"What a long strange trip it's been..."

Well, we are finally back in Arizona! We celebrated our return with a week of excitement in Michigan (the weather was gorgeous). We went to the MSU-ND game which was gggrrrreat (we won! whoop whoop), Claire and Brent's wedding (she's officially a Pheiffer), perch fishing on Lake Michigan ( I caught a 13incher) and the best part: we spent time with the family (Hazel is walking!). It just always feels a little too short when we drive away. The air smelled like concord grapes, the trees are beginning to change their colors, the grass was green and the sky was blue. I hate saying goodbye.
But I have to say it was good to come back to US. We (I) have been reading every trash mag I can get my hands on to catch up on the "news." I think I was gone too long. Britney's skinny, Project Runway is half over, is there a Hollywood actress left that hasn't had a baby or is knocked up???, MSU is the best college football team in the state of MI (take that Nick Saban!), the McRib is back, and am I the only person in this country who has never seen an episode of Gossip Girl???? Yes it seems so much has changed in one short summer. I forgot our TV has so many channels (in English!), or that Fry's is the greatest grocery store in the world (trust me), or what highways look like (I was afraid to drive a car). Ahhhh. home sweet home. It's been awhile.

nICELAND

Well I knew it would be a bit cold here but I didn't expect the hurricane winds. The landscape is harsh: lava fields, rugged mountains, volcanoes, and a definite lack of trees. They have a couple jokes here we found hilarious if only because they are so true: 1. What do you do if you get lost in the woods in Iceland? Ans: Stand up. 2. What's a sunny day in Iceland? Ans: A day its not raining. But the cold winds and jagged rocks lend Iceland its unexpected beauty. There are waterfalls and rainbows galore. Moss grows on the black rocks. Geysers burst with warmth. Sheep wander freely. And then there are the geothermal hot spots.
The blue lagoon near the airport is one of the most famous hot springs. The water is a murky turquoise and it stays a steady 104F year round. We enjoyed the mineral masks and lazing around there for a day. Definitely one of the most relaxing experiences on this trip. This is one of the only places we have been that we just slowed down to a near stop. Staying at a fabulous B&B and drinking tea with the owners, making soups for dinner, and snuggling in the evening listening to the wind and rain. It has been a wonderful time and place to relax and reflect on the incredible journey we have made the last few months. While a vacation to Iceland is probably not everyones ideal relaxation spot, it was the perfect finish to a wonderful world tour.

Sparty Gets Around

Just a little snippet of Sparty's Summer Vacation.

Paddington Bear's Cozy City

How did we get so lucky?
First, we were the last Eurostar train to make it through the chunnel before it caught fire and was shut down for 2 days.
Second, it was sunny every single day here.
The sunshine was a saver because, really, the rain is getting a bit….wet. We stayed right on Hyde park. Which was great, because I got to go to sleep and wake up staring at lovely gardens. Very nice. It was also a short walk to Kensington Palace (Diana’s apartments) and some really great shopping (which I did not partake in- Thanks to the pound/dollar ratio). This city is expensive for us Americans. You can pretty much double everything. It also ensured Jeff a quiet 30th birthday with a nice dinner, in which he ate (quite possibly) the best chocolate cake and custard ever made. And of course, fish and chips. I found the “chips” a bit too big for my shoestring tastes, so I preferred the dinner of Pasty (a traditional Cornwall dish). And whilst we are on food, Jeff introduced me to the candy version of crack. It’s called a Fruit Pastille. And yes I brought some for you to try. These things should be illegal. Seriously. That. Good. Okay I could go on and on about the culinary delights here but…
I love the double decker shiny buses, crazy little brits in their tweed and short short skirts, Paddington Bears on everything, a city that still loves Palaces, has a Queen (and cute princes!), lady on the money, wellies, Tower bridge, phone booths, sweet old school taxis and of course, what kind of city in Europe would it be without a big clock! I do like London, I was just a little burned out and poor to afford the city. Which was a real shame as it looked fun. But who can keep up with $10 beers. We had one. One. On Jeff’s Bday which makes for a seriously sad 30th indeed. So all of you reading this should know Jeff really needs a beer. So put on your celebration hats on we are off to Iceland for one last hoorah before heading it home to Detroit rock city and the good old USA. See you all soon! Go Spartans!

