Hey sweets.
Whoow have i had a week. Ryan and Alex arrived on the 19th and we took them site seeing that night and all the next day. The third day is when we flew to Venice. Venice was great. The canals were cool, and we splurged on a boat ride there. Nothing huge to brag about seeing, it was just cool to be there.
So anyway, We came home from Venice and the next day we spent it grocery shopping trying to get ready for our road trip to Paris and then London. My car has been leaking trani fluid so we thought we might have been screwed but Jess got it stable enough for the trip. We went to a couple of tattoo shops and found one that we liked and scheduled it for the 29th. Alex wanted to get one with us, so that is why we rushed to make the appt.
The next day we drove all the way to Paris...about 4hrs and hit most of the sites that night. It was so great seeing everything at night. We didn't get to do that before. I will be posting some pics. I basically saw all the things I had seen before. We really didn't have time to do anything new because we wanted to make sure they got to see the big ones. Arc'd Triuphm, Eifel Tower, and Louvre.
The next day we drove to the Paris port for the English Channel. We took an hour ferry ride to England which was really cool. The boat is huge and everyone just schedules when the want to get on. There were like 4 decks with bars, casino games and food. We just lounged until we were in England. Jess drove us to London (it was a trip being on the wrong side of the road), and we got to our hotel by midnight. We crashed and woke up at a decent time. We saw the Buckingham Palace from the out side only due to lines. I bought a 30$ tea cup from the 2008 china set of her Highness...I was so surprised about how overwhelmed I was to be there. I actually cried in the gift shop. Then we saw Big Ben and the Parliament and the Tower Bridge of London...that was pretty cool. London Bridge itself is not the original bridge, but they have one there that they light up pink at night. We hit a pub called Hung Drawn and Quartered (referring to how they punished people way back when) and ate the traditional fish and chips. That was neat too. Very good food. Ryan, the husband, and i hung out bored while Jess and Alex went all over the city to get night shots of all the sites (she wants to be a photographer too). The next morning we got up and wanted to tour the inside of Buckingham Palace, but we had to settle for touring London Tower, which was a royal residence for a while. Its where Henry the VIII lived and had all the wives. We got to see the place where he beheaded one of his wives and the church where they found all of the bones of people who were executed. That was very cool for me because between loving history itself and religious history, I was in heaven.
We also got to tour Westminster Abbey where all the memorials for the King and Queens of the past were. That evening we drove to Wimbledon so Alex (played Tennis for 7yrs) and Ryan could tour the tennis stadium. Jess and i hit a local town and had our last British meal. He had fish and chips again, and I had Beef Pie with mash potatoes and gravy with peas. It was awesome.
We really had a blast but we were beat. We had to head back to the ferry and drive 4 hours back home. Jess was such a trooper. We arrived at 4 am and crashed. I had all kinds of jewelry stuff to catch up on and then we had to rush out and make it to our tattoo appts. We had Alex and Ryan try the Turkish Kebabs which they loved and then it was tat time. I got pretty tipsy and then laid down on the chair to be worked on. It just took over and hour and i think it came out great.
K, I know this was short and sweet. We're still all recovering. I will be posting pics on Face book and myspace. I miss everyone.
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Bruges
Bruges
The first weekend after the New Year, Jesse and I went to Bruges, Belgium. It was about a 3 hour drive there to the “Venice of the North.” This city of course is very old. Canals run through it, but were frozen so Jesse didn’t get the boat ride he wanted. We stayed in a quaint bed and Breakfast with only 2 or 3 rooms ran by a family. It really was one of the nicer rooms we’ve ever stayed in, in Europe. She made us breakfast every morning complete with open faced sandwiches, eggs anyway we like and a chocolate fondue machine to dip fruit. From the hotel we walked a good 10-15 mins in the freezing cold (thermals again) and explored old windmills, buildings, and shops.
The first day we climbed the big clock tower 366 steps to a wonderful view of the city and a treat to see the inner workings of the song the bells rang.
