB2QWfr7BM1UX5bueU7ktm7D_lmWgwN8AH1gwY3wYNEkJdGCBo0aYtp590qje7XM/s1600/P1060277.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSI61C-K6iaNxUEFZse898eqIxYVsyUr_6TsD2JxPTHq1orPGHHsVlzMjBm6hRWZiDqrGrDUJjh0GkB2QWfr7BM1UX5bueU7ktm7D_lmWgwN8AH1gwY3wYNEkJdGCBo0aYtp590qje7XM/s320/P1060277.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A Day at the Children's zoo</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyEBeD65Be446-8jsVHgN3oATrp8_jJjiFMCwRH5QqTg9j-535XGmLsNZBLVHR0f5pi-TChfrMu4CckS6oNNFEHKYjtv5tHVsY0wQY7WJeNUfxJH1K2Wiha3a-8hUm0QCv-KmSpy09xoE/s1600/P1060284.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyEBeD65Be446-8jsVHgN3oATrp8_jJjiFMCwRH5QqTg9j-535XGmLsNZBLVHR0f5pi-TChfrMu4CckS6oNNFEHKYjtv5tHVsY0wQY7WJeNUfxJH1K2Wiha3a-8hUm0QCv-KmSpy09xoE/s320/P1060284.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Riding a camel at the zoo! In a sweater!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4106163452953732003.post-67228737375184062682011-02-22T17:10:00.000+01:002011-02-22T17:10:28.318+01:00A Sunny Ski WeekSkiing is a huge thing in Switzerland. With the Alps all around us, most people learn to ski when they are 3 years old. Skiing is so big that they get a ski break (1-2 weeks) off from school to take advantage of the slopes all around them. So off to the mountains I went with Mama C and the kids. We stayed with a family friend in Falera, Switzerland. It is absolutely beautiful and a perfect week in the mountains by my standards. It was about nearly 50 degrees every day and there were few clouds in the sky. This meant that I was able to go some amazing hikes and runs (yes you read that right). I got some sun on my face and attempted to reintroduce the sun to my legs as well. It can be described at nothing other than glorious!<br />
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Mama C was extremely generous and offered to pay for me to have a private ski lesson. So made the reservations and was asked what level I was at. I promptly responded with "beginner." She looked at me confused and clarified that I meant beginner (remember how everyone learns to ski when they are 3?). I confirmed. The nice lady told me to meet my instructor at the Pony Slope. "You know where the kids ski?" I laughed to myself and said yes.<br />
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I was off to the lesson on Wednesday morning. I walked out of the rental place with my skis and within 15 seconds fell backwards. Skis and poles flew and the man from the rental shop looked at me trying not to laugh and asked if I was ok. I quickly gathered myself, nodded, and moved quickly away from the scene. I was off to a great start.<br />
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I headed to the PonySlope to start my lesson with a bruised hiney and, in all honesty, not feeling very confident. I was having flashbacks to screaming and tumbling down the mountain a few weeks prior.<br />
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I met my instructor. She decided to clarify that I was a beginning and once I confirmed we started. We had the slope to ourselves for the first hour, and then the kids came with their parents. I could do nothing other than laugh at the current situation. I was learning out to snowplow surrounded by kids with the average age of 5. Parents stared confused and I smiled as my instructor held my poles up the t-bar.<br />
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The lesson ended and I was feeling good. I didn't fall and I was turning like it was second nature. I spent some time alone on the slope and then headed back to the house for lunch. I wish my story ended there, but because I was feel like so good they gave me their lift pass and I headed to a blue slope (blue is the easiest here). P (the 9 year old boy) came up with me. <br />
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The blue slope was not so easy and I was not so confident once I left the kids' slope. No matter how much I knew what I was supposed to do, without the confidence the idea of gaining speed was too much for me to handle. I told P to snowboard down without me. I gave it a try but ended up walking down holding my skis. While I now know the technique to turn and stop, I can't say that I will picking up the sport any time soon. <br />
