tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-80124224066577325572024-03-05T16:46:24.553-08:00To Ephesus With LoveAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03580356548298261458noreply@blogger.comBlogger155125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8012422406657732557.post-7062024293600264812013-10-15T01:19:00.001-07:002013-10-15T01:59:16.191-07:00That's all, folks!<div>We have now been back in Australia for nine days, and are reasonably settled in our old lives. Europe is well and truly behind us. But the weather here in Canberra reminds me of our final days in Europe; it's been just as cool here lately as it was in Brussels a couple of weeks ago.</div><div><br></div><div>As at today, 15 October 2013, the blog has been viewed 6,801 times. Australians have viewed it the most, at 1,626 times over the last few months. Strangely, the next country to view the blog the most has been the US, with 963 views (I say strange because I have only a couple of Facebook friends there and no family). The UK is close behind with 913 all time views. Next comes Finland at 849, and Germany at 711. And my blog sparked some interest in Russia; it was viewed there 299 times.</div><div><br></div><div>It's great to travel, but then there's also the old adage 'there's no place like home'. Appropriately, near the end of our long journey, at our hotel in The Hague, the following was written on the wall above the dining room: 'Love to travel but don't make the road your home'.</div><div><br></div><div>If you've been a regular reader of my blog, then thanks for following it. I hope you've enjoyed it as much as I've enjoyed putting it together. And if per chance you really like my work, then look out during 2014 for 'To Vegas with Love'. Meantime....that's all, folks!</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaCjQjJekWYL2oBFA6YHHIoMv7K6PlK76Srb2gUz58oBxa2QSgFlunsmhEMKORGBVRCqeME-ZVi3jjmdqkU2NvznOg00j-RDzThbc4RYDetPy5BZfqulr8vFwzh-b3r071jnp-SOXzI9M/s640/blogger-image--1134322130.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaCjQjJekWYL2oBFA6YHHIoMv7K6PlK76Srb2gUz58oBxa2QSgFlunsmhEMKORGBVRCqeME-ZVi3jjmdqkU2NvznOg00j-RDzThbc4RYDetPy5BZfqulr8vFwzh-b3r071jnp-SOXzI9M/s640/blogger-image--1134322130.jpg"></a></div><br></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03580356548298261458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8012422406657732557.post-69782159242013193732013-10-12T00:24:00.001-07:002013-10-12T00:24:48.469-07:00We came home<div>After 15 weeks away in Europe, we returned home to Canberra, Australia on Sunday 6 October. Two days later, we returned to work.</div><div><br></div><div>It was great to have a welcoming committee when we came home. Our two daughters, Sophie and Jessica, and grandson, Harvey, came to greet us. Sophie and Harvey came from Melbourne. It was also lovely to be greeted by beautiful spring weather. It was the middle of a cold winter when we left in June. It was so much better returning in spring. Last year, we returned from Europe in winter. Not nice. This time, it was not nice to be welcomed home by a garden full of weeds, and a lawn mower that refuses to work.</div><div><br></div><div>Speaking of work, I returned to my job on Tuesday 8 October. It is now the following weekend. My first day back was by far the worst. I felt lost. I felt totally disconnected from my work. I think this disconnect is worse the longer one is away from one's job. You even forget how to do things. After so long in Europe, I began to feel I had a new life and no longer worked in Canberra. Travelling thousands of kilometres and having so many varied experiences does nothing to help prepare you for the day when you finally put away your passport and resume your 'former' life.</div><div><br></div><div>Each day back at work is better than the previous day. Soon, I'll be back 'in the swing of things'. Post-holiday blues is something that happens to many people, and I'd been expecting it. The blues were much worse last year.</div><div><br></div><div>Shortly, I'll do one final blog post with some statistics.</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGZ1GJAGkfR8reWTc761WBxhv9cn5jlYSzCZFDCK7CQ8I46QixDGxfS2VDRwtsq0rvZDSPxANJ0VjpNY5brTYQN0EeO-QSI8eVDn1vvMgHtadcfp0rn40T9RamrlY8gkT86XELHUb3c9A/s640/blogger-image--1443887445.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGZ1GJAGkfR8reWTc761WBxhv9cn5jlYSzCZFDCK7CQ8I46QixDGxfS2VDRwtsq0rvZDSPxANJ0VjpNY5brTYQN0EeO-QSI8eVDn1vvMgHtadcfp0rn40T9RamrlY8gkT86XELHUb3c9A/s640/blogger-image--1443887445.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">We arrived home to beautiful spring weather.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEwo59G-M_tNOtH7CdugfkrvJijz9aHH_Zjcp31RNQE4gNXzagC6cIvnJECoOD0D0d4khThgaW7WsJv7cxrynm7EOlSWbf_CQMSp8U4LshZFqv-03-vzvfOZKDxCfgW37kzQPl6m7CfBk/s640/blogger-image--571281309.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEwo59G-M_tNOtH7CdugfkrvJijz9aHH_Zjcp31RNQE4gNXzagC6cIvnJECoOD0D0d4khThgaW7WsJv7cxrynm7EOlSWbf_CQMSp8U4LshZFqv-03-vzvfOZKDxCfgW37kzQPl6m7CfBk/s640/blogger-image--571281309.jpg"></a></div>Weeds galore have invaded our garden during our absence.</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5o73vhnnRPEHOU1k5kDKnNV6kAJVga1sacBJCWiBdXF1eSbnP4e74VBsY7cB0FmMuYd0DpS6dC_zKBxGpPYa7KD5tzA1-o5MztwgehmfiELLp2-BAkPoPJTGcxvdNijQqKKGrgHQxGxE/s640/blogger-image-1290952161.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5o73vhnnRPEHOU1k5kDKnNV6kAJVga1sacBJCWiBdXF1eSbnP4e74VBsY7cB0FmMuYd0DpS6dC_zKBxGpPYa7KD5tzA1-o5MztwgehmfiELLp2-BAkPoPJTGcxvdNijQqKKGrgHQxGxE/s640/blogger-image-1290952161.jpg"></a></div>Spring is in the air. This is some of our lavender.</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihgcxI3WnfthjrAYW2u6dxOVUfuAQFUtZKzuIQjf6mePoMVedHKUy-AW_Jr7lk21qSwh5w8m84xGJUbzTUk3XRi9-ax3wtAIANlNLQ8jNEYd_3gt5UsjRvhRKUWrvu6yekXfkRjZ-bZE4/s640/blogger-image-1748677443.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihgcxI3WnfthjrAYW2u6dxOVUfuAQFUtZKzuIQjf6mePoMVedHKUy-AW_Jr7lk21qSwh5w8m84xGJUbzTUk3XRi9-ax3wtAIANlNLQ8jNEYd_3gt5UsjRvhRKUWrvu6yekXfkRjZ-bZE4/s640/blogger-image-1748677443.jpg"></a></div>A nearby blue pacific in its glory at this time of year.</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbfwQeVHn6-UOnFwiYjS1-NyPRZdBTPXU8kdUvjuNJgh3dZB3TpJ3NaHINuTB_x42aMaogykRLT5gyoIFIhqNTm7vw7t3eVNL0QM9hItjtgL9Uq_G87__jeL1UPncLuaxmE_FCZEIq1nY/s640/blogger-image--1102828302.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbfwQeVHn6-UOnFwiYjS1-NyPRZdBTPXU8kdUvjuNJgh3dZB3TpJ3NaHINuTB_x42aMaogykRLT5gyoIFIhqNTm7vw7t3eVNL0QM9hItjtgL9Uq_G87__jeL1UPncLuaxmE_FCZEIq1nY/s640/blogger-image--1102828302.jpg"></a></div>Our neighbour's may bush, which blooms in May in Europe, but September-October here.</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLGAvbdUai0uJff00Uk0RWEd5G9DZQnAjsyb9zvpbzauHk6HWqHJAC4lqcxmInVsmvZwhcdjzteKpzlA2Swcq2lN3chR3OvRO27IG6y4rCQk8kFVWVfOJYngZ39iH2UMIm-Y2hNZ0u7Rs/s640/blogger-image-573255704.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLGAvbdUai0uJff00Uk0RWEd5G9DZQnAjsyb9zvpbzauHk6HWqHJAC4lqcxmInVsmvZwhcdjzteKpzlA2Swcq2lN3chR3OvRO27IG6y4rCQk8kFVWVfOJYngZ39iH2UMIm-Y2hNZ0u7Rs/s640/blogger-image-573255704.jpg"></a></div></div><div>I returned to work for the first time since June.</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6naukczhHBG9vEMIJfwUqqIKT9-63kfjrPQ62-d5RLnlqnUnjJ5i0r53fqxl0axNukpbSBVh0gcslVyne7S8zS4w1sTU_gKj-i89sx3ZIrqqJk3zFMAkI8-TTNV5YGve9aQtzua_0ta8/s640/blogger-image--11844699.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6naukczhHBG9vEMIJfwUqqIKT9-63kfjrPQ62-d5RLnlqnUnjJ5i0r53fqxl0axNukpbSBVh0gcslVyne7S8zS4w1sTU_gKj-i89sx3ZIrqqJk3zFMAkI8-TTNV5YGve9aQtzua_0ta8/s640/blogger-image--11844699.jpg"></a></div>My grandson, Harvey, at Canberra's annual Floriade event.</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0_oIOlgH6fndNTFv9jJ-QrQzarSXrlcwC7NhGtyeORyrPdyzosPzOy60Og8A_ibfkQ5vP67FipooRXNfydAbgCZK12qg0wJsPc9PZWpV2ObDQ4waEmuY7wjDOmwNy77jcKjLz6EUcUmY/s640/blogger-image-1609001367.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0_oIOlgH6fndNTFv9jJ-QrQzarSXrlcwC7NhGtyeORyrPdyzosPzOy60Og8A_ibfkQ5vP67FipooRXNfydAbgCZK12qg0wJsPc9PZWpV2ObDQ4waEmuY7wjDOmwNy77jcKjLz6EUcUmY/s640/blogger-image-1609001367.jpg"></a></div>Harvey and I took a ride on the Ferris wheel.</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03580356548298261458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8012422406657732557.post-11230831708236039322013-10-11T23:19:00.001-07:002013-10-11T23:19:31.806-07:00Dubai Again<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">On 3 October, Jean and I flew from Brussels to Heathrow, where we changed planes and flew on to Dubai. We landed the following day. We went to Atlantis, the famous hotel at Palm Jumeirah. Afterwards, we went to the Dubai Mall where, like when we came through en route to Europe, I had a camel milkshake. Later, we visited the Deira City Centre. Later still, at the Dubai Mall, we tried to meet up with a friend in Dubai on business, but couldn't make it<span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); ">.</span></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">It was strange to be in Dubai again, after our first visit of three and a half months ago. When we came in June, we were on holiday, and Dubai was glitzy, glamourous, and impressive. And we were impressed. But in the meantime, I've been in Europe. And so often in Europe I asked myself if I would like to live in the city or town we were visiting. Sometimes, the answer was yes. But then I'm a European kind of guy. Unless I found the expat community, I think I could be very lonely living in Dubai. I often think of what a colleague who lived in Dubai for some time told me a few years ago. You can be taken in by the glamour, but if you scratch a little beneath the surface, you find a society that's not so nice.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw__Ut3rbo1fuUU_Dxzh-8LgwugGr17UhJgd45HInp62BPxWR1XGhOisRqPS9YvX_okF-sJ2v9JNcB6VuMiCVn-NpQkJfvBGYMSiB3MJs_15lCjKrnVbJvXd6BBXIGJWhWf8pdiZNRBz4/s640/blogger-image--43047069.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw__Ut3rbo1fuUU_Dxzh-8LgwugGr17UhJgd45HInp62BPxWR1XGhOisRqPS9YvX_okF-sJ2v9JNcB6VuMiCVn-NpQkJfvBGYMSiB3MJs_15lCjKrnVbJvXd6BBXIGJWhWf8pdiZNRBz4/s640/blogger-image--43047069.jpg"></a></div>Atlantis at Palm Jumeirah </div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW9Lyr3KF0ZyUMGAQawmAf1nb5Crn7cNesrW8KlaJ7o5P7y9341Wi3f_dEW5tesnp0RjxN3wi6JwhfGwJDwAJz-_UsyUIARYorXq9bn7xB4Pw9aEtCxnrZNOWk6DqkHL-qirkSbAY0xgs/s640/blogger-image--2020535362.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW9Lyr3KF0ZyUMGAQawmAf1nb5Crn7cNesrW8KlaJ7o5P7y9341Wi3f_dEW5tesnp0RjxN3wi6JwhfGwJDwAJz-_UsyUIARYorXq9bn7xB4Pw9aEtCxnrZNOWk6DqkHL-qirkSbAY0xgs/s640/blogger-image--2020535362.jpg"></a></div>Not far from Atlantis is this mosaic of 'The Palm'. Atlantis is situated at the top.</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb6xTu-s2fokTS8o1bnF89HyNmp61eHSR9BBtlqvEcoCRljq2wJjMFd43jQhYXt9nOu-kpmUK4zSuuJ8rUeJsyfAg53tTTtfTarCBsZp8UKKDeL91ix0JW0hF1GDtqlxBZEdBPMIMb5NM/s640/blogger-image--1146843553.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb6xTu-s2fokTS8o1bnF89HyNmp61eHSR9BBtlqvEcoCRljq2wJjMFd43jQhYXt9nOu-kpmUK4zSuuJ8rUeJsyfAg53tTTtfTarCBsZp8UKKDeL91ix0JW0hF1GDtqlxBZEdBPMIMb5NM/s640/blogger-image--1146843553.jpg"></a></div>In the background is Dubai's famous seven-star hotel.</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUI90Zo0qy0z8PK0p8nnLt6IdlrBZPLmAOafrBqHX59KVEMQTLq7wejvtZ0s6IoFUPJjEmubSaJvVAzseNNgh1TGW9O6TSKr_oPxBbDV_6D37J2Z2o6a7x4o9XIe7e9ZWjeU8acQ0oCn4/s640/blogger-image-1000210865.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUI90Zo0qy0z8PK0p8nnLt6IdlrBZPLmAOafrBqHX59KVEMQTLq7wejvtZ0s6IoFUPJjEmubSaJvVAzseNNgh1TGW9O6TSKr_oPxBbDV_6D37J2Z2o6a7x4o9XIe7e9ZWjeU8acQ0oCn4/s640/blogger-image-1000210865.jpg"></a></div>At the Dubai Mall is this souvenir shop with the pictures of the sheiks.</div><div><br></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03580356548298261458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8012422406657732557.post-64165899949035683312013-10-03T10:32:00.001-07:002013-10-04T02:08:11.338-07:00HighlightsOur European holiday is nearly done. It's time to look back on the last 15 weeks in which we have visited close to 50 towns and cities. Our trip has been, as Mark Twain might have said, a 'grand tour' of Europe. <div><br></div><div>After three nights in Dubai, we started our European holiday in Wales, visiting family and friends. We then toured France, Monaco, Spain, Italy, Vatican City, Greece, Turkey, the Greek Islands, back to Italy, then the four German-speaking countries, followed by the Netherlands and Belgium. From the time we left Aberystwyth in Wales on 6 July until we arrived in Brussels a couple of days ago, we had travelled nearly nine and a half thousand miles or over 15,000 kilometres. </div><div><br></div><div>During this time, we've had many highlights. We will never forget the Festival of San Fermin at Pamplona, with the running of the bulls. The whole experience was just mind blowing. Touring the ancient ruins of Pompeii and Ephesus as well as ruins in Rome and Athens were big moments along the way. We toured an ancestor's castle in Switzerland, visited Hitler's Eagle's Nest in Germany, and saw Ann Frank's secret annexe in Amsterdam. We saw the Mona Lisa and Venus de Milo in the Louvre, and the Statue of David in Florence. And we won some money at the casino at Monte Carlo.</div><div><br></div><div>Along the way, many other great moments came along. I climbed the world's tallest building in Dubai, the Leaning Tower of Pisa in Italy, and an active volcano on the Greek Island of Santorini. We rode a camel in Dubai, a donkey on Santorini, bikes along the Rhine, and a gondola in Venice. We were delighted to see the Pope speaking to the crowd above St Peters Square, and to see the Heads of State of all four German-speaking countries in an Austrian street. We saw the spot in Rome where Julius Caesar was cremated in 44BC. At Ephesus, we followed in the footsteps of Cleopatra, St John the Baptist and Paul the Apostle. And near Ephesus, we saw the very house that is accepted as the house in which Mary, mother of Jesus, lived and died. I was especially impressed by this. Of all the world's teeming millions of Christians, how many can say they've been to Mary's house?</div><div><br></div><div>Of course, catching up with old friends and family has been a big highlight. They know who they are. And our reunion with our Sydney friends Eli and Bruce in Athens after 15 years was an unexpected bonus.</div><div><br></div><div>There have also been lowlights. Along the way, I've been stung by a wasp, kicked by a donkey, had a near collision with a donkey, and had four head colds. Jean hasn't been a casualty but has had a couple of colds too. We had unbearable heat briefly in Dubai, mild weather in the UK, unrelenting heat for six weeks in the Mediterranean, and regular rain in Central Europe. </div><div><br></div><div>On the Continent, we travelled mostly by train. Within the Greek Islands, we travelled by ferry. And we took six flights within Europe. We've toured countless churches, cathedrals, museums and other sites, taking 14 guided tours.</div><div><br></div><div>What have been our favourite places? We both really liked Rome, Venice, Vienna, Santorini, the Italian island of Capri, and Amsterdam. Jean really liked Athens and Sorrento too. I thought Biarritz in France was a great little spot. And we both liked Monaco. <span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); ">The place we liked the least was Naples. We hated it. Numerous sources told us the mafia have attempted to take over the contract for the rubbish collection but have failed. They now stand over the rubbish collectors who barely seem to collect. Naples is a shameful mess.</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); "><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); ">But on balance, our grand tour of Europe has been grand indeed.</span></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03580356548298261458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8012422406657732557.post-20297302538186922242013-10-03T02:12:00.001-07:002013-10-03T02:17:44.561-07:00Yes, we cannabis: Part 2<div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); clear: both; "><div class="separator" style="clear: both; "><div style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); "><br></div><div style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); "><div class="separator" style="clear: both; "><div class="separator" style="clear: both; "><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgknfzYgnnIcWi1Y06jZpKZGhyQlk02Joe6fEFRFvqkC65OJqWfpdwwMBCkfO6Z7FeYVnm0E9XmHy4XHCmDOL59vSXUURSvjJXl_mdq20_BAzkUTJhj9DEgHLEhagLYymo5PYMSRwhAVfQ/s640/blogger-image-730732061.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; "><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgknfzYgnnIcWi1Y06jZpKZGhyQlk02Joe6fEFRFvqkC65OJqWfpdwwMBCkfO6Z7FeYVnm0E9XmHy4XHCmDOL59vSXUURSvjJXl_mdq20_BAzkUTJhj9DEgHLEhagLYymo5PYMSRwhAVfQ/s640/blogger-image-730732061.jpg"></a></div></div></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; "><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; "><div class="separator" style="clear: both; "><a href="/var/mobile/Applications/AF413398-5F79-42EC-9AAD-057B23FA79F9/Documents/Blogger/blogger-image--881591903.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; "><img border="0" src="/var/mobile/Applications/AF413398-5F79-42EC-9AAD-057B23FA79F9/Documents/Blogger/blogger-image--881591903.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; ">This shop has cannabis plants growing..</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; "><div class="separator" style="clear: both; "><a href="/var/mobile/Applications/AF413398-5F79-42EC-9AAD-057B23FA79F9/Documents/Blogger/blogger-image-292777969.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; "><img border="0" src="/var/mobile/Applications/AF413398-5F79-42EC-9AAD-057B23FA79F9/Documents/Blogger/blogger-image-292777969.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; "><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; "><div class="separator" style="clear: both; "><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCxDJUsvW84MY6-tP3YhAwPOAN9HHf-Vz_VhalZ3CytkR42wh_wLzbeTPlOpCypIRzoodwcYrOBeD191lRVIqTLOAmDlELdsmvl1zDplIosx9s8w2K3evIWwlM9MNzDM3Nt-y2fhDtQrU/s640/blogger-image--1846655024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; "><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCxDJUsvW84MY6-tP3YhAwPOAN9HHf-Vz_VhalZ3CytkR42wh_wLzbeTPlOpCypIRzoodwcYrOBeD191lRVIqTLOAmDlELdsmvl1zDplIosx9s8w2K3evIWwlM9MNzDM3Nt-y2fhDtQrU/s640/blogger-image--1846655024.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; "><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; "><img border="0" src="/var/mobile/Applications/AF413398-5F79-42EC-9AAD-057B23FA79F9/Documents/Blogger/blogger-image--981212965.jpg" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "></div></div></div></div></div></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03580356548298261458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8012422406657732557.post-87466628059731174562013-10-03T02:04:00.001-07:002013-10-03T02:07:46.414-07:00Mind your languageWe native English speakers have a great deal to be thankful for. We can travel and, to a large extent, not bother learning other languages. With so many English-speaking countries in the world, and with so many of their citizens travelling to Europe, Europeans have had to learn English to sell their goods and services to the arriving tourists. And the Europeans have, on the whole, done a great job, achieving a reasonable fluency in our language. We native English speakers are lucky indeed that we can travel there, not bother to ask 'Do you speak English?', but just launch into English and expect a response!