Family,
And a good evening to you from the Iberian Peninsula after another GREAT day in Europe! Today was a fantastic day in the office – I got a chance to practice my Spanish and even present! And for all the nay-sayers out there, I am happy to admit that there were more than a few times I had to finish a sentence in English, but on the whole, I was very pleased. However, toward the end, I could tell that my brain was starting to hurt.
After work, I caught a cab back to the hotel, where I ran a 5K on the treadmill!!! We are talking ZERO pain! I was so excited. While I ran, I caught the replay of Kim Clijsters beating the other gal (had to be Polish, but that name was IMPRESSIVE) at the final of the US Open. That definitely helped to pass the time. Dad, it pains me to admit it, and this by NO MEANS suggests I condone the same treatment and advice for Pattie Ruth, but it does appear that all I really needed to do was “Gut divorce it” (knock on wood). Tomorrow, if I get out in time, I really would like to hit the park and see how I fare on uneven ground. Also, JT and I want to look into some 5K’s in London now that I’m feeling better and that she’s joined a gym. She actually did something called “Cardio Body Attack” at the local gym tonight. Are you sore muffin puffin?
After showering, I met Kevin, Kunal, and Nancy (the King Donkey Matt Miller has still not arrived due to flight delays) in the lobby, and I took them to mine and Jenny’s favorite place in Santa Anna – MAGISTER!!!! This place has SUCH good food, is a fun atmosphere, and best of all…wait for it…wait for it…GERMAN STYLE BEER BREWED ON SITE!!! Muffin – you’ll be happy to know that I threw back 3 Rubia’s in your honor. SO GOOOOOOOOOOOD (Peppy Cheekies!!!), as well as some of our usual fare.
Now I’m back in the room, getting ready to check some email and call it a night. Oh, and I should mention that, after sawing through some SERIOUS horror fiction (The Exorcist, Red Dragon, and Hannibal, in that order), I am now back to the sexiest vampire on earth – Edward Cullen. I’m about 2/3 of the way through Eclipse (Book 3), and it’s still very entertaining! Yeah, I know, I know…SHUT IT UNC BOYS.
Okay, that’s all the news that’s fit to print. Chat tomorrow!
Love,
Sam (and by extension) Jenny
Monday, 14 September 2009
Sunday, 13 September 2009
Viva Espana!!!
Family,
And a good evening to you from across the Pond! Greetings from Espana, where I’m currently settled into the Westin Palace in Madrid (or Mad City, as they say here). This hotel is beautiful (I’ll take some pics to post this weekend, but the next 5 days will be sans photos, as I’m gonna have to blog off my work PC), and the location is unbeatable. It’s on the same street as the office, and it’s wedged between the Prado and the Thyssen art museums (with the other big one – Reina Sofia – just down the street. It’s also right beside Retiro Park, where I MIGHT try to go for a jog.
There’s good news on that front – I ran for 20 minutes without stopping on Friday! I ran 3 times last week and biked once, and I had virtually ZERO foot pain the entire time. I’m still going to make an appointment when I go home, but it honestly appears that, the faster I run, the more it’s like an “actual stride” and therefore hurts little to none. So fingers crossed! Miller – we might have to give it a dance at some point this week.
Last night was a BLAST. After the blog, Dann and Karin taught us a new card game – Hand and Foot. Bob and Jan – prepare yourselves! This is going to give “Oh Hell!” a run for it’s money as to the most played game come Christmas week. And don’t worry pumpkin – I promise we’ll be on the same team next time. No more peeking from me!
For those of you who don’t know the game (as I didn’t until last night) – it’s HILARIOUS. Point swings are in the thousands, it’s played with 4 decks, the red 3’s are worth NEGATIVE 1 thousand points…it’s GREAT. Every couple who comes to visit us – this is now on your itinerary. Consider this fair notice.
Today was a great (even if short) day with Dann, Karin, and Muffin Puffin. We hit this new placed called Hummus Brothers, and it was AMAZING. Hummus is used as the base of the dish, and then they fill it with chicken, sun-dried tomatoes, and other spices. You talk about QUALITY – I was a HUGE fan.
After that, Dann and Karin introduced us to Clark’s (a shoe manufacturer), and we’re now FANS FOR LIFE! Jenny got a cute leather purse (so I’ve now finally made good on her 3 year anniversary present), and we saw some really nice (and comfy) shoes that were recently priced. Yeah, I know, it doesn’t sound exciting. However, I might actually buy some “cool, smart casual” sneakers for a change (not that the Brooks and Saucony’s don’t currently rock the party that rocks the piñata).
After that it was off to Paddington Station, where I said buy to everyone and hopped the Heathrow Express to the airport. Honestly, it’s ALWAYS tough to leave Jenny, but this was the worst episode ever. I did NOT want to get on that train. But I’ll be home soon!
Okay, tomorrow starts two weeks worth of meetings, most of which this week will be largely in Spanish. My brain will hurt by the time I get on that plane Friday! Time to get a quick bite to eat and then hit the sack.
Okay, that’s all the news that’s fit to print. Or, as I should say in Espana: “Esta todas las noticias y annuncios que estan disponible para imprimir”. Hablamos manana!
Love,
(A very lonely) Sam and Jenny
And a good evening to you from across the Pond! Greetings from Espana, where I’m currently settled into the Westin Palace in Madrid (or Mad City, as they say here). This hotel is beautiful (I’ll take some pics to post this weekend, but the next 5 days will be sans photos, as I’m gonna have to blog off my work PC), and the location is unbeatable. It’s on the same street as the office, and it’s wedged between the Prado and the Thyssen art museums (with the other big one – Reina Sofia – just down the street. It’s also right beside Retiro Park, where I MIGHT try to go for a jog.
There’s good news on that front – I ran for 20 minutes without stopping on Friday! I ran 3 times last week and biked once, and I had virtually ZERO foot pain the entire time. I’m still going to make an appointment when I go home, but it honestly appears that, the faster I run, the more it’s like an “actual stride” and therefore hurts little to none. So fingers crossed! Miller – we might have to give it a dance at some point this week.
