tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-216913612024-03-19T03:59:05.165-04:00DragonflyRandom thoughts from a Marine Wife...Marine Wifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10464082946014198195noreply@blogger.comBlogger401125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21691361.post-56685043512891773952015-04-15T08:45:00.004-04:002015-04-15T08:45:55.717-04:00Few regrets<br />
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The other day, our teenager bought herself a minion coloring book and told me her one regret was not buying a huge plush minion last year at the Stuttgart Spring Bazaar. When I queried the "one regret," she responded with this gem:<br />
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"I lived in Europe. I don't have many regrets."</div>
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Marine Wifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10464082946014198195noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21691361.post-4898376396956571532015-04-10T09:04:00.000-04:002015-04-10T09:04:04.145-04:00Catching upWow! It's been a long time. Sorry about that. Life happens.<br />
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So… what's happened since the last time I wrote? Um, quite a bit, actually. We continued to enjoy our time in Europe and traveled as much as we could right up to the end. Then, we "enjoyed" the longest move of our lives. No, really. It started in March with pre-move appointments and the first pack-out happened in May. It didn't end until we received our last shipment in late August. It really was the never-ending move. Except it did end. Eventually.<br />
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Then, we moved right into schools and promotions and life in general. Of course, I've managed to sneak a few trips in since getting back to the U.S.<br />
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So, that's the quick synopsis. And I really will make an effort to post a little more often. Especially now that I've recovered the password to get back into the blog… <br />
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<br />Marine Wifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10464082946014198195noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21691361.post-81023568424929153602012-12-02T13:19:00.001-05:002012-12-02T13:19:36.809-05:00Eastern Med Cruise as seen by a kidWe just returned from our family's first ever cruise, a 10-day sailing thru the Eastern Med. I failed to realized that part of the 8 year old's homework during that time was to write at least 5 sentences about each of her days during the vacation. So she did it all today:<br />
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<i>What I Did On My Vacation </i><br />
<i>by Devil Pup</i><br />
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<i><u>Chapter 1 The Hotel</u></i><br />
<i>After we flew on airplane to Italy, the manger of the hotel picked us up by a van. He drove us to the hotel. The hotel was more like a ranch then a hotel.</i><br />
<i>There were cows and bulls everywhere.</i><br />
<i>The cows by the road would stampede down to oppiste side of the field when they saw you for ten seconds. The [A family] came to the hotel with us. But some people like the [B family], and the [C family], who came on the trip, but didn't go to the same hotel. We stayed at the hotel for two and half days, then we left.</i><br />
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<i><u>Chapter 2 Life On the Ship</u></i><br />
<i>Once we got on the ship we signed into kids club. Kids club is where you have fun when your parents aren't around. After that we went to the Garden Cafe for lunch. Once I went there when I was grumpy and the girl who worked there said, "Washie, Washie, Happy, Happy." Washie, Washie, is what they call handwash. Next we went to our room, it was so tiny! We went to the pool too, not the hottubs inside or the sauna and the spa. Also the Sports place and the fittness center. There was also a medical center and a briging room. In the briging room you could see what the captian and his crew were working on. Every night our steward would make animals our of towels, he made a rabbit, a elephant, a frog, peguin, mouse, monkey, crocdile, swan, and a duckky. I saw the stardust theather. The shows I saw were the sing off, 60's music, stars on strings, elements, and of course the one I played in the circus. My act was the feather you had to balnce the feather on your hand, finger, top of your finger, and chin. Mudusa Louge is where everybody went to dance after the show.</i><br />
<i>Also the Casino where people smoked and drank beer and play games, it's disgusting!</i><br />
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<u><i>Chapter 3 Olmpia Greece</i></u><br />
<i> When our ship landded we got on a bus. We went to where they had the first olmpics. We got to run in the stadium. Then L got hurt. She was bleeding. But luckily she felt better soon. Next we saw where the tourch was held. I learned that olmpics are held all over the world but the tourch is always held in olmpia. Also I learned the olmpics were held for the fake god Zues. Then I learned only a free man could play in the olmpics. After that I learned Greeks play naked because they liked to show thier bodies.</i><br />
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<u><i>Chapter 4 Athens Greece</i></u><br />
<i>When we went to a mountain next to a city, some dogs followed us. The tour guide said they were stray dogs and you might not want to toch them because they have fleas. Next we went to the ruined city next to us. We also saw the oldest theater in the world. There was a really good view up there.</i><br />
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<u><i>Chapter 5 Istanbul Turkey</i></u><br />
<i>In Istanbul we went to the Blue Mosque. You hafe to take your shoes off because the people who pray there put there head on the floor. Next we went to the Spice Bazar I got a mudusa eye. The We went to Haggia Sophia. After that we went to the Underground Palce. There were huge fish there. I got to go to two contentnets because Istanbul is in Asia and Europe.</i><br />
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<u><i>Chapter 6 Pompeii and Naples</i></u><br />
<i>We saw a theater where the actors were slaves. We saw a pregnet woman who died from the blast. Then it started raining the ruined streets were flooding with water. Then it started hailing hard but good thing I had my hood on. We saw a woman who died with her lover in the blast. I got to eat pizza where pizza was invented in the city of Naples.</i><br />
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<i><u></u> </i><u><i></i></u>Marine Wifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10464082946014198195noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21691361.post-65848129957958650722012-09-17T09:57:00.000-04:002012-09-17T09:57:04.778-04:00The things we do for love... For some reason, my youngest is <strike>fascinated</strike> obsessed with Egypt. At 7, she would tell anyone that would listen all about the ancient Egyptians embalming procedures. Seriously.<br />
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Since we moved here a year ago, she has been begging me to paint her room. This turned into wanting a mural of Eypt in her room. Yeah, that wasn't going to happen. <br />
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So my compromise was to paint her a faux mini mural. It had to be flat enough to fit against her wall but also large enough to make her feel she was getting a mural. Thankfully, her room is tiny. <br />
I used one of those tri-fold cardboard science fair boards and acrylic craft pain. Voila. She has her painting. <br />
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If I were going to do this again, I'd probably just go ahead and get the canvas board instead. <br />