<div><br></div><div>Perhaps other world travel destinations are the same. I don't know. My experience here is of Europe. European hotels, restaurant wait staff, railway station clerks, and tourist information officers all speak quite good English. (Information on signs and in restaurant menus is often available in English.). But Europeans are not only catering to the world's native English speakers. Millions of arriving tourists come from China, Japan, Korea, the Middle East or Asian countries who insist on using English. Traditionally, the French objected to the spread of English. But even the French now know they can't object to a Chinese person speaking English because the retort would surely be "How would you like to speak to me in Chinese?" </div><div><br></div><div>And because people all over Europe have learned English so well - they tend to have many years studying the language at school - they then use this skill to go on holidays themselves. Thus, French people will use English to check into their Greek hotel. An Italian tourist in Vienna will order beer in English. A Spaniard will ask for directions in English in Germany. And an Austrian couple in Venice will sell their unexpired three-day travel pass at a discounted price to foreign tourists using English.</div><div><br></div><div>There are today many more Eastern Europeans travelling than in the past. Many are from Russia. The Russians have a reputation of having little English if any, and who often insist on using Russian. Trouble is, who else speaks Russian? With so many Europeans having a working knowledge of English, an assumption is that one can communicate with any visiting foreigner in that language. But it's not always the case. I felt very sorry for the Polish couple who couldn't figure out how to use the Paris Metro, and who were being told how it operates by a well-meaning young French woman in English. The Poles had blank faces.</div><div><br></div><div>Of course, the levels of English fluency in Europe are very annoying for people who have studied a European language and would like to practise it. You ask a question in a local language, and back comes a response in English! You immediately think 'So, is my German rubbish?' I'm one of those people. But the good news for people like me is that the main tourist trail is really only so thick. Sometimes, if you go just a few kilometres back, you enter the 'local' world, where only the local language is spoken. Here, you find out your German is not rubbish after all.</div><div><br></div><div>So, who in Europe speaks the best English? My personal definition of being 'absolutely fluent' in a language is to be completely relaxed speaking it. In the past, I found the Danes to be incredibly good. But we didn't visit Denmark on this trip. Our experience now tells us that the Dutch have the greatest fluency. Bilingualism seems even to be a part of Dutch identity. You can blurt out a question in English to bus drivers, police officers, shop assistants, and any person in the street. If you're in Amsterdam, you may as well be in London. But the country that deserves a prize is surely Greece. Greeks will be just as helpful as the Dutch, but the prize should go to Greece because their tongue is nothing like English and their alphabet is utterly unlike ours. And if you're having a donkey ride on the Greek Island of Santorini, and the donkey stops, just yell in English "Go!". And the donkey will continue. A fellow Chinese rider yelled "Go!" In Chinese, but the donkey didn't move.</div><div><br></div><div>So, if you can speak English and you're planning a trip to Europe, don't panic. You'll be understood virtually everywhere you go. Even Greek donkeys know that English is the international language.</div><div><br></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03580356548298261458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8012422406657732557.post-1286149235497631882013-10-03T01:52:00.001-07:002013-10-03T10:57:50.799-07:00Last day in Europe<div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Today is our last day in Europe. Tomorrow, we return to Dubai briefly, and will arrive in Australia at the weekend.</span></div><div><br></div><div>After our visit to the European Parliament this morning, there were only one or two more things we wanted to do on our last day here. These involved taking another look around the shops in the streets surrounding the Grand Place, and buying the package of several boxes of Belgian chocolates that we noticed yesterday. The other was to find the famous little Manneken Pis. We found the latter standing at a street corner behind a small wrought-iron fence. The little fellow was made in the 17th century, and is a fountain. Water pours from a certain part of his anatomy, which probably adds to his fame. We later learned that the little fellow is actually a copy because the original kept getting stolen. The original is now held in some palace. Afterwards, we found the aforesaid chocolates.</div><div><br></div><div>We had some lunch, had a waffle and soon afterwards had coffee in the Grand Place. Later, we had dinner near our hotel, which is in the 'new' bit of Brussels. Jean had mussels. Mussels in Brussels. So did half the restaurant. When you have mussels, the waiter ties a bib around your neck!</div><div><br></div><div>This is not yet the end of the blog.</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie9i1egTzOpfTakAJ_zmniux90-7ymxdshqxd0iXCHP6UZJ3p5Y6QVxaCRtTtHTPyeGihCHQwTEOsNIYyvscZAC7QbNd96m-ArvpwPlYEYngX8N-_gGAwy9DqhA1gUHVkXrbXU2Ws9-GU/s640/blogger-image-1719956255.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie9i1egTzOpfTakAJ_zmniux90-7ymxdshqxd0iXCHP6UZJ3p5Y6QVxaCRtTtHTPyeGihCHQwTEOsNIYyvscZAC7QbNd96m-ArvpwPlYEYngX8N-_gGAwy9DqhA1gUHVkXrbXU2Ws9-GU/s640/blogger-image-1719956255.jpg"></a></div>The Palais Royale</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi48397kypmbDWUwPHcX2vkfaRI4e7hJL6FGeTB5FMFFlKP3hEJkbgQkOaUb8m6CkAtu3UVmuUgepRZUAGUCR_-h30iDegi_w6OOdnmwypca37SLvye3pUJnctdKtiaZ8IAhec_d5ElUSA/s640/blogger-image--48492352.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi48397kypmbDWUwPHcX2vkfaRI4e7hJL6FGeTB5FMFFlKP3hEJkbgQkOaUb8m6CkAtu3UVmuUgepRZUAGUCR_-h30iDegi_w6OOdnmwypca37SLvye3pUJnctdKtiaZ8IAhec_d5ElUSA/s640/blogger-image--48492352.jpg"></a></div>The famous little Manneken Pis was created in the 17th century.</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC2ULkGaur3XL3kh-ui_5nnAI8dLRZ45fKOX5bvhJBGSolMuX3U2SwLH59316JRLurWPukI8zlWRKRasSWqbFPPmQs73REhpLOmmiLPgYqb6liWK_S3_jvZ3gGkfPQxNSUjacrd_i06CY/s640/blogger-image--384695050.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC2ULkGaur3XL3kh-ui_5nnAI8dLRZ45fKOX5bvhJBGSolMuX3U2SwLH59316JRLurWPukI8zlWRKRasSWqbFPPmQs73REhpLOmmiLPgYqb6liWK_S3_jvZ3gGkfPQxNSUjacrd_i06CY/s640/blogger-image--384695050.jpg"></a></div><br></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE9rxKYh8F5TOnZiABoCPu776y6hybXcIsPnrVAwn2EzLIOBtsXQIVRIO8IvuneyAY3gWHSoMSzLs60Et0nLkz6-C2LRMUR1CaAMsRJlOZl0tuSYH8iIZnr7G086vmDDDLONMilgZuge0/s640/blogger-image-266019011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE9rxKYh8F5TOnZiABoCPu776y6hybXcIsPnrVAwn2EzLIOBtsXQIVRIO8IvuneyAY3gWHSoMSzLs60Et0nLkz6-C2LRMUR1CaAMsRJlOZl0tuSYH8iIZnr7G086vmDDDLONMilgZuge0/s640/blogger-image-266019011.jpg"></a></div>Variations of the little Manneken Pis are everywhere.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxONeyoDEFajJTU5hOIUqTOoSqT0mrisrIiHsOTQjBe6FNKUIrEmv0c1LVAioeXDpV8ebXnCdr7r7KcknQP-loBbugJ70J1iTkzUd3lkC-gGQVUesSwVGQFdGdF5YH1f1f2tMIH-YGFmA/s640/blogger-image--367252843.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxONeyoDEFajJTU5hOIUqTOoSqT0mrisrIiHsOTQjBe6FNKUIrEmv0c1LVAioeXDpV8ebXnCdr7r7KcknQP-loBbugJ70J1iTkzUd3lkC-gGQVUesSwVGQFdGdF5YH1f1f2tMIH-YGFmA/s640/blogger-image--367252843.jpg"></a></div>The Grand Place</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbmRvtoTAeRFu-_016ovifUeHRI7cUQWE2SmNm34tIoAG3SEYzLDPvGbkC416tHSc0ZbvOfON46Q-TfZm5CKTZPI2MAyYtW5NLThvkBkt0vJtVoAxnujarKm8pSnIjYqD2285EpdVWjNM/s640/blogger-image--1377267154.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbmRvtoTAeRFu-_016ovifUeHRI7cUQWE2SmNm34tIoAG3SEYzLDPvGbkC416tHSc0ZbvOfON46Q-TfZm5CKTZPI2MAyYtW5NLThvkBkt0vJtVoAxnujarKm8pSnIjYqD2285EpdVWjNM/s640/blogger-image--1377267154.jpg"></a></div>Galeries Saint-Hubert</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOIjEwZeLAMbV2lnDxmlPWzT0U3BgkZQaOKThGowjXjap5i6nxG_3dRm_0aVkxLjaxJPJC4Q9E-jpupgftoElfCqFWr_78heWJCzLdH30sq2xNRm9usUbB38JF383MGX7fPL9TjbbTD14/s640/blogger-image--1396988401.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOIjEwZeLAMbV2lnDxmlPWzT0U3BgkZQaOKThGowjXjap5i6nxG_3dRm_0aVkxLjaxJPJC4Q9E-jpupgftoElfCqFWr_78heWJCzLdH30sq2xNRm9usUbB38JF383MGX7fPL9TjbbTD14/s640/blogger-image--1396988401.jpg"></a></div>A street near the Grand Place..</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjew6pgPPnfXWlhu5LyRbke1GH4UdlKqaKMMVFWGdu_E8zRg6ephrA8MG8RS-P2K-jagjC1Wfm4bc1ezwhKMSNxeMSrbrFewYdBeDS4QD9_btR7bNm6BkTPRj9xjlnxk7YYGvUBGwzq6Zo/s640/blogger-image--1704734169.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjew6pgPPnfXWlhu5LyRbke1GH4UdlKqaKMMVFWGdu_E8zRg6ephrA8MG8RS-P2K-jagjC1Wfm4bc1ezwhKMSNxeMSrbrFewYdBeDS4QD9_btR7bNm6BkTPRj9xjlnxk7YYGvUBGwzq6Zo/s640/blogger-image--1704734169.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">..and another..</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjedBT42HdeIcvkPYJ2rxldB4YB6Bh2XP7igiFZJNRuTgDh6LPXnEFgZ2__VjK48l-owg19NRr5Zmi7eIVF1ZdNrMHYm6wjNrT7xPYnrYS_Oef1eiCpNNq2S9EJtLzkpwM09M6-6RGJjh8/s640/blogger-image--131797322.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjedBT42HdeIcvkPYJ2rxldB4YB6Bh2XP7igiFZJNRuTgDh6LPXnEFgZ2__VjK48l-owg19NRr5Zmi7eIVF1ZdNrMHYm6wjNrT7xPYnrYS_Oef1eiCpNNq2S9EJtLzkpwM09M6-6RGJjh8/s640/blogger-image--131797322.jpg"></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">At the Grand Place is this curious bronze relief - don't know who it is. People were rubbing their hands all over it in fhe same way people rub the statue of St Peter in St Peters Basilica, Vatican. </div></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMpodMqwLBj69NU5eNM3S6D_xhE6OMqUF6ywDkjXpLftjJk45IHk2OduxmJHk7ITswOhhQuZNwcPxBdjLH2NYW0MLKmavb1ahx6l4ly8sqZQ2E52ndy0GhiRRZxlKqSmNp5oU7Ql_eOsw/s640/blogger-image--1939255950.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMpodMqwLBj69NU5eNM3S6D_xhE6OMqUF6ywDkjXpLftjJk45IHk2OduxmJHk7ITswOhhQuZNwcPxBdjLH2NYW0MLKmavb1ahx6l4ly8sqZQ2E52ndy0GhiRRZxlKqSmNp5oU7Ql_eOsw/s640/blogger-image--1939255950.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Jean and I having a 'last day in Europe' photo at the Grand Place, Brussels.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigcFVzAE9Oqp36O_56O4Ob9hoO-PTfOsdACqFYFgLtTurtq7m2zR58deNdV4hsOfFQWGGA6c6RImw2fu-koJbwDhik7p1uBemMaIy53DpU-bukiQJ9KMsMHOQT1-WTaQ35Ld8drsOG7m0/s640/blogger-image-199890313.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigcFVzAE9Oqp36O_56O4Ob9hoO-PTfOsdACqFYFgLtTurtq7m2zR58deNdV4hsOfFQWGGA6c6RImw2fu-koJbwDhik7p1uBemMaIy53DpU-bukiQJ9KMsMHOQT1-WTaQ35Ld8drsOG7m0/s640/blogger-image-199890313.jpg"></a></div>Jean having mussels in Brussels.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT6lSpgRi0MDjNqSaUCGs9Vixgg-S_HArE9oobESKk9N0BDXMca3fxjl9qAdt73OKzieLNnX5g8gynOn6OruNcffcU7dh5nvJnBmQGlNsxT-aQVTPavpHkNBItDu4ZoiVHuHWE4MJ4QBI/s640/blogger-image-1608976423.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT6lSpgRi0MDjNqSaUCGs9Vixgg-S_HArE9oobESKk9N0BDXMca3fxjl9qAdt73OKzieLNnX5g8gynOn6OruNcffcU7dh5nvJnBmQGlNsxT-aQVTPavpHkNBItDu4ZoiVHuHWE4MJ4QBI/s640/blogger-image-1608976423.jpg"></a></div>Says it all.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03580356548298261458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8012422406657732557.post-32599167399247052662013-10-03T01:37:00.001-07:002013-10-03T01:37:36.573-07:00Visit to European Parliament<div>Today is our last day in Europe. We spent the morning at the European Parliament. </div><div><br></div><div>In any national parliament, there is typically one chamber that an MP sits in. For example, an Australian Member of the House of Representatives sits in the one chamber in Canberra. Or, a British MP sits in fhe House of Commons within the Palace of Westminster and in no second chamber anywhere else. But with the European Parliament, although there is considered to be 'one parliament', there are actually two locations where there is a chamber in which the MEPs may sit. One is here in Brussels and the other is at Strasbourg. There is also Luxembourg, but no chamber there. We learned to our disappointment that refurbishment is taking place of the chamber here, so we couldn't get to see it. We were invited instead to visit the Parlamentarium, a museum to the European Parliament.</div><div><br></div><div>We toured the exhibits, and it was all very interesting. You went through the history of the EU from its humble beginnings as the pooling of German and French coal and steel industries in the 50s to the sophisticated institution that it is today. I like the EU. I think it is a logical and practical answer to so many centuries of war and conflict. They might have their disputes, and they might have some problems with the euro, but they'll work it all out in the end.</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpPnB1hu76dmYBGN-iooRihmqTZ34Nbj-CpBp_EstPN7vzH8dcbM3P_d5E6O6AF1C1gHV6xTYBAc2qH08G1M5ssmRmndjSXOmXVb4DmX6rZ1scBKPoJ1EqOt_Gd6X3vIREit6ZfJL34xo/s640/blogger-image--1371004662.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpPnB1hu76dmYBGN-iooRihmqTZ34Nbj-CpBp_EstPN7vzH8dcbM3P_d5E6O6AF1C1gHV6xTYBAc2qH08G1M5ssmRmndjSXOmXVb4DmX6rZ1scBKPoJ1EqOt_Gd6X3vIREit6ZfJL34xo/s640/blogger-image--1371004662.jpg"></a></div>The European Parliament at Brussels</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy84wEo_l_QidysyO_fCZ-PIiLMQgau0-5B2XQTd3JlfOy6_-uoLgE2Hhkd7fStAKm7YBUOm95RtVz0-yoVC3ucE2Wzqg044ZWyv02rjszIZp_mIg-RohFDxAci1c58LKBr0CJQP3MsuQ/s640/blogger-image--793407592.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy84wEo_l_QidysyO_fCZ-PIiLMQgau0-5B2XQTd3JlfOy6_-uoLgE2Hhkd7fStAKm7YBUOm95RtVz0-yoVC3ucE2Wzqg044ZWyv02rjszIZp_mIg-RohFDxAci1c58LKBr0CJQP3MsuQ/s640/blogger-image--793407592.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqShBE61sNyl6R4C-G2cTGqQYrcl4RRBShyphenhyphenEN6w88honGo-4qtBth4U-3Jso2lQGeg87vlF-bF4wQlIJWLIRKzsAuK_QIAs1Q1S4VYWxpHPNEQVGpttGMfM535qJkFgBoJgbQJoDa1_fo/s640/blogger-image-101540482.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqShBE61sNyl6R4C-G2cTGqQYrcl4RRBShyphenhyphenEN6w88honGo-4qtBth4U-3Jso2lQGeg87vlF-bF4wQlIJWLIRKzsAuK_QIAs1Q1S4VYWxpHPNEQVGpttGMfM535qJkFgBoJgbQJoDa1_fo/s640/blogger-image-101540482.jpg"></a></div>A billboard picture of the European Parliament</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw0BJwFnFuJueb_j78oE4mpjaB5u786Qe_ja8bj0_Krw7NOg6leBqwl2xjzkkSvf11iuSZpiboKSZ3UvOikA4Om1Tc5FJpz-2UONZ-47kkZKk19tXo91_KUfPHjoyw3UgdGHaWFiey2HA/s640/blogger-image--564442969.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw0BJwFnFuJueb_j78oE4mpjaB5u786Qe_ja8bj0_Krw7NOg6leBqwl2xjzkkSvf11iuSZpiboKSZ3UvOikA4Om1Tc5FJpz-2UONZ-47kkZKk19tXo91_KUfPHjoyw3UgdGHaWFiey2HA/s640/blogger-image--564442969.jpg"></a></div>This display shows the three locations of the European Parliament: Brussels, Strasbourg and Luxembourg.</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu0ha-3rrlHrWcG6ijWzTytmWN8wNa6_T7xiPaVCGqX3n3qxsPqtvWgFjpjD36lx2RPo9eYQQt6ZbbbRdjtnHY9Xtgc96HACjryWL-tYTkfpHWB-RGhsxlbH1IAso6sWn1yMNoHLgE57k/s640/blogger-image-2014522934.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu0ha-3rrlHrWcG6ijWzTytmWN8wNa6_T7xiPaVCGqX3n3qxsPqtvWgFjpjD36lx2RPo9eYQQt6ZbbbRdjtnHY9Xtgc96HACjryWL-tYTkfpHWB-RGhsxlbH1IAso6sWn1yMNoHLgE57k/s640/blogger-image-2014522934.jpg"></a></div>A large interactive map of Europe lay on the floor. This pic shows the top half of the Italian Peninsula to the right, Spain to the left, and the UK to the top left.</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWiGwQhCH2uJOalMXagxirSDPVMDTzNM3ivFQ0xSwwTW5EmnkAuD8whuuyQQ8qQJZoWoFYnnFwM4pr15QFkz2NgEsm09nqC8HyqQcoMKViwIhyo5PIg_SDXJbmLe3bwybBbiiVooIB7is/s640/blogger-image--654849631.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWiGwQhCH2uJOalMXagxirSDPVMDTzNM3ivFQ0xSwwTW5EmnkAuD8whuuyQQ8qQJZoWoFYnnFwM4pr15QFkz2NgEsm09nqC8HyqQcoMKViwIhyo5PIg_SDXJbmLe3bwybBbiiVooIB7is/s640/blogger-image--654849631.jpg"></a></div>This pic shows Greece to the right.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxV-9sLgWw7vbJSr6H_MyxtIqpUEtIHE2e4BGGLToimGz-X132JFVCsPLtZlA2eY5LqYS-SNgolL06c2DFoCCbrfC-ohMRJ7HLesg6oVM-7VOJN7nitQPu3-WHBholjMKAaXg6vUqtu6A/s640/blogger-image-565305888.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxV-9sLgWw7vbJSr6H_MyxtIqpUEtIHE2e4BGGLToimGz-X132JFVCsPLtZlA2eY5LqYS-SNgolL06c2DFoCCbrfC-ohMRJ7HLesg6oVM-7VOJN7nitQPu3-WHBholjMKAaXg6vUqtu6A/s640/blogger-image-565305888.jpg"></a></div>Jean and I walked across Europe, retracing our footsteps of the last 15 weeks. Jean looks to the Continent from Britain.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8dJ70GYHfLBedvhFz203y5EeEGQeKZnRM8mLAcnFQaPwxzvlnln7GANfyVr7RlBGTwDn10lRys8lzIo746GyO7muXEGBh9eLvhbpf1WoBX1v1JcDUgVR01Xnha598JaZPzVlSQ14_CnM/s640/blogger-image--1735095080.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8dJ70GYHfLBedvhFz203y5EeEGQeKZnRM8mLAcnFQaPwxzvlnln7GANfyVr7RlBGTwDn10lRys8lzIo746GyO7muXEGBh9eLvhbpf1WoBX1v1JcDUgVR01Xnha598JaZPzVlSQ14_CnM/s640/blogger-image--1735095080.jpg"></a></div>The euro</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03580356548298261458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8012422406657732557.post-14388900383909985122013-10-01T06:11:00.001-07:002013-10-01T06:29:16.020-07:00More scenes of Amsterdam<div class="separator" style="clear: both; "><div class="separator" style="clear: both; "><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdE0Pg6ceL58PfAjDVRm7Z-TcXFzmdTfpRWXmlaiMXRWzM9m_2nIcAOeTjBZ1L_RkorhH4kcA2IwNSuXFSgBLHdRWvjVlBTstwYLGfUCz5h5LyfmqY49OiidoEXBH4YlTw0SXR5uke6gc/s640/blogger-image-1681051920.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; "><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdE0Pg6ceL58PfAjDVRm7Z-TcXFzmdTfpRWXmlaiMXRWzM9m_2nIcAOeTjBZ1L_RkorhH4kcA2IwNSuXFSgBLHdRWvjVlBTstwYLGfUCz5h5LyfmqY49OiidoEXBH4YlTw0SXR5uke6gc/s640/blogger-image-1681051920.jpg"></a></div>A public loo for men</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; "><div class="separator" style="clear: both; "><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCce7ndlRUTWMY3ORDu7InhWiE00C8R715LnglDEVAwO2tjlNVx_ofgoGB4uabdm5bKtyjNcpmf_KHCjFlCYzOOYq0NWw7BNSTXQoU12uxEd7d5655t6Ogu8L29Av1TgerEQLT4RhcLho/s640/blogger-image--1226575850.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; "><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCce7ndlRUTWMY3ORDu7InhWiE00C8R715LnglDEVAwO2tjlNVx_ofgoGB4uabdm5bKtyjNcpmf_KHCjFlCYzOOYq0NWw7BNSTXQoU12uxEd7d5655t6Ogu8L29Av1TgerEQLT4RhcLho/s640/blogger-image--1226575850.jpg"></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; "><div class="separator" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); clear: both; ">The Skinny Bridge, which opens up for passing boats.