Last night was a BLAST. After the blog, Dann and Karin taught us a new card game – Hand and Foot. Bob and Jan – prepare yourselves! This is going to give “Oh Hell!” a run for it’s money as to the most played game come Christmas week. And don’t worry pumpkin – I promise we’ll be on the same team next time. No more peeking from me!
For those of you who don’t know the game (as I didn’t until last night) – it’s HILARIOUS. Point swings are in the thousands, it’s played with 4 decks, the red 3’s are worth NEGATIVE 1 thousand points…it’s GREAT. Every couple who comes to visit us – this is now on your itinerary. Consider this fair notice.
Today was a great (even if short) day with Dann, Karin, and Muffin Puffin. We hit this new placed called Hummus Brothers, and it was AMAZING. Hummus is used as the base of the dish, and then they fill it with chicken, sun-dried tomatoes, and other spices. You talk about QUALITY – I was a HUGE fan.
After that, Dann and Karin introduced us to Clark’s (a shoe manufacturer), and we’re now FANS FOR LIFE! Jenny got a cute leather purse (so I’ve now finally made good on her 3 year anniversary present), and we saw some really nice (and comfy) shoes that were recently priced. Yeah, I know, it doesn’t sound exciting. However, I might actually buy some “cool, smart casual” sneakers for a change (not that the Brooks and Saucony’s don’t currently rock the party that rocks the piñata).
After that it was off to Paddington Station, where I said buy to everyone and hopped the Heathrow Express to the airport. Honestly, it’s ALWAYS tough to leave Jenny, but this was the worst episode ever. I did NOT want to get on that train. But I’ll be home soon!
Okay, tomorrow starts two weeks worth of meetings, most of which this week will be largely in Spanish. My brain will hurt by the time I get on that plane Friday! Time to get a quick bite to eat and then hit the sack.
Okay, that’s all the news that’s fit to print. Or, as I should say in Espana: “Esta todas las noticias y annuncios que estan disponible para imprimir”. Hablamos manana!
Love,
(A very lonely) Sam and Jenny
Saturday, 12 September 2009
12,000 calories later...we're back at home...and STILL eating...
Family,
And a good evening to you from across the Pond on perhaps the prettiest Saturday we’ve had to date! Talk about perfect – 80 degrees, TONS of sun, and barely a cloud in the sky. I hope this trend continues!
So today we rolled out of bed around 9 AM and got cleaned up before rolling out of bed around 11 AM. We hit Ponti’s café (a little Italian joint), where we got some GREAT breakfast sandwiches (I went for mushroom, Swiss cheese, bacon, and GREAT bread) and ate them in route to the British Museum.
At the British Museum, I subjected the De La Rosa clan to my standard 90 minute tour, hitting the usual highlights (Dad and Co – you’ll remember this well):
1. Rosetta Stone
2. Elgin Marbles
3. Gate of Sargon I
4. Masoleum of Halikarnassos
5. Moai of Easter Island
6. Lewis Chessmen
7. Necronomicon
8. Cleopatra’s mummy
After that, they experienced their first Tube ride, rolling from Tottenham Court Road to St. Paul’s, where we showed them the London Stock Exchange, Temple Bar, Paternoster Square, and Jenny’s old office. From there, we walked to a long awaited (and long overdue) destination: Borough Market!
Okay, so for those of you who’ve never been there, Borough Market is the food market in London, and it’s AWESOME!!!! All over, you’ve got samples of food and fresh produce, cheese, meats, and breads, and the prices are honestly great (and negotiable – Dad, you’re be so proud of me – even if I didn’t tell them I was a teacher and wanted both the educator and the convention guest discount).
Today was a GREAT day to visit, as there were samples everywhere (lots of cheese, vinegars, breads, you name it). We picked up some cheese and “Mexican-spiced – no clue what that means” cashews, and they also let us sample white chocolate covered coconut squares and strawberry and white chocolate covered raspberries (off the chain!).
We also picked up some vino (in a plastic bottle because, well, we’re ALL CLASS) to sip on whilst we walk around.
We bought some cheese and figs before strolling over to the beer wharf, where we ordered bread with our drinks (I went for the Stigl – TASTY!) and then consumed about 85% of our cheese (along with some chorizo). That sent us back into the Market, where we bought MORE cheese, bread, olives stuffed with garlic, and some cherry tomatoes (“Have a BOWL of tomatoes, HAVE A BOWL!!!!!”). We then wandered home along the river (including going over the Wibbly, Wobbly Walkway) and home along Fleet Street and Strand.
After catching the Bakerloo line home, we picked up some vino and brewskis (Leffe, baby!), and we’re now sitting at home chillin’, preparing to eat some pasta (oh yeah, we bought that at the market as well) an
d have (still more) cheese. I mean, when you can’t buy “all you can eat fondue in Switzerland,” this IS a close second.
Okay, so it’s time for some drinking, eating, and learning a new card game (hand and foot – played with FOUR decks!).
That’s all the news that’s fit to print. GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO VOLS, BABY!!!!! Smash those Bruins!!!! And of course, GO HEELS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Even if this is the embarrassing part where I say I don’t know who the Heels are playing (CP – as well as the rest of the “Granville 6” – don’t yell at me – you know I love my alma mater!).
Chat tomorrow (from Madrid – so there could be a week’s picture hiatus, so you know)!
Love,
Sam and Jenny
P.S. Miller – Tuesday. You. Me. Athletico Madrid. Donkeys. It’s happening.
And a good evening to you from across the Pond on perhaps the prettiest Saturday we’ve had to date! Talk about perfect – 80 degrees, TONS of sun, and barely a cloud in the sky. I hope this trend continues!
So today we rolled out of bed around 9 AM and got cleaned up before rolling out of bed around 11 AM. We hit Ponti’s café (a little Italian joint), where we got some GREAT breakfast sandwiches (I went for mushroom, Swiss cheese, bacon, and GREAT bread) and ate them in route to the British Museum.