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<br />Marine Wifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10464082946014198195noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21691361.post-7076119399072646632011-11-27T14:57:00.001-05:002011-11-27T14:57:10.225-05:00Our Paris trip<object width="425" height="425" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab" classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000"><param name="movie" value="http://images-community.shutterfly.com/flashapps/slideshow/slideshow-ui.swf"/><param name="flashvars" value="configXMLURL=http://images-community.shutterfly.com/flashapps/slideshow/config/config-share.xml&slideshowModuleURL=http://images-community.shutterfly.com/flashapps/slideshow/slideshow-module.swf&projectGUID=0VYuWbhky90M&swfName=slideshowFlashContent&showReplay=true"/><param name="menu" value="false"/><param name="quality" value="best"/><param name="wmode" value="transparent"/><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"/><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"/><embed width="425" height="425" align="middle" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" name="wrapper" quality="best" menu="false" allowfullscreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" flashvars="configXMLURL=http://images-community.shutterfly.com/flashapps/slideshow/config/config-share.xml&slideshowModuleURL=http://images-community.shutterfly.com/flashapps/slideshow/slideshow-module.swf&projectGUID=0VYuWbhky90M&swfName=slideshowFlashContent&showReplay=true" src="http://images-community.shutterfly.com/flashapps/slideshow/slideshow-ui.swf"></embed></object><p style="width:425px;margin-top:0;text-align:center;"><a href="http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0VYuWbhkydM&eid=115">Click here to view this photo book larger</a><div style="margin-top: 10px; width: 425px; text-align: center;">Shutterfly offers exclusive <a href="http://www.shutterfly.com/photo-books" style="color: #6666cc;">photobook layouts</a> so you can make your book just the way you want.</div><img width="1" height="1" border="0" style="padding: 0; background: #ffffff; border: none; box-shadow: none;" src="https://os.shutterfly.com/b/ss/sflyshareprod/1/H.15/111?pageName=sharekey&c1=photobook&c2=blogger" /></p>Marine Wifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10464082946014198195noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21691361.post-22066249722003009262011-10-15T15:10:00.000-04:002011-10-15T15:10:52.161-04:00"There I was... There. I. Was..."Stretch likes to tell the girls ridiculous, fantastical stories that have come to be known in our home as "There I Was" stories because that's how they all start: "There I was. There I was. There. I. Was..." Last summer, for some unknown reason, many of the stories featured go-go boots and a long white silk scarf. As a result, Devil Pup has been asking for go-go boots since last summer. (Yes. I blame her father.) <br />
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Recently, Devil Pup acquired a pair of red, low-calf zippered patent leather boots. She has worn them almost non-stop since getting them.<br />
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The girls are also encouraged to tell their own "There I Was" stories. Today, Stretch asked Devil Pup to tell one. It was quite short and a bit lacking in plot. But we thought it was hysterical. It went something like this:<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><i>There I was. </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>I was wearing red go-go boots. </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>And I was looking sassy. </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>The end.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div>Marine Wifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10464082946014198195noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21691361.post-91652027460174595112011-10-12T07:18:00.002-04:002011-10-12T07:25:41.811-04:00Our last full day in Paris...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2K0oH3vpXPVcRd0qS7O9wJD_5y7sGDUt7aoWYwC-gxfI8Mk13S5iaBDVENqdTL2gLdDfDrj1vxpaEdniVclmE4w1SdHsM8r42GWq-d2HOXQAAKBkwcGbb12AFrNe4evrz7I08/s1600/P1030525.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2K0oH3vpXPVcRd0qS7O9wJD_5y7sGDUt7aoWYwC-gxfI8Mk13S5iaBDVENqdTL2gLdDfDrj1vxpaEdniVclmE4w1SdHsM8r42GWq-d2HOXQAAKBkwcGbb12AFrNe4evrz7I08/s200/P1030525.JPG" width="200" /></a>The next morning found us at the same bakery as the previous morning getting breakfast to go before making our way to Invalides and the Musee d’Armee. Stretch was made very happy between the military history and the HUGE amount of artillery on display! We were awed by the intricate armor and weaponry. The attention to detail was incredible.<br />
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After getting our fill of military history, we made our way to the opposite end of the complex of Invalides to the Eglise du Dome, where Napolean’s tomb is located. Big Sis wondered why such a small statured person had such a large tomb.<br />
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Across the street, we found Musee Rodin where the girls posed with The Thinker and we wandered the gardens enjoying more of the scupture’s works. I had intended for us to follow this with Musee du Moyen Age so we could see the tombstone of Nicholas Flamel and the 6 Lady and Unicorn tapestries. However, the general consensus was that we should move on to the river cruise with <a href="http://www.bateauxparisiens.com/">Bateaux Parisiens</a>, an hour-long boat tour that began at the foot of the Eiffel Tower , passed under a number of bridges including Pont Alexandre III and Pont Neuf, floating past the Ile de Cite before returning.<br />
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It had been a rainy, gloomy day until that point, so after disembarking from the boat, we thought we’d check the line at Tour Eiffel since we were so close. Once there, Stretch, Big Sis and Devil Pup decided to take the stairs up the Tower. I decided to stay behind and people watch. They ended up climbing all the way to the 2<sup>nd</sup> stage! Clearly, they all enjoyed it as they returned to the ground happy and excited.<br />
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By then, we were all getting hungry and decided to try to find a family friendly chain restaurant just off the Avenue du Champs Elysees called<a href="http://www.hippopotamus.fr/"> hippopotamus</a>. The first location was no longer there but we accidentally found another location. It was wonderful! And the kids’ meals came with enormous ice cream desserts.<br />
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After dinner, we strolled up the Champs Elysees to the Arc de Triomphe. After taking note of the arches, plaques on the ground and the eternal flame at the grave of the unknown soldier (from the First World War), we climbed circular stairs to enjoy the view from the terrace on top. The lights of the streets radiating from the Arc de Triomphe were pretty but the piece de resistance had to be the Tour Eiffel lit up at night. Just when we thought we were enjoying a spectacular view, the Tower’s lighting changed and it began to sparkle! <br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"> What a perfect last night in the City of Light! </div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAWeWI6tuaRX7HLCHf_gh6_jZ1754dTXzs1a0mLEJfd9V8tlzQdTI4UdMffAMyScsVCDYg14b9Jtwy16UtMikfaMoegrJP9iqqTk4SsHqXUjB6QYxF4ocTr9296nQl_p2bz6ek/s1600/P1030824.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAWeWI6tuaRX7HLCHf_gh6_jZ1754dTXzs1a0mLEJfd9V8tlzQdTI4UdMffAMyScsVCDYg14b9Jtwy16UtMikfaMoegrJP9iqqTk4SsHqXUjB6QYxF4ocTr9296nQl_p2bz6ek/s320/P1030824.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Marine Wifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10464082946014198195noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21691361.post-71567146192265917532011-10-12T04:58:00.000-04:002011-10-12T04:58:19.194-04:00The Louvre, Notre Dame, Musee D'Orsay, and Musee Grevin ... Oh, my!<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves/> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:DoNotPromoteQF/> <w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/> <w:DontVertAlignCellWithSp/> <w:DontBreakConstrainedForcedTables/> <w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/> <w:Word11KerningPairs/> <w:CachedColBalance/> </w:Compatibility> <m:mathPr> <m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/> <m:brkBin m:val="before"/> <m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/> <m:smallFrac m:val="off"/> <m:dispDef/> <m:lMargin m:val="0"/> <m:rMargin m:val="0"/> <m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/> <m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/> <m:intLim m:val="subSup"/> <m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUVJaP6Y-O-X0ardX6gV4TVzvGZRCHzN8yAKlMkARCTxIVlt7FDGME9kj6AQKJ0wZ2nCKEbRmmqC_OEtD8I3oAfrVbQOYblVtocVzlaCRsH8gBIVofqwY07yZxhB68RaPE27is/s1600/P1030316.