We also saw the “Church of our Lady,” which housed an original masterpiece of Michangelo’s sculpture of Madona and Child.
We stopped in to a lace shop and a wonderful man described how things are made and the history that he and his family has been through.
We were also fortunate enough to go through a ice sculpture fair. It was really cool.
As recommended by the locals we found a bar that has been standing since 1500. We went in and had a drink there and marveled over the age of the place. Later we found a chocolate shop and saw that we could warm up on a chocolate drink…it was fantastic. That night we dined at a near by restaurant suggested by our host of the hotel.
The next day we woke up to winter wonderland. Everything was frozen. We toured a museum and took lots of pictures around the city, but one of the most interesting things we saw was in a Basilica. We walked in to this old church where we heard they kept a vile of Jesus’ blood. When we got in there we realized they were actually holding a service. Many people came on pilgrimage from who knows where to see it. There was a man sitting on a throne with the relic in front of him. People were allowed to form a line and one by one lay their hands on it. Each time someone was done the man would wipe the relic down. Jesse and I watched for a little while, and then felt guilty for not sharing the belief and walked out quietly. That night Jesse and I went exploring for a new restaurant and found a little hole in the wall bar. They served the best steak that I have had in Europe. Jesse drove me back to the hotel and went out afterwards to get some night shots of the city. Hope you all enjoy.
Jen
The first weekend after the New Year, Jesse and I went to Bruges, Belgium. It was about a 3 hour drive there to the “Venice of the North.” This city of course is very old. Canals run through it, but were frozen so Jesse didn’t get the boat ride he wanted. We stayed in a quaint bed and Breakfast with only 2 or 3 rooms ran by a family. It really was one of the nicer rooms we’ve ever stayed in, in Europe. She made us breakfast every morning complete with open faced sandwiches, eggs anyway we like and a chocolate fondue machine to dip fruit. From the hotel we walked a good 10-15 mins in the freezing cold (thermals again) and explored old windmills, buildings, and shops.
The first day we climbed the big clock tower 366 steps to a wonderful view of the city and a treat to see the inner workings of the song the bells rang.
We also saw the “Church of our Lady,” which housed an original masterpiece of Michangelo’s sculpture of Madona and Child.
We stopped in to a lace shop and a wonderful man described how things are made and the history that he and his family has been through.
We were also fortunate enough to go through a ice sculpture fair. It was really cool.
As recommended by the locals we found a bar that has been standing since 1500. We went in and had a drink there and marveled over the age of the place. Later we found a chocolate shop and saw that we could warm up on a chocolate drink…it was fantastic. That night we dined at a near by restaurant suggested by our host of the hotel.
The next day we woke up to winter wonderland. Everything was frozen. We toured a museum and took lots of pictures around the city, but one of the most interesting things we saw was in a Basilica. We walked in to this old church where we heard they kept a vile of Jesus’ blood. When we got in there we realized they were actually holding a service. Many people came on pilgrimage from who knows where to see it. There was a man sitting on a throne with the relic in front of him. People were allowed to form a line and one by one lay their hands on it. Each time someone was done the man would wipe the relic down. Jesse and I watched for a little while, and then felt guilty for not sharing the belief and walked out quietly. That night Jesse and I went exploring for a new restaurant and found a little hole in the wall bar. They served the best steak that I have had in Europe. Jesse drove me back to the hotel and went out afterwards to get some night shots of the city. Hope you all enjoy.
Jen
trip to states
Trip to the States
Hello everyone, I know this is a long time coming so, here it is. Jesse and I spent Thanks Giving in Zermatt, Switzerland. It was so beautiful and peaceful. We rode 10 hours on a bus and then took a train to the village. The village it self is very touristy and has no cars. The average temp was in the teens or less. Everyday we were bundled up with hats gloves and thermals. Walking everywhere was fun, but very cold. The mountain was about a 20 min hike or less. We had to take to lifts up to the ski lodge and then another one up to ski down.