If Rome is From Mars, Paris is From Venus

Paris. A place I have wanted to go to for as long as I can remember. The city of Lights. But that doesn’t begin to do it justice. Paris is more like a lady: feminine, grand, charming, elegant, artistic. From her decadent outskirts, Versailles. To her heart, the masterpiece that is the Eiffel tower. This is why people come here. Don’t believe the anti-hype for a second. Paris will exceed your expectations at every turn.
My first view of the Eiffel tower was as were walking to the train for Versailles. I was crossing the Seine and then…..Whoa. There it was. Breathtaking. It was early in the morning on a Saturday and we had the view to ourselves. It is a moment I will never forget. But let’s get back to Versailles, shall we? We arrived early and managed to miss the queues. To say they lived extravagantly here is an understatement. You have never seen such grandeur. It makes the Hermitage in Russia look like a cozy little apartment. But the palace is just the beginning because once you see the gardens any expectation you did have is pretty much blown out of the water. Fountains, gardens, flowers, castles, fountains, statues, flowers, gardens, mazes, fountains….There is a lot to see here. Our sore feet were proof.
Unfortunately they didn’t get much of a break the following day as we hit up the only free day of the month at the Louvre. Surprisingly, not very busy. There was of course the crowd to see Ms. Lisa. Which was the only thing I felt was slightly overrated in the city of Paris. We split up a day later to see other museums as well. I went to the Musee D’Orsay (art) and Jeff to the Hotel Invalides (military). So we both came home happy that day. Together we went to the Rodin (sculpture) and L’Orangerie (art-really big Monets). Both were fantastic and even though much of our time here was fuelled by running around like mad trying to see so much it was amazing and all ready look forward to coming back.
Our gracious and incredible local host, Bruno, probably all ready has the plans to Normandy worked out. We were so lucky to stay with such a wonderful and knowledgeable person. While our days were filled with rushing about our evenings were spent on our new friend’s patio drinking wine and eating long dinners we took turns preparing. Bruno also gave us a special trip to the center of Paris at night, out to VanGogh’s home town (and grave) and an evening sojourn to Montmarte. I’m still not sure which I like best. But with any luck we will back to see Bruno again.

Chiming bells of Vernazza

I sit here in my plush little room listening to accordion music and Italian voices floating in through the window. I have to pinch myself to remind me this is not a dream. Nor was the lunch of incredible Pesto pizza from a wood oven, or the wonderful house wines. I am in Vernazza, in the heart of Cinque Terra and the Italian Rivera. To say I love being here is an understatement. I have seen pictures of this place everywhere from the cover of Travel and Leisure to posters in travel shops around the world. With a population of only 600 people, it is quaint and tiny nestled among the vineyards that scale the mountains nudging right up to the Mediterranean. There is not much to do around here, which is a fantastic break from sightseeing. We decided to take the brutal hike to Monterosso (the next town over) one morning to sit on the beach. Five minutes after arriving it rains. We weather the storm in a rock enclave and after a half hour have the beach to ourselves. We have the best dinner of our lives at a restaurant that evening that juts out into the ocean. I am living a dream. I try to soak in every second here. Emblazing all the colors of the ocean and the scents of the beautiful food into my mind. There is no place like this in all the world. No museums or landmarks to see. The best shows here are free: watching the joy and relief on Jeff’s face as he plunged into the water at the end of the pier was priceless. Around dinner time, all the old men line up their chairs along the walkway and in the central piazza watching the girls go by. Under the shade of umbrellas in the afternoon they play cards, I can hear them laughing from our balcony above. This is a place that will quiet even the most restless of souls. As we leave the train station this morning I hear the clock tower ring its bells right on time, and hope that one day they will call me back again.

Venice and Roma isn't just a variety of tomato

Well Venice was nice I must say. We stayed on the mainland in Fusina at a campground just across from the floating city. It proved to be nice choice, we had our very own little camper and there was always something going on. Even better was that Venice was only a short boat ride away. Our time was short here, but you don’t really need a lot of time to see the city, just a lot of money. A famous gondola ride will set you back a cool $120 for about 15 minutes. What a racket. Skipped on that! Dinner? A nice $100 for 2 is the going rate even on the sidestreets. We wandered about most of the day more or less because we kept getting lost. The streets are smaller than an arm span. But it was nice not having to dodge cars and bicycles, just the occasional lost tourist like ourselves. We did find out that the city was all abuzz with the upcoming Venice Film Festival. Glad we missed that (I’m sure prices climb even higher then!). All in all it was worth seeing just not worth spending on a trip like this. Oh, and bring bug spray.But Roma I love love LOVE! They say if you throw one coin in the Trevi fountain you will in love with Rome. Two, and you will come back soon. I threw one on our first day, and I fell in love. What an amazing city all around. Wonderful cheap transportation, free fresh water everywhere, gelato on every corner, and of course the coliseum. Our hostel was at capacity but it provided breakfast and dinner assuring us we would not starve to death. Jeff truly shined here. With all his Roman history knowledge, he was an excellent tour guide. Albeit a bit pushy: we did spend some 15+ hours our second day on foot seeing the city. But if you’re going to have a history lesson you mind as well do it in person. By our last day I was overdone. Rome still feels like a whirlwind in my memory. Everything is so much better than I could imagine. The coliseum at night will leave you in wonder. Trevi fountain will inspire you. The Spanish steps will weaken you. The Vatican, even as a protestant like me, will bring you to your knees. Everything here is so bella and more than a bit otherworldly and mysterious. Sitting in front of the Pantheon I ponder how they built the dome (architects still don’t know how they did it) over a bowl of out of this world banana gelato. In the end, I can only admire its beauty. Tyson, I thought of how much you would love and appreciate this city. I wish you were here. Sparty feels right at home amid the soaring columns and massive marble buildings. Sometimes, it all feels overwhelming. I feel small in face of such Roman greatness. I leave with the hope that Jeff’s one coin and my own one coin in the Trevi fountain will mean we both return again soon.