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**I have run into some computer problems and have limited access to a computer at the moment so I am a bit late on any updates/pictures and will be for a couple weeks probably.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4106163452953732003.post-72625802787345560822011-02-10T15:52:00.000+01:002011-02-10T15:52:47.515+01:00Halfway to NowhereI have reached my halfway mark. I have been working for 6 months and I have 6 more months to go! Things are going well really well! I have an awesome group of friends and some great travel plans coming up. I am heading out to the mountains for the next week with he family which sounds awful but I think I am ready to embrace a week of isolation with he family( but I will let you know next week how it actually goes!). <br />
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What are we going to do next? This question has infiltrated my fellow au pairs' and my regular conversations. Most of us saw this as a way to travel, attempt to learn a language, and live abroad. (Oh yes and take care of other people's children?) But most of all, as a way to put off being a part of the regular <i>grown-up</i> workforce. I tried the desk job in DC and it wasn't a great fit. So what's next?<br />
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As you have deducted from the title of my blog, I have no idea. I don't think I am done living abroad but I would like to find a way to incorporate living abroad with actually doing something related to what I want to do professionally. I have also started having he grad school conversation with people again and I know I can't keep outing that off. I have some undergrad classes I need to take before I can apply. And there is the GMAT and GRE to study for. Needless to say it is all just a bit overwhelming. <br />
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So that has become an important aspect of deciding what to do next. I have looked into some volunteer abroad programs for the fall. Another opportunity has arisen with the family. They might move to Paris this summer and would love for me to stay. So I am now considering because as you know I fell in love with Paris! So if I stay I have told myself that I will take the classes I need online in he fall and then study I. The spring and apply to start grad school in he stall of 2013. <br />
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That is a two year plan with a lit of the plan missing, like he jobs and a but of reality missing by if here is one hint I can guarantee is hat I am having a blast right now and the 2year plan I just laid out will change 10 more times (at least)!!!!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4106163452953732003.post-61016241419610155752011-02-05T00:57:00.000+01:002011-02-05T00:57:33.356+01:00Getting a PhD in Awesome!<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">To be honest I have been trying to draft an email that will capture the countless hilarious stories and just amazing-ness of the weekend but I have been failing all week. So instead I will share some stories and you too can earn your PhD in awesome!</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">It was a weekend filled with laughs, drinks, fondue, and soooo many fails and bails! Now, I have really never skied before. I am not even sure that I have been in a reasonable proximity to skiing since I tried snowboarding when I was 14. My friend <a href="http://aufschweizerdeutsch.blogspot.com/">Rachel's</a> brother, who also resides in Switzerland, rented a hut in the mountains so we could all go skiing and just enjoy a lovely weekend away! There were about 35 of us at the height of the weekend, four aupairs and 30 people with PhDs or in the process of getting one! Rachel, Nicole, Anna, and I headed off for a weekend of adult conversations, beautiful views, and skiing. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">1. Rachel is (not) an excellent teacher. (To be completely fair I may have been a difficult student.) I have NEVER touched skis in my life and in order to get up to hut we had to take a t-bar up the mountain and then ski down a bit to get to where we needed to be. I was terrified. I asked Rachel for more specific instructions on how to put skis on than "Ok put your skis on." I proceeded to the t-bar where a mean Swiss man yelled at me in German. I assume he was telling me to move faster and after missing t-bar chance, he grabbed me and a bar and put me on it and up the mountain I went. Without any knowledge of what I was doing, I successfully made it up the t-bar on my first try on skis. Little did I know, getting back down the mountain would be much scarier! </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">2. Don't try to catch the last t-bar up and do not try to hold on with your hands. Fortunately, I made it up because I was scared and refused to move any part of my body until my truly graceful dismount at the top. However, my dear friend Nicole did not. She had to catch a snow-plow like ride a couple hours later. We greeted her at the door with a much needed glass of wine. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">3. The mountains are gorgeous. I know this in theory but the views that surrounded us were just unbelievable. So learning to appreciate the cold and snow, just another step towards your PhD.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">4. This is a short video of my second attempt. I am the small black blog that falls at the end. The fall was much more graceful and I didn't scream the whole time, so it was definitely an improvement! My lack of ability to turn, brings me back to Rachel's teaching abilities. My instructions were, "turn." And when I continues to not turn, my instructions were "TURN, Why aren't you turning???" In the end, I could turn one direction but never switch directions, which is how you can slow yourself down. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">5. Rachel does have what we can call "motivating skills." I was not so much enjoying the walk up the hill to ski down for 10 seconds and fall so I lent my poles to someone so that they could ski and I had an excuse not to ski. As it it turns out, this was not a good enough excuse as apparently, like a child, I need to earn my poles as the children do. So up the hill I went without my safety net of poles. However, the result was the same, I started going to fast and bailed yet again!</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyfzZ0ZKsCJvXtq0K-wLSt9SRBo_6wqC2TkCndjl5OszBKE2pII2ZJuytGLBdecLcz2N-PRFVCUo3U6Ga_SyQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span id="goog_1041755157"></span><span id="goog_1041755158"></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I am the person in black that falls at the end!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">6. Having adult conversations with people other than aupairs. So my social circle is pretty small and while we try to avoid the topic of children and housework, we often times do find ourselves talking about. This weekend was a reminder than we are all capable of having real adult conversations! </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">7. Apparently, skiing is like riding a bike...but when you haven't learned to ride, it is a difficult to begin. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf74ujjlsg4Yjqcx6i1uRs7A1SZrKG9RvkUeqrcBBO-FV8tZdBUy5-Zi-nZVmc-56OIc-Bq0XHoylluq7qLnSohYCgGEHC0Wj7AuP2F34XCBOncaQOj2KCr8-p1rUinxAqd6WzAqE6V74/s1600/IMG_4242.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf74ujjlsg4Yjqcx6i1uRs7A1SZrKG9RvkUeqrcBBO-FV8tZdBUy5-Zi-nZVmc-56OIc-Bq0XHoylluq7qLnSohYCgGEHC0Wj7AuP2F34XCBOncaQOj2KCr8-p1rUinxAqd6WzAqE6V74/s320/IMG_4242.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">Photo courtesy of Olin and Nikki</div><div class="" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">8. Going up the mountain is easier than going down. Now I can't say I am any better a skier than I was a week ago. I thought my motivation for learning to ski was that I would have to ski down the mountain so I put a lot into it on Saturday and was out there more than I wasn't However, Sunday I felt a bit defeated watching the three olds ski by me and decided the hut in the mountains was very pleasant place to hang out. I had also decided I would be walking down the mountain instead of skiing so the need to perfect my skill was lost. </div><div class="" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI-wgWjEpHTXpyu_y6n4oqCgqhH9c3nfUAVlt7jVwNK-QoZ-IUek98IChBmnARmcyAdafy6QJh_jHhN7qpC8JCROCQOy8LUU06nKeg8-oyNWjU5wd4HA6MSE5rqbIOs_H1C2qCRhuw-_E/s1600/P1060101.