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUVJaP6Y-O-X0ardX6gV4TVzvGZRCHzN8yAKlMkARCTxIVlt7FDGME9kj6AQKJ0wZ2nCKEbRmmqC_OEtD8I3oAfrVbQOYblVtocVzlaCRsH8gBIVofqwY07yZxhB68RaPE27is/s200/P1030316.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>The next day, we wanted to get to the Louvre just before opening. We didn't quite make it, but were still early enough that the crowd in front of the Mona Lisa wasn't too bad. Our strategy for this stop was to hit the highlights. After all, there is just no way to see all of it in one day, especially with kids in tow. Big Sis was able to see her Greek Antiquities and Devil Pup saw her Egyptian Antiquities, or at least some of them. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh17kC-3Uzw6A17MG9tFYnV81G-wy2ybuvNwltHWK7_c5VgvufeZCfyDXd_YZSLBOorLdin1v5eyb_IQXqAiyN5MZx4V1-EoVK42w4sx1yP3yCwPNmH6EuomXT-vZTMdqn3s3ix/s1600/P1030385.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh17kC-3Uzw6A17MG9tFYnV81G-wy2ybuvNwltHWK7_c5VgvufeZCfyDXd_YZSLBOorLdin1v5eyb_IQXqAiyN5MZx4V1-EoVK42w4sx1yP3yCwPNmH6EuomXT-vZTMdqn3s3ix/s200/P1030385.JPG" width="150" /></a>After an hour or so, the girls were done with the museum. It was time for a snack and our next stop. We caught the Cars Rouge (a double decker hop-on, hop-off bus tour that is included in the Paris Pass) and went to the Cathedrale du Notre Dame on Ile de Cite. The line to get into the cathedral was ridiculous. And the main reason we were there was to go up the towers so we got in line for Tours du Notre Dame. It was a long line. And it was cold. We ate lunch in that line. Stretch found a vendor across the street and brought us hot dogs in baguettes with cheese. <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ066xlXSbU2Cnfvcs3bjAX9oJIdQAoPbeJuTslFLyDzWOSg_znpRvqpk6mTuY_C45s6LolY-p9okVIzbj7BTvDBUoCZMdPsUCmSYgc2bds3YpwyXwNq9Grg6VZc2GPS0n8R71/s1600/P1030389.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ066xlXSbU2Cnfvcs3bjAX9oJIdQAoPbeJuTslFLyDzWOSg_znpRvqpk6mTuY_C45s6LolY-p9okVIzbj7BTvDBUoCZMdPsUCmSYgc2bds3YpwyXwNq9Grg6VZc2GPS0n8R71/s200/P1030389.JPG" width="200" /></a>Eventually, we made it inside and started climbing the first tower.<span> </span>Gargoyles and chimera on a gray day – perfect!<span> </span>We also found ourselves inside the wooden bell tower after passing through a small door that the girls said looked like a Hobbit door.<br />
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Then it was back on the Cars Rouge to make our way to Musee d’Orsay.<span> </span>Although renovations were underway and areas were closed, we were still able to see a number of works including those of <span> </span>Paul Gauguin and Vincent Van Gogh, a favorite of Devil Pup’s.<span> </span><br />
After that we reboarded the Cars Rouge.<span> </span>We passed La Place du Concorde and the Egyptian Obelisk.<span> </span>Then we passed the Opera and disembarked to make our way to Musee Grevin, a wax museum.<span> </span>The girls had a great time posing with wax figures such as Jackie Chan, Naomi Campbell, Elvis Presley, Spiderman and Frankenstein’s Monster.<br />
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After dinner at an Irish pub nearby, it was back to our hotel.<span> </span>We all slept well that night!Marine Wifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10464082946014198195noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21691361.post-69376512750250097892011-10-11T16:36:00.001-04:002011-10-12T05:22:35.580-04:00Bonjour, Paris!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEice9AclFZ98fXcCP7JhcuHrICH2gRhK2k0VmSEeFAlXQOBv7MnenSG4stm1F14FD1RnkBSzfmrM2nQ_O3XEvWVQnVLyHs6E19wEAIlq6P6IGegOfJpiafLlDhHYFXYaT_0AegF/s1600/P1030233+-+Copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEice9AclFZ98fXcCP7JhcuHrICH2gRhK2k0VmSEeFAlXQOBv7MnenSG4stm1F14FD1RnkBSzfmrM2nQ_O3XEvWVQnVLyHs6E19wEAIlq6P6IGegOfJpiafLlDhHYFXYaT_0AegF/s200/P1030233+-+Copy.JPG" width="150" /></a>For this trip, I purchased BahnCards when I bought our train tickets. They paid for themselves in the first trip! It was less expensive to buy the cards and get the 25% discount on the tickets than to simply buy the tickets without the discount. I wish I'd known to do this for our earlier Berlin trip!<br />
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After a 4-hour ride on the TGV, we arrived at Paris' Gare L'Est in the early afternoon. We bought day passes for the Metro and made our way to our hotel, <a href="http://www.foch-paris-hotel.com/uk/index.php">Hotel Residence Foch</a>. After dropping our bags in our room, we set out to find lunch and the Hard Rock Cafe to pick up our 2-day Paris Passes. Lunch was bought at a street-side stand on the Avenue la Grande Armee which was lined on one side with white tents occupied by antique and art vendors. We ate while walking toward the Arc de Triomphe.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIH18oIZZAVbAFkrRLgWSbTbJPWCoWqKYYlBKIGBvYLJWQ3ZAlLokjCsIdOWH43KAUnEfsojCjazqsdXd4vN00YTHlVZBPC-YTSCMgcRGq9XZoh7i5HtxqJZ2PuOim_TVHMr1X/s1600/P1030236.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIH18oIZZAVbAFkrRLgWSbTbJPWCoWqKYYlBKIGBvYLJWQ3ZAlLokjCsIdOWH43KAUnEfsojCjazqsdXd4vN00YTHlVZBPC-YTSCMgcRGq9XZoh7i5HtxqJZ2PuOim_TVHMr1X/s200/P1030236.JPG" width="150" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjygJK0lPOELkZi4BX9WSq7wJXFmv_gugt-CqvKtxvbOridXvrsNhonKZLqgqZQsao8tir7ycjGRSm_C8-bjeVn5vTxBF2Zjr6RAz_Mb7jPhWpXseDbtpzSFuSe_1jLSDJlMZiS/s1600/P1030305.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjygJK0lPOELkZi4BX9WSq7wJXFmv_gugt-CqvKtxvbOridXvrsNhonKZLqgqZQsao8tir7ycjGRSm_C8-bjeVn5vTxBF2Zjr6RAz_Mb7jPhWpXseDbtpzSFuSe_1jLSDJlMZiS/s200/P1030305.JPG" width="200" /></a>After taking a few pictures, we descended into the Metro and made our way to the Hard Rock (Metro line 9, exit at Grands Boulevards). The hardest part of picking up the passes was getting thru the crowd of tourists in the store. Nearby were covered alleys with interesting little shops. One had a pink beret that had Devil Pup written all over it. Since she'd been asking for one, she got the first souvenir of the trip.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_MJb4gdUltBrf1x1Zj-_wQn9P_LnpZ8ijJz4Opifc46JnwJu6Pk_KvarKH54TL728J5CIF6-t0t_WNWFwEU2fgkWOrXdtL_-vuKr1SEz3wdMQvCFKb4QOAxkDGQC5tlD5YluK/s1600/P1030246.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_MJb4gdUltBrf1x1Zj-_wQn9P_LnpZ8ijJz4Opifc46JnwJu6Pk_KvarKH54TL728J5CIF6-t0t_WNWFwEU2fgkWOrXdtL_-vuKr1SEz3wdMQvCFKb4QOAxkDGQC5tlD5YluK/s320/P1030246.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinxrrwJeSvPJpqZaoQMpC4589reH1UAaqsITH6zprvMuGs3Xv5hhUzOCGTK9PQX9MoaHoyPC7g9K7hIHeWshXZeuyZbIxJwZ81mZ1sXlmCSmrU4XbDTqWkAEair_orn34HeH9u/s1600/P1030294.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinxrrwJeSvPJpqZaoQMpC4589reH1UAaqsITH6zprvMuGs3Xv5hhUzOCGTK9PQX9MoaHoyPC7g9K7hIHeWshXZeuyZbIxJwZ81mZ1sXlmCSmrU4XbDTqWkAEair_orn34HeH9u/s200/P1030294.JPG" width="200" /></a>After a bit of wandering in a drizzle, we wandered and saw the Eiffel Tower, L'Ecole Militaire and went back toward the hotel, looking for a place to eat dinner. We ended up in a brasserie where we enjoyed our first dinner in the City of Lights. When our meals arrived, Devil Pup, exclaimed, "Bon Appetit!" After finishing hers, Devil Pup leaned back in her chair, rubbed her tummy and announced, "That was quite a meal... A good meal, I tell you." She'd had a hamburger (no bun) and rice.Marine Wifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10464082946014198195noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21691361.post-77409300661847646362011-10-11T14:19:00.000-04:002011-10-11T14:19:34.110-04:00Berlin After Action: Exploring Part 2<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrqjSffru-rbnBbv42qVX_VRMmGDz3mNnAweaW8WDY9PAzYXtSHEiK2AzzbP_VMtXxUCN5F0UUFKRzV1ffeAPITb50l9Ryl_X1-HrWOIWAPvMzpH_36jCha9B6I35vcRvYj4cn/s1600/P1020895.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrqjSffru-rbnBbv42qVX_VRMmGDz3mNnAweaW8WDY9PAzYXtSHEiK2AzzbP_VMtXxUCN5F0UUFKRzV1ffeAPITb50l9Ryl_X1-HrWOIWAPvMzpH_36jCha9B6I35vcRvYj4cn/s200/P1020895.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9Gb7HO6ByMnHXhodlrjDEGuDkhovTo0-UlQCpLevc_7eEkEUg5wTJfrGJKALkrFIaXMbvq3dxDilHbmE4np8Y1_3lsNvWEG_GGoWXWdauhI7rFrr0JKGf0F4TUsvaeQjYdXw4/s1600/IMG_0806.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9Gb7HO6ByMnHXhodlrjDEGuDkhovTo0-UlQCpLevc_7eEkEUg5wTJfrGJKALkrFIaXMbvq3dxDilHbmE4np8Y1_3lsNvWEG_GGoWXWdauhI7rFrr0JKGf0F4TUsvaeQjYdXw4/s200/IMG_0806.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>Marine Wifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10464082946014198195noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21691361.post-43790700004061969172011-08-17T03:26:00.001-04:002011-10-12T13:39:45.500-04:00Berlin After Action: Exploring Part 1<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj302eFVxjv5BahgZPg66Cg4oCXip6WpAWmbbdUpopoiYSLYc-vwRL80d_Hco_Yr9_fyIxKSu6H8SNjL_ajgAWmfDMZL-n_B3KJtdGDeFT1BlvFsO6PHOSc6VlFFoJI3QOfvf0G/s1600/P1020886.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj302eFVxjv5BahgZPg66Cg4oCXip6WpAWmbbdUpopoiYSLYc-vwRL80d_Hco_Yr9_fyIxKSu6H8SNjL_ajgAWmfDMZL-n_B3KJtdGDeFT1BlvFsO6PHOSc6VlFFoJI3QOfvf0G/s200/P1020886.JPG" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">North and South Korea</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFvvT0UJkFLL4p_J3_iCAkW8az4z2akPVaBJfYVryW9tWxhwMhNTszSUqKyeqpectCx85qZrCy75U9ubOZ9DKQVetxGH6oQoNjCiER_rQ4gEEgZqH74RQgDFg6uiL6C53dP0su/s1600/IMG_0783.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFvvT0UJkFLL4p_J3_iCAkW8az4z2akPVaBJfYVryW9tWxhwMhNTszSUqKyeqpectCx85qZrCy75U9ubOZ9DKQVetxGH6oQoNjCiER_rQ4gEEgZqH74RQgDFg6uiL6C53dP0su/s200/IMG_0783.JPG" width="149" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Belgium</td></tr>