At the British Museum, I subjected the De La Rosa clan to my standard 90 minute tour, hitting the usual highlights (Dad and Co – you’ll remember this well):
1. Rosetta Stone
2. Elgin Marbles
3. Gate of Sargon I
4. Masoleum of Halikarnassos
5. Moai of Easter Island
6. Lewis Chessmen
7. Necronomicon
8. Cleopatra’s mummy
After that, they experienced their first Tube ride, rolling from Tottenham Court Road to St. Paul’s, where we showed them the London Stock Exchange, Temple Bar, Paternoster Square, and Jenny’s old office. From there, we walked to a long awaited (and long overdue) destination: Borough Market!
Okay, so for those of you who’ve never been there, Borough Market is the food market in London, and it’s AWESOME!!!! All over, you’ve got samples of food and fresh produce, cheese, meats, and breads, and the prices are honestly great (and negotiable – Dad, you’re be so proud of me – even if I didn’t tell them I was a teacher and wanted both the educator and the convention guest discount).
Today was a GREAT day to visit, as there were samples everywhere (lots of cheese, vinegars, breads, you name it). We picked up some cheese and “Mexican-spiced – no clue what that means” cashews, and they also let us sample white chocolate covered coconut squares and strawberry and white chocolate covered raspberries (off the chain!).
We also picked up some vino (in a plastic bottle because, well, we’re ALL CLASS) to sip on whilst we walk around.
We bought some cheese and figs before strolling over to the beer wharf, where we ordered bread with our drinks (I went for the Stigl – TASTY!) and then consumed about 85% of our cheese (along with some chorizo). That sent us back into the Market, where we bought MORE cheese, bread, olives stuffed with garlic, and some cherry tomatoes (“Have a BOWL of tomatoes, HAVE A BOWL!!!!!”). We then wandered home along the river (including going over the Wibbly, Wobbly Walkway) and home along Fleet Street and Strand.
After catching the Bakerloo line home, we picked up some vino and brewskis (Leffe, baby!), and we’re now sitting at home chillin’, preparing to eat some pasta (oh yeah, we bought that at the market as well) an
d have (still more) cheese. I mean, when you can’t buy “all you can eat fondue in Switzerland,” this IS a close second.Okay, so it’s time for some drinking, eating, and learning a new card game (hand and foot – played with FOUR decks!).
That’s all the news that’s fit to print. GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO VOLS, BABY!!!!! Smash those Bruins!!!! And of course, GO HEELS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Even if this is the embarrassing part where I say I don’t know who the Heels are playing (CP – as well as the rest of the “Granville 6” – don’t yell at me – you know I love my alma mater!).
Chat tomorrow (from Madrid – so there could be a week’s picture hiatus, so you know)!
Love,
Sam and Jenny
P.S. Miller – Tuesday. You. Me. Athletico Madrid. Donkeys. It’s happening.
Friday, 11 September 2009
Introducing....Team De La Rosa!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Family,
And a good evening to you from across the Pond on this fabulous Friday. Today was a GREAT day! We had some vacation to start, we got a lot accomplished, Jenny had a great first week at work, and we’ve got Friends in town!
Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you………..Karin and Dann (yep - 2 n's) De La Rosa! Karin used to be Jenny’s manager many moons ago. They are spending a month in Europe bouncing around, and (lucky for us) one of their stops was the Smoke!
Last night we chatted till about 1, drinking Cobra and…oh, how it pains me to say it…..Bulmer’s Pear Cider (Karin only, for the record). It was great to see them and catch up – we’re looking forward to a fun weekend!
And a good evening to you from across the Pond on this fabulous Friday. Today was a GREAT day! We had some vacation to start, we got a lot accomplished, Jenny had a great first week at work, and we’ve got Friends in town!
Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you………..Karin and Dann (yep - 2 n's) De La Rosa! Karin used to be Jenny’s manager many moons ago. They are spending a month in Europe bouncing around, and (lucky for us) one of their stops was the Smoke!
Last night we chatted till about 1, drinking Cobra and…oh, how it pains me to say it…..Bulmer’s Pear Cider (Karin only, for the record). It was great to see them and catch up – we’re looking forward to a fun weekend!
So tonight we started at the local, where we met a seriously CRAZY CAT - Ryan, the ex-Marine who was born in 1 of 17 Cold Wars (he changed his birth date about 20 times). In the end, I think we confirmed he was born in 1948 during the British section of the Korean War (I didn't ask questions because I thought he might snap my neck with his thumb or drown me in ink from 1 of his 64 tatoos).
He preceded to hit on Jenny and Karin for about 20 minutes while Dann and I tried to translate what the hell this guy was saying (seriously - it was NOT English). He then tried to convince Dann and I to visit Bangkok (without our wives - his quote - "it will be more fun that way..." - WOW).
After that (and Karin trying Scrumpy's for the first time), we went down to St. Christopher's Place, where we had a GREAT meal at Sofra (we got free wine since we had to wait for a table!). And now we're back at the flat, sipping on Kronie's and chatting about life. Another great day!
Okay, that's all the news that's fit to print. Sorry so short, but I want to hang out with our peeps! Chat tomorrow!
Love,
Sam and Jenny
Thursday, 10 September 2009
We are...we are...the Guardians of the Oracle...
Family,
And a good evening to you from across the Pond. Okay, so it’s not as exciting as the “Globo-gym Purple Cobras”, but the subject line is the best I’ve got (and besides, at Globo Gym - we're better than you...and we KNOW IT!!!). No more Germany stories tonight, but it was another great day (both at work and beyond).
Apologies in advance for being brief, but we’ve got company (surprise! They came in early – you’ll have to wait tomorrow for pictures and a proper introduction!), and I’m anxious to chat to our first guests!
So tonight, after a great day at work, I rolled to “The Loose Cannon,” where I attended my first “pub quiz night” of our expat engagement. Talk about an absolute hoot!