</div><div><div class="separator" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); clear: both; "><div class="separator" style="clear: both; "><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtRXkXBvSUyrM9caKPa9DApnjmi6HJoCs0a2AiJ5IXkiMEX3w2CbiouU7dmHIzyAHvbbboVbo1VacOJqbxwpYf4XRmMnrIlApBwYqB-9lm877pxYRdxsiziAtn-u8VQdm2C6oNCsFPQvU/s640/blogger-image-1044647967.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; "><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtRXkXBvSUyrM9caKPa9DApnjmi6HJoCs0a2AiJ5IXkiMEX3w2CbiouU7dmHIzyAHvbbboVbo1VacOJqbxwpYf4XRmMnrIlApBwYqB-9lm877pxYRdxsiziAtn-u8VQdm2C6oNCsFPQvU/s640/blogger-image-1044647967.jpg"></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); clear: both; "><br></div><div class="separator" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); clear: both; "><div class="separator" style="clear: both; "><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQXEZlKQmjDZKBSX4ZEGIyeSE2FM_C0e_fW9LA_wc4JpLS65r4kx9KjNonY8LU6WNxWupWapPFk7hyphenhyphen0IjhZxB3Ro9Mqxnl8hCUEoQ2vCha2xuJrtKRr7k8ouTBK3bBnTRZSplsHQJqaAQ/s640/blogger-image-2108668695.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; "><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQXEZlKQmjDZKBSX4ZEGIyeSE2FM_C0e_fW9LA_wc4JpLS65r4kx9KjNonY8LU6WNxWupWapPFk7hyphenhyphen0IjhZxB3Ro9Mqxnl8hCUEoQ2vCha2xuJrtKRr7k8ouTBK3bBnTRZSplsHQJqaAQ/s640/blogger-image-2108668695.jpg"></a></div>Along this street is Anne Frank's house.</div></div><div class="separator" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); clear: both; "><div class="separator" style="clear: both; "><div class="separator" style="clear: both; "><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj4pzXj_6lb2O_fPMN53h3bEvZ2TljwDlAO3-_ugWc-8IISbTi6GO8C8nsDaGKNtc8yUt5gO8N4dWJVMYBrGipiRvK3iJI2g_I0q6R4A4Rt8ziagZlPXLZuPeH1YnCh8Seyff7NYyMmT0/s640/blogger-image--418498033.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; "><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj4pzXj_6lb2O_fPMN53h3bEvZ2TljwDlAO3-_ugWc-8IISbTi6GO8C8nsDaGKNtc8yUt5gO8N4dWJVMYBrGipiRvK3iJI2g_I0q6R4A4Rt8ziagZlPXLZuPeH1YnCh8Seyff7NYyMmT0/s640/blogger-image--418498033.jpg"></a></div>A gondola in Amsterdam. Who would have thought?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; "><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-ldxHivVWUW0SEBYmztyqfLVhyx6hxLM7AL4Yh1dS69gkqwc4nxWVzYQnjb6OppOI7Aa5YqVIF5kCTOKlErNY5c9lwlauNx6FGy8eNoRQucF-6vL13FlVdKXWrJ3xAfdB57U-aXbxTds/s640/blogger-image-934266060.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-ldxHivVWUW0SEBYmztyqfLVhyx6hxLM7AL4Yh1dS69gkqwc4nxWVzYQnjb6OppOI7Aa5YqVIF5kCTOKlErNY5c9lwlauNx6FGy8eNoRQucF-6vL13FlVdKXWrJ3xAfdB57U-aXbxTds/s640/blogger-image-934266060.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; "><div class="separator" style="clear: both; "><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghPlu-IQhgVBFosS3tQ4DpyuyIkFUJl1NEXDuRYRBvlON2_ykx3nCw5ZjPDZyOLdpCouNMr6W-wDMmx-8lKB7vresuRa1lPOVDq-G2RTcpGe1PCGuEFWgQGg-ZvL3885lEvaOV0tD8-sY/s640/blogger-image--888071709.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; "><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghPlu-IQhgVBFosS3tQ4DpyuyIkFUJl1NEXDuRYRBvlON2_ykx3nCw5ZjPDZyOLdpCouNMr6W-wDMmx-8lKB7vresuRa1lPOVDq-G2RTcpGe1PCGuEFWgQGg-ZvL3885lEvaOV0tD8-sY/s640/blogger-image--888071709.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; "><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; "><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi080L8nnKKXK6HRmbFM71FtA3E8e27BhkzGGrHJsfBUr7UmTa1y_OrqVGraLfYGqYXKvf28yc_bpHZOcmbJOTCFznt4x31qTCBQJKmh95DR2lZquV5WcwagVcZ3v4rVMBoUmfouc6f9jo/s640/blogger-image--1424344579.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi080L8nnKKXK6HRmbFM71FtA3E8e27BhkzGGrHJsfBUr7UmTa1y_OrqVGraLfYGqYXKvf28yc_bpHZOcmbJOTCFznt4x31qTCBQJKmh95DR2lZquV5WcwagVcZ3v4rVMBoUmfouc6f9jo/s640/blogger-image--1424344579.jpg"></a></div>An Amsterdam info man helps a tourist.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; "><div class="separator" style="clear: both; "><div class="separator" style="clear: both; "><div class="separator" style="clear: both; "><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiITI4wYZw_tnFzWJkQqBnQLIhWlUFQp2R97lhkI58gj2opDwaCoZqswDGdb-wYVsWcuZYIar8nDifw-8sw5VK4CkH5Pzt9VIZSs82vxQfMnbjT7uQR6jb6vYydZay5ByF88zzDTK5jp3c/s640/blogger-image-1973010940.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; "><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiITI4wYZw_tnFzWJkQqBnQLIhWlUFQp2R97lhkI58gj2opDwaCoZqswDGdb-wYVsWcuZYIar8nDifw-8sw5VK4CkH5Pzt9VIZSs82vxQfMnbjT7uQR6jb6vYydZay5ByF88zzDTK5jp3c/s640/blogger-image-1973010940.jpg"></a></div></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; "><div class="separator" style="clear: both; "><br></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; "><div class="separator" style="clear: both; "><div class="separator" style="clear: both; "></div></div></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; "><div class="separator" style="clear: both; ">.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixIMhz8YhE1oMNwzLUMAys81twil2prkL_XT-2VZSxuBU0sUbraj_yQ9RduPyUJMQ4llRe3tpl9RrJYYckye0GST0IehizEutPmnPy0IBK84GmqMOkIzuT3qMgDBiPi4kdFDUE9SkGLJw/s640/blogger-image-1737801915.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; "><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixIMhz8YhE1oMNwzLUMAys81twil2prkL_XT-2VZSxuBU0sUbraj_yQ9RduPyUJMQ4llRe3tpl9RrJYYckye0GST0IehizEutPmnPy0IBK84GmqMOkIzuT3qMgDBiPi4kdFDUE9SkGLJw/s640/blogger-image-1737801915.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; ">A market </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; "><div class="separator" style="clear: both; "><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI_2M8DVAu-ljJ15Gjx8C_2W_u6280fuiECnyH-WnYwlV0v_PttpHQ9uXrceS47DUIOCnP2yr9rp2zy26trXs8Q33KFLazEgjfcvssWujaDpzSs1MF5EeJg7ONS4scOCEg8onbGz4TSKY/s640/blogger-image-59435542.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; "><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI_2M8DVAu-ljJ15Gjx8C_2W_u6280fuiECnyH-WnYwlV0v_PttpHQ9uXrceS47DUIOCnP2yr9rp2zy26trXs8Q33KFLazEgjfcvssWujaDpzSs1MF5EeJg7ONS4scOCEg8onbGz4TSKY/s640/blogger-image-59435542.jpg"></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; "><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; "><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkczZZSbooD8C5d_WiMHxiFG5jaJDbnOU45Pz7lAh5o70aCnir2QhMvVxnxTDfmYT18UYJfUHS3q_CGRfkZzoEO9G0zMOQG1s2OcyJK3yTnf-gkzZlmbO752WA5_RT0zoD4xoUlkPfexE/s640/blogger-image-1185700509.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkczZZSbooD8C5d_WiMHxiFG5jaJDbnOU45Pz7lAh5o70aCnir2QhMvVxnxTDfmYT18UYJfUHS3q_CGRfkZzoEO9G0zMOQG1s2OcyJK3yTnf-gkzZlmbO752WA5_RT0zoD4xoUlkPfexE/s640/blogger-image-1185700509.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; "><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQCEbE2Ids77aejhCt8iDNXf1W8BzEDL4N_9pkpc_mj6MwiemVGtrroAlKl-MiiMBj9GOeKX1Vrm7bGyqmzJoZlhUTE3z6WjDa8WV2iXJQdM7YO2o0SBNYrOheQfn3QGEaxOWa3JuXvEA/s640/blogger-image--1412415343.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQCEbE2Ids77aejhCt8iDNXf1W8BzEDL4N_9pkpc_mj6MwiemVGtrroAlKl-MiiMBj9GOeKX1Vrm7bGyqmzJoZlhUTE3z6WjDa8WV2iXJQdM7YO2o0SBNYrOheQfn3QGEaxOWa3JuXvEA/s640/blogger-image--1412415343.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; "><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFFny4zHkap_zLIZv_YE0-NpAV2FhP_O2UNfw1uCqQ4NEH-10nnEjArk3RQGB96KxWoGB4gqgAF1CXVNLp1iYsXTegHy0l1c4yNN-aFcm8CHzcgIJ43v42it1CLfJdLvZLKfU954PlEk4/s640/blogger-image-1358253669.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFFny4zHkap_zLIZv_YE0-NpAV2FhP_O2UNfw1uCqQ4NEH-10nnEjArk3RQGB96KxWoGB4gqgAF1CXVNLp1iYsXTegHy0l1c4yNN-aFcm8CHzcgIJ43v42it1CLfJdLvZLKfU954PlEk4/s640/blogger-image-1358253669.jpg"></a></div></div><div>Parking for 2,500 bikes</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; "></div></div></div></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03580356548298261458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8012422406657732557.post-44160846652528523162013-10-01T05:52:00.001-07:002013-10-01T05:52:47.502-07:00Double Dutch: the ICC and the Dutch Parliamemt<div>All I wanted to do here in The Hague was visit the International Criminal Court (ICC). It was difficult to find yesterday because the Tourist Information Office wrongly sent me to the International Court of Justice in the Peace Palace, to the north. We found out that the ICC was to the south in the suburb of Voorburg and it's off all the tourist maps. Having finally worked out how to get there, we set off this morning.</div><div><br></div><div>Once we found the ICC, we learned we could not enter. There were no hearings today and a guided tour was not possible. If we'd come yesterday, we'd have been welcomed with open arms, and given the full tour. But since we came today, we got nothing. I was very disappointed. We couldn't even have a quick glance at the empty courtroom where currently the sitting Deputy President of Kenya is on trial for crimes against humanity.</div><div><br></div><div>Later, we caught the bus to the Dutch Parliament and organised a tour. All the English language tours for the day were finished, and it was only possible to have a tour in Dutch! So, we paid 7.50 € each, and saw a few sights relating to Dutch history as well as the Dutch House of Representatives...in Dutch. But the guide was quite good. He briefed Jean and me in English as well as the two Chinese tourists and the German tourists. We learned there is proportional representation in the Netherlands, not unlike some other European countries. Like in the United States, Cabinet Ministers may be selected from outside the Parliament. The Dutch Parliament is new, built only in 1992. Considering they had the opportunity to build something with style, the Dutch <span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Parliament building is disappointingly boring.</span></div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr4x9PMxISzdOo_x3mJq9Y8Y1V__ABTExWUrL7Gx3fTVXRgG6oY3n15VwRJ3Zxv8c1NqWEXDhouMmPV0zftRxDMZDm26lKCbCZYdmLA35sWs7xpAoQzVFoJIzehiysmCklajsHLt_st1Y/s640/blogger-image--1340079219.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr4x9PMxISzdOo_x3mJq9Y8Y1V__ABTExWUrL7Gx3fTVXRgG6oY3n15VwRJ3Zxv8c1NqWEXDhouMmPV0zftRxDMZDm26lKCbCZYdmLA35sWs7xpAoQzVFoJIzehiysmCklajsHLt_st1Y/s640/blogger-image--1340079219.jpg"></a></div>The International Criminal Court (ICC)</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjESAxmmMu41OB1l_LBGafyfDnKlCgXS1NFEDpF_GG146zvQa1LkC8yqhPMegAih7dg9JtDfaeinAB8L4if1MEtXc_2KcYbXWKo8jZ7zHuc2HmrwtTo5uV4mlGVFSlxiLQxW0J5soh9pj8/s640/blogger-image-425848767.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjESAxmmMu41OB1l_LBGafyfDnKlCgXS1NFEDpF_GG146zvQa1LkC8yqhPMegAih7dg9JtDfaeinAB8L4if1MEtXc_2KcYbXWKo8jZ7zHuc2HmrwtTo5uV4mlGVFSlxiLQxW0J5soh9pj8/s640/blogger-image-425848767.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbexeeu_v6RyoHrPeKlPXXZjv9EGi6st_Zge7d3tStSzxlfMFB7K8d3MSYWIzt59E6_LAAIUUjW5KaLKz2swOPVDMlIw4C1DoJw8MlYMAF5o_Ug1jZf2j4xqsnKOHwyNv7zSfHDn93urU/s640/blogger-image-974746110.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbexeeu_v6RyoHrPeKlPXXZjv9EGi6st_Zge7d3tStSzxlfMFB7K8d3MSYWIzt59E6_LAAIUUjW5KaLKz2swOPVDMlIw4C1DoJw8MlYMAF5o_Ug1jZf2j4xqsnKOHwyNv7zSfHDn93urU/s640/blogger-image-974746110.jpg"></a></div>The ICC (tall white building at back) <span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); ">is on Maanweg in the suburb of Voorburg...off the tourist trail.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW91i1W-dRbBk0kpT9KGzQd3aKlDPQXU57Ele2rBhHER6dylX6t-2a5RzuwZc6KxLq9zyqjQGQ8IGxWwMaLjCTWNJayC9afEgeuOAbkH0DxYcPIkKPEFAeI9U5XX4VlM3IRLLeKwchwgs/s640/blogger-image-1935169588.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW91i1W-dRbBk0kpT9KGzQd3aKlDPQXU57Ele2rBhHER6dylX6t-2a5RzuwZc6KxLq9zyqjQGQ8IGxWwMaLjCTWNJayC9afEgeuOAbkH0DxYcPIkKPEFAeI9U5XX4VlM3IRLLeKwchwgs/s640/blogger-image-1935169588.jpg"></a></div>This boring looking building is the Dutch parliament.</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03580356548298261458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8012422406657732557.post-7955423198769837872013-09-29T01:58:00.001-07:002013-10-03T02:16:34.569-07:00Yes, we cannabis<div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); clear: both; "><div class="separator" style="clear: both; "><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; "><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpp6wVcVbjkEzhyphenhyphenofoo_BxiP2YJpg6DI6TwnreqxFJTlIomqq6L7OfJDhuNFzJTX29PNlSxfkN1BsvQe5GgsW6tV3eBDu-8Bp1wHHUXuvLJH7fz3d8J3gofgb37YCArN6cbZdYh3BvKoU/s640/blogger-image--922020515.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpp6wVcVbjkEzhyphenhyphenofoo_BxiP2YJpg6DI6TwnreqxFJTlIomqq6L7OfJDhuNFzJTX29PNlSxfkN1BsvQe5GgsW6tV3eBDu-8Bp1wHHUXuvLJH7fz3d8J3gofgb37YCArN6cbZdYh3BvKoU/s640/blogger-image--922020515.jpg"></a></div>The Bull Dog was the first coffee shop in Amsterdam to sell cannabis.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; "><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqYOSyqe-JqlAb3OWSFU9_M89EiVN8azLfJ4xbQmkIaeAI23ObzLsuoUz3dssWBTnS8VefmrpDuEgRMOjJdthVPQgMEtyhZEIL3ADykIZwGIYdUtmTmX8q9buRJNor_SQ4w5YxSuhfl0k/s640/blogger-image-1338838907.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqYOSyqe-JqlAb3OWSFU9_M89EiVN8azLfJ4xbQmkIaeAI23ObzLsuoUz3dssWBTnS8VefmrpDuEgRMOjJdthVPQgMEtyhZEIL3ADykIZwGIYdUtmTmX8q9buRJNor_SQ4w5YxSuhfl0k/s640/blogger-image-1338838907.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; "><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmzclvljNzdqritNuUJgXnQjpwQ6RwP9LkKWuzwOKR26pI5h_Wep5kaZSP0MrpzsX-nsgVvbY29k4c11RUbVnquQp782rHJplkIYN-1z-wIN4ZOqMk5Hu21m6II9qP29uPRjsXUFGa-l8/s640/blogger-image--2010346662.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmzclvljNzdqritNuUJgXnQjpwQ6RwP9LkKWuzwOKR26pI5h_Wep5kaZSP0MrpzsX-nsgVvbY29k4c11RUbVnquQp782rHJplkIYN-1z-wIN4ZOqMk5Hu21m6II9qP29uPRjsXUFGa-l8/s640/blogger-image--2010346662.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; "><div class="separator" style="clear: both; "><a href="/var/mobile/Applications/AF413398-5F79-42EC-9AAD-057B23FA79F9/Documents/Blogger/blogger-image--88816802.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; "><img border="0" src="/var/mobile/Applications/AF413398-5F79-42EC-9AAD-057B23FA79F9/Documents/Blogger/blogger-image--88816802.jpg"></a></div></div></div><div class="separator" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); clear: both; "><div class="separator" style="clear: both; "><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; "><img border="0" src="/var/mobile/Applications/AF413398-5F79-42EC-9AAD-057B23FA79F9/Documents/Blogger/blogger-image-1409797692.jpg" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "></div><div><br></div><div><br></div></div></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03580356548298261458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8012422406657732557.post-46285451337830110052013-09-29T01:53:00.001-07:002013-10-01T06:17:49.140-07:00Scenes of Amsterdam<div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkydZCDibN0zlnjZSXW9_AAW8LkoYkSmnJw_I6zYxLzxgyykrhHmXe0MPbETW925aMc_7GYfDVnKMY1OY7wYeKJ149iY8tRvzkxlktvFfw4PaORuY1yswvzqUwNsS72PFKyI2OktblYlE/s640/blogger-image--1742932806.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkydZCDibN0zlnjZSXW9_AAW8LkoYkSmnJw_I6zYxLzxgyykrhHmXe0MPbETW925aMc_7GYfDVnKMY1OY7wYeKJ149iY8tRvzkxlktvFfw4PaORuY1yswvzqUwNsS72PFKyI2OktblYlE/s640/blogger-image--1742932806.jpg"></a></div></div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaa34yKxkgoQ-3ejF8KQSuRmKHTGnYWCtvayKjPbDO8IYSXBugieyK_Poyn2B-UKFf_i2rOfaXeV6uMCGhHikJZ-UIvM5aGiu5XJSsbisc1eSW6__7CdveiH8HEkJr-OSv16lKhF8m9kA/s640/blogger-image-1903476849.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaa34yKxkgoQ-3ejF8KQSuRmKHTGnYWCtvayKjPbDO8IYSXBugieyK_Poyn2B-UKFf_i2rOfaXeV6uMCGhHikJZ-UIvM5aGiu5XJSsbisc1eSW6__7CdveiH8HEkJr-OSv16lKhF8m9kA/s640/blogger-image-1903476849.jpg"></a></div></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Our hotel is in the red light district. This is the view from our window.</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGZnft2TbQMp-M_G0XsD-abIgzoI70edjwOzh_xkv_u6HHTSnH3QRWXyOM3FXtfztcS4Cjmg01vlhBaj2wZrYwb3KU8ezthHSAbQj1pLI-P9w2sw8nGRicUweddkJSKB2ejame6-g0Tos/s640/blogger-image--1390737963.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGZnft2TbQMp-M_G0XsD-abIgzoI70edjwOzh_xkv_u6HHTSnH3QRWXyOM3FXtfztcS4Cjmg01vlhBaj2wZrYwb3KU8ezthHSAbQj1pLI-P9w2sw8nGRicUweddkJSKB2ejame6-g0Tos/s640/blogger-image--1390737963.jpg"></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">A sex worker stands in wait for a customer beneath our hotel room window.</div></div></div></div></div></div><div><div class="separator" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); clear: both; "><div class="separator" style="clear: both; "><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEqreOzq2iNaeQI0ngOOeVCFS_zVWG9hulip3GmS-sbQvRvGfXN_c7koUC6uXArzvbcDXWAtoFRoRdKEkpct-n8wB1lqksO20L-Tqjt_h1-BOu73n5XlKLCsr5FhP9w84_b0KAkPfma8o/s640/blogger-image-1478203101.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEqreOzq2iNaeQI0ngOOeVCFS_zVWG9hulip3GmS-sbQvRvGfXN_c7koUC6uXArzvbcDXWAtoFRoRdKEkpct-n8wB1lqksO20L-Tqjt_h1-BOu73n5XlKLCsr5FhP9w84_b0KAkPfma8o/s640/blogger-image-1478203101.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Amsterdam Centraal station.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXkPHhuG26HmVivSxhM12EMcMQuNAyMhovSi0Fr0PXGTQaVJOCFufbej6zfFD3RNn8mHFhOS_RKT1SZxz-W45qofCLN_9_B-_weuNN9Aaen0AP_W0gkm4PpOJbS1aN0ob78SNdJ1ofM3c/s640/blogger-image-812350611.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXkPHhuG26HmVivSxhM12EMcMQuNAyMhovSi0Fr0PXGTQaVJOCFufbej6zfFD3RNn8mHFhOS_RKT1SZxz-W45qofCLN_9_B-_weuNN9Aaen0AP_W0gkm4PpOJbS1aN0ob78SNdJ1ofM3c/s640/blogger-image-812350611.jpg"></a></div>Many buildings in Amsterdam actually hang like this.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbNwAutKZ2q43x9ERVnypSYgPorzCHS26MFysTSvMDsh6lUpEDZG6G30d20GjCJOMuaz2nbCe6oU8pG3ZrpJGOWYwlh5AYe79qVU-bP-41Dltlkpq67wlW1XLxkzf_5rFI0FBr8z06Ya4/s640/blogger-image-370480447.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbNwAutKZ2q43x9ERVnypSYgPorzCHS26MFysTSvMDsh6lUpEDZG6G30d20GjCJOMuaz2nbCe6oU8pG3ZrpJGOWYwlh5AYe79qVU-bP-41Dltlkpq67wlW1XLxkzf_5rFI0FBr8z06Ya4/s640/blogger-image-370480447.jpg"></a></div>We visited the sex museum.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCYHYqGJweKwGHzOwhfq80WKO_bQXaYzKnyRTL1IrHs05-UHO4iJlSo11sCi6jIUl2YCvx-59N0oMbe7DToBhIUTt0xuM8lFrh3szSSeEdLBHFZqce01Ro8KCei_UGY08aTGJZeAUP1sI/s640/blogger-image-1310113275.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCYHYqGJweKwGHzOwhfq80WKO_bQXaYzKnyRTL1IrHs05-UHO4iJlSo11sCi6jIUl2YCvx-59N0oMbe7DToBhIUTt0xuM8lFrh3szSSeEdLBHFZqce01Ro8KCei_UGY08aTGJZeAUP1sI/s640/blogger-image-1310113275.jpg"></a></div>The House of Heads</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; "><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI48-J2tkrUP_yX__Q3I-rhJkF9TSMfzMxxZ0bYqjt2Ad-BJNOi31-qYM3pqy5I6DvW1cE_Uoaf8kwKyWyrrM1C3znIVLxm1xLeCMkcNOaYWjSY0wz5Fjj9ISesTlgmVvaPUTH-vyyNfk/s640/blogger-image--890359919.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI48-J2tkrUP_yX__Q3I-rhJkF9TSMfzMxxZ0bYqjt2Ad-BJNOi31-qYM3pqy5I6DvW1cE_Uoaf8kwKyWyrrM1C3znIVLxm1xLeCMkcNOaYWjSY0wz5Fjj9ISesTlgmVvaPUTH-vyyNfk/s640/blogger-image--890359919.jpg"></a></div></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; "><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; "><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOhEdghRimfUi4hisS6aQpigEHJcRy4r9QA7CyG2wP3tYqnmYzmuWqJwS62-81DwS1mFKyO1uMjfdluupZrI_ns7HWou7leo7ecntJS2jisRlnThEd7j-X39hj-c8suHdS0-9vg1cvYgY/s640/blogger-image-1995621565.