On the Go with Arnie and Jo

Cycle Train in Amsterdam

2012-01-22T05:57:00.000-08:00

This is absolutely awesome. Look at those kids.By Amsterdamized - Marc van Woudenberg

The Dutch Have it Right!

2012-01-21T15:46:00.001-08:00

Anybody who knows me, knows that I am nuts for bicycles. And, traveling to the Netherlands a few years ago convinced me of that even more. Now, my online reading often consists of visiting Dutch and Danish cycling sites including Amsterdamize.com.

The following is an absolutely fabulous video about cycling in the Netherlands and how they have created an education foundation because they are always being asked for information on how other countries can make the same changes the Dutch have.

Watch the short 7 minute video and see what I mean.

Cycling For Everyone from Dutch Cycling Embassy on Vimeo.

Five Chateaux in France

2012-01-21T13:31:00.000-08:00

I really enjoy reading MyMelange.com. It is a travel blog that focuses almost exclusively on travel to Paris and Italy.

I just came across a post written by a guest author by the name of Molly. The article was of particular interest to me, because our trip this summer is going to take us to the Loire Valley chateaux country.

Since there are so many in the area, we have been wondering which ones to see and which we could skip. This article really helps to narrow it down a bit.

Five Chateaux in France

The author discusses:
Chateau Chambord

As Molly puts it: "Hidden in the center of a forest is the Chateau Chambord. If you close your eyes for a moment and envision what your idea might be for a house only occupied for the occasional nights stay or whose primary use would be as a hunting lodge – a castle with 440 rooms, 84 staircases, and 365 fireplaces would certainly not be what most people would have in mind. Yet, this was the structure that filled the desires of King Francois I. For a hunting lodge, it is the largest Chateau in the Loire Valley."

This is definitely one of the chateaux that we definitely have in our plans. Jodi has spent a lot of time looking it over already

Chateau d’ Usse

This is one that we have overlooked I think. I looks terribly interesting, and looks as if it could be a castle from a number of fairytales.

Chateau Villandry

Molly says that it is not the beauty of the chateau’s design that draws people here, but the gardens surrounding it. The chateau is impressive it seems, but apparently its French mosaic gardens are the main draw.

Chateau Chaumont

Chaumont is supposed to be one of the oldest chateau’s in the Loire Valley.

Chateau Versailles

And, of course, you can't talk of chateaux in France without including the palace at Versailles. Most people are aware of Versailles and its beauty.

Versailles is not in the Loire, but it certainly can't be left off this list.

To read Molly's full article, visit MyMelange.com

Written by Molly@MyMelange.com Photo Credits : MACSURACK / ell brown / cookipediachef / aschaf / CpaKmoi

Copenhagenize.com - Bicycle Culture by Design: Bicycle Infrastructure 'n Stuff in Paris & Bordeaux

2012-01-21T09:41:00.000-08:00

Copenhagenize.com - Bicycle Culture by Design: Bicycle Infrastructure 'n Stuff in Paris & Bordeaux

Two of my favorite topics. France and cycling. More to the point bike infrastructure and how the French are adding more and more bike lanes to go along with their city wide cycle sharing programs. The bikes, in some cases are allowed to travel two ways on one way streets, and cars are required follow an even lower speed limit.

It's interesting to note that the larger the vehicle the more responsibility that the driver has to take care of smaller vehicles and pedestrians. Seems we have that a bit backward here.

Many of the cities in France, throughout Europe actually are adopting bike share programs. When we were in Rouen, France we were able to see theirs up close and personal. Really doesn't work to well for me as the bikes, like most, don't adjust well enough to fit my frame.

2012-01-20T19:59:00.000-08:00

Another step closer. Today my new passport arrived. Surprised me as it only took 3 weeks to get it. When ordering it they say to expect at least a six week wait time. Nice to have this out of the way.

So, passport? Check!
Airline tickets? Check!
Hotels and B and B's? Check!
Car rental? Nope!
Train? Nope!
But, they are on the agenda.

Seattle Weekend

2011-12-22T17:58:00.000-08:00

This past weekend Jodi and I spent three days enjoying Seattle. We stayed at the Vintage Park Hotel which is just a block away from the Fifth Avenue Theater.

Cinderella is the current production. We gave some thought to getting tickets, but neither of us was all that excited to see it, and at $129 a ticket it didn't seem worth it.

On Sunday evening we went over the bridge to Bellevue Botanical Garden to see there Christmas light display. It was unlike any other that I have ever seen. The video gives a small sample of the display.

We also spent a good portion of Monday at Habitude Day Spa. Jodi had a facial, while I had a manicure and a pedicure. Until you have had these, don't scoff.

Dinner at Tulio's in the hotel was exemplary as usual. I had swordfish and it was splendid. Jodi had a pumpkin squash dish that was bland to my taste, but she loved it.

All in all this was a nice Christmas present to ourselves.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Baguette from a vending machine

2011-10-09T12:13:00.000-07:00

Ok, one of my favorite things about visiting France is a freshly baked baguette. Most Americans have absolutely no idea just how good good a French baguette truly is. If you are used to picking one up at your local supermarket, then you have no idea what you are missing. Crusty crust and a light and airy center, ah there's just no way to truly describe the texture, the aroma, the taste.

The French buy a baguette or two every day, but for a few it isn't always possible to get to the boulangerie while they are open. So one enterprising boulanger has installed baguette vending machines outside his two locations. The bread is apparently partially baked, and then when the customer purchases the bread is completed and dispensed to the customer hot and crusty. Takes a bit if the romance from being in the boulangerie, but for the working folks, it just might work. The woman in the video seems to give her thumbs up.

- Posted using BlogPress from Arnie's iPad

Reasons to Visit Provence

2011-10-07T20:31:00.000-07:00

Do we really need reasons to visit Provence next year? Probably not, but it is fun to speculate anyway. So, knowing that we are really wanting to go to France again next summer I thought I would jot down a list of reasons for us to visit Provence. Maybe, in another post I will do the same for other regions of France.

Five Reasons to Visit Provence (Or, More)

In no particular order, they are:

1) Bread, Croissants, and other baked goods. The aroma is magnificent when you walk into a boulangerie first think in the morning. It almost takes you breath away. Oh, and don't forget fresh butter and jam. And, later in the day ham and cheese on a baguette. Add a glass of wine, or une bière, and you're set.

2) Hilltop Villages - traipsing the the quaint sun drenched villages of Provence transports you to another time and place. Wind your way through the narrow climbing streets to find a breath taking view that just might have your heart pounding in your chest. Stop for a wine and a bit of food in the shade, and kick back.

3) Market Day - Market day is a must experience. Freshly baked breads, alongside fresh produce and meats stretch for blocks. It is a food lovers paradise. And, I love food.

4) Cote d'Azur - Azur blue water, sun, beaches, umbrellas, glitz, beautiful people. Ok, this isn't really my thing, but there are a lot of people who dream of visiting the south of France just hang out and pretend they are one of the beautiful people. And, maybe they really are. Regardless, the Cote d'Azur is beautiful and really should be seen.