1. There is an open bar – and I mean OPEN. For 4 hours. No AFD today!
2. There is a waitress (which you NEVER have in the UK – EVER). You still don't tip, so EVEN BETTER.
3. There’s even a buffet (even if it’s a burger that’s been cooked from now until Rapture). Seriously - picture well done and then cook it another 6 hours and then put in a sauna for 14 weeks - THAT'S how cooked it was. And let's be clear - by buffet, we mean fries (which they call chips), uber-cooked burgers, and some cold spring rolls (filled with corn, I think...).
2 minutes later, I’m on my first pint with cats I don’t know. 5 minutes later, I’m getting my TEETH KICKED IN at a round of trivia I KNOW NOTHING ABOUT (shops outside of a certain Tube Stop in London, in case you’re curious), but I’m knee-deep into a Kroenenburg, so I’m not terribly upset.
And a good evening to you from across the Pond. Okay, so it’s not as exciting as the “Globo-gym Purple Cobras”, but the subject line is the best I’ve got (and besides, at Globo Gym - we're better than you...and we KNOW IT!!!). No more Germany stories tonight, but it was another great day (both at work and beyond).
Apologies in advance for being brief, but we’ve got company (surprise! They came in early – you’ll have to wait tomorrow for pictures and a proper introduction!), and I’m anxious to chat to our first guests!
So tonight, after a great day at work, I rolled to “The Loose Cannon,” where I attended my first “pub quiz night” of our expat engagement. Talk about an absolute hoot!
This place was great - set underneath the Cannon Street Bridge. It was a cavernous space, and I arrived to a rowdy crowd in a space set with about 20 tables.
So we roll in there, Jenny introduces me to the gang, and then the following revelations occur to me:
1. There is an open bar – and I mean OPEN. For 4 hours. No AFD today!
2. There is a waitress (which you NEVER have in the UK – EVER). You still don't tip, so EVEN BETTER.
3. There’s even a buffet (even if it’s a burger that’s been cooked from now until Rapture). Seriously - picture well done and then cook it another 6 hours and then put in a sauna for 14 weeks - THAT'S how cooked it was. And let's be clear - by buffet, we mean fries (which they call chips), uber-cooked burgers, and some cold spring rolls (filled with corn, I think...).
2 minutes later, I’m on my first pint with cats I don’t know. 5 minutes later, I’m getting my TEETH KICKED IN at a round of trivia I KNOW NOTHING ABOUT (shops outside of a certain Tube Stop in London, in case you’re curious), but I’m knee-deep into a Kroenenburg, so I’m not terribly upset.
Long story short - we didn't win, but we didn't win the "Wooden Spoon Award" (dead last) either, which was an achievement.
The categories tonight:
1. Shops beside the office where Jenny works (and I've NEVER seen or been to).
2. Bank of America and Merrill Lynch History (none of which is relevant to Americans or can be found in the museum).
3. "Famous" people (all Brits that's you've NEVER heard of, and then...wait for it...wait for it...BARRY OBAMA - Sean and Ray - he said to tell you guys hello and that he just bought a) a John Deere for mowing and b) a can of white paint. It's close - I promise...
Okay, so a little bit about the photo. This is Jenny’s old Finance Team from our time here in 2007. I met them all once, which basically meant that I had to be reintroduced to all of them. And for the record, they said they couldn’t tell a difference between mine and Jenny’s accent. That’s right, dad – they ALSO think I’m citified…
So the guy on the far left is Steve – he’s the only guy that actually works in the building which served as the source of all the questions.
Beside him is Adriana – she was quiet as a church mouse until the Formula-1 question came up, at which point she suddenly became the font of all knowledge. She’s Brazilian, and apparently the dude in question was as well. All I could think to myself was “Matt Kenseth could kick that guy’s as$$.”
The gal at the end of the table is Bev – no, sh’e not an Mi-6 assassin – she just didn’t want to be in the photo.
Then you’ve got Bob – he ROLLED through the picture piece and some of the sports stuff – full marks. Tom – now’s a good time to tell you that I MISSED who won this year’s Tour de France. And did you know there is a POLKA DOT JERSEY? Really? REALLY?
Then, of course, there is all that is right and good with the world – my muffin puffin – who served as the scribe for the team.
So the guy on the far left is Steve – he’s the only guy that actually works in the building which served as the source of all the questions.
Beside him is Adriana – she was quiet as a church mouse until the Formula-1 question came up, at which point she suddenly became the font of all knowledge. She’s Brazilian, and apparently the dude in question was as well. All I could think to myself was “Matt Kenseth could kick that guy’s as$$.”
The gal at the end of the table is Bev – no, sh’e not an Mi-6 assassin – she just didn’t want to be in the photo.
Then you’ve got Bob – he ROLLED through the picture piece and some of the sports stuff – full marks. Tom – now’s a good time to tell you that I MISSED who won this year’s Tour de France. And did you know there is a POLKA DOT JERSEY? Really? REALLY?
Then, of course, there is all that is right and good with the world – my muffin puffin – who served as the scribe for the team.
It was a blast, and we left there to meet our guests (who I'm still not introducing...yes, I know I'm evil...let the drama build until tomorrow).
Okay, sorry so short, but it's 12:30 and I've GOT to go to bed (don't worry, work family, I'll be just as productive as I always am...please keep the jokes to a minimum...).
That's all the news that's fit to print. Chat tomorrow!
Love,
Sam and Jenny
Wednesday, 9 September 2009
And finally - the third installment of the trip...
Family,
And a good evening to you from across the Pond after another fantastic day in the Mother Country. Okay – time to wrap up the trip with Round III of the Taylor vacation recap.
Next up was the arrival at Alpnachstad, where we boarded (apparently) the world’s steepest cog railway. T-bone – didn’t Royal Gorge say the EXACT same thing? Hmmmmm – all the same, I’m gonna side with these guys, as we tackled 27-48% grades for 30 minutes before making it to the top of Lucerne – Mt. Pilatus.
