tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36235558347771842912024-03-06T06:35:33.017+01:00Tramps Abroad"One day it occurred to me that it had been many years since the world had been afforded the spectacle of a man adventurous enough to undertake a journey through Germany on foot. After much thought, I decided that I was a person fitted to furnish to mankind this spectacle. So I determined to do it. This was in March, 1878." Mark Twain, A Tramp AbroadFrau 'Livy' Langdon.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17222026890712089962noreply@blogger.comBlogger198125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3623555834777184291.post-52765886951416592962010-07-24T20:20:00.001+02:002010-07-24T20:22:30.112+02:00One chapter ends, and another beginsThe time has come to say goodbye to this little blog of mine. Come join us in our new adventures stateside at <a href="http://innocentsathome.blogspot.com/">InnocentsAtHome.blogspot.com</a>. <br />
<br />
Don't forget to add it to you bookmarks and blog feeds. We may not be tramping around Europe anymore, but I promise we will still have good stories to share and plenty of pics of Penelope!Frau 'Livy' Langdon.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17222026890712089962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3623555834777184291.post-87979237317173674702010-07-14T21:53:00.001+02:002010-07-21T02:50:49.407+02:00Countdown to Lift Off: 3, 2, 1...It's official. Tomorrow morning we leave Heidelberg and return back to our home in North Carolina. <br />
<br />
We have had the most amazing, unbelievable year here. It's hard to believe that one year ago we knew next to nothing about the country and culture of Germany, and I knew not a single word of the German language. And now we feel so comfortable in this home away from home we can't bear to leave. <br />
<br />
Yet as I sit here surrounded by bags and suitcases and leaving becomes that much more of a reality, I can't help but think of the many things that await us in the U.S. Things that I have been missing and craving ever since we left last year. Knowing that they will be within my reach this time tomorrow makes the leaving just a tad bit easier.<br />
<br />
Here's what's one my mind at the moment:<br />
<br />
--AIR CONDITIONING! (mid-90's for over a week with no escape has been torture! what are these people thinking ?!)<br />
--Ice in my drinks (mildly cool drinks on a hot day just doesn't do the trick)<br />
--Free water at restaurants (did I mention that it's HOT here?)<br />
--Friends and family (I bet you were wondering when they would appear on my list)<br />
--Being able to understand everything people say<br />
--Being able to express what I want to say without sounding like an idiot<br />
--My house (it's been a blast sleeping in the living room and all...)<br />
--Having a dishwasher and a microwave and a fridge larger than the one from my dorm room<br />
--Target and all discount stores (and how basically everything is less expensive than Europe)<br />
--Mexican food and all things spicy<br />
--Cupcakes and chocolate chip cookies<br />
<br />
You can bet that I'll be savoring most if not all of these things in the next upcoming days.<br />
<br />
But in the meantime...<br />
<br />
Take a look at this cute little thing that suddenly found herself in Germany nearly one year ago<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM9C8lui7mKPK7TOGcVnoAZ4pPTNjUINvxeSF8-uCYhkart9aDItI9V3ESsweqpI9Db-08jQmqNbhWsxdmihIOkyIyXxvA_FE1hOp8ozpKbW0JaHtIWsixldzkIoOrpQexU20GDqM7hkk6/s1600/IMG_6718.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM9C8lui7mKPK7TOGcVnoAZ4pPTNjUINvxeSF8-uCYhkart9aDItI9V3ESsweqpI9Db-08jQmqNbhWsxdmihIOkyIyXxvA_FE1hOp8ozpKbW0JaHtIWsixldzkIoOrpQexU20GDqM7hkk6/s400/IMG_6718.JPG" width="267" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Penelope was four months old and had just learned to sit up when we moved to Germany last August. Love those roly poly arms and legs! Where did all that chubbiness go?!</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/AVvXsEjo2rYCLe4AeV1Ic7bw0KeEux8txuz4TcofhSkZBlzQ9NmAOk_-E5aLlKcMn0L4yuUEd5bnTD5A-_CRDiuvVUMoUVPJqCQ9mJu0cQCkQoE2h0Y1M1lpKR4iGhm6uvnlaV1FwyL6OSloVrrT/s1600/IMG_6926.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo2rYCLe4AeV1Ic7bw0KeEux8txuz4TcofhSkZBlzQ9NmAOk_-E5aLlKcMn0L4yuUEd5bnTD5A-_CRDiuvVUMoUVPJqCQ9mJu0cQCkQoE2h0Y1M1lpKR4iGhm6uvnlaV1FwyL6OSloVrrT/s400/IMG_6926.JPG" width="267" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This little girl has seen more in her first year of life than most people see their whole lifetime (and, sadly, she won't remember a bit!)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">So long Heidelberg! So long Germany! It's been good ride.</div>Frau 'Livy' Langdon.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17222026890712089962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3623555834777184291.post-49169691490295981192010-07-09T00:16:00.003+02:002010-07-14T20:41:32.757+02:00Countdown to Lift Off: 10, 9, 8, 7...Only seven days until we leave Heidelberg and return to the good 'ole U.S of A. <br />
<br />
So as we pack up and say goodbye, we've been reminiscing about the things we'll miss when we leave...<br />
<em>(click on picture captions to read more)</em><br />
<br />
1. Strolls along the Neckar<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><em><a href="http://trampsabroad2009.blogspot.com/2010/03/eleven-months.html">penelope learning to walk</a></em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhctYh1WiKrF-T_huYoAPVUjvakdElyOu49dgOsjlefKjFSOybubshmTkG_oCJu3YKcj7IG5DWOKD8spFkaFXV4xSJk4JeTkSnifAxoiAFi_9NO26e5YMfMqiu6m34fiUakJ4rebHD9yw4d/s1600/IMG_3369.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhctYh1WiKrF-T_huYoAPVUjvakdElyOu49dgOsjlefKjFSOybubshmTkG_oCJu3YKcj7IG5DWOKD8spFkaFXV4xSJk4JeTkSnifAxoiAFi_9NO26e5YMfMqiu6m34fiUakJ4rebHD9yw4d/s320/IMG_3369.JPG" width="213" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em><a href="http://trampsabroad2009.blogspot.com/2010/05/welcome-back-grandma.html">frolicking with grandma</a></em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih7lJlgKtfJE33zQZaeq-iGegKpqmKFXs6Fqk6VqlbD-OoFjBMXpRzGR0RDpNciivra6T9llp0s8-y5qPTmeNaRmBoomjxvYmxMMAPoQvtDL4ZQS22Nglbx5lMefTIj_BN7lBGQ-vkqhZt/s1600/IMG_8545.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih7lJlgKtfJE33zQZaeq-iGegKpqmKFXs6Fqk6VqlbD-OoFjBMXpRzGR0RDpNciivra6T9llp0s8-y5qPTmeNaRmBoomjxvYmxMMAPoQvtDL4ZQS22Nglbx5lMefTIj_BN7lBGQ-vkqhZt/s320/IMG_8545.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
2. Walking to our destinations instead of relying on a car<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><em><a href="http://trampsabroad2009.blogspot.com/2009/09/venice-of-germany.html">first week in heidelberg</a></em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqB20J4jpyA1ndSzaSTw78xxR2KOT43m-4tIC4YxCK4KLsf8tY5WQ8l8fbqUhMJSsHeJLTID7qsHPH4VXOsbcTFfXPsPhG0l8PIfq_GAY9GqeAnjiuKePEuVtBddPguDDxcsJClmn2CLZq/s1600/IMG_8027.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqB20J4jpyA1ndSzaSTw78xxR2KOT43m-4tIC4YxCK4KLsf8tY5WQ8l8fbqUhMJSsHeJLTID7qsHPH4VXOsbcTFfXPsPhG0l8PIfq_GAY9GqeAnjiuKePEuVtBddPguDDxcsJClmn2CLZq/s320/IMG_8027.JPG" width="213" /></a></div><br />
<br />
3. Exploring castle gardens<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><em><a href="http://trampsabroad2009.blogspot.com/2010/04/berlin-part-drei.html">charlottenburg castle in berlin</a></em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5yUcGxHObESTX9pINtxbmuuMVSLqxGPoQ-g_tqlWoFEE-XrvT1H5bcW0DHDvN0sQnggYCtDA-lFIu2I8rmibeAPUIGVi5iJhO6vCA4e-aLSVJdWqdaVpT9BQbyXzf1Ce3TnQkpVv7zmKD/s1600/IMG_4721.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5yUcGxHObESTX9pINtxbmuuMVSLqxGPoQ-g_tqlWoFEE-XrvT1H5bcW0DHDvN0sQnggYCtDA-lFIu2I8rmibeAPUIGVi5iJhO6vCA4e-aLSVJdWqdaVpT9BQbyXzf1Ce3TnQkpVv7zmKD/s320/IMG_4721.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;"><em><a href="http://trampsabroad2009.blogspot.com/2010/04/happy-easter.html">schwetzingen castle gardens</a></em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5ZlL0E8fbwQ21KxiVlb8tiTyVFzoWNEJEe62hHelSSKW_TVDMc18wjabTcNwvoOhYfuk1gKe979deDzxox963uU2FxmBARHiLEAdRotSag4gDZPAa1Qyeu8RCZSP-1oKeDHzNpSLq5-pV/s1600/IMG_5696.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5ZlL0E8fbwQ21KxiVlb8tiTyVFzoWNEJEe62hHelSSKW_TVDMc18wjabTcNwvoOhYfuk1gKe979deDzxox963uU2FxmBARHiLEAdRotSag4gDZPAa1Qyeu8RCZSP-1oKeDHzNpSLq5-pV/s320/IMG_5696.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
4. Learning firsthand about German culture<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><br />
<em><a href="http://trampsabroad2009.blogspot.com/2010/05/deep-dark-forest.html">bollenhut in the black forest</a></em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYLzaVeiWcH4TcMOlPtuexFWxcU-hMtOFHirz76V-hYoqu01T8h9y7d5gme2ns2hZzXhqiH2uZeVEVdXo6lNmYK2xE7_9zobM2FSs_5m6dn09jmpht326oCWXBoLZIuQz3_HHcrhQsl7xP/s1600/IMG_8217.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYLzaVeiWcH4TcMOlPtuexFWxcU-hMtOFHirz76V-hYoqu01T8h9y7d5gme2ns2hZzXhqiH2uZeVEVdXo6lNmYK2xE7_9zobM2FSs_5m6dn09jmpht326oCWXBoLZIuQz3_HHcrhQsl7xP/s320/IMG_8217.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
4. Feeling safe wherever/whenever I am and not being on guard about my stuff being taken while I'm not looking<br />
<br />
5. Being surrounded by hills and mountains<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><em>boat ride down the neckar</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWXKKO1pE3GbH8CVmKYEf13qEC-shR0mIuHR6mbhmQIwKAEl0cUPAYVSir4_IR_11ZLyBkQgrVd6FJzWUE7XtvQsa8EJ2GUjO0Aaz8BCtcROrKFvBEUREdm67POyrGKFEDuUnteFFQ0yoa/s1600/IMG_6432.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="229" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWXKKO1pE3GbH8CVmKYEf13qEC-shR0mIuHR6mbhmQIwKAEl0cUPAYVSir4_IR_11ZLyBkQgrVd6FJzWUE7XtvQsa8EJ2GUjO0Aaz8BCtcROrKFvBEUREdm67POyrGKFEDuUnteFFQ0yoa/s320/IMG_6432.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;"><em><a href="http://trampsabroad2009.blogspot.com/2009/10/inside-castle.html">from heidelberg castle</a> in the winter</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBjf13JaP3zxmWhsQJqhvXwgQZRlQd8ji2R3d2v42DUi9DNHFe7GkHPd6J_pNIxgVzmo9p-UlS01LA5nErnbKcvGPi3Ds59Rov6SM5vT3fpX32ckBzGmh3SmGT3wxhr-bmIfECNZMpjTo9/s1600/DSC00482.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="229" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBjf13JaP3zxmWhsQJqhvXwgQZRlQd8ji2R3d2v42DUi9DNHFe7GkHPd6J_pNIxgVzmo9p-UlS01LA5nErnbKcvGPi3Ds59Rov6SM5vT3fpX32ckBzGmh3SmGT3wxhr-bmIfECNZMpjTo9/s320/DSC00482.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>6. The simplicity of life here<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><em><a href="http://trampsabroad2009.blogspot.com/2010/02/big-ten.html">reading with daddy</a></em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmCuL1wUuZZdzZ8alJiFJeH8KkSeWo1QxsxIJAxfXUITCbSoOZz4W489D3xaku3ZlbHGM4TSk3z5y6BKWHgn7kRWOHKGpbcLmAsV3rbPdGgFDxHylJnOdEGu_NUdAU0ZZeZi6wCMoFY5x-/s1600/IMG_2553.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmCuL1wUuZZdzZ8alJiFJeH8KkSeWo1QxsxIJAxfXUITCbSoOZz4W489D3xaku3ZlbHGM4TSk3z5y6BKWHgn7kRWOHKGpbcLmAsV3rbPdGgFDxHylJnOdEGu_NUdAU0ZZeZi6wCMoFY5x-/s320/IMG_2553.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
7. The Kids Club outside our door<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><em><a href="http://penelope%20and%20the%20baby%20doll/">penelope and the baby doll</a></em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv1wWq__BmgvSm0UYTx4cVtsR1V5Xx8Z6pjO5EuhQA8RxUqPOY4dMftDcruCxBJZEdnWNij8B_OC2SESGcSR2Q6Bxq4f498bjQrfRS-UwBdqgn9iqscDWneg1ZmIKOyof7NCK4QCZPw5QM/s1600/IMG_3579.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv1wWq__BmgvSm0UYTx4cVtsR1V5Xx8Z6pjO5EuhQA8RxUqPOY4dMftDcruCxBJZEdnWNij8B_OC2SESGcSR2Q6Bxq4f498bjQrfRS-UwBdqgn9iqscDWneg1ZmIKOyof7NCK4QCZPw5QM/s320/IMG_3579.JPG" width="214" /></a></div><br />
8. The frequent holidays and city festivals <br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><em><a href="http://trampsabroad2009.blogspot.com/2010/02/fasching-parade.html">fasching parade</a></em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpzFI95ZaSYCRFxwmzemLNKRWhtJJaqZQsSHUdYVCiQvNlHhOfJNjf5C5ON3jRgPcXe-Ctn5ETEKovSmgo2l2arKlPlpgSfXn0o7UkXX620I2HZK1QmRZSv-9uDsday5pO8mOxxFKUgFBE/s1600/IMG_2783.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpzFI95ZaSYCRFxwmzemLNKRWhtJJaqZQsSHUdYVCiQvNlHhOfJNjf5C5ON3jRgPcXe-Ctn5ETEKovSmgo2l2arKlPlpgSfXn0o7UkXX620I2HZK1QmRZSv-9uDsday5pO8mOxxFKUgFBE/s320/IMG_2783.JPG" width="228" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://trampsabroad2009.blogspot.com/2010/03/burn-baby-burn.html">sommertagzugfest in weinheim</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgo67eMnbvY-g3KjzFqgPxA2WzB4gXC4TZNBWVb9sDhbezZFiYCTpwq6Dv-JSHHmvj1Ce9MnnivQ8ae79SpYBusSL-RNN_xxAENb9yBxkIKOHhSF2w1vNkRRQf9u3CVJBYfEQxnzFo2LVK/s1600/IMG_4038.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="229" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgo67eMnbvY-g3KjzFqgPxA2WzB4gXC4TZNBWVb9sDhbezZFiYCTpwq6Dv-JSHHmvj1Ce9MnnivQ8ae79SpYBusSL-RNN_xxAENb9yBxkIKOHhSF2w1vNkRRQf9u3CVJBYfEQxnzFo2LVK/s320/IMG_4038.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;"><em><a href="http://trampsabroad2009.blogspot.com/2009/10/stuttgart-part-two-or-oktoberfest.html">volksfest in stuttgart</a></em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuIe3HSKiQaB7HPebWITcPP_mdfvzgzJ6nD5Q1Kh9r8RKekuKEhk-UFfBk3S2XPXrsE3BvDVbjN98FhKAo_73GyGielMnukLaX-gYbrRUazT0RHBCjKUofn_rBItOpXXWez_5Bb_JH5hH-/s1600/IMG_8467.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuIe3HSKiQaB7HPebWITcPP_mdfvzgzJ6nD5Q1Kh9r8RKekuKEhk-UFfBk3S2XPXrsE3BvDVbjN98FhKAo_73GyGielMnukLaX-gYbrRUazT0RHBCjKUofn_rBItOpXXWez_5Bb_JH5hH-/s320/IMG_8467.JPG" /></a></div><br />
9. Going to the zoo that's only a few minutes away<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><em><a href="http://trampsabroad2009.blogspot.com/2009/11/trip-to-zoo.html">heidelberg zoo</a></em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhChUMjIWO8poLbDyIZSJzxhrNyG7YoUwDBtEao7fan96SBJuxdG9of6ZiauM7jOitu45KSo3eSjCqlBFd4yjZYJS2a50jNe4GaQWqymKccYq0dSyHTf8NhmKcgPGbLYf9wxoZpKdY_Ycic/s1600/IMG_0746.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhChUMjIWO8poLbDyIZSJzxhrNyG7YoUwDBtEao7fan96SBJuxdG9of6ZiauM7jOitu45KSo3eSjCqlBFd4yjZYJS2a50jNe4GaQWqymKccYq0dSyHTf8NhmKcgPGbLYf9wxoZpKdY_Ycic/s320/IMG_0746.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
10. Beautiful, historic buildings on every street<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><em><a href="http://trampsabroad2009.blogspot.com/2009/08/first-views-of-marburg-home-away-from.html">marktplatz in marburg</a></em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfYFu_SYDmZGneLLRdrfa0H_7MGN6nwjUBp05sTI4CWigaUgc_5-tsG83I5tDzl3xSVC9ZJbBlZ29rTlUq8tYPpqOl7lHoAOM6eMt5oKwu5lauXv9vzWZ8MCo-Jt-oQI0GWuDuF9wv60O5/s1600/IMG_6642.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfYFu_SYDmZGneLLRdrfa0H_7MGN6nwjUBp05sTI4CWigaUgc_5-tsG83I5tDzl3xSVC9ZJbBlZ29rTlUq8tYPpqOl7lHoAOM6eMt5oKwu5lauXv9vzWZ8MCo-Jt-oQI0GWuDuF9wv60O5/s320/IMG_6642.JPG" width="214" /></a></div><br />
11. Fresh bread from the bakery (on every corner)<br />
<br />
12. Having a drink at a cafe in the Marktplatz<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><em><a href="http://trampsabroad2009.blogspot.com/2009/11/memories.html">marburg markplatz</a></em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlwtRzHAZQf5lJFlnKkVzIoH9gn013d3DFEqlq7ZwyqWXOrmAsPV3cj1PHqOl22LtQRvqdVs1QfMnZPaV2qoafqxTpOHOJrrhYtSAxWL9988lvdiaRps5DvYho4ty-EHbocE3ITUJ0wEQf/s1600/DSC04249.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlwtRzHAZQf5lJFlnKkVzIoH9gn013d3DFEqlq7ZwyqWXOrmAsPV3cj1PHqOl22LtQRvqdVs1QfMnZPaV2qoafqxTpOHOJrrhYtSAxWL9988lvdiaRps5DvYho4ty-EHbocE3ITUJ0wEQf/s320/DSC04249.JPG" width="214" /></a></div><br />
13. The busy Hauptstrasse<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
14. Cheap booze<br />
<br />
15. Views of Heidelberg from the Philosopher's Way and from the castle<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><em>view from the philosopher's way</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfNTDJuFD_klu_PfY2vpAMf_7hf2aIDJs2fzlGU2YgSCu_ifiEk4v2J-rU6oWJ6GPA_P2H_8g9Vvi8nfeatZiHby54DFXGaI3cbb3wchbIohA2H5k08yQRcWjm8UTLc8WCGO8-qTeau-zr/s1600/IMG_0549.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfNTDJuFD_klu_PfY2vpAMf_7hf2aIDJs2fzlGU2YgSCu_ifiEk4v2J-rU6oWJ6GPA_P2H_8g9Vvi8nfeatZiHby54DFXGaI3cbb3wchbIohA2H5k08yQRcWjm8UTLc8WCGO8-qTeau-zr/s320/IMG_0549.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;"><em>view from the castle</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE2394i4r0zG6eNq5NldNR3DcZhRIYh8mOTo2nHWYWxzx1KF8tOQKDCdqj_2Z8fp9RPJdUeBpYZZLer1LOyBxPPI_ODmISaJvTn3oXemW0mAFg0PlFeBQvqpWA_ElRbDMSx22wZB34Sb-Q/s1600/IMG_9117.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE2394i4r0zG6eNq5NldNR3DcZhRIYh8mOTo2nHWYWxzx1KF8tOQKDCdqj_2Z8fp9RPJdUeBpYZZLer1LOyBxPPI_ODmISaJvTn3oXemW0mAFg0PlFeBQvqpWA_ElRbDMSx22wZB34Sb-Q/s320/IMG_9117.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
16. Easy access to the rest of Europe (especially thanks to cheap flights on Ryanair)<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><em><a href="http://trampsabroad2009.blogspot.com/2010/05/amsterdam.html">amsterdam</a></em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi574STFYiNqLMbvno_uT61dcMgsRhBbNjaLEPzWJq1vytwBV7zRkpQzu8NN9ekgAg3YSPADf74ORanu5fHBx11iEjO7TTM83kG9tMdXsNadv1x14pus7ZxP0lBF8xlDy7MOIW_zDZIJWDf/s1600/IMG_6601.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi574STFYiNqLMbvno_uT61dcMgsRhBbNjaLEPzWJq1vytwBV7zRkpQzu8NN9ekgAg3YSPADf74ORanu5fHBx11iEjO7TTM83kG9tMdXsNadv1x14pus7ZxP0lBF8xlDy7MOIW_zDZIJWDf/s320/IMG_6601.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;"><em><a href="http://trampsabroad2009.blogspot.com/2010/06/up-on-sardinian-wall.html">alghero, sardinia</a></em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipadIsPjHF6U2SfHmO03xSWBc10g7mVxVyzeUMGSWOg2bL2CzofqD-jrJPZe8kmIFvmTfpruUQsp8S_AQRYy3xjT3Ztf8HzGdeq_LlmRC8ycCq4HF4V4QEM68ycY78FrzY93006xurFEmo/s1600/IMG_9433.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipadIsPjHF6U2SfHmO03xSWBc10g7mVxVyzeUMGSWOg2bL2CzofqD-jrJPZe8kmIFvmTfpruUQsp8S_AQRYy3xjT3Ztf8HzGdeq_LlmRC8ycCq4HF4V4QEM68ycY78FrzY93006xurFEmo/s320/IMG_9433.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://trampsabroad2009.blogspot.com/2010/04/prague-pilsners-trdlo-and-chipsys.html">prague</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioLIuyG4jfz_tKFV4H5VdmUBgSPRZaQJEa0yXtOnAM2SYHIDm_EePkvSEbFk_BfTpva_d_NxI-gXq8jyKuZ0dtavg7ohfahmOzyNQYM_426xbKlU_PRhzr6tizWYBziNu9u21C5Ae_5-Bd/s1600/IMG_5390.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioLIuyG4jfz_tKFV4H5VdmUBgSPRZaQJEa0yXtOnAM2SYHIDm_EePkvSEbFk_BfTpva_d_NxI-gXq8jyKuZ0dtavg7ohfahmOzyNQYM_426xbKlU_PRhzr6tizWYBziNu9u21C5Ae_5-Bd/s320/IMG_5390.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
17. Gluwein and Christmas Markets<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><em>sipping gluwein</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIJAIaw33CPB9KkTx4PVkowCwrvbWBASaTukeFtXy1GSz3hj_R0sVSxpdLMx7vOM4DfZh_cxonpYxfx2afXkYCKETcf0mzWp4byRFsYO_nij_c0OVlrr7DitIcHp0rQoK5cScFkGgs1TGY/s1600/IMG_1488.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIJAIaw33CPB9KkTx4PVkowCwrvbWBASaTukeFtXy1GSz3hj_R0sVSxpdLMx7vOM4DfZh_cxonpYxfx2afXkYCKETcf0mzWp4byRFsYO_nij_c0OVlrr7DitIcHp0rQoK5cScFkGgs1TGY/s320/IMG_1488.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;"><em><a href="http://trampsabroad2009.blogspot.com/2010/01/heidelberg-christmas-market.html">heidelberg christkindlmarkt</a></em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLlGcdqNnsnrqquNMVnYG2iBv7gxBVtTfNBpkOzBZExnIPTuzXeuY-ZA5K-YatwuZpZ78oGqgXUucNiWYG9eKQ8sS9bdSuRoJlHXhOb0bdhtpaOzyTv34mJ-5F746uK__XGNczaHdjZulr/s1600/IMG_1498.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLlGcdqNnsnrqquNMVnYG2iBv7gxBVtTfNBpkOzBZExnIPTuzXeuY-ZA5K-YatwuZpZ78oGqgXUucNiWYG9eKQ8sS9bdSuRoJlHXhOb0bdhtpaOzyTv34mJ-5F746uK__XGNczaHdjZulr/s320/IMG_1498.JPG" width="229" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><br />
18. Trinkschokolade at Schillers<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><em><a href="http://trampsabroad2009.blogspot.com/2009/11/grandparents-come-to-town.html">hot, melted chocolate in a cup</a></em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVre3-nsqWNiQfl5pTBYV0JQebsBcX1cZG4krLd924VPelB2om34nK_ilT4QbC-vaXQnZzo3yR0hJCkEbObRASDIfoJcY9kO4LevHcUY-0Cz6OwapXBQ2AcOjdf9D0lsaQKsW9OqSGR1eH/s1600/IMG_0123.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVre3-nsqWNiQfl5pTBYV0JQebsBcX1cZG4krLd924VPelB2om34nK_ilT4QbC-vaXQnZzo3yR0hJCkEbObRASDIfoJcY9kO4LevHcUY-0Cz6OwapXBQ2AcOjdf9D0lsaQKsW9OqSGR1eH/s320/IMG_0123.JPG" width="214" /></a></div><br />
19. Playing in the snow<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><em><a href="http://trampsabroad2009.blogspot.com/2010/02/snow-angel.html">snow angel</a></em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0_S2g2MYKtSV123N-0j-3dY2uayvWR3rAVgaKqeCp6Z7pE6Pd4799hYYMLRR64h3m6IP_W8SLAqjHljnP95ZSMeUlVDh1Vv2-46vsW_hYCiriJsGY_0Ha5fPmeMzoW7CCiTiJ0WeX3vjk/s1600/IMG_2487.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0_S2g2MYKtSV123N-0j-3dY2uayvWR3rAVgaKqeCp6Z7pE6Pd4799hYYMLRR64h3m6IP_W8SLAqjHljnP95ZSMeUlVDh1Vv2-46vsW_hYCiriJsGY_0Ha5fPmeMzoW7CCiTiJ0WeX3vjk/s320/IMG_2487.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
20. Beautiful churches<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><em><a href="http://trampsabroad2009.blogspot.com/2009/11/afternoon-in-france.html">cathedral in strasbourg, france</a></em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigriLYxY8z-pc1JmB2MUi3eM_uz0MtNfQCq5Pn0t3xdg5-wenR7S05mF8CTyYnjCeBtWkklJveBhJtSa-wBm14GFFPYMKWcJv8_fm1I0N2HILUY-YSaWPT60J69G0vzkbDHrXVPipitJqn/s1600/IMG_0487.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigriLYxY8z-pc1JmB2MUi3eM_uz0MtNfQCq5Pn0t3xdg5-wenR7S05mF8CTyYnjCeBtWkklJveBhJtSa-wBm14GFFPYMKWcJv8_fm1I0N2HILUY-YSaWPT60J69G0vzkbDHrXVPipitJqn/s320/IMG_0487.JPG" /></a></div><br />
21. Meeting people from around the world on a daily basis<br />
<br />
22. Afternoon tea and Kuchen with friends<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><em><a href="http://trampsabroad2009.blogspot.com/2010/01/international-american-wives-club-goes.html">good times with fellow americans in heidelberg stephanie, cheryl and beth</a></em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvxaW8HF_24icOcPUElJftIZTXzUdWh9a4JaEgzt0VZP0DBVjV9nlmyg8zIwm5MTEgtA8lPaA-4Z-w_46lpUNjEg3d4OhmMSXxBAlPTICvEtQdtGMmqEJ_kooqop9ih4xcHKVhEF7Uda5r/s1600/IMG_2315.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvxaW8HF_24icOcPUElJftIZTXzUdWh9a4JaEgzt0VZP0DBVjV9nlmyg8zIwm5MTEgtA8lPaA-4Z-w_46lpUNjEg3d4OhmMSXxBAlPTICvEtQdtGMmqEJ_kooqop9ih4xcHKVhEF7Uda5r/s320/IMG_2315.JPG" /></a></div><br />
23. Our favorite cheap lunch place, 'Falafel', and the chef at 'Couscous', and Doners<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><em><a href="http://trampsabroad2009.blogspot.com/2009/10/doner.html">doners!</a></em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMbHInZKQSQ2BkemQLF-WEpRB1h_j-8vVU06-rz5ZlO8pUfXGhGqNGUtnfgk-_5bAtupUCfeqUAXn_xKh_6LhjzoEwu3Vbwy6j05lTnflbf_1oyPkIJlcP6JO0Ef9uA8PeitU9q_AYVPkv/s1600/IMG_8256.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMbHInZKQSQ2BkemQLF-WEpRB1h_j-8vVU06-rz5ZlO8pUfXGhGqNGUtnfgk-_5bAtupUCfeqUAXn_xKh_6LhjzoEwu3Vbwy6j05lTnflbf_1oyPkIJlcP6JO0Ef9uA8PeitU9q_AYVPkv/s320/IMG_8256.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
24. Traveling by train<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><em><a href="http://trampsabroad2009.blogspot.com/2010/03/train-ride-amusements.html">in the 'children's cabin' on a high speed train</a></em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_k4x94W7D2bBLRCAKL8FzxmescclDHa_oKsfepZWw7AjvPamo6tg_Tp2ibIrxPiMB5kHEIHZhGATw7x-RxZBtaoCongc45y-BmuLnglJh_QPay5nsV4NMjXDIJuVBDJq3QJYlBeFzW3Eb/s1600/IMG_7055.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_k4x94W7D2bBLRCAKL8FzxmescclDHa_oKsfepZWw7AjvPamo6tg_Tp2ibIrxPiMB5kHEIHZhGATw7x-RxZBtaoCongc45y-BmuLnglJh_QPay5nsV4NMjXDIJuVBDJq3QJYlBeFzW3Eb/s320/IMG_7055.JPG" /></a></div>25. Picnics on the Neckarwiese<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><em>celebrating the warm weather</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin6fDC0HMIUnuk5y5cgkW-wFDv6xqRj_bjFLAJA-e56T0hYGiZFsbu3bo5JqLl2GgPqD0louO-7q5KkqgLQD7GoQPwxGLhc218hmx3tbHsLPzy7KB5oKoTKPk9FqoDCmWvtQ46-jRsbb80/s1600/IMG_7149.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin6fDC0HMIUnuk5y5cgkW-wFDv6xqRj_bjFLAJA-e56T0hYGiZFsbu3bo5JqLl2GgPqD0louO-7q5KkqgLQD7GoQPwxGLhc218hmx3tbHsLPzy7KB5oKoTKPk9FqoDCmWvtQ46-jRsbb80/s320/IMG_7149.JPG" width="214" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://trampsabroad2009.blogspot.com/2010/04/frohes-geburtstag-penelope.html">penelope's 1st birthday</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq_Do35irPtYJnTihnFg_m36cUn7zbqhUiEHVE_sT0P6o0L_UUg9Z0OVs8wxmrlXxJgBmwRxYlwbi-sWqOX4UXeMo5cpPXvKha2_JkZUbfgrqjq7XrrmXPcvA4a2WlH4gowB0GcNaOwDUo/s1600/IMG_6110.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq_Do35irPtYJnTihnFg_m36cUn7zbqhUiEHVE_sT0P6o0L_UUg9Z0OVs8wxmrlXxJgBmwRxYlwbi-sWqOX4UXeMo5cpPXvKha2_JkZUbfgrqjq7XrrmXPcvA4a2WlH4gowB0GcNaOwDUo/s320/IMG_6110.JPG" /></a></div>26. The Castle<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu6VUTuv0STXlLjtMwR95WQx1Rhv7YN_hhmCD_k9NGNpgqZX5t4YEKDwAQ2ewETcl89540yO3o3SgyRDzRmvcVioglk1AoCqILOcdsq67BUSyX-1eb63m09ApdeC2SgPPK5lkxHqlc-O2Y/s1600/IMG_9279.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu6VUTuv0STXlLjtMwR95WQx1Rhv7YN_hhmCD_k9NGNpgqZX5t4YEKDwAQ2ewETcl89540yO3o3SgyRDzRmvcVioglk1AoCqILOcdsq67BUSyX-1eb63m09ApdeC2SgPPK5lkxHqlc-O2Y/s320/IMG_9279.JPG" /></a></div><br />
And so many, many moreFrau 'Livy' Langdon.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17222026890712089962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3623555834777184291.post-53732864318450864252010-07-05T14:31:00.001+02:002010-07-05T14:31:29.807+02:00Penelope (almost) 15 Month Update<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixw7_fWYA5f6dnPuIifFbKWTc8vZQAL4i1zVxdm88L1IacLq84sMt2Q346rnPlu8r71M8tOt1Dnt-iNzCO67iY8NQY3VFFcyn36axi_q8oiOtObToQYMIEVU-CeFqlIX3631f6eES5WbdA/s1600/IMG_0047.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixw7_fWYA5f6dnPuIifFbKWTc8vZQAL4i1zVxdm88L1IacLq84sMt2Q346rnPlu8r71M8tOt1Dnt-iNzCO67iY8NQY3VFFcyn36axi_q8oiOtObToQYMIEVU-CeFqlIX3631f6eES5WbdA/s400/IMG_0047.JPG" width="267" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Here's what Penelope has been up to the past couple of months:</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Running (mostly away from her parents)</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0mbEiHs7WEx2hTfu7gd6RvFLyt2o3KVS_INL2ylCNghWvFgOQqOyLhn1GAgRAVKLURtKmwGHDqMuvXk09TKACBvKz5KW77pRTfx6CqULSZ5bSQwKub4CQMy9Bx05fnBa-N6sW4w48Z8GL/s1600/IMG_9966.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0mbEiHs7WEx2hTfu7gd6RvFLyt2o3KVS_INL2ylCNghWvFgOQqOyLhn1GAgRAVKLURtKmwGHDqMuvXk09TKACBvKz5KW77pRTfx6CqULSZ5bSQwKub4CQMy9Bx05fnBa-N6sW4w48Z8GL/s400/IMG_9966.JPG" width="267" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> Climbing onto chairs and couches and playground equipment and anything else in her way (no serious injuries...yet)</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjpPpBrirpEqvLYwFn6AbZDGcX9eBamnT0koDCMkdA-IctAzy92QvY5cOL2jOB2od17XnaTsVAaFpId-eeU1wMUFXNneVLRidUE6QgYaPl3sg0ZyBJ4MPB5mdy1huwy7qqWX71IOmpjJdd/s1600/IMG_0413.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjpPpBrirpEqvLYwFn6AbZDGcX9eBamnT0koDCMkdA-IctAzy92QvY5cOL2jOB2od17XnaTsVAaFpId-eeU1wMUFXNneVLRidUE6QgYaPl3sg0ZyBJ4MPB5mdy1huwy7qqWX71IOmpjJdd/s400/IMG_0413.JPG" width="286" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Inventing her own language--which she talks to us in constantly, but so far we only understand "dog", "dada", "nein" (German for "no"), and "this"</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibJi34zz6BF81RlGBBp720wr7rg26TZ6dD6BEvlQLrPdNjoKE6gOiaXb_YRpLhSCm-RZxWO2115zfO75tuAXSOksEczI-K4i12JeJT-Ab1kLx0bFAGQ7xbZ5ql9OTpPkw06hBVcCyy2bo1/s1600/IMG_0028.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibJi34zz6BF81RlGBBp720wr7rg26TZ6dD6BEvlQLrPdNjoKE6gOiaXb_YRpLhSCm-RZxWO2115zfO75tuAXSOksEczI-K4i12JeJT-Ab1kLx0bFAGQ7xbZ5ql9OTpPkw06hBVcCyy2bo1/s400/IMG_0028.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Copying everything we do (talking on the phone, kissing, dancing, "typing" on the computer, clapping, and a few of our bad habits which I won't mention)</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0ZHvEqXT2C0l4r8KNUs3PHpAicvDOcBSW1gZYrj0BuULTlRKpfjHwf3iLggIVNQO4Vcx3r7JZf9lBGEgCrJGykBBUv7TX_oDV9ZpcyE-P4BUNZZbgHGBR3VJLxF8kLL5m8vdYBhdZxwgV/s1600/IMG_0391.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="286" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0ZHvEqXT2C0l4r8KNUs3PHpAicvDOcBSW1gZYrj0BuULTlRKpfjHwf3iLggIVNQO4Vcx3r7JZf9lBGEgCrJGykBBUv7TX_oDV9ZpcyE-P4BUNZZbgHGBR3VJLxF8kLL5m8vdYBhdZxwgV/s400/IMG_0391.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Deciding that she only requires one nap a day</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFszr3VyTO6r-kcXy1C1ZkQ12vyWGRmZ_WmPZ6E3IWA5X_6oQP6TnkBdjvnqJNSy9TAYtSwv-IVmz2WF5qajQUuXGSt4_Ofh0Mdegx5BKjtUeQSkU9qf4kYq320rFr5GzgZo-ACWTjWvka/s1600/IMG_0403.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFszr3VyTO6r-kcXy1C1ZkQ12vyWGRmZ_WmPZ6E3IWA5X_6oQP6TnkBdjvnqJNSy9TAYtSwv-IVmz2WF5qajQUuXGSt4_Ofh0Mdegx5BKjtUeQSkU9qf4kYq320rFr5GzgZo-ACWTjWvka/s400/IMG_0403.JPG" width="285" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Giving up the pacifier during the day (but requiring at least 5 in her crib to sleep)</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtqOVj3IoIQ203gI3Wb4UsPJShw9O0L5t6tBwIgCKsGUooqlF7V8E77xrqTc9v1kmjyX_U1kUdvUxoMptQepNtGEDXIjckBaUOT-q1q3S5A3RJ0lss8mKNfQ5qk7lCQWX6ZreQzcIIbtKW/s1600/IMG_8390.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtqOVj3IoIQ203gI3Wb4UsPJShw9O0L5t6tBwIgCKsGUooqlF7V8E77xrqTc9v1kmjyX_U1kUdvUxoMptQepNtGEDXIjckBaUOT-q1q3S5A3RJ0lss8mKNfQ5qk7lCQWX6ZreQzcIIbtKW/s400/IMG_8390.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Eating pretty much anything under the sun (but only on her own terms)</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIiNNHwh_Q_vGtj8ONNW_1EsjixdrAJ9u25oDHfQYiy8r0DOHG1fON6_XW_pSnzl-cHdtZs9Io6fnkRceP6CW6JCkrf96ltpxz9Qi8JY82_SIPaL1qQgbpAcEmWSahBtZo-HCaNiEqcnIu/s1600/IMG_9873.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="286" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIiNNHwh_Q_vGtj8ONNW_1EsjixdrAJ9u25oDHfQYiy8r0DOHG1fON6_XW_pSnzl-cHdtZs9Io6fnkRceP6CW6JCkrf96ltpxz9Qi8JY82_SIPaL1qQgbpAcEmWSahBtZo-HCaNiEqcnIu/s400/IMG_9873.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Drinking out of a cup or from a straw (but mineral water really throws her off)</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhh1ovlOSaDgPddu9s_hiywBPB1CAxA8LuL1qrc_oit3kWezBO9GALWejclgPGegqkFa7nkRXINQgipzYlzQK0Gy4t-uqVt6MjgKe8q3E5wiusbt-CD06iVt5e4yILGWDCsxoj1g0LWmqE/s1600/IMG_8918.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhh1ovlOSaDgPddu9s_hiywBPB1CAxA8LuL1qrc_oit3kWezBO9GALWejclgPGegqkFa7nkRXINQgipzYlzQK0Gy4t-uqVt6MjgKe8q3E5wiusbt-CD06iVt5e4yILGWDCsxoj1g0LWmqE/s400/IMG_8918.JPG" width="285" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Finally sprouting teeth to equal a total of eight (getting the top four all at the same time wasn't a pretty sight)</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy9Mt9kEijOu7kS6o7sKOPThljOwCA0_I9hFc7g-ronEPnrfySh-HdIGZONQw9HzAIhcmBccIGQWdIPceJplfmJiG7QBCXUPPwTMKR2ZsWu2svCTADxR-6ih7E7VqLbTGlLrGLOUAEDguW/s1600/IMG_8930.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy9Mt9kEijOu7kS6o7sKOPThljOwCA0_I9hFc7g-ronEPnrfySh-HdIGZONQw9HzAIhcmBccIGQWdIPceJplfmJiG7QBCXUPPwTMKR2ZsWu2svCTADxR-6ih7E7VqLbTGlLrGLOUAEDguW/s400/IMG_8930.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Learning how to play with other kids (but still prefers adults since they are much better at sharing and dole out more attention)</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKEvzLJR1IP82QTWwoGI7XxVbLh5s0aOlr9gKLzmNpDdvpa4SpHSjkNYkyVb0xyB8y2n1fzAg1PSqym6XUHCNE_XqDgd1Crag2zSSSzqCYCaiMbWaJ-B4FsGuHEr0mw3CvUaOBAHSeO0FK/s1600/IMG_0417.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKEvzLJR1IP82QTWwoGI7XxVbLh5s0aOlr9gKLzmNpDdvpa4SpHSjkNYkyVb0xyB8y2n1fzAg1PSqym6XUHCNE_XqDgd1Crag2zSSSzqCYCaiMbWaJ-B4FsGuHEr0mw3CvUaOBAHSeO0FK/s400/IMG_0417.JPG" width="285" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Keeping in touch wtih friends and family far away</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbSLQ6WA6jgMWvDhX9SEv7WrJEpWHQqJwIyjGzOGwXVCpR-1dDR04qV9kcc5mUnrIVwsFtVCqE-GcaBmWhlNVFT6ZlcD_HHX89sy12VN4h4YRBHblQj-ou9uqbw68JLsPoCAdZ-ObseE1C/s1600/IMG_8090.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="286" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbSLQ6WA6jgMWvDhX9SEv7WrJEpWHQqJwIyjGzOGwXVCpR-1dDR04qV9kcc5mUnrIVwsFtVCqE-GcaBmWhlNVFT6ZlcD_HHX89sy12VN4h4YRBHblQj-ou9uqbw68JLsPoCAdZ-ObseE1C/s400/IMG_8090.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Wanting to listen to books and read them herself ('listen' and 'read' are defined very loosely here)</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdA1NGwNY2e4XDLZIPHPi5KmVC2s7E7LjvhZMc4ONERByuiQj02EAKw6dg0D-uWszao3yDnUGAS3n_sk5JD_csTwexHwzSzwyuPRxQEmgUZ938PkNDVy9V3EyhdalOrweWk6z0qverE5Bq/s1600/IMG_9982.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdA1NGwNY2e4XDLZIPHPi5KmVC2s7E7LjvhZMc4ONERByuiQj02EAKw6dg0D-uWszao3yDnUGAS3n_sk5JD_csTwexHwzSzwyuPRxQEmgUZ938PkNDVy9V3EyhdalOrweWk6z0qverE5Bq/s400/IMG_9982.JPG" width="267" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>pat the bunny</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiduPMCPUCVzd-JCd7w03l7VrXloEgWsnqfI63J3X_4eNcsLcNwyES_eo2Lm8qOPeYYIR_cr8LNxCE9aoKFbpjx8Kq4OCrA3-7YHCAVryrORikKSS_O5EfTJUzUgoSui5h6p8HiCfzv2uo6/s1600/IMG_0369.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiduPMCPUCVzd-JCd7w03l7VrXloEgWsnqfI63J3X_4eNcsLcNwyES_eo2Lm8qOPeYYIR_cr8LNxCE9aoKFbpjx8Kq4OCrA3-7YHCAVryrORikKSS_O5EfTJUzUgoSui5h6p8HiCfzv2uo6/s400/IMG_0369.JPG" width="286" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>smell the flowers</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXAZdtCNXcpiYxIsYFDUWCZ2uJTIYUmJLEcOAhX8f95c2yHacsQ3BMRUvKs8Imw2TupVJPeHbH1LwqnGCuYKEQflpnIeusag6zR5AQ_cb98eEmFu_v4wvbg3TgTJOVaTXRwmUjV2Fxak8J/s1600/IMG_0373.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXAZdtCNXcpiYxIsYFDUWCZ2uJTIYUmJLEcOAhX8f95c2yHacsQ3BMRUvKs8Imw2TupVJPeHbH1LwqnGCuYKEQflpnIeusag6zR5AQ_cb98eEmFu_v4wvbg3TgTJOVaTXRwmUjV2Fxak8J/s400/IMG_0373.JPG" width="285" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>how big is bunny? soooo big!</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvIlz1KalrsjHWiq_Vwyi2jln22kEG1XM3WxCZyPF1KcZMnXSHXupeb1gxRcdrmldermhASFCnaLSXomtIgQVZCxJn17v38iYZl22w_9wmtjkBd68wDf3I4Wr-RqDqromtI-SGpsYYHlkM/s1600/IMG_0377.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="286" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvIlz1KalrsjHWiq_Vwyi2jln22kEG1XM3WxCZyPF1KcZMnXSHXupeb1gxRcdrmldermhASFCnaLSXomtIgQVZCxJn17v38iYZl22w_9wmtjkBd68wDf3I4Wr-RqDqromtI-SGpsYYHlkM/s400/IMG_0377.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>trying on mummy's ring</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTpEl_m2EkuM-eYqx9XlfGQuSfVxYKz4VKiv-Tqi9w55OBUWKHCaiGkYBGd2bJ8vL_cnKXe5VeYEwiqWNoz8vq45h5xKNcD7VqZdTr5t_d7rO6oT4Ul4fwCuxilwAyvxlKKOoZwcWFLjdv/s1600/IMG_0380.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="286" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTpEl_m2EkuM-eYqx9XlfGQuSfVxYKz4VKiv-Tqi9w55OBUWKHCaiGkYBGd2bJ8vL_cnKXe5VeYEwiqWNoz8vq45h5xKNcD7VqZdTr5t_d7rO6oT4Ul4fwCuxilwAyvxlKKOoZwcWFLjdv/s400/IMG_0380.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And screaming, and laughing, and disobeying, and cuddling, and teasing, and smiling....</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/AVvXsEjtmD_k3iKNAPvDNy9NeKH_U-furLslwL2EEaUiFHOhYJu6rWGudvqDVSZ78HR8JxMWf68yZhemQICB1SJNzky4VpJKQT2Fz4L04xKnmEKaWAJn3DD8D8m5bkln2l5sujNNJW3ngKanH0a4/s1600/IMG_0386.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="286" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtmD_k3iKNAPvDNy9NeKH_U-furLslwL2EEaUiFHOhYJu6rWGudvqDVSZ78HR8JxMWf68yZhemQICB1SJNzky4VpJKQT2Fz4L04xKnmEKaWAJn3DD8D8m5bkln2l5sujNNJW3ngKanH0a4/s400/IMG_0386.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And making us terribly exhausted yet filled with even more love for her at the end of every day</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div>Frau 'Livy' Langdon.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17222026890712089962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3623555834777184291.post-51639104116657109032010-07-02T21:33:00.000+02:002010-07-02T21:33:15.528+02:00CelebrationsThis week was full of things to celebrate. First, the birth of my niece and Penelope's newest cousin, sweet Evelyn Grace, on Monday.<br />