Bonjour Daisie

Dear Daisie,
I wanted to write to you from our trip around the world and tell you that your Mom and Dad miss you. We think of you often and we saw a number of boxers in Germany & Salzburg that I’m sure you would have loved to meet. (They were all boys) By the way this is your Dad writing so I also expect you to behave while you’re at G-Pa Tim’s and G-Ma Katie’s. I will get a full report upon my return to the US. We will be home in just over two weeks so try not to get to excited. The best part is you get to travel in the rental car but I’ll call it the truck upon which you get to enjoy a ~30hr drive. I know you will just love it. I also wanted to inform you that I have sources and they tell me you have been eating a little too well. This means when you get back to the desert it is back to green peppers and “light” meals. Can’t have you running around the neighborhood looking like a fat little dog! I say this with an added benefit. This means more walks around the block as well since Mom/Dad want to keep off all the weight we lost on this trip and since you’re part of the family it’s time to get in line. Anyway the point of this mail is to say we have not abandoned you and much to G-Pa Tim’s dismay you have to come home with us. I’m sure you will enjoy taking up my space on the bed as usual. Not to mention jumping the fence and trying to eat up my garden. We miss you and see you soon.

Love Mom & Dad

Salzburg in the Summertime ("These are a few of my favorite things")

I’m not sure what I like more about Salzburg, being here or getting to and from here. Seriously, the scenery here is out of this world. One glance at the mountains and valleys and you’ll be singing, “…the hills are alive with the sound of music…” Okay, I know it’s a bit cheesy running around singing the entire soundtrack to the Sound of Music, but I still did it. What are you going to do with a girl like Maria??? The Austrians look at you like you’re crazy, most have never even heard of the movie. They are very proud of another musician though. That would be Mozart. He’s no Julie Andrews but Salzburg just can’t get enough of him. There are cafes, chocolates, ice creams and all sorts of things named after him here. I even saw Mozart Milch. So off we were to visit Mozart’s birthplace. After kissing many Euros goodbye to see his little childhood piano (do you think he knew Doe Rei Me?) we pretty much had our fill of Mozart. I personally found it more enjoyable to sit in the square and listen to a quartet playing Mozart. We decided to save some doe J and walk it up to the big castle on the hill. It looks closer than it actually was, it was Fa (a long long way to walk). The top of castle had absolutely stunning views of the city. The castle itself was very well preserved and very medieval. There was a lot of WWI memorabilia inside, which was interesting since it was really the first we saw of it. Another museum ran through the entire history of the place. It’s old. After such a busy morning we decided to pick up a few things and have a picnic by the river. It was so nice and relaxing. It made me feel like singing….I am 16 going on 17….Poor Jeff. After that it was off to the Augustiner Brewery. It was a fabulous recommendation from our friends in Oregon. It was a perfect finish to a busy day…if only I had a cup of te (a drink with jam and bread).

Munchen Land

Tucked away among the pines in Bavaria is a magical place called Munich. It could easily be called the beer capital of the world. The beer gardens far outnumber the designer stores and there are no pints in this town. Beer is typically served in a generous 1 liter mug. Drinking here will definitely give you an arm workout (those mugs are heavy on empty!). A must on your “bierhaus” crawl is a stop at the infamous Hofbrahaus. Now, I know there are copies….but the one in Vegas is truly sad compared to the original. First, it’s massive. Second, it’s packed. But its all well worth the effort, just make sure you know your way home. Luckily for Jeff, I did. But getting to know Munich solely through beer, while fun, is a bit like only drinking the foam on top. The best part about Munich, in my opinion, is the rich weisen underneath. Munich is just seeping with history.
This is, after all, the birthplace of the National Socialist (Nazi) movement. It’s also the place where Hitler was almost killed. It was the city where the first Jewish and Polish people were sent to concentration camps. Dachu, the very first concentration camp, lies in the shadow of Munich. I could go on and on. The city is filled with humble reminders of its past. There is no memorial as big as the one in Berlin. Here, they are scattered about and mostly in German. One of my favorites is the Gold Line. Among the bricks in an alley behind Ostenplatz runs a gold line. During the 1930’s the government put a plaque memorial on the main street to honor Nazi’s who died during the pusch. As a law, everyone had to salute the memorial each time they passed it. Those opposed to Nazism simply refused to walk by it. Instead, they used the small alley so they would not have to salute the Nazi party. Eventually the government caught on and monitored who was using the alley and with what frequency. These people were sent to Dachu. Ironically, on the building the plaques were on are two lions (they were there in the 1930’s too). One with its head towards the church mouth closed, the other with its head towards the royal palace mouth open. It was to remind people to never question God, but to always speak up when it comes to their government.
Besides the sad reminders are lots of other amazing things to see in Munich. There was the glockenspiel. A clock almost as overrated as Prague’s astronomical clock. It’s a must see! If I never see another singing ringing animated clock again I will be happy. Then there is Julia (a statue), bring her some flowers and your love life will get better. The Residenz English gardens are beautiful…I wonder what their landscaping bill is. But really people you came here for a beer. Prost!