5) Ancient Rome - What? Ancient Rome? You bet some of the best of Rome is in this part of France. Want to see what the Coliseum was really like? Visit Nimes. Visit Arles! Visit.... Oh just visit it all and you'll find so many more reasons why you should be in Provence.
Is there anything that you would like to add to the list?

À bientôt
Arnie

Rude French People?

2011-10-06T12:26:00.000-07:00

I have been doing a lot of thinking the few weeks about our trip across France this summer, and considering the possibilty of our return next summer to the south of France. A thought crossed my mind. When we decided to visit this last July we were asked why by several people, because, as they said, "Everybody knows the French are really rude and hate Americans! So, why go?"This was particularly interesting as all of those that made this comment had never been to France and had never had any exposure to the French. Heck, most had never even been out of the U.S. Where do people get these notions? You will find rude, inconsiderate people everywhere you go. Have you ever been to NYC? I think that like so many things a difference in culture and the misunderstandings that come along with that are the reason so many think of the French as rude. During our travels we never experienced this so called rudeness. Everyone was helpful and courteous. One difference for us might have been our attempt to speak at least a little bit of French. We found that it was very much appreciated even if we then switched to English, because they spoke English better than we spoke French, at least in most areas.

À bientôt
Arnie

Prettiest Square in Paris?

2011-10-04T12:50:00.000-07:00

Recently, I stumbled across a blog called mymelange.net. The author, Robin, writes exclusively about France and Italy. While perusing her blog, I found a post that she entitled " The Prettiest Square in Paris". She goes onto describe it, along with pictures. Now, not having been to this square, I can't really say whether it is the prettiest or not, but, as I was reading this I wished I was back and could be relaxing in Place Dauphine near the Pont Neuf, the first bridge built on the Seine. Looking forward to our next visit to France in general, and Paris specifically. À bientôtArnie

Harp Festival response on YouTube

2011-08-05T07:20:00.001-07:00

We posted this video of the Harp Players a couple of weeks ago on our blog and YouTube. Well, surprise, surprise! One of the girls, the one in red scarf, found the video and emailed me! I was pretty shocked, actually, and didn't believe it until I got her second email telling us " It's not a joke xD We played " Astrid Valse" on the video. We live near Brest and our (little) "improvised" band is called " Telen An Avel" .

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Something Done Right in D.C.

2011-08-02T20:10:00.001-07:00

The Phenomenal Success of Capital Bikeshare from Streetfilms on Vimeo.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Cycling in the Netherlands

2011-08-01T09:35:00.000-07:00

Though many, if not most, of the posts found on our blog are related to our travels, you will also find many others related to transportation topics concerning my favorite, bicycles. This video shows a roundabout in the Netherlands, another favorite of mine, and bicycles, and how they work together. Notice how drivers must yield to cyclists. Hooray!

Dining Canalside in Annecy

2011-07-24T11:39:00.000-07:00

About 5:30 in the afternoon and people beginning to gather at the tables of this restaurant along the canal in Annecy. One of our friends after seeing our pictures, couldn't get over all of the outdoor dining. Even in the rain, people prefer to sit outside. So unlike here where finding a restaurant with outside seating is rare.

Champs Élysées

2011-07-24T11:37:00.000-07:00

Call us silly, but as we watch The Tour conclude this morning on Champs Élysées, Jodi and I can’t help but think fondly that just a week and a half ago we were strolling along this grand boulevard. Can’t wait to return.

Smile

2011-07-13T11:33:00.000-07:00

This is why we travel to Europe. Look at that smile! Oh sure, she smiles at home, too, but I prefer to think of that as a, ” boy, howdy, I’m in Annecy, France!!” kind of smile.

Thoughts on Travel

2011-07-13T11:31:00.000-07:00

Trips like this one are not just about the grand sites, it is often about the small little treasures that one stumbles upon. Jodi particularly loves finding little things like this little sail boat on a windowsill in the English Channel town of Villerville. Ambling along tiny lanes seemingly barely wide enough to get my shoulders through provide some of the most thrilling European moments.

Au Revoir Paris et France

2011-07-13T11:12:00.000-07:00

Our driver arrived at 6:20, we splurged this trip by hiring a car service to take us from the center of Paris to the airport, and removed all the stress of getting to Charles DeGaulle Airport. It was worth the extra cost. Driving through the early morning streets, Jo and I couldn't help but reflect on the last three weeks and how wonderful they had been. We are already talking about trying to make it again next summer, we loved it that much. We'll just have try and find a way to make it work. This isn't the end of our blog, however; we have many, many photos that we haven't posted yet, that we will post to keep this adventure fresh in our minds. À la prochaine

Walking Paris

2011-07-11T11:08:00.000-07:00

Today was an amazingly great day. We walked today. We walked and covered a huge amount of territory. Starting at our hotel a few blocks away from the Eiffel Tower, we crossed the Seine and climbed up to the Arc de Triomphe. The Arc is at one end of the Champs Elysees, so, naturally we had walk to the other end to see the Obelisk at the Place de la Concorde. This was a little disappointing as they were constructing the stands and such for the Tour de France, interfering with the view. From there our hike took us up the hill once again where we ambled along Rue Haussmann, where the huge department stores, Printemps and Galleries Lafayette, are located. After eating lunch, we continued along until we reached the Monmartre district, one of my favorites. We also managed to stroll through the Marais and Latin Quarter. After, a short visit to Notre Dame, where the lines were interminably long so we were unable to visit inside, we made it back to our hotel about 5:00. I'd say 9:00 to 5:00 walking was a pretty darn full day, wouldn't you?

Tomorrow...... I don' even want to talk about tomorrow, because tomorrow we'll be crammed into an Airbus 340 for our flight back to Seattle. Where did the three weeks go?

Eiffel Tower

2011-07-10T11:03:00.000-07:00

The section of Paris where our hotel is only a few blocks from the icon of Paris, the Eiffel Tower. At every turn, it seems, there it stands. Most of us know that it is an imposing structure, but I don't think that, until you have been here, you fully realize what a massive structure it truly is. When we were there the day before yesterday, Saturday, the place was packed with, not only, tourists, but with dozens and dozens, maybe hundreds and hundreds, of hawkers trying to sell tourists tiny, and not so tiny, replicas of the tower. These guys are all selling the same thing, no variety that I could see, just multiple-colored towers all clipped together on a big hoop and carried around with them. I swear, there might have been more of these guys than tourists.

Tour Buses at Versailles

2011-07-10T10:59:00.000-07:00

As we were leaving Versailles this afternoon at about 3:00, we once again had reason to thank Rick Steves for his tips on saving time and avoiding huge crow sand the loss of patience that comes with it. We arrived early with tickets already purchased and in hand so we didn’t have to stand in line to buy our tickets, and then stand in the security line after that. I wish I would have taken a video similar to the one that Rick took when he was in Rome so that you could have seen it. The line to get through the security check was a quarter mile long at least.
The tour buses are in the parking lot and hold about 60 people each. There were at least 40 of them and they just kept coming. It was a tsunami of tour buses! The palace, grounds, and the poor town of Versailles were awash with humanity. Can you say crowded? That’s why we rely on Rick so we can avoid this kind of congestion.