As I referenced earlier, the day was still GORGEOUS. The Lake fading into the distance as we ascend, rocky cliffs all around, and even shaggy cows with their cow bells clanging on all sides (Dinger – we STILL need more Cow Bell – and an update…). As we continued the climb, I was at peace. And that’s when I first felt the chilly alpine air and noticed a faint sliver of cloud on our right hand side.
This was followed by another cloud. Which was followed by a slightly larger one. Which was then followed by A COMPLETE AND TOTAL WHITE OUT LIKE SOMETHING FROM A STEPHEN KING NOVEL THAT WAS NOT ON THE RADAR WHEN WE STARTED THE MORNING’S JOURNEY. In other words, we were TOTALLY socked in.
What did we see fr
om 7000 feet, ringed by the Alps on all sides? Well, first there was the trick of FINDING my wife. Here she is staggering out of the mist, either like an Angel descending from Heaven or the fisherman dude from “I Know What You Did Last Summer.”
And from the summit – here is the view that tells the WHOLE story. Actually, not the WHOLE story, because it was also raining and bloody FREEZING up there. But at least we saw the world’s longest Alpine
horn (RIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIICOLAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!) and some Alpine Sheep (ours are cooler in the states – bigger horns) before turning back for home.
On the way down, we rode a cable car that broke through the fog to reveal a gorgeous day. And whilst we didn’t get the great views we wanted at the summit, the views from here were spectacular. Best of all, we got to ride Switzerland’s longest summer toboggan run (that enough qualifying superlatives for you?).
Dude – this was AWESOME – we rolled down this thing and had a blast. 2 instructions were given: Speed up…and slow down (we did a lot more of the former). This was WELL WORTH 8 francs.
We then decided to be adventurous in the sunshine and walk down to the next hamlet before catching the final leg of the cable car. The journey started out nice…for about 12 steps. At that point, we descended like Banshees into the pits of Hell. I mean, for crying out loud, the Eiger isn’t this steep. My legs are STILL sore from the drop.
And best of all, about 100 feet further, the trail splits THREE WAYS WITH NO SIGN. Is anyone around? Nope. Are there any markings? Of course not! You’re getting back to nature – why would you want a guide?
45 minutes later we are still walking straight down (after 2 dead ends into some Blair Witch Project buildings) along a BIKE PATH with NO view of the cable car. And then, just when I had given up, we saw a sign that said “Wanderweg” (pathway). 2 minutes later, there were more signs than slot machines in Vegas. Swiss tourism board – ya might want to work on that one…unless you’re just trying to feed critters in the Alps with tourists.
Once back in Lucerne, it was back to the Rathaus for some more Rathaus Pilsner and then over to another Italian joint before calling it a night. A GREAT DAY!
Day 10: Today we wandered around Lucerne for the final time, stopping again at the Lion Monument and doing some shopping before taking a final few
(like 600) photos. It was a cloudless day, and we didn’t want to leave! However, Zurich beckoned, and so we hopped a 2:10 train for Switzerland’s center of commerce.
Zurich is a very big city, and there really wasn’t much to do. We hit a few churches, wandered down past the water, and even into a festival that felt like Rosenheim (I got excited and instantly started singing “Sweet Caroline,” but I quit abruptly when everyone else was silent and rocking out to “Saxophone Attack”).
The highlight, however, was going to the Zurich Observatory and having a drink at the Jules Verne Bar, where we had the CHO
ICE table and a great view of the city. That night we followed a local’s advice and went to Johanniter, where I had a GREAT dinner of hash browns, bacon, tons of cheese, and fried eggs. Yes, I realize that might sound like breakfast to you. But I’m European now – that’s how we roll (Rice – for the record – it was good, but it still wasn’t the Rice casserole).
Day 11: We had planned to have a nice “sit down” brekkie this day, but the cost of $30 a person for coffee and bread just didn’t sit right with us. The fallback? Send muffin puffin into the local grocery store, have her buy 2 wheels of cheese and two packages of sausage, and then wash it all down with a huge pretzel roll whilst sitting with coffee at Starbucks – the result was a pair of smiling (and stuffed) tourists and a HUGE cost savings.
Then it was off to the airport and back to London, where we had curries and Cobras to celebrate the return to the mother country.
Okay, that’s the trip in a nut shell. Tomorrow will be back to normal stuff (I’m sure you’re thrilled, C-Web). If it’s any consolation, I’ll be in Madrid next week, and there should be some GREAT stories that come out of that.
That’s all the news that’s fit to print. Chat tomorrow!
Love,
And a good evening to you from across the Pond after another fantastic day in the Mother Country. Okay – time to wrap up the trip with Round III of the Taylor vacation recap.
Disclaimer: Tom Price has asked me to inform you all that tonight’s blog is brought to you by Plavix – the wonder drug that cleans out arteries when you are spineless and don’t have the willpower to ever eat a fruit or vegetable during your ENTIRE vacation – pick some up today!
We now return to our regularly scheduled program - already in progress...
Day 9: So today went for the “Golden Round Trip,” which basically entails selling body parts to pay for a wonderful day out in Lucerne. After getting the usual Pretzel covered in cheese, salami, and cream cheese (that’s right folks – you can just call me the European Richard Simmons), we hopped aboard a ship for a 90 minute cruise on Lake Lucerne. Yes, that's right Kim, Sean, Ray, Shogun, and Megs, I was ON A BOAT!
!!! I hope that, at this time, you weren't at Kinko's makin' copies...
!!! I hope that, at this time, you weren't at Kinko's makin' copies...The day was beautiful, and we had seats on the outside, meaning that we could watch as the pre-Alps and the “real” Alps sailed by in the distance. We made a few stops at small harbor villages, admiring the mountains and the scenery the whole time. All in all, I knew that we were in for a perfect day…
Next up was the arrival at Alpnachstad, where we boarded (apparently) the world’s steepest cog railway. T-bone – didn’t Royal Gorge say the EXACT same thing? Hmmmmm – all the same, I’m gonna side with these guys, as we tackled 27-48% grades for 30 minutes before making it to the top of Lucerne – Mt. Pilatus.