<br />
<div align="center"><em>my lil' sis and her lil' baby Evie</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigaGhzhFWKXhCgE2zAJCifRU2GXfRiVzMp9VC5vPlpTAwgw7iKZn2dowLLJbX3s499cQBvTJDWF2dng6Ung50eklZEpHKuKYfpPQL41MhwtKd1cdF_T5aovD_C2vrn5oiCHi9OoVjFBZ_g/s1600/34632_762915833483_9202644_41484645_1520771_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigaGhzhFWKXhCgE2zAJCifRU2GXfRiVzMp9VC5vPlpTAwgw7iKZn2dowLLJbX3s499cQBvTJDWF2dng6Ung50eklZEpHKuKYfpPQL41MhwtKd1cdF_T5aovD_C2vrn5oiCHi9OoVjFBZ_g/s400/34632_762915833483_9202644_41484645_1520771_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Thanks to the miracle of Skype, we were able to be at the hospital and celebrate this momentous occasion together.</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/AVvXsEhQYEnZZuMCYnNOFjzcvR7Anh4i2-d52TaOJjmZlYy4ouFLWbxLlawu_D1UG2sQsUabGfaNXLbDVu3GFo_H6rRieUxE-bgEN1ilhnbYF6dAXDUXcPb1ZV0i4POIDCTp44WhX9xf01gsZF0j/s1600/34059_762848144133_9202644_41482236_4417037_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQYEnZZuMCYnNOFjzcvR7Anh4i2-d52TaOJjmZlYy4ouFLWbxLlawu_D1UG2sQsUabGfaNXLbDVu3GFo_H6rRieUxE-bgEN1ilhnbYF6dAXDUXcPb1ZV0i4POIDCTp44WhX9xf01gsZF0j/s400/34059_762848144133_9202644_41482236_4417037_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Second, it was our 9th wedding anniversary on Tuesday. That's nine whole years of marriage--not only does that feel like a record in these parts, but it also makes me feel quite old!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I suppose most people would celebrate their anniversary by going out alone to a nice dinner. But we like to live on the edge. Instead, the Father took the day off, and we hauled up to the top of the mountain to take Penelope to this funny little fairytale-themed mini-amusement park followed by a picnic dinner on the Neckar river.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I mean, who wouldn't pass up a quiet evening alone when instead you could spend it with this cute little girl?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX-3Z3G77YILdhopvVCfE3r2QNDyMER4pyMdnHwZFew3p0t94RVkekJgGfiBcKFwki9PL2cS5UptpzkoJrD3P6haN0NhV074tJ38qtnpp9Vr7Sa8ORB7KE4u9JZchL_mrqYcT0jFckIRnC/s1600/IMG_0198.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX-3Z3G77YILdhopvVCfE3r2QNDyMER4pyMdnHwZFew3p0t94RVkekJgGfiBcKFwki9PL2cS5UptpzkoJrD3P6haN0NhV074tJ38qtnpp9Vr7Sa8ORB7KE4u9JZchL_mrqYcT0jFckIRnC/s400/IMG_0198.JPG" width="285" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The amusement park is called Märchen Paradis, which translates roughly to "Fairy Paradise," and it's tucked away in the forest at Königstuhl, which is at the top of the mountain that the <a href="http://trampsabroad2009.blogspot.com/2009/09/venice-of-germany.html">Heidelberg castle</a> is on. This time, instead of paying the steep price to ride the<a href="http://trampsabroad2009.blogspot.com/2009/10/we-put-fun-in-funicular.html"> funicular</a> or scaling the <a href="http://trampsabroad2009.blogspot.com/2010/06/weekend-with-grandpa.html">stone steps</a> to the top of the mountain, we figured out how to catch the bus that takes you right to the top. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Märchen Paradis is only open a few months of the year and there were only a handful of workers to keep the place running. It reminded us of a classic amusement park from another era, but with a fairytale theme (afterall, this is the Grimm Brothers' home country). If it existed in the U.S. it would certainly have been renovated long-ago into some high-tech, cartoon-themed, music-blasting attraction. Call me old-fashioned, but I preferred the simplicity of Märchen Paradis. And the price! I'm talking a couple Euros per adult to get in. How can you pass that up? Plus, a 14-month-old doesn't know the difference between this and Disney World.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">In keeping with the fairytale theme, sprinkled throughout the park were little buildings with miniature people and creatures that recreated scenes from well-known fairytales (well-known to the German audience, but some very unfamiliar to me--like the <a href="http://trampsabroad2009.blogspot.com/2009/08/in-footsteps-of-grimm-bros.html">donkey</a> that poops golden coins which we encountered when we were in Marburg). When you pushed a button the characters moved a bit (like a basic nodding of the head or moving of the arm--nothing extravagant here) and a voice told the fairytale (in German, of course). It took a little while for Penelope to figure out what was going on.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>Penelope watching Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (which have completely different names in German)</em></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh64u13hd1hJR4Fq3unhTR2xrzJSwXYdUPZq8NRTdFx2kCwtWCVHCBVlOFXDU0ljrBbouUd6Zy_wp-QzymsIRSvM7uBPQvHHow9P-7ISnXSOmXe16TaTlIcDisjmyV_vLm7WxmrMv_VMSPY/s1600/IMG_0157.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh64u13hd1hJR4Fq3unhTR2xrzJSwXYdUPZq8NRTdFx2kCwtWCVHCBVlOFXDU0ljrBbouUd6Zy_wp-QzymsIRSvM7uBPQvHHow9P-7ISnXSOmXe16TaTlIcDisjmyV_vLm7WxmrMv_VMSPY/s400/IMG_0157.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>The Seven Dwarfs working in the mine</em></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF9AhpcB7jBUNlb_vax40OOwj2O85KIyVrZOiFy1umVU_dcCeZRgm5PkpjsYVyk2W-8H74H67mmSD1Y2_1Y0uDTXWqvNYJBGjpoOqjUByFhvhV-lrbO9J4x1awiNTO2o02hk4mO4XS4Bux/s1600/IMG_0121.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF9AhpcB7jBUNlb_vax40OOwj2O85KIyVrZOiFy1umVU_dcCeZRgm5PkpjsYVyk2W-8H74H67mmSD1Y2_1Y0uDTXWqvNYJBGjpoOqjUByFhvhV-lrbO9J4x1awiNTO2o02hk4mO4XS4Bux/s400/IMG_0121.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>The Dwarfs really freaked her out (I was freaked out by the mouse that ran by us when we walked up to the cave)</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhICh7xKIbmp7E9jCKF2Un4X8dfwZe1__JU9GBTIFM5TXTC5IavEW9Ao3xWRSoUXpxZaWrhY_CQZjGSPLaE1Tp0q0l4PLkrELtsPlE0G7tfCmQvWfSpmqFjiSWh1N2RlL18kAGi8fxK3o2u/s1600/IMG_0124.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhICh7xKIbmp7E9jCKF2Un4X8dfwZe1__JU9GBTIFM5TXTC5IavEW9Ao3xWRSoUXpxZaWrhY_CQZjGSPLaE1Tp0q0l4PLkrELtsPlE0G7tfCmQvWfSpmqFjiSWh1N2RlL18kAGi8fxK3o2u/s400/IMG_0124.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>Soon Penelope was a pro at walking up and pushing the buttons</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_TtYvl25V54PxK1bDTqI_7oCoZs_-3w0y6IrZgqGN_Zj3oyRrN7sG8yk5rKjeiHSbVAcV8Ivv_DpDdlR0boHXAvTQLvQB_mQTZuzeNZBH6bvFQGRPsoEPKPIU9fuuw944iRMhwILwz1wP/s1600/IMG_0191.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_TtYvl25V54PxK1bDTqI_7oCoZs_-3w0y6IrZgqGN_Zj3oyRrN7sG8yk5rKjeiHSbVAcV8Ivv_DpDdlR0boHXAvTQLvQB_mQTZuzeNZBH6bvFQGRPsoEPKPIU9fuuw944iRMhwILwz1wP/s400/IMG_0191.JPG" width="267" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>She did it again, again, and again</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnitBXQu3f-WvDEapUgbkU1JatX_Bu4EZ-eDNFNsm78OZirkMeJnC6LdvhPAhXuQYw5EaaJ4rLwsAWn6PW11mRl_ns8dUCnek6b6KhVhcv0YHWtkqXClISBuVDceiWYyTzYM2ZjG_hwD5b/s1600/IMG_0193.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnitBXQu3f-WvDEapUgbkU1JatX_Bu4EZ-eDNFNsm78OZirkMeJnC6LdvhPAhXuQYw5EaaJ4rLwsAWn6PW11mRl_ns8dUCnek6b6KhVhcv0YHWtkqXClISBuVDceiWYyTzYM2ZjG_hwD5b/s400/IMG_0193.JPG" width="285" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And, of course, there were also things to play on...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>small jumpy house that Penelope wouldn't stand up in</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHpC6ObxBQn6XR3lSNbsLvMFzDC_LQ7ynlRdMsvQejgb0jzDs3ro2HYmsM84uwOKdjJVf0vVMvZ_ANLlaQe2QK5NWEyqaBtKyS9PR1tx3EH0fAOy9gE9PfD8fLba4zt-Hxlcj30GishHze/s1600/IMG_0136.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHpC6ObxBQn6XR3lSNbsLvMFzDC_LQ7ynlRdMsvQejgb0jzDs3ro2HYmsM84uwOKdjJVf0vVMvZ_ANLlaQe2QK5NWEyqaBtKyS9PR1tx3EH0fAOy9gE9PfD8fLba4zt-Hxlcj30GishHze/s400/IMG_0136.JPG" width="267" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>big one that she loved</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaBS79DgJo6JqrsGoAEJ3_xvxVXvPuMl_dsmdDNBmZcx3aXFeC2W3pq81UoOR5YZgbCfV6ulJNntz8Z_lEOrvn8qRj24dRBtYK_HSWeyx1WUpsz4hcquQyFrAKymKaByXZNIVGKrlkhHJy/s1600/IMG_0227.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="286" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaBS79DgJo6JqrsGoAEJ3_xvxVXvPuMl_dsmdDNBmZcx3aXFeC2W3pq81UoOR5YZgbCfV6ulJNntz8Z_lEOrvn8qRj24dRBtYK_HSWeyx1WUpsz4hcquQyFrAKymKaByXZNIVGKrlkhHJy/s400/IMG_0227.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>even when she fell down</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioGeIQzJfZMBlMHe3sLsCLLqD0RGN6QP4_0R9uoZj0JbFroAqRL3dV-m6g4ADUkoMqn_174HysIWAK9Pjp7oU2ehAhPwqVgbqaUjK8BZCt8mMNB4fNu5T7nucW9U89tsJ5vqopa_8tqcET/s1600/IMG_0224.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="286" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioGeIQzJfZMBlMHe3sLsCLLqD0RGN6QP4_0R9uoZj0JbFroAqRL3dV-m6g4ADUkoMqn_174HysIWAK9Pjp7oU2ehAhPwqVgbqaUjK8BZCt8mMNB4fNu5T7nucW9U89tsJ5vqopa_8tqcET/s400/IMG_0224.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>lots of rocks to dig in</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQZl6xkAIY0VzjMHKW2ih7TQarAScWoe3FEq06wzl6OXbl-9y36nlzOLv_TtIEjHRkxLFuLIQcX2WmKqLqJM9pjIRszEoAF8iYAIq61LbBfEKcq05h_k8mkWtJioeqAp1jmwM22SHHHHpe/s1600/IMG_0151.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="285" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQZl6xkAIY0VzjMHKW2ih7TQarAScWoe3FEq06wzl6OXbl-9y36nlzOLv_TtIEjHRkxLFuLIQcX2WmKqLqJM9pjIRszEoAF8iYAIq61LbBfEKcq05h_k8mkWtJioeqAp1jmwM22SHHHHpe/s400/IMG_0151.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Soon the little girl was all tuckered out and ready for a nap. A stroll through the nearby woods put her right to sleep and gave mom and dad some time together.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>Is that a yawn I see?</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl9J2lGwoV36T7jUtol4Jz1Ofq6tTH-K69S80IWQuAwVyUhFKhTDKGo6llt79mBfj7SsREtgiYucp0NtIwNBBXSO_zPfjUdarok2PbnpCF3MItaoB-Wte8u0r_qBMfY0mxgTy5FtNBQ6a8/s1600/IMG_0154.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl9J2lGwoV36T7jUtol4Jz1Ofq6tTH-K69S80IWQuAwVyUhFKhTDKGo6llt79mBfj7SsREtgiYucp0NtIwNBBXSO_zPfjUdarok2PbnpCF3MItaoB-Wte8u0r_qBMfY0mxgTy5FtNBQ6a8/s400/IMG_0154.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">But before we knew it, lil' P was awake and ready for more. We stumbled upon this little treehouse in the woods on our way back to the park.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>navigating a very dangerous ramp</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEslKZFHJpcnoLPtLatL3cOrwJUJ4J8BMGdsTLYHIjE4qmv4_MegUsVdzCoxxNeCrXQ3rOeewKazdkzTo0qD-g1P3w6OP8gJsNZcbDsOzprcHclklSWgrNYhQdrW7qbeUExYhJ0ovIQl0M/s1600/IMG_0218.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEslKZFHJpcnoLPtLatL3cOrwJUJ4J8BMGdsTLYHIjE4qmv4_MegUsVdzCoxxNeCrXQ3rOeewKazdkzTo0qD-g1P3w6OP8gJsNZcbDsOzprcHclklSWgrNYhQdrW7qbeUExYhJ0ovIQl0M/s400/IMG_0218.JPG" width="267" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>why, hello up there</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpeLsvB2GHTA_iQa3FBvxMcKHGdvvCcMcdCElkxE1ArxHFenyF8jqqMDAwS_8vpXmS9_ocgsjeUHr4DJ-SLzhjdkT8Y9MN9tt2rFSVB1G82BOxFqf1_YsgMTYGcWaKcrMxT2qlj7rZ4CD7/s1600/IMG_0200.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpeLsvB2GHTA_iQa3FBvxMcKHGdvvCcMcdCElkxE1ArxHFenyF8jqqMDAwS_8vpXmS9_ocgsjeUHr4DJ-SLzhjdkT8Y9MN9tt2rFSVB1G82BOxFqf1_YsgMTYGcWaKcrMxT2qlj7rZ4CD7/s400/IMG_0200.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>looking for birds through the telescope</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI5xg3xoEeBGXoYZJBI09JyeiTBtOf4I4kVH7s4UJam0eE6wv3VtXuassgwbBdJTFtuw0MoamCH3ag6MtQ__PZKgeAzRiAYG_kkl46aMUJvwGcwkHR3nmkUDTQwBqPps3rNVqgQ3iK3IZb/s1600/IMG_0203.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI5xg3xoEeBGXoYZJBI09JyeiTBtOf4I4kVH7s4UJam0eE6wv3VtXuassgwbBdJTFtuw0MoamCH3ag6MtQ__PZKgeAzRiAYG_kkl46aMUJvwGcwkHR3nmkUDTQwBqPps3rNVqgQ3iK3IZb/s400/IMG_0203.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The park also had these funny rides you could go on. Most of them required a 50 cent token (guess that's why the entrance fee is so cheap), but a few were free. Penelope was in heaven.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em>merry-go-round swings </em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH0lfA_r3U6NsG_-AKhqBvYGY-cvwaoGeLIvzuo07ZFm0B5j8lHwT9T6cEms0Z-PH_CoWcWHQG5F3KzGwhLnlfzhGGmpJ7NPzgZsjh3cOgqTg6-xi-OY0_YYg04PT_kv4YM8j7FtB27wo7/s1600/IMG_0143.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH0lfA_r3U6NsG_-AKhqBvYGY-cvwaoGeLIvzuo07ZFm0B5j8lHwT9T6cEms0Z-PH_CoWcWHQG5F3KzGwhLnlfzhGGmpJ7NPzgZsjh3cOgqTg6-xi-OY0_YYg04PT_kv4YM8j7FtB27wo7/s400/IMG_0143.JPG" width="267" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>choo choo train</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjYz-Ngv2he4v13CYtxU_PQQO1hW16vezWnI2tsaDmwJJfPOP5430WcrKYpnuLjp3m5afdw3-4WsjY1x6Hs9Bt0cRQU_mDo77ut9rVTDdcHBdAryrCaOIzdrdpTj1oIlZl6-MnsXoIJU4u/s1600/IMG_0291.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjYz-Ngv2he4v13CYtxU_PQQO1hW16vezWnI2tsaDmwJJfPOP5430WcrKYpnuLjp3m5afdw3-4WsjY1x6Hs9Bt0cRQU_mDo77ut9rVTDdcHBdAryrCaOIzdrdpTj1oIlZl6-MnsXoIJU4u/s400/IMG_0291.JPG" width="267" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>pedal-yourself dragon</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9o5cac1lCOdpKlb2otdXPLN5nELRK7OQDaspEJakIMmGFUU8YJQP31x_P3tkClZ6CS7nHnvQYCXWc0JEvsoaXavCcEdVTlFw92pqkqOLgoqb_L2cMx4JaTIC9d2xmwwdJ0isqZ9qwNwEp/s1600/IMG_0161.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9o5cac1lCOdpKlb2otdXPLN5nELRK7OQDaspEJakIMmGFUU8YJQP31x_P3tkClZ6CS7nHnvQYCXWc0JEvsoaXavCcEdVTlFw92pqkqOLgoqb_L2cMx4JaTIC9d2xmwwdJ0isqZ9qwNwEp/s400/IMG_0161.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>hanging on like a big girl</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJEPknHGRQp41lyljoYQulX3Q-0okBIinMt6Iv3N2KJgtMNsycCsh0ndK9W3pNjCsBBRsjUk6Alop1HG96d0GwKrUGPjlT_F9qAMsn2CeUcV05WIlykurwzvD6GEqmVunkVz5J1I9ffYRm/s1600/IMG_0170.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="286" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJEPknHGRQp41lyljoYQulX3Q-0okBIinMt6Iv3N2KJgtMNsycCsh0ndK9W3pNjCsBBRsjUk6Alop1HG96d0GwKrUGPjlT_F9qAMsn2CeUcV05WIlykurwzvD6GEqmVunkVz5J1I9ffYRm/s400/IMG_0170.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>looks like it's more fun when mommy pedals</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6AiBjPceVHYZ7QK2dYWNcv2Kg_klMW7k7tJrb9I5U1moIp9NSCPIUCfsoR1ajqafXkYc9SAejFBoILs5Dzeg__G5idCH3Uu_2xgMfr2wLvao-DaAc-a-Gi4xrZpN6ZmxBC1EsnVIyUnbq/s1600/IMG_0180.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="286" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6AiBjPceVHYZ7QK2dYWNcv2Kg_klMW7k7tJrb9I5U1moIp9NSCPIUCfsoR1ajqafXkYc9SAejFBoILs5Dzeg__G5idCH3Uu_2xgMfr2wLvao-DaAc-a-Gi4xrZpN6ZmxBC1EsnVIyUnbq/s400/IMG_0180.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>"more, daddy, more!"</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-xndyueMApPXhOC2EnXtuV1YsVkSalopJ-mYu-P5udPyypv6D18BtOVBZbqwK09PROwpkcNzXwdXMLS0e3P6VCYv7yYlQXGoCEYZMqytLKeyQntRpM8p9l58oCnP7nlMKvEkHWCZGmyWl/s1600/IMG_0318.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-xndyueMApPXhOC2EnXtuV1YsVkSalopJ-mYu-P5udPyypv6D18BtOVBZbqwK09PROwpkcNzXwdXMLS0e3P6VCYv7yYlQXGoCEYZMqytLKeyQntRpM8p9l58oCnP7nlMKvEkHWCZGmyWl/s400/IMG_0318.JPG" width="286" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>next up: a ride on a broomstick with a witch</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHdheZosUuW5xHDxHvrcwj0jKPg5R3RG5473NrMFM7CRlnqokXmDNAXVCAeHb9a910m0DNKkPFvS-jnego99Qpp910aKwyJbyL1udLQFPyUFOJf_BwqyjNwXUILqZPaW7eQSO3fJDpl8H_/s1600/IMG_0245.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="286" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHdheZosUuW5xHDxHvrcwj0jKPg5R3RG5473NrMFM7CRlnqokXmDNAXVCAeHb9a910m0DNKkPFvS-jnego99Qpp910aKwyJbyL1udLQFPyUFOJf_BwqyjNwXUILqZPaW7eQSO3fJDpl8H_/s400/IMG_0245.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>just put your token in the machine and away you go. weeeeee!</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrQBTeR4dZfB57cVdpyrC8QBj5MHSau5aPiIJ8rnK3kk6tQ2pBsO8BhpF5XsU0At1IAmykm8W0P6nMiqcjPdRzIttJ8HGTTpZ39aIgc6Nw5WzziSJX5NqtwUrMaQaDNUJm8wYglzPnNakY/s1600/IMG_0240.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrQBTeR4dZfB57cVdpyrC8QBj5MHSau5aPiIJ8rnK3kk6tQ2pBsO8BhpF5XsU0At1IAmykm8W0P6nMiqcjPdRzIttJ8HGTTpZ39aIgc6Nw5WzziSJX5NqtwUrMaQaDNUJm8wYglzPnNakY/s400/IMG_0240.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</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/AVvXsEg1wehbDEmwbN7bmLxLI6SVRCBJ9Qv9GMNpBPToVfqgRlZamlF6BeoXkQaLzicXDz-FKOF6Hx9_1WqGFkMN6_lllwImjkwhhPAcMRwif1SUtGktrZE3PEE-kT9A7x6esiLukRy8rIBWdLCo/s1600/IMG_0249.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1wehbDEmwbN7bmLxLI6SVRCBJ9Qv9GMNpBPToVfqgRlZamlF6BeoXkQaLzicXDz-FKOF6Hx9_1WqGFkMN6_lllwImjkwhhPAcMRwif1SUtGktrZE3PEE-kT9A7x6esiLukRy8rIBWdLCo/s400/IMG_0249.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>one more, pleeeease</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifa3nXHN9dFFkrTcn03gSvTrur4kuf6cvWZFRR0mb14sdwjnH-Y_DCSvoLs9xU-Oo8qqa5R0Cd0rTmMXfdKhDnlxjyPTTLbw_BLzM3P9iKultdnwSDPJ5mhdlyF1ywbYXkHXFSNNRQtj6m/s1600/IMG_0153.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifa3nXHN9dFFkrTcn03gSvTrur4kuf6cvWZFRR0mb14sdwjnH-Y_DCSvoLs9xU-Oo8qqa5R0Cd0rTmMXfdKhDnlxjyPTTLbw_BLzM3P9iKultdnwSDPJ5mhdlyF1ywbYXkHXFSNNRQtj6m/s400/IMG_0153.JPG" width="267" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>(yes, we gave in)</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiare9ClaI24xMvYR6aUcYQ6K33XSA-8x8vRV3lP6eqCd3rhIgHEH2Uq5q9so8TXIt0KiOfmlwTN76RJNeFHYkTiSBsfrU4OhVTi9va0POM52LKDkClvLIVbfqmygm0XiV51TzeuRb184LD/s1600/IMG_0274.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="286" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiare9ClaI24xMvYR6aUcYQ6K33XSA-8x8vRV3lP6eqCd3rhIgHEH2Uq5q9so8TXIt0KiOfmlwTN76RJNeFHYkTiSBsfrU4OhVTi9va0POM52LKDkClvLIVbfqmygm0XiV51TzeuRb184LD/s400/IMG_0274.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>double-fisting after a long, hot day of fun</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIQ2uEQi1__qy_enlZZn0Dtf1PTx2TS_n5v9FXo0P0RnrPcgW8gIp1Ccf2Ux1P5LyGmRBcCHNpJRRJ3GplF6IdI5W8SSqxbpALPgpjO7gsA7dOKhhwllEVVpmhFW9Re5yL1jj4KC-K3xqA/s1600/IMG_0321.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIQ2uEQi1__qy_enlZZn0Dtf1PTx2TS_n5v9FXo0P0RnrPcgW8gIp1Ccf2Ux1P5LyGmRBcCHNpJRRJ3GplF6IdI5W8SSqxbpALPgpjO7gsA7dOKhhwllEVVpmhFW9Re5yL1jj4KC-K3xqA/s400/IMG_0321.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Then, for a perfect ending to a perfect day, we lounged on the Neckarwiese and enjoyed a cold bottle of Prosecco, a baguette, cheese and strawberries--our idea of a perfect picnic.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>I thought the fairy princess cups added a nice touch</em></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9RuIDKq3k5rsQOIKY3wPeEe14xd9M-4w3I8fp-UWuGpqccsbSfbjl9bL_jK-LXb70ysrZLOn5iFHpesQEIfb3z1TND0CbOU6MFhjGHsvLUxRawnQGFDxpg897gmBGV041pwjHlFnRlUgt/s1600/IMG_0339.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9RuIDKq3k5rsQOIKY3wPeEe14xd9M-4w3I8fp-UWuGpqccsbSfbjl9bL_jK-LXb70ysrZLOn5iFHpesQEIfb3z1TND0CbOU6MFhjGHsvLUxRawnQGFDxpg897gmBGV041pwjHlFnRlUgt/s400/IMG_0339.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvplBjWmOz_5zKedN7CACR1wC3hauTUJ0CdXLl_hQBi40D4Gt6pKc-ZZT7GZH4Mi0UFAJIdE7kwuYpZ1yEpre5k0uI4GCkZNIshkXH3Ep7jlo85MZEPJDxHj-pbSiezFlItV-Nf5RoBWOc/s1600/IMG_0334.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="286" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvplBjWmOz_5zKedN7CACR1wC3hauTUJ0CdXLl_hQBi40D4Gt6pKc-ZZT7GZH4Mi0UFAJIdE7kwuYpZ1yEpre5k0uI4GCkZNIshkXH3Ep7jlo85MZEPJDxHj-pbSiezFlItV-Nf5RoBWOc/s400/IMG_0334.JPG" width="400" /></a></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/AVvXsEh-EMMERZXQ1xiEBv_yoD5A1ZaqQLKxe3mRiyXocV8X3CG7c2O-Amd9bYGVw__-ZZKHuCC6DVDdVYJoysaO1JHtsQy_Dc8gz_sAH8SJvFWyNjxg1XmiOlRgEjhWeDGN9NSJlTszmROh-S8y/s1600/IMG_0358.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-EMMERZXQ1xiEBv_yoD5A1ZaqQLKxe3mRiyXocV8X3CG7c2O-Amd9bYGVw__-ZZKHuCC6DVDdVYJoysaO1JHtsQy_Dc8gz_sAH8SJvFWyNjxg1XmiOlRgEjhWeDGN9NSJlTszmROh-S8y/s400/IMG_0358.JPG" width="267" /></a></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/AVvXsEi8b7o9KffBB-WHbhDC9s6oErM_XvsYU_Po6eUChI_N0SRMS1CJJYsDfui6Af2UCWH287pKNK0P2aXGY4nEv87RgIbmyUXOCNSz8dCqcmUB1Y3sJnm415Bess_n73TT_A9rMVQO65zmdakL/s1600/IMG_0349.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8b7o9KffBB-WHbhDC9s6oErM_XvsYU_Po6eUChI_N0SRMS1CJJYsDfui6Af2UCWH287pKNK0P2aXGY4nEv87RgIbmyUXOCNSz8dCqcmUB1Y3sJnm415Bess_n73TT_A9rMVQO65zmdakL/s400/IMG_0349.JPG" width="285" /></a></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/AVvXsEhxdTIHnRrx5cZFo5uZKobzxUBYXm6BpptsAAYSDe0G0FOjlmBqaqp5tTAGuPRkTVgVqQ_GJ98x_QD6K1wdSLRTFXZOw1AhCK-bAuVIokDHT7PWUjANxsam6hLTp4uyreykNuMap8LZLUCv/s1600/IMG_0344.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="286" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxdTIHnRrx5cZFo5uZKobzxUBYXm6BpptsAAYSDe0G0FOjlmBqaqp5tTAGuPRkTVgVqQ_GJ98x_QD6K1wdSLRTFXZOw1AhCK-bAuVIokDHT7PWUjANxsam6hLTp4uyreykNuMap8LZLUCv/s400/IMG_0344.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>Frau 'Livy' Langdon.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17222026890712089962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3623555834777184291.post-1453298016550944432010-06-30T14:31:00.002+02:002010-07-21T02:51:58.221+02:00Weekend with Grandpa<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMnnDrwD2VPQkK9_5K1wCFqM1cICzab0E7U7YotAXpnMkFlGpZoVjm6HYbIzmyUqvH7bkZ2haJ_wvRA0XxqmsGoHCSdP8VnC4NBChFVkdD8HwBN5uToZkNC_AwYA6d8PQSD4yE5JITyzLH/s1600/IMG_0021.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMnnDrwD2VPQkK9_5K1wCFqM1cICzab0E7U7YotAXpnMkFlGpZoVjm6HYbIzmyUqvH7bkZ2haJ_wvRA0XxqmsGoHCSdP8VnC4NBChFVkdD8HwBN5uToZkNC_AwYA6d8PQSD4yE5JITyzLH/s400/IMG_0021.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>Last weekend we had a very special visitor stop in. Grandpa came to visit us in Heidelberg on his way to meet his newly born granddaughter in the States. Even though our time together was short, we managed to pack in lots of Penelope-Grandpa time. Penelope was ecstatic to have another person to laugh at her antics and read books with.<br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu-oLI4Sh2FOWJIBjLZG4rnS-Rtiij9GJbcFJFGVFLCaMHo2ewiQwrjGUo8BYX16UvmjkanArqrqy8xqI3g1-b0UwEyoOR13UTKLwBV9J0Y4IU1I4Gn8r10EKsG3LbB88k3nFOLsaS1Bw-/s1600/IMG_0006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="286" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu-oLI4Sh2FOWJIBjLZG4rnS-Rtiij9GJbcFJFGVFLCaMHo2ewiQwrjGUo8BYX16UvmjkanArqrqy8xqI3g1-b0UwEyoOR13UTKLwBV9J0Y4IU1I4Gn8r10EKsG3LbB88k3nFOLsaS1Bw-/s400/IMG_0006.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Yes, these books are in Finnish (left behind by our friend <a href="http://trampsabroad2009.blogspot.com/2010/05/hello-helsinki.html">Nina</a>), of which we don't understand a word. We like to think of reading them as an exercise in creativity. Make up any story that you want from the pictures and Penelope never knows the difference.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUtptcgIHhup9cLhX-OW9wdBbGLcMelNXpMKPiK7wdD1vCL6F4_YtLxZNksbwtUzIWGqGiMf3mOXoUr8Fzh6tyKZmdaba_hsRtR83E-5YJv0QRuKUqakgk3_ycetESQYzFb8SX92b8NN5U/s1600/IMG_0008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUtptcgIHhup9cLhX-OW9wdBbGLcMelNXpMKPiK7wdD1vCL6F4_YtLxZNksbwtUzIWGqGiMf3mOXoUr8Fzh6tyKZmdaba_hsRtR83E-5YJv0QRuKUqakgk3_ycetESQYzFb8SX92b8NN5U/s400/IMG_0008.JPG" width="285" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">"OH!" (Penelope's current favorite exclamation.) Grandpa's version must have been exceptionally interesting.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCGgRFc4njDebK3AUVyemWRZf23uTepworbx6RH0bvuUSvgYEj4xEX6O3LzmX4rPF2OVoWGWAZ6_YHbp8DgTv-8zqF8CkYT6YMkEjOxEFQzepowbd9dPjx_O3m1TWAV6dn3TSBqvx06lzD/s1600/IMG_0010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCGgRFc4njDebK3AUVyemWRZf23uTepworbx6RH0bvuUSvgYEj4xEX6O3LzmX4rPF2OVoWGWAZ6_YHbp8DgTv-8zqF8CkYT6YMkEjOxEFQzepowbd9dPjx_O3m1TWAV6dn3TSBqvx06lzD/s400/IMG_0010.JPG" width="286" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Before Grandpa arrived, I kept telling him how he would love the nice weather. Unfortunately, it was the hottest it has been this year the whole time he was here. Highs in the mid-80's probably don't seem too hot to you back in the States, but when you're outside most of the day and there isn't any air conditioning here and ice in your drinks is unheard of--that's really hot!</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivU4z1_oKCMl1qmjid3WruFGL_LQriceQ0bnBz5h3IBaloguGKaq6n7s3W3jZTqDGWEf0olOcWuuYJhxKZCxSNnji_UBouKVHTiih5CBkXhz7zQRp5bMONhOea5QE8sz664SoNqbZI_b30/s1600/IMG_9998.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="286" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivU4z1_oKCMl1qmjid3WruFGL_LQriceQ0bnBz5h3IBaloguGKaq6n7s3W3jZTqDGWEf0olOcWuuYJhxKZCxSNnji_UBouKVHTiih5CBkXhz7zQRp5bMONhOea5QE8sz664SoNqbZI_b30/s400/IMG_9998.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Fortunately there is a place on the Neckar where you can strip down and play in the freezing spring water.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5twKWYwFq9Bat3Y-rO16xvYTXGULJb2qPGlFt3fCu-mdCiavmu1mQpG_2wLjZUEv3xFe7TDcAUOtA0g5eMC6uLHuTjBjb0hj1DVwrrX598PjyhU1buGXISlZ6OX1RNRGknMYOyAFlkzVP/s1600/IMG_0003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5twKWYwFq9Bat3Y-rO16xvYTXGULJb2qPGlFt3fCu-mdCiavmu1mQpG_2wLjZUEv3xFe7TDcAUOtA0g5eMC6uLHuTjBjb0hj1DVwrrX598PjyhU1buGXISlZ6OX1RNRGknMYOyAFlkzVP/s400/IMG_0003.JPG" width="267" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">A few minutes in the cold water and you basically lose all feeling in your toes.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwRwsD70F41pYtoRFIoGapE8BhZX-8ZfcyenZgHA5wMHwa5_VH0Ke0BA9lVUP9MgkuZIYmNS1-PwYp9u29rcQdx2ssdGJT0G5w2u-7lTdxVsgP05PlJovo7DXKiNwc-NM0ehU1fvQNuoG9/s1600/IMG_9999.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwRwsD70F41pYtoRFIoGapE8BhZX-8ZfcyenZgHA5wMHwa5_VH0Ke0BA9lVUP9MgkuZIYmNS1-PwYp9u29rcQdx2ssdGJT0G5w2u-7lTdxVsgP05PlJovo7DXKiNwc-NM0ehU1fvQNuoG9/s400/IMG_9999.JPG" width="286" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The perfect antidote to a hot, summer day.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7QrqrJguHgTo0iTA6er0O9FsDk1WUuESkgMAUUUgP-zLk-ZArDev2133bqI55ZbdSnloZmZYE8RqLSzfNsXam-_0ZHoIup9wosO2J8gJ2IOE5dWXycysD0wn2WJY4gWcEhmbqXyLa0ebj/s1600/IMG_9996.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="286" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7QrqrJguHgTo0iTA6er0O9FsDk1WUuESkgMAUUUgP-zLk-ZArDev2133bqI55ZbdSnloZmZYE8RqLSzfNsXam-_0ZHoIup9wosO2J8gJ2IOE5dWXycysD0wn2WJY4gWcEhmbqXyLa0ebj/s400/IMG_9996.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The next day we took a boat ride down the Neckar valley.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiws5wbREk9m248JPFRhMpjFb46dWEnqOftmdusBlAV2dGjaqNpV31WaF0ViQ1cI2GETimJAYjnQziQmK22m2UFQB-08FsYx_HbCCYOUwDnrgvD4V1xtdjcXgrGnxm0QnY7eoC9f24pjmyF/s1600/IMG_8078.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiws5wbREk9m248JPFRhMpjFb46dWEnqOftmdusBlAV2dGjaqNpV31WaF0ViQ1cI2GETimJAYjnQziQmK22m2UFQB-08FsYx_HbCCYOUwDnrgvD4V1xtdjcXgrGnxm0QnY7eoC9f24pjmyF/s400/IMG_8078.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Penelope stayed entertained on the boat by sitting like a little lady in a big-girl chair.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5tB_dblIob6q_iqQ7JoS8xc_uVgrLj6jiEilEK2gEH4ND8W8l1_uZ9LUqnwxexBzXeGKgknwE_O18l5n6LmxZSxSOQY8lC6I89JD8k-cDNw1gf7I3OE8JxO6YtB6KbcUz6iRL96azmZZa/s1600/IMG_8038.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5tB_dblIob6q_iqQ7JoS8xc_uVgrLj6jiEilEK2gEH4ND8W8l1_uZ9LUqnwxexBzXeGKgknwE_O18l5n6LmxZSxSOQY8lC6I89JD8k-cDNw1gf7I3OE8JxO6YtB6KbcUz6iRL96azmZZa/s400/IMG_8038.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">We got off at the little town of Neckarsteinach.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjukwgEba8qZI9vsXsycLZV0zEi0ZUJ8ba8sm-ubd7CLTlQF1ZDt6KOAf686gpJc3Dhxg7VFd70ojecbHKQH0bY53N5QfPlu-1DVCwpqGQSMu5ymqHDVZxYjDFJbrvLmgQy144HE4YR8l7x/s1600/IMG_0110.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjukwgEba8qZI9vsXsycLZV0zEi0ZUJ8ba8sm-ubd7CLTlQF1ZDt6KOAf686gpJc3Dhxg7VFd70ojecbHKQH0bY53N5QfPlu-1DVCwpqGQSMu5ymqHDVZxYjDFJbrvLmgQy144HE4YR8l7x/s400/IMG_0110.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It's known for its four castles perched on the hills above the town.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimksxXMqKwc5Z5TXy6dGIUTOghBeiLy016046cZyBWoIIRilBR7D6fvqGdmDtQlhMYt4B0PZr18YvohnZ9gYNci5Ba6TVaQtkzbq9HErmKjrhQTAklSk0jOwL0LaUZkUDpL9sZZPGu04Ia/s1600/IMG_0039.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="286" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimksxXMqKwc5Z5TXy6dGIUTOghBeiLy016046cZyBWoIIRilBR7D6fvqGdmDtQlhMYt4B0PZr18YvohnZ9gYNci5Ba6TVaQtkzbq9HErmKjrhQTAklSk0jOwL0LaUZkUDpL9sZZPGu04Ia/s400/IMG_0039.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Back in October Penelope and I went on a trip with the University Guesthouse to Neckarsteinach where we hiked up to all of them. This time my travel companions weren't quite up to that task, but I did manage to convince Grandpa and the Father to hike up to two of the castles.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXLlE2dAeENVC1qvZ7ikMsLKrug60tVWvyuF8ITr3-FT4ByW-_LrxyAsFwTAAuHOmU-Ta91xHYPdbcghOdCmWBFBBANwLTxzrsG7P-M7TS7WUCkpBIs1D7a7BJyOWiD-7xFJoM3yFk4-uC/s1600/IMG_0055.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="286" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXLlE2dAeENVC1qvZ7ikMsLKrug60tVWvyuF8ITr3-FT4ByW-_LrxyAsFwTAAuHOmU-Ta91xHYPdbcghOdCmWBFBBANwLTxzrsG7P-M7TS7WUCkpBIs1D7a7BJyOWiD-7xFJoM3yFk4-uC/s400/IMG_0055.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">On our way up <em>somebody</em> thought it was a good idea to give Penelope two sticks to play with.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmbw7ty_1Wru_gqDuqk0k1Y8xe8_ewKAaHaamHcjBZQZcf803sIyv_AUdzut2QtZiIOrOx0sVm7eQF4nkhVQ-wqrx640sIPOp9cucllkq6U2e1OOlgiEQ3BWVmB2Bj7U4wI-f5nNuG154E/s1600/IMG_0049.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmbw7ty_1Wru_gqDuqk0k1Y8xe8_ewKAaHaamHcjBZQZcf803sIyv_AUdzut2QtZiIOrOx0sVm7eQF4nkhVQ-wqrx640sIPOp9cucllkq6U2e1OOlgiEQ3BWVmB2Bj7U4wI-f5nNuG154E/s400/IMG_0049.JPG" width="267" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">After nearly poking out both of our eyes, the sticks magically disappeared.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinaZHh29YDC3hPjQHCzyv0MnNj0Q627X5G6MvCAbrvLrhbdTHjQiV_9VOm5k06m0pBj_9s-w5MgEhtVuUb5SwT-7kEQ7zngmdqcPlPqVjdDf7QyFe03XofLuCefLeNDQkpdFDqwHhRIVmT/s1600/IMG_0054.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinaZHh29YDC3hPjQHCzyv0MnNj0Q627X5G6MvCAbrvLrhbdTHjQiV_9VOm5k06m0pBj_9s-w5MgEhtVuUb5SwT-7kEQ7zngmdqcPlPqVjdDf7QyFe03XofLuCefLeNDQkpdFDqwHhRIVmT/s400/IMG_0054.JPG" width="267" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Castle in ruins</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf6MgcajeS_BbffxUDpzUKLtIHV0-LYcLrZNg9Y-g0UtM4GxkhIJRtb5Yqw5lur28hAt3uCx8BWmmF0K7wZEaHnQyVnjWzQjcyb6scIKrF8WmVPtIRo7QFok2ulQE32qxfB42OKkldjI-4/s1600/IMG_8058.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf6MgcajeS_BbffxUDpzUKLtIHV0-LYcLrZNg9Y-g0UtM4GxkhIJRtb5Yqw5lur28hAt3uCx8BWmmF0K7wZEaHnQyVnjWzQjcyb6scIKrF8WmVPtIRo7QFok2ulQE32qxfB42OKkldjI-4/s400/IMG_8058.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The joy of finally reaching the second castle.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBZXaaDCy-bz5ghJ8wgoW80UPWzabw-SruijM1sRtXL1MLTNrYZoTcC1Ebn6pFtt2_T8YvLvxEmUFAtXFqYEYhepIwUv22O_EJuqUvv4Hk7NNIrUjpNVoyLLFBfrVoXJS8jI8Fcxla_fky/s1600/IMG_0091.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBZXaaDCy-bz5ghJ8wgoW80UPWzabw-SruijM1sRtXL1MLTNrYZoTcC1Ebn6pFtt2_T8YvLvxEmUFAtXFqYEYhepIwUv22O_EJuqUvv4Hk7NNIrUjpNVoyLLFBfrVoXJS8jI8Fcxla_fky/s400/IMG_0091.JPG" width="285" /></a></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/AVvXsEg5VXxTAD88JSYwGQhiBlhG7tNZ0d3Pa9GtA0jtD6P1i35XkLbrtXMD9wDVZ_X6m1vPS5oADFbKxzYvq83J96BzCwec7ZMZTwSvJ_UEX3ngWG4B1oOp28p6YkAgA9iYn5Q67VcyoEPQOOoW/s1600/IMG_0085.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5VXxTAD88JSYwGQhiBlhG7tNZ0d3Pa9GtA0jtD6P1i35XkLbrtXMD9wDVZ_X6m1vPS5oADFbKxzYvq83J96BzCwec7ZMZTwSvJ_UEX3ngWG4B1oOp28p6YkAgA9iYn5Q67VcyoEPQOOoW/s400/IMG_0085.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">What's a castle wall without a photo op?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizIjpsdaQECzcedg1PWjkOenq4hUPvSfjoD62wYeWqXYk2gKQmUieRqg2f-QgoG7g-oxQKnbGgbSt0g1UMw9F68Uo5DpMwMycD5Ai2vC7BTqOujEPAiOqdydTbcORmSg_BfAr9DjGlpYoJ/s1600/IMG_0066.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizIjpsdaQECzcedg1PWjkOenq4hUPvSfjoD62wYeWqXYk2gKQmUieRqg2f-QgoG7g-oxQKnbGgbSt0g1UMw9F68Uo5DpMwMycD5Ai2vC7BTqOujEPAiOqdydTbcORmSg_BfAr9DjGlpYoJ/s400/IMG_0066.JPG" width="267" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">At the castle gate.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibbVLK04fR2qCx8pkxiC2on-8MGY0Y2SqS8py2D24MHGVBjOXUPTbkDA91dq776ZV25cSOd3dmXsQ41LW_03klqdpWa7UOiMDAu9zwPgGbRhtU2X-yBpwq3Yuhj1vkm8T90ofc0SyB2UMV/s1600/IMG_0106.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="286" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibbVLK04fR2qCx8pkxiC2on-8MGY0Y2SqS8py2D24MHGVBjOXUPTbkDA91dq776ZV25cSOd3dmXsQ41LW_03klqdpWa7UOiMDAu9zwPgGbRhtU2X-yBpwq3Yuhj1vkm8T90ofc0SyB2UMV/s400/IMG_0106.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuK4NfvlK9SOSn_0WvG4hjmlAaYECJuhE5LgU3tidk3K0tzTEKS2gI52V3b5Lbzp_0JIHLOmhyphenhyphen8R9dUfClUzSWN8d3gKfW1W1IZPmVcr0j-1kvP8OSok11SJH4b17CP508Q81qt7na0xJX/s1600/IMG_0099.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuK4NfvlK9SOSn_0WvG4hjmlAaYECJuhE5LgU3tidk3K0tzTEKS2gI52V3b5Lbzp_0JIHLOmhyphenhyphen8R9dUfClUzSWN8d3gKfW1W1IZPmVcr0j-1kvP8OSok11SJH4b17CP508Q81qt7na0xJX/s400/IMG_0099.JPG" width="267" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Exploring the ruins.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGBUbnGGIi0fMMmdfyNbyIMaqeyrEedGno3x2G6ce7Iw20pzbZHvd7U_vtVR-eWubFl-VImDlvMyoLP74l7_ujiD3R74rCPkjUeK0hUoaVRT_zXJoTXn8J3yq4h7inYDENKal36nN8C88x/s1600/IMG_0064.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGBUbnGGIi0fMMmdfyNbyIMaqeyrEedGno3x2G6ce7Iw20pzbZHvd7U_vtVR-eWubFl-VImDlvMyoLP74l7_ujiD3R74rCPkjUeK0hUoaVRT_zXJoTXn8J3yq4h7inYDENKal36nN8C88x/s400/IMG_0064.JPG" width="267" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Inside the castle courtyard.