Monday, August 10, 2009
Monday, August 3, 2009
WHAT WE LEARNED ON OUR SUMMER VACATION.
Blogs are contagious.
Despite having invented indoor plumbing, Italians have not yet mastered it (i.e., the showers alternated between hot and cold mercilessly).
All roads may lead to Rome but it is better to have to take one less train to the station.
There is such a thing as too much (or at least, too expensive) gelato.
The reasons that some stereotypes exist is because they are generally true (you usually can spot/hear an American from a mile away).
The Air Force bx has everything.
Always pack one more book to read than you think you will need. Maybe 2.
The journey is what is important, not the destination.
Kindness, sarcasm and obnoxiousness are equally translatable.
It is okay to act like a tourist when you are a tourist.
Some things are as great as the hype (Sistine Chapel, gelato).
Have a backup watch.
If you write it, they will read it.
Ipods have alarm clocks.
Italians love the 80's.
Check a map prior to any “leisurely” walk.
Don't wait for the next market – it might be closed.
In Italy, it is always the right time for a gelato
Even in towns with not much to do, it is still possible to wind up walking over 10 kilometers.
It's better to try to talk the language. People will like you better.
It helps to like the person you are traveling with when everyone else speaks another language.
The world is tiny. We went all the way to Assisi to see a New York jazz band.
Sometimes arguments happen when you're hungry.
It's worth it to try things, even if at home we would think they were cheesy.
Italian mosquito bites leave marks. Ugly purple ones.
It is nice to have something that connects you to home, even if it's a silly blog.
Ocean-themed bathrooms are fairly universal. Even in land-locked countries.
Google street-view is awesome.
Don't judge a town by the area by its train station.
Sometimes getting down is scarier than going up.
It's okay to be scared of heights as long as you don't let it limit you.
It is okay to get bored after 500 of the same painting.
It's okay to laugh at nudity sometimes – and to put it on postcards. As long as it's art.
A trouser press is not the same as an iron.
Any time before this trip spent learning language, art, history, or literature was time well spent.
Chris can navigate anywhere thanks to his map skills learned from video games.
Dirty is highly subjective.
Americans spend a lot less time outside (walking/biking/reading/eating) than Europeans.
We're fairly spoiled.
Europeans allow dogs in stores and in restaurants.
The Bologna train station needs clearer signs.
We need to learn more languages.
Everything is about 500 meters after Alice gives up.
Europeans like Ikea as much as we do – if not more.
People meet your expectations. We should expect a lot more than we do.
When mom says to bring an umbrella, bring an umbrella.
There are two types of castles – ruins and well-maintained ones. The maintained one is a Schloss.
It's always nicer going to a concert when you know the music.
Just because someone is walking a dog, it does not mean that s/he is showing it off.
Just because you can eat nothing but sweets and candy all day does not mean you should.
When planning something that is weather-permitting, have an alternative...or a sense of adventure.
You can always buy new clothes, but you can't always get real Swiss chocolate. (Thanks Katie).
The train ride to Interlaken makes the entire trip to Interlaken worthwhile.
Swiss coke tastes like diet. And most Europeans drink coke zero. If any soda.
Water looks really turquoise when there are large lime deposits.
Europeans have discovered the fountain of youth – you don't ever need to act old.
Just because it's called Swiss Miss, it doesn't mean you will see it in Switzerland.
Swiss trains rock around a lot when they get closer to the station.
Swiss movie theaters are funny.
Gene Kelly is right – everyone in Paris is American.
Paris tap water is drinkable.
There is a real Ratatoille restaurant – we just can't afford to eat there.
If you have ever yearned to hear an accordion, go anywhere in Paris.
There is nothing in the Lourve past 1848. We like art past 1848.
We like the Latin Quarter better than the Champs Ellyses.
There are some cities that Chris likes. Paris is one of them.
Sunburn hurts.
There's no place like home.
Despite having invented indoor plumbing, Italians have not yet mastered it (i.e., the showers alternated between hot and cold mercilessly).
All roads may lead to Rome but it is better to have to take one less train to the station.
There is such a thing as too much (or at least, too expensive) gelato.
The reasons that some stereotypes exist is because they are generally true (you usually can spot/hear an American from a mile away).
The Air Force bx has everything.
Always pack one more book to read than you think you will need. Maybe 2.
The journey is what is important, not the destination.
Kindness, sarcasm and obnoxiousness are equally translatable.
It is okay to act like a tourist when you are a tourist.
Some things are as great as the hype (Sistine Chapel, gelato).
Have a backup watch.
If you write it, they will read it.
Ipods have alarm clocks.
Italians love the 80's.
