tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17353981940189595062024-03-19T12:27:38.645-07:00Rietkerks in Germany2 adults +4 kids +1 dog =Our Crazy LifeThe Rietkerkshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16626586954218267167noreply@blogger.comBlogger24125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1735398194018959506.post-29174681455305436422012-02-10T02:22:00.000-08:002014-05-23T11:49:50.311-07:00Following us on the webwelcome to the 21st Century...The Rietkerk Family has a website...<br />
Check out the latest and craziest adventures at the following link<br />
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<a href="http://rietkerks.com">Rietkerk Family Website</a>The Rietkerkshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16626586954218267167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1735398194018959506.post-85606678009951656752011-12-27T06:26:00.000-08:002011-12-27T07:29:00.386-08:00Fire makes it better<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgniT6CzSwQpgCCa-iksUk2x36oXjt9-MGbCL-JebZI_Utwbb8j1H3LIRs-WdqAz5YDeVBQ9-d2xe8Hew1_MV6o4UT2HUZxFJRbYGotTeqcGRnSK7ERmzXGqSzULbKVw9LQr9-713Eghyphenhyphen8/s1600/firebowl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="320" width="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgniT6CzSwQpgCCa-iksUk2x36oXjt9-MGbCL-JebZI_Utwbb8j1H3LIRs-WdqAz5YDeVBQ9-d2xe8Hew1_MV6o4UT2HUZxFJRbYGotTeqcGRnSK7ERmzXGqSzULbKVw9LQr9-713Eghyphenhyphen8/s320/firebowl.jpg" /></a></div><br />
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We recently stumbled upon a delicacy of the German Christmas Markets...the fire bowl drink (feuerzangenbowle). A friend mentioned the stand on the other side of the Danube River in Regensberg so the family made its way wandering through the cobblestone streets in search of the elusive concoction. When we stumbled upon a long line of eager patrons waiting patiently for their drinks we knew we found something special. The drink comes served in a special cup that allows the sugar cube to rest on the side while the liquor is poured generously on top of the sugar and drink. Then, the magic comes when the server takes a small blowtorch and lights the drink on fire. We were duly impressed. So much so, that on subsequent trips, we made a beeline for the stand, passing up any imitations along the way. We thought this was a Regensberg specialty but are happy to report that Munich hosts a Fire Bowl Square right near the Old Town with several stands dedicated to the drink, and includes a 20 foot tower of copper with fire flaming out from the center. All we can say is "bring it on!"<br />
Click below for a short video...<br />
<a href="http://youtu.be/TBOKZYHcABM">Fire on my drink</a><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZRH8WPDGS_U64FJoQtTs0zxuWi_-BDt74mvglp7oyRFy5WO8h2a_-1NI93aggafv0tfcuRk9Lhan7qVEIEtfvEGoP_25GK2Dp_3fJJT6GTBAVEo6vVkocb8RHBTjgbnGlIJe4S0h3OY0/s1600/firebowl+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="200" width="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZRH8WPDGS_U64FJoQtTs0zxuWi_-BDt74mvglp7oyRFy5WO8h2a_-1NI93aggafv0tfcuRk9Lhan7qVEIEtfvEGoP_25GK2Dp_3fJJT6GTBAVEo6vVkocb8RHBTjgbnGlIJe4S0h3OY0/s200/firebowl+3.jpg" /></a></div>The Rietkerkshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16626586954218267167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1735398194018959506.post-86980203224625655202011-12-27T06:16:00.000-08:002011-12-27T06:16:05.447-08:00Christmas Markets<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Village Square, Esslingen</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pausing for a quick pic between sips of gluhwein</td></tr>
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Starting just after American Thanksgiving, German villages and large cities play host to Christkindlmarkts...the traditional seasonal markets featuring handcrafted goods, fresh baked goods and live music. We were able to visit several of the top markets this year: Dresden--the oldest market in Germany; Stuttgart--the largest market in Germany; Esslingen--a medieval market featuring pirates, wenches and lots of street performers; Nuremberg--voted "the best" market; and Regensberg--a collection of 4 markets in one city. Each has their specialty but all have one draw in common: gluhwein, a hot mulled wine served in commemorative market coffee mugs. You pay a deposit for the cup allowing visitors to choose which cups they want to collect. (most cost between 2-3 euro) A spin on the gluhwein drink is "feuerzangenbowle" literally translated "fire tongs punch". This drink is mulled wine with a sugar cube doused in alcohol and then lit on fire. Not only is it tasty on a cold winter's night but adding the flame on top makes it irresistible.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the pretty booths at Christmas Market</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Street performer, Esslingen<br />
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</tbody></table>The Rietkerkshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16626586954218267167noreply@blogger.comCentral Europe50.958371379754752 10.35070639000002846.128376379754755 1.2109308900000268 55.788366379754748 19.490481890000027tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1735398194018959506.post-25208826706389191792011-11-11T01:54:00.000-08:002011-11-11T02:11:21.542-08:00It rolls<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu5PpZ4e9na2X21H7yQTeDIx3bpzmAIL-9C_1R-_KzDW_mROwGrlWqTrV-yPgRtdGmH12u-5kf6ClvA6g1g8n1hBvP7ILg7dO52-VfMhAJ2s2E0aSqNXuKh0rN1ZnwFhL4e71rWeUADIs/s1600/DSCN2690.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu5PpZ4e9na2X21H7yQTeDIx3bpzmAIL-9C_1R-_KzDW_mROwGrlWqTrV-yPgRtdGmH12u-5kf6ClvA6g1g8n1hBvP7ILg7dO52-VfMhAJ2s2E0aSqNXuKh0rN1ZnwFhL4e71rWeUADIs/s320/DSCN2690.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>In October, Tim and I went north to pick up the newest addition to the Rietkerk family: a Volvo sedan. The Army ships one vehicle with the family when you move overseas. We donated the trusty gold Honda Accord and shipped the Honda minivan. For the past 3 months, the van has been great. It's taken us as far north as Denmark and south to the Czech Republic. With more than 115,000 miles on the 2006 model, we thought now would be a good time to purchase another vehicle. Being in the land of "no speed limit", every soldier's dream is a super fast car. Most choose the BMW 300 or 500 series in black. In fact, there are so many of these models on military bases, it's hard to believe they are something special in the States. Tim and I were first taken with the BMW, but after careful research (and the 50th anniversary special Volvo was offering) we decided to purchase the Volvo S-80, a 4 door sedan, in the classic dark blue Volvo color.<br />
When you purchase a Volvo, you can have it delivered to the dealer OR you can opt to take factory delivery up in Sweden, which is what we did during the last weekend in October 2011. The deal goes like this: if you elect to pick up at the dealership, you will pay a $600 delivery fee. If you go to the factory, Volvo pays for your trip up north and then you drive it back home. Tim was able to get leave approved for the trip to Sweden and on Monday, Oct 31 we boarded a train in Parsberg (a 5 minute drive from our house) to Kiel, via Regensberg and Frankfurt. The train travel took 8 hours but was thoroughly enjoyable. No distractions to our reading selections, we stopped at the Starbucks in Frankfurt for a little snack and then enjoyed a picnic lunch with bottles of wine on the train.<br />
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Once we arrived in Kiel, it was a 10 minute walk to the Stena Line ferry where we checked in, received room keys and hit the buffet.<br />
The ferry left port at 7:30pm and traveled across the Baltic Sea overnight. We arrived in Gothenburg Sweden at 9am and left our luggage in our cabin, which we would return in the evening. We were warmly greeted by our Volvo driver who whisked us away to the factory, about 15 minutes from the dock. Once at the factory, we were the first to check in and our car was rolled out in the delivery waiting area. We were like first time parents, oohing and ahhing over the shiny new toy. Our Volvo rep Leif took us on a tour of the bells and whistles of the car and then let us take over and take it on a spin on the test track. Lest you get too excited, the track is about 1/4 mile long and limited to low speeds. We'd have to wait to test the power in the engine until after lunch.<br />
At 11:30, we enjoyed lunch in the restaurant which featured a traditional Swedish meal: meatballs, potatoes, gravy and lingonberries. Better than IKEA! Then, it was time for our factory tour. Sorry, no pictures allowed but it reminded me of the Disney movie Wall-E or the ride "Cars" at Epcot: lots of robots doing very detailed work. When we did see humans, they were surprisingly young; I don't think we spotted anyone over the age of 50 on the floor and most looked like young adults. Impressive tour though. They kept emphasizing that every Volvo is created with specific customer specifications. Every vehicle is pre-ordered and built to match the end user's desires. <br />
We left the factory at 3:30 and drove around the city enjoying the sound system and bluetooth capabilities. Once on board the ferry again, we made our way back to the buffet. After a restful night's sleep, we disembarked with the car and headed south to Lupburg. We made it home in 8 hours and thoroughly enjoyed driving the car on the autobahn. Tim got the car up to 110 mph, a thrilling prospect after many years at speeds half that. We are going to enjoy traveling to new places in this car.The Rietkerkshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16626586954218267167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1735398194018959506.post-2021837617100237592011-10-07T00:23:00.000-07:002011-10-07T00:23:22.955-07:00Wanderweg<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tim deciphers the map to figure out where to go next...icons show us the types of trails they have: important sites, beautiful scenery, or restaurants along the way!</td></tr>