Versailles

2011-07-10T10:55:00.000-07:00

Today was Versailles. The enormity of the place, along with the opulence are simply beyond compare. It is a difficult place to photograph, however. This little video is only a very small sample of the gardens. Notice how far the Grand Canal stretches before you. It also branches off to the left and right so that several smaller palaces can be reached. When you are walking the grounds, it seems to go on forever.

Rick Steves Camera Crew

2011-07-09T10:51:00.000-07:00

As we were stumbling around yesterday, we bumped into these two guys, three times actually. On the street twice, and in the lobby of our hotel. Ordinarily, I wouldn't take a picture of two guys talking in the street just below our window, but in this case I made an exception, because they are, in green, the producer, Simon Griffith, and in blue, Karel Bauer, the camera man for Rick Steves TV show. No sign of Steves himself, though. Maybe, we'll see him later today, or tomorrow. For now, however, off to Versailles.

Rue Cler Area in Paris

2011-07-09T10:45:00.000-07:00

Our hotel is situated just a few steps off the Rue Cler. Rue Cler is the street that Rick Steves recommends first and foremost as a home base when visiting Paris, because it has a "homey" feel. It does have that. A mixture of a few small hotels, restaurants, boulangeries, and other stores, along with residents of the area, gives it a very comfortable, friendly feel.

Paris

2011-07-09T10:44:00.000-07:00

Oh, tell me how ya gonna keep'em down on the farm, after they've seen Pareee! Got here about noon, and have been walking since.

After thought

2011-07-08T19:45:00.000-07:00

After I posted the mini-concert, a random education-slash-political thought flashed through my brain. The people playing those harps are about high school age. Now, I don't have any idea if they have learned harp in public school or not, but I can't help but think of our own education system at a time when in my school there will be no music because not enough students can pass a standardized test. No orchestra. No band. No chorus. No kazoo. Nothing. Nada! We keep cutting and cutting. I had some kids last year who were put in three math classes out of a total of seven. What a mess!

Concert in the Square

2011-07-08T19:40:00.000-07:00

YouTube Video

There are so many amazing and unique experiences to be savored while traveling through Europe. This weekend in Dinan is a harp festival. There are many people here with all manner of harp. Most that do not resemble the ones that most of us think of. These are very much like what I would imagine traveling minstrels would play. The young people that you are catching a snipit of are in the little square across from our hotel, so we are enjoying this concert from our room while sprawled on the bed.

Ideas?

2011-07-08T19:38:00.000-07:00

Oh uh! Looks like Fritz has got ideas about returning to his roots.

Le P'tit Bistro

2011-07-08T19:32:00.000-07:00

Of all the things that Europe, France in particular, has to offer this is what I enjoy the most. Yes, the historical sites are spectacular, and the old city centers can be breath-taking, but give me a small neighborhood, bar, cafe, bistro where local people come and sit for a spell. We discovered this one in Dinan, and, for me at least, it was magical. The food was great and the ambiance was super!

Paris Bound

2011-07-08T10:43:00.000-07:00

Up early this morning so we can drive to Rennes. There we are dropping off our car and catching the train bound for the City of Lights.

Inspirational

2011-07-07T19:28:00.000-07:00

A collage of our day at Mont Saint Michel. An awe inspiring place.

William the Conquerer's Castle in Falaise

2011-07-07T19:25:00.000-07:00

Yesterday we spent much of the day traveling from one chateau to another. One of the ones we visited was the castle of William the Conquerer here in Normandy. Speaking of Normady, the flag is part of the birthday celebration here. If you look closely you will see that the dates are from 911 to 2011. That is quite the birthday party.

Dinan, France

2011-07-07T19:24:00.000-07:00

YouTube Video

This afternoon we arrived in the lovely town of Dinan in Brittany (Bretagne). The view is onto a small square from our room at Hotel Arvor in the heart of Dinan. The music you hear is Celtic because this part of France is rich in Celtic history.

We were supposed to arrive here earlier, but we had a screw-up at one of the hotels along the way, and we were delayed causing us to miss the Tour. All this way from Yakima, to miss the Tour! It’s almost to much to bear! We were close, trapped on Mont Saint Michel as the tour passed less than a mile from us. Jodi swears she could see the bikes glinting in the sun.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Mont St. Michel and more.

2011-07-07T18:47:00.000-07:00

Happy birthday, Ken…… Yesterday we did not have access to wifi so this birthday greeting is a day late. We had a semi planned day. There were several sites we wanted to fit in but also we found more as we went along our drive through winding tree lined roads that passed through small villages. Arnie and I tasted cheese and apple juice at the St. Hippolyte farm. We traveled back through time at a Norman fortified chateau, and we climbed the keep at William the Conqueror’s Castle. Apples are a big deal here, along with hard cider going back to the 900’s. Amazing. July 7th we experienced Mont St. Michel and Dinan. The photo is of Arnie enraptured by the chapel at Mont St. Michel. We were able to sit on a sunny deck while eating lunch and from a far distance see the Tour de France go by. Our plans took a turn and we were not able to see the tour in Dinan.

Rouen Memories

2011-07-05T18:44:00.000-07:00

Memories of Rouen, Rue de Gros Horloge, one of many tea shops, a cute little bar, and Rouen's public bicycle rental.

Cour Sainte Catherine, Honfleur

2011-07-05T18:41:00.000-07:00

Today has gotten a bit toasty, and as we have seen the entire village of Honfleur, and been in most of the shops, it seems a good day go relax in the garden shade and take life easy. Tomorrow we leave heading to Bayeux and Mont St. Michel and various other sites before making it Dinan, and finally onto Paris. It is hard to believe that we only have a handful of days left in France.

Gargoyles

2011-07-04T18:35:00.000-07:00

Jo just loved these gargoyles on one of the cathedrals in Rouen.

Skull and Crossbones

2011-07-04T18:33:00.000-07:00

The other day, while still in Rouen, we came across this old square hidden back behind many older buildings. The facades of the buildings were covered with these skulls, crossbones, shovels and the like. It was where everybody brought family members during the great plagues to die. Kind of a grim place.

Fritz

2011-07-04T18:31:00.000-07:00

Just sitting here thinking of the doodle. Hope he’s doing alright tonight. He doesn’t like the fourth and its fireworks anymore than Jodi and I do.

Calvados

2011-07-04T18:25:00.000-07:00

Sitting on our deck with umbrellas and lavender sipping on a uniquely French after dinner drink, Calvados. This portion of France is called Calvados. In German you might say, "Schmeckt gut." Tastes good!