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI-wgWjEpHTXpyu_y6n4oqCgqhH9c3nfUAVlt7jVwNK-QoZ-IUek98IChBmnARmcyAdafy6QJh_jHhN7qpC8JCROCQOy8LUU06nKeg8-oyNWjU5wd4HA6MSE5rqbIOs_H1C2qCRhuw-_E/s320/P1060101.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">After several hours of trying to use all</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">the letters in bananagrams! </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtqkX1A6Hfb8ocldTgZj8kyjQUJAQ10LA2BqXZKaqJCRhh_S4gAoBbgMqKiqNLy9ZHYv0o4jM4VPA_x42ergv41KjxmJUwqi3soDRTveYYCChL1USgL0prx9QK464XhRzaYM4YLs59Pbc/s1600/P1060102.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtqkX1A6Hfb8ocldTgZj8kyjQUJAQ10LA2BqXZKaqJCRhh_S4gAoBbgMqKiqNLy9ZHYv0o4jM4VPA_x42ergv41KjxmJUwqi3soDRTveYYCChL1USgL0prx9QK464XhRzaYM4YLs59Pbc/s320/P1060102.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">Anna skied down with my skis so </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">I could walk down! My hero!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgckuNvD9ldPXmX56aquu3nhUzzcBCruK-8kQpLamUDCSbeTfsNGWyLkTAdv6sJJ_36_vggBAuDwBom9tdExcp0l1mRlqgi2nnqqWka6DYjggf2CHWHukNKz4IRWJRGwpuABPhWKZ77Mzs/s1600/P1060103.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgckuNvD9ldPXmX56aquu3nhUzzcBCruK-8kQpLamUDCSbeTfsNGWyLkTAdv6sJJ_36_vggBAuDwBom9tdExcp0l1mRlqgi2nnqqWka6DYjggf2CHWHukNKz4IRWJRGwpuABPhWKZ77Mzs/s320/P1060103.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div><div class="" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">Leaving on Sunday night</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSp6b1owAhlKk6r53j4qAbCHNUrsK2RZTu33BZ4MgddDW25nhZ4u4vCW7FUFcgJiPrURkqB9Ccipx21fY6-XTggIsLKbGT4DwgQ-wA9B8sGXARxsWRgHfU51xgDYNM4vqeduVTnVL6_VA/s1600/P1060068.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSp6b1owAhlKk6r53j4qAbCHNUrsK2RZTu33BZ4MgddDW25nhZ4u4vCW7FUFcgJiPrURkqB9Ccipx21fY6-XTggIsLKbGT4DwgQ-wA9B8sGXARxsWRgHfU51xgDYNM4vqeduVTnVL6_VA/s320/P1060068.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div><div class="" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">Making it down the mountain (walking) after a weekend of skiing without a bruise (at least a visible one) or a broken bone makes one memorable weekend in the Alps and each of us non-PhDs receiving a PhD in awesome for just being awesome!</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1y4RU3S0T6kYx5cU-zRBk0fpnmZWBfx-Ybc6CHhoRxOKhdbu_mOaY80FnKj5czuLiH4nqUYZwU5meUG5zf36jd3A-n1jTuX2nDE63cayBZ6is7QhRSiDACKz1NmJHe_uWoxCql5zCtiI/s1600/P1060057.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1y4RU3S0T6kYx5cU-zRBk0fpnmZWBfx-Ybc6CHhoRxOKhdbu_mOaY80FnKj5czuLiH4nqUYZwU5meUG5zf36jd3A-n1jTuX2nDE63cayBZ6is7QhRSiDACKz1NmJHe_uWoxCql5zCtiI/s320/P1060057.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">*Title of blog is courtesy of Rachel's (on the left) mind after a few glasses of wine. </div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4106163452953732003.post-22816424619624088482011-01-17T22:01:00.000+01:002011-01-17T22:01:48.748+01:00My Perfect Winter DayWe have been having incredibly warm winter weather! Now let me clarify what this means for all of my California friends. Incredibly warm in winter, in Switzerland, means it has been between 35-50 degrees for the past couple of weeks. There hasn't been any snow, and the sun has been out more than it has rained. This makes me nothing but happy! I can wear dresses (with leggings) flats, a coat, and a scarf! <div><br />