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A favorite pastime of the Germans is walking. I had heard about the volksmarches that many villages host during the summer but I was surprised at the sheer number of people who enjoy walking as sport. Many carry trekking poles to give them a boost in heart rate. However, I've noticed quite a few who simply drag the poles behind them as they walk leisurely on one of the many trails around Bavaria. <br />
Occasionally, I meet up with some Army friends to take part in this pastime. More often, I take Lady for a walk around my neighborhood. We have enjoyed watching the changing scenery, as summer moves into fall.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Katie, LeAnna and MonaLisa take a break during the walk </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pigeons roost in See</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My traveling companion on most days...LADY</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Which way do we go?</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDEtiDHExbelOIJy4VvQq5KK1zi5cIY9yKZeZcbYFeFlP_IBzFrM7NWVO4OFHBem7L7WnwyAJwLnhnDwH4VZwuSMuuAaXNa_FRGkXYpEsT1pILmN6WhtO8mWxsv4fHNGMe2_NzY-HThT4/s1600/DSCN1675.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDEtiDHExbelOIJy4VvQq5KK1zi5cIY9yKZeZcbYFeFlP_IBzFrM7NWVO4OFHBem7L7WnwyAJwLnhnDwH4VZwuSMuuAaXNa_FRGkXYpEsT1pILmN6WhtO8mWxsv4fHNGMe2_NzY-HThT4/s400/DSCN1675.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Climbing on top of hay balls in a field...surprisingly squishy</td></tr>
</tbody></table>The Rietkerkshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16626586954218267167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1735398194018959506.post-7802419561520928412011-09-11T06:44:00.000-07:002011-09-11T06:48:03.281-07:00I know, I know So off to school I go..<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WDaJntFHEHc/Tmy5dX_tvwI/AAAAAAAACbc/iexZ1DVgR3s/s1600/DSCN1646.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WDaJntFHEHc/Tmy5dX_tvwI/AAAAAAAACbc/iexZ1DVgR3s/s400/DSCN1646.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Will-6th grade; Lilly-2nd grade</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCTlx8_bxvX6MiAQLHf8L74LFLjo1zRlykKJ0PzkSfrJ6timRwKy6GU6rMFDqvL_P3V5mClbpeyfbCIcLGavnsLnhzIlsg4JxJqB6aTlpiT-mjrcpl-XaDmiKGjYJzt6raB_p_LNHsiTY/s1600/DSCN1626.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCTlx8_bxvX6MiAQLHf8L74LFLjo1zRlykKJ0PzkSfrJ6timRwKy6GU6rMFDqvL_P3V5mClbpeyfbCIcLGavnsLnhzIlsg4JxJqB6aTlpiT-mjrcpl-XaDmiKGjYJzt6raB_p_LNHsiTY/s400/DSCN1626.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Parents and students wait in anticipation of the ribbon cutting ceremony opening Hohenfels Elmentary School<br />
for a new year of learning</td></tr>
</tbody></table><b>August 2011 </b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-size: 13px;">The school year started off in spurts with 2 kids beginning class on Monday and 1 kid getting a bonus day before diving into a new routine. Before leaving the States, we bought backpacks and lunchboxes for the younger kids to slide right into cool school style here in Europe. First correction made: 6th grade boys don't really take lunch boxes to school anymore. They use brown paper sacks. Second correction: Although I attempted to make sure they had "proper" school supplies, we were shocked that DODS (department of defense schools) in Europe doesn't make families provide classroom supplies. So, the numerous 3 ring binders, looseleaf paper and Crayola water colors are tucked into a bedroom upstairs waiting for art projects on rainy days at home. </span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cve0nYFGhd0/Tmy5krtoTfI/AAAAAAAACbg/LPiKq-e6bI0/s1600/DSCN1647.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cve0nYFGhd0/Tmy5krtoTfI/AAAAAAAACbg/LPiKq-e6bI0/s400/DSCN1647.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We'll get it right next year; apparently, first day of school photos are conducted on the rock with the castle in the background. Silly newcomers!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Jqtw1WXhENY/Tmy5wfoQe6I/AAAAAAAACbk/voMZcfTMYoU/s1600/DSCN1648.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Jqtw1WXhENY/Tmy5wfoQe6I/AAAAAAAACbk/voMZcfTMYoU/s400/DSCN1648.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Will and his 6th grade buddy, Reese</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-o7M0EHh12Zo/Tmy6L5wBfbI/AAAAAAAACbo/Ms8h_L1GNSA/s1600/DSCN1651.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-o7M0EHh12Zo/Tmy6L5wBfbI/AAAAAAAACbo/Ms8h_L1GNSA/s400/DSCN1651.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The neighborhood gang waiting for the bus <br />
(no high schoolers...they got to sleep in for one more day)</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-size: 13px;">The kids leave the house at 7:10am and head for the bus stop, a short 1 block walk from the front door. The bus that picked them up on the first day was a ratty affair...seats were torn and windows had been etched by disgruntled kids from years gone by. But, they load the same they have for eons: little kids get on first and sit in front (by the driver=SAFETY from big kids) and then middle schoolers get on and try to score a seat as close to the back without infecting the high schools and finally...the scary high school kids get on...ear buds conveniently tucked into their ears to block out the noise of bothersome little kids who want to high five each one as they walk down the aisle.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-size: 13px;">I greeted the kids with rice krispie treats following the second day of school. I thought i'd pretty much outdone myself and told them, "Hey! I made you a surprise!" And Will looks at me and says with a roll of his eyes, "I'll bet it's rice krispie treats." I guess I'm as predictable as starting school in Fall.</span></span>The Rietkerkshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16626586954218267167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1735398194018959506.post-24655873537905189432011-09-08T06:23:00.000-07:002011-09-10T00:49:18.507-07:00Taking a peak behind the curtain<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-p8fvsBzTwBI/TlT7W5Dn07I/AAAAAAAACIc/FKrwbPykD3M/s1600/DSCN1221.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-p8fvsBzTwBI/TlT7W5Dn07I/AAAAAAAACIc/FKrwbPykD3M/s640/DSCN1221.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">The Postma Family in the backyard of the Winter Palace, St Petersburg, Russia</span></span><b><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><b><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b>August 11 St Petersburg, Russia</b></span></div></b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>Of all the stops on our cruise, perhaps the crown jewel was St Petersburg. Partly due to the fact that few have ever seen this city and partly because it was the end of our week-long cruise, we were eager to get off the boat and take in as much of Russia as possible. I was able to secure a tour through Red October Tours prior to leaving the States and our tour guide, Svetlana, was waiting for us when we got off the ship. We were among the first passengers to clear customs in Russia and we kept thinking we were going to be stopped for some reason. But, it was an easy process and we made our way to the private coach hired to take us around town.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GiYPCQ2DqXM/TlT5ubAYpDI/AAAAAAAACGo/IDRfEGDzw38/s1600/DSCN1168.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GiYPCQ2DqXM/TlT5ubAYpDI/AAAAAAAACGo/IDRfEGDzw38/s640/DSCN1168.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Catherine the Great's Winter Palace</td></tr>
</tbody></table> Our first stop was the Winter Palace, a 30 minute ride from the ship. The palace was built in the small village of Pushkin and it was interesting to see the combination of small private homes, large apartment buildings and government monuments along the drive. Probably the first thing your eye takes in is the fabulous blue the palace is painted. No where else in Europe is this color used so predominantly. We were struck by the sheer grandeur of the building, which was built not as a residence but as a show piece to prove how rich and powerful the Russian nobility was. The rooms were filled with gold, mirrors and lots of decorative touches. The palace grounds are immaculately groomed and offer sweeping views of the property. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kristen and Tim in the "backyard" of the Winter Palace</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bill ensures his headphones are working properly</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2jFo0pCSzs4/TlT7bWrVw4I/AAAAAAAACIg/-OZ17lh0ovY/s1600/DSCN1224.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2jFo0pCSzs4/TlT7bWrVw4I/AAAAAAAACIg/-OZ17lh0ovY/s400/DSCN1224.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There's a chapel inside the Winter Palace</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7LWtLWEP3cw/TlT6-BIBPiI/AAAAAAAACIA/iVnrTosI_90/s1600/DSCN1209.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7LWtLWEP3cw/TlT6-BIBPiI/AAAAAAAACIA/iVnrTosI_90/s640/DSCN1209.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Instead of living in the Winter Palace, Catherine had this little addition added and spent the <br />