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr1Zuum9rb4VNEYVY_oulnYr_Ahu7cxAWFN06Y1o48yrLLLOcR6KhagEbvozC6tvT5wocLXEQxncZGx4TRcfC-wVuxAAS1Tux4K0IS71Gm2-ViGv1r6ybDgwhRQE0od0VuRiufNObGK8GW/s1600/IMG_8072.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr1Zuum9rb4VNEYVY_oulnYr_Ahu7cxAWFN06Y1o48yrLLLOcR6KhagEbvozC6tvT5wocLXEQxncZGx4TRcfC-wVuxAAS1Tux4K0IS71Gm2-ViGv1r6ybDgwhRQE0od0VuRiufNObGK8GW/s400/IMG_8072.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">View from the tower.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF8urEqLSG21iElq8-ovY2tEjsEe0aROZHtnHHvmg6bBxHnkIWoVP7VgwNc4THHjZtG3ppNt1V-sW_57oMnV5wY7AxUQrYGa5IDdw9oKQlj4sm8EoI97RTrquKpBD3h5guGxfeNLOlM5u_/s1600/IMG_8077.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF8urEqLSG21iElq8-ovY2tEjsEe0aROZHtnHHvmg6bBxHnkIWoVP7VgwNc4THHjZtG3ppNt1V-sW_57oMnV5wY7AxUQrYGa5IDdw9oKQlj4sm8EoI97RTrquKpBD3h5guGxfeNLOlM5u_/s400/IMG_8077.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Quick snack.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcvHMGeX8qI95jsFCsrEdsGn-hMrdMLyBLzulvYIqXtAUwLQA5jkIhBN400LuWMtMmGxUWU8qh2phiu3Cuv__bkk4DCNrdo4vPtv6rlUQ6-ogFnmlzqqoZBKOCS7Yjr2a-4KzdFLC_6qAI/s1600/IMG_8082.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcvHMGeX8qI95jsFCsrEdsGn-hMrdMLyBLzulvYIqXtAUwLQA5jkIhBN400LuWMtMmGxUWU8qh2phiu3Cuv__bkk4DCNrdo4vPtv6rlUQ6-ogFnmlzqqoZBKOCS7Yjr2a-4KzdFLC_6qAI/s400/IMG_8082.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">After our hike we made a beeline for an ice cream cafe. We introduced Grandpa to the extravagant ice cream creations that Germans are so fond of. Penelope, however, was fascinated with the tingle of the mineral water in her mouth. She kept holding the water in her mouth, spitting it out, and then going back for more. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7BOvPqTJfXNoKmoIL0ry_J_AnNlTBE5yhczF2UvIULCGyIxPRmAwJFiWSAoFzhajaxzqC4Nwq2h9C3Ze3JUYTwCNUA279KvfzqQD3O_8gbOioRG85PIEf6b8-doRN3uw3McJ0d0defZ0Z/s1600/IMG_8084.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7BOvPqTJfXNoKmoIL0ry_J_AnNlTBE5yhczF2UvIULCGyIxPRmAwJFiWSAoFzhajaxzqC4Nwq2h9C3Ze3JUYTwCNUA279KvfzqQD3O_8gbOioRG85PIEf6b8-doRN3uw3McJ0d0defZ0Z/s400/IMG_8084.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The next, and last, day of Grandpa's visit we took the Heidelberg <a href="http://trampsabroad2009.blogspot.com/2009/10/we-put-fun-in-funicular.html">funicular</a> up to Königstuhl at the top of the mountain. Penelope got a front row seat.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjljrs8ipFVUiQoljpCEQbUQ0nE2PojymJvzeEXnlBjS4U49rxmYP7LosYzbChsIQ7acYYh-l4Ab5zzsTILqsRYcLViRdqwTuDMzZsv6uSXnuqPf0IcOVi4r5YwENcrbGbFVME8dgkI6IOZ/s1600/IMG_8098.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjljrs8ipFVUiQoljpCEQbUQ0nE2PojymJvzeEXnlBjS4U49rxmYP7LosYzbChsIQ7acYYh-l4Ab5zzsTILqsRYcLViRdqwTuDMzZsv6uSXnuqPf0IcOVi4r5YwENcrbGbFVME8dgkI6IOZ/s400/IMG_8098.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Königstuhl</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUBOdiJ8lDVCIwbmCMXvz9_geppKWVlej3NvzMUmIHSJd-rtqLo4Cq9sF5yUcNv5XpqTKdCFN10-IHuO1d5miwqehH5jDqPofVxprBVul79geJg4pnam3Rg52zyk2My1jqIblGg3MMnO6B/s1600/IMG_8111.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="286" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUBOdiJ8lDVCIwbmCMXvz9_geppKWVlej3NvzMUmIHSJd-rtqLo4Cq9sF5yUcNv5XpqTKdCFN10-IHuO1d5miwqehH5jDqPofVxprBVul79geJg4pnam3Rg52zyk2My1jqIblGg3MMnO6B/s400/IMG_8111.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Penelope is clearly not afraid of heights.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlv6A77tXtEf5nC8CSSq2FULlVUmt7WPRFxdnD54AfaZm_fjh3YI1_0DXjlQaxXxLu1ISuNeTh2D92YPfiJ6FGiWcKzxQZ224QkYxZTtXVipMBWLHvL2LPOBX1VYiRMhZG9hhclxJ4hXol/s1600/IMG_8120.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlv6A77tXtEf5nC8CSSq2FULlVUmt7WPRFxdnD54AfaZm_fjh3YI1_0DXjlQaxXxLu1ISuNeTh2D92YPfiJ6FGiWcKzxQZ224QkYxZTtXVipMBWLHvL2LPOBX1VYiRMhZG9hhclxJ4hXol/s400/IMG_8120.JPG" width="286" /></a></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/AVvXsEhRdhrGnR4a0x8tJIaNPgLCeIKroB0jeU1_M_qbApM64aJQ7X6yW1HCilX04EtXbAvg-8519lvYn1h9BQXSKKFkHEPHzVQmWlCRQLiLf9CWillvp4yyZyxAhie_eSqGfuaeUxAnid0SCab4/s1600/IMG_8134.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRdhrGnR4a0x8tJIaNPgLCeIKroB0jeU1_M_qbApM64aJQ7X6yW1HCilX04EtXbAvg-8519lvYn1h9BQXSKKFkHEPHzVQmWlCRQLiLf9CWillvp4yyZyxAhie_eSqGfuaeUxAnid0SCab4/s400/IMG_8134.JPG" width="286" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">But she was a bit concerned by Grandpa's lack of hair.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMjFohqVTnWEebKDUU3J6aZf6P27_22-IoXPxqe8ZEQiR8o0AwT1iQ61tSbhz45aGWYESf8a-r4oFzX5dNGIJz7AQQi8FIbekUlDYtLkEM8_ZBLHm0OOHzV7erEEa8QyLq4GsBuHz1QX-Z/s1600/IMG_8127.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMjFohqVTnWEebKDUU3J6aZf6P27_22-IoXPxqe8ZEQiR8o0AwT1iQ61tSbhz45aGWYESf8a-r4oFzX5dNGIJz7AQQi8FIbekUlDYtLkEM8_ZBLHm0OOHzV7erEEa8QyLq4GsBuHz1QX-Z/s400/IMG_8127.JPG" width="267" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">After a bit of exploring and a picnic lunch up top, I had the brilliant idea of walking down the mountain. I mean hiking up would have been hard, but how hard could walking down be?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkmgLewLF4ZChB3oZuqMcdEWIGTBcEvfUAQ1rD2SzjkNctMxNhlvjAmBFORYkz4yFegQkYZ3y1yBHoQkZcKm8RTZQxP9si-OjYNMsr2hDDMFW_4Tz632sewMug45t41pzEASwTr_27HaYZ/s1600/IMG_8146.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="286" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkmgLewLF4ZChB3oZuqMcdEWIGTBcEvfUAQ1rD2SzjkNctMxNhlvjAmBFORYkz4yFegQkYZ3y1yBHoQkZcKm8RTZQxP9si-OjYNMsr2hDDMFW_4Tz632sewMug45t41pzEASwTr_27HaYZ/s400/IMG_8146.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Hard. Especially when most of it were these steep, uneven stone steps. My calves are still aching from it.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr2eL88AaufZLSEwNKKmOhly-cb6S6ojGim5N8f9bldH4qfz2YuUGkNrQsN2nniDjBvZIpqInGLVD2prIyzhIIHASsNa-stNdVKyNaef5WMTj3NSZ3zb3iYKwjBPzAd9HlQz6wjO-H_Xqg/s1600/IMG_8145.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr2eL88AaufZLSEwNKKmOhly-cb6S6ojGim5N8f9bldH4qfz2YuUGkNrQsN2nniDjBvZIpqInGLVD2prIyzhIIHASsNa-stNdVKyNaef5WMTj3NSZ3zb3iYKwjBPzAd9HlQz6wjO-H_Xqg/s400/IMG_8145.JPG" width="267" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Here is Grandpa afterwards. He's trying to smile, but really he's about to collapse from exhaustion. Penelope, on the other hand, is ready for the next adventure.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGSa67I_TWtEjqpVYTeYNQ19W1cbqmD105TE51evV16GAiA5-rOFvuKB-PCRJW4x2U8o_fNj_3aGk7RPhw6qtefC9iAGJsWXN6vYowTvkGwBxadCYWcHQjWmIphzs14X9vbbLWdmrdpFlP/s1600/IMG_8164.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="286" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGSa67I_TWtEjqpVYTeYNQ19W1cbqmD105TE51evV16GAiA5-rOFvuKB-PCRJW4x2U8o_fNj_3aGk7RPhw6qtefC9iAGJsWXN6vYowTvkGwBxadCYWcHQjWmIphzs14X9vbbLWdmrdpFlP/s400/IMG_8164.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Our next adventure was hobbling to the closest Biergarten to watch the Germany/England World Cup soccer game. While we staved off dehydration with a few beers and cheered on the players, Penelope was content to play in the gravel. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9_jUcgIM18G5Mb1w4alI1lKNISgSNSeQ84p_k9eSBqIExWvprs5lAN9tzfFOPPfzbhhACynLmRpxM85TOo532ezrWip8dlGrJ-5XlWdkbMFrgMlUjpTZU92-RRrVeBMknDc0eu_eAQ90n/s1600/IMG_8170.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9_jUcgIM18G5Mb1w4alI1lKNISgSNSeQ84p_k9eSBqIExWvprs5lAN9tzfFOPPfzbhhACynLmRpxM85TOo532ezrWip8dlGrJ-5XlWdkbMFrgMlUjpTZU92-RRrVeBMknDc0eu_eAQ90n/s400/IMG_8170.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And when that got boring, there was always Grandpa's lap.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjFdHUZtl_Lc3K7Vn26hJ9WbL7hJbygB_4LU-0sZf4PXOjiM7prA5WpHRf92Vfuvwpykeq8-bHK8U4EWsczhf9XV4ZIW1RgKo-02MTBiUug73PD9hVwcE-HsffSJp4GzZr5_0Sj-wNcWmu/s1600/IMG_8180.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjFdHUZtl_Lc3K7Vn26hJ9WbL7hJbygB_4LU-0sZf4PXOjiM7prA5WpHRf92Vfuvwpykeq8-bHK8U4EWsczhf9XV4ZIW1RgKo-02MTBiUug73PD9hVwcE-HsffSJp4GzZr5_0Sj-wNcWmu/s400/IMG_8180.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Thanks for a great weekend Grandpa! You did a great job putting up with my and mommy's shenanigans!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Love, Penelope</div></div>Frau 'Livy' Langdon.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17222026890712089962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3623555834777184291.post-83548972894963418642010-06-28T13:10:00.000+02:002010-06-28T13:10:03.260+02:00How not to eat an ice cream cone<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgYLjdTnw0qkNdMsI9ZzmVG8w_dcIuJxVIY-x5LrdHY2zbRpqQn0AsgWJjukMLyAfTHUyXb0A3zszH0xlZiZphrG_aYQZKB5-11SHpr_CBTOAsNdvcluUdW9WNQc1CwmJYr9t5ACFsByJq/s1600/IMG_9992.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="286" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgYLjdTnw0qkNdMsI9ZzmVG8w_dcIuJxVIY-x5LrdHY2zbRpqQn0AsgWJjukMLyAfTHUyXb0A3zszH0xlZiZphrG_aYQZKB5-11SHpr_CBTOAsNdvcluUdW9WNQc1CwmJYr9t5ACFsByJq/s400/IMG_9992.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</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/AVvXsEhB7OuxOpXTneJbF4YuiV0gy7GUOhvEI4YB9SeHSkyk6atZ76zwOevi4e4KENqJGpPbjTKWoP7Nam8b6ZOhdTChTotGis-XzlflyMpB8YIQAzUTtTBoruumkzknQKscfHt63hFgC6ybkACs/s1600/IMG_9990.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="286" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB7OuxOpXTneJbF4YuiV0gy7GUOhvEI4YB9SeHSkyk6atZ76zwOevi4e4KENqJGpPbjTKWoP7Nam8b6ZOhdTChTotGis-XzlflyMpB8YIQAzUTtTBoruumkzknQKscfHt63hFgC6ybkACs/s400/IMG_9990.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</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/AVvXsEj8mNpHNS3Qk7CQ9VE6ke5F4Xb0zJJQP1oPO6LZsMEITlcGiLZf67Iscj1bVzFcWCuc-O4m8NCTFIYscGc139VZAUha1PWQEOeMSmOP4fYF7DnIH9kOacuyr3OblQ0xOhHF2pqJhZ61XL8D/s1600/IMG_9989.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="286" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8mNpHNS3Qk7CQ9VE6ke5F4Xb0zJJQP1oPO6LZsMEITlcGiLZf67Iscj1bVzFcWCuc-O4m8NCTFIYscGc139VZAUha1PWQEOeMSmOP4fYF7DnIH9kOacuyr3OblQ0xOhHF2pqJhZ61XL8D/s400/IMG_9989.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</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/AVvXsEhFj0SVneYLh5kWiBHNRXkrz47qiuuEr8f6wgNEP9gvxt2z2rMbEaRo3RUwA6SQlvWpDAqvLWa2RmJvJbz7IGuc0U_HRtPaGC0kv2qWAyOK1_cB5uFY8YjbB8vpLT4vW0MXiB-UkRo54zWr/s1600/IMG_9991.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFj0SVneYLh5kWiBHNRXkrz47qiuuEr8f6wgNEP9gvxt2z2rMbEaRo3RUwA6SQlvWpDAqvLWa2RmJvJbz7IGuc0U_HRtPaGC0kv2qWAyOK1_cB5uFY8YjbB8vpLT4vW0MXiB-UkRo54zWr/s400/IMG_9991.JPG" width="285" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div>Frau 'Livy' Langdon.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17222026890712089962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3623555834777184291.post-80022348591081093362010-06-24T21:16:00.002+02:002010-06-25T13:23:41.761+02:00Neptune's GrottoFor our last day in Alghero (see <a href="http://trampsabroad2009.blogspot.com/2010/06/up-on-sardinian-wall.html">these</a> <a href="http://trampsabroad2009.blogspot.com/2010/06/alghero.html">previous</a> <a href="http://trampsabroad2009.blogspot.com/2010/06/sardinian-beach-party.html">posts</a> for the whole story of our Sardinian beach trip extravaganza) we took a boat to Neptune's Grotto. At the time we weren't too sure what it really was, but we had a good part of a day before we had to head to the airport to catch our flight home, and going to the beach and spending the flight home in sandy beach clothes wasn't incredibly appealing. Plus, if you start inquiring about the boat trips, it's sort of hard to get away from the boat guys. Before we knew it, they had carried our stroller with a sleeping Penelope onto the boat and were pushing the boat away from the dock.<br />
<br />
Once Penelope woke up from her morning nap, she was in boat heaven. I'm pretty sure that if we would have let her, she would have taken over as the boat captain.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitL3jOxGjQcVDiA3t5Lim9uOLQxSUuvX0HC5A2RumekengCy57XoL6l2Xb1bOypN9iKGLUYXJxP9QdfM62NuSp7tUvYnNsnaCT3LYs-WHRQvclxE6V3xUuAjGqpvMm7AuhAmL_wsyr0dme/s1600/IMG_9668.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitL3jOxGjQcVDiA3t5Lim9uOLQxSUuvX0HC5A2RumekengCy57XoL6l2Xb1bOypN9iKGLUYXJxP9QdfM62NuSp7tUvYnNsnaCT3LYs-WHRQvclxE6V3xUuAjGqpvMm7AuhAmL_wsyr0dme/s400/IMG_9668.JPG" width="267" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The problem with a boat ride and a toddler is that dangers abound everywhere--and that means having to keep a very curious, wiggly child semi-constrained at all times. </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/AVvXsEgBt_j43rdPpHeUq002KxFOvRJmzh-k8_gZ_fuvXDfz2R_MwkcQs1aJC8WsxylPhh4LDHkOIg0Le5nKqVT6N-i4qLiFJ-asVCKAZNdOB1Yb1aryXDFod3-VvqKE9YeTyi92z_azM1ELVZmi/s1600/IMG_9670.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBt_j43rdPpHeUq002KxFOvRJmzh-k8_gZ_fuvXDfz2R_MwkcQs1aJC8WsxylPhh4LDHkOIg0Le5nKqVT6N-i4qLiFJ-asVCKAZNdOB1Yb1aryXDFod3-VvqKE9YeTyi92z_azM1ELVZmi/s400/IMG_9670.JPG" width="267" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">...Which didn't always go over too well... It was a wee bit difficult finding pictures for this post with a happy Penelope, because most of the time she was more focused on jumping in the water and swimming with the dolphins (<em>pleeease mom!!</em>) and dealing with our negative response than looking at the camera.</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/AVvXsEiy1cHs3X0p93sahFXrcNtNy0IcADH3NYWORmAT3o6KrP12n00Z6UtpbdcGeono5PQqSCZSEGRE6K9bH9Tqf1i2i_tdy_3uieCgdlf4s7Nhu94S3Q0-t7ppFkHnvUB4Cpa-GypGNazC1G3a/s1600/IMG_9660.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy1cHs3X0p93sahFXrcNtNy0IcADH3NYWORmAT3o6KrP12n00Z6UtpbdcGeono5PQqSCZSEGRE6K9bH9Tqf1i2i_tdy_3uieCgdlf4s7Nhu94S3Q0-t7ppFkHnvUB4Cpa-GypGNazC1G3a/s400/IMG_9660.JPG" width="267" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>Ahoy! Land ahead!</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZZTGI3TEk7NSwPdHep8CGnNFvr7IMWU8TZjKi7d0_1iQX_fAkl_Ka7VXDMMe7KiJCSCykGfDVtZ_2GYqnOmYXJLmx_ftQaxohCC8mFQLpn24GjpgPCQVHWP2Iu9EcluY8LG1J73KRcgSF/s1600/IMG_9647.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZZTGI3TEk7NSwPdHep8CGnNFvr7IMWU8TZjKi7d0_1iQX_fAkl_Ka7VXDMMe7KiJCSCykGfDVtZ_2GYqnOmYXJLmx_ftQaxohCC8mFQLpn24GjpgPCQVHWP2Iu9EcluY8LG1J73KRcgSF/s400/IMG_9647.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Alghero is on the Northwestern side of the island of Sardinia. If you follow the coastline around to the very Northwest corner, you get to these cliffs that stick out into the sea. This part of the island is called Cappo Caccia.</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/AVvXsEjmVBgudkzpSzMEf_ypP2yruC4YiFoSbQd0kfD5EIaqrB5uKIofWLnTaKZik58oLWZ-jSSHkLtDOcOAcJKTrWDdNkoyMB5lp_gQbG9w-76W_bbLi31_Mhk7lOLnFx5IBwN50Bfj4kj07WF1/s1600/IMG_9704.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="286" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmVBgudkzpSzMEf_ypP2yruC4YiFoSbQd0kfD5EIaqrB5uKIofWLnTaKZik58oLWZ-jSSHkLtDOcOAcJKTrWDdNkoyMB5lp_gQbG9w-76W_bbLi31_Mhk7lOLnFx5IBwN50Bfj4kj07WF1/s400/IMG_9704.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>(Look! Finally a quiet, sweet girl soaking in the scenery. Yes, we did have to eventually resort to the paci.)</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7NQqyELKU6wHMurJGoVis1RX-WMsgGvRYfylcPDABlEf9NAZlA6lg2zPb6VBkHuavc1GeQORSsO6bJQkQ0gm5h56i-rWio2x5vJopGm7Skga4q0NIwDVWyWUh3kyzoOTL0_PQ9dpTEybd/s1600/IMG_9692.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="286" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7NQqyELKU6wHMurJGoVis1RX-WMsgGvRYfylcPDABlEf9NAZlA6lg2zPb6VBkHuavc1GeQORSsO6bJQkQ0gm5h56i-rWio2x5vJopGm7Skga4q0NIwDVWyWUh3kyzoOTL0_PQ9dpTEybd/s400/IMG_9692.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">There are lots of caves carved into the limestone rocks above and below the water. A big lighthouse is perched on top of the cliffs.</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/AVvXsEhJs832FVlw3BPUa2gvMpHP5fnFoBOYc-QmkssPn-ztFSmylGPywBD4itRelOmt0o_stGIPRJoySPXfKU6o37R6jJVevwwnzNg2ee4gN_w_eM-_frJx4qPIkxHuYG0v8imaWy4ShT_m0zjX/s1600/IMG_9720.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJs832FVlw3BPUa2gvMpHP5fnFoBOYc-QmkssPn-ztFSmylGPywBD4itRelOmt0o_stGIPRJoySPXfKU6o37R6jJVevwwnzNg2ee4gN_w_eM-_frJx4qPIkxHuYG0v8imaWy4ShT_m0zjX/s400/IMG_9720.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">As we rounded the corner, it got even more impressive.</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/AVvXsEhvQkdh3mMa2Qqgrbz-5e_Qn2RpQd_hA0wh7xTc9tpgiYg0DtkxyrY1v8Q-pBwkiZjW6XpuDb7eHmnFES0jPByIXea2Hfnpqt2GxYjEi_qPCio4IHS3ySfSYnHdNNlEdZ7CVr04IK1PjTLz/s1600/IMG_9728.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvQkdh3mMa2Qqgrbz-5e_Qn2RpQd_hA0wh7xTc9tpgiYg0DtkxyrY1v8Q-pBwkiZjW6XpuDb7eHmnFES0jPByIXea2Hfnpqt2GxYjEi_qPCio4IHS3ySfSYnHdNNlEdZ7CVr04IK1PjTLz/s400/IMG_9728.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And the water turned a brilliant blue.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>(I finally wised up and put the squirmy child in the Ergo carrier)</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKKYMkSbO0qhEyeN514wO1qXWmnrPi4WVk4FCm40kiG2l0ikVfHEskvzBXavOx7DpLrYZ4Qe5bRDXPbRnGmkCIH8sNRfoAj0WYcmLK_uS9qUhFYEhCHpxdFy7FrzcLDbJAqLX1vlAVKwgs/s1600/IMG_9744.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKKYMkSbO0qhEyeN514wO1qXWmnrPi4WVk4FCm40kiG2l0ikVfHEskvzBXavOx7DpLrYZ4Qe5bRDXPbRnGmkCIH8sNRfoAj0WYcmLK_uS9qUhFYEhCHpxdFy7FrzcLDbJAqLX1vlAVKwgs/s400/IMG_9744.JPG" width="285" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>Still not too keen on the picture taking though--and it would have been such a great backdrop!</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_WUPsJwBthrfwSGonDDwm5MafBjcoVkPh3Tca-zx-QI5g-Lpa1AkdDXY3RtTYPypXyjyoNLrm2K-IstQnRmSojboVDZuonvCFiYt2IPN_VtcjLsXuMG2EFn7dW9oU6dKP9giy-OoWmA3b/s1600/IMG_9754.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="286" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_WUPsJwBthrfwSGonDDwm5MafBjcoVkPh3Tca-zx-QI5g-Lpa1AkdDXY3RtTYPypXyjyoNLrm2K-IstQnRmSojboVDZuonvCFiYt2IPN_VtcjLsXuMG2EFn7dW9oU6dKP9giy-OoWmA3b/s400/IMG_9754.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Finally we arrived at the famous 'Neptune's Grotto.' After the boat pulled up to the entrance of the cave, we got off the boat by walking on a plank that moved up and down with the waves (very scary with a baby strapped to your front!). Then the boat left us there to explore--I just hoped it would come back!</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/AVvXsEg18DQ_ZAv_ec2UktEVRIZKyRZTlYMqVRWaR0Fb1TEy0UvTdWoKby3tAA3DFtl2Mkq5xgZwuZ3v_jjgl2a6cIWeh17fCOg9vpaksK12wL86CB7_56tikQuwvKqK6GpOmPvMV_ISFe-kT9D5/s1600/IMG_9759.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg18DQ_ZAv_ec2UktEVRIZKyRZTlYMqVRWaR0Fb1TEy0UvTdWoKby3tAA3DFtl2Mkq5xgZwuZ3v_jjgl2a6cIWeh17fCOg9vpaksK12wL86CB7_56tikQuwvKqK6GpOmPvMV_ISFe-kT9D5/s400/IMG_9759.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This marine cave system was discovered by fishermen in the 18th century. When you enter there is a large, clear-water lake that leads into a huge open cavern. When people first started visiting, the fishermen guides would row the tourists in little boats across the lake alit with little floating candles. So romantic! Now, there is a guide that leads you (and a hundred other tourists!) through the caves via stairs. Not quite as romantic. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>the entrance</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9yQNmxT0aya0fUdjwNgyhOyCtnjmdeb6UKRuMPHAMBGglIYsRNCFGOuaNifHClAqegEOP3byVY9ndCPJ0VuMP9-wsmHCyKTrBIp7i8ddvGGDFnTNrxx3ufIq-ST7jwMpdyVCB3geq9uHG/s1600/IMG_9769.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9yQNmxT0aya0fUdjwNgyhOyCtnjmdeb6UKRuMPHAMBGglIYsRNCFGOuaNifHClAqegEOP3byVY9ndCPJ0VuMP9-wsmHCyKTrBIp7i8ddvGGDFnTNrxx3ufIq-ST7jwMpdyVCB3geq9uHG/s400/IMG_9769.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The stalactite and stalagmite formations were amazing.</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/AVvXsEjnwYJ4M8Kwi0DPyApEDKQv9H2hWWsG3NBLOxt32u2p1oFqvOFop2GMae5juLxRTeG5uRrekjuOCJXSx48GOuMlZv6mcN3BBXQ0luHS4d_nUwXo4ZClKt2n6Wla9shzS84cA4cwOADAxuJP/s1600/IMG_9780.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnwYJ4M8Kwi0DPyApEDKQv9H2hWWsG3NBLOxt32u2p1oFqvOFop2GMae5juLxRTeG5uRrekjuOCJXSx48GOuMlZv6mcN3BBXQ0luHS4d_nUwXo4ZClKt2n6Wla9shzS84cA4cwOADAxuJP/s400/IMG_9780.JPG" width="267" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Penelope was a bit entranced by all of it.</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/AVvXsEixgEM8ojTYLvx8nM1pg9cTCjvJavdQ7E9tva8i1GLNh2bmoM8hbbeeYGoGe31JSXVbnyKnEdNGZ7pKWqkB6BxhFxlVKyfvN1Ex8dGqRpaM-aKim3swtK1DUajLb5ISKaL3ncg2q8BJrBli/s1600/IMG_9783.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixgEM8ojTYLvx8nM1pg9cTCjvJavdQ7E9tva8i1GLNh2bmoM8hbbeeYGoGe31JSXVbnyKnEdNGZ7pKWqkB6BxhFxlVKyfvN1Ex8dGqRpaM-aKim3swtK1DUajLb5ISKaL3ncg2q8BJrBli/s400/IMG_9783.JPG" width="267" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</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/AVvXsEhpE73GFUNEZOhQUpEwW4jU8-K5WASjjNQhIA7KpdZ_xhBDyd6GqBVebnnFsZA253AR1wGhWOQ4ngLSK5UaDdbFbCWat2PgBVSuY8WfBrx0hqbMDZiWbbCIh_tsV3XSFSUr9yZVClDpwuE_/s1600/IMG_9788.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpE73GFUNEZOhQUpEwW4jU8-K5WASjjNQhIA7KpdZ_xhBDyd6GqBVebnnFsZA253AR1wGhWOQ4ngLSK5UaDdbFbCWat2PgBVSuY8WfBrx0hqbMDZiWbbCIh_tsV3XSFSUr9yZVClDpwuE_/s400/IMG_9788.JPG" width="267" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And it kept going and going... It was much bigger and more impressive than either of us expected. This part reminded us of some cathedrals we had been in.</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/AVvXsEjqG7hBrVjT4PtbJfZQ6_Z4WSCdyNJsc-aJHUOEsDcwI6A28BARVkw54pETvjVFeulXctNCJPwR2yd0jQ0mdLlKs9vCSCcgb32diURRi5XXuYLF_oHNmE9wk9vs5Hie7NKykLQtigtUrCiQ/s1600/IMG_9793.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqG7hBrVjT4PtbJfZQ6_Z4WSCdyNJsc-aJHUOEsDcwI6A28BARVkw54pETvjVFeulXctNCJPwR2yd0jQ0mdLlKs9vCSCcgb32diURRi5XXuYLF_oHNmE9wk9vs5Hie7NKykLQtigtUrCiQ/s400/IMG_9793.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Penelope really liked the stalactites.</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/AVvXsEhTIY95Lb-3t1Q4bS_4EsyZznLPJbDYrTtyAmQtZhqSQaUP7RutFtJiyaUw6C0Tvz5q5LuUGTr1bJdpJ1wZmmzcMxgeeRZHFIBW1Y9Mc0uJInh92WlqLmFFgDP_8_kRVc92BKiTHcgf3Lh_/s1600/IMG_9798.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTIY95Lb-3t1Q4bS_4EsyZznLPJbDYrTtyAmQtZhqSQaUP7RutFtJiyaUw6C0Tvz5q5LuUGTr1bJdpJ1wZmmzcMxgeeRZHFIBW1Y9Mc0uJInh92WlqLmFFgDP_8_kRVc92BKiTHcgf3Lh_/s400/IMG_9798.JPG" width="286" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">When we were done with the tour our boat was waiting for us. We hopped back on and enjoyed the ride back to Alghero. This time, we were a teeny bit more successful with pictures...</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/AVvXsEgh4SIyfe8Wkur7DNlK4hJqSMjOWD73MLHGMASgpoodypkDKMYiv2iLw_9lA2bCxvqAo_NYsyM0fBv7ezd6Ancd5qeHklIv685fX2Vl5H4TN4aU_NdUAZgvNST9s_VZHNUr05dv6NhxKeVG/s1600/IMG_9823.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh4SIyfe8Wkur7DNlK4hJqSMjOWD73MLHGMASgpoodypkDKMYiv2iLw_9lA2bCxvqAo_NYsyM0fBv7ezd6Ancd5qeHklIv685fX2Vl5H4TN4aU_NdUAZgvNST9s_VZHNUr05dv6NhxKeVG/s400/IMG_9823.JPG" width="267" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</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/AVvXsEhmUbfwhSRr2Uf87DurH-AOggvoClXrIs5zoKd6-hy8T7tmWhgPYpFDYbrfMS2kXiME3FLW8LYKXVo1jcGzM4cbJbGeVmv0G9TMbkH7ib6kGjboXAcJfp9IrndkJsNhoIJGvQ6IMsXsztem/s1600/IMG_9828.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmUbfwhSRr2Uf87DurH-AOggvoClXrIs5zoKd6-hy8T7tmWhgPYpFDYbrfMS2kXiME3FLW8LYKXVo1jcGzM4cbJbGeVmv0G9TMbkH7ib6kGjboXAcJfp9IrndkJsNhoIJGvQ6IMsXsztem/s400/IMG_9828.JPG" width="267" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>oops, side-tracked again</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihXAnhvbrZV0I0SyWRqraIJuH0EM5ipVMUoV6YyvQkNLpCn5P2rBplnCJVf_zN0S8-myuHp-0F1_OeZdeZ1mS3XfdXeKHWZhmGC-UJtq3z8FnGhv9Fy0COsoinnGV35R0JslP4xFjPsZE9/s1600/IMG_9835.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihXAnhvbrZV0I0SyWRqraIJuH0EM5ipVMUoV6YyvQkNLpCn5P2rBplnCJVf_zN0S8-myuHp-0F1_OeZdeZ1mS3XfdXeKHWZhmGC-UJtq3z8FnGhv9Fy0COsoinnGV35R0JslP4xFjPsZE9/s400/IMG_9835.JPG" width="267" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</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/AVvXsEgrxTp7WM3ALsaKcGW5Tv7oZ95iwTGiAZVbWkuO_XXAEMWB37gR58PQexDXEO5rVhsminTRQUwG7-M1Pj4_PkbIt7IwOMWEa1LBqyBI6IP6kYOTzKKKE36KZBYfn875XM5MKmvSl1Zdkrx9/s1600/IMG_9844.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrxTp7WM3ALsaKcGW5Tv7oZ95iwTGiAZVbWkuO_XXAEMWB37gR58PQexDXEO5rVhsminTRQUwG7-M1Pj4_PkbIt7IwOMWEa1LBqyBI6IP6kYOTzKKKE36KZBYfn875XM5MKmvSl1Zdkrx9/s400/IMG_9844.JPG" width="267" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</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/AVvXsEggh7w1nBSerCBMCAdUHx6t3cdUt9p0eTSwy9Wf2h22E5SMK_DdynZ1uKlCcBAp2m3XqJaHHKSo97BUe2CapLJJ1Io7vSf4u_Sg8q_DdxZphhgn1pbzikEWt6dWVpvTfNJffZL3QNdskw5_/s1600/IMG_9848.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggh7w1nBSerCBMCAdUHx6t3cdUt9p0eTSwy9Wf2h22E5SMK_DdynZ1uKlCcBAp2m3XqJaHHKSo97BUe2CapLJJ1Io7vSf4u_Sg8q_DdxZphhgn1pbzikEWt6dWVpvTfNJffZL3QNdskw5_/s400/IMG_9848.JPG" width="267" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>bonk!</em></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglY5PLwceAM-UZIUdpBoox3d2mHr4S8PxScgzhyphenhyphenDr5j0iTL9wMVGHoe2IOrCjMQREng77o7ZXMLYZ9tonxalyjnXb8FCsSPwwDFTXNQTpFiYfzZJqiBWIiEzCJNEuJ5ehWDxTeZs9385Ht/s1600/IMG_9860.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglY5PLwceAM-UZIUdpBoox3d2mHr4S8PxScgzhyphenhyphenDr5j0iTL9wMVGHoe2IOrCjMQREng77o7ZXMLYZ9tonxalyjnXb8FCsSPwwDFTXNQTpFiYfzZJqiBWIiEzCJNEuJ5ehWDxTeZs9385Ht/s400/IMG_9860.JPG" width="267" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">And then the subject started getting sleepy. Boat motors and rocking will do that to ya.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhptyAi8OjEtIAaaGCIuU_YbEIiBnDn-9_-4MRvBpIuvkrXfBZNH5FIVCzfhk6tNEe7mf6Srp-b9CD7cJXA7dW458nC7jg7E5GClXRpM1FutNn6mQeExDhHQrTWH7BB8XTksKgUjigeXYZ8/s1600/IMG_9859.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhptyAi8OjEtIAaaGCIuU_YbEIiBnDn-9_-4MRvBpIuvkrXfBZNH5FIVCzfhk6tNEe7mf6Srp-b9CD7cJXA7dW458nC7jg7E5GClXRpM1FutNn6mQeExDhHQrTWH7BB8XTksKgUjigeXYZ8/s400/IMG_9859.JPG" width="267" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We pulled into the dock with a sleeping Penelope and thankful that some random Italian boat guys had talked us into taking this trip. The pictures don't quite do the cliffs, caves or blue water justice, but you get the idea. </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/AVvXsEgohNsYma0wjDZT4VdCW35tjmLhtIe4VdBuEJR7CjkDXxGnZVTFOtYgX0NxpHmCoRe5O2HEwEi4jruo_988Q0rsZ73LsrglHPgEye-Cf_iTRhZUhrwyhMWJN2RU24w0FQvf6VFY67s7R1VX/s1600/IMG_9865.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgohNsYma0wjDZT4VdCW35tjmLhtIe4VdBuEJR7CjkDXxGnZVTFOtYgX0NxpHmCoRe5O2HEwEi4jruo_988Q0rsZ73LsrglHPgEye-Cf_iTRhZUhrwyhMWJN2RU24w0FQvf6VFY67s7R1VX/s400/IMG_9865.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">So long Sardinia!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>a kiss for daddy while waiting for our flight at the alghero airport to make up for all of her trying moments</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0KYkiLcaHdhz0VuzjSWdV52rpk1J3NjvAJ-JNveCzmIBDjdghdRMiQ8Z-OjiLUzy94fa-wJvxrBSjbrbnPzbgyH7DKa5oh7aEltCRbonu4eX_dU9girYJVTXAB6oySu6S4MyLzyete4Wv/s1600/IMG_9874.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="286" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0KYkiLcaHdhz0VuzjSWdV52rpk1J3NjvAJ-JNveCzmIBDjdghdRMiQ8Z-OjiLUzy94fa-wJvxrBSjbrbnPzbgyH7DKa5oh7aEltCRbonu4eX_dU9girYJVTXAB6oySu6S4MyLzyete4Wv/s400/IMG_9874.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>Frau 'Livy' Langdon.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17222026890712089962noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3623555834777184291.post-74890029592078703462010-06-22T22:06:00.002+02:002010-06-22T22:13:11.632+02:00Sardinian Beach PartyBack to our trip to Alghero...<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg62JAfuhdsu5-7eQxLkRqmG3j5tgSF3nSLVG2vuRT-vy9HJN3gf30JNRjjz0v60oEAxE3LCoDS4UADO1ItxgZsU3lPRPv30EZVC98isNvDE-1Nu259S5h9PRN74ez2aoTU23EdFsVYOscN/s1600/IMG_9588.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg62JAfuhdsu5-7eQxLkRqmG3j5tgSF3nSLVG2vuRT-vy9HJN3gf30JNRjjz0v60oEAxE3LCoDS4UADO1ItxgZsU3lPRPv30EZVC98isNvDE-1Nu259S5h9PRN74ez2aoTU23EdFsVYOscN/s400/IMG_9588.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We decided that a beach trip is the hands-down best vacation for a toddler. The sources of entertainment are endless, and you don't even have to worry about them getting dirty. So while we kicked back and relaxed, Penelope had her own fabulous party at the beach.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">A rock! A piece of trash! Let's get this party started! </div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-8rhLX6BodHRcDDmlUiVJzSd0PJ9XEmFrs2G3AMLYJIzdxvCNWLxZqFKFwnIQpQKySUf-ryIMoF7WgsAOD6lKAT46Yuw3-D-yh91GRHJ91Ml27PrZKBz3a3jvEw-ywTu_a-kwR7Vw9DfI/s1600/IMG_9523.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-8rhLX6BodHRcDDmlUiVJzSd0PJ9XEmFrs2G3AMLYJIzdxvCNWLxZqFKFwnIQpQKySUf-ryIMoF7WgsAOD6lKAT46Yuw3-D-yh91GRHJ91Ml27PrZKBz3a3jvEw-ywTu_a-kwR7Vw9DfI/s400/IMG_9523.JPG" width="267" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Penelope loves playing in the sand at the playground. Imagine her excitement upon seeing the biggest sandbox ever--all for her taking!</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZKSUgIuMYZ5zlCpIR9iWlBaCkBj2nrB3ih3gyLHQOz0nWzj51EmehjaD4p134GcMGYJmgVNvm1po6ze3MW9HsdkhkK0qruaXaaKPR9v9MKqpRE4juUoSAqZDUYNnTDw5CCfACEW4yvFYp/s1600/IMG_9050.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZKSUgIuMYZ5zlCpIR9iWlBaCkBj2nrB3ih3gyLHQOz0nWzj51EmehjaD4p134GcMGYJmgVNvm1po6ze3MW9HsdkhkK0qruaXaaKPR9v9MKqpRE4juUoSAqZDUYNnTDw5CCfACEW4yvFYp/s400/IMG_9050.JPG" width="286" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">And tasting!</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUz5eejxFLCbmZgWUxWYAPzvAZFx-lCu16L0JWuUS2HM4PBKQSODhiSXlaTVAMylxD8F_0xzpgX5_O4ARhCKIpDuVjscq11oY2mlycYNM-GOPoh24tD_l9eaQWBGhGZMS9ODc4liyUESwM/s1600/IMG_9052.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUz5eejxFLCbmZgWUxWYAPzvAZFx-lCu16L0JWuUS2HM4PBKQSODhiSXlaTVAMylxD8F_0xzpgX5_O4ARhCKIpDuVjscq11oY2mlycYNM-GOPoh24tD_l9eaQWBGhGZMS9ODc4liyUESwM/s400/IMG_9052.JPG" width="267" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">She tried and tried to make a sandcastle,</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsL6cdLadp5B-87zlRYkEvgqSBIJY0xz8p9j2cW6JRT8v67UI7dVlpX9CNdcr6k5qI1K5ZjHv0V8gZa_DBWoLGl4JTBnbA_VNLDb0j9EqGRwsP5AMMp7wqkd1ZRs1oCf-YF4hIJ5DDrvhx/s1600/IMG_9215.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="286" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsL6cdLadp5B-87zlRYkEvgqSBIJY0xz8p9j2cW6JRT8v67UI7dVlpX9CNdcr6k5qI1K5ZjHv0V8gZa_DBWoLGl4JTBnbA_VNLDb0j9EqGRwsP5AMMp7wqkd1ZRs1oCf-YF4hIJ5DDrvhx/s400/IMG_9215.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">But eventually had to call in her dad for reinforcements. "Oh! So that's how it's done!"</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDVY6PwAQgrSGSv6SvropFjN3kXH2sfYO6ghFwloJCdBaUD_DZx6eDSlwc2vFe3XuBTfXVV_x0T_611fJ3RyqSEy_q6eOYbLbBTFi45eyJtpBLODh19GInG-ZDQ26g4bDLWF8_51TJNGPl/s1600/IMG_9238.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="286" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDVY6PwAQgrSGSv6SvropFjN3kXH2sfYO6ghFwloJCdBaUD_DZx6eDSlwc2vFe3XuBTfXVV_x0T_611fJ3RyqSEy_q6eOYbLbBTFi45eyJtpBLODh19GInG-ZDQ26g4bDLWF8_51TJNGPl/s400/IMG_9238.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">When all else fails, the game of 'put the sand in, pour the sand out,' is a great fall back.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjADppOeo1nJ4_D9Y3Qpr3Q7KGjyeLlfwEIIXjZT9ffndKaHD6zavJzw8qzpTHsPrPeJV3Ju45xQVwH0QGIe7k6wlMt3yMBgzhpHaHauesY6Ev_COPuvZw3slmimRhKm2S9m0RM8uzUL_s/s1600/IMG_9276.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjADppOeo1nJ4_D9Y3Qpr3Q7KGjyeLlfwEIIXjZT9ffndKaHD6zavJzw8qzpTHsPrPeJV3Ju45xQVwH0QGIe7k6wlMt3yMBgzhpHaHauesY6Ev_COPuvZw3slmimRhKm2S9m0RM8uzUL_s/s400/IMG_9276.JPG" width="267" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_zCNU4kYEzYiV3ZgvvuyZfI4f97z8SY6LeNPCF-8YiILVQZkbu4oBhjSPZvqWzH9lz-ys0KsyNQfjDuL_NQbBiiAn6atnH4eciap114Hu-6EULNw0F7MKjsAw5alKO7C9ZEBbilqqmNB8/s1600/IMG_9550.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_zCNU4kYEzYiV3ZgvvuyZfI4f97z8SY6LeNPCF-8YiILVQZkbu4oBhjSPZvqWzH9lz-ys0KsyNQfjDuL_NQbBiiAn6atnH4eciap114Hu-6EULNw0F7MKjsAw5alKO7C9ZEBbilqqmNB8/s400/IMG_9550.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Yeah, she wrote that.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg67sOP_89iYwXwoFosxDFYbj7ek2aA2Rnd3BW_0Cb786xNpAXL4mNzRyyNlv7w8QpUPz-kVeLHqs9A0hqrQEJhuYkfVAJWqFsyMSuaqKOfX1BtRbO4GUmZVNRP9WuCC13ONRBgfJFGHHIy/s1600/IMG_9246.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="286" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg67sOP_89iYwXwoFosxDFYbj7ek2aA2Rnd3BW_0Cb786xNpAXL4mNzRyyNlv7w8QpUPz-kVeLHqs9A0hqrQEJhuYkfVAJWqFsyMSuaqKOfX1BtRbO4GUmZVNRP9WuCC13ONRBgfJFGHHIy/s400/IMG_9246.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Evidently the taste of sand grows on you.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrtgt4cS1KiG2WKIbtTbc88d1LhwF0jTTRK4Faaed73Ih9a8Ps1Xh93zCNXGxE-IGfQKLVNVFuOqNyhT-yVyLFo12tZ31PLZnQzX2Vp2wSUnBFIElYEiXvFRfMgWujLEnRC9uDfsdbTnYn/s1600/IMG_9167.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrtgt4cS1KiG2WKIbtTbc88d1LhwF0jTTRK4Faaed73Ih9a8Ps1Xh93zCNXGxE-IGfQKLVNVFuOqNyhT-yVyLFo12tZ31PLZnQzX2Vp2wSUnBFIElYEiXvFRfMgWujLEnRC9uDfsdbTnYn/s400/IMG_9167.JPG" width="286" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Penelope was really fond of the bamboo stick, or any other random thing scattered on the beach for that matter.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja4J-BIHRcp5vs2jYtNBjXT3VXqOfNkPaJFMRZr_k3lamxSJy3R1AuabC3R2p42w0yaFb19yI1q__iJO1AhQqfNcfpwW2hERvnneWeojm1iEZrMdh5zOJQ0cQcBY_cHFORRxA2LmZdwtbV/s1600/IMG_9126.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="286" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja4J-BIHRcp5vs2jYtNBjXT3VXqOfNkPaJFMRZr_k3lamxSJy3R1AuabC3R2p42w0yaFb19yI1q__iJO1AhQqfNcfpwW2hERvnneWeojm1iEZrMdh5zOJQ0cQcBY_cHFORRxA2LmZdwtbV/s400/IMG_9126.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">"On guard!"</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9o9d1d0qSy0Vynbl3-JXR6vLN25pO2R2FSMn5eFn959es3WZa_5cpv9FNUgvjrVLTTR9190E0Si8WSjrbV0r8CzN-LK97t4HED_uNsk6mqqqwxVFSkHNS9InXjyDOuB3GpXH7FqNXcpZF/s1600/IMG_9175.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9o9d1d0qSy0Vynbl3-JXR6vLN25pO2R2FSMn5eFn959es3WZa_5cpv9FNUgvjrVLTTR9190E0Si8WSjrbV0r8CzN-LK97t4HED_uNsk6mqqqwxVFSkHNS9InXjyDOuB3GpXH7FqNXcpZF/s400/IMG_9175.JPG" width="286" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuwcSWJcVARlT_KwQg1Cg3oo7GFbM8iaIF5YYJQ4yh0JV0PfE8Aw6KxNST1i75T6Bl_YDj-98fwgqCK-CehXwOmuGLwYCMtVzzY2TJkKHt_oypCCTKvl1lHQg60x_BIxrl4YIfcYCo9EgA/s1600/IMG_9183.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="286" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuwcSWJcVARlT_KwQg1Cg3oo7GFbM8iaIF5YYJQ4yh0JV0PfE8Aw6KxNST1i75T6Bl_YDj-98fwgqCK-CehXwOmuGLwYCMtVzzY2TJkKHt_oypCCTKvl1lHQg60x_BIxrl4YIfcYCo9EgA/s400/IMG_9183.