</div><div>Yesterday, I was able to go on a beautiful hike in Brunnen, Switzerland. It was about 50 out and I felt the warmth of the sun on my face! There was snow in the distant mountains but nothing but green grass and even some flowers along the trail! Switzerland really knows how to create some amazing views! Enjoy!</div><div><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhySQZWUYQAVvUteE1yC8sX55EERprT-VLJWv-vd6CLnvDFvsDqvTruhyphenhyphensORA0AR9IFGTQF0gjmcDOjwrmY7RPSh1zOfAfLdUOPFtSL0vgkmpQuhNvPWnUvEqVlrXvn5wyEX8ubgLRbTQA/s1600/P1060022.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhySQZWUYQAVvUteE1yC8sX55EERprT-VLJWv-vd6CLnvDFvsDqvTruhyphenhyphensORA0AR9IFGTQF0gjmcDOjwrmY7RPSh1zOfAfLdUOPFtSL0vgkmpQuhNvPWnUvEqVlrXvn5wyEX8ubgLRbTQA/s320/P1060022.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhknfZPc3RlhZyGN4_xCOEgmQKTyR8bx_cXRwYx5hgYOqTMeEN4CEHyBcJ6ovyPVMwQORxsSIzxW0YtrjdW04_dOweexOuDAjhuCXcMB9AixyybVQ_m2gVG8JSMHXHhG-kMs7isffw6esE/s1600/P1060004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhknfZPc3RlhZyGN4_xCOEgmQKTyR8bx_cXRwYx5hgYOqTMeEN4CEHyBcJ6ovyPVMwQORxsSIzxW0YtrjdW04_dOweexOuDAjhuCXcMB9AixyybVQ_m2gVG8JSMHXHhG-kMs7isffw6esE/s320/P1060004.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNWWmxIxqF13wg6idaEEPBKHk0xNQ0hhooEZGOV0uhQWIKOp6N65vxIuNEx3Wnk-7406MSpV25lzVMNUVZ3McI2OKaeYHFPonT0GRb58ezEvzP8-f5WuQzhhJ-O_fRi7sVgWi_tm0XUs4/s1600/P1060005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNWWmxIxqF13wg6idaEEPBKHk0xNQ0hhooEZGOV0uhQWIKOp6N65vxIuNEx3Wnk-7406MSpV25lzVMNUVZ3McI2OKaeYHFPonT0GRb58ezEvzP8-f5WuQzhhJ-O_fRi7sVgWi_tm0XUs4/s320/P1060005.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTwYHwI_r6GqaXGOpkQANsBlKV3EWdO8x62vUXbFJSsWcqfRoyySHKGgK9LixtlgnApZIBh2PyekPYjOkzWkUISxc-4P97o8WMjSWV9HtX_SUxl0O5o_G-AZ2AKqhfLg0ZVCY83I8xTc8/s1600/P1060015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTwYHwI_r6GqaXGOpkQANsBlKV3EWdO8x62vUXbFJSsWcqfRoyySHKGgK9LixtlgnApZIBh2PyekPYjOkzWkUISxc-4P97o8WMjSWV9HtX_SUxl0O5o_G-AZ2AKqhfLg0ZVCY83I8xTc8/s320/P1060015.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Emily, Rachel, Me, and Zoe</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyH_GlAfMHwihfFdqdaOb-xAN7nEr12Ss8ML2KGqJNqZO_mXxoe3q-Xea_WExasW8PSSZQIynA5sGbNU2070PBOo3fehe_sO1iYi0J4H89RwwDN-cHWS4Cohy-RcMiFbxEKavrWLhEmUg/s1600/P1060020.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyH_GlAfMHwihfFdqdaOb-xAN7nEr12Ss8ML2KGqJNqZO_mXxoe3q-Xea_WExasW8PSSZQIynA5sGbNU2070PBOo3fehe_sO1iYi0J4H89RwwDN-cHWS4Cohy-RcMiFbxEKavrWLhEmUg/s320/P1060020.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is Switzerland in a picture</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-Gy5doEFspWCArO2OIiFfb_VJ-GKdd3ZlQM83amV8O3VhqViQPOfEWboH-Mo29csVOHSY3s0l9YE6U9RfFQib_je6RTLYb-wuv-bavxCjoEz3xwYgGDp4ODPedzvhL6ISh1Jh-MunORQ/s1600/P1060034.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-Gy5doEFspWCArO2OIiFfb_VJ-GKdd3ZlQM83amV8O3VhqViQPOfEWboH-Mo29csVOHSY3s0l9YE6U9RfFQib_je6RTLYb-wuv-bavxCjoEz3xwYgGDp4ODPedzvhL6ISh1Jh-MunORQ/s320/P1060034.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnae7c25pOdaeFTMEqplU6-XWlmyXWXdMUjXsePzDjeqBAfXWDgGJDv6Spgu3wQCZzpdg6mSUhwMZzBMm7ydvrWfhjsC_ditNVt-ICIVnRFdBqJwsidRHHSja6KuUfQnlkYWoy1Rrky8c/s1600/P1060032.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnae7c25pOdaeFTMEqplU6-XWlmyXWXdMUjXsePzDjeqBAfXWDgGJDv6Spgu3wQCZzpdg6mSUhwMZzBMm7ydvrWfhjsC_ditNVt-ICIVnRFdBqJwsidRHHSja6KuUfQnlkYWoy1Rrky8c/s320/P1060032.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div><br />
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4106163452953732003.post-45755297411997666192011-01-08T18:05:00.001+01:002011-01-08T18:05:00.097+01:00Five Months - Putting in PerspectiveAfter being back in Zurich for a couple of days after my epic 3 week holiday, I figured it was time to put it all in perspective. I have seen the family again but haven't quite started up the routine. Monday is just a day away though. Sometimes I ask myself whether I can take on this job again? When the family and parted ways for three weeks, I was in need of a break. <br />
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It just get a little difficult when you often have the feeling of being walked all over and then the next second life in the house and with the family is great again. Then you wake up one morning to <i>serve</i> the children their breakfast and are <i>asked</i> in an demeaning way by a nine-year-old boy if you could boil the water for his oatmeal instead of microwave it next time. (I just about lost it..)<br />
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Then I think about how amazing my last 3 weeks were and how this job is a means to an end. I am constantly learning so much about creating a family from an outsider's perspective. More importantly, I spent the last 3 weeks getting paid to travel. Again, the theme of my year "My life is not that difficult." <br />