remainder of her life living "simply"</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Troy was Lilly's guardian during the tour<br />
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<b>Following our stop </b>at the Winter Palace, we took the opportunity to eat at the original stroganoff restaurant. Legend says that a soldier, who lost his arm in a battle, was served this beef main dish because he could eat it without using a knife. It was absolutely delicious. My personal recipe doesn't even come close. Accompanied by a cream of mushroom soup and a drink called kvass (like root beer but has some fermentation process) it was the perfect break to reenergize for the afternoon.<br />
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Our next stop was the Hermitage. Like all great cities, a good art museum shows off how powerful you really are. The Hermitage was originally a residential palace and many rooms are open to tour. In the 1800s, the decision was made to allow commoners the opportunity to stroll through the building and admire the collections. It is a "must see" for anyone visiting St Petersburg and the crowds were intense. Our tour guide led us through the main highlights and then gave us some time to browse on our own. We enjoyed gazing at the Impressionist collection and saw some artists' work up close and personal. Very little of the Hermitage is kept in climate-controlled environments so you can really see the brush strokes and shading the artists employed.<br />
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</div>To round out our tour of the city, we stopped at the Church of Spilled Blood, an impressive onion-domed church which is more colorful than St Basil's Cathedral in Moscow. We also visited the sphinx from Egypt and gazed at Peter and Paul Fortress on the water. It was a grand view of a truly remarkable city.<br />
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</tbody></table>The Rietkerkshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16626586954218267167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1735398194018959506.post-3816913925383574652011-09-08T06:07:00.000-07:002011-09-08T11:18:20.671-07:00Tallinn Estonia<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7J9EmIhh8NW-jxUGWwSLFakvF_JdfmNWCGxkW8iSmd0B3xG5A8oUiNfa1QpFZQscZSIJv-0QgoMmsnNS7rAg08257IxfB3mE5T7lfXoiSC2vdqRK-XCX6dbWKBX0M5uHK-ObmbVXYsNo/s1600/Slide1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7J9EmIhh8NW-jxUGWwSLFakvF_JdfmNWCGxkW8iSmd0B3xG5A8oUiNfa1QpFZQscZSIJv-0QgoMmsnNS7rAg08257IxfB3mE5T7lfXoiSC2vdqRK-XCX6dbWKBX0M5uHK-ObmbVXYsNo/s400/Slide1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><b><br />
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<b>August 10 </b>It was a competition to see who could get back to the cruise ship on time following our excursion into Stockholm. Steph, Bryan and a handful of kids elected to take the water taxi from Gamla Stan to the boat; Tim, Kristen, Bill, Eva and Lindsey tried hoofing it back to the ship. It didn't seem too far but when you're under the clock, every minute counts. Both groups made it back before the ship sounded its horn. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Old town, Tallinn Estonia</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, Estonia Russian-Orthodox</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We took the opportunity to walk on the old city wall</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tim and Lilly on a tandem bike ride</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I couldn't resist the chance to be a "qualified back-seat driver."</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The girls try on fur hats, Estonia</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunset from the ship</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New development in Tallinn Estonia</td></tr>
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Following another filling dinner meal and night at sea, we pulled into Tallinn Estonia at 7:30am. From the ship, we could see tall spires and red roofs dotting the coastline. We were eager to embark on our city walk. We left the ship and walked through a little market village set up expressly for the purposes of hawking goods to desperate souvenir shoppers. We browsed quickly through the wooden shacks on our way to old town, about a 10 minute walk. Estonia's history is a constant tug of war for domination of its ports by both Sweden and Russia. The people, however, demanded independence and currently enjoy a vibrant economy and tourists to Tallinn are not disappointed. The town reminded me of the Medieval Times Restaurant, with old town walls, wooden market stalls and vendors dressed in Renaissance garb. The smell of sweet-roasted almonds wafted around the town square and quartets entertained us with lively folk music. Several of us took the walking tour of the city and another group rented tandem bikes for an exhilarating tour of the streets. Cobblestones make for a bumpy ride but the weather was pleasant and everyone was in a good mood.<br />
We returned to the ship back through the market stalls and managed to satisfy our souvenir craving as well with painted tiles and hand-made jewelry.The Rietkerkshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16626586954218267167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1735398194018959506.post-57067053508598448352011-09-05T22:57:00.000-07:002011-09-10T00:50:46.087-07:00Sweden<b>August 9 </b>Our view from the ship's cabin was dotted with little cottages and small boats as we docked in Stockholm. Another city based on water trade, Stockholm is home to many fishermen and the downtown doesn't disappoint. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Vasa ship, restored to its original glory</td></tr>
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Tall ships, frigates and numerous cruise lines all make a stop in Stockholm. We disembarked and bought a ticket on a water ferry over to see the VASA ship, a Swedish fighting ship that sank just a mile from shore on its maiden voyage. As our guide said, "it was a very important sinking. Much learning about ship building came about from the failure." I like to think that statement can be applied to all of life.<br />
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Following the museum tour, we headed to old town, Gamla Stan, where we queued up for the Royal Changing of the Guards. This was a long show but we got to hear a marching band and watch soldiers exchange duties in perfect formation.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Baby it's cold inside</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ice cups make cold drinks even better</td></tr>
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The highlight for several in our group was the excursion to the Absolut Ice Bar in downtown Stockholm. Imagine drinking delicious cocktails in ice glasses while you're surrounded by carved ice sculptures not to mention the mittens, heavy cloaks and hoods that we wore to keep us toasty while sitting in the ice bar. Everything in the bar is made from ice, including the stools to sit on. Lindsey and Lauren wore flip flops and they instantly felt the cold. The kids were served non-alcoholic drinks and the adults had the opportunity to try unusual concoctions with names like Sleigh Ride.The Rietkerkshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16626586954218267167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1735398194018959506.post-87936981531283945592011-08-31T23:54:00.000-07:002011-09-10T00:51:44.452-07:00Cruise Day 2<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMQ0boDT9XYF3geHUYRL52Q4ews_LSTE0FZwq5WxCrpdcO0iZS3zN1mxwYkY1eKhoC5drwBZcHs_I2i4UrOBsWH-bTcgGEdb2Emw7NKcPRX0pB7l3i_m7-KrQBFjZAZ5nCaz3nB6LDhW4/s1600/Slide1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMQ0boDT9XYF3geHUYRL52Q4ews_LSTE0FZwq5WxCrpdcO0iZS3zN1mxwYkY1eKhoC5drwBZcHs_I2i4UrOBsWH-bTcgGEdb2Emw7NKcPRX0pB7l3i_m7-KrQBFjZAZ5nCaz3nB6LDhW4/s400/Slide1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><b><br />
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<b>August 8 Day at Sea, Kiel to Stockholm</b><br />
We returned to the ship in fine form after our day of sightseeing in Kiel and got dressed for dinner. We had 2 tables in the L'Hibiscus dining room, a table of 8 and a table of 4. This proved a bit of a challenge because we had 7 adults and 5 children. We decided to rotate who sat at the "little table" with Tim drawing the lucky spot for night number 1. Our servers, Adriana and Lucas, kept us entertained with incredible food and magic tricks throughout the evening. Since MSC is an Italian-owned ship, each evening featured dishes from different regions through Italy. I have to admit, they all started to taste somewhat the same by day 4 but we still enjoyed the opportunity to choose from the menu up to 6 courses, with dessert always being a highlight.<br />