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"> But her very favorite beach amusement was this little boat.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVsabi-CIa5yXCty_O65HLYVebkubYHuVFguuQXMRbKzJvlRMF8BZV5_ZB7Khd18eqjUPJk_9A3ThTcv0Wlv3R4Sdj9tXUwya-e638BzqDajYfm2Wf1BJSjMsHMxfrByhZ8aYIWZRoG78L/s1600/IMG_9171.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVsabi-CIa5yXCty_O65HLYVebkubYHuVFguuQXMRbKzJvlRMF8BZV5_ZB7Khd18eqjUPJk_9A3ThTcv0Wlv3R4Sdj9tXUwya-e638BzqDajYfm2Wf1BJSjMsHMxfrByhZ8aYIWZRoG78L/s400/IMG_9171.JPG" width="267" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">At first, she was a bit timid of the water. (It didn't help that she nearly went overboard when her father's spinning got out of hand.)</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsOSG1CpZFP2geCtttg7lyJVPZQkwqhoKd331dbQn18_OJjypde146od4pi7INGGee67BL4rPq6J6qItngeQ27sPBPnrsqJ9wVA_dpYmS3cI9GEJE2GfLDjxMsm3UouZArx8fUyhztO0oc/s1600/IMG_9073.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="286" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsOSG1CpZFP2geCtttg7lyJVPZQkwqhoKd331dbQn18_OJjypde146od4pi7INGGee67BL4rPq6J6qItngeQ27sPBPnrsqJ9wVA_dpYmS3cI9GEJE2GfLDjxMsm3UouZArx8fUyhztO0oc/s400/IMG_9073.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">But she quickly warmed up to it</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBNpp5M83o6r_yPO4RbhvdIFl_xAK0sHgKw23SxbBBmu4vt_U1VxgpuJr4kjqrbdTCJhbxs3PnAzm6hxR2YfksWYKE2onr3JkBRROgWCznFbj9gu24auRFynnK8_AOllf0MDaYNryN_yHf/s1600/IMG_9081.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBNpp5M83o6r_yPO4RbhvdIFl_xAK0sHgKw23SxbBBmu4vt_U1VxgpuJr4kjqrbdTCJhbxs3PnAzm6hxR2YfksWYKE2onr3JkBRROgWCznFbj9gu24auRFynnK8_AOllf0MDaYNryN_yHf/s400/IMG_9081.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">And wanted to go super fast</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilE3QDpzNx4KvYrjrql5vVS8Jjfjfwe1V1WATnqYtht0qx0WesLvXmvolanvxl2fVWlhmLZbs2JfQoopaMOV7kHkT-jlvGbogNYbe2akftSU4PQroOu_N4ivBvmT7eKcLSPU_i6bKLlHXm/s1600/IMG_9092.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="286" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilE3QDpzNx4KvYrjrql5vVS8Jjfjfwe1V1WATnqYtht0qx0WesLvXmvolanvxl2fVWlhmLZbs2JfQoopaMOV7kHkT-jlvGbogNYbe2akftSU4PQroOu_N4ivBvmT7eKcLSPU_i6bKLlHXm/s400/IMG_9092.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">"That was awesome dad! Again! Again!"</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW60fwaHbSbX1BWqpvSbdX8YwGjvP16uz2BmQnWaIJxl00k7cqB-PPZKxTfeCFpvH_K2DVeINtOUOJ0PY8XT2swg0QHtuJC5apGoUuZeI1DbZwcbLgnAD_9cpCbOJ_nuU6Y9Vb_qSUpao3/s1600/IMG_9109.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="286" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW60fwaHbSbX1BWqpvSbdX8YwGjvP16uz2BmQnWaIJxl00k7cqB-PPZKxTfeCFpvH_K2DVeINtOUOJ0PY8XT2swg0QHtuJC5apGoUuZeI1DbZwcbLgnAD_9cpCbOJ_nuU6Y9Vb_qSUpao3/s400/IMG_9109.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">"Weeee!"</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX113Fr7p5rwc1GDBUzQb3gY-Km18_nvaFJ-bKeiDmgQ6nXuEd43xAM1gj9Xrh9YYzXysMf8FugBUXatnamSl90Th0byyGBDO25XJygWwdIWUkiXtkZzE-BCwHXk-LMxFSnQtZ8d_AX2Mx/s1600/IMG_9103.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="286" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX113Fr7p5rwc1GDBUzQb3gY-Km18_nvaFJ-bKeiDmgQ6nXuEd43xAM1gj9Xrh9YYzXysMf8FugBUXatnamSl90Th0byyGBDO25XJygWwdIWUkiXtkZzE-BCwHXk-LMxFSnQtZ8d_AX2Mx/s400/IMG_9103.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">"Ahoy! I spy another boat."</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFYFeBNUMadek7If6nknhyphenhyphenm1AWewCe2WsK5RCBxidCPAu9kgxY2jJsvLB-XErmVBk9CmCRnP4e0ur77LvpMVThjIanIksO_5LOXQDERGimCdKptoOa5QvlV0sUzmvQ0Y8h-CriuYmKDWy3/s1600/IMG_9106.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="286" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFYFeBNUMadek7If6nknhyphenhyphenm1AWewCe2WsK5RCBxidCPAu9kgxY2jJsvLB-XErmVBk9CmCRnP4e0ur77LvpMVThjIanIksO_5LOXQDERGimCdKptoOa5QvlV0sUzmvQ0Y8h-CriuYmKDWy3/s400/IMG_9106.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Big boat. Little boat.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBgWrrkU-A7my_voEMhp2jxQhTDLicBQ0dmeaw1B66uzuBLPYzLylk3VmNmtEotnpjEBbF2HMCRCToZD1ujCV-69cED1ytY0vzEv4f3PghhfXNgcVQPct8qsI8QWFdNWAhy4kxmwVRpVYk/s1600/IMG_9153.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="286" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBgWrrkU-A7my_voEMhp2jxQhTDLicBQ0dmeaw1B66uzuBLPYzLylk3VmNmtEotnpjEBbF2HMCRCToZD1ujCV-69cED1ytY0vzEv4f3PghhfXNgcVQPct8qsI8QWFdNWAhy4kxmwVRpVYk/s400/IMG_9153.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">"Woohoo! That was a big wave!"</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHPQKGMEQPqKuuyNcYnFwHJ2xkIgRJ6MTTAwukFXegEfsUpieIue0Xjf1orF-mv9saMOa_jU2Mi52JNyXsXT2mp0DoDtJzVxiCG5EGq5BA-jdoQQWA6E99rUwNJ0kVq9zjr5GlQAJJyoUY/s1600/IMG_9114.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHPQKGMEQPqKuuyNcYnFwHJ2xkIgRJ6MTTAwukFXegEfsUpieIue0Xjf1orF-mv9saMOa_jU2Mi52JNyXsXT2mp0DoDtJzVxiCG5EGq5BA-jdoQQWA6E99rUwNJ0kVq9zjr5GlQAJJyoUY/s400/IMG_9114.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">"I've got this down dad. You can go now."</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvv0h0hNAYZqyf8dXxY3w139gcIYJ8_SedSMeam3_GrEjr65nrNvA59GoeZDQUnvkEmyJ7vLoXA_4e95kj4H9maR5r3zxd0TK-GqmpsqbmjfPqdN7VgxD4NJv8Tu-QG-85cXYjUF-h23H3/s1600/IMG_9139.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="286" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvv0h0hNAYZqyf8dXxY3w139gcIYJ8_SedSMeam3_GrEjr65nrNvA59GoeZDQUnvkEmyJ7vLoXA_4e95kj4H9maR5r3zxd0TK-GqmpsqbmjfPqdN7VgxD4NJv8Tu-QG-85cXYjUF-h23H3/s400/IMG_9139.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</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/AVvXsEhl79_AP8tBX8__bXvOgsUTSykLGFNVP6yscfTn8ZPG_9UhOgjiIY46GIt0W9AcxQx8OkHZ_C71DZaQY0zuwJ4tb1WsRArjuLZw4vGvfP0G0-jbQgMoZ1VuxbKsW21Horo0l8pKrptXqez9/s1600/IMG_9156.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="286" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl79_AP8tBX8__bXvOgsUTSykLGFNVP6yscfTn8ZPG_9UhOgjiIY46GIt0W9AcxQx8OkHZ_C71DZaQY0zuwJ4tb1WsRArjuLZw4vGvfP0G0-jbQgMoZ1VuxbKsW21Horo0l8pKrptXqez9/s400/IMG_9156.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">"Come on, little boat."</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSSC5s7QCz3xiCrouv2hZmixMIyoZx03aul84q_Huty7t8rDHtXw5S1Msz6rZTetUh0EZbd4cGwWPDMZTsxxZarUF8VBJRl4GbgmjiIRByNUvlzkOItsyiwxmehbXZGTbiANTsbf4ghIs4/s1600/IMG_9160.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="286" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSSC5s7QCz3xiCrouv2hZmixMIyoZx03aul84q_Huty7t8rDHtXw5S1Msz6rZTetUh0EZbd4cGwWPDMZTsxxZarUF8VBJRl4GbgmjiIRByNUvlzkOItsyiwxmehbXZGTbiANTsbf4ghIs4/s400/IMG_9160.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Then things got really crazy when the water guns came out.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyK3QBaQVpQc7iEI8X9paj7s6Sp8Omt8RbnY2pptY5eoOG0qMW5znXnEdXfMb61p1mfLtQvrPgOPWD8VZ-4jVXzjbKdnS6MlNPkdR-aX_xqn37NmOznHPZ4CHce1fqOpX3aW2CBVy-p091/s1600/IMG_9019.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyK3QBaQVpQc7iEI8X9paj7s6Sp8Omt8RbnY2pptY5eoOG0qMW5znXnEdXfMb61p1mfLtQvrPgOPWD8VZ-4jVXzjbKdnS6MlNPkdR-aX_xqn37NmOznHPZ4CHce1fqOpX3aW2CBVy-p091/s400/IMG_9019.JPG" width="286" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">"Oh yeah! Look who's in charge now!"</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsF33drlWp21fBaEjp_Xwsye7Rw1JNB2TeTfQIlLVlI3ZyRI0qaAZXixoqDR4p2yNWLaNnyj8ab_oiFYozTUCt33VJz01TWry1H4rKDEVgiQpGnUq90KVKL0IUJEn8wihRl_au0WZwd2MP/s1600/IMG_9067.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsF33drlWp21fBaEjp_Xwsye7Rw1JNB2TeTfQIlLVlI3ZyRI0qaAZXixoqDR4p2yNWLaNnyj8ab_oiFYozTUCt33VJz01TWry1H4rKDEVgiQpGnUq90KVKL0IUJEn8wihRl_au0WZwd2MP/s400/IMG_9067.JPG" width="283" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">After a little chat with mom, we found a peaceful resolution.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl03oSj-gId2Q_sE_Zu8n3gk95J6pMRIfn_pSeNCz40QB5cRVzuLsiqXu7StS-6fPoG7PbydnfssujEaKP3pcgh-TRKPNV6pRl06Ul52UyxoEQeIszKUBF4GYC2dNx3rJYow8FVaGqGW5X/s1600/IMG_9467.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="286" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl03oSj-gId2Q_sE_Zu8n3gk95J6pMRIfn_pSeNCz40QB5cRVzuLsiqXu7StS-6fPoG7PbydnfssujEaKP3pcgh-TRKPNV6pRl06Ul52UyxoEQeIszKUBF4GYC2dNx3rJYow8FVaGqGW5X/s400/IMG_9467.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Nothing better than a walk on the beach, no matter how short the companion may be.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCGZmsBuOUagsUR2ShYLlWeu5MnW-7qoaJSoQS7LVYDGH9MJdYv7adTje6ielCOYiA0dts8vOftpFHvFbIdJEs29ZRsrjJVnp18T5dBqpMJB5kA-IjL-cAXI_c1fEc37ypKpPQ4UHWYce4/s1600/IMG_9205.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCGZmsBuOUagsUR2ShYLlWeu5MnW-7qoaJSoQS7LVYDGH9MJdYv7adTje6ielCOYiA0dts8vOftpFHvFbIdJEs29ZRsrjJVnp18T5dBqpMJB5kA-IjL-cAXI_c1fEc37ypKpPQ4UHWYce4/s400/IMG_9205.JPG" width="285" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Time for a dip in the water.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje3sIrnQzphtSC3ZNP1TyP_yivCX26ft7iEE1WkF4z7fmJD_1pTAPbq5FRJ7G2yR0jIQSZpKGgsQ8f6FVQ2xsu2xXDG5cWxECVfQLDfGRx9ru4iWOTF7I59CV3l88VdNogRB0W1RUzWbwD/s1600/IMG_9496.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje3sIrnQzphtSC3ZNP1TyP_yivCX26ft7iEE1WkF4z7fmJD_1pTAPbq5FRJ7G2yR0jIQSZpKGgsQ8f6FVQ2xsu2xXDG5cWxECVfQLDfGRx9ru4iWOTF7I59CV3l88VdNogRB0W1RUzWbwD/s400/IMG_9496.JPG" width="286" /></a></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/AVvXsEgTJvTRzQkAy_aQUVUT8fNYSy3Zm4OE-8y5jeX0sbvx0QQwjjhHQRwlaQmx_JKxF-ljqTlZJzAtULdOzSE7IXoumWov5A5LutaO84W3b1eNWMF0eFS8Rh-JWk54ZUj1GCY8hdjx_XMWYlfQ/s1600/IMG_9504.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTJvTRzQkAy_aQUVUT8fNYSy3Zm4OE-8y5jeX0sbvx0QQwjjhHQRwlaQmx_JKxF-ljqTlZJzAtULdOzSE7IXoumWov5A5LutaO84W3b1eNWMF0eFS8Rh-JWk54ZUj1GCY8hdjx_XMWYlfQ/s400/IMG_9504.JPG" width="286" /></a></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/AVvXsEifh6XgUSjEuF7Qc6LAzD8FJ7cupmU31T_fB5b1XhG8NnlaQUdIooFfCxoOc3babqNvul43lMpjHETNK18XiqdOy34lAP9akr-89BNShgb_0Pi3uW1L8i_rU2NyKCqlMgAVklNnCWrMTqv6/s1600/IMG_9511.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifh6XgUSjEuF7Qc6LAzD8FJ7cupmU31T_fB5b1XhG8NnlaQUdIooFfCxoOc3babqNvul43lMpjHETNK18XiqdOy34lAP9akr-89BNShgb_0Pi3uW1L8i_rU2NyKCqlMgAVklNnCWrMTqv6/s400/IMG_9511.JPG" width="267" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Penelope left no stone or shell unturned, but got a little dirty in the process.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_rVdZVW_CwFKCT9vhUFXhXPm9uk90am7d2RL4mO4DQmS-NL4ktZKN6_pzVBtZ5U8JF0oDtqqdNaJYxXrfk5TyGpOOIPu3nDpVK5x9CDzagojrFelok63qJs6zXvOOMC9zq957r72rQKEm/s1600/IMG_9472.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_rVdZVW_CwFKCT9vhUFXhXPm9uk90am7d2RL4mO4DQmS-NL4ktZKN6_pzVBtZ5U8JF0oDtqqdNaJYxXrfk5TyGpOOIPu3nDpVK5x9CDzagojrFelok63qJs6zXvOOMC9zq957r72rQKEm/s400/IMG_9472.JPG" width="286" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</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/AVvXsEgY7rWrcyf4m17BNeksVd4m07ljKpAvmLhs7g-JDS82NVDZzfR061a_kBF19KzkRoxaRNwp_0xxynPs0ch1XaJNrJA2pUCcT5Nu8uTYvfAhcWfwCLXTQQbsmycPFS0Vy9Z86XRWTtwh17bc/s1600/IMG_9546.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY7rWrcyf4m17BNeksVd4m07ljKpAvmLhs7g-JDS82NVDZzfR061a_kBF19KzkRoxaRNwp_0xxynPs0ch1XaJNrJA2pUCcT5Nu8uTYvfAhcWfwCLXTQQbsmycPFS0Vy9Z86XRWTtwh17bc/s400/IMG_9546.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Hey bathing beauty!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4h0q0VwuDQt_0OYIHWWQyURI086_Nx3EuSzFcgWtpPG5gQsWfNIGkcrqI2TKT2FGiyJgoX5ABuaSfwsnkZkbGvcdQEqhBwSXlhFIsETlEfNU07WI4PZSZ_BoGJWteiO8cG0Xhp1uM-I00/s1600/IMG_9477.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4h0q0VwuDQt_0OYIHWWQyURI086_Nx3EuSzFcgWtpPG5gQsWfNIGkcrqI2TKT2FGiyJgoX5ABuaSfwsnkZkbGvcdQEqhBwSXlhFIsETlEfNU07WI4PZSZ_BoGJWteiO8cG0Xhp1uM-I00/s400/IMG_9477.JPG" width="267" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Off on another adventure...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmWiE9cCw3ZhZ5RyKZl6RoxBjPaA6sod14w0qYTnXlvTjsuJ1JyBEhFos-S0NbV55e-uIEZOuO0YkXM-uF-uvxUPVk69YTNUB9dvpgF0GxWsgX28-olfaLqKYV7kQ4QThtQAXK9Djlwel3/s1600/IMG_9508.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmWiE9cCw3ZhZ5RyKZl6RoxBjPaA6sod14w0qYTnXlvTjsuJ1JyBEhFos-S0NbV55e-uIEZOuO0YkXM-uF-uvxUPVk69YTNUB9dvpgF0GxWsgX28-olfaLqKYV7kQ4QThtQAXK9Djlwel3/s400/IMG_9508.JPG" width="267" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Uh oh. She found the water gun again.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicD9GvPe4HX-92qhGAyzFEkw0RsEjd0X8mPws8DVNHrAl2TZowaisADQxj0SdSunMoKGfBA1AWp_lSF82hvq1dawUTZ9EK0HdakClfoLF10r8qDZhyphenhyphenBlIJexs3zb_B0fuxWaR-Ch9Ka6e0/s1600/IMG_9540.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicD9GvPe4HX-92qhGAyzFEkw0RsEjd0X8mPws8DVNHrAl2TZowaisADQxj0SdSunMoKGfBA1AWp_lSF82hvq1dawUTZ9EK0HdakClfoLF10r8qDZhyphenhyphenBlIJexs3zb_B0fuxWaR-Ch9Ka6e0/s400/IMG_9540.JPG" width="285" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">After all that playing, it was time for a snack and a very long nap.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-YdGkOlIRQbtNqo5P0NMkMEgbDR_Do3g8LEz5x-DExXeV_LFGUKVtYy_uoucRAEz6wEFfhgAkxxK0VSTKkeqgk-A9_U0D-jfgzDyBu89Oh-xAQDzjda-Sfht56S17DAwtVe5NlqS0bIh7/s1600/IMG_9566.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-YdGkOlIRQbtNqo5P0NMkMEgbDR_Do3g8LEz5x-DExXeV_LFGUKVtYy_uoucRAEz6wEFfhgAkxxK0VSTKkeqgk-A9_U0D-jfgzDyBu89Oh-xAQDzjda-Sfht56S17DAwtVe5NlqS0bIh7/s400/IMG_9566.JPG" width="286" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Thanks for all the good times Sardinia! We wish we never had to leave your warm waters and sandy beaches! Until the next beach party...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="267" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAtdCsLm4beLvgjh5jDa4wUXEv0B1Tmlt1OdPaTvujQzsJrPx-5CLXIkq0JlL6mmJdVX6FeT_EeN2bU7KvcbCFlcIA1EZS-AXUQiAdOAWExxDGpvTF25kKDSTqhnn3Jr5PwD2kP7F-Y9yR/s400/IMG_9300.JPG" width="400" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Frau 'Livy' Langdon.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17222026890712089962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3623555834777184291.post-52087581898811998492010-06-21T10:48:00.000+02:002010-06-21T10:48:09.173+02:00Pardon the InterruptionWe interrupt the regularly scheduled programming for a special anouncement.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN1RshExRqPSH_bITqA-wJy148jW3QOI2yuxhB5llvCayk5rwfrDm8TEVdO3NvlQMUM7oiYz4bOm_D1gd9JSApQfQr1t4tnouCy7RAOgDy201l6nzNL4OEM2zJiig0n7Z3X1BQrc0JG8o0/s1600/IMG_9925.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN1RshExRqPSH_bITqA-wJy148jW3QOI2yuxhB5llvCayk5rwfrDm8TEVdO3NvlQMUM7oiYz4bOm_D1gd9JSApQfQr1t4tnouCy7RAOgDy201l6nzNL4OEM2zJiig0n7Z3X1BQrc0JG8o0/s400/IMG_9925.JPG" width="267" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</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/AVvXsEh0DFLV4pmCB-qHKzFHfza6T660_tXEF3TUYA22oWx83A1TOt05AJMp0j-2lusCz8X64xmY90SXv2fBNxSyUahwkEdecOcP-sE0_9cDKbsLs0QYBm-uBwirlslXe_nE7Sz3pvatptBVBnyC/s1600/IMG_9915.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0DFLV4pmCB-qHKzFHfza6T660_tXEF3TUYA22oWx83A1TOt05AJMp0j-2lusCz8X64xmY90SXv2fBNxSyUahwkEdecOcP-sE0_9cDKbsLs0QYBm-uBwirlslXe_nE7Sz3pvatptBVBnyC/s400/IMG_9915.JPG" width="286" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</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/AVvXsEjRk34xftL3XEM0H_AEImhhpMLzQom6fPqpgifhLOLfACjW2JxPf3DMtUjNcnsFiqdG_buHwT0y6SI2aqfKziEatlweMpo_TCYYnSJ8-7e0_qTbFrzIwXEqmYtk6rV6tkSJ5X5JkIDDCWK_/s1600/IMG_9888.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRk34xftL3XEM0H_AEImhhpMLzQom6fPqpgifhLOLfACjW2JxPf3DMtUjNcnsFiqdG_buHwT0y6SI2aqfKziEatlweMpo_TCYYnSJ8-7e0_qTbFrzIwXEqmYtk6rV6tkSJ5X5JkIDDCWK_/s400/IMG_9888.JPG" width="287" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</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/AVvXsEhVdH5OiVA5dJfOZJkGSgHuREav76VRPRodPK9KxahHZ2WRQAuW65XC8ARS1QmKP3a8tM6nV_89KNEPLPsD-vR0c1Gq9t-XIZLZm6jwKeSFEj6YvhyphenhyphenbA4rkoCy1YYp1FtB9x6HNy4RC6jla/s1600/IMG_9911.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVdH5OiVA5dJfOZJkGSgHuREav76VRPRodPK9KxahHZ2WRQAuW65XC8ARS1QmKP3a8tM6nV_89KNEPLPsD-vR0c1Gq9t-XIZLZm6jwKeSFEj6YvhyphenhyphenbA4rkoCy1YYp1FtB9x6HNy4RC6jla/s400/IMG_9911.JPG" width="286" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwT9pBH4ZThpIj3reVePliHPLlvN2NAoppb-6BVdszh3Ay6DF37o4aVuqc2sRwkHaDs5E4pXw8yn1lDO4x82sSqMarFyrt0bKtKkG6iWEMUJNdYtZLHJ6L7VkHOqeOMhoY6Zc5O2jRUpko/s1600/IMG_9945.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwT9pBH4ZThpIj3reVePliHPLlvN2NAoppb-6BVdszh3Ay6DF37o4aVuqc2sRwkHaDs5E4pXw8yn1lDO4x82sSqMarFyrt0bKtKkG6iWEMUJNdYtZLHJ6L7VkHOqeOMhoY6Zc5O2jRUpko/s400/IMG_9945.JPG" width="267" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzcODN0SPfJ3quvgtXl-IOuOAw-6EjBpGDjlYcAV0zwJxIkI6h2Lf8BzLgIR7r8TFmNtL_AmFIYlcozRSYSra9otHuLMw0PusPwTmMBULrjyGAa7qyHBgYf3TKctYLhlk1_mb452v2_eaS/s1600/IMG_9948.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzcODN0SPfJ3quvgtXl-IOuOAw-6EjBpGDjlYcAV0zwJxIkI6h2Lf8BzLgIR7r8TFmNtL_AmFIYlcozRSYSra9otHuLMw0PusPwTmMBULrjyGAa7qyHBgYf3TKctYLhlk1_mb452v2_eaS/s400/IMG_9948.JPG" width="267" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Happy 70th birthday to a very special great-grandmother! We love you Mama J!!!Frau 'Livy' Langdon.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17222026890712089962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3623555834777184291.post-6408888513070485532010-06-20T12:06:00.000+02:002010-06-20T12:06:39.508+02:00Alghero<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">For our last hurrah, we went to the island of Sardinia off the coast of Italy for a few days of relaxation at the beach. When most people go to Sardinia, they head to the Northeastern side of the island called the 'Emerald Coast', but we prefer a quieter, less touristy, more 'authentic' locale for our beach vacations, which is why we headed to the town of Alghero on the Northwestern side of the island. (And it didn't hurt that the discount airline Ryanair flies there. We are sure going to miss those cheap flights when we leave Germany!!) There is a nice, sandy, strip of beach just outside of the town that was perfect for us to recline on while Penelope explored to her little heart's content (more on that later). </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwNkn9kWpjejseg4L_lJld0wI4DeAQldZY9ecVhNlITPyfCHCy6u3pmqCVCV8KVYA5XGL3oKGno39ptP3CLawQKr5uhuHVobGRVtUtUrkRV98wy4T_upc33bFa0NkdYAr1C4kTlQfJadGl/s1600/IMG_9863.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="427" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwNkn9kWpjejseg4L_lJld0wI4DeAQldZY9ecVhNlITPyfCHCy6u3pmqCVCV8KVYA5XGL3oKGno39ptP3CLawQKr5uhuHVobGRVtUtUrkRV98wy4T_upc33bFa0NkdYAr1C4kTlQfJadGl/s640/IMG_9863.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">While Penelope took a time out from the beach to nap in her crib on wheels, we took advantage of the time and walked around the old town of Alghero. It was nice to take a break from the sand and explore the narrow cobblestone streets and quaint crumbling buildings of the town. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyLQYIOm4i_uifogoVhf_7_Sjvt0iCouSAHaZzRcm_4rNJpGJKt-ZAyeTn3_QGNdL7qWQp_ApxefSoBA5WU5qm9wpbIpt-2xg_1VpyZj_64krUj2kL08PgqWYPqbqVPyKWX8DbFmz_-ldY/s1600/IMG_9333.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyLQYIOm4i_uifogoVhf_7_Sjvt0iCouSAHaZzRcm_4rNJpGJKt-ZAyeTn3_QGNdL7qWQp_ApxefSoBA5WU5qm9wpbIpt-2xg_1VpyZj_64krUj2kL08PgqWYPqbqVPyKWX8DbFmz_-ldY/s400/IMG_9333.JPG" width="267" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We also enjoyed walking around the huge marina and admiring all of the sailboats, yachts and fishing boats floating in the blue water.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3aYPz-EvtOok49eigyWN-NPoL55rsfOnKZppGTpXKxi0RisylhpuQlEvYEhLOhqWYOm2rHVHCLmaGZf8H-zoa19nTdMCURnwLoL6Vu2-HObuWMxlcVQ5Y-xJ6AX7pTL1QSEde8Kclv4vC/s1600/IMG_9303.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3aYPz-EvtOok49eigyWN-NPoL55rsfOnKZppGTpXKxi0RisylhpuQlEvYEhLOhqWYOm2rHVHCLmaGZf8H-zoa19nTdMCURnwLoL6Vu2-HObuWMxlcVQ5Y-xJ6AX7pTL1QSEde8Kclv4vC/s400/IMG_9303.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">The area has been settled since pre-historic times, but in the early 12th century the town was fortified with these huge rock walls and towers since it has such a strategic position in the Mediterranean Sea. Most of the walls and towers are still intact, and they were our favorite part of the city to take a stroll.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZWPFtKwAjKH6FJ0urpX-JyJfyWKzEUv8GZhvAOha3AMcf4bDTHBG9Sv0MeZJ-y5i693-ihgyIuPRnAvFphiin5pi5XoCW661zYo_NTb2vAahqVUlVtKael-2VwPPDdzIfgUQazEA2KA3B/s1600/IMG_9326.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZWPFtKwAjKH6FJ0urpX-JyJfyWKzEUv8GZhvAOha3AMcf4bDTHBG9Sv0MeZJ-y5i693-ihgyIuPRnAvFphiin5pi5XoCW661zYo_NTb2vAahqVUlVtKael-2VwPPDdzIfgUQazEA2KA3B/s400/IMG_9326.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Here is one of the towers built into the wall.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv1gxYyQ2Zxc9PCdElI53HRK1R9rcrGf_dqL07k6HVWJbC7f-cKEJstFZ1P3HQRnzqZayYWxA28ie1bti1OpRJSInvJubYmmF01A5mURoOAtVbb9jww_2UdM61s5WKL8Y5KaXd0wRh50dk/s1600/IMG_9332.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv1gxYyQ2Zxc9PCdElI53HRK1R9rcrGf_dqL07k6HVWJbC7f-cKEJstFZ1P3HQRnzqZayYWxA28ie1bti1OpRJSInvJubYmmF01A5mURoOAtVbb9jww_2UdM61s5WKL8Y5KaXd0wRh50dk/s400/IMG_9332.JPG" width="267" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
The narrow streets were fairly quiet and residential, but every so often you came across a hidden piazza that was bustling with cafes and gelaterias or a main street filled with clothing and jewerly shops, especially ones selling the coral jewelry that the city is famous for.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGjJXSZcf08I5tiIqNJ-RRE3aBfMRGCbfVgf9-eX0BuyPU7Iuguccqs1q1ny0sMuIUNMK48bH-meTIZlq3Uahh6vBsWvehMZsW4xeiWSbmcyT-kMXVDwG7umK6vfxolAWptWliVLXuMIXI/s1600/IMG_9319.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGjJXSZcf08I5tiIqNJ-RRE3aBfMRGCbfVgf9-eX0BuyPU7Iuguccqs1q1ny0sMuIUNMK48bH-meTIZlq3Uahh6vBsWvehMZsW4xeiWSbmcyT-kMXVDwG7umK6vfxolAWptWliVLXuMIXI/s400/IMG_9319.JPG" width="267" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Only in Italy would you call buildings with peeling shutters and stucco in need of repair 'quaint'.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-5H7pgFK712AdSLF71GVdB-dKCvW96CTo9Z_enOVLxjcgwmRaHM-ERHCd34SDvLNecC-Hs-s0RyjVZaunOGrKv-DRwIZH2fF0mzghyphenhyphenbmZRek_mkHuHCO3w8p04hFbAOZXCyTck_yjenxt/s1600/IMG_9447.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-5H7pgFK712AdSLF71GVdB-dKCvW96CTo9Z_enOVLxjcgwmRaHM-ERHCd34SDvLNecC-Hs-s0RyjVZaunOGrKv-DRwIZH2fF0mzghyphenhyphenbmZRek_mkHuHCO3w8p04hFbAOZXCyTck_yjenxt/s400/IMG_9447.JPG" width="267" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">The best part of the city is this strip of the wall that overlooks the sea.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl-xX9b4Ssfv1Sj73yNO4K17yUsyHUEvLUq2bCqoxjnJJW_MFk9EmhqRglCpPs9H46aPM_mXT1vVGC7uPq2N_6fVWiFcvs6fsELtviSxGsWLiZVTSxWMznRe9KfXKPP2EpD3GcPiuV651W/s1600/IMG_9434.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl-xX9b4Ssfv1Sj73yNO4K17yUsyHUEvLUq2bCqoxjnJJW_MFk9EmhqRglCpPs9H46aPM_mXT1vVGC7uPq2N_6fVWiFcvs6fsELtviSxGsWLiZVTSxWMznRe9KfXKPP2EpD3GcPiuV651W/s400/IMG_9434.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">The views down to the rocks below and out to the cliffs of Cappo Caccia across are amazing.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiNcWdlNIZaENNXg6ZxLqwM7b_OolVURqKTWbp5GCwJl5IdIJXW-Rfit3HqvZ8oFBFHwMU82CHspRPqyCsoYWx82BoY5sel4UUWvWhrvPrm9fEbReXN0kcm5edjNg1zDyC0Fc_GRQrrW8S/s1600/IMG_9391.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="286" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiNcWdlNIZaENNXg6ZxLqwM7b_OolVURqKTWbp5GCwJl5IdIJXW-Rfit3HqvZ8oFBFHwMU82CHspRPqyCsoYWx82BoY5sel4UUWvWhrvPrm9fEbReXN0kcm5edjNg1zDyC0Fc_GRQrrW8S/s400/IMG_9391.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</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/AVvXsEhbUjlwSZA6ObVEwAXbSTpc8KRSZgo5TmopXpMhovbToDA7Ke60VxoFZkW60aQFjAB83bYRP1XsS1wKoS_cu3GvISWGpcaHcFR2f33AN0RuNmcGoxzqAX96yVG-wBYxmI4KF0qGjsidquPP/s1600/IMG_9628.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="286" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbUjlwSZA6ObVEwAXbSTpc8KRSZgo5TmopXpMhovbToDA7Ke60VxoFZkW60aQFjAB83bYRP1XsS1wKoS_cu3GvISWGpcaHcFR2f33AN0RuNmcGoxzqAX96yVG-wBYxmI4KF0qGjsidquPP/s400/IMG_9628.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Looks like little P is awake and ready to go back to the beach!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcGlAvEz-xfWmF8mY8FQhEIOKEn6BdHwwR8J_os8M6-cMV4WjeVkkvw5oRQImv-w97Rc854dkNjBfpJXtZG3e02Fcy2jkPKfauG5fM0pirdqD5kPsIy4sowayWn_XKuCSE8S9Rb8Fk4CEQ/s1600/IMG_9356.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcGlAvEz-xfWmF8mY8FQhEIOKEn6BdHwwR8J_os8M6-cMV4WjeVkkvw5oRQImv-w97Rc854dkNjBfpJXtZG3e02Fcy2jkPKfauG5fM0pirdqD5kPsIy4sowayWn_XKuCSE8S9Rb8Fk4CEQ/s400/IMG_9356.JPG" width="286" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">When evening hits, this part of the city comes alive with people dining outside at the many cafes. You couldn't ask for a better view to go with your dinner! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWmz6EXWDteO0DLaNRUqusRx7f83pJ4Vz98-pt73iNj5WpKZ4GefIsJu7l9excPPioZFI6hpH57ns788ZfZcDdqPROFH-O8kQj5N-z3Le5prYUbvzmumA23qDBTQgz1q2vuFhcr9jnrggc/s1600/IMG_9600.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="427" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWmz6EXWDteO0DLaNRUqusRx7f83pJ4Vz98-pt73iNj5WpKZ4GefIsJu7l9excPPioZFI6hpH57ns788ZfZcDdqPROFH-O8kQj5N-z3Le5prYUbvzmumA23qDBTQgz1q2vuFhcr9jnrggc/s640/IMG_9600.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">We ate at a small Osteria there one night. The area specializes in seafood (of course!), so I bravely tried one of their local specialties. It involved pasta with a huge red type of shrimp I'd never before encountered with olive oil and tons of dried caviar sprinkled on top. I'll admit that I had a hard time getting over the fact that the shrimp were served simply cut in half (heads with long antennas and then the legs and tails part) buried in the pasta. I certainly wasn't going to eat the heads, and by the time I peeled off all legs and tails my pasta was so littered with shrimp parts that it wasn't very appetizing. But if that's your thing, go for it! </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/AVvXsEg2mjZ1oSBfnf4qU4t9LQ_M1vw1jPf6aA9UUrgDjk9NE_93yZBtq3YAna7mX2s8yKAHlXXl9CByCTwKZtJyFBYo6lN0dTr0LcpFEr0PgvdGKpdwVUu8g5-MoVD2agmyAicJ2ebhG02JrwTw/s1600/IMG_9618.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2mjZ1oSBfnf4qU4t9LQ_M1vw1jPf6aA9UUrgDjk9NE_93yZBtq3YAna7mX2s8yKAHlXXl9CByCTwKZtJyFBYo6lN0dTr0LcpFEr0PgvdGKpdwVUu8g5-MoVD2agmyAicJ2ebhG02JrwTw/s400/IMG_9618.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The wall across from our table provided Penelope with some amusement while we finished eating, and it was apparently the perfect spot for a bedtime story.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">After dinner we met the only American family we encountered during our entire stay in Alghero. They had been coming to that same area for a summer vacation for over ten years. That showed us that we had indeed stumbled upon a pretty special vacation spot. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIh9Kinfpr4LTnmWB8QqEoXqw96XnmC-0CfojcAljRmukhGSPY4xzqCSjt0CpqsClYbcrQWtvg-Krh7myzn4WwuenS-YTK7kUETEIKYXCG-simIanGF7dsGGi91DbeafoJjkTUyQAhcuVg/s1600/IMG_9602.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIh9Kinfpr4LTnmWB8QqEoXqw96XnmC-0CfojcAljRmukhGSPY4xzqCSjt0CpqsClYbcrQWtvg-Krh7myzn4WwuenS-YTK7kUETEIKYXCG-simIanGF7dsGGi91DbeafoJjkTUyQAhcuVg/s400/IMG_9602.JPG" width="267" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Sunset at the city's edge.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi42b0tfE4IEBjlAb6E-iDkgkXhxkW74L9oJaw3Zs2juKkIor1NIXP_AYmJ8TkyeRAgi7yNRuMlj8Bk6W6AmYwZ9YSgxzFoGW8_MnAzuQcXKpKOzL9rwKrHOzyzCDY1urvwsoBaqa1DzhJu/s1600/IMG_9592.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi42b0tfE4IEBjlAb6E-iDkgkXhxkW74L9oJaw3Zs2juKkIor1NIXP_AYmJ8TkyeRAgi7yNRuMlj8Bk6W6AmYwZ9YSgxzFoGW8_MnAzuQcXKpKOzL9rwKrHOzyzCDY1urvwsoBaqa1DzhJu/s400/IMG_9592.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Frau 'Livy' Langdon.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17222026890712089962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3623555834777184291.post-40893922433908840572010-06-18T12:54:00.000+02:002010-06-18T12:54:53.131+02:00Up on a Sardinian Wall<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOaNbyW-DyrUwcjqdAHPWxudWSMOGYSNJ7Tm0sgEb94L7nMwMIZDAJ5hX5alxpYyg1esykIm3Yu6N3HTxmtAQUyCLNLMEuIYPKbFeipGClkhPGMe21p2Z7LWgqK8SR0tVWHEsjUEbi8b-l/s1600/IMG_9342.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOaNbyW-DyrUwcjqdAHPWxudWSMOGYSNJ7Tm0sgEb94L7nMwMIZDAJ5hX5alxpYyg1esykIm3Yu6N3HTxmtAQUyCLNLMEuIYPKbFeipGClkhPGMe21p2Z7LWgqK8SR0tVWHEsjUEbi8b-l/s640/IMG_9342.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">We arrived back from Alghero, Sardinia (a.k.a. big island off the coast of Italy) late last night full of sand, sunburns, photos, and great memories from a fun-filled few days at the beach. I've got tons of pictures and stories to share with you soon, but in the meantime here are a few pics from the top of the old wall surrounding the city of Alghero. It's definitely not the safest place to perch your toddler on top of, but it made for some excellent photos and some even better views. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7-rTPK-MSJQ6zzEQ6sKbc4CbWE401rOz1ESjXviKH1CtK4N4N561O-ZcFQ1OgqVqNzc-B6Sad8vfoo5eCc-3iZCytFhEo9IMzLWcHBwexmfRRJbMNq-H1vFXO5yXrSc-0MZNrVml-cWk6/s1600/IMG_9385.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="286" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7-rTPK-MSJQ6zzEQ6sKbc4CbWE401rOz1ESjXviKH1CtK4N4N561O-ZcFQ1OgqVqNzc-B6Sad8vfoo5eCc-3iZCytFhEo9IMzLWcHBwexmfRRJbMNq-H1vFXO5yXrSc-0MZNrVml-cWk6/s400/IMG_9385.JPG" width="400" /></a></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/AVvXsEiGsUru9mMh5QJFPf6dEqlOFQ5fByewb21D5TV5i51o6ZhyphenhyphenlZipMSiJOxEXOMg7hooDt34gzygyDEPl3eYUak9-5jVmEV6Tw5I8Xc6kKcWk5mI9q2yOt_g36D-n_TjxPdbdVmJwWwzovYpV/s1600/IMG_9370.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="286" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGsUru9mMh5QJFPf6dEqlOFQ5fByewb21D5TV5i51o6ZhyphenhyphenlZipMSiJOxEXOMg7hooDt34gzygyDEPl3eYUak9-5jVmEV6Tw5I8Xc6kKcWk5mI9q2yOt_g36D-n_TjxPdbdVmJwWwzovYpV/s400/IMG_9370.JPG" width="400" /></a></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/AVvXsEghPi-UAUQNy8DYgItaF0mI9PeMBpH26ybL6TKG5zzlDeI7iUpbV17c395Nthdjkh6nE5g2XJptn1tyf0A5h3034J1zraFHb87XWcTxYKQfbJDyOBb98zWBibgyvjuynS2ZaHEdGPgIOOkH/s1600/IMG_9410.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="286" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghPi-UAUQNy8DYgItaF0mI9PeMBpH26ybL6TKG5zzlDeI7iUpbV17c395Nthdjkh6nE5g2XJptn1tyf0A5h3034J1zraFHb87XWcTxYKQfbJDyOBb98zWBibgyvjuynS2ZaHEdGPgIOOkH/s400/IMG_9410.JPG" width="400" /></a></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/AVvXsEgpi6GcJ0JcDD-kuTDRlUb-S8CF23lPMjGBv1O6cRe1fimqJHj2OsoicSQmzz9NeiGC3577l-r0fF1FKW26JyO2Pub1ltlfzHQuvko8abIeHmrYK8UJqmCqttq3VrepotkyEyBsyxpjcMK7/s1600/IMG_9361.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpi6GcJ0JcDD-kuTDRlUb-S8CF23lPMjGBv1O6cRe1fimqJHj2OsoicSQmzz9NeiGC3577l-r0fF1FKW26JyO2Pub1ltlfzHQuvko8abIeHmrYK8UJqmCqttq3VrepotkyEyBsyxpjcMK7/s400/IMG_9361.JPG" width="400" /></a></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/AVvXsEgVCHeRAkE42lsyJcqJejrCUJeHN14SPDdTTR9F5mFO91yHaAAqhto3fqOErzTCX2Yx8K4PZfxWGliGKB99-JxfBvBLuNZ4m5vsp9mE65mnAyg-xlG7aWdvk6PdV5Gz1kbnNYdqO56Pacxp/s1600/IMG_9411.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVCHeRAkE42lsyJcqJejrCUJeHN14SPDdTTR9F5mFO91yHaAAqhto3fqOErzTCX2Yx8K4PZfxWGliGKB99-JxfBvBLuNZ4m5vsp9mE65mnAyg-xlG7aWdvk6PdV5Gz1kbnNYdqO56Pacxp/s400/IMG_9411.JPG" width="267" /></a></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/AVvXsEgpAKh5okW9fiPS-i534RsXhqDOa1_kdKG3Qu36vd6uARz-vzNxdyz8ls8sTiNgZ41Txr_32sqkXCCaSpBDMJXNc0F3Dd0fwH4T7JOcLbTUZMgCM1Sky_JO2W8oaU5BwpUrzdOzbVpeN5p8/s1600/IMG_9417.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpAKh5okW9fiPS-i534RsXhqDOa1_kdKG3Qu36vd6uARz-vzNxdyz8ls8sTiNgZ41Txr_32sqkXCCaSpBDMJXNc0F3Dd0fwH4T7JOcLbTUZMgCM1Sky_JO2W8oaU5BwpUrzdOzbVpeN5p8/s400/IMG_9417.JPG" width="285" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">back on the ground, safe and sound</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCyzTcy3K-IZCQPCdb6DD9DSb_jdleAVPFDLLo9EF0d2XrWUiYPf0QRVw6mJZHpewu12xCfSTDGQ1uAqchILVAoRj5luuapyZ-Y5ZY7LD2_pVnkVEdkQSAPb0Xou64lwwuN_dLnlCWND-8/s1600/IMG_9441.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCyzTcy3K-IZCQPCdb6DD9DSb_jdleAVPFDLLo9EF0d2XrWUiYPf0QRVw6mJZHpewu12xCfSTDGQ1uAqchILVAoRj5luuapyZ-Y5ZY7LD2_pVnkVEdkQSAPb0Xou64lwwuN_dLnlCWND-8/s400/IMG_9441.JPG" width="267" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">more to follow soon...</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf0Zl1psjZXk9OpXDYP0Am7s2YwN92BBnjRRuHL48ZOtwfFD8kBpDNxRUOfLVZjo7yQzmcmUKkorLUPx69ta0l7njAgwHuhgWQiZi4gwU6EogpzxhxEtV_ljMB_RE617S0hmM1qnTKuGdQ/s1600/IMG_9446.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="427" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf0Zl1psjZXk9OpXDYP0Am7s2YwN92BBnjRRuHL48ZOtwfFD8kBpDNxRUOfLVZjo7yQzmcmUKkorLUPx69ta0l7njAgwHuhgWQiZi4gwU6EogpzxhxEtV_ljMB_RE617S0hmM1qnTKuGdQ/s640/IMG_9446.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>Frau 'Livy' Langdon.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17222026890712089962noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3623555834777184291.post-7052838333655585692010-06-13T18:16:00.001+02:002010-06-13T18:17:49.324+02:00There was a little girl...with a little curl <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ7Vg-j-F92h7edkHGETbNZM_ifMH9PtlThNc-N6yeSKBbjTk_i2O4OObcbd53SOFqlevc1AZHkjIUew92gv13qZFx7_PnM3k9-wHWX2HjXiEEjt60WFqRCJ0_Q3bAHL6jeM1HEiUWWxpQ/s1600/IMG_8964.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ7Vg-j-F92h7edkHGETbNZM_ifMH9PtlThNc-N6yeSKBbjTk_i2O4OObcbd53SOFqlevc1AZHkjIUew92gv13qZFx7_PnM3k9-wHWX2HjXiEEjt60WFqRCJ0_Q3bAHL6jeM1HEiUWWxpQ/s640/IMG_8964.JPG" width="458" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
or, make that three,<br />
<br />
and when she was good, she was very very good<br />
<br />
but when she was bad....<br />
<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXKsQaoNkK89L7xUxa03aouoBEDrEU9rLjLQ6QUlG_E8H0hiEhxxr88MGuD1XX92GUcJA8e5VOLP9yh7Hgsv0JQ7Wi5KRW_sa6GmfIjNSAxqwPBSz43WC0xj6jGmbpJk-5M76uhc4yWW3D/s1600/IMG_8971.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXKsQaoNkK89L7xUxa03aouoBEDrEU9rLjLQ6QUlG_E8H0hiEhxxr88MGuD1XX92GUcJA8e5VOLP9yh7Hgsv0JQ7Wi5KRW_sa6GmfIjNSAxqwPBSz43WC0xj6jGmbpJk-5M76uhc4yWW3D/s640/IMG_8971.JPG" width="456" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">watch out!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"></div>Frau 'Livy' Langdon.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17222026890712089962noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3623555834777184291.post-13462744388285322982010-06-10T16:32:00.000+02:002010-06-10T16:32:04.257+02:00Dachau<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Dachau is a nice little town just outside of Munich that has been forever tainted by the concentration camp that was located on the edge of it. <br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"> <em>entrance to the camp</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJDU3TslBOEt3WbsUOMaRqdQfU0yR3iFXabmxkUu1mxiH_QXKmx3_FvCaMj_qc9oSuHKyEFtXDL1npRwXxr6r8UWidFAlat7oPzRlrQ-Sim2TBlIdLL9YjUKS3d9XOinM4Att2bfHGLqci/s1600/IMG_5569.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJDU3TslBOEt3WbsUOMaRqdQfU0yR3iFXabmxkUu1mxiH_QXKmx3_FvCaMj_qc9oSuHKyEFtXDL1npRwXxr6r8UWidFAlat7oPzRlrQ-Sim2TBlIdLL9YjUKS3d9XOinM4Att2bfHGLqci/s400/IMG_5569.JPG" width="267" /></a></div><br />