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I am going to take these kids by storm and we are going to have so many more laughs, which will (hopefully) outweigh the frustration. We had a great day on Friday and I think that we can keep it up! It does make it easier when Mama and Papa aren't around. They are good kids and entertain me. Baby Gaga grew so much while she was away and is giggling up a storm now! <i>Oh! How they grow up so fast! </i><br />
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So it is time to start anew. I have 7 more months living and working in this environment. I am going to start off the new year (not with resolutions I will forget in 10 days) with a new spirit and enthusiasm with the kids. I have 7 more months of adding new cities to my list (and maybe revisiting some from the past). I also really want to explore Zurich more. I have gotten stuck going to the same places over and over again. I am also going to start taking French seriously again. It is going to become a bigger priority in my life.<br />
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So these aren't resolutions but I am ready to take on this new year with full force! 2011 will be conquered!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4106163452953732003.post-39913757816367683322011-01-06T23:42:00.000+01:002011-01-06T23:42:13.718+01:00Berlin: A City of Caution; A City of Hope<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Berlin a fantastic city! I thought it was so full of life and history. It has a personality that is screaming at you but is undefinable. We went on two walking tours during out Berlin trip. Both were extremely interesting and taught me so much about the history of Berlin. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It was so interesting to hear about how Berlin was just 20 years ago and to see it now. You would never guess that most of the city was destroyed 60 years ago and that until 20 years ago was divided into small pieces and their people living under a variety of circumstances. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The first tour we went on was a four hour walking tour of the city. Did I mention it was 11 degrees out? Regardless, it was worth it. I had layered up enough to get through it. We were given a 600 year run down of the city's history, which is immensely interesting. Obviously, it was brief but so interesting. The city has experienced so many wars, takeovers, and atrocities and you would never guess that based on the city that I just visited. We saw one of the few Nazi buildings still standing, Social Realist art, museums, and so many buildings that look hundreds of years old but are replicas rebuilt after the war ended. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We did a second tour (today it was 33 out...it was like summer!). This one was called the Underground tour. We saw all different parts of the city and heard about the less history book history of Berlin but more about the culture and the people. Berlin is one of the most culturally diverse cities in the world. There are artists popping up everywhere and the street art is alive and well throughout the city. It a highly respected aspect of Berlin. We saw some old street art and some new art. We were able to go to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kunsthaus_Tacheles">Kuntshaus Tacheles</a>. It was formerly a Department Store in the Jewish Quarter and has long history of different uses. The cellar was used to house much of the Third Reich's documents but was flooded by the Nazis at the end of the war. It is now used as an art studio. The art is amazing. The walls are covered it in art project after art project. It was quite a sight to see! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">One of the other buildings that I thought was great was a house in West Berlin that had been used by a terrorist organization during the Cold War. There are paintings on all four sides of the house, which depicts the evils of capitalism. It was used by a group that was fighting for the East in the West, which we don't hear about too often. In the same neighborhood there was a serious of brightly colored faces of people of all ages and ethnicities throughout some formerly bad areas of Berlin. It was a project to lift some areas out of poverty and crime by giving them something to be proud of in their neighborhood. It worked quite well, along with some other projects, and was described as extremely successful by our guide. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I found Berlin to be such an inspiring city. It has such a dark history and one they aren't very proud of but they have overcome these horrendous events and created an extremely diverse and open-minded city. I highly recommend a visit to Berlin and hope to return there as well. There are countless museums and more street art to explore! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">As for pictures these are pretty much all I have. By this point, I was tired of taking pictures and pretty much just too cold to do it. My friends took many pictures of the street art and other things so I knew I would have access to those! I will probably add a few once we all exchange pictures. So here are the few that I have. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_1Y3mEb1BXvbQM94QV95E8ayA4gb4L7NMNKQbFbYowguGTvfpmwnKPBivqbim3envKSQAwK_CCUNArga3m-nxgqVSlp3M7I15ahUh9eaS3-DLKLf2pLfcM69giUh9otm1WeI5YmFQh4k/s1600/P1040982.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_1Y3mEb1BXvbQM94QV95E8ayA4gb4L7NMNKQbFbYowguGTvfpmwnKPBivqbim3envKSQAwK_CCUNArga3m-nxgqVSlp3M7I15ahUh9eaS3-DLKLf2pLfcM69giUh9otm1WeI5YmFQh4k/s320/P1040982.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It is a little hard to tell but it is a </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">woman holding a child. It is a </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">memorial to all those who have </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">suffered from injustice. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja5AHlLmOKOtfTeGlpZ8le0GKM3xPQ1MH9yWQXuP1XrrllY5lklVaDLQ5bDYVOTnRx9pVdsE-oZW2BSOI8y0LoWz9XInGcSAHkmcb_1BqLvFwaLfqNeLmlXYhWSwIUPHhQzDP32au8mTY/s1600/P1040970.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja5AHlLmOKOtfTeGlpZ8le0GKM3xPQ1MH9yWQXuP1XrrllY5lklVaDLQ5bDYVOTnRx9pVdsE-oZW2BSOI8y0LoWz9XInGcSAHkmcb_1BqLvFwaLfqNeLmlXYhWSwIUPHhQzDP32au8mTY/s320/P1040970.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Check Point Charlie was the largest check-</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">point between the East and the West. </div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfZ-SRHFuUCVo3yet85OWjt3_TVA6cDAMea3-1FTsre8HW-cNn3-5eHUO6ZCtW0N0nbQLev2-eTL0eQ_tkj48eGYHduCbETcIiCSwSWlhqE1PYMuKrsYQzBoDAV44JmAE8es-fL7LbNa0/s1600/P1040974.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfZ-SRHFuUCVo3yet85OWjt3_TVA6cDAMea3-1FTsre8HW-cNn3-5eHUO6ZCtW0N0nbQLev2-eTL0eQ_tkj48eGYHduCbETcIiCSwSWlhqE1PYMuKrsYQzBoDAV44JmAE8es-fL7LbNa0/s320/P1040974.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The French Cathedral; The German one </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">is across they way and is a meter taller.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4106163452953732003.post-133765826867987142011-01-05T21:02:00.001+01:002011-01-05T21:03:19.960+01:00Prague<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 18px;">From Budapest, we packed up the car again and head to Prague. </span>By the time we reached Prague, I was reaching a point of exhaustion. After spending a week and half switching cities and beds, it was catching up to me. So we headed out for dinner and called it a night early. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 18px;"> We started off with a typical Czech meal at a local restaurant. They claimed the schnitzel was invented in Czech and that Germany stole it. I don't know.. it might be a similar argument to the chicken or the egg.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