</tbody></table> When we checked into the pension, the owner had mentioned something about bears and that it was fun for the kids to keep an eye out for them. I wasn't really paying attention, but then we started walking around and found them. Wow! The kids loved them! It was fun to see how each was decorated to represent a different country. Big Sis wanted to find Greece and Devil Pup had to find Egypt. For more info on the Buddy Bears, click <a href="http://www.buddy-baer.com/">here</a>.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJUr35iRtxfWAO2-W7ItixMJ9qV9pviXyAFRHJ8Cp5NS-FRBEMz5TDbbIzS5SzMjHHjuliwbWtlcPHBDcuSYtuX3vjk6EJ0GPMBLi-EqkmfG5KFHE2NMZwY5-v9fpLluwQ_0oA/s1600/P1020933.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJUr35iRtxfWAO2-W7ItixMJ9qV9pviXyAFRHJ8Cp5NS-FRBEMz5TDbbIzS5SzMjHHjuliwbWtlcPHBDcuSYtuX3vjk6EJ0GPMBLi-EqkmfG5KFHE2NMZwY5-v9fpLluwQ_0oA/s200/P1020933.JPG" width="150" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihIbxfdki2sfjaom7LnXTUpnNd98ViSVMt1d3Ci0AUmFvVaKLBwyJXtby322SkVCyjsWzDO3FeTA8vfLSDMmV2cGUTZtiQPrB6jSogakf6SHl75SALpd4hE3fU6ORYjfXVtuco/s1600/P1020931.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihIbxfdki2sfjaom7LnXTUpnNd98ViSVMt1d3Ci0AUmFvVaKLBwyJXtby322SkVCyjsWzDO3FeTA8vfLSDMmV2cGUTZtiQPrB6jSogakf6SHl75SALpd4hE3fU6ORYjfXVtuco/s200/P1020931.JPG" width="150" /></a></div> We saw a number of street performers, but Big Sis was quite taken with this troupe of breakdancers (I was more taken with their advanced age -- one looked older than me and I'm sure that's way too old to be breakdancing or doing tricks on skateboards -- brittle bones and all that, y'know). Of course, I found the way they ended the show to be the best part: ABBA's "Money, Money, Money" blaring as they held out caps for their audience to place money.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBTKPHpvfCi_Uv8XCyW2PvZi37g_h8n0S732-GLyTvCpWqrB2nXH92VjDyWau3TpNQ7ze8NfI8N5DnwBbsMUX743DckTw6ImfErzapWSZuMWrfv3Jb1o6P-9A4H-_frTaDhUwR/s1600/P1020876.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBTKPHpvfCi_Uv8XCyW2PvZi37g_h8n0S732-GLyTvCpWqrB2nXH92VjDyWau3TpNQ7ze8NfI8N5DnwBbsMUX743DckTw6ImfErzapWSZuMWrfv3Jb1o6P-9A4H-_frTaDhUwR/s320/P1020876.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
After our first night's dinner of sushi (YUM! and the girls liked it, too), we wandered around a bit and ended up going down a sidestreet we later decided wasn't quite in the right direction. However, if we hadn't gone down that street, we might never have seen this. And what is it? Well, it seems to be a restaurant suspended by a crane: Dinner in the Sky! Neither of the girls thought this was a good idea.<br />
DP: "What if you fall?" <br />
me: "There are probably seatbelts."<br />
BS: "What if the crane breaks?"<br />
me: "Hopefully, that wouldn't happen."<br />
<br />
<br />
Our first night in Berlin, we really didn't have time to do any of the tourist sites so we spent the evening wandering the main thoroughfare near our hotel-pension. It was fun and relaxing, despite getting rained on at the end. Oh, well, that was a good excuse to get back to our room and get everyone showered up and ready to really see Berlin the next day!Marine Wifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10464082946014198195noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21691361.post-42871713550901756562011-08-15T11:13:00.002-04:002011-08-17T02:37:00.397-04:00Berlin After Action: Train and Pension<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCgtoMl08zJd3hTvpIXjjOY6psKqLUeXb-0DcUR988DTtNOJa6phy-qA6W9eLUvAXohmyxN1NFqE8UPk97zQ6QxWSzPsQbs4G23086an6mLtQHICGy1ZPQwqwA3ZAo2MCZ9qRx/s1600/P1020861.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCgtoMl08zJd3hTvpIXjjOY6psKqLUeXb-0DcUR988DTtNOJa6phy-qA6W9eLUvAXohmyxN1NFqE8UPk97zQ6QxWSzPsQbs4G23086an6mLtQHICGy1ZPQwqwA3ZAo2MCZ9qRx/s200/P1020861.JPG" width="150" /></a> Stretch had a 3-day weekend, so we decided to test out the rail system and go to Berlin. The weekend before I booked our rail tickets via the <a href="http://www.bahn.com/i/view/DEU/en/index.shtml">Deutches Bahn webite</a>. I played around with it a bit to see how much tickets would cost using different configurations, i.e. with or without the various BahnCards which provide discounts of 25-50%. In the end, we decided to forego the BahnCard for this trip, using it as a test trip instead. For 2 adults and 2 children in a 2nd Class compartment with reserved seating, I paid 457 euro (including the extra 5 euro for the reserved seating). I may have been able to find better deals if I'd planned a bit further in advance, but didn't think it was too bad for last minute. It was certainly far cheaper than flying and much more comfortable than driving!<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLKdUCtnA4_Z7mDt1qmkzVuBhxCXSMctx-XkoJ3JQ3ONNxSOtvCe-IuE6kBG0y-ckkVjgJgfRvAiAN-NzYCcN6bH74g6FwnMSwmGPWYCpKBDEEl0vaOP8qtFvbweqmszfO5J2C/s1600/P1020858.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLKdUCtnA4_Z7mDt1qmkzVuBhxCXSMctx-XkoJ3JQ3ONNxSOtvCe-IuE6kBG0y-ckkVjgJgfRvAiAN-NzYCcN6bH74g6FwnMSwmGPWYCpKBDEEl0vaOP8qtFvbweqmszfO5J2C/s200/P1020858.JPG" width="150" /></a>I also booked us on the ICE train (fast train) that had no connections and would get us to Berlin in roughly 6 hours. The first picture shows a 2nd class car and the second picture is the area with compartments and WC (toilets) where we were seated. Each compartment had 6 seats, small table and places to hang jackets and a place to put luggage overhead. We could control the lighting and temperature inside the compartments as well. Once we got to Berlin (the Hauptbahnhof there is HUGE!), it was a matter of finding a bite to eat and then finding the local public transportation to take us out to Charlottenburg (the neighborhood where our accommodations were located). We took a U-Bahn (making only 1 connection) to Adenauerplatz and then walked a few blocks to the<a href="http://www.hotelbregenz-berlin.de/enindex.html"> Hotel-Pension Bregenz</a>.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgilrkJCJ3j1qzZMIr26ipzPpI3HwD42bsTnPbkAID-9OIuFQ-jxAs2IS6CSkenVALEbgf1sAuLcnTiRLGT894Jjxry1SHFnKciQn9IQP_I9jDU_lC9_oeJ5YkrG3bSlSwV2hG5/s1600/P1020863.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgilrkJCJ3j1qzZMIr26ipzPpI3HwD42bsTnPbkAID-9OIuFQ-jxAs2IS6CSkenVALEbgf1sAuLcnTiRLGT894Jjxry1SHFnKciQn9IQP_I9jDU_lC9_oeJ5YkrG3bSlSwV2hG5/s200/P1020863.JPG" width="200" /></a><br />
When we checked in, one of the owners immediately gave us a map with suggestions of things to do with the kids. She marked routes for us and showed us the bus and U-Bahn routes.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYPKQq5jUNx11oPBRFNLkR70uN064wEkEJtM01VarWb-MuBFEHD9Ocvv3jKCqDHJuIoqpFeJzelrgyLpU4WwXYZkFueOkDSVFZR7jaOYAoDBtYmifVYsaL0cnKTuL3fnxgz9SM/s1600/P1020864.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYPKQq5jUNx11oPBRFNLkR70uN064wEkEJtM01VarWb-MuBFEHD9Ocvv3jKCqDHJuIoqpFeJzelrgyLpU4WwXYZkFueOkDSVFZR7jaOYAoDBtYmifVYsaL0cnKTuL3fnxgz9SM/s200/P1020864.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4_0BV3XyzithIq-lop2zkun43hlZwmz4OzKGM9xNqhQqNUshkVA9ALk1fawQ9ASFa53TbM2S2-t5hgtb279WxACyjE238C2sziH0ijIFwKu1bxZkBG0eASQCYVD2eu8rXtDLU/s1600/P1020865.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4_0BV3XyzithIq-lop2zkun43hlZwmz4OzKGM9xNqhQqNUshkVA9ALk1fawQ9ASFa53TbM2S2-t5hgtb279WxACyjE238C2sziH0ijIFwKu1bxZkBG0eASQCYVD2eu8rXtDLU/s200/P1020865.JPG" width="150" /></a> Then, she showed us to our room. It was spacious, clean and had an ensuite bathroom. While the shower was a bit tight sizewise, it perfectly suited our needs. Everyone had their own bed and none of us felt cramped.<br />
