Rome with Zabrina and Kathleen

We visited the shrine for St. Sabastian, just outside the city walls. It is also said that St. Peter and St. Paul may have been buried here as well. This church was built over the catacombs where the Christians and Romans were buried 2000 year ago.


The colosium at night. I'm trying so hard to be like my sister with my photography skills!!


At the National Museum of Rome


The Trevi Fountain


St. Peter's Basilica and the Vatican City. We did a fantastic tour through the Vatican Museum and of the Sistine Chapel.


We don't see nuns very often in Tennesse.


Zee and I in front of the Temple of Antoninus Pius and Fastina, built by the Senate to honor Emperor Antonius Pius and is wife, Faustina.


Inside the Coloseum, or the Flavian Amphitheater, that housed 50,000 fans 2,000 years ago.


Zee and I just outside of St. Peter's Basilica.


Steph, Kathleen, and Zee just after an amusing dinner!

I had a wonderful time with Zee and Kathleen when they came--I just wish I could've been with them longer. They stayed in Ketsch with me for a few days before heading to East Germany, Austria, Florence, and the Rome, where I met up with them. Plenty of Italian men were asking when Zee was coming back to visit! I really miss my family!

Starnberg/Berg with the Hales

During WWII, the Jews were marched through this area on their way to the Dachau concentration camps. In late 1945, a monument was erected in their honor.

Starnberg is one of the wealthiest areas in Germany! Andy was salivating as these cars were the norm. (that's a 1959 Corvette)


The Starnberger See, one of the many sights of King Ludwig II of Bavaria's playgrounds.


Incredible views during lunch with the Hales.


Bavaria is quite different than the rest of Germany. Bavarians still often wear their traditional dress in everyday life. We happened to stumble apon a Mayflag celebration in the local town of Berg.



Terri, Jim and I enjoying our last dinner!

Truly, our weekend with Jim and Terri was refreshing, both physically and spiritually. It was great to catch up with the Hales and learn about their ministry to the youth of Europe. Remarkable trip!

Garmisch-Partenkirchen

The Bavarian Alps were just breathtaking. Lake Eibsee is at the foot of Zugspitze.


The Zugspitze is the highest point in Germany, reaching 9,718 feet, and is just on the Austrian border. It was 78 degrees at the foot of the mountain, but people were skiing at the top!


At the top of Zugspitze!


The traditional Bavarian dress was sold at several stores. They are beautiful (and expensive).



Bavarian slap dancers.



We actually met the man who painted this building at a small pub in town.



The interior of this church from the 12th century was amazing.


This church was built in the 12th century!!


Painted houses and building is a common sight in Bavaria.

Easter in Speyer

Speyer Cathedral, built in 1030.

The front of the Cathedral

Service on Easter Sunday

The music was unbelievable.

The historic town of Speyer is about 7 miles away from us, housing this 1,000 year old cathedral. The town was a part of the Roman Empire 2,000 year ago. There is definitely something special about standing in a place where Christians have worshipped for a millennium.

Schwetszingen Castle Gardens

Schwetzingen Castle and its gardens, built between 1700 and 1750.


Directly behind us, on the other side of the lake, is the bike path that leads to our house.

Scenic views in the Schlossgarten

Quack

We love our neighbors!!! From left, Andy, our landlord Renate, Edith and Dieter (they live downstairs)

This Islamic mosque was built in the Schlossgarten during the 18th century to prove German tolerance of other world religions.

The Schloss gardens

Japanese Cherry trees in bloom

The Schwetzingen Castle (our neighbor Edith actually lived in this castle immediately following the war. The city was so destroyed by Allied bombing, she and her sisters had to move into a small room of this castle for several years until the city was rebuilt)

Albania April 09

London March-April

Sasha Robinson, one of my favorite people!


I felt so sorry for this guy, but this is the only place you can get your picture made with them.


The actual Rosetta Stone at the British Museum


I think these are only still there for picture opportunities. Who uses payphones anymore?


The beautiful Westminster Abbey, conveniently closed that day for a special event. We were not invited...


Sasha and I just after visiting the Tower of London in front of the Tower Bridge. We stayed just across the street!


This is where King Henry VIII lived and dined with all his many wives.


This is what Anne Boleyn was facing just before her beheading. Only 6 people were beheaded inside the tower walls. Everyone else had to die outside the tower.


The "graffiti" from the many, many prisoners awaiting their exectution from 500+ years ago at the Tower of London.


Big Ben and Parliament

Sasha, one of my best friends from middle and high school came to visit London with her husband, and I hopped the pond to meet up with them. I can't wait for her to come back! I'm so glad we are back in touch.

March 2009--Holland

Rotterdam is famous for its architecture. These are the cube apartments.


A view of Rotterdam from The EuroMast, 185 meters up.



In Amsterdam, this is the house (left) where Anne Frank lived in hiding for 2 years. I read her diary just before we went.



We went to The Keukenhof to see the famous tulips. It was beautiful!


During our trip, we visited Den Haag (also home to the International Criminal Court), where we learned how traditional herring is served...raw. There are also two styles of eating these fish, I chose to eat Rotterdam style.

So Dutch...and just my size! :)

Eating herring Rotterdam style.

At dinner in Rotterdam.

We really had an incredible time in Holland. The people are very friendly and speak English flawlessly which made our trip to this foreign country a bit easier. Also, Rotterdam boasted the largest port in the world until 2005, when two other ports started making their claims to the title (Singapore and Shanghai). Rotterdam can certainly boast a fascinting city for architecture. Most of the city was devistated during WWII, which left the city's future in the capable hands and minds of many brilliant modern architects. Truly a historic and beautiful city.

Amsterdam, perhaps more famous to Western culture for its liberal views on marijuana tolerance and the brothel scene, is actually a beautifully perserved city with tons of history. We weren't able to spend as much time there, but one of the highlights was, of course, to visit the Anne Frank museum.