Fall Euro Trip Part 4 ~ Bruxelles ~

When we last saw our hero's they were leaving Amsterdam, driving off into the rainy afternoon...
After a bit of Friday night downtown Brussels traffic, we managed to score a pretty sweet parking spot right across the street from our hotel. We got checked in and driven only by hunger and Brad's need to drink some Belgian beer, we headed out into the chilly night in hopes of finding the metro, the Grand Place, and a tasty meal. We were successful on all fronts! The Place was absolutely breath taking against the crisp black night sky.
We ducked into a charming little restaurant pub tucked away in a cellar under the Brewers Museum. The cozy space was a winter evenings dream heated by the kitchens fires, and filled with mouth watering smells! Brad got his beers, and we both enjoyed a good meal. I tried the "black and white Sausage" of which, the black turned out to be blood sausage...I wasn't quite sure either, but if you took it at face value and taste value it really wasn't bad.
Once again driven by our hunger for life as well as waffles, we set out the next morning to find the pick up spot for our bus tour, and a little breakfast on the way. I had a slight advantage in this town since I had visited once before with my good friend Jenna. I took Brad to the very same waffle shop that I had my first Belgian waffle in, and they were still just as amazing! Brad had a traditional Belgian with strawberries and hot chocolate, and I had a liege with bananas and butter. Beer - check, Waffles - check, one last must eat on the list...Frites! We found our bus stop and hopped on board.
The first sight we decided to disembark for was MINI EUROPE! Brad thought it was pretty silly, but I couldn't resist. We took a quick turn through the park, snapping pictures the whole way. Brad joked that we wouldn't have anything to do for the rest of our time in Europe since we had now "seen" all the sights.
I told him this just made it easier for us to tell where we really had to go, like a little preview. As we came to the end of the park, it started to drizzle a bit, so we sped up the pace and hot footed it back to our bus stop.
We took in the rest of the sights and the tour info from on board the bus. The chill in the air, added to the rain was not making for the most inviting touring day. After we'd made the full loop on the tour bus, we got off and headed for some lunch. We enjoyed true Belgian frites, and many other fried treats along with a Hoegaarden the size of Brad's head! Now thats a big beer! After we were warmed and well fueled we set out to see our last, and one of Brussels most famed sites, The Manneken Pis.
We wandered our way through the shop filled streets, stopping in here and there to snap a picture or two. With all the traveling we have done recently, photos are the only affordable way to bring a souvenir home from every place.
It was as usual very crowded around the tiny Manneken, but we snapped out photos to prove we were there, and were on our way. The chill and the rain had worn out its welcome, so we climbed in the car and set our sights further west.
On our way out of town we ran into some unexpected traffic, and eventually set eyes on several sets of polizei in full RIOT gear! After checking the news later that night we found that there had been some Muslim youths causing riots, and that this is a common occurrence each year in this region during the entire span of Ramadan. We counted ourselves lucky to not have fallen victim to the increased number of "carbecues" that take place after the sunset when the angry youths have been fed, and apparently only increase their violent outbursts. You live and learn, and apparently you don't vacation in Bavaria during Ramadan...who knew?

Putting Brussels, the riots and the rain to our backs we motored on to the city of love, lights, and romance...Paris!