As I referenced earlier, the day was still GORGEOUS. The Lake fading into the distance as we ascend, rocky cliffs all around, and even shaggy cows with their cow bells clanging on all sides (Dinger – we STILL need more Cow Bell – and an update…). As we continued the climb, I was at peace. And that’s when I first felt the chilly alpine air and noticed a faint sliver of cloud on our right hand side.
This was followed by another cloud. Which was followed by a slightly larger one. Which was then followed by A COMPLETE AND TOTAL WHITE OUT LIKE SOMETHING FROM A STEPHEN KING NOVEL THAT WAS NOT ON THE RADAR WHEN WE STARTED THE MORNING’S JOURNEY. In other words, we were TOTALLY socked in.
What did we see fr
om 7000 feet, ringed by the Alps on all sides? Well, first there was the trick of FINDING my wife. Here she is staggering out of the mist, either like an Angel descending from Heaven or the fisherman dude from “I Know What You Did Last Summer.” And from the summit – here is the view that tells the WHOLE story. Actually, not the WHOLE story, because it was also raining and bloody FREEZING up there. But at least we saw the world’s longest Alpine
horn (RIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIICOLAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!) and some Alpine Sheep (ours are cooler in the states – bigger horns) before turning back for home. On the way down, we rode a cable car that broke through the fog to reveal a gorgeous day. And whilst we didn’t get the great views we wanted at the summit, the views from here were spectacular. Best of all, we got to ride Switzerland’s longest summer toboggan run (that enough qualifying superlatives for you?).
Dude – this was AWESOME – we rolled down this thing and had a blast. 2 instructions were given: Speed up…and slow down (we did a lot more of the former). This was WELL WORTH 8 francs. We then decided to be adventurous in the sunshine and walk down to the next hamlet before catching the final leg of the cable car. The journey started out nice…for about 12 steps. At that point, we descended like Banshees into the pits of Hell. I mean, for crying out loud, the Eiger isn’t this steep. My legs are STILL sore from the drop.
And best of all, about 100 feet further, the trail splits THREE WAYS WITH NO SIGN. Is anyone around? Nope. Are there any markings? Of course not! You’re getting back to nature – why would you want a guide?
45 minutes later we are still walking straight down (after 2 dead ends into some Blair Witch Project buildings) along a BIKE PATH with NO view of the cable car. And then, just when I had given up, we saw a sign that said “Wanderweg” (pathway). 2 minutes later, there were more signs than slot machines in Vegas. Swiss tourism board – ya might want to work on that one…unless you’re just trying to feed critters in the Alps with tourists.
Once back in Lucerne, it was back to the Rathaus for some more Rathaus Pilsner and then over to another Italian joint before calling it a night. A GREAT DAY!
Day 10: Today we wandered around Lucerne for the final time, stopping again at the Lion Monument and doing some shopping before taking a final few
(like 600) photos. It was a cloudless day, and we didn’t want to leave! However, Zurich beckoned, and so we hopped a 2:10 train for Switzerland’s center of commerce. Zurich is a very big city, and there really wasn’t much to do. We hit a few churches, wandered down past the water, and even into a festival that felt like Rosenheim (I got excited and instantly started singing “Sweet Caroline,” but I quit abruptly when everyone else was silent and rocking out to “Saxophone Attack”).
The highlight, however, was going to the Zurich Observatory and having a drink at the Jules Verne Bar, where we had the CHO
ICE table and a great view of the city. That night we followed a local’s advice and went to Johanniter, where I had a GREAT dinner of hash browns, bacon, tons of cheese, and fried eggs. Yes, I realize that might sound like breakfast to you. But I’m European now – that’s how we roll (Rice – for the record – it was good, but it still wasn’t the Rice casserole). Day 11: We had planned to have a nice “sit down” brekkie this day, but the cost of $30 a person for coffee and bread just didn’t sit right with us. The fallback? Send muffin puffin into the local grocery store, have her buy 2 wheels of cheese and two packages of sausage, and then wash it all down with a huge pretzel roll whilst sitting with coffee at Starbucks – the result was a pair of smiling (and stuffed) tourists and a HUGE cost savings.
Then it was off to the airport and back to London, where we had curries and Cobras to celebrate the return to the mother country.
Okay, that’s the trip in a nut shell. Tomorrow will be back to normal stuff (I’m sure you’re thrilled, C-Web). If it’s any consolation, I’ll be in Madrid next week, and there should be some GREAT stories that come out of that.
That’s all the news that’s fit to print. Chat tomorrow!
Love,
Sam and Jenny
Tuesday, 8 September 2009
Continuing the March Through our Vacation...
Family,
And a good evening to you from across the Pond after another GREAT day in the Mother Country. Okay, so I promised you guys the next section of the trip in tonight’s blog, so let’s get to it:
Day 5: We got up early this morning, had the usual cup of coffee and pretzel smothered in enough cheese to kill a small horse, and then caught an early train to Berchtesgaden. There we spent a few hours wandering around the old city before joining with our tour to cross off another of my life’s to-do’s: Hitler’s Eagle's Nest.
Folks randomly joining me from a search on Google for “Wicked Good Eagle’s Nest Tours,” allow me to HIGHLY endorse David and Christine Harper. Married 20 years, they’ve been running this tour the entire time. The tour was 4 hours, and it DID NOT DISAPPOINT. We drove through Obersalzburg (the Nazi stronghold below the Eagles Nest), seeing sights like the remains of the Platterhof Hotel (where Hitler composed Mein Kampf) and the hill where the US flag was raised on 5 April 1945. We toured the “secret” Nazi bunkers where Hitler and company had planned to go underground and finish the war. And then, at the end, on a cloudless day overlooking the Alps, the Konigsee (local glacial lake), and the city of Salzburg, we arrived at the Eagle's Nest.
