Europe 2005

The Pope
Ed and I at the Trevi Fountain
I read from Mona Winks at the Vatican Museum
St. Peter's
Professor Carlson gives a lesson

Pictures from Europe

Greetings and sorry for the delayed post. Here is the update:

We enjoyed Toledo. I had never been and it really is cute little town. We checked out the Cathedral which is something else. Lot,s of El Grecos and oppulance. (PS the period is the new apostrophe because I canàt find it on the keyboard) Dan still wasn,t feeling well so we decided to catch the 7:20 p.m. Ave (speed train). We got there a good half hour before and thought we were in good shape. Ed stood in line for a while only to realize that the 7:20 was long sold out. SHoot. Oh well there was a 9:20...except we realized at about 7:40 that too had been sold out (no announcement or anything). The 9:20 was the last train for the day so we thought fast and booked it to the bus station. We amazingly caught the 8:00 bus and were please with navigation abilities sans Dan.

Tuesday was a quiet evening checking out the Royal Palace in Madrid and napping and packing for an early morning on Wednesday. Dan joined us Tuesday night.

Wednesday we had to be at the Metro at 6 a.m. We chose to take the Metro because it would cost 5 E vs. having to take two cabs (squeezing 5 in a cab is not permitted in Spain). We made it through two transfers up and downstairs with luggage with out incident. We were in great shape until we were 3 stops away from the airport when the train didn,t go for a while. Hmmm... we waited and there was an announcement that the train would not be moving. The entire train, including us, deboarded. Dan asked and found out that there was problems between this stop and the next one. He no sooner asked when they announcing they would be reboarding the train. It was too late for that train--completely full at that point and closterphobic jean would have not have done well. We waited for the next train which came to the statiion, but never left. We sat on it for nearly 25 minutes. Finally, we decided to split and go upstairs and hail a cab (two of them). To top it off, they randomly had flight information and we learned that our flight time was 30 minutes earlier than when we had booked the tickets in July (unbenounced to us until this poinst). We were under the gun. Ed and dad quickly got a cab, but it took a couple of minutes for Mom, Dan and me. The cabbie drove like a bat out of hell and we arrived at 7:25--our boarding time. We ran to the ticket counter (as soon as we could find it), ran to secruity and sprinted to the gate. We were as close to humanly possible to missing the flight without actually missing it. The biggest issue is that this airline,s next flight was on Friday.

We eventually made it to our hotel in Rome and were beat. We all napped and got some dinner at a great place--Als 39. I had the best tortellini. No offense to Spanish food, but the food here has been consistantly tremendous. Anyway, the only thing we did for the rest of Wednesday was see the Trevi fountain at night. Gorgeous.

Thursday we headed to the Colosseum and the Forum. We spent the entire day there--such interesting historical and architectural implications. We also had about 50 attempts at taking a Christmas picture. If you happen to get one this year, please marvel at it because it was alot of work.

Friday we did some smaller things: pantheon, trevi fountain (again), spanish steps, and some shopping. It started to pour at about 2 in the afternoon though, so walking around became trecherous. We returned to Al,s 39 for dinner. I had the tortellini again. It was still good.

Today we headed to the Vatican. I have six minutes so I have to type fast, but we went through the museum saw the Sistine Chapel, all was looking good as we went over to St. Peters and we noticed a VERY short line going in. Great. Not great. They had cleared everyone out because the Pope was giving mass at 5 for advent we learned. Mom had talked about seeing Michaelangelos Pieta for weeks prior to the trip. We leave early tomorrow morning. I was so sad. You could attend the Mass but needed to book tickets through your church before you left. Ahhhh....what do we do. We discussed some hairbrained attempt at stopping by on the way to the airport. Mostly we just stood around the people in line (which was not much longer) and thought about trying to buy tickets from someone. JOkes were made about getting seats in the upper left of the alter and being willing to sit in the nosebleeds. Luck struck when I saw a guy holding a bunch of tickets. I had Dan run after him and we were able to get 5 tickets FOR FREE (he had been passing them out as part of promoting his guided tour of hte vatican museum)! So anyway, we attended the service (not a mass) and saw the Pope. It was pretty amazing. We also caught a glimpse of the Pieta from behind a curtain (where the Pope had entered). Great dinner toinght, and we leave tomorro early. Out of time...

Greetings from Toledo

greatings from the a computer as slow as the pace of life in Spain--no wait, slower. Also, not so much a fan of the keyboard.

HIghlights:

• ¨not sleeping so well on the overnight flight but making it up in power sleep between Munich and Madrid
• Dad´s attempted pick pocketing on the Metro. We got on at the airport station and this guy gets down on the ground and starts frantically pulling at this pant legs. We were all stunned and couldn´t figure out what the hell was going on. They ran out and the doors closed and we saw on the ground dad´s hankie and paper scraps from his pockets. The pulling on the pant legs was a distraction while someone else (who noone really saw and dad never felt) went for his pockets. Rick Steve´s would be proud to know htat we were all using money belts (except for Dad who had his money with mom). Erin an I backpacked around Europe for 7 weeks with no such incident. We´re in Madrid for a half hour and it happens. No harm, no foul
• Saturday night we got a great meal--the kind where you pay 1 price for a choice of appetizer, meal, and dessert.
• After that, we caught a Flameco show that was really great, but considering the price we think we were victims of a tourist trap. Dan said compared to a show he caught in Sevilla, it was about as half as long and twice as much.
• Sunday we caught the Prado and Dan gave us a top notch tour of Valequez, Goya, and El Greco. I through in my own tour of the crazy Bosch paintings. After that, we hit up the Reina Sofia for a quick peak at Picasó´s Guernica. ONce again, Dan gave a top tour.
• had lunch
• walked around--most things are closed on Sundays :(
• took a siesta
• Went out for some fantastic tapas---Soooooo yummy!!