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The breakfast the next day was also lovely. Each table in the breakfast room was set with blue and white china. The buffet was more than ample, offering cereals, yogurts, breads, meats, cheeses, fruit, and coffee cakes. Tea, coffee, milk, orange juice and water were also available. I was finally able to get fresh brotchen and liverwurst with fresh coffee for breakfast ... so good! If we get a chance to go back to Berlin (there was so much we didn't get to see or do!), I'd definitely stay here again!<br />
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Also, we could buy the tickets for public transportation at the hotel. A family pass for the day was 15 euro.Marine Wifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10464082946014198195noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21691361.post-51855063085891369552011-08-08T09:57:00.001-04:002011-08-08T09:58:34.545-04:00Home Sweet Home?Don't get excited. We're STILL living in a hotel. But last week, I was able to get a peek into the apartment we will eventually be moving into. The furniture is loaner furniture but here are a few pics:<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWVsHTOVl3jxir4kbIBg_SO9vWQOaNUJ23eG304uTnCW2HZoHAhCJt5KFoOs4IQexUbsrdShEcIrjF051T5njrkB5jk-s5GYaHnVH7yhinOUWJpFRn0JtLYrDd5TcmfN5rAabA/s1600/P1020841.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWVsHTOVl3jxir4kbIBg_SO9vWQOaNUJ23eG304uTnCW2HZoHAhCJt5KFoOs4IQexUbsrdShEcIrjF051T5njrkB5jk-s5GYaHnVH7yhinOUWJpFRn0JtLYrDd5TcmfN5rAabA/s320/P1020841.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Living room from the front door</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFQ7-ienbCO6qpnifgD5zE4VaOOVdBNVkzRRCGTyQ4hqUanImHj2MPana_NbEn_CnBmOiMsVLr1cugrJB_ypAzXOC07LbymLX5BQCdYE_yeB_2nFaiMzqHW_kbg8aAaI7VC0Cc/s1600/P1020842.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFQ7-ienbCO6qpnifgD5zE4VaOOVdBNVkzRRCGTyQ4hqUanImHj2MPana_NbEn_CnBmOiMsVLr1cugrJB_ypAzXOC07LbymLX5BQCdYE_yeB_2nFaiMzqHW_kbg8aAaI7VC0Cc/s320/P1020842.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Living room, looking at front door, dining room and kitchen</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRDB0O8rXplyGHvwwM8m_MamioixTC2XhrziT0ltghNf2AHzHAPEzVIcqSIQVTnFZyZCHLSog74mhK1PMwA3RNeH4rYCWVs2KkxaCJZYHbglUygSrCvT5h2bhQRt3fUh7ato0y/s1600/P1020843.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRDB0O8rXplyGHvwwM8m_MamioixTC2XhrziT0ltghNf2AHzHAPEzVIcqSIQVTnFZyZCHLSog74mhK1PMwA3RNeH4rYCWVs2KkxaCJZYHbglUygSrCvT5h2bhQRt3fUh7ato0y/s320/P1020843.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From living room, looking into dining room and hallway to bedrooms</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMDmDDGgf-UHarT_6RAY34maHFth9pdJ4ac_RVCnTcr95WpEgojkGsiLJYbFvturExmIzwX9AxeG9723cZsYP1kVHjiKbZLo-q9ZY5vuml1eW32iYXm85JIAldr_uTGKqKuuUj/s1600/P1020844.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMDmDDGgf-UHarT_6RAY34maHFth9pdJ4ac_RVCnTcr95WpEgojkGsiLJYbFvturExmIzwX9AxeG9723cZsYP1kVHjiKbZLo-q9ZY5vuml1eW32iYXm85JIAldr_uTGKqKuuUj/s320/P1020844.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The kitchen is smaller than last years but bigger than the hotel!</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjibdBb6_PnI5mxcjC-6AbcShTHoVnmD4uFZCzcq_AkRVwzX8PKQ9JoNXhpSDfcg2RycEVbe627Qm-US7RHaeRYThkyreyvgjafDaMZrn-7O9rLK8j43b8RA12ZklhMKn4DY-OK/s1600/P1020845.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjibdBb6_PnI5mxcjC-6AbcShTHoVnmD4uFZCzcq_AkRVwzX8PKQ9JoNXhpSDfcg2RycEVbe627Qm-US7RHaeRYThkyreyvgjafDaMZrn-7O9rLK8j43b8RA12ZklhMKn4DY-OK/s320/P1020845.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZtjJH12eLq_pb9T1NzB728IB3zVeHXKhRw6nBgPU-lDvyF7yO_0Inirl2LsYQg5SpUsZnpBXTqQNOuGZ0G3yrFv6kbucMCl6JuKSep-AyjGRPXJXQKxLYzgOTOWA6MrUnce2M/s1600/P1020848.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZtjJH12eLq_pb9T1NzB728IB3zVeHXKhRw6nBgPU-lDvyF7yO_0Inirl2LsYQg5SpUsZnpBXTqQNOuGZ0G3yrFv6kbucMCl6JuKSep-AyjGRPXJXQKxLYzgOTOWA6MrUnce2M/s320/P1020848.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Love the shelving in the laundry room!</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6VTFS7JjKPH2l6pNhG6lsH2RRb8og98haE50oYkFUUwkxTy83-hWOc9abDXxqwruheRnrqQsFLUoKHEz4uqqEqQKey4ji0nLBwxyiQ37fPpTpY2NSO6tr_fW3eLFfJ6GhM_TT/s1600/P1020849.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6VTFS7JjKPH2l6pNhG6lsH2RRb8og98haE50oYkFUUwkxTy83-hWOc9abDXxqwruheRnrqQsFLUoKHEz4uqqEqQKey4ji0nLBwxyiQ37fPpTpY2NSO6tr_fW3eLFfJ6GhM_TT/s320/P1020849.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Master closet! This might make up for last year's closets!</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib39uBZ3bKhyphenhyphen28XXWaEJxZ84-MritMG9Rta7DyJkSfCvZVPEtq1a7hbcrGBp-nsBuChD6ggdqjM0KKdvCwKxgvaHrW1qWaM0r2NqOI5rgN2cxmIZq6r2a84t9bQuOPN5e81mN2/s1600/P1020850.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib39uBZ3bKhyphenhyphen28XXWaEJxZ84-MritMG9Rta7DyJkSfCvZVPEtq1a7hbcrGBp-nsBuChD6ggdqjM0KKdvCwKxgvaHrW1qWaM0r2NqOI5rgN2cxmIZq6r2a84t9bQuOPN5e81mN2/s320/P1020850.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The kitchen overlooks a playground and more apartments</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
</tbody></table>Marine Wifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10464082946014198195noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21691361.post-54701989888412434852011-07-31T15:45:00.000-04:002011-07-31T15:45:32.294-04:00Schloss Ludwigsburg<div style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"></div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnUqUYxK31XpX4GWZSnQ3wEpWQaHkNHddQ1Tu3AxCKc9jmsCMzMK-RyH43cZ9Y5s8J9kEjnMiIkkrXkLQnNuJpW3O3kxKRWnMz351IcC5nWjag4ClSwaMrKY_daKglWOlmPPrw/s1600/P1020671.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnUqUYxK31XpX4GWZSnQ3wEpWQaHkNHddQ1Tu3AxCKc9jmsCMzMK-RyH43cZ9Y5s8J9kEjnMiIkkrXkLQnNuJpW3O3kxKRWnMz351IcC5nWjag4ClSwaMrKY_daKglWOlmPPrw/s320/P1020671.JPG" width="320" /></a>We wanted to go and do something on Saturday but it couldn't be too far a drive. And it had to be something the kids would be interested in as well. So we chose <a href="http://www.schloss-ludwigsburg.de/en/ludwigsburg-palace/Home/267924.html">Schloss Ludwigsburg</a>. It should have been about a 30 minute drive but I managed to mess up the GPS directions and then parking was, um, interesting until we found a parking garage about a block from the palace.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjovJ9Rt_Owdy1Ng30p6n3DR3jsWt15MYJEUkjMq7s5ZSBSzdy-Kf74zxs5dLIHBWxlg7la1nq6O6zGnhMzzg27au8rrjqk8xaJNDLO6cbP-R-oG4qF02waY8oE0XUAadhIFbbQ/s1600/P1020669.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjovJ9Rt_Owdy1Ng30p6n3DR3jsWt15MYJEUkjMq7s5ZSBSzdy-Kf74zxs5dLIHBWxlg7la1nq6O6zGnhMzzg27au8rrjqk8xaJNDLO6cbP-R-oG4qF02waY8oE0XUAadhIFbbQ/s320/P1020669.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Once there, we realized there was a small fest of some sort taking place that day. Which worked out fine for us as it meant there were people in period costume, performances on a stage in the courtyard and, most importantly, food and beverages available! <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwkC1oPeWSwkJ4I5k6B21b8tXnrRxzvE6BmOJeJ4-UCcp2jGw2ZzpYOSEvky1II2gGtorYXDiy_E5-fGhYb2oQyKy1qluXstE1ARi5I-3BdvRAY6Dy_jck_j-1Pk9M3LizH_nT/s1600/P1020677.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwkC1oPeWSwkJ4I5k6B21b8tXnrRxzvE6BmOJeJ4-UCcp2jGw2ZzpYOSEvky1II2gGtorYXDiy_E5-fGhYb2oQyKy1qluXstE1ARi5I-3BdvRAY6Dy_jck_j-1Pk9M3LizH_nT/s320/P1020677.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Our first stop was the <a href="http://www.schloss-ludwigsburg.de/en/ludwigsburg-palace/Children-s-Realm/385063.html">Kinderreich</a>, or Children's Realm. For 2 hours, children (of all ages!) could dress up and get a taste of what life in the palace might have been like. It all began in the ulitmate dress-up <strike>closet </strike>room: Lots of clothes for boys and girls, wigs, hats, jewelry. Big Sis chose not to dress up (being too old and cool for that sort of thing now she'll be starting middle school) but Devil Pup had a grand time of it. She loved sitting on the throne, looking regal. She learned to curtsy and had to approach the "king" (one of the dads was recruited for the role), curtsy and make a request. Then we were shown a miniature theatre where the kids were shown how to change the scenery, change the lighting (including making lightning), use a wind machine (to make the sound of wind), and make thunder. Then they got to get up on stage and put the skills to use. After that, we were taken into a dining room, set with real china. There the kids were taught about royal dining etiquette. Since Devil Pup had seated herself at the end of the table, she was the "queen." She quite enjoyed making everyone else pick up their glasses to "drink" everytime she did! Then it was time to return the dress up clothes.<br />