Check a map prior to any “leisurely” walk.
Don't wait for the next market – it might be closed.
In Italy, it is always the right time for a gelato
Even in towns with not much to do, it is still possible to wind up walking over 10 kilometers.
It's better to try to talk the language. People will like you better.
It helps to like the person you are traveling with when everyone else speaks another language.
The world is tiny. We went all the way to Assisi to see a New York jazz band.
Sometimes arguments happen when you're hungry.
It's worth it to try things, even if at home we would think they were cheesy.
Italian mosquito bites leave marks. Ugly purple ones.
It is nice to have something that connects you to home, even if it's a silly blog.
Ocean-themed bathrooms are fairly universal. Even in land-locked countries.
Google street-view is awesome.
Don't judge a town by the area by its train station.
Sometimes getting down is scarier than going up.
It's okay to be scared of heights as long as you don't let it limit you.
It is okay to get bored after 500 of the same painting.
It's okay to laugh at nudity sometimes – and to put it on postcards. As long as it's art.
A trouser press is not the same as an iron.
Any time before this trip spent learning language, art, history, or literature was time well spent.
Chris can navigate anywhere thanks to his map skills learned from video games.
Dirty is highly subjective.
Americans spend a lot less time outside (walking/biking/reading/eating) than Europeans.
We're fairly spoiled.
Europeans allow dogs in stores and in restaurants.
The Bologna train station needs clearer signs.
We need to learn more languages.
Everything is about 500 meters after Alice gives up.
Europeans like Ikea as much as we do – if not more.
People meet your expectations. We should expect a lot more than we do.
When mom says to bring an umbrella, bring an umbrella.
There are two types of castles – ruins and well-maintained ones. The maintained one is a Schloss.
It's always nicer going to a concert when you know the music.
Just because someone is walking a dog, it does not mean that s/he is showing it off.
Just because you can eat nothing but sweets and candy all day does not mean you should.
When planning something that is weather-permitting, have an alternative...or a sense of adventure.
You can always buy new clothes, but you can't always get real Swiss chocolate. (Thanks Katie).
The train ride to Interlaken makes the entire trip to Interlaken worthwhile.
Swiss coke tastes like diet. And most Europeans drink coke zero. If any soda.
Water looks really turquoise when there are large lime deposits.
Europeans have discovered the fountain of youth – you don't ever need to act old.
Just because it's called Swiss Miss, it doesn't mean you will see it in Switzerland.
Swiss trains rock around a lot when they get closer to the station.
Swiss movie theaters are funny.
Gene Kelly is right – everyone in Paris is American.
Paris tap water is drinkable.
There is a real Ratatoille restaurant – we just can't afford to eat there.
If you have ever yearned to hear an accordion, go anywhere in Paris.
There is nothing in the Lourve past 1848. We like art past 1848.
We like the Latin Quarter better than the Champs Ellyses.
There are some cities that Chris likes. Paris is one of them.
Sunburn hurts.
There's no place like home.
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Do you know what they call a Quarter Pounder with Cheese in France?
A Royale with Cheese. Do you know why they call it a Royale with Cheese?
Because of the metric system.
We are currently at the McDonald's in Charles de Gaulle Airport in France waiting to be able to check our baggage for our plane. Despite a scary email we received from Expedia last night saying something about us canceling one of our flights, we spoke to someone today and they said we are confirmed and registered for both of our flights, and we have our boarding passes for both flights as well. We just need to wait until 2:30pm our time before we can check our bags. Luckily, McDonald's not only has tasty chicken nuggets but also free interwebs. So at least we can waste some time here.
Last night, Alice decided we needed a montage. Just to show a lot of things happening at once. Remind people what's going on (what's going on). Even Rocky had a montage.
You always have to fade out in a montage. If you fade out in a montage it makes it seem like more time has passed in a montage.
That's right. Pulp Fiction and Team America in one post. Owned.
Because of the metric system.
We are currently at the McDonald's in Charles de Gaulle Airport in France waiting to be able to check our baggage for our plane. Despite a scary email we received from Expedia last night saying something about us canceling one of our flights, we spoke to someone today and they said we are confirmed and registered for both of our flights, and we have our boarding passes for both flights as well. We just need to wait until 2:30pm our time before we can check our bags. Luckily, McDonald's not only has tasty chicken nuggets but also free interwebs. So at least we can waste some time here.
Last night, Alice decided we needed a montage. Just to show a lot of things happening at once. Remind people what's going on (what's going on). Even Rocky had a montage.
You always have to fade out in a montage. If you fade out in a montage it makes it seem like more time has passed in a montage.
That's right. Pulp Fiction and Team America in one post. Owned.