Fall Euro Trip Part 3 ~Amsterdam~

The skies cleared as we put Germany to our rudder and set our sights on Holland. Blue skies, green pastures and even a windmill.
Just driving through town trying to find the hotel we could already see that this city was built to be photographed. At every turn there was yet another picturesque canal lined with boats, bike and architecture that was to die for. We wandered the city a bit and visited the Anne Frank House before my peepers were too pooped to go on. We had an early evening so I could recuperate for the city tour we'd signed up the next day.
Our city tours meeting point was at the heart of the city, a main square called Damrak. The Dam derives its name from its original function: a dam on the Amstel River, hence also the name of the city. Built in approximately 1270, the dam formed the first connection between the settlements on the sides of the Amstel river. Eventually the township that formed took on the name Amsterdam.
The square was bustling with the all the usual passers by, as well as this little carnival that looked like it was set up for Halloween. There was a lot of great souvenir stores and you know me, I can't help but climb in anything over sized like that awesome fiber glass clog! We enjoyed a little stroll around the square as we were waiting for the tour to begin.
Once on board the bus, our incredibly gifted tour guide proceeded to narrate the tour in THREE languages, not even including her native tongue of Dutch. English, Spanish and French, it was quite impressive, with hearing the English first and then having a small working knowledge of both Spanish and French I definitely didn't miss any points of the tour. We first drove through town on our way out to one of the 6 windmills in Amsterdam its self. A family actually lives in the windmill, so we were only able to take pictures of the outside, but it was still really cool.
Throughout the tour, we would have been hard pressed to find a building that wasn't exquisitely adorned, or a canal bridge that wasn't absolutely picturesque.
Once you get over the breath taking architecture you start to notice the INSANE number of bicycles EVERYWHERE!! There are over 600,000 bicycles throughout the city, many of them old and rusty. Our tour guide said that since the theft rate of bikes is so high, that most people prefer to have a old rickety bike because its less likely to get lifted than something shiny and new. There is also a very large flea market in town where you can go to buy your stolen bike back!
Another part of Amsterdam's fame includes is reputation as diamond producer. As part of our city tour we were taken to the Gassan Diamond Factory where they cut and polish raw diamonds into the sparkling gems you see at the jewelry store. They talked to us about the "4 C's" of diamond grading: Color, Clarity, Cut, and Carat. They also showed us the equipment used in the most important part of the diamond production process, the polishing. They actually had several stations with polishers working at them so we could see the real process.
After some free coffee and a hot dutch waffle we made our way back to the bus and back to the Damrak where we caught our canal tour boat. This city is beautiful from every angle! We went out into the bay and heard some facts about the busy port of Amsterdam, and then headed back into town, winding our way through the city on the maze of canals.
Back on solid ground, we hot footed it through the "red light" district and saw for our selves the famed window prostitutes. The atmousphere was not nearly as overt as I had expected it to be, there seemed to be houses of regular people mixed in among those adorned with heavy red velvet curtains, and red porch lights.
Unfortunately we were short on time, and were forced to head back to the car, but every step of our journey revealed more and more quaint and photo-worth aspects of the city.
Our last stop, which took a little doing to find, was the famed "I Amsterdam" sign in the museum square. I must say it took about an hour for us to find, but it was well worth it! Just one of those things you can't leave without seeing, and getting a great photo of! As the noon turned to after, we found ourselves on the road again, headed to our next destination...Brussels, Belgium.

Fall Euro Trip Part 2 ~PRK~

The Kaiserslautern area of Germany is pretty heavily populated with Air Force bases, so after visiting one that wasn't the one we were looking for and then navigating the expansive interior of the right one, we finally arrived to check into the Ramstien Air Force Inn.

I have always heard that the Air Force has the best living conditions of all the forces; this rumor was definitely confirmed! The Kaiserslautern Military Community Center consists of the biggest exchange I have EVER seen, and a huge, brand new hotel that is definitely priced right($39 a night, mini fridge, microwave, queen bed with nice linens, free wifi, spacious well furnished rooms and on site parking!) The hotel and exchange are connected by what is basically a mall full of specialty stores and local vendors selling clothing, coo coo clocks, and Polish pottery. There's also a food court full of American style fast food, a 4 screen movie theater with stadium seating, and even a Romero's Macaroni Grill! Yeah, this base pretty much has it all, even a CHILI'S! and if you know me, you know that means they had me at hello. Needless to say, we didn't take many pictures during the few days we stayed here. Our time was divided between browsing shops, eating, going to the movies, and going to my appointments. After the surgery the rest of the day was spent laying in bed with the curtains drawn, and my newly zapped eyes closed while I listened to whatever Brad found to watch on TV. Day one after surgery, I had a follow up appointment at the Landstuhl base hospital. With the exception of some redness and irritation which were to be expected, everything looked fine so we were ready to hit the road. I wasn't about to let minor surgery get in the way of my "seeing" the sights...well, considering the type of surgery I at least wasn't going to let it get in the way of me visiting the sights. We took the scenic route on our way out of Landstuhl since all we had seen thus far was the hospital. Germany is definitely beautiful in the fall. Ending out short tour of town and hitting the autobahn, we transitioned into the next chapter of our adventure, AMSTERDAM!

Fall Euro Trip Part 1 ~München~

Once again my sweet job has provided me the opportunity to see some more of the world. Brad and I headed out to Germany because I got approved for PRK corrective eye surgery on the Navy's dime! The summary of this epic series is: 12 days, 4 appointments, a rental car and an aggressive sight seeing plan, although we're not quite sure how well I will be seeing the sights right after the surgery!