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOhEdghRimfUi4hisS6aQpigEHJcRy4r9QA7CyG2wP3tYqnmYzmuWqJwS62-81DwS1mFKyO1uMjfdluupZrI_ns7HWou7leo7ecntJS2jisRlnThEd7j-X39hj-c8suHdS0-9vg1cvYgY/s640/blogger-image-1995621565.jpg"></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; "><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; "><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRDfDrckTIwnkiHYveN1RuGC646W3PqAjY-g9i__g5qzvlV7GQ-QHOYwBmSCmlfQvNaUnRs8jsDhzA4i_uVFDKEBBbfbNqW34alSnuyR3f5AqX0a8Q4NNI_tqqLDRHPiyeVSGzScefhf0/s640/blogger-image--1725788073.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRDfDrckTIwnkiHYveN1RuGC646W3PqAjY-g9i__g5qzvlV7GQ-QHOYwBmSCmlfQvNaUnRs8jsDhzA4i_uVFDKEBBbfbNqW34alSnuyR3f5AqX0a8Q4NNI_tqqLDRHPiyeVSGzScefhf0/s640/blogger-image--1725788073.jpg"></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; ">A church in the red light district</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; "><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div></div></div></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03580356548298261458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8012422406657732557.post-50119343245454672282013-09-29T01:46:00.001-07:002013-09-29T01:46:06.714-07:00Going DutchJean devised a walking tour which we followed today. We started on the Herengracht. First, we went looking for West India House, the headquarters of the Dutch West India Company, but we couldn't find it. Along Brouwersgracht, we saw old warehouses that have been turned into expensive apartments. <div><br></div><div>Soon, we passed under the Noorderkerk, or North Church, where we found a lively market. We kept walking, all the while the scenery staying very much the same. In fact, you could easily get lost in Amsterdam. Everywhere you go, Elm trees line the canals, crude old bikes by the million are chained to railings along the canals and on the bridges, boats and barges sail along the canals contentedly, and it doesn't change wherever you go. </div><div><br></div><div>All the while you really have to have your wits about you. When crossing the street, it's easy enough to watch out for cars, and motor bikes' engines always herald their approach. But push bikes blend into the periphery. You don't hear them coming, and you could easily collide with one. Along the Keizersgracht, a slow-moving horse and cart annoyed drivers behind, and then push bikes behind the drivers decided to use the footpath. I nearly became a casualty.</div><div><br></div><div>At one point, we found ourselves again on the Prinsengracht, the site of the Anne Frank House. I realised that Ann's hiding place was and is in the shadow of a tall church that offers views far and wide. I could see what Ann missed out on, being cooped up at the end of summer. Going for walks along the canals like we were doing, the sun glistening in the water. She would have liked that.</div><div><br></div><div>Along the Herengracht, we saw wealthy people's houses, saw the Museum Willet-Holthuysen, decorated in the style of Louis XIV. We finished up on the Amstel River. Around here are plenty of barges and houseboats. </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh85DJdBz6dF72ITbERD0HKTJr_1A6ZNQ0XxPUatJ56LHvJslaG02VRXNSgwXpKPJgYFC4fKxQe5Pd1p925p1T5cqnhBBYIhyphenhyphenqMEopSSF40DzhEnzduWJM7lRfE4nfeqU0kf2sMJY5B_yQ/s640/blogger-image--603476624.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh85DJdBz6dF72ITbERD0HKTJr_1A6ZNQ0XxPUatJ56LHvJslaG02VRXNSgwXpKPJgYFC4fKxQe5Pd1p925p1T5cqnhBBYIhyphenhyphenqMEopSSF40DzhEnzduWJM7lRfE4nfeqU0kf2sMJY5B_yQ/s640/blogger-image--603476624.jpg"></a></div>On the river Amstel are many house boats and barges...</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv-CF3LSzUq-DcQIqio5ZA5IQ2rpcW7-XuMHE5jy0bIHyVpgXHRGU_eCUV357kTNea382TELtLz4aZvKrZZ-tQ1z6OdHp1UpE4RJR66f49vKJYN1qtsFmzuDMhfick8AGyhoXffABOjW4/s640/blogger-image--2102034764.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv-CF3LSzUq-DcQIqio5ZA5IQ2rpcW7-XuMHE5jy0bIHyVpgXHRGU_eCUV357kTNea382TELtLz4aZvKrZZ-tQ1z6OdHp1UpE4RJR66f49vKJYN1qtsFmzuDMhfick8AGyhoXffABOjW4/s640/blogger-image--2102034764.jpg"></a></div>The Skinny Bridge is on the Amstel.</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjNL7Cmq7u4ucoa8NIZG0UvOvf3hk_0H9-6hNOCxfiqJhaQ7Mg1EEqe_DHTCmmrNald5Y8M04wr4GoynqtXhoGCqguFUHD0B1vFVfYlcIDD8ug3tU1cNZo2ce4GB0PhKLAu_9jPaOul5E/s640/blogger-image--1360758634.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjNL7Cmq7u4ucoa8NIZG0UvOvf3hk_0H9-6hNOCxfiqJhaQ7Mg1EEqe_DHTCmmrNald5Y8M04wr4GoynqtXhoGCqguFUHD0B1vFVfYlcIDD8ug3tU1cNZo2ce4GB0PhKLAu_9jPaOul5E/s640/blogger-image--1360758634.jpg"></a></div>Amstel is also the name of a Dutch beer.</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLfFRrjaSKe3eb-sCdKNF0Hpnuy9D6yJ8q5VCTAdFheX72sOF67_uCDrsdnoIbfYbsjZVqesjh5aBTHx27Eapd9WrB6SIk6Fa6ei9hWpkCV96u7RmahSpQXtb5AyzZUYho0uffKNotkTc/s640/blogger-image-345493413.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLfFRrjaSKe3eb-sCdKNF0Hpnuy9D6yJ8q5VCTAdFheX72sOF67_uCDrsdnoIbfYbsjZVqesjh5aBTHx27Eapd9WrB6SIk6Fa6ei9hWpkCV96u7RmahSpQXtb5AyzZUYho0uffKNotkTc/s640/blogger-image-345493413.jpg"></a></div>The market beneath the Noorderkerk</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div></div></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03580356548298261458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8012422406657732557.post-25093355371783099262013-09-27T10:57:00.001-07:002013-09-28T03:11:37.321-07:00Tripping around AmsterdamWe've spent an excellent couple of days with our friends, Ann and Barry from Wales here in Amsterdam. A short time ago, we saw them off at the airport. But, meanwhile, Jean and I are here for another couple of days.<div><br></div><div>Yesterday morning, we visited the Anne Frank House on Prinsengracht. Then we paid 22 € each to hop on and hop off the canal boats for 24 hours. We sailed down the canals, getting off at one point to have lunch. After an amount of walking round, during which Ann nearly got killed a few times by roaring-past bicycles, we found a sex museum, and went in for a look. In Amsterdam, if it's not drugs, it's sex. The sex museum contains many sordid images throughout, as well as ribald displays, sexy statues, a myriad of gadgets and souvenirs. The images and displays etc depict not only the present but particularly centuries gone by.</div><div><br></div><div>After dark, we strolled through the red light district. It was an eye opener. Beneath the soft red glow of horizontal fluorescent light tubes, a red curtain covers a rectangular space the size of a doorway. This usually means a sex worker is inside with a client. Otherwise, a near naked young lady stands in the space for all passers by to see, standing in wait for patronage. One near naked lady after the other. The four of us continued through the red light district for some time. Ann noticed that some of the young women were pretty. Indeed, one stereotype of sex workers is that they are older, that sex is their only job, and they are somewhat worn. To me, from the neck up, some of these young women looked strangely normal, as if by day they could be an office clerk, or a receptionist in a hotel.</div><div><br></div><div>This morning, the four of us met in Ann and Barry's hotel, the Tulip Inn, for breakfast. Afterwards, we hit the canals again, sailing to the Tulip Markets where Ann bought some tulip bulbs to take home. Soon, we walked to an area known as The Nine Streets, where there is a famous chocolaterie. We each had a cake and coffee, and boarded the boats again. Amsterdam is a bit like Venice only far less water. We heard the canals are three metres deep: one metre of water, <span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">one metre of mud, and one metre of bicycles. Fifty thousand bicycles a</span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; ">re stolen in Amsterdam each year. Throughout the Netherlands, the figure is three quarters of a million.</span></div><div><br></div><div>We had some lunch at the Cafe Heffer, retrieved Ann and Barry's luggage from their hotel, and accompanied them to the airport.</div><div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJM_SFSlp7MgmPiV3rvhuXtYaCMf24c7nPeO_Q95e9Q1nEH8JLrVodkfRhpKxSPugjGeVCJS2I0GFk7vTdEiOsYyp-mhRYGRfkB_jYTpQ6wvgvcUvL2ye5eJ_PWj9MBEXeTxrt8YU48M0/s640/blogger-image--1073599531.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJM_SFSlp7MgmPiV3rvhuXtYaCMf24c7nPeO_Q95e9Q1nEH8JLrVodkfRhpKxSPugjGeVCJS2I0GFk7vTdEiOsYyp-mhRYGRfkB_jYTpQ6wvgvcUvL2ye5eJ_PWj9MBEXeTxrt8YU48M0/s640/blogger-image--1073599531.jpg"></a></div>Jean, Ann and Barry in Amsterdam</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiL5yGhqiEtnVc7_hsKivx8NzwZRoVSBZnLNfOifUX_aE4SLYEaO4b_e2zkE2ScCMlf-iIynjSdYokGwPcqW-JQxxvFYBMwuh_K-sQoW5dd9qYd9dOMKMSpvBAm5RftsBumsjsXGQaiEU/s640/blogger-image--1817565418.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiL5yGhqiEtnVc7_hsKivx8NzwZRoVSBZnLNfOifUX_aE4SLYEaO4b_e2zkE2ScCMlf-iIynjSdYokGwPcqW-JQxxvFYBMwuh_K-sQoW5dd9qYd9dOMKMSpvBAm5RftsBumsjsXGQaiEU/s640/blogger-image--1817565418.jpg"></a></div>There are many curious looking bikes in Amsterdam.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioshTubvw2g2rF4c1PTfGXGfLlS7WP6On2ZnQk0gi_CO132vgdaav2_45OPgQoom061a4chWOpg5yzJM_wh1erRbxa8fUnguF3wcUc7cauVCX9cbKfRWc2etcXlLe7Ell-ltjOl5w0YBA/s640/blogger-image-1011120857.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioshTubvw2g2rF4c1PTfGXGfLlS7WP6On2ZnQk0gi_CO132vgdaav2_45OPgQoom061a4chWOpg5yzJM_wh1erRbxa8fUnguF3wcUc7cauVCX9cbKfRWc2etcXlLe7Ell-ltjOl5w0YBA/s640/blogger-image-1011120857.jpg"></a></div>Barry inspects the bike, and advised this one has drum brakes..from around the time of the Second World War.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOG51BZooW34JT0Ol5TkrRJoNrcf-6pL5WVZh9cODVsp3cBaFe8_QHlVUtyehQCIDDcnDW3EMa-fCzbBCo3Nr-WKvm77sFFcKJHBNyhm4HTicSVLBiVHLMPjAwtYottJmL1iNmRBLK5qU/s640/blogger-image--2010677243.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOG51BZooW34JT0Ol5TkrRJoNrcf-6pL5WVZh9cODVsp3cBaFe8_QHlVUtyehQCIDDcnDW3EMa-fCzbBCo3Nr-WKvm77sFFcKJHBNyhm4HTicSVLBiVHLMPjAwtYottJmL1iNmRBLK5qU/s640/blogger-image--2010677243.jpg"></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">We went on boat trips....</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO2CPhuZSugIFOrpMbr-Yt1VMs3i8TAHBUnAFPOrO33EmUg1fpp8IC5fmOWlP2WMl-Id3ghCHegsaCqSEWZ4_NU3ZMQAX_SH_IvSQGfjTZcTqjdB6i3chdnR_KF7a3KmpAeEjmnFe1h0Y/s640/blogger-image-958760627.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO2CPhuZSugIFOrpMbr-Yt1VMs3i8TAHBUnAFPOrO33EmUg1fpp8IC5fmOWlP2WMl-Id3ghCHegsaCqSEWZ4_NU3ZMQAX_SH_IvSQGfjTZcTqjdB6i3chdnR_KF7a3KmpAeEjmnFe1h0Y/s640/blogger-image-958760627.jpg"></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">...along the canals..</div></div></div></div></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkJkmd9rlt910V79HBDkxDoUs_7PRQzAHB7jBEIITF27JQ_k-IY6l6WmITfDarwmtL_J3y8cKBw3lZf24ipXIS9nTOKp_68Nu1PsV6PzsKtQZeD_ecUlG7cRemxJUqnapqoCwWte2TzY4/s640/blogger-image-2123940167.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkJkmd9rlt910V79HBDkxDoUs_7PRQzAHB7jBEIITF27JQ_k-IY6l6WmITfDarwmtL_J3y8cKBw3lZf24ipXIS9nTOKp_68Nu1PsV6PzsKtQZeD_ecUlG7cRemxJUqnapqoCwWte2TzY4/s640/blogger-image-2123940167.jpg"></a></div></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); clear: both; "><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicdWMEmpXlnJbKNQfxVVSLXiAbdcgwChY8saA5R_f4IkCgaiiP6BV3rypqFRBw9JSU4lvoLsFBDE5Gds55i_8GMznmYnuebkiENl3Rgudc_lMVniNSCBFZ3bVRIo9edX3hEYQMmEUCDZM/s640/blogger-image--896301709.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; "><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicdWMEmpXlnJbKNQfxVVSLXiAbdcgwChY8saA5R_f4IkCgaiiP6BV3rypqFRBw9JSU4lvoLsFBDE5Gds55i_8GMznmYnuebkiENl3Rgudc_lMVniNSCBFZ3bVRIo9edX3hEYQMmEUCDZM/s640/blogger-image--896301709.jpg"></a></div><div>Bikes are everywhere.</div><div><div class="separator" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); clear: both; "><div class="separator" style="clear: both; "><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1_dkvIT81AE6aC0L1hKFGwcK2IzoY44SRhJDPm2NxoYcNIQihz7G1eJj9zd8rs5LbGwvnkNyl02r3-xPBSebkHVCLdU8kcM0KEYQAhrG54uv8R4UYgBw4TeihteSPIJONcwIhKQ8HUXo/s640/blogger-image--1959820377.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; "><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1_dkvIT81AE6aC0L1hKFGwcK2IzoY44SRhJDPm2NxoYcNIQihz7G1eJj9zd8rs5LbGwvnkNyl02r3-xPBSebkHVCLdU8kcM0KEYQAhrG54uv8R4UYgBw4TeihteSPIJONcwIhKQ8HUXo/s640/blogger-image--1959820377.jpg"></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); clear: both; "><div class="separator" style="clear: both; ">We visited the sex museum.</div></div><div class="separator" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); clear: both; "><div class="separator" style="clear: both; "><div class="separator" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); clear: both; "><div class="separator" style="clear: both; "><div class="separator" style="clear: both; "><div class="separator" style="clear: both; "><div class="separator" style="clear: both; "><div class="separator" style="clear: both; "><div class="separator" style="clear: both; "><div class="separator" style="clear: both; "><div class="separator" style="clear: both; "><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo2elWsSCCTKS_8GsoiwMP-pTatyK76UpZr76vTzYpTGG-Z6LDrSTToH8r_ybWzQjKmMx1mYuNMBrjwWn9ycHYqsj745osiWe7nJ_fQd2x3Wj3AuWItUJsVhn9Jo3Jnk0jLIQxGle7OQw/s640/blogger-image-838345446.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; "><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo2elWsSCCTKS_8GsoiwMP-pTatyK76UpZr76vTzYpTGG-Z6LDrSTToH8r_ybWzQjKmMx1mYuNMBrjwWn9ycHYqsj745osiWe7nJ_fQd2x3Wj3AuWItUJsVhn9Jo3Jnk0jLIQxGle7OQw/s640/blogger-image-838345446.jpg"></a></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; "><div class="separator" style="clear: both; ">On the way into the sex museum...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; "><div class="separator" style="clear: both; "><div class="separator" style="clear: both; "><div class="separator" style="clear: both; "><div class="separator" style="clear: both; "><div class="separator" style="clear: both; "><div class="separator" style="clear: both; "><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkCz5DBfA78QQgux8AOCzY8xT32W8Yvxu_4KR-pc0hk9COEhyphenhyphenm88C5qzRBdreW_7hTHrlMu4SrJWu4O0WHBt8wPQE4Qx5AFXkdZvB1B1zfsRRak3TJkVEwZYslW9LYgCupu_JgguXWT4g/s640/blogger-image--826573959.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; "><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkCz5DBfA78QQgux8AOCzY8xT32W8Yvxu_4KR-pc0hk9COEhyphenhyphenm88C5qzRBdreW_7hTHrlMu4SrJWu4O0WHBt8wPQE4Qx5AFXkdZvB1B1zfsRRak3TJkVEwZYslW9LYgCupu_JgguXWT4g/s640/blogger-image--826573959.jpg"></a></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; ">In the red light district..behind these curtains are sex workers.</div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-y0Hy06xu52CSNbowf3KM2fzAfpHhUP_bSdIpspgUBKt6b41I65ayUZNqPnwI3cUQ8veP7QeNOdtMbOz7hWA7aOi1cGFBM8DkSwWXZ7cYoA-KnHDog1BKHny7E7t-XMq7XCcX8nXhM_I/s640/blogger-image--1014977243.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-y0Hy06xu52CSNbowf3KM2fzAfpHhUP_bSdIpspgUBKt6b41I65ayUZNqPnwI3cUQ8veP7QeNOdtMbOz7hWA7aOi1cGFBM8DkSwWXZ7cYoA-KnHDog1BKHny7E7t-XMq7XCcX8nXhM_I/s640/blogger-image--1014977243.jpg"></a></div>In the window of a tobacco shop..</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik1n1ha5OlNUcHSk1KT-L4ow6hXiw1Kr9doH9UH2aEwHsHptSMaMywxni_4AR6TNyf2pOrO011g5GnHesJho64hnjSOXLZSzoyzNfchvohrtsB5cYj7koV5XgUwY7GXvZPi0TOAbuoSVE/s640/blogger-image--684783907.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik1n1ha5OlNUcHSk1KT-L4ow6hXiw1Kr9doH9UH2aEwHsHptSMaMywxni_4AR6TNyf2pOrO011g5GnHesJho64hnjSOXLZSzoyzNfchvohrtsB5cYj7koV5XgUwY7GXvZPi0TOAbuoSVE/s640/blogger-image--684783907.jpg"></a></div>Ann and Jean</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFtUqtJqMwuTu4NSWnNVtI-jzNfr9lrid_76KawxXyJdRC5M0Pc-D1VaqUtYf3Sphjg0XGiKr-8P5gtsMUu7LGcEKSi9GY-xo4Gy-bRxjUkHH28-GZKB_q5LgfwE61W8e-MPIvxXgoZfI/s640/blogger-image--2138243691.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFtUqtJqMwuTu4NSWnNVtI-jzNfr9lrid_76KawxXyJdRC5M0Pc-D1VaqUtYf3Sphjg0XGiKr-8P5gtsMUu7LGcEKSi9GY-xo4Gy-bRxjUkHH28-GZKB_q5LgfwE61W8e-MPIvxXgoZfI/s640/blogger-image--2138243691.jpg"></a></div>We say goodbye to Ann and Barry at Amsterdam Airport.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); "><div><br></div></div><div style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); "><div class="separator" style="clear: both; "><br></div></div></div></div></div></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03580356548298261458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8012422406657732557.post-12320952527121879632013-09-27T10:37:00.001-07:002013-10-12T00:35:45.225-07:00Secret Annexe: The Diary of Anne Frank<div>For several kilometres, an Amsterdam canal runs parallel with a street known as Prinsengracht. At one point, an unassuming looking building peers down onto the canal as do all the other buildings. Inside this very ordinary-looking building, a Jewish family hid from the Nazis for more than two years during the Second World War. They were the Frank family, originally from Germany, but settled for some years in Holland to evade Nazi persecution. Otto Frank, the father, had his business here. He and his wife, Edith, had two daughters, the youngest being Anne, a girl who was given a diary as a 13th birthday present. She began to write in it straight away. Shortly afterwards, the family began their period of hiding in a part of the building not easily detectable from the outside. The entrance to their hiding place was concealed by a movable cupboard.</div><div><br></div><div>I read 'The Diary of Anne Frank' many years ago. I found it moving, as, no doubt, many millions of others have done. Every day, hundreds queue outside to visit the 'secret annexe', in which a total of eight people lived (the four others were Jewish acquaintances), and where, on 4 August 1944, they were finally betrayed. Anne and her sister perished in Bergen-Belsen concentration camp around April 1945. Their mother died in Auschwitz. Only Anne's father survived the war. Otto Frank took a long time to read his dead daughter's diary. Finally, he got it published, and 263 Prinsengracht became a museum in honour of Anne, her family, and all victims of the Holocaust. Otto Frank insisted the rooms remain empty to represent the eternal void left behind by the millions of people who were deported and never returned.</div><div><br></div><div>When I read Anne's diary, I felt she conveyed so brilliantly the agony of her circumstances. The words on her pages spirited me back to that time and into her hiding place. I felt that the secret annexe was a stifling central core, where eight cooped up individuals got on each other's nerves, surrounded by a frightening and sinister world that threatened to invade and drag them away. I could appreciate the day-to-day grind of the ongoing occupation. I gained an inescapable sense of Anne's family's daily realities, the heavy burdens they carried, and the enormous pressures of a war that seemed never to end.</div><div><br></div><div>Anne's dream was to become not only a journalist, but a famous writer. She was inspired by a Dutch Government Minister-in exile in London who called on the Dutch people to preserve any diaries or other documents that demonstrated conditions under German occupation, and which could go on record after the war. Tragically, Anne would not live. But in death her dream would come true.