It was built as a “tea room” for Hitler and as a 50th birthday present. However, because he was AFRAID OF HEIGHTS, he only visited this spot 14 times. Considering that the current cost of the land and materials is $140 Million USD, that basically equates to a $10 million dollar cup of tea. Personally, I’m just glad he sunk his money here vs. into a Manhattan project or the NY bomber…
After that, we caught a bus to Salzburg, where we had dinner (aka about 40 pounds of pork, sausage, and beer) under the light of a full moon below the shadows of the largest preserved fortress in Central Europe. All in all, this was a GREAT DAY.
Day 6: Today we encountered our first real jackass of the trip – Gunter. Unfortunately, Gunter was also our tour guide for the day. He basically chewed us out (in poor English) for drinking coffee in his van when he came to pick us up, and then he blew a gasket when I refused to throw mine away after he’d “let” me drink it for another 30 seconds. My response back to him when he threw his arms up at me probably didn’t help, but the damage was done…
So today we toured he Berchtesgaden
Salt Mines. Yep, that’s right, we toured SALT MINES. But seriously, it was hilarious. We got to go down “salt slides,” sailed on a mirror lake, dressed in ridiculous gear, and rode what can only be described as a “Disney style ride” to and from the mines. It was fun.
The rest of the time with Gunter, however, was donkey trash. He made us stop for lunch for an hour (NOT on the trip plan) BACK in Berchtesgaden and ended up leaving us with a lot of time sitting around before asking for tips from us at the end. Rice – I contemplated giving him your tip of “Don’t eat yellow snow,” but instead I just visualized the muffler in his van falling off on the way home. Mom – I know you’re so proud…
We spent the rest of that day touring the old city, going through churches and the catacombs before finally going to the Fortress at the top of the city. The views from here were ABSOLUTELY spectacular, and we spent hours just looking out over the (rather large) city of Salzburg. We then went on a RIDICULOUS journey through time and space in search of a working monastery that happened to double as a working brewery – the Augustiner Brau.
Seriously – I no longer have to take the Trans-Siberian railway now because we basically WALKED TO MONGOLIA TO FIND THIS PLACE. We actually left the city of Salzburg on the walk, arriving in the metropolis of Mulln (that’s right – no vowel at the end).
This place,
however, DID NOT DISAPPOINT. It’s a self service place, and so you grab a mug, pay for a liter, and then 10 seconds later you’re drinking the aqua vitae that the monks brewed earlier that day. Top it off with a 2 POUND PORK KNUCKLE for 12 Euro, and you’ve got yourself a life changing experience. Another GREAT day in the books.
Day 7: So I woke up excited about this day – a train ride through the Alps! I could just picture me sitting beside Jason Bourne, looking out at the snow covered Alps on all sides and plotting Coughlin’s demise while Noa Vossa tracked us down. Well let me spoil this one for you – I’d rather you shoot me in the face than put me back on that train. Key points:
1. This isn’t some romantic cruise. You are wedged into a compartment with NO AIR and 6 seats.
2. Odds are the dude beside you did NOT bathe. In our case, homeboy had most likely NEVER seen soap.
3. Nobody talks on this train – you sit there in silence, trying not to throw up from the combination of heat, dehydration, and motion on the train. If I hadn’t had my all-healing Volunteer “Power T” shirt on, I might not have made it out alive.
It was worth it, however, when we rolled into the city that will forever live as a postcard in my dreams:
Lucerne. WOW – everywhere you look is just beautiful. The old city, the wooden bridges, the water tower, the clear water, the swans, the mountains – all culminate in a PERFECT way to end the trip.
This night, JT and I had to have fondue. And we got it all right, in the form of ALL YOU CAN EAT SWISS CHEESE
. While I can’t confirm, I’m thinking we ate around 4 pounds of cheese (that’s right – FOUR POUNDS – YOU CAN’T RUN FROM THIS PARAGON OF FITNESS, BABY). What did we dip with, you ask? Why, nothing more than UNLIMITED POTATOES AND BREAD. Yes, we currently have more carbs in our system than in the entire region of Tuscany.
Day 8: We walked the old city today, crossing off another of life’s to-do’s: The Lion of Lucerne. I have wanted to see this thing for 14
years (since I’ve known about its existence), and it was simply beautiful. Seeing it in the rain was appropriate, as the sadness conveyed is heavy and profound, and I was so glad to find it left its mark on me as a monument that lived up to its billing.
That evening we hit the
Rathaus Brewery on the water, where we had a GREAT view of the Chapel Bridge and the Water Tower. This was the best beer we had on the trip – so good that we went BACK the next night.
Now, in a less than exotic evening, we skipped “traditional Swiss fare” and opted for Italian. Why you ask? BECAUSE SWITZERLAND IS REDONKULOUSLY EXPENSIVE. Like Iceland, we were well behaved with the booze because, well, we didn’t have any choice and I didn’t want to sell our condo back home upon our return. Pizza, side salads, and 2 beers at the Swiss version of Pizza Hut? Try 80 bucks, brother. Yeah…exactly.
Okay, I’ll give you guys the final leg tomorrow, but for now it’s time to sign off. That’s definitely all the news that’s fit to print – Chat tomorrow!
Love,
Sam and Jenny
P.S. Jenny had her first day of work with her new group today – she liked it! Good news all around!
And a good evening to you from across the Pond after another GREAT day in the Mother Country. Okay, so I promised you guys the next section of the trip in tonight’s blog, so let’s get to it:
Day 5: We got up early this morning, had the usual cup of coffee and pretzel smothered in enough cheese to kill a small horse, and then caught an early train to Berchtesgaden. There we spent a few hours wandering around the old city before joining with our tour to cross off another of my life’s to-do’s: Hitler’s Eagle's Nest.