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Afterward, the families were given a tour of the king's and queen's chambers of the palace. Due to the fact that all of this took a little over 3 hours, we made a huge tactical error in not feeding everyone before-hand. As soon as the tour was over, we made a bee-line for the food stalls! There we found bratwurst in brochen and Big Sis found heaven in meat on a stick. While we ate, we watched a sword fight between some Musketeers and villains followed by various little girls performing on the stage. By the time we were done eating and ready to explore the gardens, there was a pirate act performing. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvEhTNrNDojZoCmcm9cbwyYdDKHXt-Jp_hG52RmDgI18eWz8E09hJc6ZERs-qAX_H9lQEqrCUraNms0gikscKKtJxPflTfNDmDbV0rF5nyL-wnI1nJ_MkaUTbY_ekdDOaLDV4t/s1600/P1020830.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvEhTNrNDojZoCmcm9cbwyYdDKHXt-Jp_hG52RmDgI18eWz8E09hJc6ZERs-qAX_H9lQEqrCUraNms0gikscKKtJxPflTfNDmDbV0rF5nyL-wnI1nJ_MkaUTbY_ekdDOaLDV4t/s320/P1020830.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
Then it was time to explore the <a href="http://www.ludwigsburg.de/servlet/PB/menu/1237552_l2/index.html">Marchengarten</a>, or Fairy Tale Garden. The Frog Prince, Hansel and Gretel, the Magic Mirror from Snow White, Ali Baba, and more were to be found here. And of course, as you can see by this picture, one had only to shout, "Rapunzel, Rapunzel,... Let down your hair!" and down came the tresses from this tower that overlooked a baroque garden.<br />
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We spent almost 7 hours at the palace and in its garden and I'm sure we didn't come close to seeing it all. Even though I know we'll be living here for the foreseeable future, I can't help feeling that there's so much to see and do and so little time!Marine Wifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10464082946014198195noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21691361.post-45653637589710217642011-07-17T17:26:00.001-04:002011-07-17T17:29:38.181-04:00Tourism: The Eagle's Nest<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPbqoEjVvz2w_zkgEdx40alJAo4sGhWSId4_q2eejVqpeY61oba1_ZhjwToMCaI83gqjMIGo2jK7XMqHR0jnNuBMqQUIJ1hm5fSvHFyfk1RL_aB3RHLa3J17k0MK5HOsLhlp0h/s1600/P1020545.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPbqoEjVvz2w_zkgEdx40alJAo4sGhWSId4_q2eejVqpeY61oba1_ZhjwToMCaI83gqjMIGo2jK7XMqHR0jnNuBMqQUIJ1hm5fSvHFyfk1RL_aB3RHLa3J17k0MK5HOsLhlp0h/s320/P1020545.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Today's adventure took us to Kehlstein, otherwise known as the <a href="http://www.kehlsteinhaus.de/en/geschichte.php?navid=3">Eagle's Nest</a>. We boarded the USO bus a little before 5 a.m. -- yes, that was a wee bit painful!<br />
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We had a large group so we split into 2 smaller groups with one going up to the Eagle's Nest first while the other group toured the Dokumentation center. After lunch, we switched places. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjwplmCZT0fE5PwNoIAFF5yUFsrPWTTGMdIQQLW56C0hyphenhyphenbeEqNeGgzMip9eUJnnKINC6BFnqydVZV8DtJO4Xt9Ual3rFaUcubYkmBw6IKZxXG4FjsvjpB8mtEVs6s6BaNgu8N_/s1600/P1020485.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjwplmCZT0fE5PwNoIAFF5yUFsrPWTTGMdIQQLW56C0hyphenhyphenbeEqNeGgzMip9eUJnnKINC6BFnqydVZV8DtJO4Xt9Ual3rFaUcubYkmBw6IKZxXG4FjsvjpB8mtEVs6s6BaNgu8N_/s320/P1020485.JPG" width="320" /></a>We were lucky enough to be in the first group to ascend the mountain via bus to the tunnel that led to the elevator that took us to the Eagle's Nest perched on top of the mountain. The skies were pretty clear and the views were amazing! I was particularly grateful for this since the forecast had called for a 70% chance of rain! I'm not sure how much of the history the girls absorbed but Stretch and I thoroughly enjoyed it!<br />
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It was clear enough that we could see Salzburg, Austria, in the distance.<br />
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Later, we toured the Dokumentation center with audio guides in English. While familiar with World War II and the atrocities committed by the Nazis, it was still a horrifying and sobering reminder of what occurred. The tour also included exploration of a bunker system under the center. Frankly, the place gave me the heebie-jeebies. <br />
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Our adventure continued after we left the area. Clouds began to move in and it finally began to rain as our bus made it's way homeward. And we got to experience our first <i>stau</i>, or German traffic jam. I was particularly grateful that neither of us were driving and we could sleep through it! As a result, our return was later than planned but it was still a great trip.Marine Wifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10464082946014198195noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21691361.post-61585954027090479752011-07-15T15:15:00.001-04:002011-07-15T15:31:39.977-04:001st Week in Country... Come On, Weekend!It's Friday! And what a full week it's been! Since arriving on Sunday we've managed to check off the following items from our to-do list:<br />
<ul><li>Check in with Housing</li>
<li>Procure Housing</li>
<li>Entered our IDs into the local system so that we can enter US installations here </li>
<li>Unlocked Stretch's phone and have a local number with prepaid minutes</li>
<li>Start the check-in process (Stretch), which has included a lot of classes for Stretch</li>
<li>Register kids with Child and Youth Services (CYS)</li>
<li>Sign kids up for School Age Services (SAS) for 2 days next week so I can attend Stuttgart Newcomers Orientation (SNO)</li>
<li>Enroll kids in school (this involved going to 2 schools at 2 installations), including the eldest at middle school for the first time. This mama is still having a issues with that one!</li>
<li>Stretch passed his drivers' test (I'll take mine next week)</li>
<li>We have our vehicle! Albeit with temporary registration but that will be rectified next week.</li>
<li>Attended a local festival downtown Monday night with our sponsors</li>
<li>Spent an afternoon moving rooms (while Stretch was in class, of course) because our first had sprung a leak, while simultaneously doing laundry. Of course the laundry rooms were not on the same floors as either our first or second rooms. But while my gremlins have struck again, I got the last laugh. They moved us to larger accommodations allowing the girls to sleep in a bed instead of a sofa-bed and also giving us 2 bathrooms (hey, this is important for a family of 4!)</li>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLMLcUHeaXndoOtz3PzWu7DWnfnb4MkW5kECXJLKpwzLBbNXYOqt8BX4jRgPijyHxMYXt2EKgudXaBwnPywmYLTQx9pGI55P6r3MPDQw4pBS3RRPfnFXQ4ILzXMHl6BypmLIni/s1600/P1020442.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLMLcUHeaXndoOtz3PzWu7DWnfnb4MkW5kECXJLKpwzLBbNXYOqt8BX4jRgPijyHxMYXt2EKgudXaBwnPywmYLTQx9pGI55P6r3MPDQw4pBS3RRPfnFXQ4ILzXMHl6BypmLIni/s200/P1020442.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Water on the floor of our room from the leaking A/C unit</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table><li>Ventured out to a local Italian restaurant (it's German serving Italian fare and was the only one we'd heard of within walking distance of our hotel!) where we practiced our non-existent German and enjoyed a lovely meal that was NOT fast food!</li>
</ul><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_2VzDwCuFwTE3cCP1T50pP8LQVGFiWufe83MfjBlP5_xGh54nrqmN0aMK0S13ZmVN3S7sGlKRm-iB2DAkgDsIa1aGeNibHEn4Ax8trtQcAWC4Nwz4UWTfkHufusb8QdvChkx9/s1600/P1020445.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_2VzDwCuFwTE3cCP1T50pP8LQVGFiWufe83MfjBlP5_xGh54nrqmN0aMK0S13ZmVN3S7sGlKRm-iB2DAkgDsIa1aGeNibHEn4Ax8trtQcAWC4Nwz4UWTfkHufusb8QdvChkx9/s200/P1020445.JPG" width="200" /></a><br />