Monday, July 27, 2009
In honor of our next to last day...
The top 10 reasons why we have to go home. See if you can figure out which are real and which are fake. They are in no particular order.
1. Europe likes Lady GaGa way too much, and if Chris hears Pokerface one more time, his head is going to explode.
2. Chris has already eaten snails. There is nothing left for him to do.
3. The EU has voted. They have had enough of us.
4. Alice and Chris discovered they only had enough conversation in them to last 2.5 weeks and it is already week 5.
5. The hotel staff has been giving Chris and Alice one less towel daily and by tomorrow it will only be a hand towel. And no one has said the towels are clean.
6. Sara will not be able to recuperate properly without them.
7. If Alice and Chris stay any longer, they will have to start dancing with Papy for money.
8. There is nothing left to see.
9. Portia called and protested that nobody is feeding or petting her. It's worse than how they treat Oliver.
and the last reason...
10. Chris and Alice have more souvenirs than clean clothes and will not be allowed past customs.
1. Europe likes Lady GaGa way too much, and if Chris hears Pokerface one more time, his head is going to explode.
2. Chris has already eaten snails. There is nothing left for him to do.
3. The EU has voted. They have had enough of us.
4. Alice and Chris discovered they only had enough conversation in them to last 2.5 weeks and it is already week 5.
5. The hotel staff has been giving Chris and Alice one less towel daily and by tomorrow it will only be a hand towel. And no one has said the towels are clean.
6. Sara will not be able to recuperate properly without them.
7. If Alice and Chris stay any longer, they will have to start dancing with Papy for money.
8. There is nothing left to see.
9. Portia called and protested that nobody is feeding or petting her. It's worse than how they treat Oliver.
and the last reason...
10. Chris and Alice have more souvenirs than clean clothes and will not be allowed past customs.
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Rock Lobster
Last night Chris and I went to the Kandinsky exhibit at the Centre Pompidou. It was great to finally see modern art instead of all the *yawn* Renaissance art in Italy. Even the building itself was cool. There were a ton of people hanging out around the building, even an elderly Asian man with a guitar singing 10,000 Maniacs "What's Going On?" We unfortunately didn't think to take a video of him (or of the fire juggler who kept dropping his torches).
Afterwards, we walked along the Seine and saw:
Parisian break dancing.
Today, we headed out to the St. Michel fountain, the Shakespeare and Co. bookstore (where I did a little nerdy happy dance), and finally to the Notre Dame cathedral. To bake in the sun. For hours.
First, after 2 hours, came the:
Best. Floats. Ever. (Note how excited I -Alice- got at the sight of giant Haribo)
Then, 1 hour in the sun later.
Most times, we would've been annoyed to have sunburn from standing for that long...but then we saw this.
In case you can't tell, his shirt says "Papy Dance".
And finally, we headed to Caffe Cambronne. A restaurant by our hotel. With the best waiter ever. In addition to teasing our inability to complete our dinner (and by our, we of course mean Alice), he also gave me a guided tour of the desserts.
Here is Chris eating dinner.
Afterwards, we walked along the Seine and saw:
Parisian break dancing.
Today, we headed out to the St. Michel fountain, the Shakespeare and Co. bookstore (where I did a little nerdy happy dance), and finally to the Notre Dame cathedral. To bake in the sun. For hours.
First, after 2 hours, came the:
Best. Floats. Ever. (Note how excited I -Alice- got at the sight of giant Haribo)
Then, 1 hour in the sun later.
Most times, we would've been annoyed to have sunburn from standing for that long...but then we saw this.
In case you can't tell, his shirt says "Papy Dance".
And finally, we headed to Caffe Cambronne. A restaurant by our hotel. With the best waiter ever. In addition to teasing our inability to complete our dinner (and by our, we of course mean Alice), he also gave me a guided tour of the desserts.
Here is Chris eating dinner.
Happy Birthday Dad
If you look closely, you will see that I am wearing the same shirt in both birthday videos. That was unintentional.
Or was it...
No, it really was unintentional.
Sorry it's a day late, we are losing track of the date this late in the trip (we have a post it with all of the important dates on them, we are just losing track of when, and where, we are.)
Tour de France videos (and perhaps a special surprise video) later.
Chris
Or was it...
No, it really was unintentional.
Sorry it's a day late, we are losing track of the date this late in the trip (we have a post it with all of the important dates on them, we are just losing track of when, and where, we are.)
Tour de France videos (and perhaps a special surprise video) later.
Chris
Sportfreude Stiller
This song is played about every 5 minutes on German MTV...one of the few stations that occasionally plays shows in English.
It's growing on us.
It's growing on us.
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