Villerville, France Resident

2011-07-04T18:21:00.000-07:00

The road was calling this morning so we hopped in for a drive along the coast and then inland and back just to see some of the really small villages in the area. While in a little town called Villerville this gentleman came around the corner and up the street toward us. Jodi managed this shot.

Artist of Honfleur

2011-07-03T18:18:00.000-07:00

Honfleur harbor has long been a haven for artists. Monet was known to have painted this harbor many, many times. Additionally, others, like Boudin, came here as well. This photo says it all, as artists still flock to this beautiful location to try and capture the magic.

Cote de Grace, Honfleur, France

2011-07-03T18:16:00.000-07:00

This is the interior of the Cote de Grace Chapel. The walls show plaques of grateful worshipers for prayer that have been answered. From the ceiling hang several beautiful model boats for people to pray for the safe return of their fisherman. We have noticed a vast difference in building styles and food here in northern Normandy. There are more brick buildings and the crepes are made of buckwheat. You would think Arnie and I would be gaining weight on our trip, because of all the eating and snacking we have been doing, but the opposite is happening. All my clothes are now hanging on me because we are walking from morning until night. Yeah! We are about to start another sunny day by traveling down the coast from Honfleur to see the sights and walk around small coastal towns.

Cote de Grace, Honfleur

2011-07-03T18:14:00.000-07:00

When we climbed to Cote de Grace, and looked back down the trail, Honfleur lay below us. The most interesting aspect though, was the house in the foreground with the thatched roof. We had noticed on this house and others with this style of roof that the owners actually plant flower gardens on the ridge line of the peak.

Sunday Morning Flea Market, Honfleur, France

2011-07-03T14:22:00.000-07:00

YouTube Video

Beautiful Sunday morning in Honfleur. Growing up in this part of France before ending up in Puyallup, I don't recall too many days like this, although I'm sure there were many. Mostly, I remember lots and lots of rain. Sure enjoying the weather now though.

Honfleur Breakfast

2011-07-03T14:15:00.000-07:00

Started our day at this tiny cafe next to our bed and breakfast. The dog, a white German Shepard, named Picot, made sure that everyone enjoyed a relaxed breakfast. After, a baguette withe butter and jam, some coffee and juice we headed up to visit Cote de Grace, a small chapel at the top of a very steep and lengthy climb (photos later). The climb was worth the effort. After we hiked down, our feet carried us down into town and along the jetty that takes you out to the mouth of the Seine where it spills into the English channel.

2011-07-02T14:09:00.000-07:00

Yesterday's drive found us at the Abbaye de Saint George in a quaint little village at around noon. Must be time to eat again. Right across from the abbey was this small, charming brasserie. Jodi decided on a crepe that you see described in the photo,and I had what the owner called a Maxi Salade, it was. And, because I throw myself completely into my research, I had to have a beer called Petrus brewed by the monks of the abbey. Bon apetit!

On the Road

2011-07-02T14:03:00.000-07:00

Abbaye St. Georges

After climbing out of bed and a breakfast of croissants and jam, we hoofed the three to four blocks over to the train station ands the Avis counter to pick-up our car. We had decided last night to explore some of the countryside and a few of the historical sites in Normandy, so that’s where we headed off to on our spotted chicken adventure. But, as sometimes is the case, that was easier said than done, because, even with GPS on my iPhone, we had more than our fair share of problems getting out of the city of Rouen. Going round in circles and back tracking because of closed road work made for a frustrating hour or so.

But, when we succeeded, we were rewarded with beautiful farms and countryside. Our plan was to visit a chateau in the country and an abbey too. Both were impressive in their own way. The picture here is from the gardens at the abbey. We’ll post some other pictures of it and the chateau later.

Arrived in Honfleur

2011-07-02T13:50:00.000-07:00

Arrived in Honfleur at about 4:30 after an interesting and fun day. We'll talk about that in another post. Honfleur is such a beautiful port village, on the English Chanel and across from the huge port of Le Havre, with streets barely wide enough to get a car through, and we are driving one of the smallest cars we could get. The video gives a little taste of what Honfleur has to offer.

Le Gros Horloge, Rouen, France

2011-07-01T13:45:00.000-07:00

Walking along this morning before the throngs of people emerged, we came upon this clock, Le Gros Horloge. The picture, unfortunately, does not do this clock justice. If you look closely enough you would notice that there is only an hour hand. This is not because they forgot, but because in the 1500's they didn't care about the minutes, time didn't move that fast back in those days ( sounds good to me) and hours were sufficient for their needs.

Le Gros Horloge, Rouen, France

Often times when we mentioned that we were going to France for three weeks, people would ask why we would want to visit a place that was so anti-americna and are always rude and surly. Well, our experience has been totally the opposite. They have been helpful in our attempts at our meager French. We are loving this trip and the people we have dealt with so far. Last night, through our open window, Jodi was awakened by the sounds of three very drunk young men, on the street below, singing at the top of their lungs (I slept right through it). Two of the guys could, apparently at least, carry a tune, while the other had a voice like fingernails on a chalkboard.

Observations on Normandie

2011-07-01T13:38:00.000-07:00

As Arnie and I were traipsing the semi-deserted early morning streets and alleyways of Rouen, We found ourselves wondering about the differences between Alsace and Normandie, because there is a different feel here. We still see the half-timbered buildings, the curving cobbled streets, and yet there is an obvious difference. The difference is that here, Normandie, we notice the absence of the German influence.
The breads here also seem to be different. Equally good, but some how lighter, and made with less butter? The croissants in particular are are very light and flaky, but aren ‘t as “oily” as we had in Alsace. Maybe we just had some bad ones, who knows.

Hotel Morand, Rouen, France

2011-06-30T13:35:00.000-07:00

After dodging the insane traffic here in Rouen, not easy to do pulling bags behind you, we found our hotel, Hotel Morand, and were met by the young owner, Thomas. His English is quite good so we got a little information about the place. This building has been many things over the last many centuries. Once upon a time it was a stable for the old castle that protected the town, it was also a hospital, and it was also a mail outpost somewhere along the line. Love this kind of info when we're traveling. Now, I must admit the rooms reflect the age of the establishment, but you want "character" and "charm" when traveling through Europe right.

Auberge in Rouen, France

2011-06-30T13:31:00.000-07:00

This is said to be the oldest auberge, the French word for inn, in France, established in 1345. That’s nice and all, but I really just liked the flower decked balconies. The place looked pretty.

Rouen, France

2011-06-30T13:22:00.000-07:00

After today’s train ride across France, we ended up in Rouen. Rouen is the city where Joan of Arc was taken and tried after she was captured by the English. She was later burned at the stake. The tower in the photo was where she was kept until her execution. We also visited the site where she was eventually executed. Not much to see, really, unless your a believer.