</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); clear: both; "><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZMLdF-s5UNuBds_rA22f63Tr5utpkaSGxsp1BDKjEuFe8atjT7J-aYB0XS5khkmRaxpsJdgsVljTF5b5UzrQS8O77uXo4P1FZXo2brmmUAhE_dEAZgu86mxqjrciGahQOqNA5olakwzI/s640/blogger-image-394509766.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; "><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZMLdF-s5UNuBds_rA22f63Tr5utpkaSGxsp1BDKjEuFe8atjT7J-aYB0XS5khkmRaxpsJdgsVljTF5b5UzrQS8O77uXo4P1FZXo2brmmUAhE_dEAZgu86mxqjrciGahQOqNA5olakwzI/s640/blogger-image-394509766.jpg"></a></div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); ">263 Prinsengracht, where Anne Frank and her family hid from the Nazis for more than two years</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0Pcatj89haVxqUUMtbldKLiPTvcVik2mlGUxEWpA7ivgfJtfblAEL1elpZmJqsHeFWoYy0nakAwx229KNHBCshlYX4BiFvhQiunuDCNB43EI9AsMA74YEGLPbJdw0NXLOJdZG1QlHruo/s640/blogger-image--343567631.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0Pcatj89haVxqUUMtbldKLiPTvcVik2mlGUxEWpA7ivgfJtfblAEL1elpZmJqsHeFWoYy0nakAwx229KNHBCshlYX4BiFvhQiunuDCNB43EI9AsMA74YEGLPbJdw0NXLOJdZG1QlHruo/s640/blogger-image--343567631.jpg"></a></div>Anne's hiding place looks down on <span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); ">the canal and the buildings opposite.</span></div><div><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggB3mVvHQvU_qHEo5hZCzAbJnKM-U4WSDGX1PDpFgQklM5mUrHclbNYTfBIcUlvpeXqdhVNwdcyJ5Riz6nLmXVEJWc2hcT7X-ciLObjsTS2t1Alg8iKqSQPl3g7EMl9i5A1OztcVCONB4/s640/blogger-image-1173659045.jpg" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); "></div><div>Part of the queue that waits to see the Secret Annexe.</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFdxJz6KJL144cvJ0s9vnXrs_yDtliFzjVwlyQbOybmn8eq2ewl7rlT2BhAN_3qtrtGmHNZc_N2Y1ZpWkCw3GhUm7Pt2h5l39gJTZkku6f3sy99ta3zIV9YzcaETMYpKoJiaNLQl5Fh94/s640/blogger-image--854920265.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFdxJz6KJL144cvJ0s9vnXrs_yDtliFzjVwlyQbOybmn8eq2ewl7rlT2BhAN_3qtrtGmHNZc_N2Y1ZpWkCw3GhUm7Pt2h5l39gJTZkku6f3sy99ta3zIV9YzcaETMYpKoJiaNLQl5Fh94/s640/blogger-image--854920265.jpg"></a></div>Anne Frank (1929-1945) wanted to become a famous writer. Her dream was fulfilled, but she did not live to see it.</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguRtJyC9bj4y2lDaVOcH0lvIDPtURmwKVul08t-PhnxCv5tuh5r3IwtaSZl3FqJYWAS6JpErFuhaS7wFxeHBRbhJJRob5BSgKy04qyBLyj2yRS-GO34SlJJhsTPWGIh5u_uA8H9Ub-esY/s640/blogger-image-1309423617.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguRtJyC9bj4y2lDaVOcH0lvIDPtURmwKVul08t-PhnxCv5tuh5r3IwtaSZl3FqJYWAS6JpErFuhaS7wFxeHBRbhJJRob5BSgKy04qyBLyj2yRS-GO34SlJJhsTPWGIh5u_uA8H9Ub-esY/s640/blogger-image-1309423617.jpg"></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Anne Frank House stands as a reminder to the horrors of war, prejudice, and xenophobia.</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMOqfRzhhX3M_861zyyTSOkMp3IUaDJM5EiNtoK15R8-OtyaQN4idw0c4hZL3pdGaXA4_onao8x1qhBdvs3PQD_yu4LLm_V5HmUaeebnGdxSA8BnrsXIuYm0N4uio-ztWy1GbQ61bEZ98/s640/blogger-image--1846956619.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMOqfRzhhX3M_861zyyTSOkMp3IUaDJM5EiNtoK15R8-OtyaQN4idw0c4hZL3pdGaXA4_onao8x1qhBdvs3PQD_yu4LLm_V5HmUaeebnGdxSA8BnrsXIuYm0N4uio-ztWy1GbQ61bEZ98/s640/blogger-image--1846956619.jpg"></a></div>Of the three doorways at back of photo, Anne sits in the space of the left-hand doorway, surrounded by her classmates. Nine of them perished in the camps as she did.</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqbYMGmwQOZkSjZMd7zPRvfaxSXAdZEryoMQJgRpLAXj8OGApA9AZRuxEFKVz0ogZudnH698YtzOSzayIjX8sxoU2aUBZu0pb0Wcyld_FfmKI0tzFljPj-ETwAvDjo5AVvhxBpLV8aKUo/s640/blogger-image-966206037.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqbYMGmwQOZkSjZMd7zPRvfaxSXAdZEryoMQJgRpLAXj8OGApA9AZRuxEFKVz0ogZudnH698YtzOSzayIjX8sxoU2aUBZu0pb0Wcyld_FfmKI0tzFljPj-ETwAvDjo5AVvhxBpLV8aKUo/s640/blogger-image-966206037.jpg"></a></div></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Anne Frank captured the hearts of people the world over, who flock to visit her 'secret annexe'.</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div></div></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03580356548298261458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8012422406657732557.post-73194458552864908682013-09-25T23:34:00.001-07:002013-09-26T08:51:13.045-07:00Amsterdam<div>We arrived in the Netherlands yesterday, the land of the windmill, clogs, tulips, and the push-bike, reaching Amsterdam at 5. We're staying in the red light district at the Christopher Inn, next door to Nelly's Irish pub, which is one down from the strip club.</div><div><br></div><div>Amsterdam is a big joint. Meant in the drug sense. The place is humming with that smell...you know the one I mean. On the way to our hostel, we realised the place is teaming with the worship of drugs and sex. There are sex shops here, with a range of items to choose from. There are coffee shops, where you don't necessarily get coffee. And there are massage parlours, which apparently finish off with a happy ending. Our hostel looks like a dive, although comfortable. It, too, has that smell...you know the one I mean. In our room, a spaced out-looking bare-breasted woman peers down on us from the wall. In our bathroom, a light is fitted to the ceiling, but no light switch can be found. It's as if they're saying 'hey man, so long as you've got weed to smoke, who cares about light switches?'</div><div><br></div><div>We caught up with our friends, Ann and Barry who flew over from Wales. We had a few beers and then dinner. While we were eating in the restaurant, Barry spotted a mouse running along the skirting board.</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvPAoInvB_9hxjMx9IDdI8_iRL5-fP2F0TlmgpTom3YJARwc7mBiDvZ3zF97_AL6emUCP2QROOPGd1zugLsPtuDtr7xKjJyy5pQxz2nm3ShOh-KcXdUVScgQ9GTI9_kAMbBE2ysJnTCgo/s640/blogger-image-11333186.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvPAoInvB_9hxjMx9IDdI8_iRL5-fP2F0TlmgpTom3YJARwc7mBiDvZ3zF97_AL6emUCP2QROOPGd1zugLsPtuDtr7xKjJyy5pQxz2nm3ShOh-KcXdUVScgQ9GTI9_kAMbBE2ysJnTCgo/s640/blogger-image-11333186.jpg"></a></div>Holland is known for the windmill.</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS_s_WySpyM9iUAqK0oiFNRv1jccg_WWtCTdes32OOGhuds3aD6b6JqJeTgMgkg6Ud5cxk5-yNgyxzLIPj41dWiW1XdP4kgJDFsXoBhvvF-nQnBsH8_hSPVulbBkMq42XTd65vBPHn4A4/s640/blogger-image-579369825.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS_s_WySpyM9iUAqK0oiFNRv1jccg_WWtCTdes32OOGhuds3aD6b6JqJeTgMgkg6Ud5cxk5-yNgyxzLIPj41dWiW1XdP4kgJDFsXoBhvvF-nQnBsH8_hSPVulbBkMq42XTd65vBPHn4A4/s640/blogger-image-579369825.jpg"></a></div>Amsterdam Central Station.</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf7gWplk0XPGhyf7nOouqrvjTJVOYURIsAdYYOPr8dsR115_c9Rong8LfL5IVjgrgv91Raf3gooa1jEekVwGx4nfXHB2VMlryjD338rbhqkRnQh2ZODFH39kBnFXSA_9xF-MocQdKiBZg/s640/blogger-image-438135965.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf7gWplk0XPGhyf7nOouqrvjTJVOYURIsAdYYOPr8dsR115_c9Rong8LfL5IVjgrgv91Raf3gooa1jEekVwGx4nfXHB2VMlryjD338rbhqkRnQh2ZODFH39kBnFXSA_9xF-MocQdKiBZg/s640/blogger-image-438135965.jpg"></a></div>It's a land of many bikes.</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGwII9BJfqFhSKT_9zPA4xfXyseH9AAr8w0Sp82Q4TbsAUc6z5uVhN0wbsITV75gSg5NNgHBdbbdQHy9kTtV5GPbyfxgvLPJEy2ezkI2jqQncuvovhyphenhyphenf60cvozRvyQQEQcsmSqY7Mn2kA/s640/blogger-image--834019947.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGwII9BJfqFhSKT_9zPA4xfXyseH9AAr8w0Sp82Q4TbsAUc6z5uVhN0wbsITV75gSg5NNgHBdbbdQHy9kTtV5GPbyfxgvLPJEy2ezkI2jqQncuvovhyphenhyphenf60cvozRvyQQEQcsmSqY7Mn2kA/s640/blogger-image--834019947.jpg"></a></div>A street in Amsterdam</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaCETIu6GQuqGv0emjhQTSfzz8eMZX7FB1CtZyK4ix677zDgUus-HW5Y-3GMN9FYFEyyzR4CeCBswN7ndok_5ifygastTeTXYYdxRithX4S4fylRTHf5P0md43e-eErcwVp2oZKEurna8/s640/blogger-image-1503082905.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaCETIu6GQuqGv0emjhQTSfzz8eMZX7FB1CtZyK4ix677zDgUus-HW5Y-3GMN9FYFEyyzR4CeCBswN7ndok_5ifygastTeTXYYdxRithX4S4fylRTHf5P0md43e-eErcwVp2oZKEurna8/s640/blogger-image-1503082905.jpg"></a></div></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">An Amsterdam condomerie</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9naCu0fAMYEOjkFiIYEpC3O8ONPB8YnFdC9H7bmbDnAH7WfuY0kf_wLAWD2lsxpDdkuh5TLleKAOT0i68-0Mi33yePw1h3Vt_8lILTfVcTl4JASvWq1rL5e2hOQFu8j7hAWEEUFsdh4s/s640/blogger-image-24578970.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9naCu0fAMYEOjkFiIYEpC3O8ONPB8YnFdC9H7bmbDnAH7WfuY0kf_wLAWD2lsxpDdkuh5TLleKAOT0i68-0Mi33yePw1h3Vt_8lILTfVcTl4JASvWq1rL5e2hOQFu8j7hAWEEUFsdh4s/s640/blogger-image-24578970.jpg"></a></div>Cannabis is celebrated here.</div></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03580356548298261458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8012422406657732557.post-74360251673063339092013-09-25T09:38:00.001-07:002013-09-25T09:41:03.861-07:00Alwine Hedwig KortumThis is a blog post of an irregular kind. I want to know if anyone out there has any information about an ancestor of mine called Alwine Hedwig Kortum. <div><br></div><div>She was born in Saxony, Germany, in 1831, and died in Serbia in 1898. She was married to Eduard Justus Thode and gave birth to, in total, eight children, one of which was my great-grandfather, Felix. Alwine was one of five children. She went to live in Serbia around 1877, and it is understood she died there in a place called Semlin. Whilst in Serbia, we believe she lived at least initially with her sister and military officer brother-in-law. She may have lived later with strangers.</div><div><br></div><div>Last year, like this year, I travelled to Europe, pursuing family history research, and wrote a blog. Last year, by good fortune, a distant relative in Finland with a significant body of family history information, who was previously unknown to me, found my blog and contacted me. It would be great to have similar good luck this year. So, if someone out there, anywhere in the world, has information about my ancestor (whether names, dates, addresses, photographs, documents, her final resting place, or whatever), especially information that relates to her time in Serbia, please leave a comment on my blog, and give me your contact details.</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03580356548298261458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8012422406657732557.post-49593968690805981822013-09-25T08:57:00.001-07:002013-09-25T08:57:27.158-07:00Family reunion in Detmold<div>On Sunday night, Renate, Jean and I arrived in Köln (Cologne). The following morning, we had enough time to visit the <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; ">Kölnerdom (Cologne Cathedral). The Cathedral is among the most impressive cathedrals in Europe. You can believe us...we've seen a few! The intricate detail of the exterior is worth seeing. I'm glad the Allies never bombed it during the war.</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">We boarded a train, and travelled to Detmold, where we were met at the station by Renate's mum, Elfriede, and sister, Christine. Christine is my co-conspirator in family history research. Afterwards, we met their dad, Ernst. It was great to see them all again. They took us home, and, after we'd settled in, we took a look around the garden, where the family has a walnut tree. Soon, we had a walk in the village, and returned home for dinner. </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Yesterday morning, we all went to the Hermannsdenkmal, a tall statue near Detmold roughly 100 metres tall of a man called Hermann. Hermann lived around 2,000 years ago, and he and a band of others won a famous battle against the invading Romans. The monument was erected in the 19th century. Ernst related the story of how, during the Third Reich, Hitler's deputy Hermann Göring came here and joked about how nice it was that the locals should erect a monument to him (Göring). On a more serious level, at that time, the Nazis exploited the existence of this memorial, holding it up as an example of Germany's perennial greatness. To this day, no one is sure where that ancient battle really took place. Some claim it was in Osnabrück. But Ernst insists it was in Detmold. I'll bet he's right.</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Later, we visited the Freilichtmuseum. This is an outdoor museum covering many hectares, featuring the actual villages that rural people and poor people lived in in previous centuries. You can enter their houses, chapels, stables, schools and shops, and see how they lived, worked, learned, and worshipped. They grew vegetables, worked the land, kept horses and other animals. And life was hard. We were there for some hours, had a ride in a horse and carriage, and had a good look around.</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">This morning, Christine, Renate, Elfriede, Jean and I went into the town of Detmold itself. We walked all round, saw the castle briefly, the main street, the old city walls, and stopped for a coffee in a cafe. Soon, they took us to Detmold station, and waved us goodbye. We promised to return in a few years.</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">We are now bound for Amsterdam.</span></div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh0w1jftdKaDTmlKXtYaPyYC5GVA3bSyHUGwDtP32z3YdVoERxUlsrEsKr9-quF-iT37QlIrrYLmXEMFKdzu5_MKcDd0S_slntffk0jHkWOdmK8F8qKqYcuLj9JEHZHmkzNT7shvExuPE/s640/blogger-image--1530590831.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh0w1jftdKaDTmlKXtYaPyYC5GVA3bSyHUGwDtP32z3YdVoERxUlsrEsKr9-quF-iT37QlIrrYLmXEMFKdzu5_MKcDd0S_slntffk0jHkWOdmK8F8qKqYcuLj9JEHZHmkzNT7shvExuPE/s640/blogger-image--1530590831.jpg"></a></div></div>The Cologne Cathedral at night...</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVLwiXkW3fupjuTJGYAGK5BBJRfg27e3iJmwXq6wwL9xkh0kMm41OPxvdHVnhCgvkgqqkwNAcDHGHVQQBo3MhDWkA8NNYZD7likKONE3mRG-UaHMgPS3eYXpaEbVNT3BvL1V__LX16ZKg/s640/blogger-image-1039386104.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVLwiXkW3fupjuTJGYAGK5BBJRfg27e3iJmwXq6wwL9xkh0kMm41OPxvdHVnhCgvkgqqkwNAcDHGHVQQBo3MhDWkA8NNYZD7likKONE3mRG-UaHMgPS3eYXpaEbVNT3BvL1V__LX16ZKg/s640/blogger-image-1039386104.jpg"></a></div>...and in the daytime..</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAqZr0Oty8OBPX6u-KYo_f7kKEe7i7xv-itrayfQjfH5uL4xeE_xyoXb0aiKaL9gb2jtsZKFVcWjdMHGnP8QCKavh0b5PQUnK8wZLzNsjHp_P71tMzHltmulnnKcnqB8xihRQPutNc5P8/s640/blogger-image-172876463.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAqZr0Oty8OBPX6u-KYo_f7kKEe7i7xv-itrayfQjfH5uL4xeE_xyoXb0aiKaL9gb2jtsZKFVcWjdMHGnP8QCKavh0b5PQUnK8wZLzNsjHp_P71tMzHltmulnnKcnqB8xihRQPutNc5P8/s640/blogger-image-172876463.jpg"></a></div>Every square inch of the Cologne Cathedral has intricate detail.</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0VqHbkhsA90IbzUGbeK3DKBBWA1sKuxYoSFYgcGuBElgPwaU_pBLMPfbzaP70fb59uW_F5Fcs5GIFK8O2kP6nPLOheYy6TNJVpO1frWZ1R0svAPI6Ioj82Mav0T2MORK3mcQ6Lef46_I/s640/blogger-image-1109260669.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0VqHbkhsA90IbzUGbeK3DKBBWA1sKuxYoSFYgcGuBElgPwaU_pBLMPfbzaP70fb59uW_F5Fcs5GIFK8O2kP6nPLOheYy6TNJVpO1frWZ1R0svAPI6Ioj82Mav0T2MORK3mcQ6Lef46_I/s640/blogger-image-1109260669.jpg"></a></div></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">We arrived at Detmold...</div></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBi6wQByR71D4BAdpZrTi0SmCXq0wJO4QrqUHMZMFzfE-Mn_Hhseg1Nwczq4TbF9baTqJBOnn30IDmtoN0Hp6V9lwTe1ivMnXpVUE4-Df4XQeUuR53lG8FF62bWhuTBvNQqAdj36Bx6nY/s640/blogger-image-456551186.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBi6wQByR71D4BAdpZrTi0SmCXq0wJO4QrqUHMZMFzfE-Mn_Hhseg1Nwczq4TbF9baTqJBOnn30IDmtoN0Hp6V9lwTe1ivMnXpVUE4-Df4XQeUuR53lG8FF62bWhuTBvNQqAdj36Bx6nY/s640/blogger-image-456551186.jpg"></a></div>...where Christine's parents and Renate live...</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2O5E_a8bVTCCqwGWJhr7B-hFxkdFL5LeFTNMuC-4dUf5HQOgtOwmcoMDwRMdMvzRgLeXZEnT03mfsjyUwHr-lSJRiv0AksCnfFlt3nabWdiMnMe2SCBIb0qt5lsu-iRt6xAKbyYR4PO8/s640/blogger-image--2032068789.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2O5E_a8bVTCCqwGWJhr7B-hFxkdFL5LeFTNMuC-4dUf5HQOgtOwmcoMDwRMdMvzRgLeXZEnT03mfsjyUwHr-lSJRiv0AksCnfFlt3nabWdiMnMe2SCBIb0qt5lsu-iRt6xAKbyYR4PO8/s640/blogger-image--2032068789.jpg"></a></div>Christine is my co-conspirator in family history research.</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDNeA36TvIu5-aaVvR2U_uQPECWs_mZ7kXPyCnz5Bde3ojTlb44Y7HAHD2Kdp9gaq_MV2IF_5jWq5nkStdWStjZFMVpZMZ37jlYL262EjeA8-AC7s1uGjHKawcXFydEIHJXcJJ4iXEShU/s640/blogger-image--2038558877.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDNeA36TvIu5-aaVvR2U_uQPECWs_mZ7kXPyCnz5Bde3ojTlb44Y7HAHD2Kdp9gaq_MV2IF_5jWq5nkStdWStjZFMVpZMZ37jlYL262EjeA8-AC7s1uGjHKawcXFydEIHJXcJJ4iXEShU/s640/blogger-image--2038558877.jpg"></a></div>Christine and Renate are sisters, and are my third-cousins. We share common great-great-grandparents.</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH3K9GL4dLdJQVwduEnabR4Z1dDPC4YKLaWcOYGjP0LpuORkDHz6-e0cr70FWYc9yMBcPPCIN9pbNwniss0d_O-WECcO7gw-Ux1LzzpD6N_Qf9mmjv70cjIWBIEMGRJuedahJHqlOLT5Q/s640/blogger-image-539781315.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH3K9GL4dLdJQVwduEnabR4Z1dDPC4YKLaWcOYGjP0LpuORkDHz6-e0cr70FWYc9yMBcPPCIN9pbNwniss0d_O-WECcO7gw-Ux1LzzpD6N_Qf9mmjv70cjIWBIEMGRJuedahJHqlOLT5Q/s640/blogger-image-539781315.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">First, we looked around the garden..</div></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicbwRvXM_oY5tt1A-c_6DGl4soVaB8Eho-DC1OS8VBD3LYX_BAMyGxekTxb7esmnIlcowlMyPP1jO2deb9D_3T3ePWndIpFvyLgm-EcexHXQM8P0YF3lrTghDJibxTf44tPluHiKbgQjo/s640/blogger-image--1858641361.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicbwRvXM_oY5tt1A-c_6DGl4soVaB8Eho-DC1OS8VBD3LYX_BAMyGxekTxb7esmnIlcowlMyPP1jO2deb9D_3T3ePWndIpFvyLgm-EcexHXQM8P0YF3lrTghDJibxTf44tPluHiKbgQjo/s640/blogger-image--1858641361.jpg"></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">..and then saw a bit of the village..</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCdWA2PpVf8sl0ZR2sgpLJ0sJ2OCCRmi17J3q5b7Hruc1b5cFkBk3Wi_lx7Rmtnub5LLnvXcNGpgbzqTV3qbdLErU4q09xvdCas84VzaETSdNkz7qC4b_68N_Wp7zhsX6zfDT9okge0KE/s640/blogger-image--1939522838.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCdWA2PpVf8sl0ZR2sgpLJ0sJ2OCCRmi17J3q5b7Hruc1b5cFkBk3Wi_lx7Rmtnub5LLnvXcNGpgbzqTV3qbdLErU4q09xvdCas84VzaETSdNkz7qC4b_68N_Wp7zhsX6zfDT9okge0KE/s640/blogger-image--1939522838.jpg"></a></div>We visited the Hermannsdenkmal.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8EOy0mFIPmDn52ELO91EhfbEbD1jtLSOQRrMTXcONbe2Xyi3danzxux5FWoGS4cqZUZvnLnZpkFE46jIy-DaNve1au9RSmfxZwenywoaJJt4BvTJNLOcopBn0ucpq2ONle-OuBLvZPHk/s640/blogger-image-1577526362.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8EOy0mFIPmDn52ELO91EhfbEbD1jtLSOQRrMTXcONbe2Xyi3danzxux5FWoGS4cqZUZvnLnZpkFE46jIy-DaNve1au9RSmfxZwenywoaJJt4BvTJNLOcopBn0ucpq2ONle-OuBLvZPHk/s640/blogger-image-1577526362.jpg"></a></div>Hermann</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGiP6ID88052geriBDidmUUlo3ss_aX23AIa9Ct2-0HekYSe6FYTga_AcCwIK4xB2f7XUzXzYKPFi2-OmQ7-Na4okKglxbhB_y2XULvDISq_l2DBaR01DW5gOKL649wlL8LsGpYAqEzWc/s640/blogger-image-2131588598.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGiP6ID88052geriBDidmUUlo3ss_aX23AIa9Ct2-0HekYSe6FYTga_AcCwIK4xB2f7XUzXzYKPFi2-OmQ7-Na4okKglxbhB_y2XULvDISq_l2DBaR01DW5gOKL649wlL8LsGpYAqEzWc/s640/blogger-image-2131588598.jpg"></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The view from the Hermannsdenkmal to the path we came on. There was too much fog to see anything else.