Our day at sea was absolutely perfect. Lots of sunshine (even on the Baltic Sea), warm temps, refreshing pools and a rousing game of mini-golf on the top deck. Will and Troy spent hours preparing an "Olympic games" competition for our time on the cruise which was great fun until we discovered that supplies for events (like ping pong and suffleboard) were a bit limited. Not to fear...as the sun began to set, all of us were a bit weary from the day's tiring schedule of sunbathing and drinking tropical drinks. Following dinner each night, the entertainment crew put on a gala spectacular in the ship's theater. It reminded me a bit of Vegas, a little opera, death-defying acrobatics and even an appearance by the King of Pop, Michael Jackson. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Safety first! The kids enjoyed practicing for disaster</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">That's Amore!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Day at Sea...perfect weather and plenty of things to do on board</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I won a contest and was treated to a meal from the 5 star restaurant on board. Only drawback, I had to eat it at 11am!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Intense competition on the mini-golf course</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The man in charge of the score</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8CCGs2vkbfA/TlTP9woRtmI/AAAAAAAAB38/GzmsCYOePqU/s1600/DSCN0875.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8CCGs2vkbfA/TlTP9woRtmI/AAAAAAAAB38/GzmsCYOePqU/s400/DSCN0875.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ahhhh...Troy takes the Nestea plunge</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Girls ready for the show</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stephanie and Bryan, Troy and Quinn</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Postma girls</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Scouting the Divine</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Goofing around at dinner</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-niBy_esmEMc/TlTR8WAd_5I/AAAAAAAAB6Q/uJ2xNJZNrDk/s1600/DSCN1050.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-niBy_esmEMc/TlTR8WAd_5I/AAAAAAAAB6Q/uJ2xNJZNrDk/s400/DSCN1050.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Purple Rain...our drink of choice</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kbVVnFvMPOg/TlTS2XLlwpI/AAAAAAAAB7I/rnspQIfyG5c/s1600/DSCN1347.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kbVVnFvMPOg/TlTS2XLlwpI/AAAAAAAAB7I/rnspQIfyG5c/s400/DSCN1347.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ping Pong champs</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Q7QOv7IqdQI/TlTUB-lBixI/AAAAAAAAB8U/vYAZBam1Jwc/s1600/DSCN1439.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Q7QOv7IqdQI/TlTUB-lBixI/AAAAAAAAB8U/vYAZBam1Jwc/s400/DSCN1439.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"That's right...Who's bad?" Michael Jackson</td></tr>
</tbody></table>The Rietkerkshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16626586954218267167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1735398194018959506.post-5137585524600551152011-08-28T07:12:00.000-07:002011-09-10T00:52:34.441-07:00Baltic Sea Cruise Day 1<b>7 Aug Kiel, Germany </b>We slept well last night, rocked ever so slightly by the waves as we chugged toward Germany. The day started off grey and cloudy and by 6:30am we were slowly pulling into the port of Kiel. Everyone was anxious to get off the ship but first, we had to visit the never-ending breakfast buffet. Most of the fare was European standards...bread, cold cuts, cheese and traditional yogurt. But, Lindsey managed to find the cocoa crispies and of course, there was a station dedicated to pancakes.<br />
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Our goal for today was to disembark in Kiel and take the train to the town of Lubeck, an hour long journey through German countryside. MSC conveniently had shuttle buses available for cruise passengers wanting to get to the train station (hauptbonhof) and we happily accepted the transport.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Holsten Gate: the gateway to the original Old Town. </td></tr>
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Upon arrival to Lubeck I consulted my Germany guidebook and learned about this UNESCO world heritage site. <br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>L</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>übeck is the city which, more than any other, exemplifies the power and historic role of the Hanseatic League. Founded in 1143 by Henry the Lion on a small island of the Baltic coast, Lübeck was the former capital and Queen City of the Hanseatic League from 1230 to 1535. As such it was one of the principal cities of this league of merchant cities which monopolized the trade of the Baltic and the North Sea, just as Venice and Genoa exerted their control over the Mediterranean.</i></span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wilhelm has a commanding presence</td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">About 20% of the city was destroyed during WWII, but the 15th C Holsten Gate with its leaning towers and the city's Rathaus still stand. We sat at the outdoor Niederegger Cafe and enjoyed tasty marzipan coffees and traditional German pastries while listening to the classical tunes from a brass quintet based out of St Petersberg. </span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yvonne, a master at wrapping gifts, Niederreger marzipan shop</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;">I<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YZHfB6WtPSI/TlTaiRUR_YI/AAAAAAAAB9I/Y3RIu_Nxr0s/s1600/DSCN0772.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="481" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YZHfB6WtPSI/TlTaiRUR_YI/AAAAAAAAB9I/Y3RIu_Nxr0s/s640/DSCN0772.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In front of the Rathaus...Enjoying the sounds and tastes of Lubeck on a glorious Sunday morning</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Inside the Niederegger Shop...marzipan fashioned into all sorts of unique shapes. Lindsey holds up a cruise ship</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stephanie and Bryan on the train ride back to Kiel</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></span>The Rietkerkshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16626586954218267167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1735398194018959506.post-64722088988484742782011-08-28T06:41:00.000-07:002011-09-10T00:53:28.333-07:00Baltic Sea Cruise: All Aboard!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMZ-ilyYpsKtKw8wV3CmLTva-zisdXsZsHacv5OHAuf2Y5HKeRjvzA2sX9_lJc38Xseo9Fq6EY4QNrXRq8gRCOU65PwbNAEh9bzk-q3FPBqY4sBPndvOjekGPPOQ3QaoTk0z44XmxEIz8/s1600/Slide1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMZ-ilyYpsKtKw8wV3CmLTva-zisdXsZsHacv5OHAuf2Y5HKeRjvzA2sX9_lJc38Xseo9Fq6EY4QNrXRq8gRCOU65PwbNAEh9bzk-q3FPBqY4sBPndvOjekGPPOQ3QaoTk0z44XmxEIz8/s400/Slide1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMZ-ilyYpsKtKw8wV3CmLTva-zisdXsZsHacv5OHAuf2Y5HKeRjvzA2sX9_lJc38Xseo9Fq6EY4QNrXRq8gRCOU65PwbNAEh9bzk-q3FPBqY4sBPndvOjekGPPOQ3QaoTk0z44XmxEIz8/s1600/Slide1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><b>Day 1: Leaving Copenhagen aboard MSC Orchestra</b></div>Our last morning in Copenhagen was spent touring Rosenberg Palace, the favorite home and place of death for King Christian IV. It is an intimate castle with every room used and designed for comfort. It seems King Christian was a bit of a jokester--he had a chair built that made fart noises and wet the person's pants when they sat down and he had a room completely covered in mirrors (including the floor) in order to see up women's skirts. I was most impressed by the King's throne which was made out of narwhal tusks (first thought to be unicorn horns)...it absolutely glimmers in the light. The Palace is also home to the royal treasury so the kids enjoyed getting an up close view of tiaras, crowns and massive pearl and diamond necklaces.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yhPrdp4afNs/TlS73BphePI/AAAAAAAAB0I/uzPUCIaO_Ig/s1600/DSCN0690.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yhPrdp4afNs/TlS73BphePI/AAAAAAAAB0I/uzPUCIaO_Ig/s400/DSCN0690.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Copenhagen loves their favorite King...his crest is found everywhere</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On the palace grounds, Rosenberg Palace, Copenhagen</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Little Mermaid, a gift from the first owner of Carlsberg breweries to the city. Located at Langelinje pier. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Before Lauren experienced life as a mermaid in Copenhagen's waters</td></tr>
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Following the Palace tour we drove over to visit the Little Mermaid. Lindsey conveniently cued up the Disney song on her laptop as we drove by. The kids and I hopped out to get up close and true to Lauren's nature, she fell in the water to be super close with her kindred spirit. Surprise to us...the Little Mermaid is actually quite little.<br />
Our cruise ship was docked fairly close to the Mermaid so Tim dropped us off with our luggage and went to find the parking garage for the cruise terminal. This turned out to be about a mile away; sounds close when you're driving there but then you have to walk that same distance back to the ship. Tim made it in record time and we proceeded to check in to our cabins, find the rest of our party and hit the buffet.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1_2BGE27_TM/TlTNO8J4iVI/AAAAAAAAB08/gQbVrCo9BXY/s1600/DSCN0723.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1_2BGE27_TM/TlTNO8J4iVI/AAAAAAAAB08/gQbVrCo9BXY/s400/DSCN0723.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The kids enjoyed a little fruit treat while they waved to cool cars driving by</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uf5TnsWPzwg/TlTNgm3NokI/AAAAAAAAB1U/QVVd28yTA14/s1600/DSCN0735.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uf5TnsWPzwg/TlTNgm3NokI/AAAAAAAAB1U/QVVd28yTA14/s400/DSCN0735.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The <i><b>Grand Staircase</b></i>...lest you be confused by the other staircases where one would meet. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UJnDo3GGBqI/TlTNW1ZOjAI/AAAAAAAAB1I/BIvTblMMXbs/s1600/DSCN0732.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UJnDo3GGBqI/TlTNW1ZOjAI/AAAAAAAAB1I/BIvTblMMXbs/s400/DSCN0732.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Doing our nails on deck...it's important to have good cruise nails</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Y31vOcj0PN8/TlTN6StDuCI/AAAAAAAAB1k/NsAo_MnrEL0/s1600/DSCN0738.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Y31vOcj0PN8/TlTN6StDuCI/AAAAAAAAB1k/NsAo_MnrEL0/s400/DSCN0738.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lindsey's favorite traveling companion</td></tr>