It was built in 1933 as the first concentration camp and used mainly as a labor camp for political prisoners. Compared to an extermination camp like the notorious Auschwitz where over 1 million prisoners were killed, there were a still impressive yet much smaller 32,000 killed at Dachau.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><em>famous gate "work makes you free," later adopted by other concentration camps</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirAl7H22kE4kW-OyvOFFYUmKpaIxhGfHztdIUbJRW0rYak0C_nKiZYdsK16gHKEEPFIjWGRsl0G20ZlnT4vZubTNA55dco0cZQlBqr_v_nkWWL_c0vTve8iAL5QhmdJyMGUwHs4Z8PtbuC/s1600/IMG_5558.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirAl7H22kE4kW-OyvOFFYUmKpaIxhGfHztdIUbJRW0rYak0C_nKiZYdsK16gHKEEPFIjWGRsl0G20ZlnT4vZubTNA55dco0cZQlBqr_v_nkWWL_c0vTve8iAL5QhmdJyMGUwHs4Z8PtbuC/s400/IMG_5558.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
What makes Dachau so important is that it was where the people who ran the entire concentration camp system were trained. Most of the cruel innovations for Hitler's mass killing originated at Dachau.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha4Iyg13p37UZHb5n5Ix36CI0TK7FspXQ3zAonNHXaDpoizllvw8745bkm4sxgWJlblICP0XgspKHhKct4zNbiOpOroPoy1WbiluYqtsCDI1JBWa7HKnu6dxxxQzyCLE-2MT_XntQUjYX7/s1600/IMG_5564.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha4Iyg13p37UZHb5n5Ix36CI0TK7FspXQ3zAonNHXaDpoizllvw8745bkm4sxgWJlblICP0XgspKHhKct4zNbiOpOroPoy1WbiluYqtsCDI1JBWa7HKnu6dxxxQzyCLE-2MT_XntQUjYX7/s400/IMG_5564.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
The Father and I first visited Dachau back in March at the end of our epic two week trip to <a href="http://trampsabroad2009.blogspot.com/2010/03/and-were-off.html">Nuremberg</a>, <a href="http://trampsabroad2009.blogspot.com/2010/03/berlin-part-eins.html">Berlin</a>, <a href="http://trampsabroad2009.blogspot.com/2010/04/oh-lovely-dresden.html">Dresden,</a> <a href="http://trampsabroad2009.blogspot.com/2010/04/prague-pilsners-trdlo-and-chipsys.html">Prague</a> and <a href="http://trampsabroad2009.blogspot.com/2010/04/munich.html">Munich</a>. It was an awfully cold, freezing rain sort of day. I visited it again with my mother or our way back from Oberammergau last week. This time it was also cold and rainy. But perhaps the terrible weather is a fitting setting for the solemn, ugly place that the Dachau concentration camp is.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><em>Grandma and Penelope in the middle of the roll call area</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4GGvmBUTyRVmAbFTZcwRTw6ol7G3o5vhAeQYnBVjrebbLPzOIO3d8bOmJMFFi0EXIGgK7EhXLvfQ6Xlk5QdBBSgeOzPsfUJ8q1a4jo5octXhv7nbMAfIQ3DTPcrehs-XyRhyphenhypheni_rG-8LvW/s1600/IMG_8818.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4GGvmBUTyRVmAbFTZcwRTw6ol7G3o5vhAeQYnBVjrebbLPzOIO3d8bOmJMFFi0EXIGgK7EhXLvfQ6Xlk5QdBBSgeOzPsfUJ8q1a4jo5octXhv7nbMAfIQ3DTPcrehs-XyRhyphenhypheni_rG-8LvW/s400/IMG_8818.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
The first time we went we just used the audio guides provided at the camp which were mediocre, but the second time we went with a personal guide from Munich Walking Tours. (Only 2 private guide companies are allowed to guide inside the camp due to the sensitive nature of the tour.) It was a long tour (over 4 hours), but the guide was amazing and provided tons of helpful background info. Thankfully Penelope slept for over half of that!<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><em>old train tracks leading to the entrance to the camp; old ammunition factory and former S.S. offices behind</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOjwa_6tnUk5lJUB18O3PAMBrhLAhk_voitYp5pYYkO1w8KIcU31mnvx8ClAj0K04GbDDgxs2hWi6nPQ_1qLZn1bmj59cx-JadHb1YATRKCPOpNDkfoQhMG80E-JDrVH80xyY82Whw8JZS/s1600/IMG_5546.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOjwa_6tnUk5lJUB18O3PAMBrhLAhk_voitYp5pYYkO1w8KIcU31mnvx8ClAj0K04GbDDgxs2hWi6nPQ_1qLZn1bmj59cx-JadHb1YATRKCPOpNDkfoQhMG80E-JDrVH80xyY82Whw8JZS/s400/IMG_5546.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">When we first arrived in Germany almost a year ago, we were surpirsed that there was practically no mention of WWII or Hitler around. We quickly learned that it was a taboo topic. Besides the Nazi rally grounds we visited in Nuremberg and the Holocaust memorial in Berlin, this was the only blatant proof of WWII that we've encountered. While we were at the camp we learned that every German student and military personnel is required to visit Dachau or another concentration camp, and both times I went the place was swarming with military officers.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>memorial to the prisoners killed at Dachau</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6SWOL9E9_dQukoOuQnqnrQPj4kFvKlvtjZFnXur_SPCc6DIizbWJAU9b47ijoBiMBah-20xD9YbFaW9r0Zlc2ABRh0oCRql9XK0kby4aL6iNiLT9b6r8Uyyfhgxk1M3GUsixNBrh63C79/s1600/IMG_8811.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6SWOL9E9_dQukoOuQnqnrQPj4kFvKlvtjZFnXur_SPCc6DIizbWJAU9b47ijoBiMBah-20xD9YbFaW9r0Zlc2ABRh0oCRql9XK0kby4aL6iNiLT9b6r8Uyyfhgxk1M3GUsixNBrh63C79/s400/IMG_8811.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Many of the buildings, like the bunkers, at Dachau are reconstructions as they were torn down after the war when it became a refugee camp. The main building where the prisoner registration took place is mostly original. Now it houses a museum about the camp and a movie with footage of how it looked when the villagers discovered it after the war. The footage is gruesome and difficult to watch.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>the room where the prisoners were registered and stripped of all their identity</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbwo963alnU-yCvLrDWE6kTL4n7MSVlhYuCLNAmrrSnkSjQD6oydFfkq6TkFzIWc5lhQFbYRJx5t0OuFDadT86Eko_1yEteTMQw65ziKCgCC1i0TSd7d-DwOU_WlJwTOomGg3i8TkoRuQy/s1600/IMG_5573.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbwo963alnU-yCvLrDWE6kTL4n7MSVlhYuCLNAmrrSnkSjQD6oydFfkq6TkFzIWc5lhQFbYRJx5t0OuFDadT86Eko_1yEteTMQw65ziKCgCC1i0TSd7d-DwOU_WlJwTOomGg3i8TkoRuQy/s400/IMG_5573.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It's unbelievable to imagine that the inhabitants of Dachau had no idea what was taking place right in their backyard. The outside of the camp of was lined with trees and there was a mile zone around the camp that no villager was allowed to penetrate. After the war, the Dachau residents were forced to come see the camp and then help dig graves and bury all of the dead left behind.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>the two reconstruced bunkers</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-3csQmH7hyphenhyphen-hjTJT4O5sPEbN04fZB3vj6VrkFquiggaYOnq2G7iAemmbneqzFkyYtu7jVDnQpNjhCsmTjzhaKSAShmNhuYRG7wP0q3AWtmOrtGKfqK7gaV4XS7URcviQ3hcl71Ey87wXw/s1600/IMG_8809.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-3csQmH7hyphenhyphen-hjTJT4O5sPEbN04fZB3vj6VrkFquiggaYOnq2G7iAemmbneqzFkyYtu7jVDnQpNjhCsmTjzhaKSAShmNhuYRG7wP0q3AWtmOrtGKfqK7gaV4XS7URcviQ3hcl71Ey87wXw/s400/IMG_8809.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Dachau is also known for the ghastly medical experiments that were conducted on the prisoners at the camp by Dr. Sigmund Rascher, mostly concerning hypothermia. The first three bunkers at one point were dedicated to medical experiments.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>inside the reconstructed bunker looking out to the foundations of the other bunkers at the camp</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK1guRrTVhwno16YO6dylkubOhDAqm6uwQRuArYsEAhuxqraM3IcK3xbyH3oRMVEl443UAGuDjU49p4VMH0fXN2z0XgaMbQAoEEO0JxP7Wv35fVG9G_8nGTtjQBg37ex78F5UWiZxGgEQ2/s1600/IMG_8812.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK1guRrTVhwno16YO6dylkubOhDAqm6uwQRuArYsEAhuxqraM3IcK3xbyH3oRMVEl443UAGuDjU49p4VMH0fXN2z0XgaMbQAoEEO0JxP7Wv35fVG9G_8nGTtjQBg37ex78F5UWiZxGgEQ2/s400/IMG_8812.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">When Dachau was first built in 1933 the living conditions were difficult but not terrible. The prisoners had their own bed and locker, they had some food, and the work centered around working in the factory or the construction of the camp buildings. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>bunks when the camp first opened</em></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhagHaNFltMkfP4HpFDfOnUw2-ZcHxq92SBPY3PQt2xqMJmE3XMhIH6q-X58lxW5Yay6o8KWWoX2575ngZCu4RToTpvzuW7ygV7CRXv_l3ddJDE9yw5T6-CDrdJlGx4h4p7qkmC6xlN1VZ-/s1600/IMG_5596.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhagHaNFltMkfP4HpFDfOnUw2-ZcHxq92SBPY3PQt2xqMJmE3XMhIH6q-X58lxW5Yay6o8KWWoX2575ngZCu4RToTpvzuW7ygV7CRXv_l3ddJDE9yw5T6-CDrdJlGx4h4p7qkmC6xlN1VZ-/s400/IMG_5596.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Quickly, however, the conditions went from bad to abysmal as it became increasingly overcrowded. There was little to no food, the work was back-breaking and non-sensical (moving piles of rocks back and forth), the punishments were crueler, and there were typhus outbreaks. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>bunks in 1944</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzf3OeTshKil7TSv5biciwN_8FBG_bZLhiP7YLv4cx2U6aSoYLVd8pL1Skr8_aGFn_8ug8M7KkdQ1Yg2YDKvzxJ4HR0G6Tl7QhyphenhyphenvhE-wXAIUpkbeD_NC-gCmvkcXD_jO6Gt6ccBOCCXOh1/s1600/IMG_8816.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzf3OeTshKil7TSv5biciwN_8FBG_bZLhiP7YLv4cx2U6aSoYLVd8pL1Skr8_aGFn_8ug8M7KkdQ1Yg2YDKvzxJ4HR0G6Tl7QhyphenhyphenvhE-wXAIUpkbeD_NC-gCmvkcXD_jO6Gt6ccBOCCXOh1/s400/IMG_8816.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The prisoners were forced to keep their bunkhouse in a pristine state of order and cleanliness or face punishment. When they weren't standing at attention for long periods of time for roll call or laboring long hours outside, they were scrubbing the floors and windows of their bunkhouse several times a day for fear of harsh punishment.</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/AVvXsEgJ-btN03gYmswxPh_KUPP_5-y-1aONWk4_6554tHBs3LuR39ZAVSPCnd7K-7sGa0AG1wSNDL0BpEvRNJSGUK9x2V1Ph9Awtgj-wgG3Nn5uF7263_c8VVbVHTYrin1bjKSCWDhXUX7VUWws/s1600/IMG_8815.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ-btN03gYmswxPh_KUPP_5-y-1aONWk4_6554tHBs3LuR39ZAVSPCnd7K-7sGa0AG1wSNDL0BpEvRNJSGUK9x2V1Ph9Awtgj-wgG3Nn5uF7263_c8VVbVHTYrin1bjKSCWDhXUX7VUWws/s400/IMG_8815.JPG" width="267" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The people who were put in charge at the camp as prison guards were from the dregs of society, illiterate and often former criminals themselves. They were trained to see the prisoners as sub-human, making it all the easier to inflict harsh punishments and torture the prisoners. They came up with hundreds of ways the prisoners could be punished. You could be punished for your shoes being too dirty (you didn't clean them) or for your shoes being too clean (you didn't do your work).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>multiple layers of defense</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj005nUrwacBawC3oY4_e121awg1HfzdpIVUWYt1JhSt2gOKO1rXwR6RxeCspeiAR_uRB4bLW-yLIE3Kc3b_s0zOIH34V1VX81qIp0FwPABVIHVip6cQsfrxo_g6sEbWdudEnQC_XVY2M8r/s1600/IMG_5617.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj005nUrwacBawC3oY4_e121awg1HfzdpIVUWYt1JhSt2gOKO1rXwR6RxeCspeiAR_uRB4bLW-yLIE3Kc3b_s0zOIH34V1VX81qIp0FwPABVIHVip6cQsfrxo_g6sEbWdudEnQC_XVY2M8r/s400/IMG_5617.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>crossing over to the crematorium</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir_8PWRK_dukd8-iaJ23-y97eZ8KUOCaISDpnhxK8Lp7MFWvnlep_KPGbVBcGyJWFQE6asNyfXGod8KYnr8r_SeXd1ecswFVhPQZBgjjRGpAUK8Kyxz6TbKOf3KsV02Be37RvFx7Ytfd3R/s1600/IMG_5615.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir_8PWRK_dukd8-iaJ23-y97eZ8KUOCaISDpnhxK8Lp7MFWvnlep_KPGbVBcGyJWFQE6asNyfXGod8KYnr8r_SeXd1ecswFVhPQZBgjjRGpAUK8Kyxz6TbKOf3KsV02Be37RvFx7Ytfd3R/s400/IMG_5615.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The crematorium was located at the edge of the camp and surrounded by trees to keep it hidden from view. During the first few years the camp existed, most prisoner deaths were due to overexhaustion.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>the old crematorium</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSWi8Xg6QZ0SM0YNSaqjMRaclx-YxQfTv8lCiS2DfhzSO5OI5ttbE0w3cThQzLszu2au_ZVNVxP9_rwCHGpx2IkW2WT_BMNyL_JnGUuAEhr01Iqg5qSfXy_g5Pqb5-Mz2M2sv4wgGxezHr/s1600/IMG_5643.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSWi8Xg6QZ0SM0YNSaqjMRaclx-YxQfTv8lCiS2DfhzSO5OI5ttbE0w3cThQzLszu2au_ZVNVxP9_rwCHGpx2IkW2WT_BMNyL_JnGUuAEhr01Iqg5qSfXy_g5Pqb5-Mz2M2sv4wgGxezHr/s400/IMG_5643.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Later on, when the conditions of the camp grew worse due to overcrowding, most of the prisoners died from typhus outbreaks, malnutrtion as well as exhaustion. While Dachau was open from 1933-1945 over 32,000 prisoners died, but almost half of those deaths occured during the last couple of years of operation. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>the much larger new crematorium</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9Wk-C6AVKi3VPzJgeBAGtjYt2KWVtajuQX_HVcy1B2XkF-J5_Fqa74D3qKwnM_of9CrcZbkh0vvPVzvk9muX1S9mdBnohM5qcrvYSEPMz40JwtQ35maYSeIKhe5pcKl9xxTBSmUs2Fk2V/s1600/IMG_5621.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9Wk-C6AVKi3VPzJgeBAGtjYt2KWVtajuQX_HVcy1B2XkF-J5_Fqa74D3qKwnM_of9CrcZbkh0vvPVzvk9muX1S9mdBnohM5qcrvYSEPMz40JwtQ35maYSeIKhe5pcKl9xxTBSmUs2Fk2V/s400/IMG_5621.JPG" width="286" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The new, larger crematorium had a disinfection room and a shower room (a.k.a. gas chamber), but there is no evidence that it was ever used for mass killings like those at Auschwitz. It is thought to have been used on a more experimental basis, and then as a model to go by at the extermination camps.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>the "showers"</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy0cn4j5IiPSPBO9V6YvFwFqLtwRvO5TOwdhrAQFHXLUTVwjvQw1w7xlpm71sB7SNhHC3wwEINvix6d53q9bWQSZoyFufrBrWw4SoLO8ss12HMZXYKsU9AtOjotVohGw9D4-Q-O63q7tOh/s1600/IMG_5638.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy0cn4j5IiPSPBO9V6YvFwFqLtwRvO5TOwdhrAQFHXLUTVwjvQw1w7xlpm71sB7SNhHC3wwEINvix6d53q9bWQSZoyFufrBrWw4SoLO8ss12HMZXYKsU9AtOjotVohGw9D4-Q-O63q7tOh/s400/IMG_5638.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I can't begin to describe how eerie it was to walk into the gas chamber and peer into the ovens used for cremation.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>the ovens next door</em><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5oarRmCOqsyPE9tK3q51ArG20Yl97dkBQ7nYxVmSjQfXNxafYegZADV58MKsYcYvERblVt2E2SWywd1M6onL_01fKOoC6pMwCPBS_Lpk-wBLsBSfiih9sIxKmM9tP3VsnhjOFiqgqOUR5/s1600/IMG_5635.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5oarRmCOqsyPE9tK3q51ArG20Yl97dkBQ7nYxVmSjQfXNxafYegZADV58MKsYcYvERblVt2E2SWywd1M6onL_01fKOoC6pMwCPBS_Lpk-wBLsBSfiih9sIxKmM9tP3VsnhjOFiqgqOUR5/s400/IMG_5635.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">Both visits to Dachau were very somber and a bit unnerving, but I am glad that this type of memorial exists. I hope that people continue to learn from the atrocities that were committed here and at other camps so that our society doesn't go down that dark path again.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV4RKzYjoVHCfrD2QDOlOx4pVQtittlOWVo91U9i4yLbyUkMYAwfFzpDzA-cztji4WUPRsVtSj26bW2Vf7UzwnzVCuKupzisinkfGBjcVO3GyHMx99ElN7f4grnm-yLQqKsNK0I22FqAFX/s1600/IMG_8808.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV4RKzYjoVHCfrD2QDOlOx4pVQtittlOWVo91U9i4yLbyUkMYAwfFzpDzA-cztji4WUPRsVtSj26bW2Vf7UzwnzVCuKupzisinkfGBjcVO3GyHMx99ElN7f4grnm-yLQqKsNK0I22FqAFX/s400/IMG_8808.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div>Frau 'Livy' Langdon.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17222026890712089962noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3623555834777184291.post-16599398963937082122010-06-08T12:01:00.001+02:002010-06-08T12:04:36.238+02:00OberammergauWelcome to the little town of Oberammergau. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuaBB3nrFWTmBwX0jqQ8L19HHGUdQAob_SdFtfuvN82wCzQzrSWhXV7-v_5588a2cz4cI68jWbof3Kcxad10REI_Tgu8a-rFdOTVuBBz3nGQqP8l2Duo7hfUn71X9bVRS3wmmbP6RwOgTa/s1600/IMG_8738.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuaBB3nrFWTmBwX0jqQ8L19HHGUdQAob_SdFtfuvN82wCzQzrSWhXV7-v_5588a2cz4cI68jWbof3Kcxad10REI_Tgu8a-rFdOTVuBBz3nGQqP8l2Duo7hfUn71X9bVRS3wmmbP6RwOgTa/s400/IMG_8738.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">A quiet town nestled in the Ammergau mountains of Southern Bavaria</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8GBC5RK5DLApHBMX3rQeH5EcadnOpujd-dJX7BYgjzmE1-C-E45BsYBKobDVy-mIWKnLwWk4Z_PxEg3iVRq2QHeTMtvLlczmFcceKWOqpILLXdH5WDzbCYiH7x7pi5x43qeySP2Ijknxs/s1600/IMG_8803.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8GBC5RK5DLApHBMX3rQeH5EcadnOpujd-dJX7BYgjzmE1-C-E45BsYBKobDVy-mIWKnLwWk4Z_PxEg3iVRq2QHeTMtvLlczmFcceKWOqpILLXdH5WDzbCYiH7x7pi5x43qeySP2Ijknxs/s400/IMG_8803.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">That comes alive every 10 years for the <a href="http://www.oberammergau-passion.com/en-us/home/home.html">Passion Play</a>.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFTGaZlbd0dXkO0-Qrv8ILF6u1XBBQjyeHDpAcOi2XmpR6dR8tkAN0bZ3D58z_hPWAPwH_W1UwMWT2F7Sik-Dt1154Gq7g8ZS9I5nlDN41cbJmZAWMHmzLU-uhwpWB8ochYuoY9IzOlDJp/s1600/IMG_8804.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="286" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFTGaZlbd0dXkO0-Qrv8ILF6u1XBBQjyeHDpAcOi2XmpR6dR8tkAN0bZ3D58z_hPWAPwH_W1UwMWT2F7Sik-Dt1154Gq7g8ZS9I5nlDN41cbJmZAWMHmzLU-uhwpWB8ochYuoY9IzOlDJp/s400/IMG_8804.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">The story goes like this: In 1633 the villagers made a vow to God that if he spared them from the effects of the plague that was sweeping the region they would preform the passion play every 10 years. Not only were the villagers spared from the plague, but they kept their promise and started performing the passion play in 1634 and haven't stopped since. Now this is the most famous passion play in the world, and every 10 years the villagers perform their play to sold-out audiences from May until October. </div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Over half of the town's 5,000 inhabitants put aside their normal careers and take part in the play that recounts the events of scripture from Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem to the ascension. And the rest of the villagers are just as busy feeding, selling handicrafts and renting out rooms to the over 500,000 people that flock to Oberammergau to see the play.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">My grandparents attended the Oberammergau Passion Play in 1984 during the 350th Jubilee anniversary of the play, and it has always been my mother's dream to see it herself. It was too big of a coincidence that we happened to be living not far from Oberammergau during one of the years it was playing to pass up the opportunity. It wasn't easy to get tickets or a hotel room, but we finally managed. We were even able to find a babysitter in Oberammergau for Penelope. </div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
The play lasted a whopping 5 1/2 hours, with a 3 hour intermission in the middle for dinner. The only way to describe it is AMAZING. You can't take video or pictures, but here's are two <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LNts9eTWhs8&feature=related">overview</a> <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e6rviB8tlJ4&NR=1">video</a>s and a look at the <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CkdZYAZ8GnI&feature=related">preparations</a>. The costumes are the most elaborate and realistic costumes I've ever seen in a passion play. And no fake beards allowed. During the crowd scenes there are almost 1000 people on stage. The stage is open-air, so the mountains and sky peak out behind the set. Everything is said or sung in German (yes, this is Germany), but you can get a little book to follow along in English, which my mom and I were grateful for because there is a ton of dialogue. Our favorite parts were when the choir sang at the beginning of each scene and a correlating image of the Old Testament was lit up on the stage with the people frozen in time. It looked just like a painting. I also appreciated how they revised the script to give a more sensitive view of the Jews and Judaism. There wasn't a trace of anti-semitism like you often find in passion plays.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">But if you're not fortunate enough to land tickets to the play this year or ten years from now, a visit just to the town of Oberammergau is well worth it. </div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg51TzgSNCyuNWYSbgIFsoLPddwP8VS9GkKwzDfPfZqxoW8PbidY_I0QFUqgEZl8isbYlPDGcM4VYuXlPQxHnHFQoB1QmjshNVFcpELMOSx0LKHv5mpBSh8rWZgzkTq6-mpziIltcd0o-Sc/s1600/IMG_8781.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="286" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg51TzgSNCyuNWYSbgIFsoLPddwP8VS9GkKwzDfPfZqxoW8PbidY_I0QFUqgEZl8isbYlPDGcM4VYuXlPQxHnHFQoB1QmjshNVFcpELMOSx0LKHv5mpBSh8rWZgzkTq6-mpziIltcd0o-Sc/s400/IMG_8781.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">The town is also known for its woodcarvers. There are shops all over the town selling wood carvings in all shapes and sizes. Most of them are on religious themes like nativity scenes or crucifixes (I'm pretty sure this is the most overtly Christian town I've visited.)</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_wRDQvwoCeD1bO8vl1tW1CCCB7J3GllPAoCHZA6k03E_8hCkGcRu79DQxuMwXnkmL6VfYLivfp_yUqcI33xoxDpV4XCHsXQUBuK7obL2-1VA_o7Mg6lx2L73nEurk1igrd5Bx4Jwc0Ysf/s1600/IMG_8732.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="286" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_wRDQvwoCeD1bO8vl1tW1CCCB7J3GllPAoCHZA6k03E_8hCkGcRu79DQxuMwXnkmL6VfYLivfp_yUqcI33xoxDpV4XCHsXQUBuK7obL2-1VA_o7Mg6lx2L73nEurk1igrd5Bx4Jwc0Ysf/s400/IMG_8732.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">You'll also notice that every building has a large crucifix carving on it. </div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFAoQI-_sFcgCDvqCUWDHafX4IDzuIlO_TqtLBy6j8cjZHawtzg8eURrOO7227CaHJbUABNfX8CeFvfRI0XjAjQoh5wiYR5lW3YZCcZHmSjVjNdiMxs8GcO4DLhtQRQ23sfu56rRGVYil9/s1600/IMG_8777.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="286" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFAoQI-_sFcgCDvqCUWDHafX4IDzuIlO_TqtLBy6j8cjZHawtzg8eURrOO7227CaHJbUABNfX8CeFvfRI0XjAjQoh5wiYR5lW3YZCcZHmSjVjNdiMxs8GcO4DLhtQRQ23sfu56rRGVYil9/s400/IMG_8777.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">The other claim to fame is the "Lüftlmalerei," or frescoe painting on the buildings. Many of them are centered around religious themes and the Passion Play. Some date back to the 1600's. </div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-bRoo76lCcKbDMwwJvhcY8wX3RFFHAKR7YeHWp-6Z7YiIPYr_dOeRZxHV9J9d9oFdD3Yt2C4xxzljFYECNnPgmt1wI2RKTZFtZK0vKri_kVDmaI-9DmcF7RbRhn9tPH46wIhen5-s0fBO/s1600/IMG_8779.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="286" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-bRoo76lCcKbDMwwJvhcY8wX3RFFHAKR7YeHWp-6Z7YiIPYr_dOeRZxHV9J9d9oFdD3Yt2C4xxzljFYECNnPgmt1wI2RKTZFtZK0vKri_kVDmaI-9DmcF7RbRhn9tPH46wIhen5-s0fBO/s400/IMG_8779.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw1rENIZFMPyrG19RNp-3lJmHHHCZgxrMkGZv3cZdIOUfN3PeWtrcNU_8ZEN-ycPrUPOR92Ycpgfdfb4cXa1duuOc9WAJB3wjbVtLyfI_KKozIuX1U_i_P71uH-m6eznH9RvTuiOCF5o1H/s1600/IMG_8776.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="286" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw1rENIZFMPyrG19RNp-3lJmHHHCZgxrMkGZv3cZdIOUfN3PeWtrcNU_8ZEN-ycPrUPOR92Ycpgfdfb4cXa1duuOc9WAJB3wjbVtLyfI_KKozIuX1U_i_P71uH-m6eznH9RvTuiOCF5o1H/s400/IMG_8776.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">While others are more architectural 'trompe l'oeuil' painting like these on the Pilot House.<br />
<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5r10JaxdgXHcmNo9QiO_0ogdKdLNhvj5DfiLqSu-Kn-bol3wQWOinkzBThVPQRH64Tot7XbQjo514c1pO4rcIAx_3d1oAXoI65GrDd-tRkfG-FFehMsE_bql2OpxbEkYaAcUhqFwQ91Uw/s1600/IMG_8770.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="286" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5r10JaxdgXHcmNo9QiO_0ogdKdLNhvj5DfiLqSu-Kn-bol3wQWOinkzBThVPQRH64Tot7XbQjo514c1pO4rcIAx_3d1oAXoI65GrDd-tRkfG-FFehMsE_bql2OpxbEkYaAcUhqFwQ91Uw/s400/IMG_8770.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Can't afford an Italian marble staircase on the back of your house? Just paint one on and no one will know the difference.</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/AVvXsEgB2u5v3bIgOnhwKKZcp6whhVei9p7saMrVxFZfawFBdNUcYXjrH0t9CMb34GaJhxgqJ6s6y4b6N4DQoS6iSpBnq1Fh8Iy68S6tr9Q4fcx8Yus7k2Pr1I2WV-5k7qB1xnJE7drgIrbgJt2X/s1600/IMG_8772.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB2u5v3bIgOnhwKKZcp6whhVei9p7saMrVxFZfawFBdNUcYXjrH0t9CMb34GaJhxgqJ6s6y4b6N4DQoS6iSpBnq1Fh8Iy68S6tr9Q4fcx8Yus7k2Pr1I2WV-5k7qB1xnJE7drgIrbgJt2X/s400/IMG_8772.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Here are some more buildings around the town:</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/AVvXsEi62T0SIfMxLUqCwrFeJ5E8-fifNwgqu304z6iQ-qOrWw3LmxR0O-7S850WdzSQiUZbY3Li6w5wWS-RPwWNXw8pAyEIytPEJ9vbLDH-S0VFhln7AQCOZyPK6MTFUp0j5lrfqd-8s4_5zDot/s1600/IMG_8723.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi62T0SIfMxLUqCwrFeJ5E8-fifNwgqu304z6iQ-qOrWw3LmxR0O-7S850WdzSQiUZbY3Li6w5wWS-RPwWNXw8pAyEIytPEJ9vbLDH-S0VFhln7AQCOZyPK6MTFUp0j5lrfqd-8s4_5zDot/s400/IMG_8723.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</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/AVvXsEgUIJIOklsb6OsYRz3k0zuhGuC2KKISQPKvcNg79HvC_rOiVd3jcKcaucrjpeYIr1Lhb8K3YaYOW-WeEEQCLBFNPrHD0zr5LGYRY__FvovZZHt8QOk88FHDq69-XzcJgISO-3nq2e0eJZ5M/s1600/IMG_8758.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="286" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUIJIOklsb6OsYRz3k0zuhGuC2KKISQPKvcNg79HvC_rOiVd3jcKcaucrjpeYIr1Lhb8K3YaYOW-WeEEQCLBFNPrHD0zr5LGYRY__FvovZZHt8QOk88FHDq69-XzcJgISO-3nq2e0eJZ5M/s400/IMG_8758.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</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/AVvXsEhra-c19qZNlsctzxQCulyf_2iVjxryuXni7PSV0RjpZMXdsMISUozvjrZtBQZL5PCPwb2gqIxRsLSRkbFxgbcm9wu3DRs5jVwsyqdN8Fzxi3Svh1scVTj3ed5q2yLm1U7FFFc2u1KD7Y6y/s1600/IMG_8766.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhra-c19qZNlsctzxQCulyf_2iVjxryuXni7PSV0RjpZMXdsMISUozvjrZtBQZL5PCPwb2gqIxRsLSRkbFxgbcm9wu3DRs5jVwsyqdN8Fzxi3Svh1scVTj3ed5q2yLm1U7FFFc2u1KD7Y6y/s400/IMG_8766.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</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/AVvXsEgbWamnZmWrBzKTCfTTxwfs_WaPqFsKAOvdJ2XHcVXGDq41vjZtnxlpR5cumjXWuYxwfdLwwotXHIVqa-b-BhpB9gFqVKUTuI3hCO32GSIie_XTRhbydcvEsYQSi1Z8q1uVwR46EBGIuL-y/s1600/IMG_8773.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbWamnZmWrBzKTCfTTxwfs_WaPqFsKAOvdJ2XHcVXGDq41vjZtnxlpR5cumjXWuYxwfdLwwotXHIVqa-b-BhpB9gFqVKUTuI3hCO32GSIie_XTRhbydcvEsYQSi1Z8q1uVwR46EBGIuL-y/s400/IMG_8773.JPG" width="286" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Here's the hotel we stayed at. We were lucky enough to book the last available hotel room in town. </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/AVvXsEiOO6UjhrQEodHET22EnUwOr8O3x-71oUq4nnJzbi4oKEwY5mczKJc4d-r7HO_wUAChyphenhyphenHAjW3i3zy02BKubfRAfaIDRdRUPeNBAK3mv5tyCbRr829xkRWr_g2X5B5rzEHRo9dSAuQjQng8f/s1600/IMG_8762.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOO6UjhrQEodHET22EnUwOr8O3x-71oUq4nnJzbi4oKEwY5mczKJc4d-r7HO_wUAChyphenhyphenHAjW3i3zy02BKubfRAfaIDRdRUPeNBAK3mv5tyCbRr829xkRWr_g2X5B5rzEHRo9dSAuQjQng8f/s400/IMG_8762.JPG" width="267" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Grandma and Penelope on our balcony. (No complaints about the view!)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2jgx-dGL_DH63zGHUTJJg3WefJEu-08IcxpfQ3-dVZ5v0hP4HaWgvfyyimoSWpf5qOCj3Gz1zrRsKpMZf1JD-pJbTJchwh3RJQY7k8JcHoDPB9OE63EW-PZoUTeB2Ilw3zRGq_gXPFV60/s1600/IMG_8796.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="286" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2jgx-dGL_DH63zGHUTJJg3WefJEu-08IcxpfQ3-dVZ5v0hP4HaWgvfyyimoSWpf5qOCj3Gz1zrRsKpMZf1JD-pJbTJchwh3RJQY7k8JcHoDPB9OE63EW-PZoUTeB2Ilw3zRGq_gXPFV60/s400/IMG_8796.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The church across the street where the villagers originally met and made the vow to God to preform the passion play.</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/AVvXsEjaIlxo8OnU_7nEkPZbggGqYcM1xplxXPpjB5f390YgHX4rsUaY_bkFO1xMr2zufS8LGGpSzF1gdbJVzkFjpDhXCNX4Y2Y8bUznXYO6ps6fY19oJkD_gCh2UqCtrZ1t8XUm6rScuKuV118-/s1600/IMG_8750.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="286" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaIlxo8OnU_7nEkPZbggGqYcM1xplxXPpjB5f390YgHX4rsUaY_bkFO1xMr2zufS8LGGpSzF1gdbJVzkFjpDhXCNX4Y2Y8bUznXYO6ps6fY19oJkD_gCh2UqCtrZ1t8XUm6rScuKuV118-/s400/IMG_8750.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The graveyard around the church. This tombstone is for a certain Lang family. By the time we left Oberammergau we had encountered so many "Langs" past and present of Oberammergau that I have become convinced that my husband's ancestors came from Oberammergau. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU2tOxSBQ7Wl9_SZNiNiKBD34aBrn5_5OvHWk6VM8CwNyTa-6lmdu5wbT0obOfyvm4Sse_vDCoWVEWAQoHQKwk94DM9g-iq17Yt_3xSgIlIU-ugOABnGA3T5fWK8r8Ecs7961WlwFzTWPY/s1600/IMG_8761.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU2tOxSBQ7Wl9_SZNiNiKBD34aBrn5_5OvHWk6VM8CwNyTa-6lmdu5wbT0obOfyvm4Sse_vDCoWVEWAQoHQKwk94DM9g-iq17Yt_3xSgIlIU-ugOABnGA3T5fWK8r8Ecs7961WlwFzTWPY/s400/IMG_8761.JPG" width="267" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It goes without saying that we had a great time visiting Oberammergau and seeing the Passion Play. What a great memory!</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/AVvXsEjFhYZE9Z_Qv3FOLYVcMKCFS3qx6mEG2nJByj9-DCvpVUeKyETxunb5P_QC5K5yH66iqGVK1-br-01cJS7vTjvLYRPXVjCMp4bgSyof2we4WRQqx46E-nCGP9AKyR0IWED5KotxBDmO0xPp/s1600/IMG_8786.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="286" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFhYZE9Z_Qv3FOLYVcMKCFS3qx6mEG2nJByj9-DCvpVUeKyETxunb5P_QC5K5yH66iqGVK1-br-01cJS7vTjvLYRPXVjCMp4bgSyof2we4WRQqx46E-nCGP9AKyR0IWED5KotxBDmO0xPp/s400/IMG_8786.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Frau 'Livy' Langdon.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17222026890712089962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3623555834777184291.post-90691439367245700942010-06-05T12:48:00.000+02:002010-06-05T12:48:09.858+02:00Week with Grandma RecapYesterday we said goodbye to Grandma and welcomed the Father back from his trip to Denmark. While we were sad to see Grandma go, we were excited to be reunited as a family. We had lots of stories and photos to share from our week apart. Here's a quick recap of our adventures with Grandma...<br />
<br />