Today we are in Toledo. Dan was sick all night--probably the 24 hour flu and not food posioning because no one else was sick---so he is resting and we are down 1 tour guide. We will make due with Ed´s and mine Spanish and the assistance of Rick Steves. Toledo is such a cute European town--narrow hilly streets, historic buildings, and cute little shops, restuarants and cafes. Can´t wait!!

To give you an idea of timeline: we are going to be in Spain today and tomorrow and then off to Rome

Food and Centerpiece

Centerpiece
French Onion Soup
Dessert

Pictures from the wedding!

Last Wedding of 2005—a recap

Ed and I had a fantastic time in West Palm Beach at his friend Amy’s wedding this weekend. It was held at the Breakers in West Palm Beach, FL.

First, the rehearsal dinner. It was held at one of the oldest restaurants in West Palm. The decorations were gorgeous—candelabras and about 15 large vases of flowers. The food was good, and there was a violinist who played the whole night including requests. The highlight (literally) was about ½ through the dinner we heard this thud. I thought something was knocked over, but I looked up and entire roof on the back room was retracting. We ate the rest of the meal under the stars—so cool!

So the wedding was on a terrace overlooking the beach, and it was beautiful. Unfortunately, it was SO windy. They served champagne and water at the ceremony itself (which wouldn’t fly so much at St. Johns in Minot), but the wind knocked over a few of the glasses. It was crazy. Her cathedral-length veil was all over the place.

The reception room has the most gorgeous flowers and the food was a work of art. I will post pictures.

It was a great little get-away. Friday we leave for Spain and Italy!! YAY!

3 years!

Ed just sent me flowers at work! I am pretty sure there is no better feeling. We have been dating 3 years today!

YAY!

Jury Duty and Apple Crisp Recipe

It happened. I knew it would. I was summonsed for jury duty for Dec. 5. Everyone—I am told—eventually has to do jury duty in DC. I think it is because so many people here don’t switch over their licenses/register to vote that the pool is small. My first emotion was disbelief. I really thought I could avoid it. I really thought I wouldn’t be called ever for some reason. I guess I thought I was special. Second emotion was a swelling of patriotic pride. Visions of Law and Order and 12 Angry Men conjured up in my mind. I broke out into “And I am proud to be an American…”—okay, no I didn’t. Justice would be served with me on the jury. Lady Liberty would be proud. Third emotion = reality. Cynthia was on jury duty for a trial that was supposed to be for a day or two but it took almost 3 weeks. She had to go into work early and come after to keep up with things at her job. UGH. I am hoping that I don’t actually have to serve. I won’t know until that day. I could go on a jury that day, at a later time, or never have to serve.

In other news and speaking of all-American pride, here is an Apple Crisp recipe as requested:

4 cups sliced apples (I recommend Macintosh)
¾ cups brown sugar
½ cup flour
½ cup oats
1/3 cup butter
¾ tsp. cinnamon
¾ tsp. nutmeg

Put the apples in a grease 8 x8 x 2 pan. (We have been doubling it for a 9 x 13 pan—I don’t measure the apples but it is about 6 or so medium sized ones). Bake for 30 minutes (more like 40-45 for the larger pan) at 350, until brown and tender. You will have a good idea that you are close when the apple juices are boiling underneath. Serve warm with ice cream.

Random Thoughts

So I saw a short plump man wearing Burbery pants—in a wide, bold plaid. It was something.

Also walking today, I caught a view of myself in the mirror. Looking good…wait what’s that on top of my head? My glasses. Nice. Funny, though, I put my contacts in this a.m. What on earth possessed me to put my glasses on my head and wear them around the house, to the Metro, on the Metro and not even notice until I was 2 minutes from work and only noticed because I happen to see them in the mirror?!?!?!

Last night I went to the gym. I thought I would try the “new machines”. Remember the informercials for the Gazelle? It is sort of like those, but made by Cybex, so a little sturdier. I lasted 15 minutes. It officially kicked my ass. Has anyone else used these?!? It is no regular elliptical.

After my workout, I got this crazy energy spurt—rare, I know—and went on a manic cleaning frenzy until 1 a.m. I was on a roll! The place looks great, and I feel better about it being clean.

Meet 80's Aerobics Lady

We had alot of trick or treaters last night. We didn't buy that much candy and soon ran out. Halloween is a fun holiday.

Have I told everyone about 80's girl at the gym? I think I am going to sneak in a camera sometime. This woman looked like she walked out of an aerobics video circa 1987. She has teased hair with big bangs (not the early 90s style--but more the mulitish look). She wears leotards or full length tight leggings and a matching top, usually in hot pink. One time I think she could have even been wearing a headband. Really all she needs is some Reebok high tops and leg warmers to call it a day. The thing that is crazy is she just as this arrogance about her like she is hot stuff, which she probably was in 1984. Ed said he once saw her drive away in a Trans Am. She has this weird boyfriend/husband who is sometimes there too. They're quite the pair.