Either way, it was a delicious meal and some of the best beer for very CHEAP! We did a walkng tour of the city, which was super intereting to hear some of the history of Prague and Czechoslovakia. It was quite interesting to hear about the onslaught of protests once Czech went from Democracy to Communism. Czech was the 8th largest economy in the world before they entered the Communist Bloc. Our guide told stories of what he remembered from Communism. While our guide told us a one-sided (anti-Communist) view of their history it was interesting to hear how quickly things have changed from progress to regression and back to progress. </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC2ym25g06jN4jx1fH-90HNZGmxER0QaleakqhQoXzdtp8EHRhOgEX0phkz-Z57F3HLAIddUFmOxam3-JEpXUzLHVjCXkpZAU_Eu7uH-CANOku829xBEIk8z-VLxe6kRZ7ePdlL5L21-o/s1600/P1040918.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC2ym25g06jN4jx1fH-90HNZGmxER0QaleakqhQoXzdtp8EHRhOgEX0phkz-Z57F3HLAIddUFmOxam3-JEpXUzLHVjCXkpZAU_Eu7uH-CANOku829xBEIk8z-VLxe6kRZ7ePdlL5L21-o/s320/P1040918.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The crew on the Charles Bridge</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhca09m3hduZB9LYzILigPWINJAj5bFC9VYXuw-jNPYcQECIa_xJ17daEGvC9UWWTzcjy2Vxp8Zk0DQe0PnbFOQjuZavsCCkeGZpwh3efeVolap7LUZRcCof1pb365i646mCf2eU4d-1_M/s1600/P1040923.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhca09m3hduZB9LYzILigPWINJAj5bFC9VYXuw-jNPYcQECIa_xJ17daEGvC9UWWTzcjy2Vxp8Zk0DQe0PnbFOQjuZavsCCkeGZpwh3efeVolap7LUZRcCof1pb365i646mCf2eU4d-1_M/s320/P1040923.JPG" width="240" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">By rubbing this I am now supposed</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">to become a millionaire! </span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCfABZzJg_ZOHmPRfIcYcXAxuHFSYj7D53P_GUwCZIlSuez1SJ3Mfe6NHA3CfEGd4rOZz0zXRM7VChoJnWVonOW9fyLrCLWsy6jSroo0vnxQTp2vCFfUnQIpE516qgpg7uld6X4SQPs3Y/s1600/P1040933.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCfABZzJg_ZOHmPRfIcYcXAxuHFSYj7D53P_GUwCZIlSuez1SJ3Mfe6NHA3CfEGd4rOZz0zXRM7VChoJnWVonOW9fyLrCLWsy6jSroo0vnxQTp2vCFfUnQIpE516qgpg7uld6X4SQPs3Y/s320/P1040933.JPG" width="240" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The Church by the Castle</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfCEXLxmP1vgTX5qkj2DQzRzzXxHh_zN76gS7ZPOCIHXE-OgyUfu45vHtbkzkjE6mksvRodfZmXQZ4VYoGg8Xm_YgsG97ik-lJ5hhDFO73lO9wD4hPe5rZOi14nTD4dkYAXMhHyYIimKA/s1600/DSC00642.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfCEXLxmP1vgTX5qkj2DQzRzzXxHh_zN76gS7ZPOCIHXE-OgyUfu45vHtbkzkjE6mksvRodfZmXQZ4VYoGg8Xm_YgsG97ik-lJ5hhDFO73lO9wD4hPe5rZOi14nTD4dkYAXMhHyYIimKA/s320/DSC00642.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Oh to be a guard!</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_LPm0tZqXiHckVFvdwhzKxf1rMIwN9GHOP_UcSIJNOJK_P1Yi3T1NGT9-wPE-ixHGfEqVBu9AuocYs8eyr1_5Xp5rl1cvpjrRiPx-s8NZQa4WCytnGLVFDeWWpcSUWkfG0Aa11nOO6UU/s1600/DSC00640.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_LPm0tZqXiHckVFvdwhzKxf1rMIwN9GHOP_UcSIJNOJK_P1Yi3T1NGT9-wPE-ixHGfEqVBu9AuocYs8eyr1_5Xp5rl1cvpjrRiPx-s8NZQa4WCytnGLVFDeWWpcSUWkfG0Aa11nOO6UU/s320/DSC00640.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">A beautiful view of the city from the Castle</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">We walked around the city some more in the days to follow. We went to the Communist Museum, which was a small museum that explained the rise and fall of Communism in Czechoslovakia. In the US, we are taught so little about what was happening in the COmmunist Bloc, other than they were the <i>bad guys</i> to over-simplify 12 years of history class, so I found it extremely interesting to read about it from a <i>slightly</i> different perspective. An American started the museum in hopes to education later generations on the realities of Communism in Prague. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Some of the other highlights of Prague were finding a place that sold AMAZING bagels (we took them to Berlin with us), a great pub called the Propaganda Bar (or something like that) which was underground and had a very fun vibe and was filled with Propaganda from many generations, and delicious (and cheap) beer!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpJ52nwqVhgZ5bxOjGjBFt3WSeFtWcCGz0c65LOiJCXGTlG-BzO22isIZCTcn8-9MogxWxn3aHfE7fKGLsBvVusJ4I-O7LB0UdHDQQxIvIhZwTtHeFmLRk4XnfnqSxRtEmgXdkqrgxSe8/s1600/P1040956.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpJ52nwqVhgZ5bxOjGjBFt3WSeFtWcCGz0c65LOiJCXGTlG-BzO22isIZCTcn8-9MogxWxn3aHfE7fKGLsBvVusJ4I-O7LB0UdHDQQxIvIhZwTtHeFmLRk4XnfnqSxRtEmgXdkqrgxSe8/s320/P1040956.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0