We re-celebrated Penelope's first birthday so Grandma and Grandpa could be there for it (Grandma in person and Grandpa on the computer webcam)<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTQYrUUiH4e3el30SJGGoeqWNDS-aGlhAHJIdkUw0eJIAxFCE-ECvn4j-WGnVkeb7pQPMSRpRHIx9TYZ4_VL9IiSjIvsNLz1Ie7CCB-c5Nf0P4HlQCs4GPymLkFtSJ9wrHNaY0nTjCWIaW/s1600/IMG_8604.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTQYrUUiH4e3el30SJGGoeqWNDS-aGlhAHJIdkUw0eJIAxFCE-ECvn4j-WGnVkeb7pQPMSRpRHIx9TYZ4_VL9IiSjIvsNLz1Ie7CCB-c5Nf0P4HlQCs4GPymLkFtSJ9wrHNaY0nTjCWIaW/s400/IMG_8604.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Penelope got to chow down on another cupcake, much to her delight,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF2DiN0HEKEI4MehveBOwDrl5neBAUZRDajCDw4wOi4EFuym9EJ1xa39tA2rWh4rALJP1CsrCfiTyoNUnz5P2PKr-xFTbfzD24NbSt7aCskxGeNZSpa13-QgmbLiOjBFSmqX0TTkbTF7yB/s1600/IMG_8644.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF2DiN0HEKEI4MehveBOwDrl5neBAUZRDajCDw4wOi4EFuym9EJ1xa39tA2rWh4rALJP1CsrCfiTyoNUnz5P2PKr-xFTbfzD24NbSt7aCskxGeNZSpa13-QgmbLiOjBFSmqX0TTkbTF7yB/s400/IMG_8644.JPG" width="285" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</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/AVvXsEjuqOyiJwP9n9Ge_e0Tf2UU-fM-BA48bi-b7IlSp0Rg-o8Q5gFj9p3wPhB8W0idlNrkhzUqv6skJopemlorTkfGlj8un0Vltnpom_kVcJXr2S8GMIeoXOoEloee5CiE6IMtyth6ARboLyir/s1600/IMG_8662.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuqOyiJwP9n9Ge_e0Tf2UU-fM-BA48bi-b7IlSp0Rg-o8Q5gFj9p3wPhB8W0idlNrkhzUqv6skJopemlorTkfGlj8un0Vltnpom_kVcJXr2S8GMIeoXOoEloee5CiE6IMtyth6ARboLyir/s400/IMG_8662.JPG" width="286" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And open some presents</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrr_hKqt0HRdP7Q9edybkeUuU-uq1y9inQzWBqKZh2sNQwMJ_xVY0pa_1zLnEPDvDbz6rxSz2dcz2xJ0nSOsYHcvQ37HncibC2piOImQ04BbvKskbxLDIsXCuw4niNem6NHARHKdab90nf/s1600/IMG_8629.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrr_hKqt0HRdP7Q9edybkeUuU-uq1y9inQzWBqKZh2sNQwMJ_xVY0pa_1zLnEPDvDbz6rxSz2dcz2xJ0nSOsYHcvQ37HncibC2piOImQ04BbvKskbxLDIsXCuw4niNem6NHARHKdab90nf/s400/IMG_8629.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Later we got to celebrate Grandma's birthday with a fancy ice cream creation, which Penelope was only too happy to help Grandma eat.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimxK6uql4GOCyF70P-J9k79jF9Yudk3hgQ9XxlGsZoaD1lMasa5QhgFEY_22It3AW8I6fFt-3LbOvvpvIvZc3ZEr9Yt3n2cnqfz0-Nj0i_sdookaM4uTeQP4hHGB6uMFV3FCiwsAXAYQtG/s1600/IMG_8882.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimxK6uql4GOCyF70P-J9k79jF9Yudk3hgQ9XxlGsZoaD1lMasa5QhgFEY_22It3AW8I6fFt-3LbOvvpvIvZc3ZEr9Yt3n2cnqfz0-Nj0i_sdookaM4uTeQP4hHGB6uMFV3FCiwsAXAYQtG/s400/IMG_8882.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We showed Grandma all the best playgrounds in Heidelberg</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYnwrMmXt1mU5SjzAQ75frOjr3hmQww5kOl_mjvmnOhte04Qa9jrbq71O1vblO7_CSGCP1OhBhR2WmUiNoW__Rwnrxe9l3090EebUe17xfEh-7GiFDkCnI3vkIg2Dck6KK2ZGFb7nuf2UU/s1600/IMG_8683.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYnwrMmXt1mU5SjzAQ75frOjr3hmQww5kOl_mjvmnOhte04Qa9jrbq71O1vblO7_CSGCP1OhBhR2WmUiNoW__Rwnrxe9l3090EebUe17xfEh-7GiFDkCnI3vkIg2Dck6KK2ZGFb7nuf2UU/s400/IMG_8683.JPG" width="285" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Splashed in the water</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO3zCT1t76PPZeC1uqNhsT6zeU47pPVlx4tGFUySBj2cJ7p9eeT6FwPAkfkSPQ5LacLKa53rln2hqFuwc-15YvmMMsOjvbph10REP1hMVWenVVRthPs0lpDU9RnmFIQWUbG-ftJj_TDkkn/s1600/IMG_8832.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO3zCT1t76PPZeC1uqNhsT6zeU47pPVlx4tGFUySBj2cJ7p9eeT6FwPAkfkSPQ5LacLKa53rln2hqFuwc-15YvmMMsOjvbph10REP1hMVWenVVRthPs0lpDU9RnmFIQWUbG-ftJj_TDkkn/s400/IMG_8832.JPG" width="285" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And learned how to make bubbles</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAnXasnwyO6A0IqPWs7Px6V91bFfU87dSfcwUdXEtiKrI0iHPhB-ZwUWXIXf57oBb5JhwSEquBW8NPDBScQJbMmpaV9eld3NJEVljyiMQHjYuXvWw64_XDfYwkndLgby5KyFdBR0p7F7DV/s1600/IMG_8834.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAnXasnwyO6A0IqPWs7Px6V91bFfU87dSfcwUdXEtiKrI0iHPhB-ZwUWXIXf57oBb5JhwSEquBW8NPDBScQJbMmpaV9eld3NJEVljyiMQHjYuXvWw64_XDfYwkndLgby5KyFdBR0p7F7DV/s400/IMG_8834.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We visited the zoo and got up close and personal with the animals</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhocOKVD8K_rqrjwWEyCtJGgNwbO0ihNRK7s47Jj85V3LVL9sgFp9FGFYUKNimSMUqBsftfTTp6dUKU21uUryjpMaTkZPsYqfpgSu6z7Y-0pAgThd411mbOUfwEr9zBDYrA9s6fhZO7yKRO/s1600/IMG_8894.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhocOKVD8K_rqrjwWEyCtJGgNwbO0ihNRK7s47Jj85V3LVL9sgFp9FGFYUKNimSMUqBsftfTTp6dUKU21uUryjpMaTkZPsYqfpgSu6z7Y-0pAgThd411mbOUfwEr9zBDYrA9s6fhZO7yKRO/s400/IMG_8894.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We read lots of books</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBG1PFzxu5OyCN8WX4Dj-QubuTf2L_kv6unv-qcmMLXHO2cohf_IcoMeaSx0qi6-PMM58HbQXfnaC6yJF8JH-yKPxR3gIlWtHIDJl1tUNzXcsOR1X4GA-umkiwYnFwWxNXoGwfyR_yNuhx/s1600/IMG_8700.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBG1PFzxu5OyCN8WX4Dj-QubuTf2L_kv6unv-qcmMLXHO2cohf_IcoMeaSx0qi6-PMM58HbQXfnaC6yJF8JH-yKPxR3gIlWtHIDJl1tUNzXcsOR1X4GA-umkiwYnFwWxNXoGwfyR_yNuhx/s400/IMG_8700.JPG" width="286" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And had lots of laughs</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidkR6KYLRwXx2mAWQXD2cIIRNWMgZSY0IgnG721rE8_jDzUsKowsG8eCY_pk9WaoBtK1fu13iFQPG10HtBpFCCIyauwBbOeZjoE8NG-e_A1zQGDSf_yNS74dVEb_Xdp9VfzZawfUy-3J1f/s1600/IMG_8719.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidkR6KYLRwXx2mAWQXD2cIIRNWMgZSY0IgnG721rE8_jDzUsKowsG8eCY_pk9WaoBtK1fu13iFQPG10HtBpFCCIyauwBbOeZjoE8NG-e_A1zQGDSf_yNS74dVEb_Xdp9VfzZawfUy-3J1f/s400/IMG_8719.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We took a trip to Dachau in the rain</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLz0mCzRzyAi7zGNMRlK-GJyXAtnYlPmT2OhZEeoA_SxwkecwXZzItKQHIpCWB810WdEOBqETrsaWvgRsVQzw79WsKpu39wS2pe2WPVLDvm0JSsCM5Wk8aHuCk9WBbCN_zi41u-f0EkWJS/s1600/IMG_8818.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLz0mCzRzyAi7zGNMRlK-GJyXAtnYlPmT2OhZEeoA_SxwkecwXZzItKQHIpCWB810WdEOBqETrsaWvgRsVQzw79WsKpu39wS2pe2WPVLDvm0JSsCM5Wk8aHuCk9WBbCN_zi41u-f0EkWJS/s400/IMG_8818.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And we went to the German Alps to visit the town of Oberammergau (more on the town and real reason we went later)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbVGs_J6XnCdGYw5Ox3YxLrQqaYOV2BRk4C3AMXtm5Poj5AAh8DUn2J_rpOrG9DbjyL2QUo_5jCnxwNX7A6_5Wi3Lu4E6iE6cewUoptqqx9USmmwqN1IN64_SeA-sa4ah7AZuJCxozFUSu/s1600/IMG_8786.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbVGs_J6XnCdGYw5Ox3YxLrQqaYOV2BRk4C3AMXtm5Poj5AAh8DUn2J_rpOrG9DbjyL2QUo_5jCnxwNX7A6_5Wi3Lu4E6iE6cewUoptqqx9USmmwqN1IN64_SeA-sa4ah7AZuJCxozFUSu/s400/IMG_8786.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We had such a fun and special week with Grandma</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdK6OvasNP-wraF86re_O3JntEgIfSreP1m-DxW02yY2evf4qm-VuZrVGqlZXk25joCGcN2DifrzC4JK-vErSKv_GfMulaGDDBOvrZS-bGhX5B5MyNzWeCJ4hmKR82isGgRA-EHO8w_MYc/s1600/IMG_8854.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdK6OvasNP-wraF86re_O3JntEgIfSreP1m-DxW02yY2evf4qm-VuZrVGqlZXk25joCGcN2DifrzC4JK-vErSKv_GfMulaGDDBOvrZS-bGhX5B5MyNzWeCJ4hmKR82isGgRA-EHO8w_MYc/s400/IMG_8854.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">But we were also very glad to have Daddy back home.</div>Frau 'Livy' Langdon.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17222026890712089962noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3623555834777184291.post-72786009590715188912010-05-29T10:48:00.000+02:002010-05-29T10:48:16.033+02:00Welcome Back Grandma!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_AtKpNnq-Uo7jnX4X6LxX0RhR5pDbgXl9rYU6gwTu06jn8K1ILRN2eAnSXc9h2Pjq3bMzz05GZCnmNRlPj1cfgaJRjumnkHIfFdqVqD_qBm6p6h9XMJ63i76vLcoxTjbyNlRFrK8KoiiX/s1600/IMG_8470.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_AtKpNnq-Uo7jnX4X6LxX0RhR5pDbgXl9rYU6gwTu06jn8K1ILRN2eAnSXc9h2Pjq3bMzz05GZCnmNRlPj1cfgaJRjumnkHIfFdqVqD_qBm6p6h9XMJ63i76vLcoxTjbyNlRFrK8KoiiX/s400/IMG_8470.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Grandma arrived in Heidelberg yesterday after a long day's and night's journey from her home in Jakarta. After Penelope helped her get unpacked they got right down to the business of playing and getting reacquainted.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><em>Looks like someone has gotten herself into a bit of trouble</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLnA48Duf0qTsQE1nofTGtA9Y0_OiqHVi-63t32Hc8R23w8CHBrlI2Gsru_C3HcyCx3yesxhDJ20H_cyyRA6tQP8yR772Lrl7xW6iNEcOMNRQrKM8facRWmPbrBuyrx5T5amfxuwo3uvug/s1600/IMG_8407.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLnA48Duf0qTsQE1nofTGtA9Y0_OiqHVi-63t32Hc8R23w8CHBrlI2Gsru_C3HcyCx3yesxhDJ20H_cyyRA6tQP8yR772Lrl7xW6iNEcOMNRQrKM8facRWmPbrBuyrx5T5amfxuwo3uvug/s400/IMG_8407.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>Penelope's first experience with bubbles. (Watch out! Grandma is armed)</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxFLOxdL4mloHeaav_sMyNb2Gq1tyyE2rw3wAsQg8ACoL5hl3yp4y1O3vMFybxkOsMQz3mEFZ-uZyArOtToChVye7DDe_JZkWSK5l4P4e6lO-UMxFO5EYTI1Efg0nlmw650ZWLi44IkQtI/s1600/IMG_8437.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxFLOxdL4mloHeaav_sMyNb2Gq1tyyE2rw3wAsQg8ACoL5hl3yp4y1O3vMFybxkOsMQz3mEFZ-uZyArOtToChVye7DDe_JZkWSK5l4P4e6lO-UMxFO5EYTI1Efg0nlmw650ZWLi44IkQtI/s400/IMG_8437.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>Penelope couldn't quite figure out what to make of them</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZFkvbdEXY_GbFnz2rBTFRcqcgGGHXWxCIjvjxGtGUwcB_9dunIFCmP4UzIGEsznnklu7Wnh6wRXLNkqk3-PDAeo3voN_ghvOUvDhenZBAdsZSDRhyphenhyphensSeArwrZ8UB4brUkkuydM3rZH-pP/s1600/IMG_8439.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZFkvbdEXY_GbFnz2rBTFRcqcgGGHXWxCIjvjxGtGUwcB_9dunIFCmP4UzIGEsznnklu7Wnh6wRXLNkqk3-PDAeo3voN_ghvOUvDhenZBAdsZSDRhyphenhyphensSeArwrZ8UB4brUkkuydM3rZH-pP/s400/IMG_8439.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>They just kept getting away from her </em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDJVTuvKxdG169EW4rqBh1g-L0mmTiuiCVhrKKFYMTQgp1NNOpD25OnsXu9oq07lPA8ialnKuHEbhB_e4da1LXYFElWxmXtju_ydQFXyIjZQUymFbDlvc4Ao42WWm8ZyDzuI9f34f0ktdJ/s1600/IMG_8451.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDJVTuvKxdG169EW4rqBh1g-L0mmTiuiCVhrKKFYMTQgp1NNOpD25OnsXu9oq07lPA8ialnKuHEbhB_e4da1LXYFElWxmXtju_ydQFXyIjZQUymFbDlvc4Ao42WWm8ZyDzuI9f34f0ktdJ/s400/IMG_8451.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>Please, please, come back...</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitB1VYbawzbX3EqxbTgPAo6LvadzTQ-ybl8RA838DaAoO-S7CMKE2XkBrYy5OJ9Jm5VaE4kwqAIukxmeEZeNJy1tSfJJ02igF2nl_dRDpS7lLyE2SuGD10mVODFAW7nABlF7dlNSdm4r65/s1600/IMG_8463.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitB1VYbawzbX3EqxbTgPAo6LvadzTQ-ybl8RA838DaAoO-S7CMKE2XkBrYy5OJ9Jm5VaE4kwqAIukxmeEZeNJy1tSfJJ02igF2nl_dRDpS7lLyE2SuGD10mVODFAW7nABlF7dlNSdm4r65/s400/IMG_8463.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>Exploring sand with Grandma</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp97RrFebgRz2BS6obwcYdWGcnDf4EwPS_JVZRP9fG4bLZnz55LG_6Ju8gf_RUIMgeYJWPEc5MZChNZfrdd49Xv0cioJEtf70KZhqAtI3ha99RJl6CMKDd7EtRySAYK-h2E_nxDefqt_tm/s1600/IMG_8477.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp97RrFebgRz2BS6obwcYdWGcnDf4EwPS_JVZRP9fG4bLZnz55LG_6Ju8gf_RUIMgeYJWPEc5MZChNZfrdd49Xv0cioJEtf70KZhqAtI3ha99RJl6CMKDd7EtRySAYK-h2E_nxDefqt_tm/s400/IMG_8477.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>Then it was time for a picnic in the park</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghgDqcy-Ul6DKyoXLgFwMD9lX2848LW4ijcKYyb7DQKa4SskmQJLi9eanFh7d7hFN4uKHIshFWyOjfrA8l7tQDVDSjBC079D23mU2fCVrayWH2lEIJgxubdukEGsAS3RZoasfdK6kIJMM2/s1600/IMG_8514.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghgDqcy-Ul6DKyoXLgFwMD9lX2848LW4ijcKYyb7DQKa4SskmQJLi9eanFh7d7hFN4uKHIshFWyOjfrA8l7tQDVDSjBC079D23mU2fCVrayWH2lEIJgxubdukEGsAS3RZoasfdK6kIJMM2/s400/IMG_8514.JPG" width="286" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>One for Grandma...</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixkehsnpy_RyfYK_olxQgf56r7hEHB6N4WJHKqhKc7Bsifr-jdKmNNxvhjuRa9uWDGp5a2vFD8KiJ88rB4q7qpiWpeBfUkTtk-ry7X4NLftnqzjQQGswi1w9HDlRfNgccHumlVoojgkfjc/s1600/IMG_8524.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixkehsnpy_RyfYK_olxQgf56r7hEHB6N4WJHKqhKc7Bsifr-jdKmNNxvhjuRa9uWDGp5a2vFD8KiJ88rB4q7qpiWpeBfUkTtk-ry7X4NLftnqzjQQGswi1w9HDlRfNgccHumlVoojgkfjc/s400/IMG_8524.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>One for me</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYRRssv3pkTWoGCHo5bvNiYjKdZkMH3rywrtceO0K_50GZGCVuVrrqVKm6bNJ2uTuksfDnF8ZaQ5nmd4GPQVPZrEF0-a1DV7WNLVfCmzK14Upx33nDDTcVGsP3aAmZ4qg1VPfdGesFzpIt/s1600/IMG_8531.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYRRssv3pkTWoGCHo5bvNiYjKdZkMH3rywrtceO0K_50GZGCVuVrrqVKm6bNJ2uTuksfDnF8ZaQ5nmd4GPQVPZrEF0-a1DV7WNLVfCmzK14Upx33nDDTcVGsP3aAmZ4qg1VPfdGesFzpIt/s400/IMG_8531.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>Now Grandma, open up wide!</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZqvgGCEgKPId7cuNK3d-kfspMIyaZJwK5cJV6U-1z6vDcT0V-RMgdQJ6FTGCYgkxTtuX-6l6PaLMO2ddPopeakR4Vx7C127Nh-_DoBu_pciyMAfsUKeujo7ytjEmJ6QK3wHfvxiOTEIl7/s1600/IMG_8529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZqvgGCEgKPId7cuNK3d-kfspMIyaZJwK5cJV6U-1z6vDcT0V-RMgdQJ6FTGCYgkxTtuX-6l6PaLMO2ddPopeakR4Vx7C127Nh-_DoBu_pciyMAfsUKeujo7ytjEmJ6QK3wHfvxiOTEIl7/s400/IMG_8529.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>Let's go for a walk. I want to show you something.</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU0w9BM6CKlAq5mWrVgnOwWO1bPILvNwQ6l01fjlhDZpfiifCQ2_fHR5wGIge30PqPLiMrsmq68VKMYQEFyGxNBGGc9wTnFxloZzI3uV5cCpw9ttCkBK01fHHDN-tPGLZiJ_Knyp718kPq/s1600/IMG_8513.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU0w9BM6CKlAq5mWrVgnOwWO1bPILvNwQ6l01fjlhDZpfiifCQ2_fHR5wGIge30PqPLiMrsmq68VKMYQEFyGxNBGGc9wTnFxloZzI3uV5cCpw9ttCkBK01fHHDN-tPGLZiJ_Knyp718kPq/s400/IMG_8513.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>We're going on a goose hunt</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpkVNG5DDt5rbMHGxpiKJf1Nu4Y8eoiqGZFzvq2grXnPaSE9eu9bIRYH-NWi8vWzAXL8hamDlHiHihhHNHV4GN75gA2t4ulcAJlli0GorjDKUR3zbZddPDt0Bm1HFma5lP3ejoYaB2YbFv/s1600/IMG_8556.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpkVNG5DDt5rbMHGxpiKJf1Nu4Y8eoiqGZFzvq2grXnPaSE9eu9bIRYH-NWi8vWzAXL8hamDlHiHihhHNHV4GN75gA2t4ulcAJlli0GorjDKUR3zbZddPDt0Bm1HFma5lP3ejoYaB2YbFv/s400/IMG_8556.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>Why hello, Mr. Goose</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt_uI-tn0EPi1kTfgWXB6yVoYvIlspgXhCxy0jL1CZlExvBuy5_-EDtPSNQwzIpO4P1CEAXgYZNlBwTmeZXXHTdv8e6sQu0skXYjObuH6VdFCZ6rRYh_h6LzOTGgszXgbmezH1ceIEoTwC/s1600/IMG_8506.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt_uI-tn0EPi1kTfgWXB6yVoYvIlspgXhCxy0jL1CZlExvBuy5_-EDtPSNQwzIpO4P1CEAXgYZNlBwTmeZXXHTdv8e6sQu0skXYjObuH6VdFCZ6rRYh_h6LzOTGgszXgbmezH1ceIEoTwC/s400/IMG_8506.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>Look Grandma! I've got a purple pail</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqnto5aAbLWLsAjC99YBDkD0c58wAix4iAwxIOfcf468pXzO57PYnX2TVgDDz0MxoH-G9THP3mAX7m28PSlVXMmuNebkjFNVIYMqhoGWsUIMY6HPmEpU3iZmvZzmAs-W2bOeuAvdS1qZnG/s1600/IMG_8537.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqnto5aAbLWLsAjC99YBDkD0c58wAix4iAwxIOfcf468pXzO57PYnX2TVgDDz0MxoH-G9THP3mAX7m28PSlVXMmuNebkjFNVIYMqhoGWsUIMY6HPmEpU3iZmvZzmAs-W2bOeuAvdS1qZnG/s400/IMG_8537.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>Come play with me, please?</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1IvVKI1TQmIhTw54uuML-TDhFGy3bLKV26IO6UDwf82aGQvmk_ZY8C9cTDbGEzAm8DgHuFm5tMX2Be9PkpBQRmv0CqlPTdJtf64kM7y0fndct1s8pTxWJRqaTbzcb4kT_3ss3l69PqHQk/s1600/IMG_8539.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1IvVKI1TQmIhTw54uuML-TDhFGy3bLKV26IO6UDwf82aGQvmk_ZY8C9cTDbGEzAm8DgHuFm5tMX2Be9PkpBQRmv0CqlPTdJtf64kM7y0fndct1s8pTxWJRqaTbzcb4kT_3ss3l69PqHQk/s400/IMG_8539.JPG" width="286" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>Put the shovel in, take the shovel out, put the shovel in, take the shovel out... (thank goodness for patient Grandmas)</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY8Y5uPWcrd9On5VdfB_Z6nH7AbzV92SIGXbtmXKwsNPDu-i72WhyphenhyphenPmB9wVvEhas25hILPR6GdurPg8fkopp_YtJSxpCVVf7kQXEIDjTBdXDlk9cAEXiHMVmBJYkBcwY-auRkaCCafpJLE/s1600/IMG_8577.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY8Y5uPWcrd9On5VdfB_Z6nH7AbzV92SIGXbtmXKwsNPDu-i72WhyphenhyphenPmB9wVvEhas25hILPR6GdurPg8fkopp_YtJSxpCVVf7kQXEIDjTBdXDlk9cAEXiHMVmBJYkBcwY-auRkaCCafpJLE/s400/IMG_8577.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>Come on, Grandma! Let's go look for some more adventures</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji6m4kllkHdyL0LkeHqkZV5spzAqImqL7f1viIY8h-cIZLEnO5ZJdqGdQpR1l_bKydrPNGbXb4TZetvDFlgcyRj9gu0W0AYEShrrTdv_nA24v0y74i49nn2USVEYkKl9951tGFyoU2RjPe/s1600/IMG_8544.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji6m4kllkHdyL0LkeHqkZV5spzAqImqL7f1viIY8h-cIZLEnO5ZJdqGdQpR1l_bKydrPNGbXb4TZetvDFlgcyRj9gu0W0AYEShrrTdv_nA24v0y74i49nn2USVEYkKl9951tGFyoU2RjPe/s400/IMG_8544.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>Frau 'Livy' Langdon.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17222026890712089962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3623555834777184291.post-70697575813734888792010-05-27T17:16:00.000+02:002010-05-27T17:16:06.005+02:00Excess Baggage<div style="text-align: center;">"Alright Daddy, I'm ready to go. Let's get this show on the road!"</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg08kuxbgfnDvHxZNebNBLLwV91m6PXfEqG0yUKxycjWU0lt0OGrCP_p8aBRMUW3mU-d-Gu_522vQms9zK_3BzkIKxTcqTlUb950HzXynxDH6tn9Q84d9FQbVDwrPZyZgL1ygC5asefXzw_/s1600/IMG_8394.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg08kuxbgfnDvHxZNebNBLLwV91m6PXfEqG0yUKxycjWU0lt0OGrCP_p8aBRMUW3mU-d-Gu_522vQms9zK_3BzkIKxTcqTlUb950HzXynxDH6tn9Q84d9FQbVDwrPZyZgL1ygC5asefXzw_/s320/IMG_8394.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">"Sorry, Penelope. You can't come with me."</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">"Please Daddy! I promise I'll behave on the plane this time."</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE7-QT8sQi4r_5m8Qfrq6XJppDmhASZ5n39jr_N2gDdB3y8PTfpAcYjBdWi4Zm1JFt2s10pBGIe2HxZb5OzXsRgD3CvN28FY7Rc9wAGdOeeIHLD32RfwL62lvkbj-V2SpXEb4q-TpNZ6aC/s1600/IMG_8393.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE7-QT8sQi4r_5m8Qfrq6XJppDmhASZ5n39jr_N2gDdB3y8PTfpAcYjBdWi4Zm1JFt2s10pBGIe2HxZb5OzXsRgD3CvN28FY7Rc9wAGdOeeIHLD32RfwL62lvkbj-V2SpXEb4q-TpNZ6aC/s320/IMG_8393.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Early this morning the Father took off for Denmark for work--sans Penelope. It's the first time I've been alone with Penelope, and I'm gaining more respect for single moms by the minute. Penelope and I were very sad to see him go, but luckily we're not going to be home alone for long. Tomorrow morning Grandma arrives from Jakarta for a whole week of fun!Frau 'Livy' Langdon.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17222026890712089962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3623555834777184291.post-87873399794246158582010-05-26T18:24:00.000+02:002010-05-26T18:24:35.001+02:00The Deep, Dark Forest<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNz42wxja9McBTUfc62NOkx7R7hLhIDeRDbRExyBDKJwU3djlgybsXvj8hThFoFS47zwPnDFii7PBeLNqwHluugcTdeR0q8Z-VZtnhm18ZVNccktib9BwhC8z-GQ8hwKlLqioTRwQl98Q-/s1600/IMG_8275.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNz42wxja9McBTUfc62NOkx7R7hLhIDeRDbRExyBDKJwU3djlgybsXvj8hThFoFS47zwPnDFii7PBeLNqwHluugcTdeR0q8Z-VZtnhm18ZVNccktib9BwhC8z-GQ8hwKlLqioTRwQl98Q-/s640/IMG_8275.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Cuckoo-clocks, strange traditional garb, chocolate-cherry gateaux, huge farm houses, hill after hill of fir forest, and mermaid lagoons. Watch out! We have entered into the depths of the <em>Schwarzwald</em>--the BLACK FOREST. Once you go in, you may never come out alive...</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">First stop: The little town of Gegenbach for a large helping of half-timbered quaintness</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgcDwpaPaqfIeNb3v74guDxQRQ3tFJbDVPr8rjcGzv9Onm6-z1i9L07oK0655MxljDAf5Ikqti8zASWlPncMb-Er_75uGThKIWZPaF3vqFOqNSiXDKtUEeJpaMAqGL5eoI-T61f6X38HbF/s1600/IMG_8077.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgcDwpaPaqfIeNb3v74guDxQRQ3tFJbDVPr8rjcGzv9Onm6-z1i9L07oK0655MxljDAf5Ikqti8zASWlPncMb-Er_75uGThKIWZPaF3vqFOqNSiXDKtUEeJpaMAqGL5eoI-T61f6X38HbF/s400/IMG_8077.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
and a bustling provincial town square to round it out.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcfIQfxM4WNNN3nf425CjUx6BwC1AmuFzgDIDPkriNBPvvFQGiG1J3GVpA0o4yo2YVowTnkK1RhhkEBb3oRam7X4-Ns1CKEZ5evKPeqrARrDO8ZiqsV5VbwRMrsNzv1yC_ErdoV75XxtzE/s1600/IMG_8082.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcfIQfxM4WNNN3nf425CjUx6BwC1AmuFzgDIDPkriNBPvvFQGiG1J3GVpA0o4yo2YVowTnkK1RhhkEBb3oRam7X4-Ns1CKEZ5evKPeqrARrDO8ZiqsV5VbwRMrsNzv1yC_ErdoV75XxtzE/s400/IMG_8082.JPG" width="286" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">But beware of the soldiers on patrol. They take their job very seriously.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOyNTT4ONfiejosT3CERYZqFGP4nEtxmf7KCJtU1mZDMcSeDKG1iVA1m2wRspW8FfU2V2WqMEamQ9MSoEAgSmqL5gKcwBFlY6I4vPKGbe5QXhNmPn6MUm34Yn6Y27LGe9AyPaI3WjdKmA1/s1600/IMG_8091.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOyNTT4ONfiejosT3CERYZqFGP4nEtxmf7KCJtU1mZDMcSeDKG1iVA1m2wRspW8FfU2V2WqMEamQ9MSoEAgSmqL5gKcwBFlY6I4vPKGbe5QXhNmPn6MUm34Yn6Y27LGe9AyPaI3WjdKmA1/s400/IMG_8091.JPG" width="286" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">Ready...</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrNkaT_2mcCr7Obg_ysC8uIY8sq9XFQW-Ug_F-8JsSuw2BJFV-TZ4rbG6oggbsGY3YlITqKwY_h0-YsVk4QvliQmaC2jgvRt6nyaCm3fcN4ss_QL8FkFzrUArqLeZlielAlureukv044k4/s1600/IMG_8125.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrNkaT_2mcCr7Obg_ysC8uIY8sq9XFQW-Ug_F-8JsSuw2BJFV-TZ4rbG6oggbsGY3YlITqKwY_h0-YsVk4QvliQmaC2jgvRt6nyaCm3fcN4ss_QL8FkFzrUArqLeZlielAlureukv044k4/s400/IMG_8125.JPG" width="267" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">Aim...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK6IHsfgWMXATvTuKdkjrJpoq1_5FX7eoEGrsLoQx5e45R9OhpBYT9cw30Sulqj2MspDsAYjTx_tnlUCAKPWpk8u3slQOESYDrNJg9fJ9d6f9RDlhbuMWe56kAH9a69JYNsJLzC_63WL1M/s1600/IMG_8126.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK6IHsfgWMXATvTuKdkjrJpoq1_5FX7eoEGrsLoQx5e45R9OhpBYT9cw30Sulqj2MspDsAYjTx_tnlUCAKPWpk8u3slQOESYDrNJg9fJ9d6f9RDlhbuMWe56kAH9a69JYNsJLzC_63WL1M/s400/IMG_8126.JPG" width="267" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Fire!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfMFOlaMCVEuqE6T-IzKRC5fnvg3kT7KdQWBYiCOMQSVF9qak5CCMzFjIEcM1kcSXhlI1OWz5jKAU3NvjvQVKvB7Uf4CillaGGJ2sQJw4BrU3-tXViqB9e59f7XUoWDp-dePuTIPNj294Q/s1600/IMG_8127.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfMFOlaMCVEuqE6T-IzKRC5fnvg3kT7KdQWBYiCOMQSVF9qak5CCMzFjIEcM1kcSXhlI1OWz5jKAU3NvjvQVKvB7Uf4CillaGGJ2sQJw4BrU3-tXViqB9e59f7XUoWDp-dePuTIPNj294Q/s400/IMG_8127.JPG" width="267" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Second Stop: Gutach, site of the Black Forest Open Air Museum, where actual 17th- and 18th-century farmhouses from the across the Black Forest region have been brought together for you to explore at your own risk.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div>Hippenseppenhof farmhouse of 1599: picture twenty people in one half and a few dozen farm animals in the other half trying to survive the long winter in the middle of the forest. It's like Little House on the Prairie on steroids.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivwfuh6c5FrV7BZ_Os-8HFbDOtdcWw8ZMhN5PHqLqKvcZa2wxjGu8ReZTVJK_u1EHasJqZ91tqRhcePIlrTjaA3wfksSRLva_uYwp-80FMasCGRAoR8a2EDx5pW-kKxcnTIA34u8oXZAa3/s1600/IMG_8134.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivwfuh6c5FrV7BZ_Os-8HFbDOtdcWw8ZMhN5PHqLqKvcZa2wxjGu8ReZTVJK_u1EHasJqZ91tqRhcePIlrTjaA3wfksSRLva_uYwp-80FMasCGRAoR8a2EDx5pW-kKxcnTIA34u8oXZAa3/s400/IMG_8134.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Penelope measuring in the kitchen</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXxbtVLZ-gH37qG3Lls5edjTsc4mi4OwPuq2FMmbyZ32cK9WT73gHQjTgRAghOUxFeC0A-60XvoJwKRaClGe4K3Y1lQ1fOKJjwG_dZvyVBF8sqOHay8CauBtybcp1wkREnG8pJp1pUlNUf/s1600/IMG_8145.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXxbtVLZ-gH37qG3Lls5edjTsc4mi4OwPuq2FMmbyZ32cK9WT73gHQjTgRAghOUxFeC0A-60XvoJwKRaClGe4K3Y1lQ1fOKJjwG_dZvyVBF8sqOHay8CauBtybcp1wkREnG8pJp1pUlNUf/s400/IMG_8145.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">"Does anyone need some butter?"</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLSKyKRWbDfluISX3ybhyphenhyphenz0leAo_Md5qXrcFumcK0SdZqXpZ7qvRC4eHxDVvbE4rgwiQyDzVNjijgpUTHnOO2e0InRroVaGhX16PWtJzCF1zjdqOd2jnHubhkV8upO7h0Kmw6LCAD6zDqh/s1600/IMG_8153.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLSKyKRWbDfluISX3ybhyphenhyphenz0leAo_Md5qXrcFumcK0SdZqXpZ7qvRC4eHxDVvbE4rgwiQyDzVNjijgpUTHnOO2e0InRroVaGhX16PWtJzCF1zjdqOd2jnHubhkV8upO7h0Kmw6LCAD6zDqh/s400/IMG_8153.JPG" width="267" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Hangin' out next to the entrance to the hayloft</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1uC10Q-AZneQYiONiOO-acp8vtFUPHlrS9sv5WDwjVfxGd5r2RjMl3koxVoo3C_aNahAeU2FfVDV59ijU8b1iJ9OdqctcacSmFY_447Ww5u1848l5bdXfQAmQvCMyMzGO6DlzupNyUKs0/s1600/IMG_8170.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1uC10Q-AZneQYiONiOO-acp8vtFUPHlrS9sv5WDwjVfxGd5r2RjMl3koxVoo3C_aNahAeU2FfVDV59ijU8b1iJ9OdqctcacSmFY_447Ww5u1848l5bdXfQAmQvCMyMzGO6DlzupNyUKs0/s320/IMG_8170.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Neigh.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjoo2UZCm6vYgQ85DdmzoMHZbuzW7T5OtV2SKFtn_jBzjCQjnOY09Lvem90CfLZ4t2nTWgM5sxZM6fEYIX1fA1qCrAp50QhtcYx0rK8THPDfYSNXgishyphenhyphenQCfSJHz3eRaOcOcMrET6kUiF7/s1600/IMG_8154.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjoo2UZCm6vYgQ85DdmzoMHZbuzW7T5OtV2SKFtn_jBzjCQjnOY09Lvem90CfLZ4t2nTWgM5sxZM6fEYIX1fA1qCrAp50QhtcYx0rK8THPDfYSNXgishyphenhyphenQCfSJHz3eRaOcOcMrET6kUiF7/s400/IMG_8154.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Across the way: Vogtsbaurenhof farmhouse of 1612 in its original location</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlWJZbrRVa9yMWwH-9arsu-WD14va8K5uxA8vqAgireeDqY91J7OYfavSLS9R4zqxeYHLf7pd3fS2hqodj3_PUVr1Ix01CecfNNLoTPEKRytiqLQDfWlGjzJTZ3Pt0IQeTQ7LgSg1nNUTe/s1600/IMG_8135.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlWJZbrRVa9yMWwH-9arsu-WD14va8K5uxA8vqAgireeDqY91J7OYfavSLS9R4zqxeYHLf7pd3fS2hqodj3_PUVr1Ix01CecfNNLoTPEKRytiqLQDfWlGjzJTZ3Pt0IQeTQ7LgSg1nNUTe/s400/IMG_8135.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">"The great charm about a Black Forest house is its sociability; the cows are in the next room, the horses are upstairs, the geese and ducks in the kitchen, while and pigs, children and chickens live all over the place." Jerome K. Jermome</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSBAPWEO8vCTKwOneoL9Pnd8AYsgqmmPlOZLgDTZ7g0wJGX1XAaq0ZQDqc5crPhiFDpZkeMovTmxuPmMlhhospE15p9O7zA2KsvDc9tvO0JaJcG4q7FUVIzBi67MOClPY8iRu-mv6lwMzP/s1600/IMG_8174.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSBAPWEO8vCTKwOneoL9Pnd8AYsgqmmPlOZLgDTZ7g0wJGX1XAaq0ZQDqc5crPhiFDpZkeMovTmxuPmMlhhospE15p9O7zA2KsvDc9tvO0JaJcG4q7FUVIzBi67MOClPY8iRu-mv6lwMzP/s400/IMG_8174.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Moo.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8u2kg3OWBoTnWtkLecDjuswUNaxoVgVFflMF5PefJ5UaMFBTvaLH08AdYU2C-oQf4aHcOP8_qRB6CG5SRiQ62kHVhGxdQzEJC4FFYLlzNeS3YusCketTOn74aaHNkeLcZ67HbtAxSeImC/s1600/IMG_8184.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8u2kg3OWBoTnWtkLecDjuswUNaxoVgVFflMF5PefJ5UaMFBTvaLH08AdYU2C-oQf4aHcOP8_qRB6CG5SRiQ62kHVhGxdQzEJC4FFYLlzNeS3YusCketTOn74aaHNkeLcZ67HbtAxSeImC/s400/IMG_8184.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Moo?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiUYJzUaQzI84OZt5oxz2XnxBbWQNOupjBTOrJVRuSLbfHODmpWVNQg0UZUt85BgQq4rB8j-ZpwYciT-RJn3FhDTgV647rOhaIK0_cTf0RRV_9NfvUuVESjEfS4rA4rBnzjKfu3CGz1d28/s1600/IMG_8186.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiUYJzUaQzI84OZt5oxz2XnxBbWQNOupjBTOrJVRuSLbfHODmpWVNQg0UZUt85BgQq4rB8j-ZpwYciT-RJn3FhDTgV647rOhaIK0_cTf0RRV_9NfvUuVESjEfS4rA4rBnzjKfu3CGz1d28/s400/IMG_8186.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Penelope was a little freaked out by the Black Forest maidens and their <em>Bollenhut</em> hats. And for good reason. Talk about headgear with sexual overtones: red balls = young woman looking for a mate; black balls = taken.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijULPxs7VVNgHn8AIq3yatpMhE4pDkJwM3OxcMhMXydk3FjD_S_pNHkMyG6CuoJr_YlLA2VqePCAeEAXOH1LObYLhN2tCocDL2D9OOyHkGebMwBwGqB_5zdx9959MCPaGqdqf91BcY9v6p/s1600/IMG_8203.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijULPxs7VVNgHn8AIq3yatpMhE4pDkJwM3OxcMhMXydk3FjD_S_pNHkMyG6CuoJr_YlLA2VqePCAeEAXOH1LObYLhN2tCocDL2D9OOyHkGebMwBwGqB_5zdx9959MCPaGqdqf91BcY9v6p/s400/IMG_8203.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Honk. Honk.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI3HIKpDrGzaw7u3Oil31Zu5nfwwCLNFyZ1TuptOfMI6ruTYM0zANqhXUAIhmjsKIbDegYK68dSzFr4NvdAUwLNdW8rd3yqoqUcQ9Ly38SxSi4p04ra1yGfUZKcHHq9zVw6l9hyBA-zZED/s1600/IMG_8206.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI3HIKpDrGzaw7u3Oil31Zu5nfwwCLNFyZ1TuptOfMI6ruTYM0zANqhXUAIhmjsKIbDegYK68dSzFr4NvdAUwLNdW8rd3yqoqUcQ9Ly38SxSi4p04ra1yGfUZKcHHq9zVw6l9hyBA-zZED/s400/IMG_8206.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It's all fun and games until a goose mistakes a shoe for a mid-morning snack.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibtNmyRVqDQ1pvyVbgVG7Fyke5SyHXnhMTyya6fljXuX2VaJu1Mr7VurOoRD1nCtVoHAZ91-pAsm5znZ0Yc76a2UqqmRVYoQRW-iCjJNstbAh4Hy-hh_kdvZJWx3DHn7An93S4Nr7soeId/s1600/IMG_8208.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibtNmyRVqDQ1pvyVbgVG7Fyke5SyHXnhMTyya6fljXuX2VaJu1Mr7VurOoRD1nCtVoHAZ91-pAsm5znZ0Yc76a2UqqmRVYoQRW-iCjJNstbAh4Hy-hh_kdvZJWx3DHn7An93S4Nr7soeId/s400/IMG_8208.JPG" width="267" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">They're trying to seduce us with <em>Kirschwasser</em> (cherry schnapps).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpL6t251Mak6EAfNkskssR14XCfA9gaa0enyyws4o7xYV2DO5OEtq8afZvggWhtsQIEoS_SZtv92gEJHnliNpGorxhig1jF0fLYKyv6LzETA5nZgT2g2KjP_oKrqKULIL7tKwMCdBr35Gs/s1600/IMG_8217.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpL6t251Mak6EAfNkskssR14XCfA9gaa0enyyws4o7xYV2DO5OEtq8afZvggWhtsQIEoS_SZtv92gEJHnliNpGorxhig1jF0fLYKyv6LzETA5nZgT2g2KjP_oKrqKULIL7tKwMCdBr35Gs/s400/IMG_8217.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Baaa. Waaaa!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiZOGXrZkb8WfXR047H8lR7zyGjiCgYZn9sxaVJG-CwKgOvspZPy9suJ3HXbxq41dnHkEDFyV18ZhUufr9VzXtMQiHbOKFbxNVwu7XmYOji45fsWrDkMLs3V4X609ML501pIBMw2P3aj2z/s1600/IMG_8227.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiZOGXrZkb8WfXR047H8lR7zyGjiCgYZn9sxaVJG-CwKgOvspZPy9suJ3HXbxq41dnHkEDFyV18ZhUufr9VzXtMQiHbOKFbxNVwu7XmYOji45fsWrDkMLs3V4X609ML501pIBMw2P3aj2z/s400/IMG_8227.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The geese appear to have forever tainted Penelope's affection towards farm animals of any sort.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid6ortQJn3K3KL73jhhxARkyYWtisjo1R3f6KiO_tDvUz_qUSau5kiHo-NgzpX22l5enWXDi_BkJx15-83G2MZgNFtBRZJbXojXV7cuSIFOYwjwfJNfH4KR7kck5fcGTW21ryQzhmtYnM-/s1600/IMG_8229.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid6ortQJn3K3KL73jhhxARkyYWtisjo1R3f6KiO_tDvUz_qUSau5kiHo-NgzpX22l5enWXDi_BkJx15-83G2MZgNFtBRZJbXojXV7cuSIFOYwjwfJNfH4KR7kck5fcGTW21ryQzhmtYnM-/s400/IMG_8229.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Third Stop: The Grimm Brothers invited us over to Grandmother's house.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">"Grandmother, what big ears you have!"</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3j_SpOU3bJH9EJGW6PHrobSUrk2yzCIRzc-knbzSGaZQ0RJgQxXtQeQmvpjCXhgIOKTiczr7e4wtBr38GVPoVVUMW71bD-7mxmLNeEWLqIq6crI7bLXOSS3QCwsD1w5Q_wOlDFzYTbLWW/s1600/IMG_8238.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3j_SpOU3bJH9EJGW6PHrobSUrk2yzCIRzc-knbzSGaZQ0RJgQxXtQeQmvpjCXhgIOKTiczr7e4wtBr38GVPoVVUMW71bD-7mxmLNeEWLqIq6crI7bLXOSS3QCwsD1w5Q_wOlDFzYTbLWW/s400/IMG_8238.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Fourth Stop: Lake Mummelsee, a small, round glacial lake from the last Ice Age that sits on the side of Hornisgrinde Mountain.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX2I2q4P1ojqdi-FBlS8_jkfPRpYvMlHpT-qzFlGuo8pCbYC3as67HuQ7R71vuZodTBRScjFmz7J3fXX49sfo3wITjuHyAJnhq_jlv7yhohT9BJetg5bAV_NpPpf5u-cYhCx29jvz6MSqd/s1600/IMG_8240.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX2I2q4P1ojqdi-FBlS8_jkfPRpYvMlHpT-qzFlGuo8pCbYC3as67HuQ7R71vuZodTBRScjFmz7J3fXX49sfo3wITjuHyAJnhq_jlv7yhohT9BJetg5bAV_NpPpf5u-cYhCx29jvz6MSqd/s400/IMG_8240.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It may be small in size, but its dark waters reaches a depth of 55 feet deep.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgASmLDaj2rG9pzetJ0ejMO6ANZhnbZ2jgA874m87dcmS-rbOyxOB3E9iBPwZt0y3XZBdAbQF4kuyaClTh7VzS6UFsQlztEMJ2spscZHD1IyZFm6z59n4dLeD7wpam4XahylYRCuR8oNLu9/s1600/IMG_8249.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgASmLDaj2rG9pzetJ0ejMO6ANZhnbZ2jgA874m87dcmS-rbOyxOB3E9iBPwZt0y3XZBdAbQF4kuyaClTh7VzS6UFsQlztEMJ2spscZHD1IyZFm6z59n4dLeD7wpam4XahylYRCuR8oNLu9/s400/IMG_8249.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Watch your back! The King of the Mummelsee and his water nymphs lurk in the deep waters below, only rising to the surface at night.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnJpKLXs5Nj98eh3fdKFI9lDmJbsV4v7uuY_CmpS9EvUmcBOjtnYUJ-Opt7eRAmrHBfYjEqWnw_cMpLW1f3zfJqKZ4z6-N1PTN4CWLh_yomWrFjX-oCCJ7KwLXklV5BPMmAFlmHAndYzpe/s1600/IMG_8254.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnJpKLXs5Nj98eh3fdKFI9lDmJbsV4v7uuY_CmpS9EvUmcBOjtnYUJ-Opt7eRAmrHBfYjEqWnw_cMpLW1f3zfJqKZ4z6-N1PTN4CWLh_yomWrFjX-oCCJ7KwLXklV5BPMmAFlmHAndYzpe/s400/IMG_8254.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">"Look! A mermaid!"</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYzxjuEVLe7_npyyhDJQmlUdYOnLs5lgyGpm1rCoGQjAReQ_SwhZS-cYA6Mh_8jH1SLv7ZsfJndCUNK-F0CN7ThvEtDm6o4r2WeDmbCHn9yuLtlCnDFHItDQZEJ4tXzg5UPTBD8Ew909xK/s1600/IMG_8256.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYzxjuEVLe7_npyyhDJQmlUdYOnLs5lgyGpm1rCoGQjAReQ_SwhZS-cYA6Mh_8jH1SLv7ZsfJndCUNK-F0CN7ThvEtDm6o4r2WeDmbCHn9yuLtlCnDFHItDQZEJ4tXzg5UPTBD8Ew909xK/s400/IMG_8256.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Last Stop: Baden-Baden, the 19th-century playground of the rich and famous.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Not our <a href="http://trampsabroad2009.blogspot.com/2010/01/baden-baden-part-1.html">first</a>, or <a href="http://trampsabroad2009.blogspot.com/2010/01/baden-baden-part-1.html">second</a> time to visit this lovely spa town, but the first time to see it in full bloom.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjupe1mVJU9sndPAz5wmC2Bd6eNSX3fFWfijVoGRFDwxckTTmaQTqces34sXJZ3263itMnHbHXGpZooxjp1kNVvS1XD9eGVbkiMvccc1IgGwDrcp1e9tHH7dehDDdEWSGH4cBl09cykYc28/s1600/IMG_8279.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjupe1mVJU9sndPAz5wmC2Bd6eNSX3fFWfijVoGRFDwxckTTmaQTqces34sXJZ3263itMnHbHXGpZooxjp1kNVvS1XD9eGVbkiMvccc1IgGwDrcp1e9tHH7dehDDdEWSGH4cBl09cykYc28/s400/IMG_8279.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Frau 'Livy' Langdon.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17222026890712089962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3623555834777184291.post-15749123886762688952010-05-23T19:57:00.000+02:002010-05-23T19:57:35.934+02:00TrierWe took a weekend trip to Trier, Germany back at the beginning of April, and for whatever reason I have kept on postponing this post week after week. It's not that we didn't enjoy our time in Trier, it's just that with all of our traveling in March and April I got a case of blog backlog and these pictures got buried deeper and deeper in my computer. So, without further ado...<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimSuBMOYfG3odQvEZuLmjFEuVySTTV8WGL5LBdT8WC-W5n9yu_PExzN0XX5iQOX0_To3bVF1Dd6AcqmROrDDxoPfWxu0xNPQI1j3UeVnBZDX0WKINN3yYCtiXCqTytrKNm9poGOzyYdrCD/s1600/IMG_5892.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimSuBMOYfG3odQvEZuLmjFEuVySTTV8WGL5LBdT8WC-W5n9yu_PExzN0XX5iQOX0_To3bVF1Dd6AcqmROrDDxoPfWxu0xNPQI1j3UeVnBZDX0WKINN3yYCtiXCqTytrKNm9poGOzyYdrCD/s640/IMG_5892.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Welcome to Trier! It's like your Rome away from Rome.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;">The Porta Nigra (Black Gate) is the most famous landmark of the city. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKrKeZlt9t6wvg3b6RF1bigqrKJ7KPIh0Z62IOywPTBubS5HbumBwlgUPTseU9OeopzJ2JIBZMdh4nj33SToGXb2fFTpcYjfSrvnWBldvZK4PiPHr0za8sImNabaYEl9d5IFA7nihxpu7X/s1600/IMG_5921.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKrKeZlt9t6wvg3b6RF1bigqrKJ7KPIh0Z62IOywPTBubS5HbumBwlgUPTseU9OeopzJ2JIBZMdh4nj33SToGXb2fFTpcYjfSrvnWBldvZK4PiPHr0za8sImNabaYEl9d5IFA7nihxpu7X/s400/IMG_5921.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;">Trier is the oldest city in Germay. It was founded as the ancient Roman town Augusta Trevoreum by Augustus in 15 B.C. The Porta Nigra is all that remains of the 4-mile long city wall, 4 gates, and 47 watch towers that encircled the city.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOr7runX9O_2MVw_LumJMcDoxpuu0_sQVbtF09itrcT6hXwwYLbVs_NylINHdqYqoipDYgNdgEqai2coEJZrQQIUA8s3YqVIJ0OkG-ltM2KYFd5RtgWozF7yQU-mDNqaY4l93m23A_qppp/s1600/IMG_5905.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOr7runX9O_2MVw_LumJMcDoxpuu0_sQVbtF09itrcT6hXwwYLbVs_NylINHdqYqoipDYgNdgEqai2coEJZrQQIUA8s3YqVIJ0OkG-ltM2KYFd5RtgWozF7yQU-mDNqaY4l93m23A_qppp/s400/IMG_5905.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">The structure was built without mortar, so the stones are mostly supported by their own weight with some iron rods thrown in here and there for good measure. Reading about this made me a little nervous to climb up it, but I figure if it's been around this long, then hey what's to worry about? The main reason this gate survived was because it became a church. Nothing much has survived from the church, but we still had fun climbing and poking around. </div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0CGUBy9AKsvf0WIpFL8VurBISv6ynsiG7dL6IZUwetCEj-FzfS8h7kLFsGHXeR5rK7W2GlkprZ_Sld9ry3q0UzHBEXrkaL_IKAf5009dTVfXHDPnl1g76zHpYwPxMV8V0UnbIc5rvw3d2/s1600/IMG_5910.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0CGUBy9AKsvf0WIpFL8VurBISv6ynsiG7dL6IZUwetCEj-FzfS8h7kLFsGHXeR5rK7W2GlkprZ_Sld9ry3q0UzHBEXrkaL_IKAf5009dTVfXHDPnl1g76zHpYwPxMV8V0UnbIc5rvw3d2/s400/IMG_5910.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">At the top we got a pretty good view of the city and the surrounding hills covered in vineyards.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Notice anything out of place with this building?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin7qdDorZZfv0YafGMZeZpuJA-T3PZk16Pqy50SUdkv0AU4F0-1IrWG5LQEamtWhN0mSDGO9684EAUuafY8hh4vcl8xuG1zxBFKm5ihDNkVCiUt2m_eWofNdAP4WCi8vCyDgn-KDUG8kXs/s1600/IMG_5933.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin7qdDorZZfv0YafGMZeZpuJA-T3PZk16Pqy50SUdkv0AU4F0-1IrWG5LQEamtWhN0mSDGO9684EAUuafY8hh4vcl8xuG1zxBFKm5ihDNkVCiUt2m_eWofNdAP4WCi8vCyDgn-KDUG8kXs/s400/IMG_5933.JPG" width="267" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Why hello there floating door on the second floor. It's known as the House of the Three Maji, and it was built in the 13th century as a fortress. A wooden staircase up to the second floor used to be the only way in and out. If there is danger, just burn or tear down the stairs and you've got instant protection.