Traveling on the TGV

2011-06-30T13:17:00.000-07:00

Traveling Across France on the Train à Grande Vitesse 6:45 in the morning and we are comfortably situated onboard the TGV (Tay-jay-vay). Sitting on this train is more like being on an airplane than a train in that the seats are very similar with trays that fold down from the backs and so forth. No seat belts that I can see though. We have our iPads out working on trip itineraries and looking forward to the experience of traveling at 200 plus miles an hour. We'll let you know if it is everything that it is cracked up to be.

TGV - Train Grand Vitesse

7:45 - The greatest surprise that I have had so far this trip has been the large expanses of France that are sparsely populated. Most of the places we have been before were more heavily populated with much shorter distances between villages. Trough this portion of central France we have passed through dense forest land and extensive farm land, but few villages can be seen. I think one of the things we appreciate most when we are over here is that there are real live towns with city centers and people walking and riding bikes while taking care of daily chores, and that stores are located in the neighborhoods so that you don't have to get into your car and drive everywhere, and as a result people seem to have a greater sense of community.

8:15 - We must now be in what I can only think to describe as France's breadbasket. Vast tracts of open farmland of corn, wheat, and so on with church spires peaking over many of the knolls announcing the location of another tiny village with its own boulangerie (bread shop), fromagerie (cheese shop), and boucherie (butcher). And, most likely, a little cafe on the corner with a few small tables and colorful umbrellas. Tres jolie! We said we would let you know whether it is everything that is cracked up to be. Well, it most certainly is. The train doesn't reach the speed of flying, but when you factor in how much easier it is to get to and from the station and on and off the train, along with the scenery make this a super way to travel on the continent. Tell me again why this doesn't work for us in the U.S.?

Waiting on the Train

2011-06-29T13:11:00.000-07:00

Just waitin’ for that train so we can get goin’ again. And, here it is.

Palais Rohan in the rain in Strasbourg

2011-06-29T13:06:00.000-07:00

Palais Rohan, Strasbourg, France

Today was a lovely rainy day. After the heat, the rain has been a welcome relief. The cooler temperatures put spring back into our step. The rain also gave the narrow streets a more authentic feel. It has been a good day, but we are looking forward to the next phase of our trip that takes us to the northwestern parts of Normandy on the English Channel and to Brittany. Should be a lot of fun. And, we shouldn’t have to worry about excessive heat as the weather is typically very much like Seattle, wet and cool.

Gare de Strasbourg

2011-06-29T13:03:00.000-07:00

This is the view off the balcony of our hotel room in Strasbourg. The big bubble shaped building across the park is Gare de Strasbourg, the train station. We will be hopping over there early tomorrow morning to catch the train to Paris and on to Normandy.

Strasbourg Cathedral

2011-06-29T12:56:00.000-07:00

The cathedral here in Strasbourg is one of the most impressive that I have ever seen. I’m afraid the pictures that we post will not do it justice.

Sante', Salut, Prosit from Strasbourg

2011-06-28T12:53:00.000-07:00

Sante', Salut, Prosit from Strasbourg

Thinking Cool

2011-06-28T12:48:00.000-07:00

In a continued attempt to think "cool", here is another video of water.

Strasbourg Heat

2011-06-28T12:34:00.000-07:00

It is so hot here in Strasbourg today, that I had to put something cool as a post.

Chez Leslie, Colmar, France

2011-06-27T12:24:00.000-07:00

Just a few shots of our lovely room at Chez Leslie. The room as beautiful balcony over looking one of the squares in a quiet residential neighborhood. It is owned and run by Leslie Collins/Pivard, a transplanted American that has been living here for 16 plus years.
We have had some very interesting discussions about the differences between the French social structure and our almost non-existent one. She is very passionate when she discusses the overwhelming benefits of, for example, health care here versus the U.S. She couldn’t get over how so many in the States are opposed to quality health care for all.

But, I have let my political views take me off topic once again, much to Jodi’s dismay. Sorry, honey. Sometimes, I just can’t help myself.

Rue de Poissonerie and Rue de Tanneurs, Colmar, France

2011-06-27T12:19:00.000-07:00

As I was reviewing our pictures this morning, and marveling at the beauty of this place, I remembered something Jodi and I heard while passing a tour group. This section of town, now called Le Petite Venise, little Venice, has streets named Rue de Poissonerie and Rue de Tanneurs, Street of Fisherman and Street of Tanners. The guide was discussing how the tanners worked with the hides describing the process of soaking the hides in urine. The better off people had a pot to piss in, those less fortunate didn’t hence the saying, “piss poor”. Don’t know if that’s true or not. Makes a nice story for the tourists though. My thought though, was the god awful stench that must have permeated every facet of life hear. The urine, the tanning process, the fish, the muck, and all of it running into this pretty little canals and streams. Gives the beauty now a great deal of perspective.

Drawbridge in Alsace

2011-06-27T12:18:00.000-07:00

This is a really interesting example of a bridge tower that at one time had a draw bridge. One of the things that makes traveling to Europe so fascinating is to be able to almost put yourself into the 1200's.

Last day in Colmar

2011-06-27T11:51:00.000-07:00

Today was our last day in Colmar. Tomorrow we move on to Strasbourg. We’ll only be there one and a half days, as we are there to catch the TGV, France’s super fast rail system, to get us over to Normandy and eventually Paris.
Today was stiflingly hot. Hotter than Yakima right now by almost twenty degrees. 94 degrees is just about too much when your out traipsing around. We managed to survive it pretty well though with a couple of new straw hats and plenty of cold drinks and sorbet under the umbrellas.
We really love the Alsace region of France. Yesterday, as we were visiting one of the smaller villages, we came across two older ladies speaking Alsation, a dialect of German that seems to have French influences.
The picture is another of the section of Colmar called Le Petite Venise.

2011-06-26T10:54:00.000-07:00

Le Petit Venise, Colmar, France

This photo is also in the Petite Venice section of Colmar. I just love the colors and way the rising sun's light filtered just enough to give added interest to the photo. And then of course, there's Jo's great smile. You think she might be enjoying herself just a bit?

Early morning in Le Petit Venise, Colmar, France

2011-06-26T10:50:00.000-07:00

An early morning shot of Le Petit Venise in Colmar, France.

Chateau du Haut Koenigsbourg

2011-06-26T10:36:00.000-07:00

Chateau du Haut Koenigsbourg

Today was a fabulous day. After having a surprisingly delightful breakfast with a husband and wife from Texas, who are also staying at this bed and breakfast, the day was spend driving along the Route du Vin here in the Alsace. This part of France is best known for it's astounding white wines. Jodi and I stopped at just about every town on the route soaking up the ambiance and history of each. While in a village named Ribeauville, we notice several castles on the nearby hill sides. This one, Chateau du Haut Koenigsbourg, was originally built in the twelve century, but restoration was begun when the Germans controlled this part of France. As the day progressed, we visited Riquewihr, Kaysersberg, and Eguisheim, as well. In each of these villages, we found our perfect new home. Now that I think of it, we say that about almost every new town or village visit.