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmz8bntdzPDWAdLrsewrP6XNV4BUzqIjiEGGBOR3ymggpfRDHfKGht2xqvCfNt8w-zs2zxG2-yrfx-YAQN2ydxCK94GZOw2MxGgtY1t5lrVlLGMCSVy6r__01wynqWrZu9ZmcoKM_Xn9E/s640/blogger-image-1968126499.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmz8bntdzPDWAdLrsewrP6XNV4BUzqIjiEGGBOR3ymggpfRDHfKGht2xqvCfNt8w-zs2zxG2-yrfx-YAQN2ydxCK94GZOw2MxGgtY1t5lrVlLGMCSVy6r__01wynqWrZu9ZmcoKM_Xn9E/s640/blogger-image-1968126499.jpg"></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">We visited the Freilichtmuseum, where rural and poor people lived in previous centuries. We had a short ride in a horse-drawn carriage.</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYckZG-X__5uQYK_aSnWB_-6rpi0Envgh1Vy8DPa2-3WC75qu81c0V7gqq0Pe15bwKalCTvbOjO0CEk-k0WlfWJAgf8J3iY2Uks9tNmJq-2p3WsDRuMvfiL2E1M9NUXdi6unhKi4qHemo/s640/blogger-image--1437238309.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYckZG-X__5uQYK_aSnWB_-6rpi0Envgh1Vy8DPa2-3WC75qu81c0V7gqq0Pe15bwKalCTvbOjO0CEk-k0WlfWJAgf8J3iY2Uks9tNmJq-2p3WsDRuMvfiL2E1M9NUXdi6unhKi4qHemo/s640/blogger-image--1437238309.jpg"></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">People lived in houses of various shapes and sizes.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO7ZTzjKVG5ZM2cL2BLmQjOIP5i8cF4yYvlqcNBENjSX-yM4tF5KBHDLTDrzl7C_80Pp1ecn2T6aofrGuczjszuzVBdIdENl7rR6yvoSz-sYM6EZG4skvOtu8pp8JBkpXWjuoatyPnyoI/s640/blogger-image-1694143271.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO7ZTzjKVG5ZM2cL2BLmQjOIP5i8cF4yYvlqcNBENjSX-yM4tF5KBHDLTDrzl7C_80Pp1ecn2T6aofrGuczjszuzVBdIdENl7rR6yvoSz-sYM6EZG4skvOtu8pp8JBkpXWjuoatyPnyoI/s640/blogger-image-1694143271.jpg"></a></div>We also went into downtown Detmold.</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-iWgBMmrdFjjnFqbus9mTZk0FHsDzGtPzU9jdIUZjmSRIhKLBzXL_sKtxhnsFUkToxv520TLbmFPJz2wPuUDoNOmYoKN00j5I4ixbg1hyK1Z5jQykWMUr4AS7g6s3AHtOTnaz1VUuOko/s640/blogger-image-2025449335.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-iWgBMmrdFjjnFqbus9mTZk0FHsDzGtPzU9jdIUZjmSRIhKLBzXL_sKtxhnsFUkToxv520TLbmFPJz2wPuUDoNOmYoKN00j5I4ixbg1hyK1Z5jQykWMUr4AS7g6s3AHtOTnaz1VUuOko/s640/blogger-image-2025449335.jpg"></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Detmold Castle</div></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3bQUkPyQxjuivkTHNw9F8E2-o0cuM0Zhh8XBYk6fmyJ0S-CIi81ngBX_hh4FpbPU7WXfmQL3U9bO4EKVTHzeKWTGiaIYDaECLgt9_Zt40d3ktb6ujJArhkwcDNDsCtaN0SYuf1XnMx7U/s640/blogger-image--2138388002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3bQUkPyQxjuivkTHNw9F8E2-o0cuM0Zhh8XBYk6fmyJ0S-CIi81ngBX_hh4FpbPU7WXfmQL3U9bO4EKVTHzeKWTGiaIYDaECLgt9_Zt40d3ktb6ujJArhkwcDNDsCtaN0SYuf1XnMx7U/s640/blogger-image--2138388002.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">A scene in Detmold</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFPwo9nP-Nrh6ktxkeTqSfhBBK6TkBDkBKCkkgVwVp59CDdIgvo5PE6SMMEZYK63F3hUqLxZixn_vYOtI1xWS7uAei9x8MH7gGDPjD8VdVlVPpceKOyuDZv0po1kQ3oiBq-6RBATAu_ac/s640/blogger-image-895743141.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFPwo9nP-Nrh6ktxkeTqSfhBBK6TkBDkBKCkkgVwVp59CDdIgvo5PE6SMMEZYK63F3hUqLxZixn_vYOtI1xWS7uAei9x8MH7gGDPjD8VdVlVPpceKOyuDZv0po1kQ3oiBq-6RBATAu_ac/s640/blogger-image-895743141.jpg"></a></div></div></div></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">In Detmold</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMTvzZkyNTlGG_YysSKrlp_RZSvS8Rva1MrPnQ9lrnQWa0TzZwBM6qxxLZy_V22P36z_wd0i4vupL0wXuQhjByCRu_Oxi19fv73XB_-kWZhieGyDXSrSJTX_lB8U2jXeZDeRlZQm5j3ks/s640/blogger-image-464557602.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMTvzZkyNTlGG_YysSKrlp_RZSvS8Rva1MrPnQ9lrnQWa0TzZwBM6qxxLZy_V22P36z_wd0i4vupL0wXuQhjByCRu_Oxi19fv73XB_-kWZhieGyDXSrSJTX_lB8U2jXeZDeRlZQm5j3ks/s640/blogger-image-464557602.jpg"></a></div>Part of the old city walls</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzZRx1HMqn_5j9_tgVcXd2TEd3vv-s6bEkf8MoSXZc33dyiDB_ZtMWjx69f28Q-7Ogeg135aClpkwfPYAoC11sTeBcOrASBWYxFujjlehY4toQryLmbapB_lmUovNuOHDyq-KclW0HnVQ/s640/blogger-image--398761383.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzZRx1HMqn_5j9_tgVcXd2TEd3vv-s6bEkf8MoSXZc33dyiDB_ZtMWjx69f28Q-7Ogeg135aClpkwfPYAoC11sTeBcOrASBWYxFujjlehY4toQryLmbapB_lmUovNuOHDyq-KclW0HnVQ/s640/blogger-image--398761383.jpg"></a></div>Our relatives waving us goodbye as we leave Detmold, bound for Amsterdam.</div></div></div></div></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03580356548298261458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8012422406657732557.post-16084603056436189682013-09-22T13:49:00.001-07:002013-09-22T14:03:56.313-07:00On yer bike!<div>The three of us hired bikes today from our hotel. Riding down to Linzer Strasse, we headed south and spent some time trying to find exactly how to reach the Rhine. It was very near, but we couldn't get to it. In Rheinbreitbach, we saw some very large pumpkins growing in someone's front garden. We found a bushy track, which led to a road, and we then had to stop for a passing train. Soon, we consulted a map near Unkel, and continued on our way. <span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); ">It was my first time on a bike in many years. I really enjoyed it. The only problem was the seat was really uncomfortable.</span></div><div><br></div><div>We stopped at Unkel for coffee. We were in Willy-Brandt Platz. Willy Brandt was Chancellor of West Germany from 1969 to 1974, and retired to and died at Unkel. Renate told me that Brandt had been forced out of office because an East German spy had got close to him, and passed on many secrets to the East German Government. Silly Willy. </div><div><br></div><div>We continued riding along by the river. Occasionally, numbered signs appeared along the path. These indicate the distance to where <span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">ships are allowed to start sailing on the Rhine (in the direction of the river's source). (The river flows north into the Netherlands.) As we rode along, many other cyclists breezed past us, as did elderly pedestrians, young families with dogs, and a few kids. Many elderly walkers trudged along with not one but two walking sticks, looking like they were about to go skiing.</span></div><div><br></div><div>Eventually, we came to the town of Erpel. In this general area of the Rhine, it's the most northern part of Germany for the growing of grapes for wine. At Erpel, this was reflected in the display of an old instrument for making wine, in the many grape vines that creep along the walls of the houses that line the narrow streets, and in those that hang across the lanes to the opposite sides. We had lunch at Erpel in a place called Marktplatz. There was a fabulous, tall plane tree just outside the restaurant that had been planted in 1887. Plane trees can be found all over Europe. But since we've been in Germany, plane tree leaves appear much more withered than in the south of Europe, a sure sign autumn is here.</div><div><br></div><div>After lunch, at 2.20, we started to head back to Bad Honnef. It took nearly 90 minutes to reach the hotel. After collecting our luggage, we walked the 50-minute journey to the boat pick-up point. Our boat to Köln departed at 5.30. We arrived there around 8.</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG-Eu0l0ie8qAsXA3Nrqu3sKLHsFLM0Ex6sQMnpu7p-Qs1lNc-FCb29y6hG-SkfI9Sb3lkkdeG3oT7IOnvEMEDhIaAVklSCDv8eil34N7Jo8S2_IYGtyN9clW6M1YID_d9vx0tt99t0XI/s640/blogger-image--218551815.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG-Eu0l0ie8qAsXA3Nrqu3sKLHsFLM0Ex6sQMnpu7p-Qs1lNc-FCb29y6hG-SkfI9Sb3lkkdeG3oT7IOnvEMEDhIaAVklSCDv8eil34N7Jo8S2_IYGtyN9clW6M1YID_d9vx0tt99t0XI/s640/blogger-image--218551815.jpg"></a></div>On the road with our bikes...</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA3q8JczHtXa91peBEAvb5rePCKfu8wiooCTZdrG1O4IsgpFMdm7y7eSeL_LCNkUWmQoNmcDxOdcOjHiFtrH-HP7bINDOozBwreHuFxkJKQkLcI3kz8Zu2fU7UHJe9WdmWkJWrpBoH_28/s640/blogger-image-1383009401.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA3q8JczHtXa91peBEAvb5rePCKfu8wiooCTZdrG1O4IsgpFMdm7y7eSeL_LCNkUWmQoNmcDxOdcOjHiFtrH-HP7bINDOozBwreHuFxkJKQkLcI3kz8Zu2fU7UHJe9WdmWkJWrpBoH_28/s640/blogger-image-1383009401.jpg"></a></div>Renate plots our course....</div></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih-yC1bHXrwpRxaGIf5h5MEsPColM7CCAdQmLDJtJ5vXHOcqcaNjHje-HkuFekSq8QL9gTlUx83ycNOuVZyWniQVbDLdyDxQa8qIkhRqbQUd6PrXuVn_NBFCAWjwZkEAjlQhsH-a0EQB4/s640/blogger-image--1026887698.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih-yC1bHXrwpRxaGIf5h5MEsPColM7CCAdQmLDJtJ5vXHOcqcaNjHje-HkuFekSq8QL9gTlUx83ycNOuVZyWniQVbDLdyDxQa8qIkhRqbQUd6PrXuVn_NBFCAWjwZkEAjlQhsH-a0EQB4/s640/blogger-image--1026887698.jpg"></a></div>Jean plans strategy....</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8XaQQ_3e4t1BCisyx1FO0C6uDfI64L3QcsVUI1b7j8Iyn6w6vc9vvRCDGFA5wUTor8JgYI84SnR-Dgv9aekkXB4etW-CwO7WkaJm06j531X3SoknG3t9lYiLdl9VKgBD5PMYRZyaywnE/s640/blogger-image--1964196358.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8XaQQ_3e4t1BCisyx1FO0C6uDfI64L3QcsVUI1b7j8Iyn6w6vc9vvRCDGFA5wUTor8JgYI84SnR-Dgv9aekkXB4etW-CwO7WkaJm06j531X3SoknG3t9lYiLdl9VKgBD5PMYRZyaywnE/s640/blogger-image--1964196358.jpg"></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">An old apparatus for making wine at Unkel. The advertisement is for a local candidate in today's German election.</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1_CS0kY6OX0ljZScj2WGbxAeFYezVaqhLznvzH9xpzoFLJtNWpKQZ83MlxSHVXFPbUWAVMDl13fjdGAZyFqBrFYXCMbmBW0j-Dd4_eTCH-c81lONaeQ7CR6s7MoG8LT6iC_ZyQaQirNo/s640/blogger-image--738663625.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1_CS0kY6OX0ljZScj2WGbxAeFYezVaqhLznvzH9xpzoFLJtNWpKQZ83MlxSHVXFPbUWAVMDl13fjdGAZyFqBrFYXCMbmBW0j-Dd4_eTCH-c81lONaeQ7CR6s7MoG8LT6iC_ZyQaQirNo/s640/blogger-image--738663625.jpg"></a></div>We had a coffee at Unkel in Willy-Brandt Platz</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWCg1nWD6i6ebjlMrOCYH7qZApwPVDT7ZU72KKeQR8oLruoCYW9An01fdaikgctZZUP7T54611ad6Va0rVUNpKa5b1w4lrr7oSeZoph8s-CP-dgJzIiShr7ejvh4jXaVxmY3-OzynruQU/s640/blogger-image-1311497150.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWCg1nWD6i6ebjlMrOCYH7qZApwPVDT7ZU72KKeQR8oLruoCYW9An01fdaikgctZZUP7T54611ad6Va0rVUNpKa5b1w4lrr7oSeZoph8s-CP-dgJzIiShr7ejvh4jXaVxmY3-OzynruQU/s640/blogger-image-1311497150.jpg"></a></div>At Unkel</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm7BYrVxLk55WDx5HeqlLXXkHdLjdSwm9BsgGwzljxACsMzj0k_fcfaZ_7tdzeU68Oq9Mio5fs09ZUmXnhBnaqwGsTPPYiI6lcTY6CknOXKpwmxRKYwTBXKeF2iromR4vgNkCID7ecrIU/s640/blogger-image--1591468557.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm7BYrVxLk55WDx5HeqlLXXkHdLjdSwm9BsgGwzljxACsMzj0k_fcfaZ_7tdzeU68Oq9Mio5fs09ZUmXnhBnaqwGsTPPYiI6lcTY6CknOXKpwmxRKYwTBXKeF2iromR4vgNkCID7ecrIU/s640/blogger-image--1591468557.jpg"></a></div>According to Renate, from this point, there are 634 km to where ships are allowed to start sailing on the Rhine <span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); ">(in the direction of the river's source).</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJis27cW4_E2JhK815TYHvu1quXb1_4gK8yAfEbpbhmuyU_BDthvjgRVJHlrCCygHvfhtJ6_VZa54pZylsMoRyocGlQbfxjKeJTk0tt-sn2cT416PVnarTKPreRD1X87vqj41WZQZ8alk/s640/blogger-image--557804352.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJis27cW4_E2JhK815TYHvu1quXb1_4gK8yAfEbpbhmuyU_BDthvjgRVJHlrCCygHvfhtJ6_VZa54pZylsMoRyocGlQbfxjKeJTk0tt-sn2cT416PVnarTKPreRD1X87vqj41WZQZ8alk/s640/blogger-image--557804352.jpg"></a></div>Me on the Rhine...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZD8xHeh8b78dqp7pOCYGYHUCQmB_7MnHKKRYyu6-uoXoc7CSviRc4ZlgitcaXc-r_HOct925sI6_8ta8OKU4PFVXg4oV51OONmaSrV9eg3zqMYCZq-QP4e2tyNSboqp0RU3Gv1B4dl5w/s640/blogger-image--308774019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZD8xHeh8b78dqp7pOCYGYHUCQmB_7MnHKKRYyu6-uoXoc7CSviRc4ZlgitcaXc-r_HOct925sI6_8ta8OKU4PFVXg4oV51OONmaSrV9eg3zqMYCZq-QP4e2tyNSboqp0RU3Gv1B4dl5w/s640/blogger-image--308774019.jpg"></a></div>My first time on a bike in many years....</div></div></div></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6cagBm-8OwFCpTiCHR6tLLvRkq4ebhv-GiFnrqwpK41XGeJQkBILZBu8-dK0y-MiEJBm7xY5x76Mf3fpK7JqISGSZq7YHvPPUMBrT8UE1Ls8tz8GW-8Nuat9AChxoGiveqeIquM0Plmw/s640/blogger-image--800125577.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6cagBm-8OwFCpTiCHR6tLLvRkq4ebhv-GiFnrqwpK41XGeJQkBILZBu8-dK0y-MiEJBm7xY5x76Mf3fpK7JqISGSZq7YHvPPUMBrT8UE1Ls8tz8GW-8Nuat9AChxoGiveqeIquM0Plmw/s640/blogger-image--800125577.jpg"></a></div>Grape vines hanging across the road at Erpel</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeFIG5dry0HWNJkgQVJ1P4zlXbZp81z4dE8GTV7Lknef-FVAIRg7kgosKJjrTFiAtPRvbpJUNH2T7_-aH16F2fneWZKBP6FOhZK7wbuOnOT6EnU6BBaC3Ra7m1aH48wAss80Ob7HAwhUQ/s640/blogger-image--440374254.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeFIG5dry0HWNJkgQVJ1P4zlXbZp81z4dE8GTV7Lknef-FVAIRg7kgosKJjrTFiAtPRvbpJUNH2T7_-aH16F2fneWZKBP6FOhZK7wbuOnOT6EnU6BBaC3Ra7m1aH48wAss80Ob7HAwhUQ/s640/blogger-image--440374254.jpg"></a></div>Grapes at Erpel</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhERL16_KUJAGp4XCun5QVZA0iovAQyWWujDd__oC7uGFyY4ooX4TtZwHNdva4dlbZOnQd4i_sLU6AVAFH3Bu661Jy33ldrZSXaL8wRw32A2ZFOzXl00IJzqFbNQz0yIfyGAAvAGo-0huQ/s640/blogger-image--1398822743.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhERL16_KUJAGp4XCun5QVZA0iovAQyWWujDd__oC7uGFyY4ooX4TtZwHNdva4dlbZOnQd4i_sLU6AVAFH3Bu661Jy33ldrZSXaL8wRw32A2ZFOzXl00IJzqFbNQz0yIfyGAAvAGo-0huQ/s640/blogger-image--1398822743.jpg"></a></div>At Erpel: looking towards Marktplatz where we had lunch</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNQQhlc-6EEbGgFqB03offuQKyZ6Q_Z2OmxzQysWg25gvzd5-QY_b2v-JpS76z1_vkE8MSmp1kcvwUy00NRPyijxscCIUHMmY_wjz_VE6_ILLvnFKzyIxJXJNUp4CSGnDuhv1GRmy8tfE/s640/blogger-image--1267571968.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNQQhlc-6EEbGgFqB03offuQKyZ6Q_Z2OmxzQysWg25gvzd5-QY_b2v-JpS76z1_vkE8MSmp1kcvwUy00NRPyijxscCIUHMmY_wjz_VE6_ILLvnFKzyIxJXJNUp4CSGnDuhv1GRmy8tfE/s640/blogger-image--1267571968.jpg"></a></div>Where we had lunch at Erpel. The plane tree was planted in 1887.</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiubLSLP8u1L7IT7fppyYFG96eJwY8VOjZks_ZRVIM4J2cUIAs4PSBVL56xU4nGrW8yZ_Vh5-ZKisZL8QeM6hAwB3YXiRAZFlkYROPlX5e2Qm23PXPwmzb8ljDrEaWuC6bc9efZarhiDKU/s640/blogger-image--2015685804.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiubLSLP8u1L7IT7fppyYFG96eJwY8VOjZks_ZRVIM4J2cUIAs4PSBVL56xU4nGrW8yZ_Vh5-ZKisZL8QeM6hAwB3YXiRAZFlkYROPlX5e2Qm23PXPwmzb8ljDrEaWuC6bc9efZarhiDKU/s640/blogger-image--2015685804.jpg"></a></div></div><div>Me drinking a Weizenbier at Erpel</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf13ToqUuLnijc0vt_d8fTv7PZbMVZDPulhMhoSqCq6G7fvg_ObHuHnbjzNfReh1N_5-Vkf46dirrYBjU3HskZSFhiRCsMU0MuCafEYFEz7dyfvVWuAtH8pr1DbZEOk91qtwCSL54dNIQ/s640/blogger-image--986567121.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf13ToqUuLnijc0vt_d8fTv7PZbMVZDPulhMhoSqCq6G7fvg_ObHuHnbjzNfReh1N_5-Vkf46dirrYBjU3HskZSFhiRCsMU0MuCafEYFEz7dyfvVWuAtH8pr1DbZEOk91qtwCSL54dNIQ/s640/blogger-image--986567121.jpg"></a></div>Cycling back to Bad Honnef, the Drachenfels came into view.</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmBfRnZcb6cE93lEEqTprUwZdw6Td5kVTnHpo1KgEHm3ubGQVMW5gd2eMmWzK6h1z9XMJGUMsLs7s3iWPdGeKIsdjKxYcxcCTz10X6mLaEDGC6TOkeBHKsfHA7kQ2ZL295NxVoFRB4vfc/s640/blogger-image--516307516.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmBfRnZcb6cE93lEEqTprUwZdw6Td5kVTnHpo1KgEHm3ubGQVMW5gd2eMmWzK6h1z9XMJGUMsLs7s3iWPdGeKIsdjKxYcxcCTz10X6mLaEDGC6TOkeBHKsfHA7kQ2ZL295NxVoFRB4vfc/s640/blogger-image--516307516.jpg"></a></div></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Sometimes cyclists must obey 'pedestrian only' areas along the Rhine.</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiratKU7WzAbsP89VeEh8I1khOJR5AVbspSYSrD_lNpjyxic57g113i_tzgz06EqZ4bXo_o1ETPzmqFYPF6d8PyZB0PziASIWaVceEuw2qMkwiub2hgUpMxpu8IMDUoDcWp6HMg9mjooqY/s640/blogger-image-1720121471.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiratKU7WzAbsP89VeEh8I1khOJR5AVbspSYSrD_lNpjyxic57g113i_tzgz06EqZ4bXo_o1ETPzmqFYPF6d8PyZB0PziASIWaVceEuw2qMkwiub2hgUpMxpu8IMDUoDcWp6HMg9mjooqY/s640/blogger-image-1720121471.jpg"></a></div>We returned our bikes to the hotel, and walked the 50-minute route to the boats.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgITLmx1oIUdzrdzo6KfWP8mUmIlERNWNuZyOHmQETsLMq8U4W-zkB9hJKL-IeZwRs5_cmmvc4HSkoCGrOeoefarYjQm4RKSrcEcxycxY1I-dxAqmSKVFldp_rMbGvl5_QDO4slhtk1354/s640/blogger-image--1083887495.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgITLmx1oIUdzrdzo6KfWP8mUmIlERNWNuZyOHmQETsLMq8U4W-zkB9hJKL-IeZwRs5_cmmvc4HSkoCGrOeoefarYjQm4RKSrcEcxycxY1I-dxAqmSKVFldp_rMbGvl5_QDO4slhtk1354/s640/blogger-image--1083887495.jpg"></a></div>Us sailing past Königswinter with the Drachenfels behind</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd2xoO046oc8suXfOkOVmLdAWzNAveXN21zX5t6xdF-r8dc96MXt_Ahrh7naLhEXsMM70YokzFXtPX2H1ZacNRgXiZvISyXa3QQWShmtKjIl6alViYtq3_hdorMY24X6jK3eT1iPNT890/s640/blogger-image-1085829042.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd2xoO046oc8suXfOkOVmLdAWzNAveXN21zX5t6xdF-r8dc96MXt_Ahrh7naLhEXsMM70YokzFXtPX2H1ZacNRgXiZvISyXa3QQWShmtKjIl6alViYtq3_hdorMY24X6jK3eT1iPNT890/s640/blogger-image-1085829042.jpg"></a></div>German Chancellor Angela Merkel: will she win a third term in today's election?</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03580356548298261458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8012422406657732557.post-77935259874240824512013-09-21T08:47:00.001-07:002013-09-21T12:33:38.312-07:00Bad Honnef and the DrachenfelsJean, Renate and I walked into Bad Honnef this morning and made enquiries in the town library and afterwards in a bookshop about the history of the town. We were trying to find any information about our ancestors that we possibly could. We didn't find anything though. I wasn't terribly disappointed, as I didn't expect to find much anyway. I wrote to the Rathaus more than a week ago to ask if the authorities might have any information about where my ancestors lived in this town. They replied, saying they had no information. <div><br></div><div>We decided to go to the Drachenfels, or 'dragon rock', which is a 320 metre-high hill plus castle ruin which overlooks the Rhine. The castle was built in the 12th century by the archbishop of Köln to protect the border to the neighbouring county of Sayn. The castle was the seat of the castellan of Drachenfels. We first walked all the way to Rhöndorf, and, after learning that a recent landslide prevented our ascent up Drachenfels from here, we made our way to Königswinter with the Strassenbahn (tram). At Königswinter, we took the Zahnradbahn, or cog-railway, up Drachenfels to the top. </div><div><br></div><div>At the summit, we spent ages admiring the views up and down the Rhine, the view down to <span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Rhöndorf and neighbouring Bad Honnef, the endless forested area to the east which is the home of the celebrated Siebengebirge (seven mountains), and the many villages on the opposite bank of the Rhine to the west. Here at the summit, there were a couple of restaurants, and we ate lunch. Then, we climbed the steep pathway up to the actual castle ruin. From here was an even better view. I was in Bad Honnef last in 1987. I really only remember how bushy it was, and it still is. Back then, I also came up the Drachenfels. But, again, all I really remember from that time is the panoramic view.</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">We caught the cog-railway back down the hill to halfway. A sizeable castle, Schloss Drachenburg, was built here around 1883. We toured extensively inside, and climbed the north tower. Again good views of the Rhine.