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Below is one side of the Market Square. The square was filled with bustling cafes, outdoor markets and a Weinstube (stand where you can have a glass of the local wine). The tower belongs to the Church of St. Gangolf, the medieval townspeople's church, and it has summoned all drunks to go home when its bell tolls 10:00 every night since the middle ages. If you look above the clock face you'll see a phrase in Latin in golden letters. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSkenAPrq1noGBWDj54jLHHFdR0l7JAUDMjI_uLQQgxZUFBKdd8aTG6FbsdvBrXiaggxsGdoNUoL2ZHZJmyOYE6B_O_762iBm9rcOYZg747Z6I8QSdiZBlojlT_exEKXUKN_9qC_V_nZHT/s1600/IMG_5944.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSkenAPrq1noGBWDj54jLHHFdR0l7JAUDMjI_uLQQgxZUFBKdd8aTG6FbsdvBrXiaggxsGdoNUoL2ZHZJmyOYE6B_O_762iBm9rcOYZg747Z6I8QSdiZBlojlT_exEKXUKN_9qC_V_nZHT/s400/IMG_5944.JPG" width="267" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Across from the square is the huge St. Peter's Cathedral, the oldest church in Germany. In 1507 the mayor of Trier built the tower on St. Gangolf to make it higher than the one on the cathedral and put the Latin Bible verse from Matthew, "Keep watch and pray." The bishop wasn't too happy about this bold statement by the townsfolk, so he raised one tower of the cathedral and had it adorned with the remainder of the verse: "For you do not know the hour when the Lord will come." The bishop may have gotten the last word, but now the cathedral looks rather silly with one tower taller than the other.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwYyvABNQA1FdYBSzjRsVZbKFJgIU_gmyzWEUsrUmvrKYmh1rJiZVgb2y18z_Pmu5AnZ-9i1oC5Zh8B2gWWEO3nOZPlEo8NXKdM7gBTsRBymJJDfL6isZgVyAq3TvfeHtXRZ5K4b__GxL7/s1600/IMG_6088.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwYyvABNQA1FdYBSzjRsVZbKFJgIU_gmyzWEUsrUmvrKYmh1rJiZVgb2y18z_Pmu5AnZ-9i1oC5Zh8B2gWWEO3nOZPlEo8NXKdM7gBTsRBymJJDfL6isZgVyAq3TvfeHtXRZ5K4b__GxL7/s400/IMG_6088.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">In A.D. 326 Constantine comissioned the building of this St. Peter's Cathedral at the same time as he began construction on St. Peter's in Rome. It is quite a large and impressive place. On one side of the cathedral you can see the different eras of its construction. The red brick section is from the original 4th century construction.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGJKfJn-xH_ORaEwe6uTSPqdslWgZ0G01p5es6vP98FKy1hmDmiQKtXx32SeNuturyQlYQyY4kSBYQbPZ3zN0co39N-C3rrWBNYrq97TlkNOx5-EIV87bvWE0IQiaeZv74uONT2WNF7T4N/s1600/IMG_6080.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGJKfJn-xH_ORaEwe6uTSPqdslWgZ0G01p5es6vP98FKy1hmDmiQKtXx32SeNuturyQlYQyY4kSBYQbPZ3zN0co39N-C3rrWBNYrq97TlkNOx5-EIV87bvWE0IQiaeZv74uONT2WNF7T4N/s320/IMG_6080.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">When you walk inside what catches your eye is the illuminated altar at the very back of the cathedral. It holds one of the most highly treasured church relics, the Holy Robe of Jesus Christ, found by St. Helena (the mother of Constantine). </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsfs8YB626c6ZxQeSP_6viAQ_kDmaAUi_uXXz6cORZVSLU2VcEr44sdSsiMW-PkmrYrrc6euUySbfYomG_09wDlb3Wx_gaLeXYRNrPRHMOv5QKkRivl_7-P567f-UOLDetE5ODsus8SWeK/s1600/IMG_6068.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsfs8YB626c6ZxQeSP_6viAQ_kDmaAUi_uXXz6cORZVSLU2VcEr44sdSsiMW-PkmrYrrc6euUySbfYomG_09wDlb3Wx_gaLeXYRNrPRHMOv5QKkRivl_7-P567f-UOLDetE5ODsus8SWeK/s400/IMG_6068.JPG" width="267" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We were disappointed because you can't actually see the robe, but you instead have to rely on these pictures posted by the stairs that lead up to it.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxSj8XuXpMK8rv60LdvCSwiqrS7GW6DBp9HZmKuPrjVZUfeqS_RRB44tIB8XhnglwKsQqTPRJoAyFtX2tLbNbuD0iGZHfxz-sv-Vc7vIgy7-lE6M5u6-ENUPRdv2tM7ALExPifWZs0_nm0/s1600/IMG_6076.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxSj8XuXpMK8rv60LdvCSwiqrS7GW6DBp9HZmKuPrjVZUfeqS_RRB44tIB8XhnglwKsQqTPRJoAyFtX2tLbNbuD0iGZHfxz-sv-Vc7vIgy7-lE6M5u6-ENUPRdv2tM7ALExPifWZs0_nm0/s400/IMG_6076.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Some perspective: Penelope and I gazing up at the cathedral.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrVokK7BznAyuvmrdlE_yYAf24cN4gvAiB_zjXTSSKaD0N8EKuwd3Pg087TMLSdaj9ueJfvcIVcgnQes8Pr66NzOAhC6UigZ2Vb3hyXtwfbDoQoSdaEonEfAyg3RcmXzo3puezKCg7Td-T/s1600/IMG_6087.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrVokK7BznAyuvmrdlE_yYAf24cN4gvAiB_zjXTSSKaD0N8EKuwd3Pg087TMLSdaj9ueJfvcIVcgnQes8Pr66NzOAhC6UigZ2Vb3hyXtwfbDoQoSdaEonEfAyg3RcmXzo3puezKCg7Td-T/s400/IMG_6087.JPG" width="267" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Even though the cathdral is impressive, we were more in awe of the Roman Basilica, which was orignally Constantine's throne room. It's hard to believe that Constantine's thone sat where the altar is now. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsAGlDGivKTdCSXJctCrgC96WFF40RjHF49tryUEE8REg1l8ZXAEKBxfaMfl8oTOESNnqOD3GA7HsvAjbD8AYoaapC5FOpUrzOJ1o_IlYKEUQgYOcCauv5_GfDO86bcT7k9JXCLg3HBTRn/s1600/IMG_5968.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsAGlDGivKTdCSXJctCrgC96WFF40RjHF49tryUEE8REg1l8ZXAEKBxfaMfl8oTOESNnqOD3GA7HsvAjbD8AYoaapC5FOpUrzOJ1o_IlYKEUQgYOcCauv5_GfDO86bcT7k9JXCLg3HBTRn/s400/IMG_5968.JPG" width="267" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It is the largest intact Roman structure outside of Rome. The inside is quite bare of decoration now, but you can imagine the opulance it once held. The wooden beams that make up the ceiling stand out against the stone and brick. To give you an idea of size, each square in the ceiling is 10 ft x 10 ft, which is about the size of a hotel room.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjebVkcTc1yutgDrcO1TwlVg95M6bsUd4GrXbMzDm5pHz1N_ADvc0tjzKS3m8Qi8lBU_dl6iLqROtVQsw8J2jVha_wYFWkSTl7r2kutMvSJ49l01KLCahcAfh6kMkLqrSROQmkJ-7jcUFQz/s1600/IMG_5972.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjebVkcTc1yutgDrcO1TwlVg95M6bsUd4GrXbMzDm5pHz1N_ADvc0tjzKS3m8Qi8lBU_dl6iLqROtVQsw8J2jVha_wYFWkSTl7r2kutMvSJ49l01KLCahcAfh6kMkLqrSROQmkJ-7jcUFQz/s400/IMG_5972.JPG" width="267" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Since 1856 it has been a Lutheran church, but in the 12th century the bishop took over it and converted it to a five-story palace. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhReYpKfv8VkhIeySh7dPc3Kh1DfW144sPUIpNW7Suec2BmlSrjHSP9FwxOquQIH7_NYJoQuP-1tKyeh0KRMR8UFDKv9wxbQHGL3iHH_eDkZNugQaFY9R8jJ1gkESx1uOWjiyfW6udWapqQ/s1600/IMG_5976.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhReYpKfv8VkhIeySh7dPc3Kh1DfW144sPUIpNW7Suec2BmlSrjHSP9FwxOquQIH7_NYJoQuP-1tKyeh0KRMR8UFDKv9wxbQHGL3iHH_eDkZNugQaFY9R8jJ1gkESx1uOWjiyfW6udWapqQ/s400/IMG_5976.JPG" width="286" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And that pink rococo monstrousity tacked on to the front is the Elector's Palace that was added to the basilica in the 18th century. Now it holds the local government offices. Talk about a clash of styles... </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiFAgKg9RR3gSSC1V8ZZDqpoWFazcNZuBmvPsf3fli4-L-elMP3Ew72siYS-vjnuJq4ZwbY4cycBEXmrsz6sUqfQL1wm-uubvi5wCSBgskHhk2FFaG88Xp-ahZwFxasV5A7s-6a4YCXta0/s1600/IMG_5978.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiFAgKg9RR3gSSC1V8ZZDqpoWFazcNZuBmvPsf3fli4-L-elMP3Ew72siYS-vjnuJq4ZwbY4cycBEXmrsz6sUqfQL1wm-uubvi5wCSBgskHhk2FFaG88Xp-ahZwFxasV5A7s-6a4YCXta0/s400/IMG_5978.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The palace redeems itself a bit with these beautiful gardens that stretch out in front.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpQjhEJd_eRSQyA-6pdJyrpJ7BKQsSs-974ZNkXIOTeejeEGOOD4vH7Ao77akT5yfpVMT9dNt8A8Gz8CC_JdYPgu8Jsis3GzLe5k7Zt-iA2cIuGWj9OsE3r5KNCjlLR9ibN9sAY8z0XKyH/s1600/IMG_5960.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpQjhEJd_eRSQyA-6pdJyrpJ7BKQsSs-974ZNkXIOTeejeEGOOD4vH7Ao77akT5yfpVMT9dNt8A8Gz8CC_JdYPgu8Jsis3GzLe5k7Zt-iA2cIuGWj9OsE3r5KNCjlLR9ibN9sAY8z0XKyH/s400/IMG_5960.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> After a short nap in the Ergo, Penelope was ready to prance around in them.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirD1tiIRM4hhog6gWOqwKK8ZneekpgO3QiDso4Px6ePLZfx2_wqpyqeijfx6Ms88Pk1h9mhrKrfgL9MwPId4V7OlWlGWLiMUcgH6U5rserClI5JFF02RWHqaadqc0xPuCel-1aH9rIqjOM/s1600/IMG_5961.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirD1tiIRM4hhog6gWOqwKK8ZneekpgO3QiDso4Px6ePLZfx2_wqpyqeijfx6Ms88Pk1h9mhrKrfgL9MwPId4V7OlWlGWLiMUcgH6U5rserClI5JFF02RWHqaadqc0xPuCel-1aH9rIqjOM/s400/IMG_5961.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The gardens extend to this nice grassy park, which leads to another huge Roman construction...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh6SdQmvLLygAzaVX8MFQWdOs2OiOnQcn5SsT_SLwwlwf4J_orW1fDwkZLlAXj26j1psrSe1vg-Qdo9uW8qKpJGcMlFOwl__v5Z7Dg29beRE-kfNqmYUHdq0w7S05T5DHOAab8qbbpYYAx/s1600/IMG_5985.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh6SdQmvLLygAzaVX8MFQWdOs2OiOnQcn5SsT_SLwwlwf4J_orW1fDwkZLlAXj26j1psrSe1vg-Qdo9uW8qKpJGcMlFOwl__v5Z7Dg29beRE-kfNqmYUHdq0w7S05T5DHOAab8qbbpYYAx/s400/IMG_5985.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The Imperial Baths.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi431cyrjfpklPIeruYnmvvY9bjO6R2FkMGmCaTGs455ko7PpaP5VIht93OyioS4dWIDCunDwcuj8lj9OOZcyFLnnzfH4Mjfu7elrwlrZXieANPXJEm_RhyphenhyphenXNBvnB8KIBhVFdi1QMO9p5xx/s1600/IMG_5988.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi431cyrjfpklPIeruYnmvvY9bjO6R2FkMGmCaTGs455ko7PpaP5VIht93OyioS4dWIDCunDwcuj8lj9OOZcyFLnnzfH4Mjfu7elrwlrZXieANPXJEm_RhyphenhyphenXNBvnB8KIBhVFdi1QMO9p5xx/s400/IMG_5988.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">They were also built by Constantine and kown to be the most intricate bath of the Roman world. Too bad they were never completed. When Constantine left the throne construction stopped.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS15UVwlEW-L3cyMh8LOGC1XlrW1hUIaK-ezTzL26yH5BXICR61kdrd3lC4ZUty3KLbtuhlsCSS36HOxl2IAwE0hjPl4Z6ZggYvxNxF5l07Dr_w-SMWVuLCLZwfxaoCMlxNODR_7p8MQVw/s1600/IMG_6004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS15UVwlEW-L3cyMh8LOGC1XlrW1hUIaK-ezTzL26yH5BXICR61kdrd3lC4ZUty3KLbtuhlsCSS36HOxl2IAwE0hjPl4Z6ZggYvxNxF5l07Dr_w-SMWVuLCLZwfxaoCMlxNODR_7p8MQVw/s400/IMG_6004.JPG" width="267" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">You can wander around the dark complex of tunnels (almost a mile's worth) that held a two-story subterranean complex of pipes and furnaces that were needed to keep the water at a perfect 120 degrees.(I also found it the perfect enivornment to lull Penelope into her afternoon nap.)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBMVkmnddlLwKQPai4HIIjF1rYFO_gTfChD5HzPMCTz_Ob3H36p5W2DpZHINg0IQXt0DUR-CwbHLqvQDEvI0cPMeLhdMiEvQmyyIGpwuPZjz8aE302kH2ZbVd6NwXI_uTfdPBdE_RpF1X2/s1600/IMG_5992.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBMVkmnddlLwKQPai4HIIjF1rYFO_gTfChD5HzPMCTz_Ob3H36p5W2DpZHINg0IQXt0DUR-CwbHLqvQDEvI0cPMeLhdMiEvQmyyIGpwuPZjz8aE302kH2ZbVd6NwXI_uTfdPBdE_RpF1X2/s400/IMG_5992.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The last Roman attraction we visited was the ampitheater.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioxwKjth8C1ASm4ZYqgx49IAxCZm5rulWcRlgYaiiGmlnpx8ItUZ2sgvEGmk6zYrkWEN6gv1K4H2kIOKu0aJXQIqZNuUN-7D85di2t140aU8tv2YDnmZZCt18bNU74Annz_3FLp_iGi_kw/s1600/IMG_6031.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioxwKjth8C1ASm4ZYqgx49IAxCZm5rulWcRlgYaiiGmlnpx8ItUZ2sgvEGmk6zYrkWEN6gv1K4H2kIOKu0aJXQIqZNuUN-7D85di2t140aU8tv2YDnmZZCt18bNU74Annz_3FLp_iGi_kw/s400/IMG_6031.JPG" width="267" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It was built around 200 A.D., and crowds of up to 20,000 came to watch gory gladiator and animal fights.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWWC5Mo6DDyu0_0h2FK_nKxRzagix4l9eIMU9aojnxxXmgP3JDL_kr4Guq70XSpnoRXjEnaAjsw6P2F61JIMf0fQQ2-9sOtIWzB0twP_cFsy1P6Dws8QcHmJmb-C3tjzWIDgDTCWbnDHQF/s1600/IMG_6035.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWWC5Mo6DDyu0_0h2FK_nKxRzagix4l9eIMU9aojnxxXmgP3JDL_kr4Guq70XSpnoRXjEnaAjsw6P2F61JIMf0fQQ2-9sOtIWzB0twP_cFsy1P6Dws8QcHmJmb-C3tjzWIDgDTCWbnDHQF/s400/IMG_6035.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Penelope wanted to see her first gladiator fight, but unfortunately for her there wasn't a show that day.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3vT0UibVqg7lHZUbSafmNPHmok3bZxSYtNf0psz-IgekvAG7nl94VmO7CA7Oe9gyGHNWfNm45S_W1i9AuvtyVAA7DgYUZRtqdS3-kgEymNrbiCPzycFoCSMRPJpI0bdLOjTvvrvBOtLaI/s1600/IMG_6040.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3vT0UibVqg7lHZUbSafmNPHmok3bZxSYtNf0psz-IgekvAG7nl94VmO7CA7Oe9gyGHNWfNm45S_W1i9AuvtyVAA7DgYUZRtqdS3-kgEymNrbiCPzycFoCSMRPJpI0bdLOjTvvrvBOtLaI/s400/IMG_6040.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> Then we descended down into the area below the stage where the 'participants' were held before it was their turn to fight.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7qecdpZLewRcswCICCeIXIoq4J4clhGpcVUSHob1CLxowQNIk54GuXkJ5FcQaK4Orc5CCQDBjnwnNaHat7XHhOTsOTJq9Yet8W_cPDpP9YrvY1QeDMwfTPA5RlI8wovsRy99CFWOz2K3_/s1600/IMG_6058.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7qecdpZLewRcswCICCeIXIoq4J4clhGpcVUSHob1CLxowQNIk54GuXkJ5FcQaK4Orc5CCQDBjnwnNaHat7XHhOTsOTJq9Yet8W_cPDpP9YrvY1QeDMwfTPA5RlI8wovsRy99CFWOz2K3_/s400/IMG_6058.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">It was a little creepy.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgphW51ft6vdVHXHd3sjBb_gPUFFr-0jxslJ6MeS2cvTm08W3Iwx9UZLuo6bVnQSFuv9eDhCw8ZwMWYNwREpKv0ROg2lCzo2micnVu1h9L7RizR3Xzv94QPjA-CR56arRP9GWVdUrYbHJbJ/s1600/IMG_6050.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgphW51ft6vdVHXHd3sjBb_gPUFFr-0jxslJ6MeS2cvTm08W3Iwx9UZLuo6bVnQSFuv9eDhCw8ZwMWYNwREpKv0ROg2lCzo2micnVu1h9L7RizR3Xzv94QPjA-CR56arRP9GWVdUrYbHJbJ/s400/IMG_6050.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">But we were very brave.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWx9YPbRdbS7gscdb6AEpcZc5NqdIKl1YwTBUgHsLXYk9j0H4DaKBUymstkliR9_x29WXIBRKd9IA_HEihN9HYMdM5Q71smbVXg2YPv7nraokDsjgFyDa7SZCIeIy09nUfQxw9Rug83t1p/s1600/IMG_6048.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWx9YPbRdbS7gscdb6AEpcZc5NqdIKl1YwTBUgHsLXYk9j0H4DaKBUymstkliR9_x29WXIBRKd9IA_HEihN9HYMdM5Q71smbVXg2YPv7nraokDsjgFyDa7SZCIeIy09nUfQxw9Rug83t1p/s400/IMG_6048.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Then we went back up and found the cages where the scary animals were kept. Watch out for lions!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSosgZT9h9xXPoBK_UZV_AfZpfFSSLD7tdOLoKFAZgyFwdjygG7AGyp6_W6X9gcrQBDCxE3sX3WodGK_pXOsA9beDh4ZDVLuH-FPvjTHAo7ypDCQbjyZ_tcpzJ_xfthqMofTiEIYL9W3LG/s1600/IMG_6063.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSosgZT9h9xXPoBK_UZV_AfZpfFSSLD7tdOLoKFAZgyFwdjygG7AGyp6_W6X9gcrQBDCxE3sX3WodGK_pXOsA9beDh4ZDVLuH-FPvjTHAo7ypDCQbjyZ_tcpzJ_xfthqMofTiEIYL9W3LG/s400/IMG_6063.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">After we'd had our fill of gladiator gore, we traipsed around the vineyards on the surrounding hills and looked for signs that spring was in the air. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCRFRfbRURRMlqKbpeC5FPvir8iExlkg1391vM4uBO6ffeZgFcQzZpw1lrsmxQ8HKmyHaSzb9l7vfrzJrAjiZpAlWBVLNgBcst4xv3yY9Cl54rbWdOxqan5cSGjBjG9FEWpkxQ8FNeOy96/s1600/IMG_6066.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCRFRfbRURRMlqKbpeC5FPvir8iExlkg1391vM4uBO6ffeZgFcQzZpw1lrsmxQ8HKmyHaSzb9l7vfrzJrAjiZpAlWBVLNgBcst4xv3yY9Cl54rbWdOxqan5cSGjBjG9FEWpkxQ8FNeOy96/s400/IMG_6066.JPG" width="400" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Last but not least (and having nothing to do with the Romans) is the Karl Marx House. This is where he was born and grew up, and there is a newly renovated museum inside.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGmGDNZUuIXHIcxorp_M0vDYH3kUMEtMgNMDPNPxGE7CDwL0YQFqCLJ1fOHPd4cL7uU5QJESf0MZN0_q0UuFm30QD21rW87Pa9kj2v82eo_V4KP-qIgPFNgBfZf5Nuu_9oHWGKoyZkW8Om/s1600/IMG_5955.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGmGDNZUuIXHIcxorp_M0vDYH3kUMEtMgNMDPNPxGE7CDwL0YQFqCLJ1fOHPd4cL7uU5QJESf0MZN0_q0UuFm30QD21rW87Pa9kj2v82eo_V4KP-qIgPFNgBfZf5Nuu_9oHWGKoyZkW8Om/s400/IMG_5955.JPG" width="286" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Much to the Father's dismay, I wasn't too interested in purusing the collection of Marx's writings inside, but I was interested in this plaque on the wall because it demonstrated how much German I have learned since we've been here. "In this house on May 5th, 1818, Karl Marx was born."</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbbkAqHM7Lnc-SWVlTJ6sUPmcczn_e64vp3BshRm7JyPWfdvbDAAdfdaRS5E5RZ4UFo84GlzgEf1HZIAao3sci9SCZB26_3dwJBZb5MokUMU6EbhmnEsQpPm7R3V2o8K0n6KKfFo3YHbdh/s1600/IMG_5953.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbbkAqHM7Lnc-SWVlTJ6sUPmcczn_e64vp3BshRm7JyPWfdvbDAAdfdaRS5E5RZ4UFo84GlzgEf1HZIAao3sci9SCZB26_3dwJBZb5MokUMU6EbhmnEsQpPm7R3V2o8K0n6KKfFo3YHbdh/s400/IMG_5953.JPG" width="267" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Frau 'Livy' Langdon.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17222026890712089962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3623555834777184291.post-88076260447369400112010-05-21T07:00:00.001+02:002010-05-21T07:00:03.487+02:00Traveling with Baby, Part 1<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikNoESOrqXw6-1noU2GSsKzYxl59pnEW2q8xh-MuhmtG8IAhM7MFvcNllsxeTIwl3mj00nm4WOVT9qFLql9rMm2Ntk-zH7MHEFoshx4mdt5mP-xS29uf5bSm9JkBhKx_c53c4PDtgkFIhP/s1600/IMG_5216.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikNoESOrqXw6-1noU2GSsKzYxl59pnEW2q8xh-MuhmtG8IAhM7MFvcNllsxeTIwl3mj00nm4WOVT9qFLql9rMm2Ntk-zH7MHEFoshx4mdt5mP-xS29uf5bSm9JkBhKx_c53c4PDtgkFIhP/s400/IMG_5216.JPG" width="267" wt="true" /></a>After close to a year of non-stop traveling abroad with Penelope in tow I feel like I have now moved to expert status when it comes to traveling with a baby. </div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnWsNOic3yn4FBALFEz9sJH4roRA4rc7CtO6sLZ99MeRLMSdNEjKJ1MU6hLjXFc_dAfUY3O6M00uIqWrEiBwx3HuBllXTLvoaUvy_Q0Uv7B1eLIzZfs-KY5O6hRQCQjIbXnm4lRcNTz3lB/s1600/IMG_6233.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnWsNOic3yn4FBALFEz9sJH4roRA4rc7CtO6sLZ99MeRLMSdNEjKJ1MU6hLjXFc_dAfUY3O6M00uIqWrEiBwx3HuBllXTLvoaUvy_Q0Uv7B1eLIzZfs-KY5O6hRQCQjIbXnm4lRcNTz3lB/s400/IMG_6233.JPG" width="267" wt="true" /></a>We <a href="http://trampsabroad2009.blogspot.com/2009/05/wir-gehen-nach-deutschland.html">left our home</a> in North Carolina for Europe when Penelope was a mere 3 1/2 months old, and now she is over one year. (My how time flies when you're having fun!) During that time we have been going, going, going from one place to the next. We've hit a few dozen places within Germany as well as several surrounding countries, not to mention the local places we venture to on a regular basis. As Penelope has grown some things about traveling have gotten much easier and it has been more enjoyable to see her interact with and take in the new people and sights around her. But for the most part, traveling with a toddler has become more difficult. We've had to become more flexible with our expectations and even get super creative at times.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">Here are a few things I have learned along the way...</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">#1 You need a good set of wheels.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaMncmkgOTn5Z4Zrmc4CkPVmeKaqszwRKaLIl1i4nOgToRYua-PNAUYzq8LgcSZabBCuF4JS2pJEh4rH34H8ClbFn2qe-2h5E24-yd25Rk-3sSuSIpJZsV8PClzs9jZLAT6-lYj9cbzJaz/s1600/IMG_6490.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaMncmkgOTn5Z4Zrmc4CkPVmeKaqszwRKaLIl1i4nOgToRYua-PNAUYzq8LgcSZabBCuF4JS2pJEh4rH34H8ClbFn2qe-2h5E24-yd25Rk-3sSuSIpJZsV8PClzs9jZLAT6-lYj9cbzJaz/s400/IMG_6490.JPG" width="286" wt="true" /></a>Here is Penelope at <a href="http://trampsabroad2009.blogspot.com/2009/08/carnivalesque-cathedral-ode-to-st.html">St. Albans</a> when she was almost 4 months riding high in my favorite traveling companion, the <a href="http://www.pishposhbaby.com/u151756.html">Britax Vigour</a> stroller. This thing has gone with me for hundreds of miles of traveling over cobblestone streets, gravel paths, grassy hills, flights of stairs, steep curbs, on and off buses and trains, you name it. And it hasn't failed me yet!</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1irnjGODkiK2V6wC9-w3TWea-6bdb0GAqEZPhml0L05iUpxAJSDrFTTn6DOBv8PnAx3yFGR2DB3NFuDEtLK4h4oabA7jiD6rFaR57CdbEVZmXVg-AT0Jd2_2YD5xJX-766Tu04CU5Tw2z/s1600/IMG_6568.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1irnjGODkiK2V6wC9-w3TWea-6bdb0GAqEZPhml0L05iUpxAJSDrFTTn6DOBv8PnAx3yFGR2DB3NFuDEtLK4h4oabA7jiD6rFaR57CdbEVZmXVg-AT0Jd2_2YD5xJX-766Tu04CU5Tw2z/s400/IMG_6568.JPG" width="400" wt="true" /></a>When she was a newborn we removed the seat and attached the Britax infant carseat to the frame, but Penelope had to make the switch to the big girl seat when we moved overseas. Look how tiny she looked in it back then!</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Cn7zr4EHF4Kd-zaUU22nnP5nmrXniqXQR1sCv-er1fqPhOKyZY-egp3EkcI3AcBFmvKoL4_VfCT4LiFyzKxWqcxThFh3OhO2Lvb0PwX0P4Ru6Hkl53IQa4jbfRpIsZ0IiDxdd35uEygS/s1600/IMG_7510.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Cn7zr4EHF4Kd-zaUU22nnP5nmrXniqXQR1sCv-er1fqPhOKyZY-egp3EkcI3AcBFmvKoL4_VfCT4LiFyzKxWqcxThFh3OhO2Lvb0PwX0P4Ru6Hkl53IQa4jbfRpIsZ0IiDxdd35uEygS/s400/IMG_7510.JPG" width="285" wt="true" /></a>Until Penelope was about 6 months I had the seat turned so she was facing me, but since then I have had her facing out so that she can see the world--this definitely helps in the entertainment department. Dogs, birds and other people are much more interesting to look at than the same ole mommy face.</div><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3MFdWPuek49mlmy7f6H-5eHvaNP5rYiMmhRC7WmRLzRK8uKTY3EqVzpX3vlefh4sTECX1s93-oami49x7LSVu55Znb3O0UGbDGg0-speGpmlZsB4QEZE8_7J6m-GJ4Kx8lzVqzQ5hRsf2/s1600/IMG_6602.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3MFdWPuek49mlmy7f6H-5eHvaNP5rYiMmhRC7WmRLzRK8uKTY3EqVzpX3vlefh4sTECX1s93-oami49x7LSVu55Znb3O0UGbDGg0-speGpmlZsB4QEZE8_7J6m-GJ4Kx8lzVqzQ5hRsf2/s400/IMG_6602.JPG" width="286" wt="true" /></a>The seat easily reclines so that Penelope can nap on the go. A sun shade or even blanket thrown across keeps her out of the sun, free from distractions, and warmer if it's a cold or windy day. </div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn-ITL1CWX6bsurZv4BjDDWT0nSwweWHw3I2qrbEdEvgDkfzP1i9PB9oFnr5xjV8fE7rh-9UOJPiMyKIObra8kSqhd9uICYEWwTyHJZwU89MOw7oOeGNDYmII2HMh2HVp0DO6knRRQkhjI/s1600/IMG_5566.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn-ITL1CWX6bsurZv4BjDDWT0nSwweWHw3I2qrbEdEvgDkfzP1i9PB9oFnr5xjV8fE7rh-9UOJPiMyKIObra8kSqhd9uICYEWwTyHJZwU89MOw7oOeGNDYmII2HMh2HVp0DO6knRRQkhjI/s400/IMG_5566.JPG" width="285" wt="true" /></a>I always keep a small travel umbrella tucked into the deep pocket behind the seat and a plastic rain cover in the basket below for wet situations. These have saved us on numerous occasions, like here at the Dachau concentration camp when it starting raining and then sleeting while we were taking a tour. Brr! It's a bit difficult to make out in this picture, but I also always have this huge carabiner clipped onto the handle of the stroller. I use it to clip on random bags of things we tend to accumulate while traveling.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTTexNlSmKKH5VPWmh0GWqfgegS9Lu6j-m_L4VK1HpXOmmhqjNboO6AnowywTtF8fMPGPm0Tfvw9e9F8PmP4c2e5P423NemiHKoPEnngzrP9Xr01u_TyDkyaFyArtEM0ShoG9RxQafhKhI/s1600/IMG_4787.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTTexNlSmKKH5VPWmh0GWqfgegS9Lu6j-m_L4VK1HpXOmmhqjNboO6AnowywTtF8fMPGPm0Tfvw9e9F8PmP4c2e5P423NemiHKoPEnngzrP9Xr01u_TyDkyaFyArtEM0ShoG9RxQafhKhI/s400/IMG_4787.JPG" width="286" wt="true" /></a>And no need to worry when the cafe or restaurant doesn't have a high chair. Just pull it right up to the table and you have an instant baby seat! (So maybe some of the finer eating establishments would frown upon this, but we wouldn't know because you wouldn't find us in one of those nowadays.)</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">Here are some other reasons this stroller has worked for me during our travels:</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">--The big inflatable rear tires make it super sturdy for all sorts of terrain (I even figured out how to go up and down stairs if I angle them just the right way when I'm by myself and no helpful stranger is in sight), and the front swivel wheels make it easy to steer.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">--The big basket underneath holds a large diaper bag filled with all of the essential travel items (I think I've tested the weight limit more than once, but it's still holding strong).</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">--The canvas fabric zips off so it's easy to clean (why is it that strollers attract all sorts of food and dirt when you're traveling?).</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">--The handle adjusts to different height positions, and you can fold it all the way up or down when you need to fit into tight spaces (like city buses packed full of smelly people).</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">I know most people prefer an umbrella stroller when they travel because it's small, lightweight, and folds up easily, but I do not. We rarely travel by car when in Europe, so it doesn't matter that this stroller isn't very compact when it folds up. It easily rolls onto trains and buses, and we just check it at the gate when we fly. Umbrella strollers aren't durable enough for our kind of traveling (or cobblestone friendly for that matter), don't always lean back to make for easier napping on the go, and don't offer the storage space my stroller does.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">On the other hand, I've also learned...</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">#2 You need a good back up method</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaol2golvpkgnxC1jWGG6VnkprlGrack8Us0VzIqVqqwvJkNUFVPy3wrsqLc99pJd9FEUWQYiu5OSH6TwzsQeFV6ts7pDEXwuohsgpZpV3ACyKlDKBDlzyjY-tP931JfOC5qGjaEm-c0_P/s1600/IMG_6716.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaol2golvpkgnxC1jWGG6VnkprlGrack8Us0VzIqVqqwvJkNUFVPy3wrsqLc99pJd9FEUWQYiu5OSH6TwzsQeFV6ts7pDEXwuohsgpZpV3ACyKlDKBDlzyjY-tP931JfOC5qGjaEm-c0_P/s400/IMG_6716.JPG" width="267" wt="true" /></a>I'm talking baby carriers here, because when a stroller isn't allowed in a museum or castle, or not feasible on a hiking trail or steep cobblestone streets, and when your own arms won't cut it, you need an infant carrier, or wrap, or sling or some type of carrying contraption. </div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBb2EBkioJFNTBOuSnLnmhFe4RxCk4RkfoJylm6t8atGvJ-2-8_wDmJV8ztiK7wGo6eSGrPWdvVmzBPBYU76t0DaZlmJzmdten-fcUvWfvU5J8djqvCYYuzIEcFCLzSVvnGAt9GSWtYfaU/s1600/IMG_5904.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBb2EBkioJFNTBOuSnLnmhFe4RxCk4RkfoJylm6t8atGvJ-2-8_wDmJV8ztiK7wGo6eSGrPWdvVmzBPBYU76t0DaZlmJzmdten-fcUvWfvU5J8djqvCYYuzIEcFCLzSVvnGAt9GSWtYfaU/s400/IMG_5904.JPG" width="400" wt="true" /></a>My hands-down favorite is the <a href="http://www.ergobabycarrier.com/">Ergo carrier</a>. It is way easier on your back than anything else I've enountered (ahem, Baby Bjorn) and it can be used until your child is at least 40 pounds. I have no problem carrying Penelope around in it all day while touring, and she is well over 20 pounds now. I switch off wearing her on my front and on my back to give her and me a little variety (cause I'm fun like that).</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqSaWNHg3wY7WM9HK99k1eSHoDuhHfWGKIW-LLSG6b7VxyGM56V3FzKbr5Wggi9NxD1Z1WRUuzFUisV8KOUaZlZ_V5u7oMDU6ec7hU43B6jLlTu5uepr7EebO7hifZPPjtQfXCTJedLeMm/s1600/IMG_8028.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqSaWNHg3wY7WM9HK99k1eSHoDuhHfWGKIW-LLSG6b7VxyGM56V3FzKbr5Wggi9NxD1Z1WRUuzFUisV8KOUaZlZ_V5u7oMDU6ec7hU43B6jLlTu5uepr7EebO7hifZPPjtQfXCTJedLeMm/s400/IMG_8028.JPG" width="400" wt="true" /></a>Even now she falls asleep in it pretty well when she's snuggled against my chest. There is a cover that I can snap over her to support her head and keep her out of the sun (or rain in this case) when she is sleeping.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnw1C-7Y9nN87rdDfFwdMGCEjiCvjAyt-YZOADIA5qEc4IjcMWh7sZDUQ3pIVeumU7aYAEVzJOINzLXcxCWezJlQMMkHOK32beyaVKoFSHiTWA_bl9nlv39bl6SL-vhCx9ltFD4iEZpLBM/s1600/IMG_8949.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnw1C-7Y9nN87rdDfFwdMGCEjiCvjAyt-YZOADIA5qEc4IjcMWh7sZDUQ3pIVeumU7aYAEVzJOINzLXcxCWezJlQMMkHOK32beyaVKoFSHiTWA_bl9nlv39bl6SL-vhCx9ltFD4iEZpLBM/s400/IMG_8949.JPG" width="400" wt="true" /></a>Up until Penelope was four or five months I used the <a href="http://www.mobywrap.com/">Moby Wrap</a> when we were traveling because she was too small for the Ergo. It took me a little while to figure out how to wrap it around us so we were both comfortable (it's basically an extremely long piece of fabric), but we quickly grew to love it. It rolls up to a little compact bundle so it's easy to throw in your travel bag. </div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4t1QRTJY3o5rqsJU05YkcTANsV16YtVScA-ImZNV8rlQDU0Q0Zzzc2QP_gkuMG2mzFyM27XjCkAHqAMMDk7cqISLDvPBCn-RkX0MgvQk73VNk05TdE7WeGPJFgW0qWx0yBQhmNVLzyQiP/s1600/IMG_7039.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4t1QRTJY3o5rqsJU05YkcTANsV16YtVScA-ImZNV8rlQDU0Q0Zzzc2QP_gkuMG2mzFyM27XjCkAHqAMMDk7cqISLDvPBCn-RkX0MgvQk73VNk05TdE7WeGPJFgW0qWx0yBQhmNVLzyQiP/s400/IMG_7039.JPG" width="285" wt="true" /></a>With the Moby wrap she could also face out, but this was never as comfortable on my back as when she was facing in.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">Some other helpful uses for infant carriers while traveling:</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">--I always put her in one when we are flying to go through airport security so I can just walk on through and have my hands free.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPNBypQb-ugyu4vdGjvCwKozxFhC8qOtmO404ScMXuKlCyTFdTbTQKf5HtmsLQKzOwtm0MJ5toWHwXbMZzvkHg1I7HS-naewIeO7RVRt9uiE8HvULBGxRY_mOO5BNJQ_ioiB7_iTZK2mif/s1600/IMG_7869.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPNBypQb-ugyu4vdGjvCwKozxFhC8qOtmO404ScMXuKlCyTFdTbTQKf5HtmsLQKzOwtm0MJ5toWHwXbMZzvkHg1I7HS-naewIeO7RVRt9uiE8HvULBGxRY_mOO5BNJQ_ioiB7_iTZK2mif/s400/IMG_7869.JPG" width="267" wt="true" /></a>--When traveling by coach bus or airplane and she couldn't have her stroller to sleep in, I would put her in a carrier and she had an easier time falling asleep. As she's gotten more mobile and had more difficulty being confined to a bus or airplane seat, I found that if I put her in the Ergo a little bit before we got on the bus or plane and then kept her in it while sitting and traveling she got used to being confined like that and didn't have as much of an urge to get down.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">--The Moby wrap was really useful when I needed to be more discrete about nursing her on a plane, train, bus or busy public place. You can use all those fabric folds to hide behind.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNHLR3eqKiiPcWF8CntRLlfRZqcs9CV2GbycCrWy713uxQjqp6eWXtIrJErLCOJgMpmY21eGukRe-0jXfZR9b-hjWs0HA7xGsSrZnvd-3QeCzkFRuQx0lv4SsVx2ZXtmGdra2EzhaVDRzw/s1600/IMG_7024.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNHLR3eqKiiPcWF8CntRLlfRZqcs9CV2GbycCrWy713uxQjqp6eWXtIrJErLCOJgMpmY21eGukRe-0jXfZR9b-hjWs0HA7xGsSrZnvd-3QeCzkFRuQx0lv4SsVx2ZXtmGdra2EzhaVDRzw/s400/IMG_7024.JPG" width="286" wt="true" /></a>And, when all else fails, a ride on dad's shoulders always lifts the spirits. (Except in certain <a href="http://trampsabroad2009.blogspot.com/2010/04/munich.html">art museums</a>.)</div>Frau 'Livy' Langdon.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17222026890712089962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3623555834777184291.post-43956725921512263052010-05-19T09:16:00.001+02:002010-05-20T18:40:16.715+02:00Hand-me-downs<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN-Z91WmElG8jhyN9celf_K7-qReGNURi9Kv-AbDnuhvlhWef35uz_5CbTyENT8BsMwi6WFL6jIaprkevpLg6bSv6uCOJ-UaFY1KLT3XfCfnDcC-IILo8y_PtGWGOo-w46XmKB8Z4Zs0G6/s1600/IMG_8051.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN-Z91WmElG8jhyN9celf_K7-qReGNURi9Kv-AbDnuhvlhWef35uz_5CbTyENT8BsMwi6WFL6jIaprkevpLg6bSv6uCOJ-UaFY1KLT3XfCfnDcC-IILo8y_PtGWGOo-w46XmKB8Z4Zs0G6/s400/IMG_8051.JPG" width="267" wt="true" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div>Her daddy wore them almost 30 years ago. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRgzElNPe2Dj8zun8IfdQV0SVbfwEB6oDy1ZuOOdujl7GRBTgb7arqS3IUzRygEIPiMebCs_AH7SvvnAcmibOLV740aZIquig36W7nxoNTu2u2rjaBwOqcdEkq-rh1MDQVdIJCXQOyYlwY/s1600/IMG_8053.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRgzElNPe2Dj8zun8IfdQV0SVbfwEB6oDy1ZuOOdujl7GRBTgb7arqS3IUzRygEIPiMebCs_AH7SvvnAcmibOLV740aZIquig36W7nxoNTu2u2rjaBwOqcdEkq-rh1MDQVdIJCXQOyYlwY/s400/IMG_8053.JPG" width="285" wt="true" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">And now she's rockin' them.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJP5bh6YoVvdFYB4y6-GZCgzSNcZGd63tuYWhHibubua9VumxswPlFKwwIGtJWzJLbHZ2ZwS6cwb75sRcGbdbTGA41Wuq2jyCoLvMjZldeaWwZ3Zfi5Yt34yMe6c2pcCmJVrEoXRFG1Vxj/s1600/IMG_8054.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJP5bh6YoVvdFYB4y6-GZCgzSNcZGd63tuYWhHibubua9VumxswPlFKwwIGtJWzJLbHZ2ZwS6cwb75sRcGbdbTGA41Wuq2jyCoLvMjZldeaWwZ3Zfi5Yt34yMe6c2pcCmJVrEoXRFG1Vxj/s400/IMG_8054.JPG" width="267" wt="true" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div>Gotta love those classic OshKosh overalls.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiP20OSvJ6qHWXkntL6M1hVFmxaImbmuJMTcn0lLM9MSPKBmaQKu55rBI-p9EZ_R3TJ6RNwntXww1HkVp8obOajq1wy1kafs01Gbd6Nhk-meOq6sT_XS8Y3ZtkZ0WSYxonhV0TSYwrryyP/s1600/IMG_8059.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiP20OSvJ6qHWXkntL6M1hVFmxaImbmuJMTcn0lLM9MSPKBmaQKu55rBI-p9EZ_R3TJ6RNwntXww1HkVp8obOajq1wy1kafs01Gbd6Nhk-meOq6sT_XS8Y3ZtkZ0WSYxonhV0TSYwrryyP/s400/IMG_8059.JPG" width="267" wt="true" /></a></div><br />
There's nothing better for playing around in.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRKODDR-lQTKnliH2Y8tZRUafvNMqLStwFLQjd0fbaQ3szIESemnsrEvy6tkVRQyc78IxXeMSxi2fT-CETjnaguMmDYbKI2A7h7uvV5c39PJlhkG5A_puzRxN27dnFUC1Y4Z3M5Jmnb7hz/s1600/IMG_8060.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRKODDR-lQTKnliH2Y8tZRUafvNMqLStwFLQjd0fbaQ3szIESemnsrEvy6tkVRQyc78IxXeMSxi2fT-CETjnaguMmDYbKI2A7h7uvV5c39PJlhkG5A_puzRxN27dnFUC1Y4Z3M5Jmnb7hz/s400/IMG_8060.JPG" width="285" wt="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">Or for the occasional tumble.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_GiKR-QrmTXPy31CkVS9C4gJQyJoy7AIoBaGT4NnLzEzCD2zBZ6qqfhDh_gaXL24LWUzg6T8Ril2n_To8uD8-Mz_kLzsvfzpcdCr5gIGCVnZX7owkaq_MPlZzNYcely_bvb6w0CeoQpJC/s1600/IMG_8069.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_GiKR-QrmTXPy31CkVS9C4gJQyJoy7AIoBaGT4NnLzEzCD2zBZ6qqfhDh_gaXL24LWUzg6T8Ril2n_To8uD8-Mz_kLzsvfzpcdCr5gIGCVnZX7owkaq_MPlZzNYcely_bvb6w0CeoQpJC/s400/IMG_8069.JPG" width="267" wt="true" /></a></div>Frau 'Livy' Langdon.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17222026890712089962noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3623555834777184291.post-30566857347842121332010-05-17T13:00:00.001+02:002010-05-17T13:00:10.828+02:00Hello Helsinki!When our boat arrived in Helsinki we were so happy to be greeted by our friend Nina.We met Nina and her family back in the fall when they were also living in Heidelberg for a short time. We always said that it would be fun to go visit them at their home in Helsinki, and a few months later here we were!<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><br />