</tbody></table>The Rietkerkshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16626586954218267167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1735398194018959506.post-50161691508853128772011-08-28T06:16:00.000-07:002011-08-28T06:50:46.959-07:00Baltic Sea Cruise<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjulDk4LHuVOUpNYxoHd3H0sMeGivAJmKnGBjbM_BhKJLe-z-8eXXDwewE7fwHnxDD8VShFss6QvZ6Yzc0piUhUuW_RpquIndC9KOFCX5LJoNqfDMFi7AwRGQrPPtU57DRazOl6daqVZBM/s1600/Slide1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjulDk4LHuVOUpNYxoHd3H0sMeGivAJmKnGBjbM_BhKJLe-z-8eXXDwewE7fwHnxDD8VShFss6QvZ6Yzc0piUhUuW_RpquIndC9KOFCX5LJoNqfDMFi7AwRGQrPPtU57DRazOl6daqVZBM/s400/Slide1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjulDk4LHuVOUpNYxoHd3H0sMeGivAJmKnGBjbM_BhKJLe-z-8eXXDwewE7fwHnxDD8VShFss6QvZ6Yzc0piUhUuW_RpquIndC9KOFCX5LJoNqfDMFi7AwRGQrPPtU57DRazOl6daqVZBM/s1600/Slide1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Exploring Copenhagen </b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b></b>The morning offered plenty of sunshine and we headed to the Netto boat cruises for the hour-long harbor tour from the best vantage point, the water. The Danish language is a bit difficult to decipher but it wasn't hard to learn that "<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><i>København</i></span>" is Danish for the capital city. First</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> documented in the 11th century, Copenhagen became the capital in the beginning of the 15th century. During the 17th century, under the reign of King Christian the 4th, much of the city's waterfront took on a Dutch flair as the King sought to bring a bit of Amsterdam's charm to his town. </span></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnM96PRkP7rjWnlemyt809Jg-E8x7mgPS8oX81_KSRjAYMWnFalLIqav_4PcqEnB4k4g5Z3ubvMMemEkL1rCt1bxbD3LSZLArFE6KOooAicSgvRA7u3L8FHfoygHsElyCS1P6LQ3Hb0cU/s1600/DSCN0558.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnM96PRkP7rjWnlemyt809Jg-E8x7mgPS8oX81_KSRjAYMWnFalLIqav_4PcqEnB4k4g5Z3ubvMMemEkL1rCt1bxbD3LSZLArFE6KOooAicSgvRA7u3L8FHfoygHsElyCS1P6LQ3Hb0cU/s400/DSCN0558.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tall ship in Nyhavn</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4xkjS1hW_Iw/TlS5_CzeWbI/AAAAAAAABx8/Uq_cq5Ii3zo/s1600/DSCN0590.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4xkjS1hW_Iw/TlS5_CzeWbI/AAAAAAAABx8/Uq_cq5Ii3zo/s400/DSCN0590.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8yq-m-ZLs7A/TlS6GWvbtZI/AAAAAAAAByE/CXRxdFa79D0/s1600/DSCN0597.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8yq-m-ZLs7A/TlS6GWvbtZI/AAAAAAAAByE/CXRxdFa79D0/s400/DSCN0597.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Can't miss this Danish beer outpost on the canal</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IuWu0z9-DEM/TlS6Nng5NyI/AAAAAAAAByM/miPwath6s_s/s1600/DSCN0599.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IuWu0z9-DEM/TlS6Nng5NyI/AAAAAAAAByM/miPwath6s_s/s400/DSCN0599.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The "Black Diamond"--public library. It shimmers in the sunlight</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7CoiGHAchMR7aXlc1-DGPpziavbmMrtT33SOUK7577giAQ0GZmr5ATDAPXwKculdQFQOdUQyW7KfEeziWjWJCEShotafUgIoheRXpVKZ9a47_zesAHi7VbBSUVZVmLYHVTvmJze_47NA/s1600/DSCN0563.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7CoiGHAchMR7aXlc1-DGPpziavbmMrtT33SOUK7577giAQ0GZmr5ATDAPXwKculdQFQOdUQyW7KfEeziWjWJCEShotafUgIoheRXpVKZ9a47_zesAHi7VbBSUVZVmLYHVTvmJze_47NA/s400/DSCN0563.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Opera House, Copenhagen</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtMEpq8wzXNb7KUDewg59KmgTRxG2vIs_TSn7JSziZdIh_pe29gEVURuvD1rTzDJm7e2Ixy46C0uY8E7eD420A2mTFoQ-WdadkqGELYgO3a3x6313VijGFnin_6fsnD-Ci857Y2vgIAnQ/s1600/DSCN0567.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtMEpq8wzXNb7KUDewg59KmgTRxG2vIs_TSn7JSziZdIh_pe29gEVURuvD1rTzDJm7e2Ixy46C0uY8E7eD420A2mTFoQ-WdadkqGELYgO3a3x6313VijGFnin_6fsnD-Ci857Y2vgIAnQ/s400/DSCN0567.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fabulous apartments with canal (former torpedo bay) running through </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAzxuImIqx4PqYagDi56ujxsZZvm5hUQVy7zIzXGArs3ANr_IeKZNqOsutovA415XFDgvnvtjMCn3xHySOQT23D1ycmqjmttZiIexZnvZ73ujAVPjxYqDDuz_0jFZlY-mvA1g9buJPY5c/s1600/DSCN0587.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAzxuImIqx4PqYagDi56ujxsZZvm5hUQVy7zIzXGArs3ANr_IeKZNqOsutovA415XFDgvnvtjMCn3xHySOQT23D1ycmqjmttZiIexZnvZ73ujAVPjxYqDDuz_0jFZlY-mvA1g9buJPY5c/s400/DSCN0587.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our Savior's Church, spiral tower</td></tr>
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</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The harbor cruise is a great way to get acquainted with the city's layout. Some highlights include the Opera House and the Black Diamond, Copenhagen's public library. </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">My favorite spot was cruising through Nyhavn where the houseboats and original waterside buildings still stand. Following the cruise, Lindsey, lauren and I climbed the church tower of Our Savior's Church, a massive spiral tower which has the adventurous walk on the outside of the tower on their way to the top. While the girls delighted in seeing the city from on high, I simply touched the last step with my foot and immediately turned around to go back down. </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Following the church climb, we made our way to the Danish National Museum and saw some really cool old stuff. This free museum is chock full of ancient goods including mummies found in old coffins and </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Runestones, </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Memorial" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; text-decoration: none;" title="Memorial"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">memorials</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> to deceased men with colored runic writing (like hieroglyphics) dating from the 6-7th century. While we first thought Denmark was land of Vikings, we now know that Vikings were much farther north and Copenhagen remains a thoroughly "modern" city having been radically impacted by Christian IV in the 1600s. </span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_N7m4Ug8ne8/TlS6zEZ114I/AAAAAAAABy8/zjOLNuO-XvE/s1600/DSCN0630.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_N7m4Ug8ne8/TlS6zEZ114I/AAAAAAAABy8/zjOLNuO-XvE/s400/DSCN0630.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Runestone, 7th Century</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ybGy1bOUMoE/TlS6vr5v8EI/AAAAAAAABy4/wkLrvbj0b-c/s1600/DSCN0625.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ybGy1bOUMoE/TlS6vr5v8EI/AAAAAAAABy4/wkLrvbj0b-c/s400/DSCN0625.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ewww...old braided hair found in peat bogs given as part of religious ceremony</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QJcT7P_ut2g/TlS7Px_2o6I/AAAAAAAABzc/a4Gx_lXBRjg/s1600/DSCN0655.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QJcT7P_ut2g/TlS7Px_2o6I/AAAAAAAABzc/a4Gx_lXBRjg/s400/DSCN0655.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Practicing the "Lindsey pose", National Museum</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IDerVtKwMG4/TlS6ot0KcEI/AAAAAAAABys/tUMXgI4QGVE/s1600/DSCN0615.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IDerVtKwMG4/TlS6ot0KcEI/AAAAAAAABys/tUMXgI4QGVE/s400/DSCN0615.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Chariot of the Sun", Bronze Age</td></tr>
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</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">For dinner, we met up with the rest of the Postma gang and enjoyed a meal at an Italian restaurant. We were surprised to learn that the Danish don't "share meals" and we each had to order a meal from the regular menu. Good thing we weren't spending more than 2 days in the fabulous town.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-j5XXQBvkeV8/TlS7TCF64VI/AAAAAAAABzg/0JKba6yj_f8/s1600/DSCN0659.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-j5XXQBvkeV8/TlS7TCF64VI/AAAAAAAABzg/0JKba6yj_f8/s400/DSCN0659.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grandpa gives Lilly a piggy-back ride around the plaza</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sP34p_1cj1o/TlS7jtlthmI/AAAAAAAABzw/_CpwivZQDmQ/s1600/DSCN0670.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sP34p_1cj1o/TlS7jtlthmI/AAAAAAAABzw/_CpwivZQDmQ/s400/DSCN0670.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bummer! Lindsey is still at the "kids table"</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eS9bXI4ZtSY/TlS7vWXR-DI/AAAAAAAAB0A/OFkST6uYQ_s/s1600/DSCN0681.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eS9bXI4ZtSY/TlS7vWXR-DI/AAAAAAAAB0A/OFkST6uYQ_s/s400/DSCN0681.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Statue dedicated to all the Fish women who sold their husband's daily catch in days gone by.</td></tr>