Nose to Nose

2011-06-26T10:31:00.000-07:00

Jo and this French rooster going nose to nose in their debate over the best way to prepare coq au vin. For some reason the rooster didn't think there was a best way. Go figure.

Tartine Italienne

2011-06-25T21:19:00.000-07:00

Tartine Italienne - Copa (similar to prociutto), Parmesan, roquette, greens, and sun-dried tomatoes. Delicieux! Tres delicieux! Oh, and let’s not for get the always necessary Biere Pression. Essentially a small beer.
This trips theme may just become a journal on the wonderful food available here.

Market Day in Annecy Video

2011-06-24T21:02:00.000-07:00

A slideshow/video of the sights of market day in Annecy. Notice the bowls and bowls of fresh herbs and spices in the video clip, the aroma was manifique. Soundtrack included.

Market Day in Annecy

2011-06-24T20:57:00.000-07:00

A funny thing happened on the way to the bike shop this morning, it was market day. What an absolutely bewildering display of fresh produce, meats, cheeses, breads and bake goods. The smells, the sounds, were simply amazing as Jodi put it. She actually had tears of joy as we strolled along. It was a scensory delight that makes Pike Place Market pale by comparison.

Lac Annecy, France

2011-06-23T20:49:00.000-07:00

Today has been a wonderful, though grey day. Wandering along the rustic streets, back alleyways, and canals lined with restaurants and their colorful awnings and overflowing flower boxes is just what the doctor ordered.
Tomorrow, climbing on bikes, what a surprise from me right, ride out around the lake. Approximately a 15 mile ride.

On the Ground

2011-06-22T20:45:00.000-07:00

After many grueling hours onboard an Airbus, I have come to realize that the French do not build planes to fit people my size. Boeing planes are only slightly better, but enough so to make it possible to snooze. We landed in Paris in the driving rain with what we thought was more than ample time to get to our connecting flight. After all, the gates were numbered consecutively, so you would think that you would hop right off and on again, but that would have been to easy. Barely made the connection though there was more than an hour between them. We flew on to Geneva, and were met at the airport by our car service and chauffeured to our hotel in the middle of Annecy arriving about 2:00. Going right to sleep was what we wanted to do, but no, there will be time enough for sleeping when is trip done. More tomorrow with pics

Jasper, Edmonton, and Beyond

2011-06-22T20:44:00.000-07:00

An hour into our flight and we are already flying over Edmonton. I'm beginning think that paying the extra money to fly Air France was a good decision. The flight is considerably shorter than any other time we have flown to Europe, and less time in a cramped plane is way better in my book. Besides, they don't charge for drinks. I suppose if there was a way to calculate it out, the costs probably more than paying out of pocket, but I like the idea of not having to pull money out of my pocket. Is that an example of penny wise, pound foolish?

OnBoard

2011-06-21T20:31:00.000-07:00

Yay, we are boarding at long last. 10 hours from now we land in Paris, then on to Geneva. As Jo likes to say, “Let the spotted chicken adventure begin.”

Flight Delayed

2011-06-20T20:30:00.000-07:00

Just got an email telling us thar our flight is now going to be two hours later! Now almost 4 tomorrow afternoon. Not thrilled with that. At all.

On Our Way!

2011-06-20T20:26:00.000-07:00

In Seattle having a great time before flying out tomorrow at 1:00. To get in the spirit we had Oeufs en Meurette at Cafe Campange on Post Alley.

Getting Closer!

2011-06-12T20:21:00.000-07:00

Whoo hoo! Just got our train tickets today!
Train? Check!
Plane? Check!
Car? Check!
Hotels and B and B’s? Check!
School year over? Check! Now Arnie and I are like two kids on the night before Christmas

32 days and counting

2011-06-12T19:17:00.000-07:00

The anticipation is getting tough to bear. Only 32 more days until we are off to France! I have to admit that it is making these last couple of weeks of school drag though.

Rolling Out the Red Carpet - For Bicycles!

2011-05-29T09:44:00.000-07:00

This is just fabulous. Bicycle lanes in the Netherlands are red. They are like a red carpet for cyclists. They are not just a bit of paint. It is actually a thick layer of very smooth red asphalt. This video shows a road (Parklaan) being resurfaced in the city of 's-Hertogenbosch (a.k.a . Den Bosch). It makes clear how it is done. Four machines rolling down the street on a Sunday, Two with the red asphalt for the cycle lanes, two with black asphalt for the car lanes. The same night the white lines were painted on and the following day all traffic could use the street again.
Infrastructure like this makes cycling attractive and pleasant.

Itinerary now set

2011-01-10T20:11:00.000-08:00

A couple of months ago it looked as if we were headed to the south of France, but after much discussion that has changed. Here is the the new one that is now set.
After landing in Geneva we will be taking the bus to Lac Annecy in the foothills of the Alps. After three days we head north to the Alsace region staying in Colmar and visiting the surrounding villages and wine country. Three days in Colmar and then two in Strasbourg before heading to Normandy and stays in 3 days in Rouen, four days in Honfleur, 3 days in Dinan, and the final three days in Paris.

Tickets in Hand

2011-01-09T20:06:00.000-08:00

Monday we got our tickets. Flying into Geneva on June 22 and leaving three weeks later from Paris.

Fly Away

2010-11-06T20:02:00.000-07:00

It's at the forefront of our thoughts!

The Plan for France Trip in 2011

2010-10-31T19:56:00.000-07:00

This is our preliminary plan. We'll head south to Avignon after we arrive then go in a clockwise fashion through the SW of France visiting Arles, Aix-en-Provence, Carcassonne, Toulouse, Pau, Saint-Jean-de-Luz, Biarritz, the Dordogne River Valley and Caves at Lascaux, and the Loire Valley with all of the beautiful chateau in and around towns like Amboise, Chinon, and Blois. We're thinking that this will take between three and four weeks.

The cities of Toulouse, Pau, Lourdes, Saint-Jean-de-Luz, and Biarritz are places that Jodi wants to visit with me. She was there as an exchange student from Central Washington University and wants to revisit. The rest will all be new territory for the both of us.

Thinking Ahead

2010-10-30T19:29:00.000-07:00

Checking things off the list for next summer’s trip. Am I starting all this way too soon?(Planning and focusing on this may be the only thing that keeps me sane this year.)
Passports all taken care of? Check!

Dragor, Denmark - Day 16

2006-07-20T15:32:00.000-07:00

Dragor was a great Viking port and is now a resort community. Nearly all the buildings are a soft terra cotta color with a red roof. The day was warm and pleasant and we enjoyed a peaceful stroll before heading in to the airport dropping off our car and flying to Frankfurt, our last stop before heading home on our final leg.

It was around 90 degrees in Frankfurt when we arrived, and we needed to transfer from plane to S Bahn train and then climb up hill hauling our luggage with us for several blocks to find our lodging. It was about 9 pm when we finally got to our room. We still needed to find a place for dinner, I am not sure what time our heads hit the pillow, but it was very late before we could sleep in our very warm room.