The first leg of our journey began with our patented "Brad and Kristin Carter travel run around." After close to two hours of delay in the terminal and on the tarmac, we managed to make it into the air and over to the Frankfurt-Hahn Airport just as it was getting dark. We grabbed the rental car and hit the road. Germany did not appear to be happy to see us when the slight drizzle that greeted us on the tarmac promptly turned into an all out down pouring rain before we even hit the autobahn. We arrived in Muninch, or München as its called in Germany, to our hotel which advertised "24hour reception" ...well by that they mean we will leave a paper with your name and room number posted at the front desk and your room key will be in the lock to your apartment! Although it was unorthodox we were glad to be where we were headed, and promptly racked out for the night.
The next morning we were up early and off to our first destination, Dachau Concentration Camp. The bright but overcast weather was a perfect back drop to the solemn memorial site. There was so much emotion in the sterile setting. The stories conveyed by the excellent audio guide provided a graphic insight in to the conditions that those poor souls endured.
The main gate under the west guard tower has the camps foundational phrase emblazoned in wrought iron, translated it means, "work makes us free." We walked through the main yard were prisoners lined up everyday to be accounted for, and came upon the memorial monument constructed in this main yard to bring visitors through the prisoners plight.
The journey begins by descending down a concrete ramp, feeling the sterile walls rise as your spirits fall. At the center there is a colorful art piece inspired by the symbols that the Nazi's used to label and demean the prisoners. This piece was to show the camaraderie that formed among the prisoners to help carry them through the unthinkable suffering that was forced upon them. At the very lowest point a haunting sculpture looms overhead immortalizing the many that died by entangling themselves in the electrified barbed wire fencing. After the long and slow accent from that lowest point, the memorial ends with a promise in 5 different languages, "Never Again," and one of the many markers serving as a grave for the unnamed ashes. It was a very power experience.
Besides the memorial monument, there were exhibits set up all through out the camp. In the old barracks they had recreations of the conditions where the prisoners were forces to sleep by the thousands even though they were only built to house hundreds. The old SS buildings were filled with room after room of propaganda posters, reproductions of the original camp documents, and of course haunting pictures of the prisoners at every stage of this horrible process. At the rear of the camp there have been several religious monuments constructed to represent the many faiths persecuted during the war.
Just outside the original camp fence line, the crematoriums stood across the river and shaded behind the trees. The only prisoners allowed over here were either those forced to work here, or those who had finally been pushed beyond their limits and expired. The original crematorium was unable to keep up with the "production" of the camp, so a larger facility was built. Much like the rest of the camp these buildings were cloaked in shadow and gloom, as solemn visitors slowly walked through the rooms and the surrounding gardens, paying their respects the many unnamed lost.
We left the camp with heavy hearts but sound minds, feeling better that we had learned so much about that dark part of the worlds history. We ate lunch at a small cafe in the heart of Munich, and set our sights on lighter horizons. We set out into the misty German countryside for Neuschwanstein Castle. Apparently the German countryside doesn't publish many updates to the GPS community because we had one hell of time finding our way there! But after a few wrong turns and extra kilometers we finally made it, and through the mist the almost mythical castle came into view. We took a bus up the mountain to tour the castle, and take some pictures of the outside. The mist made it difficult to get any great shots, but it was magical non the less. There are no photos allowed inside the castle which was a shame since it was so magnificently decorated. The castle is a modge podge blending of mid-evil, baroque, and modern styles dreamed up by the famed crazy King Ludwig II. After our tour of the castle, the early dusk had fallen and the walk back to the bus stop was pretty dark. After sitting there for a few minutes, we came to the realization that we must have missed the last bus! Sitting in the dark debating about walking down the narrow and slightly treacherous pitch black bus route, we heard some voices approaching. A couple of strangers with two young girls walked up. We broke the bad news about the bus, and after a little talking and a little more waiting we decided to walk back around to the horse cart path, and make our way down the mountain as a group. It was quite the unique experience, and very unforgettable.
With much more ease than getting to the castle, we made it back into Munich and found our way to the famed Hofbräuhaus, for some BIG beers and delicious German fare! The atmosphere inside still resonated of the spirit of Oktoberfest with music, lederhosen, exuberant crowds and of course more beer than you could shake a stick at. It was a perfect ending to this more than eventful day!
Our second and final day in Munich we toured the city visiting the Marienplatz which houses Munich's Town Hall and the century old Glockenspiel. We were fortunate enough to arrive right as the towers bells began to sound, and its figures began to move. It was a breathtaking sight. Only steps outside the Marienplatz we found ourselves in Viktualienmarkt, Munich's huge farmers market. It was a delight just to stroll through the intoxicating sights and smells of the 140 booths. Garlands of sausages, pyramids of the most beautiful fruits and vegetables, cheeses, wines, pastas and spices, you name and they had it! It was a foodies heaven on earth! Although we were sad to go, we had to hit the road, and move on to our next adventure; Ramstein Air Base, and the Landstuhl Regional Medical Center for my PRK surgery.

Kayaking in the Mediterranean

We headed out early this Saturday for a fun filled day of kayaking and sight seeing in Tarifa, Spain. We were up so early, we even beat the sun out of bed! but it was great to see the beautiful sunrise as we were getting on the road.

Brad and I had to ride together in a two man kayak which tested our ability to work together. It went alright, but I think we will be requesting single man kayaks next time. When it comes to sports I like to flounder on my own!