</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">After descending to Königswinter, we returned to Bad Honnef, and dined in the Altes Rathaus (old town hall). We got back to our hotel in the far reaches of the town just on dusk.</span></div><div><br></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7hGp5aSOJDaLAYEhCrPvZPPpemG81C2QHTcM-klH-N39nLDJ-Cmn4-hyZabtt9_zivqM8PPJ8no4N8RrBdo32v_C6WTPe5gLTICQtJakD7y55Ap3vb_H5fOXg7rNeo4DCNl9jf3ANTas/s640/blogger-image--95692289.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7hGp5aSOJDaLAYEhCrPvZPPpemG81C2QHTcM-klH-N39nLDJ-Cmn4-hyZabtt9_zivqM8PPJ8no4N8RrBdo32v_C6WTPe5gLTICQtJakD7y55Ap3vb_H5fOXg7rNeo4DCNl9jf3ANTas/s640/blogger-image--95692289.jpg"></a></div>Renate looking for the way to go. Jean saying she thinks it's this way.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6OCJsk1GH084OGejHeQalomzQWlofsO0Yi4271NX169QVbQPP8H5OLOAEsgGFVGxLbZZcQ_SfnOV1iopPQ0Gd6RwHW9dXDZ-gqGoUIoXJgW5vBahIjSXo0QaDPDnqEG_r7GFaUnURnl8/s640/blogger-image-1973957080.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6OCJsk1GH084OGejHeQalomzQWlofsO0Yi4271NX169QVbQPP8H5OLOAEsgGFVGxLbZZcQ_SfnOV1iopPQ0Gd6RwHW9dXDZ-gqGoUIoXJgW5vBahIjSXo0QaDPDnqEG_r7GFaUnURnl8/s640/blogger-image-1973957080.jpg"></a></div>An 18th century chapel in Bad Honnef</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJhNhQd8fawv5V62WjGHN8lDJjFjQcx0QMffvr1_5oZfWLxFhwQ06XEXpn8toeCEXUliTYw665CVM9wxzBQm1CFW73tcJfDV9ecBKLTyvQa3wxw5BWwo8-zxmRTi7LwoO43938RK5zXGM/s640/blogger-image-2016960778.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJhNhQd8fawv5V62WjGHN8lDJjFjQcx0QMffvr1_5oZfWLxFhwQ06XEXpn8toeCEXUliTYw665CVM9wxzBQm1CFW73tcJfDV9ecBKLTyvQa3wxw5BWwo8-zxmRTi7LwoO43938RK5zXGM/s640/blogger-image-2016960778.jpg"></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">An old-looking house. Could my great-grandfather, Felix Thode, have been born here?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip-ay5FunI55SKSGGGDw0LIK8SKSWVoNS6tJHbR447dtJhjnWWvWjjvjWx7cVVXkbZnAi20WY6Ba45TM0LtvbmxNm5WcxPPZNtd8QBxFZkuudcPsTZGSqWTEv7Ds7RUhCGIk6k_Bvnoh8/s640/blogger-image-859272213.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip-ay5FunI55SKSGGGDw0LIK8SKSWVoNS6tJHbR447dtJhjnWWvWjjvjWx7cVVXkbZnAi20WY6Ba45TM0LtvbmxNm5WcxPPZNtd8QBxFZkuudcPsTZGSqWTEv7Ds7RUhCGIk6k_Bvnoh8/s640/blogger-image-859272213.jpg"></a></div>A view to the Drachenfels (on the hill) from Rhöndorf</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); clear: both; "><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiPH4sZwrVFCU4BtudEH4F3og8T_1mv-u0ZMLXsEH7DkU90AOwo0m6514HzLmplt3yGb6MUJVX3WTqL1taxvXi0t7s3Qs3gpVL0xc2IxSkiseQ54WehfEDv2gqxSFzAMSGv_ccoIxq8JU/s640/blogger-image--694697972.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; "><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiPH4sZwrVFCU4BtudEH4F3og8T_1mv-u0ZMLXsEH7DkU90AOwo0m6514HzLmplt3yGb6MUJVX3WTqL1taxvXi0t7s3Qs3gpVL0xc2IxSkiseQ54WehfEDv2gqxSFzAMSGv_ccoIxq8JU/s640/blogger-image--694697972.jpg"></a></div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); ">An artist's image of the Drachenfels and the Rhine</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); "><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFNh2b4oBy4bQ4zCRjB1MdVDyO6e6L8cMyjnnC72s9QlNgIrKQ3-fgjzY3y2GioWa8LuI1E58xN9FSoKc-SBHMrj6yOlOIaNNP_wu4kIzWp9gp6bUSXbb3F1KiNkYqHX7ZJr-QObxEAZk/s640/blogger-image--254990698.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFNh2b4oBy4bQ4zCRjB1MdVDyO6e6L8cMyjnnC72s9QlNgIrKQ3-fgjzY3y2GioWa8LuI1E58xN9FSoKc-SBHMrj6yOlOIaNNP_wu4kIzWp9gp6bUSXbb3F1KiNkYqHX7ZJr-QObxEAZk/s640/blogger-image--254990698.jpg"></a></div>We climbed to the top of Drachenfels by cog-railway.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5wMx9HICx_SgnDNOghwPsNua4fWfluwQ3r_7hyjAc2pNCzdPDwjm47vv7rF5CEGGqjoiSi30fh9bTO3QWG-3grCcVN2bOd2VqlshJ2OsgAWR8K3RycZMbYbimXFi4WyH3ZJXQ_TEQWHw/s640/blogger-image-1878112118.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5wMx9HICx_SgnDNOghwPsNua4fWfluwQ3r_7hyjAc2pNCzdPDwjm47vv7rF5CEGGqjoiSi30fh9bTO3QWG-3grCcVN2bOd2VqlshJ2OsgAWR8K3RycZMbYbimXFi4WyH3ZJXQ_TEQWHw/s640/blogger-image-1878112118.jpg"></a></div>At the Drachenfels summit. Jean and Renate peer along the Rhine.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkla6ezrDBo5tgKK6kP3VQGeJ91howiEfj-JhA18pF4wDTi-ziff-Q8xsiliYsbtYZ6ZWRZE_pNxs6epFTD9TOYHM1aOdbT__OuzUjN0C9PFKAqk0PwFpFdqICzdOAGbZcNWloNzyQPwM/s640/blogger-image--1747989280.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkla6ezrDBo5tgKK6kP3VQGeJ91howiEfj-JhA18pF4wDTi-ziff-Q8xsiliYsbtYZ6ZWRZE_pNxs6epFTD9TOYHM1aOdbT__OuzUjN0C9PFKAqk0PwFpFdqICzdOAGbZcNWloNzyQPwM/s640/blogger-image--1747989280.jpg"></a></div>The Drachenfels is a popular place to come.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpWYj8SiCTOuMDbzAVEqVCIgqOOYuzxRpniiOEcZA4i1AKJWxucC5wplzz25LnSf5ooxYZuz2RA7cNzgXof4Iyvq1gVJ9uvusVYCn1lUBhLNfq75HyU1UV29IQbRajvNGcbEEhtCIEZgY/s640/blogger-image-596102008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpWYj8SiCTOuMDbzAVEqVCIgqOOYuzxRpniiOEcZA4i1AKJWxucC5wplzz25LnSf5ooxYZuz2RA7cNzgXof4Iyvq1gVJ9uvusVYCn1lUBhLNfq75HyU1UV29IQbRajvNGcbEEhtCIEZgY/s640/blogger-image-596102008.jpg"></a></div>The ruin of the castle</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPdSp9Mk_lIeVLUs-7gHPlkDVzTeDfOEUaUk919SyYH3c580yLMONm8iipSyqcGhnUS-G9ZgXGfNqjkMofFNKBPjz5wxo-YIk8bzIeEmzdXEko-oJ5rlZ0E8OoYljw372Sybmcp_q7Vqw/s640/blogger-image-1990839273.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPdSp9Mk_lIeVLUs-7gHPlkDVzTeDfOEUaUk919SyYH3c580yLMONm8iipSyqcGhnUS-G9ZgXGfNqjkMofFNKBPjz5wxo-YIk8bzIeEmzdXEko-oJ5rlZ0E8OoYljw372Sybmcp_q7Vqw/s640/blogger-image-1990839273.jpg"></a></div>Looking south from the ruin to the summit below, and further to Bad Honnef at left and the river Rhine.</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhicE24EODGdwW-sr8qyJO5qh1cqnv2nmZJW-KSQ1P5UC0o0tfeYHb3TA7UyXuMECwiOVsuz025259oEkMJ-EGsczwqQx7fyB0UFCuiRcPPVj0btoWqOS3iqecGbL6KEedRWbNcQaEU3T8/s640/blogger-image-919719857.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhicE24EODGdwW-sr8qyJO5qh1cqnv2nmZJW-KSQ1P5UC0o0tfeYHb3TA7UyXuMECwiOVsuz025259oEkMJ-EGsczwqQx7fyB0UFCuiRcPPVj0btoWqOS3iqecGbL6KEedRWbNcQaEU3T8/s640/blogger-image-919719857.jpg"></a></div>Us with the view</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi082ITIaxMgBV2BuxfKJVYH8AHaEFDqO8Gnof9973h70SbqyLvk0zBLdpsy_Bbks-oNiwnErABv30f7EDRGjXR-TFb3OiXSXUh15tatKa31jGdpnpvSBZAGKRhEHpdM8eYDBlnZNxvOKI/s640/blogger-image--1226409913.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi082ITIaxMgBV2BuxfKJVYH8AHaEFDqO8Gnof9973h70SbqyLvk0zBLdpsy_Bbks-oNiwnErABv30f7EDRGjXR-TFb3OiXSXUh15tatKa31jGdpnpvSBZAGKRhEHpdM8eYDBlnZNxvOKI/s640/blogger-image--1226409913.jpg"></a></div>Schloss Drachenburg</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxRQyb0HFEA745lQM4454tfAl_S61C0SoHzWhucw4hAs7B1HswPgdVwyT-Nqrw7nXUje5G9sFN37v4sJMQHX3doGYryH9-5a6mOZtWIhPtj4Rqpn-F3bGOR-5V_cF9wNKwml8eCckMGfM/s640/blogger-image-55875647.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxRQyb0HFEA745lQM4454tfAl_S61C0SoHzWhucw4hAs7B1HswPgdVwyT-Nqrw7nXUje5G9sFN37v4sJMQHX3doGYryH9-5a6mOZtWIhPtj4Rqpn-F3bGOR-5V_cF9wNKwml8eCckMGfM/s640/blogger-image-55875647.jpg"></a></div>A deer in the gardens</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuWfKkrxznHqMwOhgTbjl5m6Z0_k7cLPhFzmpoi4YaU3CN9iEHyBtbMpiU376-ctKtpJjQiCys4yifCAX0vqqAl848F3zQxYC4ocI8kYU9Ra9fZmjH94pTc3oKPqqwc049pRVotALFjZY/s640/blogger-image--877023735.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuWfKkrxznHqMwOhgTbjl5m6Z0_k7cLPhFzmpoi4YaU3CN9iEHyBtbMpiU376-ctKtpJjQiCys4yifCAX0vqqAl848F3zQxYC4ocI8kYU9Ra9fZmjH94pTc3oKPqqwc049pRVotALFjZY/s640/blogger-image--877023735.jpg"></a></div>Schloss Drachenburg </div></div></div></span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03580356548298261458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8012422406657732557.post-77853118608794125662013-09-21T00:22:00.001-07:002013-09-21T00:22:31.143-07:00Last day of summer<div>It is 20 September, the last day of the European summer. The first day, 21 June, was our last day at work. Two days later, we flew out of Australia, and we've been in Europe since 27 June. <span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); ">To us, it seems like a very long time. Every day, I wake up and take note that I am still in Europe, and still on this holiday.</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); "><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); ">Jean and I are both getting excited about returning home. I remember some years ago, a North American airline advertised 'home' as one of its most popular destinations. It will be great to get home, and see familiar faces again. </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); "><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); ">The Rhine river, between Koblenz and Bad Honnef, does not have terribly many castles on its banks. We saw quite a few more yesterday as we headed towards Koblenz. Which is a bit disappointing. Along this stretch, you see some industry; some medieval-looking houses; churches with tall, sharp spires; towns; railway lines occasionally on both banks; and, of course, tall, green rolling hills smothered with trees.</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); "><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); ">The 200 metre high hills that follow the course of the Rhine are made up of large, sloping, jagged slabs of rock that poke out at the sides. Often, pine trees line the very top of the hills. As you sail along the Rhine, the hills themselves roll up and down, rising from ground level to their height of 200 metres or so and down again, like massive waves on a wildly disturbed sea.</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); "><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); ">At last we arrived at Bad Honnef, where we were met by my cousin, Renate. It was great to see her again. Together, the three of us walked the very long distance to our hotel. Renate said that, in former times, the hotel would have been out of the Bad Honnef boundaries!</span></div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC9Bm89T5_8CBHkmkkAwhAbZEsUBBXCyyJTOSA6sftSZXhHLbXpwfGsOCk2B95FAgnzq_prGd-bX9ccgZQMMN_PDVgOalze4ICNiN01bLcG4Kx6vXBCZyTyQyHbMbYpZPJD7gtQxzO2K8/s640/blogger-image--1979363068.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC9Bm89T5_8CBHkmkkAwhAbZEsUBBXCyyJTOSA6sftSZXhHLbXpwfGsOCk2B95FAgnzq_prGd-bX9ccgZQMMN_PDVgOalze4ICNiN01bLcG4Kx6vXBCZyTyQyHbMbYpZPJD7gtQxzO2K8/s640/blogger-image--1979363068.jpg"></a></div>A modern German shopping mall: narrow with no cobbled streets, in Koblenz</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfojf7sOpDv8HuFdFuM6KRa89Y54xqOcthtTHkwBNn__NUTdb6s7mlCoBbt4wjYYQDhrEzo28UzvEfB1tjdDPGb72gvnl4JPrppnLIgDxGBPExpPtAoNLBKn5iA9JQUL6ZyYFSYRWZKko/s640/blogger-image--1448123210.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfojf7sOpDv8HuFdFuM6KRa89Y54xqOcthtTHkwBNn__NUTdb6s7mlCoBbt4wjYYQDhrEzo28UzvEfB1tjdDPGb72gvnl4JPrppnLIgDxGBPExpPtAoNLBKn5iA9JQUL6ZyYFSYRWZKko/s640/blogger-image--1448123210.jpg"></a></div>The Liebfrauenkirche </div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSGEEhKJ6WdYN8Zev6SQthZQE60J5civW3SCn1QjNyuzR6Kodzc_GykC3gBYpLBkxvl2SpiM5BPjsQuBaTCwocmz1Nu3tDXop-m0tb4lfSEVrEz4QdMv9DzkRvlkSIPws2pRck8GtaAEo/s640/blogger-image--847890903.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSGEEhKJ6WdYN8Zev6SQthZQE60J5civW3SCn1QjNyuzR6Kodzc_GykC3gBYpLBkxvl2SpiM5BPjsQuBaTCwocmz1Nu3tDXop-m0tb4lfSEVrEz4QdMv9DzkRvlkSIPws2pRck8GtaAEo/s640/blogger-image--847890903.jpg"></a></div>This memorial remembers the 1,000 people killed in Koblenz in the last days of the war. The nearby church, the Liebfrauenkirche, was 87% destroyed.</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFZNOBazD1uz0zVXmpDsmwzheIVuYcUCofjCyeFMxf4UC1I7wOZYtqVNrxMnsmT8JFkKUb6oH-0dgfYHbGSN9TkzUI7BLLmLnjO7fis2W1Afo_T73v29YK0Wo-Z60hfHWXBJq0X_w8MeA/s640/blogger-image-1591753927.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFZNOBazD1uz0zVXmpDsmwzheIVuYcUCofjCyeFMxf4UC1I7wOZYtqVNrxMnsmT8JFkKUb6oH-0dgfYHbGSN9TkzUI7BLLmLnjO7fis2W1Afo_T73v29YK0Wo-Z60hfHWXBJq0X_w8MeA/s640/blogger-image-1591753927.jpg"></a></div>A map of the Rhine area</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOoVC0GfmJuAu7E5dSN1ZbBK4KOoKVFQUeOIEyGFN3BcqQCeNWPypvi6f4W8qndh-gu0ZfeuYm65PaBS7w2-NkFWnAR2AA50rnBNBIsIC63ITDx_ZiihQTIefrVW7uqgeHzSMHJNL2wqY/s640/blogger-image--770717077.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOoVC0GfmJuAu7E5dSN1ZbBK4KOoKVFQUeOIEyGFN3BcqQCeNWPypvi6f4W8qndh-gu0ZfeuYm65PaBS7w2-NkFWnAR2AA50rnBNBIsIC63ITDx_ZiihQTIefrVW7uqgeHzSMHJNL2wqY/s640/blogger-image--770717077.jpg"></a></div>The boats along the Rhine love kids.</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1ieaAyqBO9KPXUB0Jp9K1_Gjy8rG9exzcSOGE0OBHSgASsGxoW1xCt8EYUtiaKIsmopE2an_Eo8FdAeGVOHzO0QCRkgrWy0cjYBJbOZb7kON_QgcgTNfV0OOnN-Mxsmtp6V5vLWVym4I/s640/blogger-image-758200178.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1ieaAyqBO9KPXUB0Jp9K1_Gjy8rG9exzcSOGE0OBHSgASsGxoW1xCt8EYUtiaKIsmopE2an_Eo8FdAeGVOHzO0QCRkgrWy0cjYBJbOZb7kON_QgcgTNfV0OOnN-Mxsmtp6V5vLWVym4I/s640/blogger-image-758200178.jpg"></a></div>Jean on deck</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic6SpsxxeIN6dmTnU65ovZy7zoyu19CMBggkzOxF8GumHlx9XuL_pBWDREBxb6DptXAyq1SlTOK6XzdOaoinwj6Whx1z5NuKsm_Oc-VDpmQhPgzAu4m7GimALDtxLNJPuypEBw2JFaXBg/s640/blogger-image--1604360446.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic6SpsxxeIN6dmTnU65ovZy7zoyu19CMBggkzOxF8GumHlx9XuL_pBWDREBxb6DptXAyq1SlTOK6XzdOaoinwj6Whx1z5NuKsm_Oc-VDpmQhPgzAu4m7GimALDtxLNJPuypEBw2JFaXBg/s640/blogger-image--1604360446.jpg"></a></div>This could be Canberra.</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2IJeX6mQz6IwxQDt1c5SnkwqM_ukNvdXY0qu034kRqgktlyHhScGZK1aNmF6G1AMmYtzyaWbEu53soQd6F83Km8nRRk_4O4nb2S3_JGg9uR9TYGXvU3Ss0KJIcilKTKTVJUHLQk74i14/s640/blogger-image--1711157481.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2IJeX6mQz6IwxQDt1c5SnkwqM_ukNvdXY0qu034kRqgktlyHhScGZK1aNmF6G1AMmYtzyaWbEu53soQd6F83Km8nRRk_4O4nb2S3_JGg9uR9TYGXvU3Ss0KJIcilKTKTVJUHLQk74i14/s640/blogger-image--1711157481.jpg"></a></div></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">A passing church</div></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBJEIgc8WHnwyn5XFyasH-xcRmWjKTBIv6w6oz7V8VnybdVEQCE5j61k5DES_wTJkVnZUW4ktH1ZRbGp5S7DlYAXVCvL8g2_y1lZO5CFVeznIYV-mBi9MkWN4Gfcp0PXzw3F5I0tKfleM/s640/blogger-image-721779039.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBJEIgc8WHnwyn5XFyasH-xcRmWjKTBIv6w6oz7V8VnybdVEQCE5j61k5DES_wTJkVnZUW4ktH1ZRbGp5S7DlYAXVCvL8g2_y1lZO5CFVeznIYV-mBi9MkWN4Gfcp0PXzw3F5I0tKfleM/s640/blogger-image-721779039.jpg"></a></div>Jean laughing at a joke </div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicBC-SG5VShK9-bz9BfRiSQXoOeJOLNP2LgVpHojGnQj9_8k-Oq1onZFVW80PnLEIfsJ7ERToTo5CeTJR9Ca-ozllzG_j2ws1BVffrwqX7fsHAI-Rj7cYomAfX4cXQvG88WkRNYQsTbhQ/s640/blogger-image-1133112745.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicBC-SG5VShK9-bz9BfRiSQXoOeJOLNP2LgVpHojGnQj9_8k-Oq1onZFVW80PnLEIfsJ7ERToTo5CeTJR9Ca-ozllzG_j2ws1BVffrwqX7fsHAI-Rj7cYomAfX4cXQvG88WkRNYQsTbhQ/s640/blogger-image-1133112745.jpg"></a></div>Last day of summer: notice how rugged up we are</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh39kcBdFGOyY7Shvmm8ihKtvmPVtGZMYBkXAYHfDDI38qdLUY_PMNUQ0N77f-5cPboNlbHgPp6AeaM0CTJaPl0Ni0YT15dRHWWhXeWn3HGvrYthZVS57uOTM0heIFCWJjt9Zb1pxM8EYM/s640/blogger-image-1688876898.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh39kcBdFGOyY7Shvmm8ihKtvmPVtGZMYBkXAYHfDDI38qdLUY_PMNUQ0N77f-5cPboNlbHgPp6AeaM0CTJaPl0Ni0YT15dRHWWhXeWn3HGvrYthZVS57uOTM0heIFCWJjt9Zb1pxM8EYM/s640/blogger-image-1688876898.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqTloAVkMiGvcKd6rAaB3fZ_ERZWJOFfEdPOkwwBK6d7oOQaXxaYmFsH8jI7DsDxBjUa5wH5be8UKmS3WEahM2hBWYpuJr-VgQhAvZdbdFmrP0vNG6g_SSCGJIQSKR9ujN0FUVTt1a-uc/s640/blogger-image-1735905968.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqTloAVkMiGvcKd6rAaB3fZ_ERZWJOFfEdPOkwwBK6d7oOQaXxaYmFsH8jI7DsDxBjUa5wH5be8UKmS3WEahM2hBWYpuJr-VgQhAvZdbdFmrP0vNG6g_SSCGJIQSKR9ujN0FUVTt1a-uc/s640/blogger-image-1735905968.jpg"></a></div>The Rhine appears to be quite wide in places.</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0kXN0XxGtMuW4nyx-XDLruzMupBtyiLOQu7NaPqEuGc9MqPCEEakIwVXNzp4fpXfNMURIbeeQ4mPFj89fnkiqvq3kz1RMSl0KIOSoDgMLDQ6g2zPNSQcNmW92meUf5AXCB5lX9VVdH5s/s640/blogger-image--738876580.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0kXN0XxGtMuW4nyx-XDLruzMupBtyiLOQu7NaPqEuGc9MqPCEEakIwVXNzp4fpXfNMURIbeeQ4mPFj89fnkiqvq3kz1RMSl0KIOSoDgMLDQ6g2zPNSQcNmW92meUf5AXCB5lX9VVdH5s/s640/blogger-image--738876580.jpg"></a></div>Another passing church</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhywwHYvNMtBet0pPeRgASn2FlPL34vDqYG1ZPssyA6TtP1uB7mBVpNVJUk7imwWHak5JDI5OBVBMYfWN1cUC91LlEj9P28Lg9OyszDBcRcAcKxUQAEQ_V1Xn17h0eD3OJFtBo5X23RpmI/s640/blogger-image-1927672408.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhywwHYvNMtBet0pPeRgASn2FlPL34vDqYG1ZPssyA6TtP1uB7mBVpNVJUk7imwWHak5JDI5OBVBMYfWN1cUC91LlEj9P28Lg9OyszDBcRcAcKxUQAEQ_V1Xn17h0eD3OJFtBo5X23RpmI/s640/blogger-image-1927672408.jpg"></a></div></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">A passing castle</div></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwLEjqgOg-NOw_vyN4yRSFwihPfaGzaDAlgdjArmjUSDDkl2Mt34gpPn1djPlE3cxR9lrYf-bSFHzlZoXryv7-ru7Fx8rE5yVtu6o69odcmRYFxmKcZkD39vzVVbuOWhgdVtummL2mkUc/s640/blogger-image--1239867941.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwLEjqgOg-NOw_vyN4yRSFwihPfaGzaDAlgdjArmjUSDDkl2Mt34gpPn1djPlE3cxR9lrYf-bSFHzlZoXryv7-ru7Fx8rE5yVtu6o69odcmRYFxmKcZkD39vzVVbuOWhgdVtummL2mkUc/s640/blogger-image--1239867941.jpg"></a></div>We were met at Bad Honnef by my cousin, Renate, the lady to the left under the sign.</div></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03580356548298261458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8012422406657732557.post-32629383587005117052013-09-20T00:18:00.001-07:002013-09-20T01:16:05.216-07:00From Heidelberg to Koblenz<div>Yesterday morning, we spent a few more hours strolling around Heidelberg. Fortunately, the rain had subsided. We walked along the river Neckar down to the Alte Brücke (old bridge). There was much information there about when the river has flooded in the past. I think it was in 1784 that the waters rose nearly all the way to the top of the bridge. But that's not all. Flooding is a regular event, with the water levels rising high at various times in the 20th century, and as recent as 20 years ago.</div><div><br></div><div>We caught the 13.55 train to Koblenz, where we arrived at a quarter to four. Fifteen minutes after leaving Heidelberg, we stopped in Mannheim, and it was not too long after that that the scenery became more interesting. Between Stuttgart and Heidelberg, the scenery had been very green, with rolling hills. The landscape had reminded me of the very best kept golf courses I've ever seen. But now, after Mannheim, the Rhine river soon came into view. The Rhine seems to flow along a narrow valley, with hills on both sides. Quite often, you would see a castle on the hill, beckoning foreign passengers to put down their books and newspapers and peer out the window.</div><div><br></div><div>Once we arrived in Koblenz, we followed the ridiculously long trail to the Tourist Information office, and accidentally found our hotel. We never went to the Tourist Info office. After checking in, we walked down to the Rhine, and headed along to a boat ticket office, where we purchased tickets along the river to Bad Honnef. We then took the cable car over the Rhine and up the hill on the left bank. There is an elaborately built lookout tower there, offering sweeping views up and down the river. Not only the Rhine. Koblenz is where the river Mosel drains into the Rhine. We witnessed much commercial traffic as well as river cruises on the two rivers.