(at right) Big Sis peruses the phrasebook while Devil Pup decides whether to try Dad's sparkling water or Mom's spezi first. She tried both and decided the spezi was tastier. Mom agrees! It tasted just as good as I remembered from my childhood time in Germany (when my dad was stationed in Bavaria).<br />
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I'm tired... bring on the weekend! And our tour of the Eagles Nest on Sunday!<br />
<ul></ul>Marine Wifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10464082946014198195noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21691361.post-36052502772116741282011-07-14T16:30:00.000-04:002011-07-14T16:30:22.259-04:00Dragonfly has landed in Deutchland!We arrived Sunday morning and have tried to hit the ground running. Well, as much as possible while still jet-lagged!<br />
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Our first stop Monday morning was the housing office, where we updated our status and were given the possibility of an apartment on Patch Barracks, our first choice! We were given keys to look at a similar apartment in the same building but the one we were offered is still occupied and will be until the end of the month, so we'll be in the hotel for at least a month. Stretch started his check-in process and we got all 3 ID card holders entered into the system here. <br />
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In the afternoon, we took the bus to Patch to check out the new neighborhood. The kids fell in love with the apartment (we kept reminding them that it was NOT the one we'd be in!), the neighborhood and the post. And we kind of liked it, too! Afterward, we wandered the post a bit before meeting our sponsor who took us to downtown Stuttgart for the Fish Fest. While fun, it made for a late night (well, late for those dragging with jet lag!). <br />
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That was just our first day and a half in country! We are already signed up to take our first USO tour this weekend and hope to have at least one licensed driver and our car by next week. <br />
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My record with housing difficulties continues to hold (and I'm not even in housing yet!). We had a leak in our room due to issues with the A/C unit and its drip pan. Stretch is finally a believer in my gremlins! I'm not complaining, though, as it led to us being moved to a larger room!Marine Wifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10464082946014198195noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21691361.post-69395825714997601502011-05-11T14:32:00.001-04:002011-05-11T14:32:15.509-04:00Photo Book<object width="425" height="425" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab" classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000"><param name="movie" value="http://images-community.shutterfly.com/flashapps/flashslideshowphotobook/slideshow_pb.swf"/><param name="flashvars" value="xmlURL=http%3A%2F%2Fws.shutterfly.com%2Fpsdata%3FprojectGUID%3D0VYuWbhky9yU%26uid%3D002028309010%26size%3D0%26ts%3D1305138724000%26height%3D425%26width%3D425&size=0&ob=0&fc=0&ss=0&sb=0&ft=0"/><param name="menu" value="false"/><param name="quality" value="best"/><param name="wmode" value="transparent"/><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"/><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"/><embed width="425" height="425" align="middle" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" name="wrapper" quality="best" menu="false" allowfullscreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" flashvars="xmlURL=http%3A%2F%2Fws.shutterfly.com%2Fpsdata%3FprojectGUID%3D0VYuWbhky9yU%26uid%3D002028309010%26size%3D0%26ts%3D1305138724000%26height%3D425%26width%3D425&size=0&ob=0&fc=0&ss=0&sb=0&ft=0" src="http://images-community.shutterfly.com/flashapps/flashslideshowphotobook/slideshow_pb.swf"></embed></object><p style="width:425px;margin-top:0;text-align:center;"><a href="http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0VYuWbhkycq&eid=115">Click here to view this photo book larger</a><img width="1" height="1" border="0" src="https://os.shutterfly.com/b/ss/sflyshareprod/1/H.15/111?pageName=sharekey&c1=photobook&c2=blogger" /></p>Marine Wifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10464082946014198195noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21691361.post-3407528828762696592010-11-27T13:17:00.002-05:002010-11-27T13:22:53.601-05:00Xmas Card 2010I'm running late this year. I finally ordered our Christmas cards today. By this time, I usually like to have all our cards ready to mail, stamped and addressed! What can I say? It's been a busy year! <div class="sflyProductPreviewWidget" style="height: 494px; width: 425px;"><div class="sflyProductPreviewWidgetTop" style="background-image: url(http://cdn.staticsfly.com/img_/share/preview/msc/widget/top.gif); height: 6px;"></div><div class="sflyProductPreviewWidgetCenter" style="background-image: url(http://cdn.staticsfly.com/img_/share/preview/msc/widget/bg.gif); background-repeat: repeat-y; height: 482px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 6px; padding-right: 6px; padding-top: 0px;"><div class="sflyProductPreviewLogo" style="height: 34px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 14px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 14px; width: 105px;"><img src="http://cdn.staticsfly.com/img_/share/preview/msc/widget/logo.gif" /></div><div class="sflyProductPreviewContainer" style="height: 350px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery"><img src="http://images-community.shutterfly.com/prs/v1/0VYuWbhky8/0VYuWbhky9xY/p/67b0de21b3127d902548/JPEG/1290881598000/0/" /></a></div><div class="sflyProductPreviewMessageContainer" style="background-color: #f4f4e9; height: 55px; line-height: 19px; padding-bottom: 15px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 15px; text-align: center;"><div class="sflyProductPreviewTitle" style="color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-seris; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold;">Cool Peppermint Dots Christmas 5x7 folded card</div><div class="sflyProductPreviewSEOText" style="color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-seris; font-size: 13px;">Make a statement with custom <a href="http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery" style="color: #6666cc;">Christmas cards</a> at Shutterfly.</div><div class="sflyProductPreviewViewCollection" style="color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-seris; font-size: 13px;">View the entire <a href="http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery" style="color: #6666cc;">collection</a> of cards.</div><img border="0" height="1" src="https://os.shutterfly.com/b/ss/sflyshareprod/1/H.15/111?pageName=sharekey&c1=msc&c2=blogger" width="1" /></div></div><div class="sflyProductPreviewWidgetBottom" style="background-image: url(http://cdn.staticsfly.com/img_/share/preview/msc/widget/bottom.gif); height: 6px;"></div></div>Marine Wifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10464082946014198195noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21691361.post-67482093530387825632010-11-12T17:47:00.002-05:002010-11-12T18:36:09.843-05:00Boys and their toys...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Stretch bought this for himself today:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqg-AV_vbvAUVgnT0ALaOw5LvewZn0ZjCj7NPTxqk96GtqPaTbH2C64FV06BpYPQHUzD9rRSZNABEBBWCvzzILNEVZ1PaGWuymBrUjsoeVPIRdIZIOmEu0YojTEEWQTPZ2H2TG/s1600/nerf_n_strike.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqg-AV_vbvAUVgnT0ALaOw5LvewZn0ZjCj7NPTxqk96GtqPaTbH2C64FV06BpYPQHUzD9rRSZNABEBBWCvzzILNEVZ1PaGWuymBrUjsoeVPIRdIZIOmEu0YojTEEWQTPZ2H2TG/s1600/nerf_n_strike.jpg" /></a></div>He and Devil Pup have already broken it out of the package and started playing with it. My mother-in-law would be so proud. When I was pregnant with Big Sis, I remember her suggesting that if we had a boy, perhaps we could not allow him to play with guns. Yeah. While living on a Marine Base. That would work. <br />