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</span></span>The Rietkerkshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16626586954218267167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1735398194018959506.post-56872524858522410882011-08-27T22:58:00.000-07:002011-08-27T23:01:53.708-07:00Cruising the Baltic Sea<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUWSjbFAQ5TRgZVfF2ukewlgx4dO5uN8qLgDTCdTTBhKS5P-A7Kmw_ZzKNy_RaMk38EVG7Tz2wiatBXvHPxgPcNHgI95EzIXn-McOeu6FI3rrQpeF-MAc-dGQJRAuFs9ZUdGi5bjiZ12g/s1600/P157_Denmark_Sweden_Estonia_Russia_Germany.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUWSjbFAQ5TRgZVfF2ukewlgx4dO5uN8qLgDTCdTTBhKS5P-A7Kmw_ZzKNy_RaMk38EVG7Tz2wiatBXvHPxgPcNHgI95EzIXn-McOeu6FI3rrQpeF-MAc-dGQJRAuFs9ZUdGi5bjiZ12g/s320/P157_Denmark_Sweden_Estonia_Russia_Germany.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
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</tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><b>August 6-13 2011 Baltic Sea Cruise</b></div><b><br />
</b><br />
<b>Starting Point: Copenhagen</b> The Postma Family gathered in Copenhagen Denmark for a week-long cruise of the Baltic Sea. Mom and Dad played it smart by first flying to Geneva to visit Bryan and Stephanie and kids and allow jet lag to slow them down BEFORE heading on the cruise. Tim, the kids and I drove to Denmark, taking the autobahn and stopping for the night in Hannover, Germany. We planned to arrive 2 days before the cruise left allowing for some sightseeing in one of Europe's most expensive cities. <br />
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Our "home" in Copenhagen was the Hotel Jorgensen, a hostel/hotel catering to down-on-their-luck tourists. We secured a family room which consisted of metal bunkbeds, a tiny metal cafe table, 2 chairs and a large flat screen TV mounted to the wall. I brought sheets, blankets and pillows to give it the feel of a college dorm. This wasn't successful. It was still a bare-bones room but at least we had our own space.<br />
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The first evening we headed out on the town. It was a short walk from the hotel to Tivoli Gardens and the Town Hall. We enjoyed watching people, listening to street musicians and eating the long weiners that Denmark is known for. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lilly bites into a tasty dog...she wasn't as fond of the ketchup </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Much like the cows and pigs in other cities, numerous artistic elephants are scattered throughout Copenhagen</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Home Sweet Home! Hotel Jorgensen in it's finest glory</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our room</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Copenhagen</td></tr>
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The Rietkerkshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16626586954218267167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1735398194018959506.post-39037352340214897892011-07-31T10:41:00.000-07:002011-07-31T10:41:58.444-07:00Symmetry and Balance<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On a cool grey day, this German home fits perfectly into its surroundings</td></tr>
</tbody></table>The Rietkerkshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16626586954218267167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1735398194018959506.post-24417195819743063252011-07-31T10:32:00.000-07:002011-07-31T10:43:12.835-07:00Simple Sunday afternoonThis morning we attended services at Nienhof Chapel on Hohenfels military post. Tim delivered a great sermon and then we drove over to the Warrior's Dining Facility to enjoy a feast fit for a German warrior. Any day of the week, family members are welcome to eat at the facility but on Sundays, they have the famous "Sunday brunch." Lilly thought the word "brunch"was clever..."it's breakfast and lunch put together, that's awesome!" The meal was satisfying and included roast beef, chinese egg rolls, french toast and omelettes at a great price for our family of 6. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The view of our street from the village hill</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our goal for today's walk...Eggenthal</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bridge closed...but we knew we could cross it</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Germans have a unique sense of style. Many people paint parts of their homes in vivid colors including this Barn Red on a side of the home</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After every turn, a new view</td></tr>
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Bavaria is largely Roman Catholic and many people great each other with "Gross ist Gott", God is Great. Icons like the one above are found throughout our village</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yes, Tim is breaking the rules</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The mill house with its fabulous flower display</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tim contemplates our future bike trip to Regensburg</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another mill house on our Eggenthal walk</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The open countryside as we make our way back home</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The view of Lupburg at the end of our walk. The house with Red Barn paint is seen in the middle front</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-STEP_i_3e6s/TjWMrcfBAMI/AAAAAAAABvY/5HyalAxDd7A/s1600/DSCN0471.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-STEP_i_3e6s/TjWMrcfBAMI/AAAAAAAABvY/5HyalAxDd7A/s320/DSCN0471.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Once we returned home, Tim and I took our dog Lady on a pleasant Sunday walk. Today's route: the 4 km loop from home through the village of Eggenthal. Sundays are quiet in the village and we walked quickly under cool grey skies. The path we followed is part of the Jura bike route stringing walking paths and small roads throughout the region to offer walkers and cyclists a variety of excursions. Some day we might make the trip to Regensburg by bike...of course at 46km one way, we'll probably bike there and take the train back home.The Rietkerkshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16626586954218267167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1735398194018959506.post-87876352094351369762011-07-30T06:34:00.000-07:002011-07-30T06:34:22.376-07:00Living life in the 1800s<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-k3ITuGBuT3U/TjQH31hqLcI/AAAAAAAABtc/CbnO22e7kXI/s1600/week+3+germany+025.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-k3ITuGBuT3U/TjQH31hqLcI/AAAAAAAABtc/CbnO22e7kXI/s320/week+3+germany+025.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Over the past month, as we've adjusted to life without all the electronic comforts vying for our attention, Lilly discovered the joy of reading. This morning, I found her curled up in a super-warm quilt reading her new chapter book, Heidi. Perhaps inspired by our recent trip to Switzerland, or maybe just because Heidi has an adventurous spirit not unlike Lilly's, she is entranced by the story.The Rietkerkshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16626586954218267167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1735398194018959506.post-13202330080711676982011-07-28T00:11:00.000-07:002011-07-28T00:13:24.675-07:00We can't drive 55Anyone who has moved to a new city knows the first thing you want to do is check it out. We've been doing that with the little village of Lupburg, and it's neighboring villages of Eggenthal, Parsburg and See. All of this has been on foot since the villages radiate from Lupburg in a 2 km radius. But to truly appreciate German countryside you need a car. And in order to drive a car, you have to have a German driver's license.<br />
Lindsey and I spent the better part of the week studying the "Drivers Handbook and Examination Manual for Germany" including taking on line practice tests covering the rules of the road and road signs. <a href="http://www.usareurpracticetest.com/">Want to get a German license? Start here</a> It's not easy! Sample question:<br />
<i>In the city where no priority signs are posted, the driver on the widest street has the right-of-way. (False)</i><br />
In fact, the German "Right-of-Way" rule provided numerous problems for both Lindsey and me. So, armed with an orientation course, drivers handbook and numerous attempts with the practice tests, we entered the testing facility and proceeded to complete "TEST NUMBER 2". I finished a couple of minutes before Lindsey and we both passed!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1kzVGTErhgpUOJ3kZIiiuuQQKr2nHQ7vLvSf1t8g8_C2buw9IFzjj6rD3WvHZwIh-anb7KR_cy7aeK0wa0LK6XIpcpWXcEWIERY_OrkrvdSV37k8E84zXmPS7heiI-5U9Axf68ETmWCM/s1600/Photo+on+2011-07-26+at+14.34.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1kzVGTErhgpUOJ3kZIiiuuQQKr2nHQ7vLvSf1t8g8_C2buw9IFzjj6rD3WvHZwIh-anb7KR_cy7aeK0wa0LK6XIpcpWXcEWIERY_OrkrvdSV37k8E84zXmPS7heiI-5U9Axf68ETmWCM/s320/Photo+on+2011-07-26+at+14.34.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>The Rietkerkshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16626586954218267167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1735398194018959506.post-61664078091709384162011-07-26T00:14:00.000-07:002011-07-26T00:18:43.678-07:00Annecy France<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Annecy Lake</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-x76AyKDV1xA/TiptIZYcv4I/AAAAAAAABhk/yJmwk7LYl_o/s1600/annecy+france+004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-x76AyKDV1xA/TiptIZYcv4I/AAAAAAAABhk/yJmwk7LYl_o/s320/annecy+france+004.