</div><div><br></div><div>There is also a fortress on top of the hill here, and I never got round to finding out what prisoners were kept here, but it's at least a few hundred years old. We toured the fortress quickly, and flew back over the river in the cable car. We then walked around the large statue of William I, and walked along the Mosel a little, stopping momentarily to inspect the pear trees with plenty of fruit on them. Shortly, we took a left turn, and eventually found a very nice restaurant in which to have dinner. The waitress accidentally brought lamb cutlets instead of filets. But I didn't mind.</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu6KERnr4FOdCq6aHsQlYr09tNGRKPtIrGWNo1lSn3xrRdJvD8fL3BJtMA6KNQ0AvyoQGVNZD95UB3Io_BlSZuqiB5L47sq6zchoJ6SYm17E6tZ9BKo8LCYMiDzUdJujicakDcgoXLOiI/s640/blogger-image--1787553099.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu6KERnr4FOdCq6aHsQlYr09tNGRKPtIrGWNo1lSn3xrRdJvD8fL3BJtMA6KNQ0AvyoQGVNZD95UB3Io_BlSZuqiB5L47sq6zchoJ6SYm17E6tZ9BKo8LCYMiDzUdJujicakDcgoXLOiI/s640/blogger-image--1787553099.jpg"></a></div>On the river Neckar in Heidelberg, approaching the Alte Brücke</div></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwTAvPyve29dE9OrsyzPyMT3S60WZrcE6jgf0isQrjonrDF9hafFbGqnNU8Hca4fDqy5vR6FDxO6tZNmjvkGSatsxYDQ1e4AAQ1mSwRq95Bxp3AudfF3n5Dy48d6xBTUPlphpv4PFEYg8/s640/blogger-image--2113431130.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwTAvPyve29dE9OrsyzPyMT3S60WZrcE6jgf0isQrjonrDF9hafFbGqnNU8Hca4fDqy5vR6FDxO6tZNmjvkGSatsxYDQ1e4AAQ1mSwRq95Bxp3AudfF3n5Dy48d6xBTUPlphpv4PFEYg8/s640/blogger-image--2113431130.jpg"></a></div>On the Alte Brücke, the Gates to the city of Heidelberg</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheE1PzN2QZr0x0iYWc-5nWqpefteWNllhOtWlhYdMBdQxdBS3b4A_c8GEHBaPXxYPk6LxGjPfHmPO2ZsXR96XXg9XB3y3xaPR467hSBKboZknQi4CsMiGwwSJt7bdXBb2b_3L5qv-o17I/s640/blogger-image--1293413484.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheE1PzN2QZr0x0iYWc-5nWqpefteWNllhOtWlhYdMBdQxdBS3b4A_c8GEHBaPXxYPk6LxGjPfHmPO2ZsXR96XXg9XB3y3xaPR467hSBKboZknQi4CsMiGwwSJt7bdXBb2b_3L5qv-o17I/s640/blogger-image--1293413484.jpg"></a></div>At Heidelberg: passengers stepping off a boat</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLlJsbDcXos9LtGxMrV8erXHTkwIFcWxH9_oo3EqXN5zLDD_B2x-sRawd2TlwuN7ELWsJJlkcH8ZwJm1LnpHPvblE_SJGKU3C9g4Vdg2zH56iI1wTOTKp8M6kkPBKJv3AVDsfJtWEVKDM/s640/blogger-image-577895988.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLlJsbDcXos9LtGxMrV8erXHTkwIFcWxH9_oo3EqXN5zLDD_B2x-sRawd2TlwuN7ELWsJJlkcH8ZwJm1LnpHPvblE_SJGKU3C9g4Vdg2zH56iI1wTOTKp8M6kkPBKJv3AVDsfJtWEVKDM/s640/blogger-image-577895988.jpg"></a></div>At Koblenz, we caught a cable car across the Rhine...</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjng-wM9-foKmGVPHubbWky_hYIl62SPI2x1T7gRDHLtBacFv4A97ROCL2CyIlrYBsgpeCQQevtiLWBcqoWHq_indwzypZZ2EbD0ivIq9mJJQ3CiY1RJwJ6X_8A4g3sM_CfbUzHPcllRk0/s640/blogger-image-330321998.jpg" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); "></div><div>...and climbed the hill to an old fortress...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBbbO_4gPA4ZAXPMkuLRgCuK4d15JzA7GeDE24PQlk1rKWqW0AKGEp-Dj1HTWaxXIAW-B9dUTTypEHe8RWYJruZNfTvPDJhHazKDjUyArzGD0YXt1DYvlc9GApNDKVDQ2c3K-hSPgwnTs/s640/blogger-image--1416614832.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBbbO_4gPA4ZAXPMkuLRgCuK4d15JzA7GeDE24PQlk1rKWqW0AKGEp-Dj1HTWaxXIAW-B9dUTTypEHe8RWYJruZNfTvPDJhHazKDjUyArzGD0YXt1DYvlc9GApNDKVDQ2c3K-hSPgwnTs/s640/blogger-image--1416614832.jpg"></a></div>Near the old fortress, this elaborate lookout offers sweeping views up and down the Rhine as well as over the city of Koblenz.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaxkznmUiMXWtkuBBV2S_4v2gNHc9nk4o5fZvgDKd_gHy8rp2LYxlftY0n3a5Hz4_mIZizyD5wwCFo_hVD07Iq25l2d1Dmm499JigAScfTov6TsxAEQrL7UKCEtpLjYR1MCJTbiYPBUf4/s640/blogger-image--1921469718.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaxkznmUiMXWtkuBBV2S_4v2gNHc9nk4o5fZvgDKd_gHy8rp2LYxlftY0n3a5Hz4_mIZizyD5wwCFo_hVD07Iq25l2d1Dmm499JigAScfTov6TsxAEQrL7UKCEtpLjYR1MCJTbiYPBUf4/s640/blogger-image--1921469718.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">From the lookout, one can see the river Mosel draining into the Rhine. A barge carries coal in the foreground.</div><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlNsVNu5pLGJdT_Cduor4cQwecAuAkgjDoy2T00ifUgVRODl9-17LYby_H32hhs_3gqhF_fBgJEl1eoya0yb-luazwS2j36SVhpDcBZcb9oqAmdI707y1sw0N9U6f7ckUNz1_8eXaNpzU/s640/blogger-image-1709147447.jpg" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); "></div><div>The old fortress at the top of the hill on the Rhine's left bank</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3quAZASt96wstWfp1EbxTZagTtDSSPynS9LNv3BjeDL3xwWjUpo09KbkrFetjQ6b4m81kfo4mUxQS3qS7GXF_w6g76GoUyHLi0r1tiOlMyoSbtDnQM9jlPOCOlcZRtYvwhk0C9sEtPQM/s640/blogger-image-1714395954.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3quAZASt96wstWfp1EbxTZagTtDSSPynS9LNv3BjeDL3xwWjUpo09KbkrFetjQ6b4m81kfo4mUxQS3qS7GXF_w6g76GoUyHLi0r1tiOlMyoSbtDnQM9jlPOCOlcZRtYvwhk0C9sEtPQM/s640/blogger-image-1714395954.jpg"></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The walls were roughly 45-50 feet high.</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGCuVTRbC2GpMqtBwsA3vLl7_qsIw-IK5iI50XUXytpUGwgzatubXNlLEa9Crr7ITKjkMl6VBPx23ZuKtY-YmjLKBUkOut7110tFhCWNIuTzE0b1wtOaDtAHyXPOxkRPOXqEbh1j31rdo/s640/blogger-image--247932030.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGCuVTRbC2GpMqtBwsA3vLl7_qsIw-IK5iI50XUXytpUGwgzatubXNlLEa9Crr7ITKjkMl6VBPx23ZuKtY-YmjLKBUkOut7110tFhCWNIuTzE0b1wtOaDtAHyXPOxkRPOXqEbh1j31rdo/s640/blogger-image--247932030.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); "> Not much chance of prisoners escaping.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc4OI9FhwoA6UeLlXpCa3L7A6ctaiUggamvkHSzMAgnzhzErJ1MTe6CuOLc4FjgyZ50ZDQ4cYmH57jRattYRrHMITTTSff9rOzJcvIHMZxw78uGa0L99GCjcdXhd96zhQQdzgueOd-w_4/s640/blogger-image-1426040346.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc4OI9FhwoA6UeLlXpCa3L7A6ctaiUggamvkHSzMAgnzhzErJ1MTe6CuOLc4FjgyZ50ZDQ4cYmH57jRattYRrHMITTTSff9rOzJcvIHMZxw78uGa0L99GCjcdXhd96zhQQdzgueOd-w_4/s640/blogger-image-1426040346.jpg"></a></div>A statue of William I watches the Mosel drain into the Rhine.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM1uY2cIprDZxhae5PeGMVigeoqVPJnoB6wcf8KuPLYOu8a6EG5I9Iz_h3vsillNFPdy1jy0DfMdl2OVwM7ucedZxsTK57Rf58lqi3f9SEVVQfEQcbrUDNUmtqWAuunTVUu8EXAFKmHiY/s640/blogger-image--971894570.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM1uY2cIprDZxhae5PeGMVigeoqVPJnoB6wcf8KuPLYOu8a6EG5I9Iz_h3vsillNFPdy1jy0DfMdl2OVwM7ucedZxsTK57Rf58lqi3f9SEVVQfEQcbrUDNUmtqWAuunTVUu8EXAFKmHiY/s640/blogger-image--971894570.jpg"></a></div></div></div><div>This is a memorial to the victims of the division of Germany. The middle block shows the date 17 June 1953 - when demonstrations against conditions in the former East Germany were crushed by the East German government. The right-hand block shows the date 9 November 1989 - when East German leader Egon Krenz allowed East Germans to cross freely into the West for the first time. The Berlin Wall began to be dismantled shortly afterwards, leading to the Reunification of Germany in 1990.</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjThpImdzNA6RpwjrPprRR2tWiwlWH4jnQu0qdYM5uzvTkJirqP6ls0_Wtj3sPQvEmQR7vYYaqXAZwcUTcSFfkSQvttNo9EAMH0ifzy-V-pGsWmlQjTS5rQIeNJQPwRJX7mzBK7ubTVJis/s640/blogger-image-1156530224.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjThpImdzNA6RpwjrPprRR2tWiwlWH4jnQu0qdYM5uzvTkJirqP6ls0_Wtj3sPQvEmQR7vYYaqXAZwcUTcSFfkSQvttNo9EAMH0ifzy-V-pGsWmlQjTS5rQIeNJQPwRJX7mzBK7ubTVJis/s640/blogger-image-1156530224.jpg"></a></div>The reverse of the memorial shows the blocks are an L-shape, indicating these are probably pieces of the Berlin Wall.</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4UOaEr0Ejnop3UyklspiJ5xwwZ6Hn4gCQuquiMoaKoQ3mVkwIsyIeWnzhJzQ4aW5HwliUIj3KPVoD7Qtm5AOpVTmEgb2he2afgC3xZsAa5eGdk2SLSZqLjXQqItIEVK5xwrH_MSZnfmo/s640/blogger-image--392925396.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4UOaEr0Ejnop3UyklspiJ5xwwZ6Hn4gCQuquiMoaKoQ3mVkwIsyIeWnzhJzQ4aW5HwliUIj3KPVoD7Qtm5AOpVTmEgb2he2afgC3xZsAa5eGdk2SLSZqLjXQqItIEVK5xwrH_MSZnfmo/s640/blogger-image--392925396.jpg"></a></div>Charming Koblenz</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03580356548298261458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8012422406657732557.post-31995378166641969942013-09-18T09:03:00.001-07:002013-09-28T09:36:17.910-07:00The rain in Heidelberg is wet.<div>Ever since we left Italy at the end of August, we've had regular rain. It rained in Lucerne, Innsbruck, Salzburg, Vienna, and Stuttgart. And it rained again today in Heidelberg. The rain was quite steady in Salzburg as it was for part of the time in Vienna. When we entered the Altstadt here in Heidelberg, it wasn't raining. But after a couple of hours, the rain fell very heavily.</div><div><br></div><div>During our travels on the Continent, rain never really affected us until we reached Switzerland. We had a downpour in Pisa which lasted no more than an hour. At Ephesus, we had about three drops of rain while we ate lunch. We did get rain in Venice but only at night and it didn't present a problem. We had carried our rain coats in our bags all the way from Australia and never used them until Venice. Since Lucerne, we've used them a lot. But today was different. Today's rain, once it started, didn't stop. This rain was heavy enough that it penetrated through to our clothing beneath the raincoats, and we literally got soaked.</div><div><br></div><div>We'd been on the hunt for any possible signs in the University of Heidelberg that my relative, Henry Thode (whose villa at Lake Garda we toured nearly three weeks ago), was remembered in any way. He was a Professor here in the 1890s, and I was curious to know whether there might be a small picture of him hanging on a wall or something similar. I knew it was a long shot, but I thought worth a try. We made several enquiries about the location of this institute. It seemed to be somewhere near a small church not far from the Haupstrasse. We found ourselves going round and round in circles. We couldn't find it. Then the rain came and made life more difficult. Once our inner clothing got soaked, we gave up the hunt. </div><div><br></div><div>A happy postscript is that our hotel room has a sufficient heating system for drying our clothes!</div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRvBPUieOHSPjjBy1XCq6rQUyozBePGFg1Z51sTuUWlLzqjb8uvv-yculnfc3z6V4AKPptEwvjFIZiS9ng5OCpW5_mvBi6o0u4yVf6oGc7K-n1LOjeKeZDmeHaJNFQd4OrRfbHPrLlp1I/s640/blogger-image-883385609.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRvBPUieOHSPjjBy1XCq6rQUyozBePGFg1Z51sTuUWlLzqjb8uvv-yculnfc3z6V4AKPptEwvjFIZiS9ng5OCpW5_mvBi6o0u4yVf6oGc7K-n1LOjeKeZDmeHaJNFQd4OrRfbHPrLlp1I/s640/blogger-image-883385609.jpg"></a></div>A scene in Heidelberg: Heidelberg Castle is on the hill behind, and is a ruin.</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzVC5zraS77Ox1otXauGHycISPkUep2xpuUXpDVW71EPlvTwmSa45iggyazNpm1HHYOz9y2vKD3nQS4EfnOsiGNX1X5mYf3uJy7IrHH8r0zY7fczgVxiHBqeE3A52AHRnxrdHhyphenhyphenNWjZUw/s640/blogger-image-839166215.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzVC5zraS77Ox1otXauGHycISPkUep2xpuUXpDVW71EPlvTwmSa45iggyazNpm1HHYOz9y2vKD3nQS4EfnOsiGNX1X5mYf3uJy7IrHH8r0zY7fczgVxiHBqeE3A52AHRnxrdHhyphenhyphenNWjZUw/s640/blogger-image-839166215.jpg"></a></div>Haupstrasse, or the main street in the Altstadt</div></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic1UN9Gaee6-Cv0bKkPsPyvHiXMMbZ8hinO0bFjEkwaQBhIMjcesMkAK0UK8By5cRN-VaVtGyNPOZYD1YIEDqBjncPb0xTOIV7Jg8xJ9UTHghkn0TYwIJ7nAI5ewKpwIs5dExxueFTfZQ/s640/blogger-image-421021911.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic1UN9Gaee6-Cv0bKkPsPyvHiXMMbZ8hinO0bFjEkwaQBhIMjcesMkAK0UK8By5cRN-VaVtGyNPOZYD1YIEDqBjncPb0xTOIV7Jg8xJ9UTHghkn0TYwIJ7nAI5ewKpwIs5dExxueFTfZQ/s640/blogger-image-421021911.jpg"></a></div>Heidelberg is a very hilly city.</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS2sE0rWtWqOlR6N9Vn1vUgwPkyVWQErDusB7BU7xtveRtDmNGgLMJ2Hz0cl6i7p3gyWElIdl5mveIXlsQQepL55gDwS5G6nPQX48EKmNzTy3Zhq8aRbtoBBsb31hMVdviTbjLPztzOA4/s640/blogger-image-1007154927.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS2sE0rWtWqOlR6N9Vn1vUgwPkyVWQErDusB7BU7xtveRtDmNGgLMJ2Hz0cl6i7p3gyWElIdl5mveIXlsQQepL55gDwS5G6nPQX48EKmNzTy3Zhq8aRbtoBBsb31hMVdviTbjLPztzOA4/s640/blogger-image-1007154927.jpg"></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The Heiliggeistkirche, or Church of the Holy Ghost, has stood here for 600 years.</div></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03580356548298261458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8012422406657732557.post-35406993696520846782013-09-18T03:26:00.001-07:002013-09-18T03:40:28.631-07:00Will this holiday (and blog) ever end?As I lay in bed still half asleep this morning, the room still dark and my eyes not yet open, I wondered what city I was in. Mentally, I drifted through the cities and towns of central Europe until finally I arrived at Stuttgart, our location at that time. Jean later told me she too is beginning to lose track of where we are. Our grand tour of Europe is in its thirteenth week, but we are conscious now that it is drawing to a close.<div><br></div><div>Our journey has gone on for so long. I remember recently in Lucerne I was beginning to feel like a bludger, someone who doesn't work and just loafs around doing nothing. We are now in Heidelberg, where we will spend the night. Tomorrow, we will go to Koblenz, which is on the Rhine. Bad Honnef is also on the Rhine as is Köln. We will visit each of these places. After spending a couple of nights with relatives in Detmold early next week, we will proceed to Amsterdam where we will spend four nights. </div><div><br></div><div>After Amsterdam, we will visit The Hague briefly and finally Brussells. After two nights there, we will fly to Heathrow, change planes and fly to Dubai again. After one night in Dubai, we will fly home to Australia.</div><div><br></div><div>We are here in Heidelberg to find what we can on my relative, Henry Thode's time here at the University of Heidelberg where he was Professor of Music in the 1890s. We may find nothing, but we'll see. Bad Honnef is also connected to my family history. In Amsterdam, I'm looking forward to seeing the secret annexe that Ann Frank and her family hid in for two years during the Second World War. We'll have a canal ride there, and spend a couple of days with friends from Wales. In The Hague, we hope to see the International Criminal Court, and, in Brussells, we hope to see something of the European Union.</div><div><br></div><div>I will keep this blog going until we arrive back home in Canberra, where I'll provide my first impressions of life back in more 'familiar' surroundings. So, don't go away.</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03580356548298261458noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8012422406657732557.post-41989948919202398252013-09-17T07:52:00.001-07:002013-09-17T07:52:49.775-07:00From Vienna to Stuttgart<div>This morning, we were in the eastern part of Austria. By lunch, we were in the southwest of Germany. For the first time on this journey, we had wintery conditions today. Actually, we had a little of everything, wind, cloud, sun. And this morning, before leaving Vienna, it was raining during our pre-dawn hike to the airport bus.</div><div><br></div><div>This afternoon, we walked around Stuttgart. We only came here because we needed to. It puts us closer to where we are heading next, namely the Rhine area. Stuttgart is essentially a very boring place. It looks very modern actually. Jean's theory is this is because it must have been heavily bombed during the war. Certainly, Köln (Cologne) was heavily bombed.</div><div><br></div><div>The only really exciting event today was due to the wind. A barricade along the side of the road blew over as we were passing it, and it slammed against a passing jeep. The annoyed occupants jumped out and took photos of the scene with their smart phones. Later, in an outdoor restaurant, a large standing menu blew over and smashed a guy on his head. We don't think he was hurt though. It had been cold until then, and I thought we'd left the wasps behind in Austria and Switzerland. Then the sun came out, and the wasps came out! They've been everywhere. A complete pain.</div><div><br></div><div>Tomorrow, we visit Heidelberg briefly, and next Koblenz. Shortly, we will go to pretty Bad Honnef on the river Rhine, where my great-grandfather was born in 1864.</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhml6qCqNb9AvnJjywWZx6hMOIPboxuiM_otVZwPs2aDhwEje1fqDRE8mA05YvfIF8EFHkvEaSHkjoYuDynbinfqKEcPmCwlVfLLNSoM2XQYvLNh7T9XoB_4BqMvXuJ9KQX7iPaSoUpbqY/s640/blogger-image--974915248.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhml6qCqNb9AvnJjywWZx6hMOIPboxuiM_otVZwPs2aDhwEje1fqDRE8mA05YvfIF8EFHkvEaSHkjoYuDynbinfqKEcPmCwlVfLLNSoM2XQYvLNh7T9XoB_4BqMvXuJ9KQX7iPaSoUpbqY/s640/blogger-image--974915248.jpg"></a></div></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">An open space in the middle of town</div></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9bxIoRsFktvNeoy1z7GFg-qYd-rMPfm0gylqI_pX9y-ako1t73tMwFBionGZCBqMI3ouPk690fIJlw16XK4WosbCs7DasF_V74sbjfE8O01TpTznngViN4xBjSRgjtitWLpUWqlyRiDw/s640/blogger-image--2104691845.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9bxIoRsFktvNeoy1z7GFg-qYd-rMPfm0gylqI_pX9y-ako1t73tMwFBionGZCBqMI3ouPk690fIJlw16XK4WosbCs7DasF_V74sbjfE8O01TpTznngViN4xBjSRgjtitWLpUWqlyRiDw/s640/blogger-image--2104691845.jpg"></a></div></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The wind blew this barricade down which slammed this jeep. The occupants are surveying the damage.</div></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihPYOTgG09gPG07m0wCTTKl-6h9uOmnX5BWcJAUwP2l-aMt4UTMFsym2BpJQ3XJf9yIZJaj6u16oLG30JgXVgb-6dZmJOjkSz9xiCH34o4VMbbC0nxuQ-q71P4naaDbvsIC4wPANMhKSU/s640/blogger-image--1340085383.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihPYOTgG09gPG07m0wCTTKl-6h9uOmnX5BWcJAUwP2l-aMt4UTMFsym2BpJQ3XJf9yIZJaj6u16oLG30JgXVgb-6dZmJOjkSz9xiCH34o4VMbbC0nxuQ-q71P4naaDbvsIC4wPANMhKSU/s640/blogger-image--1340085383.jpg"></a></div>Statue of Schiller who attended school in Stuttgart</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaFFvEjHSXVWLJANfkW5K-l1L9RQw5qzNEikJaaG2IZsEvsWGrt53vbf73pQyW5OuKzgwDRD4lP-Q_fwiSX8zcgzG_BHz9YHxEZ7PHIyo4YZqRiEm4ITwPeSn-aNTgcl2sVJAPW-cHuWM/s640/blogger-image--594061464.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaFFvEjHSXVWLJANfkW5K-l1L9RQw5qzNEikJaaG2IZsEvsWGrt53vbf73pQyW5OuKzgwDRD4lP-Q_fwiSX8zcgzG_BHz9YHxEZ7PHIyo4YZqRiEm4ITwPeSn-aNTgcl2sVJAPW-cHuWM/s640/blogger-image--594061464.jpg"></a></div></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">A very modern looking city in places</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9XXuSnuO_iz3yBMqQPWz1IebAv98hU7L6tokBzLzyyVYGCI9KwD_65FAfSuznIz8i30rdxYIfOEP1lv3ro9LeFkPWpbGPHKK46bCudIcCau3axsiomU7sy32gq0CjEy_ZVA5FcJLnOr0/s640/blogger-image--921638936.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9XXuSnuO_iz3yBMqQPWz1IebAv98hU7L6tokBzLzyyVYGCI9KwD_65FAfSuznIz8i30rdxYIfOEP1lv3ro9LeFkPWpbGPHKK46bCudIcCau3axsiomU7sy32gq0CjEy_ZVA5FcJLnOr0/s640/blogger-image--921638936.jpg"></a></div></div>Said to be Germany's first pedestrian zone</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03580356548298261458noreply@blogger.com0