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Well, we didn't have a boy. We had two girls. And they love to play with toy weapons: swords, nerf guns, whatever. To be fair, she only mentioned keeping the toy guns away from a little boy.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUttplxdsPr7OWidzx9uKzjP1fTbp16gXhDVpqL5C0ia-Ea8AxlShuHHWYLbr9bcWm_tlbDRY-Lje-pIL991WOJqdsBNCtERFEydkGIgHLKEw6jImrpeG3fO0C_72Se8zVgFsh/s1600/P1010930.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUttplxdsPr7OWidzx9uKzjP1fTbp16gXhDVpqL5C0ia-Ea8AxlShuHHWYLbr9bcWm_tlbDRY-Lje-pIL991WOJqdsBNCtERFEydkGIgHLKEw6jImrpeG3fO0C_72Se8zVgFsh/s320/P1010930.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div align="center">The Marine and both Devil Pups fend off zombies.</div>Marine Wifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10464082946014198195noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21691361.post-41782535407428166422010-11-11T15:26:00.000-05:002010-11-11T15:26:22.137-05:00Thank you to all our Veterans, past and present!<object style="BACKGROUND-IMAGE: url(http://i2.ytimg.com/vi/5MtdIO23MKM/hqdefault.jpg)" width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/5MtdIO23MKM?fs=1&hl=en_US"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/5MtdIO23MKM?fs=1&hl=en_US" width="425" height="344" allowscriptaccess="never" allowfullscreen="true" wmode="transparent" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed></object>Marine Wifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10464082946014198195noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21691361.post-7613417622812376492010-11-09T22:26:00.000-05:002010-11-09T22:26:44.993-05:00Happy 235th Birthday, Marines!<object height="295" style="background-image: url(http://i2.ytimg.com/vi/mW4Gm5uFYQk/hqdefault.jpg);" width="480"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/mW4Gm5uFYQk?fs=1&hl=en_US"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/mW4Gm5uFYQk?fs=1&hl=en_US" width="480" height="295" allowscriptaccess="never" allowfullscreen="true" wmode="transparent" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed></object><br />
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Team Marine has raised more than twice what we set out to raise! But let's keep it going because our Wounded Warriors are growing in numbers and the need is great. Click on the button in the upper right hand of this screen to donate to Valour-IT.Marine Wifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10464082946014198195noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21691361.post-39679225665689311182010-10-31T20:57:00.000-04:002010-10-31T20:57:19.589-04:00"Journey Home: A Marine Tale"<em><span style="color: blue;">This is a story written by our newly minted 10 yr old (Big Sis) at school. I haven't corrected her misspellings or grammar but I have highlighted a phrase she wrote.</span></em><br />
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<span style="color: black;">I saw the ship that had taken me here, Iraq, 1 year ago. It would now take me home. To my family and home. It had been a long year. I was ready to go to my abode.</span><br />
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<span style="color: black;">I stepped on the ship uncertain it would survive the trudge west. But hopefull to return to my kin. I was given a room key for my cabin, below deck. My number was 303 . The blue paint forming the numbers were nearly completly chipped off. I instantly pictured the room dank and sad, with spiders and cobwebs. I got half right. It wasn't gloomy, but it was cobweb filled. </span><br />
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<span style="color: black;">For the first couple of days it was splendid, but then a storm hit. I felt like I needed to abandon all hope, of seeing family and living. The boat rocked uncontrollably. Passengers were throwing up and screaming. Two waves so high you'd think their water mountains, hurled them selves on deck. One wave had caused a hole and the Captain was plunging lifeboats into the angry sea. (which wasn't bright if ya ask me.) I threw myself into the murdurous sea, trying to escape the yelling and the rocking of the boat. That was a big mistake, 'cause I fell unconcious.</span><br />
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<span style="color: black;">Next thing I know I'm bobbing along in a calm sea... above water. I'm a top 3 planks of wood from a ship, perhaps the one I was on. I look around my compass is broken and I'm wandering in the ocean. What could be worse? Oh, great. I see a fin, it's proboally a shark. To my surprise it's a dolphin. I take the rope around it's tail, and I glide after it. Dolphins are popular in FL where I live. There just might be hope, again.</span><br />
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<span style="color: black;">Finally, I saw the shore. My luck must have been with the dolphin, because this was the beach that was 2 mi. away, from my house. Unfortanantly, it's a long walk, and would be tough without shoes. My luck ran out.</span><br />
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<span style="color: black;">The hot sand was burning my feet as I walked toward the wooden ramp. I braced myself for the tiny, pointy, rocks in the parking lot. The pain was standable, though it stung. My feet were red, cut, and bleeding. But, I continued walking. <span style="background-color: yellow; color: red;">When your a Marine, you learn to stand the pain and think about what's important.</span> In this case reaching home, I continued walking.</span><br />
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<span style="color: black;">Yes, I see my house! I wanted to run, but my feet were too sore. I was laughing and celebrating. As I knocked on the door and embraced my family. For the first time in a year.</span><br />
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<em><span style="color: blue;">****</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: blue;">The need is great. Dig deep and support the Marine Team for Valour IT by clicking on the button on the upper right of this screen. And tell your friends and family to do so, as well!</span></em>Marine Wifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10464082946014198195noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21691361.post-32214404160848718302010-10-30T14:59:00.001-04:002010-10-30T15:00:20.102-04:00Devil Pups rock!First off, we live on an Army post. In an apartment building made up of mostly Army folk. <br />
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The other day, I brought our USMC flag in because of the wind and the fact that it looked like the bracket was about to come out of the wall. This morning, Devil Pup decided to take it downstairs for a one-girl parade. She later talked our neighbors' little girl to join her with their USMC flag (we are the only 2 Marine families in the building). She tried to get our other neighbor's daughter to join her but was told, "I can't: We're an Army family!"<br />
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So there she was (and she's back out there again as I type), marching around with a Marine flag that's bigger than her. And probably freezing her little patootie off, too.<br />
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If a 6 year old has that much Marine Corps spirit, how can you refuse to donate to the Marine team in our efforts to support Valour IT? Click on the button in the upper right part of the screen to donate and support our Wounded Warriors!Marine Wifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10464082946014198195noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21691361.post-55870984934794032572010-10-28T07:51:00.001-04:002010-10-28T07:52:12.791-04:00Nice to know we're still needed...Last night, we found our 10 yr old sprawled out in our bed. Usually, it is her younger sister who tries to invade us in the middle of the night. We're lucky if Big Sis asks to cuddle at bedtime, so it was something of a surprise to find her in our room. And it was clear that she intended to stay the night since she'd brought her alarm clock with her.<br />
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Big Sis used to regularly join me at night in 2003 (she was just 2 yrs old at the time), during Stretch's first war-time deployment. But in recent years, she's been quite the independent type and she's never been a particularly touchy-feely child. <br />
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Last night, I know she was feeling vulnerable for a few different reasons. So when we found her in our bed, we left her there despite the crowded conditions (she's almost as tall as me now!). It was nice to know that she still needed us.<br />
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And she'll always be my baby.Marine Wifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10464082946014198195noreply@blogger.com1