We paddled out into the bay and around the point out into the Straight of Gibraltar. We pulled into a little cove for a snack and short break. I of course snapped a few quick pictures of the idealistic scenery.

Once we were back at the beach we took a little time to soak up the sun and take in the view. You know that your living the dream when your little weekend kayak trip has the Rock of Gibraltar as a back drop.

The drive to and from the kayak site was as different as night and day from the morning to the afternoon. The morning mist and clouds were all but gone when by the drive back across the hills.

After the paddle we headed back toward Rota, stopping into the little surf town of Tarifa for lunch and little sight seeing. Santa Catalina, the castle-like building near Playa Chica( Chica Beach), was built in 1929 as a weather center. During the Spanish Civil War it was taken over by Franco for ammunition storage and the bunkers below were built.

Before taking a stroll down by the beach we stopped in and had a little Chino, it was probably the best Chinese food I have had in quite some time!

With full bellies and a little time to kill we took a stroll down by the beach. The views were amazing! and we found a fun little outdoor gym right down on the board walk. I think I would definitely be able to enjoy a work out with this kind of scenery.

Since moving to Europe, I have developed a new appreciation for graffiti. Its hard not to, since its about as common as breathing. I just love its color, contrast, and even sometimes its message.

Tarifa, is famous for attracting kite surfers from all over Spain. This sculpture down on the board walk shows all the names they have given to winds, common jargon to the avid kite surfer.

Great weather, great food, and as always great company. Just another weekend for the record books.

Labor Day Weekend!

The first destination of our Labor Day weekend get away was Ronda, a striking combination of new and old straddling the grand fissure El Tajo gorge. We walked through the out skirts of El Mercadillo, which is the new side of town on the north side of the gorge. This town was started when taxation drove out most of the residents of La Ciudad(The city) at the end of the 13th century, so clearly the Spanish definition of new and old differ slightly from the American interpretation.

While winding our way through town we saw the festivities set up for Feria de Pedro Romero. This is a two week long party that is help in remembrance of the legendary bull fighter Pedro Romero. Ronda is arguably the birthplace of bull fighting in Spain, or so the Rondan's like to boast.
We arrived at the Puente Nuevo (new bridge) which spans the impressive gap between La Ciudad, and La Mercadillo. The views were equally impressive from both sides of the bridge. This bridge is definitely the star of sites to see in Ronda.
After enjoying a nice lunch, and buying a few little treasures we were on the road to our next destination...Málaga.

We arrived in the late afternoon, just in time for a traditional siesta! After that, refreshed and revived we headed out to explore the city and find a nice place for dinner. We were successful in both our endeavors. I made it my yummy mission to try the gazpacho (a traditional Spanish cold tomato soup) at every place we ate, it was a very successful mission!

The next day we wondered some more through the city, discovering all the subtle beauties in the fine wood work, outdoor sculptures, and quaint shops.
As is almost always the case here in Spain, and in Europe in general, the architecture was not to be over looked. The immense Cathedral of Málaga was over two hundred years in the making, and was still never completed. The south tower remains unfinished giving this edifice its nick name of "La Manquita" or "the one-armed lady".
The Alcazaba, was the 11th century Muslim Governors palace-fortress. It is built like a fortress with terraced view points, and sprawling layout, but the intricate details of its interior architecture display its role as a palace. There is a internal water flowing systems that feeds many fountains and supplies water to the beautiful gardens scattered through out the compound.
Out front they have unearthed a small Roman theater, only increasing the depth and intricacy of this ancient cities past.
We just couldn't get enough of the striking lines of the Moorish arch way, they managed to make such simple framework, intensely interesting and beautiful.
The long trek through the grounds of the Alcazaba in the never ending Spanish summer heat, left us ready for something a little cooler, so we ventured into Museo Picasso where no cameras were allowed but where the art and the air conditioning were plentiful! While for the most part pleasing to the eye, Picasso's work can be quite mentally exhausting, so once we pondered on every last piece of priceless art, we opted for a nice quiet lunch to ease our aching feet and heads!

Being big lovers of photographing nature, we thought a trip to the botanical gardens couldn't be missed!
The plants were plenty and the breeze was high as we meandered through the twisted maze of the gardens interior. Brad snapped pictures until he could snap no more. We took his full data card as a sign to head back to the hotel for a much desired siesta.

I got dressed up for our last dinner out in Málaga, and after a half a bottle of wine I was feeling pretty good.

We headed home the next morning, and after a stop by the Viveros (or nursery) we got to work hanging the treasures we had found in Ronda. The hanging plant pot is a very common decoration for the outside of the house here in Spain, or at least here in little America's version of Spain, base housing.


After all was said and done this weekend was all that we could have hoped for, restful, fun, and productive!