I was feeling over confident having done well on our last ski adventure, so when Jesse told me to get on the lift I didn’t hesitate. Falling right before getting on the lift should have been my first clue. Anyway the darn thing kept going and going and when we finally got off it ran over me because I didn’t move fast enough; clue number two. After that I snow plowed for 2 hours trying to get down that mountain…yeah not fun.
Needless to say I spent the majority of the time exploring the village, shopping and reading. It was a fantastic trip. Being that we were so far away from the hustle and bustle of life I came back feeling so refreshed.
When we got back to German I had only a week before my trip home to the states. I scrambled around getting things done, cleaning, packing and finishing all my information for the recruiters. I even spent two days driving in snow to go to my medical appointment at a near by base. What a mess that was. But all went well and I was off to the homestead.
I only got to spend 2 weeks with family so I am sorry if I didn’t make it to see you. I hardly stayed at the same place more than a day. It was exhausting and fun. Of course I shopped and saw a movie and got hooked on a new book series (finished all four in Jan). Those of you who don’t know Summer had a baby while I was there. I even got to be in the room to see little Mason be born…it was totally amazing. He was 8lbs and 9 ounces, and one my heart from the time he was conceived.
This was one of the hardest times I have ever had on a visit. It was very difficult to leave.
When I got back Jesse and I had a busy Christmas with friends and started the new year off with lots of stress. Everyone should have our soldiers in their thoughts and prayers. Jesse’s mission here has taken on a new level of intensity. All of my paper work was finally turned in. Thank you Melanie Holly and Scott Yow for the letters. My recruiters raved about all of them.
We don’t know exactly where things will go from here but we’re ready to move on. Love and miss you all
Hello everyone, I know this is a long time coming so, here it is. Jesse and I spent Thanks Giving in Zermatt, Switzerland. It was so beautiful and peaceful. We rode 10 hours on a bus and then took a train to the village. The village it self is very touristy and has no cars. The average temp was in the teens or less. Everyday we were bundled up with hats gloves and thermals. Walking everywhere was fun, but very cold. The mountain was about a 20 min hike or less. We had to take to lifts up to the ski lodge and then another one up to ski down.
I was feeling over confident having done well on our last ski adventure, so when Jesse told me to get on the lift I didn’t hesitate. Falling right before getting on the lift should have been my first clue. Anyway the darn thing kept going and going and when we finally got off it ran over me because I didn’t move fast enough; clue number two. After that I snow plowed for 2 hours trying to get down that mountain…yeah not fun.
Needless to say I spent the majority of the time exploring the village, shopping and reading. It was a fantastic trip. Being that we were so far away from the hustle and bustle of life I came back feeling so refreshed.
When we got back to German I had only a week before my trip home to the states. I scrambled around getting things done, cleaning, packing and finishing all my information for the recruiters. I even spent two days driving in snow to go to my medical appointment at a near by base. What a mess that was. But all went well and I was off to the homestead.
I only got to spend 2 weeks with family so I am sorry if I didn’t make it to see you. I hardly stayed at the same place more than a day. It was exhausting and fun. Of course I shopped and saw a movie and got hooked on a new book series (finished all four in Jan). Those of you who don’t know Summer had a baby while I was there. I even got to be in the room to see little Mason be born…it was totally amazing. He was 8lbs and 9 ounces, and one my heart from the time he was conceived.
This was one of the hardest times I have ever had on a visit. It was very difficult to leave.
When I got back Jesse and I had a busy Christmas with friends and started the new year off with lots of stress. Everyone should have our soldiers in their thoughts and prayers. Jesse’s mission here has taken on a new level of intensity. All of my paper work was finally turned in. Thank you Melanie Holly and Scott Yow for the letters. My recruiters raved about all of them.
We don’t know exactly where things will go from here but we’re ready to move on. Love and miss you all
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