Fritz is very sad that our trip is over and is crying all the time. It was difficult to get him through customs in that state. Our flight from Frankfurt to New York was smooth and easy, we were up at 5:30am for our ride to the airport. There was a lay over in New York for about 5 hours due to delays. But now we are home, with help of our friend Dan we were out of SeaTac and headed home at

9:30pm.

Denmark - Day 15

2006-07-18T15:24:00.000-07:00

Today was our last full day of vacation. We spent it by visiting the Viking Museum in Roskilde in the morning. The museum has five ancient viking ships that were discovered in a remarkably well preserved state. In addition to the display of ships, the museum actively pursues building new ships in the same style using the same traditional technologies. There are even different activities that the visitors can take part in.

We moved on to Fredricksborg castle after lunch. The castle is often times called Denmark’s Versailles. It is impressive with beautiful grounds that are immaculately kept. The above picture shows the castle from the gardens. From there we drove to Kronborg castle on the coast with Sweden across the channel. There was also a maritime museum in the castle that we enjoyed.

We drove back down south to Copenhagen and took in Tivoli Gardens in the evening. Now we are packing up to travel to Frankfurt tomorrow.

Copenhagen, Denmark - Day 14

2006-07-17T15:14:00.000-07:00

Copenhagen, Denmark - Little Mermaid

This morning, our first in Copenhagen, we took a walking tour guided by an expatriot American who dressed as Hans Christian Anderson. He lead us through the back streets of the old city sharing his knowledge along the way. After a well spent 90 minutes with him, we broke for lunch and had a wonderful plate of Swedish meatballs and fries. Very delicious.

After lunch we walked the city some more as Jodi photographed her favorite figurines and hanging signs. No fun doors to be found anywhere in all of Copenhagen. OK, maybe not all of Copenhagen.

We later rejoined our guide who was now in the guise of The Ghost of Rosenborg Castle. He gave us a very good insight into the royal jewels and living areas and history of the Danish royal family. While here Jodi and Fritz attempted to get the Royal guard to smile, without success.

And, to wrap up the day, we took a boat tour of Copenhagen’s waterfront and small canal area. Our time on the water was a very pleasant break from the heat of the day.

After spending the last several days in Denmark, Arnie has begun to become closer to his Danish side. Still not as strong as his German, but it’s a start.

Tomorrow, our last full day here in Copenhagen, and in Europe, before leaving for home, we will go out of the city to visit Rothskilde to see and experience the remains of real viking ships.

Faaborg and Aero Island - Day 13

2006-07-16T15:04:00.000-07:00

The first part of our day was devoted to visiting the area where Jodi’s Danish ancestors originated. We visited the small villages of Faaborg and Vester Aaby. Faaborg is where her great grandmother came from and Vester Aaby is where her great aunt was born. It was fun to think we may have been walking a street they once traveled. Faaborg is a small village, but charming as you can see in the photos. Notice the interesting roofs in Vester Aaby.

Faaborg, Denmark

We went to Svenborg to take the one hour ferry ride to Aero Island. The temperature kept rising and we were melting, but it was a fun experience trying to keep in shadows of buildings. We had lunch at the Beer and Bed, the fare of the day was a plate of meat and cheese. The meat choices included: Liver pate’, Deer Salami, and smoked ham. The cheeses were: Cow, Goat and Whale.

After the one hour return ferry ride we headed off to Copenhagen, we will be there for the next 3 days. Since this is Sunday not all restaurants were open so we ate at the La Fiesta, a Mexican restaurant. Fajitas - Hurrah!

Ribe and Odense, Denmark - Day 12

2006-07-15T14:58:00.000-07:00

We loved our visit in Ribe, Danmark (Denmark) this is yet another place we want to come back to. The town is Denmark’s oldest town, we found out that it had to be rebuilt in the 1500’s due to fire, so most of the buildings are now brick. We ate lunch, I had breaded white fish and loved it and Arnie had some pickled herring and it sorta grossed him out. For the most part we have truly loved the food on this trip. We went to viking museums and the central church.

Ribe, Denmark

After a pleasant drive through the country side we arrived in Odense, Denmark at around 3pm. We grabbed the camera and headed to the old town area. We found Hans Christian Anderson’s house and Arnie again felt adventurous with the local menu and ordered up Lambs rump with potatoes and veggies and I had Bratwurst with sauer kraut and strong mustard - yumm. We ate in a open plaza under green umbrellas with conversations in many different languages around us. For dessert we had ice cream with pears and chocolate sauce. Ymmmm again.

We are getting to bed early because tomorrow will be a busy day, first we drive to Faaborg where my Danish relatives came from and then we take the ferry to Aero Island to see another ancient viking village, we will sleep in Copenhagen.

Travel to Flensburg, Germany - Day 11

2006-07-14T14:51:00.000-07:00

Flensburg, Germany

Yesterday was a traveling day for us. We drove from Amsterdam to Flensburg, Germany, a city near the Danish border. We had heavy going for a very big portion of the trip as we were very near a few large German cities. The traffic getting near Hamburg was especially difficult.

We skirted Hamburg and took the Autobahn near the harbor and under the Elbe river. The size of Hamburg’s harbor was amazingly huge. It makes the port of Seattle miniscule by comparison. It makes me wonder how large the port of Rotterdam in the Netherlands is, as it is supposed to be the biggest port in the world.

We arrived in Flensburg quite a bit later than I had planned and were only able to see a small portion of it. And, from what we were able to see, we want to return to explore more of this city by the sea.

While wandering around Flensburg, we found are way to the city center and were greeted by an old time organ grinder. No monkey though. What a disappointment. We had dinner here where I had Wild Boar with sauerkraut. Very tasty. Jodi had wiener schnitzel that she seemed to enjoy. After eating we set out to explore a bit before turning in. We wound our way through narrow cobblestoned streets enchanted by the very old half timbered houses. On one particularly interesting side lane we could here a woman’s voice that sounded a bit strange. Jodi mentioned that it was a bit freaky. As it turns out we had unknowingly entered into Flensburgs very small red light district. I guess Jodi had reason to feel a bit freaky.

Amsterdam - Days 8, 9, and 10

2006-07-11T14:13:00.000-07:00

Day 1
Canal side in Amsterdam eating a snack called "bitter-balls"! We arrived a few hours ago and had to take care of house keeping business. Laundry that is.

Amsterdam, Netherlands - Bikes on a Bridge

We did take a slow stroll around Vondelpark, a beautiful green oasis very near where we are staying. Our lodgings are right above a delightful canal with a draw bridge to control the flow of bicycle traffic. It's simply wonderful having all of the bikes going by.

Day 2
Today was a day spent on hour feet for about 8 hours. We are thoroughly enjoying the city and our canal side suite at Bed and Breakfast Amsterdam.

Amsterdam seems to be a city in a constant state of renewal. It is amazing to see all the buildings that have been around since the 1600's or longer, leaning against one another like tottering dominoes. As evening falls, we are once again sitting canal side at our new favorite local pub called Gent an de Schinkel, having a cheese plate waiting for our menus. Tomorrow on to the museums, the red-light district, and getting ready to move on to Denmark the following day.