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Perfect picnic spot for our American hotdogs and chips meal</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0ps4VWKVGyg/TiptYtTMGHI/AAAAAAAABh4/CkxryZMvlEY/s1600/annecy+france+011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0ps4VWKVGyg/TiptYtTMGHI/AAAAAAAABh4/CkxryZMvlEY/s320/annecy+france+011.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Canals in Annecy</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YhrV1xXijoE/TiptaSEij6I/AAAAAAAABh8/p-eriCSDPD4/s1600/annecy+france+012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YhrV1xXijoE/TiptaSEij6I/AAAAAAAABh8/p-eriCSDPD4/s320/annecy+france+012.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"I wonder if I'll get an ice cream cone today?"</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AZPlwlI7X6g/Tiptjlt-vyI/AAAAAAAABiI/WsQoU8klxAs/s1600/annecy+france+015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AZPlwlI7X6g/Tiptjlt-vyI/AAAAAAAABiI/WsQoU8klxAs/s320/annecy+france+015.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The infamous prison</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-auIJa7blOEM/TiptpTf8aMI/AAAAAAAABiQ/zaU1JMZszOY/s1600/annecy+france+019.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-auIJa7blOEM/TiptpTf8aMI/AAAAAAAABiQ/zaU1JMZszOY/s320/annecy+france+019.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZIit73V5S0g/TiptuozfayI/AAAAAAAABiY/vt0ou0vy2NI/s1600/annecy+france+024.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZIit73V5S0g/TiptuozfayI/AAAAAAAABiY/vt0ou0vy2NI/s320/annecy+france+024.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Flowers lined all the canals</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-goKGCZeqTsc/TiptwPcTL6I/AAAAAAAABic/X-JwHCQZ1s8/s1600/annecy+france+032.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-goKGCZeqTsc/TiptwPcTL6I/AAAAAAAABic/X-JwHCQZ1s8/s320/annecy+france+032.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZMbifYofRA8/TiptdN49ncI/AAAAAAAABiA/THN99KESoVA/s1600/annecy+france+013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZMbifYofRA8/TiptdN49ncI/AAAAAAAABiA/THN99KESoVA/s320/annecy+france+013.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The kids found this sign immediately and started planning what flavors they would choose if we splurged and bought a 5 "boule" cone</td></tr>
</tbody></table>The great thing about being in Geneva is the proximity to France. We took a countryside drive over the border to visit Annecy, France. The village is nestled at the bottom of soaring mountains and has a lake perfect for recreation. We picnicked in a nearby park then took a stroll to the town, walking by canals and oogling the diners who were enjoying meals at the numerous water-side restaurants. The town boasts the "most photographed prison" in all of France...built in the 12 Century, the Lord of Annecy was the first to inhabit this structure. The old prison was modeled after a Galley ship's bow to resemble an anchored warfare vessel in calm waters. Convicts were the last residents of the building.<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d3d3d; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, FreeSans, Sans, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18.72px; line-height: 15px;"> </span><br />
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</span></span>The Rietkerkshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16626586954218267167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1735398194018959506.post-76955527412886497742011-07-26T00:08:00.000-07:002011-07-26T00:08:41.894-07:00Geneva--a Reformer's Paradise<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WCkcrtOcY_4/Ti5avHT78JI/AAAAAAAABmo/ALZzYrgIXOQ/s1600/IMG_2650.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WCkcrtOcY_4/Ti5avHT78JI/AAAAAAAABmo/ALZzYrgIXOQ/s320/IMG_2650.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lauderee macaroons</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-G_M0CaF_wuc/Ti5bTFFKYyI/AAAAAAAABnE/FlBSCqZJkqA/s1600/IMG_2655.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-G_M0CaF_wuc/Ti5bTFFKYyI/AAAAAAAABnE/FlBSCqZJkqA/s320/IMG_2655.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lindsey's fave: pistachio</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WHRBQGr-0B4/Ti5bv8CfDDI/AAAAAAAABnU/POdO5aTJcJA/s1600/IMG_2662.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WHRBQGr-0B4/Ti5bv8CfDDI/AAAAAAAABnU/POdO5aTJcJA/s320/IMG_2662.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Memories of Rome</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iJun7PMTiV4/Ti5cakgXoHI/AAAAAAAABn0/UDiAg_xvgk0/s1600/IMG_2680.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="257" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iJun7PMTiV4/Ti5cakgXoHI/AAAAAAAABn0/UDiAg_xvgk0/s320/IMG_2680.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View of city below and the Jette d'eau in Lake Geneva</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fHLSP-_gnqQ/Ti5cpfKrKTI/AAAAAAAABoE/FRritT-s49w/s1600/IMG_2685.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fHLSP-_gnqQ/Ti5cpfKrKTI/AAAAAAAABoE/FRritT-s49w/s320/IMG_2685.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sCIgxM-NXP4/Ti5dfo-RqYI/AAAAAAAABoo/ubJg_RXAfKY/s1600/IMG_2702.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="247" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sCIgxM-NXP4/Ti5dfo-RqYI/AAAAAAAABoo/ubJg_RXAfKY/s320/IMG_2702.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Modern day Reformers getting inspiration</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OBkjQlzCPog/Ti5dOVD_bzI/AAAAAAAABog/0Qt1YiyREfs/s1600/IMG_2697.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OBkjQlzCPog/Ti5dOVD_bzI/AAAAAAAABog/0Qt1YiyREfs/s320/IMG_2697.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-V1UWOQ4pBWk/Ti5dUZRaMhI/AAAAAAAABok/T8jxnft_9Hw/s1600/IMG_2698.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-V1UWOQ4pBWk/Ti5dUZRaMhI/AAAAAAAABok/T8jxnft_9Hw/s320/IMG_2698.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">playing chess in Bastions Park</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JB6J-6UezrI/Ti5eRJ-UPoI/AAAAAAAABpE/TeaqqFWe6Uk/s1600/IMG_2712.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JB6J-6UezrI/Ti5eRJ-UPoI/AAAAAAAABpE/TeaqqFWe6Uk/s320/IMG_2712.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lilly enjoys her very own pizza</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Bryan and Stephanie took us on a tour of downtown Geneva. Our first stop: Lauderee, the chic French confectionery with to-die-for macaroons. The shop is conveniently located next to the Starbucks so we purchased a box of little treats and savored them with hot coffee. The rest of the day we meandered through the streets of Old Town, stopping at St Pierre's Cathedral, Reformation Museum, John Calvin's house and Reformer's Wall in Bastions Park. We finished the day with pizza at a street-side restaurant.The Rietkerkshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16626586954218267167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1735398194018959506.post-17885977556023044782011-07-25T23:51:00.000-07:002011-07-26T00:00:54.721-07:00Folk Art Museum at Chateau d'Ouex<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hNPtwGk4OfM/TipqJ2Rm8LI/AAAAAAAABe8/3XSISicjIjw/s1600/lupburg+move+in+045.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hNPtwGk4OfM/TipqJ2Rm8LI/AAAAAAAABe8/3XSISicjIjw/s320/lupburg+move+in+045.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vGNsokIJCeE/TipqbfcW_ZI/AAAAAAAABfQ/Z64wx1a4oSU/s1600/lupburg+move+in+057.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vGNsokIJCeE/TipqbfcW_ZI/AAAAAAAABfQ/Z64wx1a4oSU/s320/lupburg+move+in+057.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The folk art Museum</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-V-_m3-ZSfRs/TipqGJaoX5I/AAAAAAAABe0/HrPC73-Itoc/s1600/lupburg+move+in+043.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-V-_m3-ZSfRs/TipqGJaoX5I/AAAAAAAABe0/HrPC73-Itoc/s320/lupburg+move+in+043.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Traditional Swiss paper cutting--much more detailed than the German paper cutting</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_TgDkNIHo1c/TipqNsF-2yI/AAAAAAAABfA/BBbuGzCYj-k/s1600/lupburg+move+in+049.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_TgDkNIHo1c/TipqNsF-2yI/AAAAAAAABfA/BBbuGzCYj-k/s320/lupburg+move+in+049.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Display of cow bells</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-564vwj1cdg8/TipqSXcz52I/AAAAAAAABfI/F7mEInzypyg/s1600/lupburg+move+in+051.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-564vwj1cdg8/TipqSXcz52I/AAAAAAAABfI/F7mEInzypyg/s320/lupburg+move+in+051.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Great idea for a bed...kids simply slide under the parents!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><h1 style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Stephanie, Lindsey and I took a drive into the mountains to learn about the traditional swiss folk art of paper cutting. The little village had a quaint museum--</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Musée du Vieux Pays-d'Enhaut--</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> featuring the history of the people and included a vast collection of paper cuttings dating from the 1850s. Following our museum stop, we asked the clerk if there was a shop in town that sold paper cuttings. He directed us up the street to the gallery of an artist who was in her shop working on a current piece. Both Steph and I bought a little souvenir from her. </span></span></h1><h1 style="color: #72777c; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></h1>The Rietkerkshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16626586954218267167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1735398194018959506.post-34357860536426498132011-07-22T10:08:00.000-07:002011-07-25T23:54:35.200-07:00Road Trip to Switzerland<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo00bIFhynqHrg7fG6sAQH09ji2TshSMUW8kZ3avwBodTBn7WKnckwvM8hGqo5_nD8cFNFMGlBx8gsjKoKgZ_luIZjx_In6NDQCD2VGogjMnaIREiyTxn0uoGj0JBNomOOFIJ2pxxzLgs/s1600/lupburg+move+in+054.