Folks randomly joining me from a search on Google for “Wicked Good Eagle’s Nest Tours,” allow me to HIGHLY endorse David and Christine Harper. Married 20 years, they’ve been running this tour the entire time. The tour was 4 hours, and it DID NOT DISAPPOINT. We drove through Obersalzburg (the Nazi stronghold below the Eagles Nest), seeing sights like the remains of the Platterhof Hotel (where Hitler composed Mein Kampf) and the hill where the US flag was raised on 5 April 1945. We toured the “secret” Nazi bunkers where Hitler and company had planned to go underground and finish the war. And then, at the end, on a cloudless day overlooking the Alps, the Konigsee (local glacial lake), and the city of Salzburg, we arrived at the Eagle's Nest.
It was built as a “tea room” for Hitler and as a 50th birthday present. However, because he was AFRAID OF HEIGHTS, he only visited this spot 14 times. Considering that the current cost of the land and materials is $140 Million USD, that basically equates to a $10 million dollar cup of tea. Personally, I’m just glad he sunk his money here vs. into a Manhattan project or the NY bomber…
After that, we caught a bus to Salzburg, where we had dinner (aka about 40 pounds of pork, sausage, and beer) under the light of a full moon below the shadows of the largest preserved fortress in Central Europe. All in all, this was a GREAT DAY.
Day 6: Today we encountered our first real jackass of the trip – Gunter. Unfortunately, Gunter was also our tour guide for the day. He basically chewed us out (in poor English) for drinking coffee in his van when he came to pick us up, and then he blew a gasket when I refused to throw mine away after he’d “let” me drink it for another 30 seconds. My response back to him when he threw his arms up at me probably didn’t help, but the damage was done…
So today we toured he Berchtesgaden
Salt Mines. Yep, that’s right, we toured SALT MINES. But seriously, it was hilarious. We got to go down “salt slides,” sailed on a mirror lake, dressed in ridiculous gear, and rode what can only be described as a “Disney style ride” to and from the mines. It was fun.The rest of the time with Gunter, however, was donkey trash. He made us stop for lunch for an hour (NOT on the trip plan) BACK in Berchtesgaden and ended up leaving us with a lot of time sitting around before asking for tips from us at the end. Rice – I contemplated giving him your tip of “Don’t eat yellow snow,” but instead I just visualized the muffler in his van falling off on the way home. Mom – I know you’re so proud…
We spent the rest of that day touring the old city, going through churches and the catacombs before finally going to the Fortress at the top of the city. The views from here were ABSOLUTELY spectacular, and we spent hours just looking out over the (rather large) city of Salzburg. We then went on a RIDICULOUS journey through time and space in search of a working monastery that happened to double as a working brewery – the Augustiner Brau.
Seriously – I no longer have to take the Trans-Siberian railway now because we basically WALKED TO MONGOLIA TO FIND THIS PLACE. We actually left the city of Salzburg on the walk, arriving in the metropolis of Mulln (that’s right – no vowel at the end).
This place,
however, DID NOT DISAPPOINT. It’s a self service place, and so you grab a mug, pay for a liter, and then 10 seconds later you’re drinking the aqua vitae that the monks brewed earlier that day. Top it off with a 2 POUND PORK KNUCKLE for 12 Euro, and you’ve got yourself a life changing experience. Another GREAT day in the books.Day 7: So I woke up excited about this day – a train ride through the Alps! I could just picture me sitting beside Jason Bourne, looking out at the snow covered Alps on all sides and plotting Coughlin’s demise while Noa Vossa tracked us down. Well let me spoil this one for you – I’d rather you shoot me in the face than put me back on that train. Key points:
1. This isn’t some romantic cruise. You are wedged into a compartment with NO AIR and 6 seats.
2. Odds are the dude beside you did NOT bathe. In our case, homeboy had most likely NEVER seen soap.
3. Nobody talks on this train – you sit there in silence, trying not to throw up from the combination of heat, dehydration, and motion on the train. If I hadn’t had my all-healing Volunteer “Power T” shirt on, I might not have made it out alive.
It was worth it, however, when we rolled into the city that will forever live as a postcard in my dreams:
Lucerne. WOW – everywhere you look is just beautiful. The old city, the wooden bridges, the water tower, the clear water, the swans, the mountains – all culminate in a PERFECT way to end the trip.This night, JT and I had to have fondue. And we got it all right, in the form of ALL YOU CAN EAT SWISS CHEESE
. While I can’t confirm, I’m thinking we ate around 4 pounds of cheese (that’s right – FOUR POUNDS – YOU CAN’T RUN FROM THIS PARAGON OF FITNESS, BABY). What did we dip with, you ask? Why, nothing more than UNLIMITED POTATOES AND BREAD. Yes, we currently have more carbs in our system than in the entire region of Tuscany.Day 8: We walked the old city today, crossing off another of life’s to-do’s: The Lion of Lucerne. I have wanted to see this thing for 14
years (since I’ve known about its existence), and it was simply beautiful. Seeing it in the rain was appropriate, as the sadness conveyed is heavy and profound, and I was so glad to find it left its mark on me as a monument that lived up to its billing.That evening we hit the
Rathaus Brewery on the water, where we had a GREAT view of the Chapel Bridge and the Water Tower. This was the best beer we had on the trip – so good that we went BACK the next night.Now, in a less than exotic evening, we skipped “traditional Swiss fare” and opted for Italian. Why you ask? BECAUSE SWITZERLAND IS REDONKULOUSLY EXPENSIVE. Like Iceland, we were well behaved with the booze because, well, we didn’t have any choice and I didn’t want to sell our condo back home upon our return. Pizza, side salads, and 2 beers at the Swiss version of Pizza Hut? Try 80 bucks, brother. Yeah…exactly.
Okay, I’ll give you guys the final leg tomorrow, but for now it’s time to sign off. That’s definitely all the news that’s fit to print – Chat tomorrow!
Love,
Sam and Jenny
P.S. Jenny had her first day of work with her new group today – she liked it! Good news all around!
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