Nina is, uh, a bit camera shy.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix0Ur3Msw02MLPdOgdiKyY1mIMFehQutKPxeDJKN0vCb2bNZ8T6SZZpJPuAjUgO_TWwERKvJMhD2Pnu5Ym9hi7PIDMbJD9Ji4QY_FddVxmLV5Ik0R-o58Lu9j4AdUxKR_Fn41_XKzKumpQ/s1600/IMG_7764.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix0Ur3Msw02MLPdOgdiKyY1mIMFehQutKPxeDJKN0vCb2bNZ8T6SZZpJPuAjUgO_TWwERKvJMhD2Pnu5Ym9hi7PIDMbJD9Ji4QY_FddVxmLV5Ik0R-o58Lu9j4AdUxKR_Fn41_XKzKumpQ/s400/IMG_7764.JPG" width="400" wt="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Nina was gracious enough to show us around Helsinki. Here are Nina and her son Maarti in Senate Square with their 'Finnish smiles.'</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX26W9_PIvvSEDg31yu7DSJXHIUF_kdINHjqzEPB3GGdyHNsRYa4SY-dyQDMAO2QvVQ8VTfDY0yXNjGKQ0irk5qa6jVkpsvCKciEKNH43QDqpUenUf1UVC4Gj-6c06w7-U0kkmBuHSDo9o/s1600/IMG_8008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX26W9_PIvvSEDg31yu7DSJXHIUF_kdINHjqzEPB3GGdyHNsRYa4SY-dyQDMAO2QvVQ8VTfDY0yXNjGKQ0irk5qa6jVkpsvCKciEKNH43QDqpUenUf1UVC4Gj-6c06w7-U0kkmBuHSDo9o/s400/IMG_8008.JPG" width="400" wt="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">The Father, Penelope, Maarti and I below the Helsinki Cathedral donning our 'American smiles.'</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_rYVzjcGoF8tl064hDgqrOnEPoycyvft8WGtK-A4N_Orip8WFL54pWhmojMlvZezQ61C6vMowtbs0LYjfHYeY_m-0dW-r322XZY05d8dy1b-72FhmoTckJuW_EEnz_biAzKvjqZ4SgOkT/s1600/IMG_8005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_rYVzjcGoF8tl064hDgqrOnEPoycyvft8WGtK-A4N_Orip8WFL54pWhmojMlvZezQ61C6vMowtbs0LYjfHYeY_m-0dW-r322XZY05d8dy1b-72FhmoTckJuW_EEnz_biAzKvjqZ4SgOkT/s400/IMG_8005.JPG" width="267" wt="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Nina invited us over to their apartment for dinner one night. She cooked a mean reindeer. </div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh38YPgChBimnue-sK74VpfWo_dsx5uqtCUEILdDBa6d_BMU8D0cWfMhFhhO4NJtnKafGXcNzrsZSbhBNylrjNBJOPLsKpFiT5AaW-0qTkrshHME43dGxQ8IvcOwpif84Um54X49He8BlTp/s1600/IMG_7984.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh38YPgChBimnue-sK74VpfWo_dsx5uqtCUEILdDBa6d_BMU8D0cWfMhFhhO4NJtnKafGXcNzrsZSbhBNylrjNBJOPLsKpFiT5AaW-0qTkrshHME43dGxQ8IvcOwpif84Um54X49He8BlTp/s400/IMG_7984.JPG" width="267" wt="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Juha, Maarti's dad, took Penelope out to play with Maarti and the neighbor girl while the other womenfolk worked on dinner.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI1lVF27HP9hkXo-sG5MYAwOtQgZkume3Kj0E_OiDUiXbrBJgZgyE0c0H4aFtNzMd-UxQO7NAOujbGQq9yyNnm3hQbv3kXxGtLARYbzizoo03JRJwyY3CjnAD6q7fo4lPDP_u35Z0-e9hT/s1600/IMG_7959.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI1lVF27HP9hkXo-sG5MYAwOtQgZkume3Kj0E_OiDUiXbrBJgZgyE0c0H4aFtNzMd-UxQO7NAOujbGQq9yyNnm3hQbv3kXxGtLARYbzizoo03JRJwyY3CjnAD6q7fo4lPDP_u35Z0-e9hT/s400/IMG_7959.JPG" width="400" wt="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Penelope loved playing with the big kids.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbEW2in59dlSWGwTwW4JH-v6lU69_YKXRe7pSmB2yxV_IsiojOYJ4Y25fURmrkj_6lwgAAwr6VQA0Q1PabCZtzMsCkxi6fYCsAtp1piHzwMlnLUVMv6rUVbnLHmIt8TLrZGfr5b3uMIybW/s1600/IMG_7972.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbEW2in59dlSWGwTwW4JH-v6lU69_YKXRe7pSmB2yxV_IsiojOYJ4Y25fURmrkj_6lwgAAwr6VQA0Q1PabCZtzMsCkxi6fYCsAtp1piHzwMlnLUVMv6rUVbnLHmIt8TLrZGfr5b3uMIybW/s400/IMG_7972.JPG" width="400" wt="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Hold on tight!</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb13UWUNvfhWjlfuthFA5nx08dCj2DKBSPliKttAreSdadT2F3kVO7tX-taeztJmijlu2XYDjIV90MY5aKtFr2ATUje9OmyrCpJtAbT5MelQkddPD9Wrez8wa_NbJet16CQZqsadShZBmw/s1600/IMG_7961.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb13UWUNvfhWjlfuthFA5nx08dCj2DKBSPliKttAreSdadT2F3kVO7tX-taeztJmijlu2XYDjIV90MY5aKtFr2ATUje9OmyrCpJtAbT5MelQkddPD9Wrez8wa_NbJet16CQZqsadShZBmw/s400/IMG_7961.JPG" width="286" wt="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">After dinner we got to use their sauna. Most houses and apartment buildings in Finland have their own saunas. Some are fancy and some are more rustic, but either way saunas are an important part of Finnish culture. The big difference between saunas in Finland and the ones I have been in in the U.S. is that you do it in the buff. But knowing our <a href="http://trampsabroad2009.blogspot.com/2010/01/baden-baden-2-bathers.html">bath experience in Baden-Baden</a>, you're probably guessing that this wasn't a big deal for us!</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">For two of the days Penelope and I were on our own while the Father had some work to do at the University in Helsinki. One day was cold, ugly and rainy, so we pretty much hung around the hotel. (Blah. Not so fun.) The other day was nice and sunny, so we ventured out to the zoo. What a better way to entertain a toddler (and yourself) in a foreign country than a trip to a zoo? </div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">The Helsinki Zoo is actually on its own island. You have to take a little boat to get there.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJBfUkjUG3QZbgB-q2EICy-mO1GKvOxJu-ylV5HhfXjUvwraFrAwDX5rdoUoPb7rlVZyh_3cR6pPXtEz6o9TRrp6HBoU9gakZdwLohZWwdz1_HkQIGMRCxOYCU9yyz6y9-QAs464_uRRRA/s1600/IMG_7765.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJBfUkjUG3QZbgB-q2EICy-mO1GKvOxJu-ylV5HhfXjUvwraFrAwDX5rdoUoPb7rlVZyh_3cR6pPXtEz6o9TRrp6HBoU9gakZdwLohZWwdz1_HkQIGMRCxOYCU9yyz6y9-QAs464_uRRRA/s400/IMG_7765.JPG" width="400" wt="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">I liked how the natural landscape of the island was used to make the animal enclosures, and the views were great from the island. Sometimes it didn't even feel like you were at a zoo.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIm7yi_siVQlDXz3Y-Qo-jmHxoGtPb0Q-PEjdbKg1U5IalZm7R2kCeHdzGK0JuZm7swqVy9ztOjR4MeElmhGVfy0iG0g3YXRHbiCGHXDSTkZNMcCFsPdIx-gkqf0Hf0UuLRF3l97NLxgd4/s1600/IMG_7810.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIm7yi_siVQlDXz3Y-Qo-jmHxoGtPb0Q-PEjdbKg1U5IalZm7R2kCeHdzGK0JuZm7swqVy9ztOjR4MeElmhGVfy0iG0g3YXRHbiCGHXDSTkZNMcCFsPdIx-gkqf0Hf0UuLRF3l97NLxgd4/s400/IMG_7810.JPG" width="400" wt="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Why hello there, little fishy.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUnMnRZ7i5xHzsAI_JAZF8qV3XfhYdMy5xLZTcJmqDIpqYpkj3bS45FXqvZL-kboKKEYtZH2wroDHg-_GvZhU9dmTfs1oSgDh7U234_3QAhqUUE-v-_iNoIcWCfNbY76o4juwI_8JKOsgn/s1600/IMG_7930.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUnMnRZ7i5xHzsAI_JAZF8qV3XfhYdMy5xLZTcJmqDIpqYpkj3bS45FXqvZL-kboKKEYtZH2wroDHg-_GvZhU9dmTfs1oSgDh7U234_3QAhqUUE-v-_iNoIcWCfNbY76o4juwI_8JKOsgn/s400/IMG_7930.JPG" width="400" wt="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">High five!</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI0U9EEdT1ukgNPcBW0jMBz6R8pcZA-1kOucOkRX8tA0qTLGxtEWCWHqmUe7RTLnRiu74kfEPmf9ta6cs-WKNbn0RJ_Le40dA2TY71KYp3I9R3oY0CHBPKV9Po3eCkMh1XAY0ywe_gN0oW/s1600/IMG_7942.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI0U9EEdT1ukgNPcBW0jMBz6R8pcZA-1kOucOkRX8tA0qTLGxtEWCWHqmUe7RTLnRiu74kfEPmf9ta6cs-WKNbn0RJ_Le40dA2TY71KYp3I9R3oY0CHBPKV9Po3eCkMh1XAY0ywe_gN0oW/s400/IMG_7942.JPG" width="400" wt="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">I also learned about some native Finnish wildlife, like the brown bear, which is Finland's national animal. Apparently there is a large tourism industry in Finland built around brown bear watching excursions. No thank you. Penelope and I would rather watch them from here.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw8k0qvak0kRJLJSOFfMGfIDjuRAnEi04YnZQ1DSJ7boF0nN8eEpizF4UjbBruzabSdeT9BILFkRLH7mfVt7DM6ibGxWP07CtuXwiLkt11_hTumdS389asact88cKSkWhtm5y4bhnOlQ8H/s1600/IMG_7875.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw8k0qvak0kRJLJSOFfMGfIDjuRAnEi04YnZQ1DSJ7boF0nN8eEpizF4UjbBruzabSdeT9BILFkRLH7mfVt7DM6ibGxWP07CtuXwiLkt11_hTumdS389asact88cKSkWhtm5y4bhnOlQ8H/s400/IMG_7875.JPG" width="400" wt="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">This was a bit too close for comfort for little P.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdneQmbxnSGPnx9hxECijIpTyCnb_P6BqJp6H3eL4l1RRYUIwbKZupjE2w4qvZqDe3c0Wjldma3aY9svzpV_AwqZTNjZk7zg-IRySGqkSyCZGcK6MHHWxyTHrn-YVRdar67jTPLEuF2v6Q/s1600/IMG_7879.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdneQmbxnSGPnx9hxECijIpTyCnb_P6BqJp6H3eL4l1RRYUIwbKZupjE2w4qvZqDe3c0Wjldma3aY9svzpV_AwqZTNjZk7zg-IRySGqkSyCZGcK6MHHWxyTHrn-YVRdar67jTPLEuF2v6Q/s400/IMG_7879.JPG" width="400" wt="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">I also learned that there are tons of reindeer in Finland. Reindeer are herded with snowmobiles and raised for their meat, which is turned into all sorts of delicacies. They even pull sleds. No wonder Finns swear <a href="http://trampsabroad2009.blogspot.com/2010/01/hey-hey.html">Santa Claus lives in Finland</a>! Here is Rudolph snoozing the day away.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOtqoFX2fQHtclX57Y8s0_peuwzcxFZ3nmK65HDCdr_dmpRG0RImv6E25gs1b3-d60NHFDhyphenhyphenI11gdrYIDhgkznNY3-WUQ4ddOQFim-67N5Oc5eguh1kgzKWzwQmeMzWmMTFA8wiJ5duMiQ/s1600/IMG_7827.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOtqoFX2fQHtclX57Y8s0_peuwzcxFZ3nmK65HDCdr_dmpRG0RImv6E25gs1b3-d60NHFDhyphenhyphenI11gdrYIDhgkznNY3-WUQ4ddOQFim-67N5Oc5eguh1kgzKWzwQmeMzWmMTFA8wiJ5duMiQ/s400/IMG_7827.JPG" width="400" wt="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Look! A crocodile.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEYpG_L2Un0kkRlUF1DFBdxDaP6k2zSxpyucuq6miI6zad7ceq233NO0XtviZAf6FpXM1QQ2C15LhckVg_vxENOZ-gQeu4cah5aHU49q1nTLsSFI1O6S9WUGtmqEpabd5Rlyi3oH-4A4jd/s1600/IMG_7858.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEYpG_L2Un0kkRlUF1DFBdxDaP6k2zSxpyucuq6miI6zad7ceq233NO0XtviZAf6FpXM1QQ2C15LhckVg_vxENOZ-gQeu4cah5aHU49q1nTLsSFI1O6S9WUGtmqEpabd5Rlyi3oH-4A4jd/s400/IMG_7858.JPG" width="400" wt="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Oh my! What big teeth you have.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFPzsEseznVinVfCReqHzLA3N2jONgI8ffz8P2AyTSFwWaNL6sXB2gcfi2f_W_Wn-pp6rJr9C8tjZC5rX2uNRjOmsYUNc2plFcP8YYFWDa_GobaqYkbJiNDra7rNri_R3edrv_G9Ki0ENs/s1600/IMG_7870.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFPzsEseznVinVfCReqHzLA3N2jONgI8ffz8P2AyTSFwWaNL6sXB2gcfi2f_W_Wn-pp6rJr9C8tjZC5rX2uNRjOmsYUNc2plFcP8YYFWDa_GobaqYkbJiNDra7rNri_R3edrv_G9Ki0ENs/s400/IMG_7870.JPG" width="400" wt="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Next to dogs, Penelope's favorite animals are birds. We saw lots of birghtly colored birds.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6T9RQ-TY27cA09KFofPodgx6kXNr2YZYf25dc4oyUiAQxQ4bK39g-7Fl9eXNm7kan6yPYSmHpNQMNKzrCmdm0EcbU_eSVY9eu920vvUABGj4V1isq08z_dnQYzLMmFHAw6L7HC7nQEVwB/s1600/IMG_7909.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6T9RQ-TY27cA09KFofPodgx6kXNr2YZYf25dc4oyUiAQxQ4bK39g-7Fl9eXNm7kan6yPYSmHpNQMNKzrCmdm0EcbU_eSVY9eu920vvUABGj4V1isq08z_dnQYzLMmFHAw6L7HC7nQEVwB/s400/IMG_7909.JPG" width="285" wt="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">This female peacock wasn't too happy about something and chased Penelope away. </div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrPhj_uoQVmhDJBzZByslEAzq9qP01XQEM0VYF_h_fUNoi6GzZwEQH7mmQ9zM-xL0ITplyaqUh1uhXWbgbZQg7lMa9bliu5H1Fp5Vam52yFgjYAUnmYal3_qClYLu4QQMhKCiQFBPPVSRc/s1600/IMG_7946.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrPhj_uoQVmhDJBzZByslEAzq9qP01XQEM0VYF_h_fUNoi6GzZwEQH7mmQ9zM-xL0ITplyaqUh1uhXWbgbZQg7lMa9bliu5H1Fp5Vam52yFgjYAUnmYal3_qClYLu4QQMhKCiQFBPPVSRc/s400/IMG_7946.JPG" width="286" wt="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
So Penelope went after her with a fistful of pebbles. (Her dad must have taught her that.)</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWzGxBaDwOxLCa0psLUSC8tfvUcuNf9r2aNRPkysFsIy35ixHSexYvKQGEt8DI0MMudbGsL-l72PwPzUDigaPle7aOZDXh534j2TOHC6tpFjAR2hbAzRBALmmF0eHA7USFSOHPukt8Zv8v/s1600/IMG_7948.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWzGxBaDwOxLCa0psLUSC8tfvUcuNf9r2aNRPkysFsIy35ixHSexYvKQGEt8DI0MMudbGsL-l72PwPzUDigaPle7aOZDXh534j2TOHC6tpFjAR2hbAzRBALmmF0eHA7USFSOHPukt8Zv8v/s400/IMG_7948.JPG" width="286" wt="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">This is one of the original animal cages from when the zoo first opened over 100 years ago. It looked like it was straight out of a scene of <a href="http://abc.go.com/shows/lost">Lost</a>.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDB0AGTTo2H5YUyifnUuu9t7plBZOIU8fSzs3nZg3ed7_yi2UjHZFRWxZ1iRvfwJksmEBk2PBcx44tGEZdEFm6SzOu6bkb4cUAtDwCnjiMsNjdJWqTVdORz3khznT_LvjS0xt6sZ-ZF-7c/s1600/IMG_7954.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDB0AGTTo2H5YUyifnUuu9t7plBZOIU8fSzs3nZg3ed7_yi2UjHZFRWxZ1iRvfwJksmEBk2PBcx44tGEZdEFm6SzOu6bkb4cUAtDwCnjiMsNjdJWqTVdORz3khznT_LvjS0xt6sZ-ZF-7c/s400/IMG_7954.JPG" width="400" wt="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">The last day in Helsinki was another cold, rainy day, but we decided to tough it out and take a ferry to <a href="http://www.suomenlinna.fi/en/fortress">Suomenlinna Sveaborg</a>. </div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisuRLIE4XQZRGcLqoJeN1kbhJwt3gVRh1vpR3APGkSB0UP-0u9vqbaWZfp64ospsZZSPSBWsPr2rGymCByEgbl4Q6VTJetpzgAE9iZ1Oee62Odgjne9CwhPcqVcUSErWglPTjA-U3CN328/s1600/IMG_8033.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="287" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisuRLIE4XQZRGcLqoJeN1kbhJwt3gVRh1vpR3APGkSB0UP-0u9vqbaWZfp64ospsZZSPSBWsPr2rGymCByEgbl4Q6VTJetpzgAE9iZ1Oee62Odgjne9CwhPcqVcUSErWglPTjA-U3CN328/s400/IMG_8033.JPG" width="400" wt="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">It's a sea fortress built on several islands back in the mid-18th century. Over 800 people also live there permanently. You can walk around the network of the fortress' walls, ramparts and buildlings. Today the Naval Academy is situated there, and there is an 'open' prison on the island.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmWYGJmAdfmn9dVslQ7U_rwC2EcktcKVnnoa61FAVlKsZbXm_btXyzyELjlt4fSwB1DrXR1ml_Sj3xp62_VrWPk4QsQP2BOQ9O5F-LbeVjyq7i5tUBeokS7xdfnYvw2tKAT6rE2AfxoCAF/s1600/IMG_8027.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmWYGJmAdfmn9dVslQ7U_rwC2EcktcKVnnoa61FAVlKsZbXm_btXyzyELjlt4fSwB1DrXR1ml_Sj3xp62_VrWPk4QsQP2BOQ9O5F-LbeVjyq7i5tUBeokS7xdfnYvw2tKAT6rE2AfxoCAF/s400/IMG_8027.JPG" width="400" wt="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggXassTIUtds6wz3SViekQgi6KIGma1INpSZYY-lH2cZLf1e3wfMovOnG7omhqbNGetClwwOn5ihq76PQk5RXxnZ3710BpWf4ea7OOzb43B65ksJ4gGgHaXlTsA4PmKOfZxshcMxOaubLZ/s1600/IMG_8029.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggXassTIUtds6wz3SViekQgi6KIGma1INpSZYY-lH2cZLf1e3wfMovOnG7omhqbNGetClwwOn5ihq76PQk5RXxnZ3710BpWf4ea7OOzb43B65ksJ4gGgHaXlTsA4PmKOfZxshcMxOaubLZ/s400/IMG_8029.JPG" width="267" wt="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">And with that our trip to Scandinavia came to an end. We felt so fortunate to have friends in both Sweden and Finland to show us around and give us a true taste of Swedish and Finnish culture. There is no better way to travel!</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Frau 'Livy' Langdon.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17222026890712089962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3623555834777184291.post-73795394082246430902010-05-13T22:31:00.001+02:002010-05-13T22:41:38.938+02:00Stockholm and the Viking<div style="text-align: center;">After we said farewell to our friends <a href="http://trampsabroad2009.blogspot.com/2010/05/swedenthe-land-of-pippi.html">Joel and Lydia</a> we headed to Stockholm. We only had a few hours to see the city because we had to catch a ferry over to Helsinki that afternoon. But this turned out to be just as well, because to really see all that Stockholm has to offer you not only need some time. You also need plenty of <em>moh-nay</em>. That place is expensive! But expensive or not, it is still worth a few pretty pennies because it is a gorgeous city. Everything is nice and clean, the architecture is impressive, and there are tons of things to see and do. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjunp9K_mvWuOkCbnpdIf-_qWIDVwh_c5oH-61zqwyPOgpDO51LV-mafx5rtwEuWSMxWBFoCXpiGAq7f2AmDMm0bKjq5_dkT8LsXWCAynsGx8pVRkhWLokcDhTqrSqVUCPTVEP55-iQGCjg/s1600/IMG_7516.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjunp9K_mvWuOkCbnpdIf-_qWIDVwh_c5oH-61zqwyPOgpDO51LV-mafx5rtwEuWSMxWBFoCXpiGAq7f2AmDMm0bKjq5_dkT8LsXWCAynsGx8pVRkhWLokcDhTqrSqVUCPTVEP55-iQGCjg/s400/IMG_7516.JPG" width="267" wt="true" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">We started by wandering through the narrow streets of the island of <em>Gamla Stan</em> (Old Town). I don't have any pictures of most of this part of the city because we were literally so hungry it was all we could do to find a reasonably-priced place to eat, and taking photos was the last thing on our minds. We ended up stopping for a quick bite of 'cheese and egg pie' (a.k.a quiche) in an old crooked timber-framed house. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">At the opposite end of the island is the Stockholm Palace. It is the official residence of the Swedish monarch. 'Official' meaning they don't really live there, but they use it for all the important monarchy stuff--whatever that is. The Baroque building is large and impressive, but what really caught our eye was the 'Royal Guard.'</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibSmBvwU06aZPH3mXokJ4zhWnoX9hLnbkjdxlgIYLi6ra8zb0QBNzCZXxMzGVIG0CkW6F_Cj40-q6wchkuiKMH5aLZXs97KVx9vnqeY3OCAh70I8XCxBVSALwOj8cm7c8b9pCJmoG0Ara9/s1600/IMG_7475.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibSmBvwU06aZPH3mXokJ4zhWnoX9hLnbkjdxlgIYLi6ra8zb0QBNzCZXxMzGVIG0CkW6F_Cj40-q6wchkuiKMH5aLZXs97KVx9vnqeY3OCAh70I8XCxBVSALwOj8cm7c8b9pCJmoG0Ara9/s400/IMG_7475.JPG" width="285" wt="true" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Poor guys. Do they know how ridiculous they look? Or how many people poke fun of them on a daily basis? </div><br />
Penelope pulled out her sternest face in the hopes of making him feel like he wasn't all alone up there. No one gets past Sargeant Penelope.<br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_NsKr2QO_NkAA7HAB2rcFmKOkkkqRo1vK_0BGLMRwmqGEudChE7241yU0NqllTDhjWtfSUAxNPEDbCESCrNjFZtvwRQ5op8CnHpP27fLoiMVS3_AKlA52N5vDCf0S9f_A34sdHUxbmkp9/s1600/IMG_7479.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_NsKr2QO_NkAA7HAB2rcFmKOkkkqRo1vK_0BGLMRwmqGEudChE7241yU0NqllTDhjWtfSUAxNPEDbCESCrNjFZtvwRQ5op8CnHpP27fLoiMVS3_AKlA52N5vDCf0S9f_A34sdHUxbmkp9/s400/IMG_7479.JPG" width="286" wt="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Gotcha! We got at least one of them to smile.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1g3L0C9sIqRvN9QEbWoXKnfDE9fOlTnq2rmLdN-ulxni_HTMo5ALkOvFlUG1GpNi3A8cG5VO90WHx7qUobVUUNj3eESbRpUZTluXJKHnsuDuz5uphVRTOx1s5a4q4DLuPrGtk1iV2ZgID/s1600/IMG_7501.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1g3L0C9sIqRvN9QEbWoXKnfDE9fOlTnq2rmLdN-ulxni_HTMo5ALkOvFlUG1GpNi3A8cG5VO90WHx7qUobVUUNj3eESbRpUZTluXJKHnsuDuz5uphVRTOx1s5a4q4DLuPrGtk1iV2ZgID/s400/IMG_7501.JPG" width="400" wt="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Stockholm is often called the Venice of the North. There are tons of canals and bridges connecting the city. </div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQI8V2ISBSRXNfqV-gls25qWKNKE5bxsXX4v6JLzzfA-hrWlE-rmV4ybW56GVgPF-o3Jr_LGz1pZrnf3EUYVGR3TvFD7ecPUjXGl1k54hXla5W_vBsQIU0KjjdyvhqZjrOK-2KTWAkqKMw/s1600/IMG_7531.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQI8V2ISBSRXNfqV-gls25qWKNKE5bxsXX4v6JLzzfA-hrWlE-rmV4ybW56GVgPF-o3Jr_LGz1pZrnf3EUYVGR3TvFD7ecPUjXGl1k54hXla5W_vBsQIU0KjjdyvhqZjrOK-2KTWAkqKMw/s400/IMG_7531.JPG" width="400" wt="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Here we are in front of the <em>Riksdag</em>, or Parliament, building. Penelope kept getting distracted by the ducks and swans in the water.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVJagA9KO-N2r63-XvTRPazcI3vOyUd-E4jE2vwIG2wH0xZ_JEYpfxQynFk1M3uVHhpWejT-mAe-BpWPOrEbdNkHEac0O_l1NEr0XTurN-Iv64g3BddgEvVT1SITGPkjIinZ7TVguKT3ZD/s1600/IMG_7538.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVJagA9KO-N2r63-XvTRPazcI3vOyUd-E4jE2vwIG2wH0xZ_JEYpfxQynFk1M3uVHhpWejT-mAe-BpWPOrEbdNkHEac0O_l1NEr0XTurN-Iv64g3BddgEvVT1SITGPkjIinZ7TVguKT3ZD/s400/IMG_7538.JPG" width="400" wt="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">I, on the other hand, kept getting distracted by this young man.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJwzTpMeu7unm9u_ebWwQov8e4GEY0tZgVnA5PhmQGBql5FmZ8KUMhTiG5rgqSlxy_0JQriIGk77d14ExOU4EerVKUENmbTqX2Mt3NRYwPHKbj9bam7y5W9-yuDEIUnWztsBbl4MDSxSQC/s1600/IMG_7521.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJwzTpMeu7unm9u_ebWwQov8e4GEY0tZgVnA5PhmQGBql5FmZ8KUMhTiG5rgqSlxy_0JQriIGk77d14ExOU4EerVKUENmbTqX2Mt3NRYwPHKbj9bam7y5W9-yuDEIUnWztsBbl4MDSxSQC/s400/IMG_7521.JPG" width="400" wt="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">After wandering in circles for a bit, we decided to take a sightseeing boat tour, which turned out to be the perfect way for us to see Stockholm in the limited amount of time that we had.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Our boat tour started here, right by the Grand Hotel, which is across the water from the Stockholm Palace. The Grand Hotel has been a Stockholm landmark since it was built in 1874, and it is THE place to stay in Stockholm.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil3UhIMfWulUr3ZsMv5QcodiHYEC9FBwBOLkWyNv5xuMuGquV3f_XD1eAFAbDzF_MjBo7CD4fr-d0OO9jjBebBZxqs9jXt1xBfNEd9vb6ccSatK4rnK6gUxB2WxMcKxFfTbap47Qmd-ytq/s1600/IMG_7549.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil3UhIMfWulUr3ZsMv5QcodiHYEC9FBwBOLkWyNv5xuMuGquV3f_XD1eAFAbDzF_MjBo7CD4fr-d0OO9jjBebBZxqs9jXt1xBfNEd9vb6ccSatK4rnK6gUxB2WxMcKxFfTbap47Qmd-ytq/s400/IMG_7549.JPG" width="400" wt="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Penelope enjoyed the commentary on the sights just as much as we did.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzhk-WZasTHGd8kzbOX73iXiuWsSADEgsYVC6w_kZh5QlPFYu5UqS7bSgmc3KxIw_glGSFsNXyFCqChuTXgtlQdlbW_2gs3bQEFeBRSaX8-Ac29ttB_scflz5t1GCX1GuO8hP-y8F8MU0Y/s1600/IMG_7584.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzhk-WZasTHGd8kzbOX73iXiuWsSADEgsYVC6w_kZh5QlPFYu5UqS7bSgmc3KxIw_glGSFsNXyFCqChuTXgtlQdlbW_2gs3bQEFeBRSaX8-Ac29ttB_scflz5t1GCX1GuO8hP-y8F8MU0Y/s400/IMG_7584.JPG" width="400" wt="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">We went by lots of interesting historical and architectural sites around the city, most of which I have completely forgotten the names of. I do remember being impressed and wanting to stay longer to go explore them myself though.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">I also remember that this was some old mill on an island just outside of the city that I really liked the looks of.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxXaUqIIKaLI4pTXDbRrM9IwiHj-iZKKTKjZN_jawK0lIjLemRmb50OALvlaDuv81M7EhKp1BvO3lZmjdItzcZTd3wYn-1Yv0H-jhT78TvelHt9LtKSbpe1O2_pzUK86UTLIyuLscqNDuB/s1600/IMG_7645.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxXaUqIIKaLI4pTXDbRrM9IwiHj-iZKKTKjZN_jawK0lIjLemRmb50OALvlaDuv81M7EhKp1BvO3lZmjdItzcZTd3wYn-1Yv0H-jhT78TvelHt9LtKSbpe1O2_pzUK86UTLIyuLscqNDuB/s400/IMG_7645.JPG" width="400" wt="true" /></a></div><br />
And that this is where all the big yachts and sail boats were kept.<br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw6MPEjz0XhyphenhyphenGdWplTDLvm4lJfAjnj5ZuRqWCcUNCo72t7bztBcQPpdZg-zkbcWOyvT-iVB6Gas3pj9bP4yO-IG8SHJrz_329acNpPZfgm0QjjB_TgqIOi1eOY_pSAoyx2KnlH8dDT_HtB/s1600/IMG_7572.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw6MPEjz0XhyphenhyphenGdWplTDLvm4lJfAjnj5ZuRqWCcUNCo72t7bztBcQPpdZg-zkbcWOyvT-iVB6Gas3pj9bP4yO-IG8SHJrz_329acNpPZfgm0QjjB_TgqIOi1eOY_pSAoyx2KnlH8dDT_HtB/s400/IMG_7572.JPG" width="267" wt="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">After our boat ride we hightailed it to the port to get on our ferry.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">The VIKING.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFTtnGR0LgKLTQkPhlVKQ9w3BKBXXhL2EwSdUhHLqHZ3I3RnwLaEJmeUIlYCOsMFLnQnyTnhK4_-LnaBR47EzZ-wq94N44UfFy8s2U7OIPq9Hi8b0bTKZ2vzo7dmeo8_53cRqJjGICbg0R/s1600/IMG_7730.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFTtnGR0LgKLTQkPhlVKQ9w3BKBXXhL2EwSdUhHLqHZ3I3RnwLaEJmeUIlYCOsMFLnQnyTnhK4_-LnaBR47EzZ-wq94N44UfFy8s2U7OIPq9Hi8b0bTKZ2vzo7dmeo8_53cRqJjGICbg0R/s400/IMG_7730.JPG" width="400" wt="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Although we could have just taken an hour-long plane ride from Stockholm to Helsinki, we figured that it would be way cooler to take an overnight cruise boat. Not only cooler, but also much cheaper to get a room on this boat than a flight and hotel room. Unfortunately, our 'cool' factor dropped way down the moment we stepped on this boat. Not only were we the only English-speaking people on the boat, we were also the only people below the age of 65 who weren't obsessed with playing the slot machines. </div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmecACLusMx7iDRpggXkpL2FYr3js6v9wnyFAZQKH5Dw6CiGmOPmgftnMpTwcG1GBYzKRwsWgWIlzHf9cFRQ0shjOnBqg2p27FZIXypevxlOL7Hf0jGU6BgspsJWh8pnOAaD9u4vNi4XS5/s1600/IMG_7658.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmecACLusMx7iDRpggXkpL2FYr3js6v9wnyFAZQKH5Dw6CiGmOPmgftnMpTwcG1GBYzKRwsWgWIlzHf9cFRQ0shjOnBqg2p27FZIXypevxlOL7Hf0jGU6BgspsJWh8pnOAaD9u4vNi4XS5/s320/IMG_7658.JPG" wt="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">The up side to this was that we had the outdoor viewing decks all to ourself. I guess it was too cold outside for the elderly. Oh, and there were no slot machines or polka music out there. </div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">We took in some amazing views from the top deck of the ship. </div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>For the first couple of hours we went along the coast, which was dotted with cute little cottages.<br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW_VCag4xb3hsN6lTwaP3fOwIdt1RgBCq_4jX_T9-nVa_JxZVn5xhC3CdHe5GHSvtzUZpyR16gMnQ0jHfodsl_fC0vYWpdtqr1yAX-9fvB2PxMit-ao7D2-t5gTgxWPs9I7gicPEiQV9jM/s1600/IMG_7676.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW_VCag4xb3hsN6lTwaP3fOwIdt1RgBCq_4jX_T9-nVa_JxZVn5xhC3CdHe5GHSvtzUZpyR16gMnQ0jHfodsl_fC0vYWpdtqr1yAX-9fvB2PxMit-ao7D2-t5gTgxWPs9I7gicPEiQV9jM/s400/IMG_7676.JPG" width="400" wt="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">And then the houses got sparser and the islands got smaller.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhquSr9ZCguzAoSbdP_gJiTU3prSzDjymX5iynohazu5JdMw33rytpaCl9X_tyMlWoHEgNLm1h0eQaF2YqytIk1BUNMh40apWTxADm-pNh-7zzb5h7cxZiZHt-Fc6ZQ2gnEBhranjhJ1Gkn/s1600/IMG_7702.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhquSr9ZCguzAoSbdP_gJiTU3prSzDjymX5iynohazu5JdMw33rytpaCl9X_tyMlWoHEgNLm1h0eQaF2YqytIk1BUNMh40apWTxADm-pNh-7zzb5h7cxZiZHt-Fc6ZQ2gnEBhranjhJ1Gkn/s400/IMG_7702.JPG" width="400" wt="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">This is the Swedish Archipelago. It is the biggest in the Baltic Sea, and it is comprised of over 24,000 islands and islets.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXApvbGus3qcdWLxO5SNW_1_8pLJwlGBudCWRT0oVV1m5boMqKb82luvSHLeZWsiHd1HCyECIywjeFNQEftz393UnrXsZCdF8Gmyc5PfsetO8FaY2NZSyFCr1SsX29O7KdUQ1jMhypH5TZ/s1600/IMG_7697.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXApvbGus3qcdWLxO5SNW_1_8pLJwlGBudCWRT0oVV1m5boMqKb82luvSHLeZWsiHd1HCyECIywjeFNQEftz393UnrXsZCdF8Gmyc5PfsetO8FaY2NZSyFCr1SsX29O7KdUQ1jMhypH5TZ/s400/IMG_7697.JPG" width="400" wt="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">It just kept on going as we traveled on into the evening.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsgjOvJTGCvRngVp7mbwR-V42xWZFlMsJDId3hHu38GJjYZon3w_BRNx53UeuI0u8sz7ZY6y73ngpR-l-ykxAsSB71QxElnqkCuB4VcdQlbfbT7TvJFxqYPS6Ws1J4RG_m4-FMPVJIs0xV/s1600/IMG_7714.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsgjOvJTGCvRngVp7mbwR-V42xWZFlMsJDId3hHu38GJjYZon3w_BRNx53UeuI0u8sz7ZY6y73ngpR-l-ykxAsSB71QxElnqkCuB4VcdQlbfbT7TvJFxqYPS6Ws1J4RG_m4-FMPVJIs0xV/s400/IMG_7714.JPG" width="400" wt="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Penelope loved roaming around the inside of the ship and making friends with all the old people. While on the ship she also learned how to give kisses. </div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMReY6eIKYc8PX5ZZProeMgMGTDHs8N7S0GkhLW8r0JDfKIdbFIRN1M266DZXQqV9BiKyTbuj9EfRgLA9zFPMX6hrsAuWEvawb1ne9qfIPbQlXEsFmkiHTqC1gB65wrPJEjO_yX-0-u3Wc/s1600/IMG_7741.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMReY6eIKYc8PX5ZZProeMgMGTDHs8N7S0GkhLW8r0JDfKIdbFIRN1M266DZXQqV9BiKyTbuj9EfRgLA9zFPMX6hrsAuWEvawb1ne9qfIPbQlXEsFmkiHTqC1gB65wrPJEjO_yX-0-u3Wc/s400/IMG_7741.JPG" width="400" wt="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">But this quickly turned into exploring teeth and tongues and gums. Ouch!</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKW-kj8jyvCK5bKjARjnb1z0GfuXqzt77YUsWmoSgdH9QbRjUHyINXv6ajZU49OTqIsydTm8pMb_007wtgFMDoDkRC8WhE2z5lvUt-uL_dHlaP6I5Ll8CahLe0qtCZM5J17HCym0pe9IkD/s1600/IMG_7743.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKW-kj8jyvCK5bKjARjnb1z0GfuXqzt77YUsWmoSgdH9QbRjUHyINXv6ajZU49OTqIsydTm8pMb_007wtgFMDoDkRC8WhE2z5lvUt-uL_dHlaP6I5Ll8CahLe0qtCZM5J17HCym0pe9IkD/s400/IMG_7743.JPG" width="400" wt="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">When we woke up in the morning we were greeted with the port of Helsinki.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW-q6bUeW449BlKmMyIwADc0chvDCJ1Mvd1xjGV1VnfdMwemkT8HRp8yhubKsvSsK58ndC1cFswZwwfcKMi3WsUPuSeh0h2ezHjp8okjoEltpcZEckVYjnmMEA35-UWhW6ltZ0V_rEy2F3/s1600/IMG_7761.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW-q6bUeW449BlKmMyIwADc0chvDCJ1Mvd1xjGV1VnfdMwemkT8HRp8yhubKsvSsK58ndC1cFswZwwfcKMi3WsUPuSeh0h2ezHjp8okjoEltpcZEckVYjnmMEA35-UWhW6ltZ0V_rEy2F3/s400/IMG_7761.JPG" width="400" wt="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Our adventures in Helsinki coming up soon...</div>Frau 'Livy' Langdon.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17222026890712089962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3623555834777184291.post-43908710898727674142010-05-11T10:25:00.000+02:002010-05-11T10:25:48.937+02:00P is for Personality<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Watch out folks. It's showtime...</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhosCZrx_zUVoryJ3zpZpWSVCV-kfcLsPJ8ISUZXwUr6s_njuQ5J3me4ZyMbfG4vMmsD3OJgz7R7uFwcmGe9X_HWQEDDlwkgzWCy0qloqF2c7BobrjCDbv3ddHMS8Evaqlbc-qOBhDDfZTq/s1600/IMG_6930.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhosCZrx_zUVoryJ3zpZpWSVCV-kfcLsPJ8ISUZXwUr6s_njuQ5J3me4ZyMbfG4vMmsD3OJgz7R7uFwcmGe9X_HWQEDDlwkgzWCy0qloqF2c7BobrjCDbv3ddHMS8Evaqlbc-qOBhDDfZTq/s400/IMG_6930.JPG" tt="true" width="400" /></a></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/AVvXsEjEExV1TadJoi5aBST-dMrT9kuv0HfWPXpiA75aTrwb_2VWaKPVRMjLUKamVGbE3dzUW8N0uSO1s5_geixaH8b9gDEBBRaY2bt0AT5v2CvmO5ADC8ee0s28BpyWZs_bLPKJ5Mp3OQLrDZmq/s1600/IMG_6931.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEExV1TadJoi5aBST-dMrT9kuv0HfWPXpiA75aTrwb_2VWaKPVRMjLUKamVGbE3dzUW8N0uSO1s5_geixaH8b9gDEBBRaY2bt0AT5v2CvmO5ADC8ee0s28BpyWZs_bLPKJ5Mp3OQLrDZmq/s400/IMG_6931.JPG" tt="true" width="400" /></a></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/AVvXsEiklQsh9G3VksvnEqcECQioEWyNZxyhMoVwT5-0jz_PdP2l4pCry3kBv04OwNYy8D-0TdyUlqRd8hkEWvnc_r4t-eT9AaTkK2EglEqWP3hXiorDT7MY-rqb7P4OoZY8q63Iqd4zadJtJFYe/s1600/IMG_6932.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiklQsh9G3VksvnEqcECQioEWyNZxyhMoVwT5-0jz_PdP2l4pCry3kBv04OwNYy8D-0TdyUlqRd8hkEWvnc_r4t-eT9AaTkK2EglEqWP3hXiorDT7MY-rqb7P4OoZY8q63Iqd4zadJtJFYe/s400/IMG_6932.JPG" tt="true" width="400" /></a></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/AVvXsEgqMerh3W7bSgpiIsfwJgFqBtbR360v-kgsd42HwYfS_0lQ5x21dlc1XJloJN9Q5nNVW0X6h2QzwkNPrBH6tmuQ8hsOy1wEKAYJaQ6ajEqrt6Kq4-VOZYc5yjr_9DTXoS7eUlk9OXXbXDsr/s1600/IMG_6940.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqMerh3W7bSgpiIsfwJgFqBtbR360v-kgsd42HwYfS_0lQ5x21dlc1XJloJN9Q5nNVW0X6h2QzwkNPrBH6tmuQ8hsOy1wEKAYJaQ6ajEqrt6Kq4-VOZYc5yjr_9DTXoS7eUlk9OXXbXDsr/s400/IMG_6940.JPG" tt="true" width="400" /></a></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/AVvXsEj4AzSlcgMR24xzjBCKCVYLzG_Qwpzith43D8vXy3jua88TcIhpPc0R5vOhxqvQIzp1UauuqCg80XWwSwCoZ2FSCbp7sChiClWzILhRmz8TpaIFX1fNHsVOF0kb80wMbAWFQ2wDhHxnEayg/s1600/IMG_6937.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4AzSlcgMR24xzjBCKCVYLzG_Qwpzith43D8vXy3jua88TcIhpPc0R5vOhxqvQIzp1UauuqCg80XWwSwCoZ2FSCbp7sChiClWzILhRmz8TpaIFX1fNHsVOF0kb80wMbAWFQ2wDhHxnEayg/s400/IMG_6937.JPG" tt="true" width="267" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Hold on. Distraction in the water.</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/AVvXsEhh8TNNC7gwwBDGk62enzjA6BT-WYcm6vZZQQzAVBn3nrln0nXl3z-yJHDaE9RDVh05pp3zJchzRHX1id3gEp7kU3FfO8fczf0KynJ5kouUmTbkFh8X0t9xsvQWmcBt6QE4Aa-emgXAbd4n/s1600/IMG_6938.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh8TNNC7gwwBDGk62enzjA6BT-WYcm6vZZQQzAVBn3nrln0nXl3z-yJHDaE9RDVh05pp3zJchzRHX1id3gEp7kU3FfO8fczf0KynJ5kouUmTbkFh8X0t9xsvQWmcBt6QE4Aa-emgXAbd4n/s400/IMG_6938.JPG" tt="true" width="400" /></a></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/AVvXsEiBe1b-NfUJQukDJShb6BAY-fQJ2TDckNIDar9HtofPD2t2DDLX1CkinDXLNWWyK8SiOsE-Z7PIvUcxqsRSkb8LB8KPY7P5bpfnMPVKgY3KyMH_LhCT1eqcwJtFimR6ejRE7u-OjHtfZy2v/s1600/IMG_6925.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBe1b-NfUJQukDJShb6BAY-fQJ2TDckNIDar9HtofPD2t2DDLX1CkinDXLNWWyK8SiOsE-Z7PIvUcxqsRSkb8LB8KPY7P5bpfnMPVKgY3KyMH_LhCT1eqcwJtFimR6ejRE7u-OjHtfZy2v/s400/IMG_6925.JPG" tt="true" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Okay. We're back.</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/AVvXsEjVCi2gsxsQTb_rCvrx9jzxpVupJKAcINH2UJG8GqPnEq7z2QEyopFxGDaR0gR3WagKnUtNS2Lf300QBjCYwIHmEz-1WYhDBw0h6DW-5e_nD0imaMtbvCbNZ76mSMeSuJQfInXT6h2yfN8M/s1600/IMG_6941.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVCi2gsxsQTb_rCvrx9jzxpVupJKAcINH2UJG8GqPnEq7z2QEyopFxGDaR0gR3WagKnUtNS2Lf300QBjCYwIHmEz-1WYhDBw0h6DW-5e_nD0imaMtbvCbNZ76mSMeSuJQfInXT6h2yfN8M/s400/IMG_6941.JPG" tt="true" width="400" /></a></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/AVvXsEj5jSsMRwjrHMjMbdEQpGx8fOE-M31FvoRHriJZaGzh4EFe3BPU2vojUogBhQgxYu7Nk-BGA2jGjLfQrj4Wi12KD4o2FugPouPiMlsZhm-umZdPZbcsJs5SKFjYvj7gOxc3kOhLQ_52V84o/s1600/IMG_6944.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5jSsMRwjrHMjMbdEQpGx8fOE-M31FvoRHriJZaGzh4EFe3BPU2vojUogBhQgxYu7Nk-BGA2jGjLfQrj4Wi12KD4o2FugPouPiMlsZhm-umZdPZbcsJs5SKFjYvj7gOxc3kOhLQ_52V84o/s400/IMG_6944.JPG" tt="true" width="400" /></a></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/AVvXsEhobRTE5GdrGePQRVuIiGZFB3i0Rj_L_VqGxTEOWkmc7pKxoPUaPZ-bpUS3x69Tt8lT9qyl5pZoc_C7VIfQwSDonfyAyy-aCXQ_Wvfea7bbPnTl1Qw4DkNINhNmpWrEnTTuIzdF0c-Jz5TE/s1600/IMG_6942.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhobRTE5GdrGePQRVuIiGZFB3i0Rj_L_VqGxTEOWkmc7pKxoPUaPZ-bpUS3x69Tt8lT9qyl5pZoc_C7VIfQwSDonfyAyy-aCXQ_Wvfea7bbPnTl1Qw4DkNINhNmpWrEnTTuIzdF0c-Jz5TE/s400/IMG_6942.JPG" tt="true" width="400" /></a></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/AVvXsEiFA_8cbc1oMA_8HG4Szi0phKq6cR4TkmSx2kITcEdtF6i-p3BDx4B8VXO0IyOScRkw4bkMNgCunOrkmUXHWUUy6DT34lMSOxI8AaxxDFJolnxQrUZ-E60XpqVtSK4Y1hyphenhyphen4kSNem8Bw4D-U/s1600/IMG_6933.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFA_8cbc1oMA_8HG4Szi0phKq6cR4TkmSx2kITcEdtF6i-p3BDx4B8VXO0IyOScRkw4bkMNgCunOrkmUXHWUUy6DT34lMSOxI8AaxxDFJolnxQrUZ-E60XpqVtSK4Y1hyphenhyphen4kSNem8Bw4D-U/s400/IMG_6933.JPG" tt="true" width="267" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And that's a wrap.</div>Frau 'Livy' Langdon.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17222026890712089962noreply@blogger.com0