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo00bIFhynqHrg7fG6sAQH09ji2TshSMUW8kZ3avwBodTBn7WKnckwvM8hGqo5_nD8cFNFMGlBx8gsjKoKgZ_luIZjx_In6NDQCD2VGogjMnaIREiyTxn0uoGj0JBNomOOFIJ2pxxzLgs/s400/lupburg+move+in+054.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lindsey and Stephanie are happy shoppers after purchases from a real-life paper cutting artist</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTiAaM8nwkKGZsExrx2VbY1XTepZaJhDiTKxq6J_iPN5rHj6gjkd8ovR3UTliAJ-X3o8YZRJ36OzUMMPcRtzAShCye4gMziAwGDg9qFu0TOCVA_bddh6tmHO8MWBF14o7MCulCPZ7n9I0/s1600/lupburg+move+in+066.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTiAaM8nwkKGZsExrx2VbY1XTepZaJhDiTKxq6J_iPN5rHj6gjkd8ovR3UTliAJ-X3o8YZRJ36OzUMMPcRtzAShCye4gMziAwGDg9qFu0TOCVA_bddh6tmHO8MWBF14o7MCulCPZ7n9I0/s400/lupburg+move+in+066.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is the Switzerland we think of when describing it to others</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge85lC-ltTyRl6GsSBhg68qbly2g_qni9m7mXYhvNef_g4E_UetCQApptJvbYFf62RAWaYC6FhagxTcsRrG364F26gPSwIboDtQnphXhs6JhxYUlVS42-Q-_u_DwL-SNlMjjlQLi5bGME/s1600/lupburg+move+in+071.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge85lC-ltTyRl6GsSBhg68qbly2g_qni9m7mXYhvNef_g4E_UetCQApptJvbYFf62RAWaYC6FhagxTcsRrG364F26gPSwIboDtQnphXhs6JhxYUlVS42-Q-_u_DwL-SNlMjjlQLi5bGME/s400/lupburg+move+in+071.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lady is right at home on Stephanie's couch</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6eveGNFV8btAmtN5gR3E-K_mYOlVvk6X7m4YUWy6OwLxt4i55cmRQP2S_buG8oqt4Rn1i8pdUovp20H4yh5Cpxxh7IjhfdCk7-nV0WnH6DX0TdJC3bP38TqZlSMjTt5s22rVg1zUlToA/s1600/lupburg+move+in+085.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6eveGNFV8btAmtN5gR3E-K_mYOlVvk6X7m4YUWy6OwLxt4i55cmRQP2S_buG8oqt4Rn1i8pdUovp20H4yh5Cpxxh7IjhfdCk7-nV0WnH6DX0TdJC3bP38TqZlSMjTt5s22rVg1zUlToA/s400/lupburg+move+in+085.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The best coffee drink in Switzerland--RenVerse'</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPqM9uegckKbFZ4_FzLzsiwULzWoLA8Xv_VXV_u-tkiD3gy_j6wp8nhm_rkY6QvvY1q_Slxg5j4BrsPcxgII1yXyxUr2NqYNhM1ELVdTr8i0h_PupEYGKZklNgrio6R7zvH_gMqiyJbU0/s1600/lupburg+move+in+094.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPqM9uegckKbFZ4_FzLzsiwULzWoLA8Xv_VXV_u-tkiD3gy_j6wp8nhm_rkY6QvvY1q_Slxg5j4BrsPcxgII1yXyxUr2NqYNhM1ELVdTr8i0h_PupEYGKZklNgrio6R7zvH_gMqiyJbU0/s400/lupburg+move+in+094.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What's Swiss countryside without its cows and sunflowers?</td></tr>
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My sister and her family have lived in Geneva, Switzerland for the past 3 years. We enjoyed a week with the Goudzwaards last summer on our European vacation and decided that since they only have 6 weeks left in country it was time to unleash the Honda horses on the autobahn and drive south for a visit.The Rietkerkshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16626586954218267167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1735398194018959506.post-75655160511054761552011-07-22T01:51:00.000-07:002011-07-25T23:56:54.657-07:00Our trip over the pond<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiFjXlNlnVgy4jSAMrq1Zsa_quAEZpsNvw4kWbgXeBZgLXI9-EAAzOcMn4hesBw5mAjkLDT-OeogNB4w2CVV1xOCIEewve0G2amWc65ndbvLzUEuN1D1CrSCH7_XUuQqaxccx-QNHcPkU/s1600/move+to+Germany+2011+020.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiFjXlNlnVgy4jSAMrq1Zsa_quAEZpsNvw4kWbgXeBZgLXI9-EAAzOcMn4hesBw5mAjkLDT-OeogNB4w2CVV1xOCIEewve0G2amWc65ndbvLzUEuN1D1CrSCH7_XUuQqaxccx-QNHcPkU/s400/move+to+Germany+2011+020.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our kids with their cousins before the flight out of LAX. It took 3 cars filled with people and luggage to see us off.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><b>July 13, 2011</b> We spent 3 weeks in Southern California before making the big move to Germany. The week following his graduation, our packers came to 103 Hunt Rd to pack us up into 3 classes of baggage:<br />
1)hold baggage--these items would fly to Germany relatively quickly; arriving in country within 4 weeks. I included a cookbook, some dishes, baking items and linens. We also tossed in every piece of clothing we own...just in case our Household goods don't arrive before the change of seasons<br />
2)Household goods--these items would remain in Kansas City storage until a house was signed for and arrangements for the shipment by boat could be secured;<br />
3)Long Term storage--those items we don't want for the next 3 years. Items in this group will remain in storage facility in States until we request them. The washing machine and dryer, and some large furniture pieces are included here<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqB5UH74qUHHIUxEBAyQaqo5KuphcNxtgzMRcFelY56C4GHm2FvzJdiWG0PW1YeWeVBnGAAaNgITkDK3URjgiDlZw43YqLz1nE53SIW3naoecSU6y_aGA-vFZSP0BLJhnjdCfLG0lqJSA/s1600/move+to+Germany+2011+017.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqB5UH74qUHHIUxEBAyQaqo5KuphcNxtgzMRcFelY56C4GHm2FvzJdiWG0PW1YeWeVBnGAAaNgITkDK3URjgiDlZw43YqLz1nE53SIW3naoecSU6y_aGA-vFZSP0BLJhnjdCfLG0lqJSA/s320/move+to+Germany+2011+017.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My mom helps Lauren with last minute packing on the driveway</td></tr>
</tbody></table>We ended up with 10 pieces of luggage on our flight from California to Munich, as well as 1 dog and a medium size kennel. Good thing we were allotted 2 bags per person for this trip!The Rietkerkshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16626586954218267167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1735398194018959506.post-43735819796881904252011-07-21T09:11:00.000-07:002011-07-25T23:56:00.107-07:00What does every village need?Dreams do come true! After more than a decade in the US Army we've hit the PCS jackpot. This summer we moved from Ft Leavenworth KS to Lupburg, Germany in Southern Bavaria. Tim found us a cute row house to establish a home base and the kids have begun meeting the neighbors and exploring their new big backyard.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUdcIIvW_vEj31jWcks9ET87JD4ByVSGXEq-C8n3yeKQ66buTp1vgRZ4-EtFNTbw01Ev3F2WGuODtRknYcEqj6sfehmDmDsURxT5dzcq1WpsKNveaIjwjRtrNEP4DoKFoJ75sAkkR0IMA/s1600/move+to+Germany+2011+070.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUdcIIvW_vEj31jWcks9ET87JD4ByVSGXEq-C8n3yeKQ66buTp1vgRZ4-EtFNTbw01Ev3F2WGuODtRknYcEqj6sfehmDmDsURxT5dzcq1WpsKNveaIjwjRtrNEP4DoKFoJ75sAkkR0IMA/s320/move+to+Germany+2011+070.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The view of our village from our front yard<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggtWiNkuB6rpFJCwr-ZAMs25N8GfGroPyKyQh2-n2SqyIfoqdGNuNsJ3L_ipDRPGaZoDyb-ke4VHyhZk6qxKHi2i3A0xk4kB3j5LhQntupCr1rRHwPQ9DHTSANQ4w5v2VPhc6R3u_E4no/s1600/move+to+Germany+2011+077.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggtWiNkuB6rpFJCwr-ZAMs25N8GfGroPyKyQh2-n2SqyIfoqdGNuNsJ3L_ipDRPGaZoDyb-ke4VHyhZk6qxKHi2i3A0xk4kB3j5LhQntupCr1rRHwPQ9DHTSANQ4w5v2VPhc6R3u_E4no/s320/move+to+Germany+2011+077.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Happy that we packed plenty of board games in our Hold Baggage. It was over 3 weeks before we had internet connection</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw3-gXacHVUak_LusOwTO1uphLPonXqAnhmpl2tcKhDEmtFFKY4-4FCD15U-s_HzHU7Bmne5J1UFfZtTyVeRv5ixHimFox5uhsk5MoYNq1jeN72xphbBj752VvWtQ7xkW1JW35d-2TlLg/s1600/move+to+Germany+2011+087.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw3-gXacHVUak_LusOwTO1uphLPonXqAnhmpl2tcKhDEmtFFKY4-4FCD15U-s_HzHU7Bmne5J1UFfZtTyVeRv5ixHimFox5uhsk5MoYNq1jeN72xphbBj752VvWtQ7xkW1JW35d-2TlLg/s320/move+to+Germany+2011+087.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Most of the surrounding area is wheat and corn fields--plenty of deer and rolling hills</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh25ovfLqcKlzMdsNTG1nzSViA5tt4CD2TPG6ZuTz37r_EGXeYLzZa3AzjgeZizTZPPejUhuGbVC77ZfIhkdyOAoKj9BQhTLn4bxR5-Gfl19SHSvMab7RTvoQu9ZC_VWlKoRehvltOYdJg/s1600/move+to+Germany+2011+127.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh25ovfLqcKlzMdsNTG1nzSViA5tt4CD2TPG6ZuTz37r_EGXeYLzZa3AzjgeZizTZPPejUhuGbVC77ZfIhkdyOAoKj9BQhTLn4bxR5-Gfl19SHSvMab7RTvoQu9ZC_VWlKoRehvltOYdJg/s320/move+to+Germany+2011+127.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Neighborhood chickens and ducks </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAkMoJ2RMyyKyeoRnIKBsPS3zaTVj3uyk4yHEtdmerewckgE3TZqNzX3TNyNvBauNV6P7kq4WFCjqrkMM-Z7zgsOlIAXppvabz2cd9xuIeE3Zr7Y7cUei33mEySfbADMZbGv05ciJ1qSY/s1600/move+to+Germany+2011+138.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAkMoJ2RMyyKyeoRnIKBsPS3zaTVj3uyk4yHEtdmerewckgE3TZqNzX3TNyNvBauNV6P7kq4WFCjqrkMM-Z7zgsOlIAXppvabz2cd9xuIeE3Zr7Y7cUei33mEySfbADMZbGv05ciJ1qSY/s320/move+to+Germany+2011+138.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our street sign--we're number 10</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfK8q6O_WGR0tLVut0C5O21me42tSvfkexmyxpk9SfLae3PCpNOYxF7eG30Fd-MzSAaMTzCLkov-QPCay8f4HSAXWLA0Xqv7iDyaKJongh8WC3aVsPW6izu-hZBXlSen6JRO4fAO4p0S4/s1600/move+to+Germany+2011+069.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfK8q6O_WGR0tLVut0C5O21me42tSvfkexmyxpk9SfLae3PCpNOYxF7eG30Fd-MzSAaMTzCLkov-QPCay8f4HSAXWLA0Xqv7iDyaKJongh8WC3aVsPW6izu-hZBXlSen6JRO4fAO4p0S4/s320/move+to+Germany+2011+069.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The kids and Justin in our driveway</td></tr>
</tbody></table>The Rietkerkshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16626586954218267167noreply@blogger.com