Day 3
We trashed our plans and headed out on a spotted chicken adventure into the countryside north of the city. We started by taking a tram to the city center and the train station, where we rented some bicycles and caught the ferry across to North Amsterdam. We were off along the canals out through the country side until we came to a wonderful little village called Broek in Waterland.

Bruges, Belgium - Day 7

2006-07-10T14:04:00.000-07:00

Bruges, Belgium

On a scale of 1 to 10, this was another 10 + day. We spent the day on bicycles touring the cobblestone streets of this enchanting city. We must admit that after 6 - 7 hours sitting on bikes and dodging other traffic, we are satisfyingly exhausted. It is lovely just to sit and watch the old men in the square, lawn bowling.

We are sitting at, of all places, a Celtic pub, enjoying cold beverages on a very hot and muggy Belgian evening. In a bit, we will be heading off to have dinner, followed by a visit to great little pub we found yesterday, called Terrasje, to listen to a gypsy jazz trio.

Early tomorrow we head off to Amsterdam. We will continue to add more pictures and more descriptions over the coming days as we have internet access.

Trier, Germany and Bruges, Belgium - Days 5 and 6

2006-07-09T13:57:00.000-07:00

Arnie and I buzzed through the active city of Trier and will have to come back some day to give ourselves more time. Trier was busy, noisy, and full of fun, this is a place for families and eating.

Bruges, Belgium

We didn’t have any time for Luxembourg this trip because we wanted to get to Brugge and we were running out of time. As it is, we almost ran down a motorcyclist and a few spare little old ladies trying to find our way around a city full of one way street that caters to pedestrians and not motor vehicles. This is a city for walkers and bike riders. We will be spending the whole day tomorrow 7/10, Monday, on bikes. Because we have fallen in love with this city, we want to come back here and spend at least a couple of weeks here using this as our base of operations while enjoying near by sites. The weather has cooled to a very comfortable mid 70’s, and we have experienced a misting now and then. More interesting photos have been added to the Europe 2006 page.

Cochem and Burg Eltz - Day 4

2006-07-07T13:45:00.000-07:00

Burg Eltz, Cochem, Germany

Today is another hot and humid day but we decided to make the climb up to Burg (Castle) Eltz anyway. Oh my goodness, was it ever worth it. The Eltz family placed the castle here to control traffic from the valleys to the Mosel river. They would charge a toll to go through this tight pass. The family has had ownership since around the 1300’s. We next motored on to Cochem, which is a modern city in old world clothing. Great shopping and food. By about 3pm we were melting so on to Beilstein to rest and check on our clothes. We did a hand wash of all our warn clothes and things are nearly dry for packing tomorrow when we travel to Trier (which claims to be the oldest city in Germany), Luxembourg and then on to Brugge Belgium. Arnie is sitting next to me correcting my spelling which is a good thing. I have been collecting photos of things that draw my interest and Arnie will set up a separate page for me called Jodi’s viewfinder - I will be adding as we go.

Beilstein, Germany - Day 3

2006-07-06T13:27:00.000-07:00

Above is the Hotel Haus Lippmann in Beilstein. Our room, the tall window on the left, overlooks the Mosel River allowing us to watch the swans on the river. More pictures can be seen in the Germany 2006 album on the photo galleries page.

Hotel Haus Lippmann, Beilstein, Gemany

This morning our rental started without a hitch, although the front windows still won’t roll down. I guess we’ll not worry about it until we reach the toll roads in Denmark and then Jodi can hang out the back to throw money at the toll keepers.

The heat has lessened a bit today, though the humidity remains high.

Our drive here was at times confusing, but always an enjoyable adventure. Traveling the backroads of Germany keeps us on our toes as the roads are often very narrow and twisting with signs that are often confusing to us. We’re proud to say that we didn’t get lost today.

The drive along the Mosel is breathtaking, with small villages shoehorned between the river and the steeply climbing vineyard covered hillsides. This area is well known for the great wines that are produced here.

As we sit here jotting down these thoughts, we can hear below our window in the Wein Garten, the happy voices of people from all over the world. This trip has been particularly interesting in that regard, because the World Cup has drawn people from all over the world.

Day 2 - Sankt Goar and Bacharach

2006-07-05T13:06:00.000-07:00

Bacharach, Germany

Today was eventful from beginning to end. After having breakfast, we started the uphill climb to visit Burg Rheinfels, a castle, which sits above St. Goar. In its time, this castle was the largest, and had the most influence of any in this part of Germany. Walking the ruins was an amazing experience.

When we return to the village, we just had enough time to catch one of the tour boats that cruise the Romantische Rhine River. The cruise took us from St. Goar, our home base, to Bacharach, a town that is full of half timbered buildings lining narrow streets. More pictures can be seen on the photo galleries page.

After returning to our home base, St. Goar, we got the keys to our rental car to drive to some place different for dinner. When we reached the car we found that it was stone cold dead. Couldn’t get the doors to open... nothing worked.

With the help of the very helpful Herr and Frau Burch of the Hotel zur Loreley in St. Goar, a lovely, family hotel that can be found in the village’s pedestrian zone, we were able to receive mechanical assistance that got the car running again. But, after the mechanic left we found that the front power windows no longer operate. Tomorrow morning we are scheduled to leave, so it may be interesting in the morning. We are keeping our fingers crossed.

Day 1 - Sankt Goar on the Rhine

2006-07-04T12:32:00.000-07:00

St. Goar and the Rhine

July 3rd - We arrived at SeaTac International Airport at 7:30. My guesstimate of the time that it would take to get there from home was way off. No morning rush hour to speak of, and our flight wasn’t scheduled to leave until 11:12. WOW! We were way early! But, as it turned out it was a very good thing as we were able to get exit row seats and plenty of room. Not only did we get exit row seats on the Seattle to Cincinnati flight, we were able to snag them on the second leg to Frankfurt too! This meant that we had all kinds of leg room.

We arrived in Frankfurt ahead of schedule and breezed right through customs and got our rental car, an upgrade to a larger vehicle for free;-), and were on the road in less than half an hour after landing.

Our good luck changed a bit after driving out of the airport. It seems that the driver, Arnie, can’t follow directions very well and we got turned around a numbr times, but we didn’t lose our sense of humor, after all we are on another Spotted-Chicken Adventure.

After making our way to the Rhine Valley and Bingen, we drove along the river amazed that at every bend in the river another castle stood waiting for us. Our first two night are being spent at Sankt Goar, in the small, family run Hotel zur Loreley. This small, picturesque town sits right on the banks of the Rhine.

Jodi, the family historian, tells me that, in 1752, Johann Jakob Steinbrenner, her distant German forefather, traveled via the Rhine as he emigrated to America. As a teenager, he made this often arduous journey with another family member, Martin, to Pennsylvania.