Amsterdam in 36 hours

Stopping in Amsterdam for 1 1/2 days to see friends. I really enjoy the city and especially enjoyed the opportunity to see it through their eyes. We visited here as a family in 2010, but it's good to see it again. Here's a couple of the photos that try to show what my 2nd impressions are.

 Crossing the channel to get into the city, there was this large Russian submarine. My friend says it could be Das Boot (ha), but it's interesting to see a big sub literally in the middle of the harbor. Certainly it's a conversation piece.

 We are so backwards in the US--(except my husband who faithfully rides his lil bike to school). We don't use enough bicycle power. Here's just one random bicycle parking lot. I almost got hit a couple times and was warned more than once to "stay off the bike path". I even got "honked (tinkled?) at by a bicyclist with his little bell. Seriously, I really applaud the Dutch for their healthier attitudes/practices.

 This is on top of a boat. Love the use of green glass to make Christmas trees. At least I think that's what they are!

 Went into the Tulip museum and saw these lovely Amaryllis' growing. Oh spring can't get here soon enough, especially for my Minnesota peeps. I took the picture below to remind everyone that spring is coming… (say it again and you'll believe it!) Spring IS coming soon.

 When we were in Amsterdam a couple years ago, this fabulous place (the Rejksmuseum) was closed. It was great to get a chance to see it. This popular painting of Rembrandt's (The Night Watch) was one of the highlights.

 Along with the very cool Harry Potter-like library. 

 I saw this a couple times--decorating the bicycle handles with flowers. I'm not sure if it's to remind you what your bike looks like when parked with hundreds of others, or if it's another reminder of spring. Either way, it made me smile.

Off to Ireland tomorrow! Slowly making my way home. 

Oh the fantasy will have to come to an end I know.

All on a Saturday in Berlin

Disco Fever is alive and well in Berlin! It was such a beautiful day, I couldn't help but do a little Happy Dance on the street.

 There are flowers beginning to poke their head out of the ground here, which is a site for sore eyes. I took this picture for all my beloved people in Minnesota enduring yet ANOTHER snow storm.

 Being with Pooja AND Dennis is such a delight. How I remember both of them fondly as they were exchange students in PR in the late 90s. And now they are grown up people, living and working and succeeding. But they are still delightful folks. We're not squinting because the sun is so bright, we're squinting because their FUTURE is so bright ! (that's my story…)

 Some unknown top of a random church. How awful is that? Seriously, I have no idea what this is, but the site of such a beautiful building against the lovely blue sky made me want to take the photo. I can tell you that it's by the Calvinist Reformed Church (the French one) which was a very interesting experience. There wasn't any English translation (other than two sheets of paper which weren't very informative). So I enjoyed listening to whatever Dennis read as interesting AND just looking with out knowing what I was seeing. Sometimes one needs those little reminders that English isn't the only language spoken. It sorta makes me use the rest of my senses to figure things out.

 However, I found this one fascinating. The church was bombed and shot at several times during the War. Below is a description of a specific day and then there is a hymnal with the bullet hole and the actual bullet on top. It was a eerie site.

 This is Humbolt University, which Dennis says is THE Place for study in Berlin. In front of this, we saw a group of students demonstrating. As we walked closer (it was a peaceful demonstration), we learned that it was a group of students from Venezuala demonstrating the treatment of fellow students there. I guess it's quite horrific. A young lady approached and told us that all they wanted to do was spread awareness of the atrocities that are happening there. It was my first demonstration!!

Leaving Berlin will be hard  I have enjoyed the break, the complete mellowness of just
chillin' with Dennis and seeing Pooja. It was like a little bit of home. Just what I needed. 

Visiting Germany…special moments

Being in Germany this week was just what I needed after traveling through Israel. On a practicality note, it's really nice to be staying with people and not having the extra hotel expense and food costs. On the same thought, only emotional, it's really great to be re-connecting with people that I treasure in my life. And thirdly, it's just good to take a brain break--- I don't have to figure out where I'm going, what I'm doing.
Having said that, please don't think I didn't like traveling through Israel with my daughter. It truly was the Once in a Lifetime opportunity in many ways.
But I think myself rather smart to have planned this week in the middle of my three week adventure.
Enough said…
Here's two photos that make me smile

 When I stayed at D and K's house, I looked out my window the first morning and felt entirely safe to have Spiderman watching out for me. This speaks directly to D's sense of humor. Oh also--- his internet name is "homeland security". Gotta love it (hope this doesn't get him in trouble….!!!)

Me and my German son… we took this in his garden before we went out exploring. I think it just says "content". At least I know I feel content when visiting with him.

…and me without my Camera

I did it again. Decided that I didn't need to take my camera when we went out to explore Berlin. And of course I saw things that I wanted to record. So I'm stealing images directly from Google with all apologies and appreciation.

Just a few representational shots of Berlin. I love the graffiti, the attempts to integrate the old with the new, the art, the way things look. It's good to be back visiting again.

The BEST part about traveling

…is getting to see people that you haven't seen in a while. Loved catching up with Dietmar and Katrin Bethge (Exchange student 1987)  Today I saw Pooja Merchant, exchange student from 1999. Currently staying with our German son Dennis from 1998 in Berlin, Germany. Life is GOOD… damn good!

"I am so glad I had the opportunity to be in this place" (translation)

Returning to the Koln (Cologne) Cathedral: a dream for the past 11 years. When our family first visited here in 2003, I was so awestruck I couldn't find the words. That was before I had the opportunity to travel to many other Cathedrals and before I had read Ken Folliet books detailing the building of cathedrals. But it's still a beautiful and amazing space.

 The detail in the whole building is what is such an unbelievable site. It just seems to go on and on and on (which it does). The back of the building is as intricate as the front (this is the back by the way)

 Inside there are carvings, stained glass windows, burial tombs, mosaics, etc. The one above is St Christopher, the patron saint of travelers.

 When I view a space like this and see the intricate windows, it makes me feel especially sick about the fact that there are wars and places like this are bombed. Fortunately there wasn't much damage to this place. There is a window that was damaged and they've replaced it with the modern look of multi color glass pieces. (no photo here). It's sad to see, but the guide book said it was because there wasn't any records of how the window looked. *Sigh

 My beautiful traveling companion, Godsister Marion. Our family is so blessed to have her in our lives.

This is a piece of "art" that we saw at the Ludwig Museum, a modern art space that has some truly "head scratching" pieces (as in "THIS is art?") But this plaque, found outside, states my new Life Motto "I am so glad I had the opportunity to be in this place". I could say that about so many places we've ventured to, but it seemed particularly appropriate here as it's the second time I got to stand in Koln.

The traveling blues has begun to set in, as I suspected they might. I'm over the half way mark of the trip and maybe (just maybe) I am getting homesick. Or else it's something I ate ;-). However, I've got three more stops to go on my wayfaring so I'll just suck it up and carry on. Besides, reports from home are that the weather CERTAINLY isn't something I want to go running back to at any moment.

I am thankful for the opportunity to travel and will not complain because I have the opportunity to have the adventures that most people only dream of. There… Attitude Adjustment Complete!!

Next Stop: Berlin, German son Dennis and hopefully friend Pooja (another PR foreign exchange student ) Lucky me lucky me!!

"Home" in Aachen

Safely at the home of our Godsister Marion. I love this house, I love this woman. She is our German family. Today we are planning to go to Cologne, the site of a fantastic Cathedral. We saw it with her and our German son, Dennis in 2003. I have thought of it often and wanted to make sure that on this trip, I returned to view it.
Life IS good!
Picture "Borrowed" from Google